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Chains of Nobility
Duyal, a teenage nomad living on the vast Russian steppe, is captured during a Mongol invasion and forced on a long, deadly journey into the war-torn Middle East. Purchased by a Kurdish prince in eastern Turkey, his destination is an Islamic citadel, filled with similarly enslaved strangers and one merciless instructor—a man determined to purge the weaklings from his ranks and forge the survivors into Mamluks, Islamic Knights unmatched in wielding sword, arrows, and lance from atop Arabian steeds.
When Duyal becomes entangled in his instructor’s schemes and his mates witness another comrade’s unjust execution, the recruits can take it no longer. Their wrath is unleashed.
Chains of Nobility is the first book in the Brotherhood of the Mamluks trilogy. Set during the 13th century, the book is an immersive dive into the world of military slavery—a Muslim institution largely unheard of in the West, whose ranks ousted the Crusaders and Mongols from the Levant, preserving Islam.
Graft, a former U.S. Marine officer who served in Somalia, conveys to his characters an authentic understanding of combat and the hearts of fighting men. He brings to life the intriguing story behind the Mamluk Sword, the saber worn traditionally by Marines as part of the dress uniform. Based on exhaustive research that took the author to Mongolia and the Middle East, the book is filled with vivid cultural details, battle accounts, and realistic characters. In all, the Brotherhood of the Mamluks trilogy reveals the fascinating and little-known story of the Mamluks.
*One hundred percent of the author’s income from the sales of this book will be donated to screened charities that support wounded veterans and families of the fallen.
“Graft nimbly inserts the reader into the world and mindset of the medieval jihadi. From the Russian steppe to inside the citadel walls, he takes us where Mamluks are made and loyalty between comrades is sealed.
— Steven Pressfield. bestselling author of The Legend of Bagger Vance, The Warrior Ethos and Gates of Fire
“Chains of Nobility is a harrowing tale of comradeship and combat, providing an in-the-saddle look at the process of creating Mamluks—early Islam's military elite. A great piece of work."
— Nathaniel Fick, former Marine officer and New York Times bestselling author of One Bullet The Making of a Marine Officer
“A gripping saga of brotherhood and devotion, Chains of Nobility is a must-read for military history buffs. Author Brad Graft enlightens us on the little-known reason behind Medieval Islam’s triumphs during the Middle nomadic youth enslaved by the descendants of Saladin and sharpened into the spear tip of Muslim armies.”
— Michael Franzak, former Marine pilot and author of A Nightmare’s Prayer, winner of the 2012 Colby Award.
When Duyal becomes entangled in his instructor’s schemes and his mates witness another comrade’s unjust execution, the recruits can take it no longer. Their wrath is unleashed.
Chains of Nobility is the first book in the Brotherhood of the Mamluks trilogy. Set during the 13th century, the book is an immersive dive into the world of military slavery—a Muslim institution largely unheard of in the West, whose ranks ousted the Crusaders and Mongols from the Levant, preserving Islam.
Graft, a former U.S. Marine officer who served in Somalia, conveys to his characters an authentic understanding of combat and the hearts of fighting men. He brings to life the intriguing story behind the Mamluk Sword, the saber worn traditionally by Marines as part of the dress uniform. Based on exhaustive research that took the author to Mongolia and the Middle East, the book is filled with vivid cultural details, battle accounts, and realistic characters. In all, the Brotherhood of the Mamluks trilogy reveals the fascinating and little-known story of the Mamluks.
*One hundred percent of the author’s income from the sales of this book will be donated to screened charities that support wounded veterans and families of the fallen.
“Graft nimbly inserts the reader into the world and mindset of the medieval jihadi. From the Russian steppe to inside the citadel walls, he takes us where Mamluks are made and loyalty between comrades is sealed.
— Steven Pressfield. bestselling author of The Legend of Bagger Vance, The Warrior Ethos and Gates of Fire
“Chains of Nobility is a harrowing tale of comradeship and combat, providing an in-the-saddle look at the process of creating Mamluks—early Islam's military elite. A great piece of work."
— Nathaniel Fick, former Marine officer and New York Times bestselling author of One Bullet The Making of a Marine Officer
“A gripping saga of brotherhood and devotion, Chains of Nobility is a must-read for military history buffs. Author Brad Graft enlightens us on the little-known reason behind Medieval Islam’s triumphs during the Middle nomadic youth enslaved by the descendants of Saladin and sharpened into the spear tip of Muslim armies.”
— Michael Franzak, former Marine pilot and author of A Nightmare’s Prayer, winner of the 2012 Colby Award.
470 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 24, 2018
8 people are currently reading
15 people want to read
About the author
Brad Graft
4 books1 followerBrad Graft is a businessman who runs a national chain with his partners. A former U.S. Marine officer, he helped develop a military program that assists wounded servicemen and families of the fallen. He continues to steer fundraising for charities serving this cause. An avid fly fisherman and hunter, for decades he has pursued gamefish in remote places around the world. Also a history buff, his research on the Brotherhood of the Mamluks series took him to the Middle and Far East, where he studied Medieval-era routes and fortresses and trekked the Mongolian steppe on horseback, learning the ways of native hunters and nomadic herders.
The author's first novel, "Chains of Nobility," was recently selected as a finalist for the 2019 Colby Award, a nationally-acclaimed honor, which "recognizes a first work of fiction or non-fiction that has made a major contribution to the understanding of military history, intelligence operations, or international affairs."
The author's first novel, "Chains of Nobility," was recently selected as a finalist for the 2019 Colby Award, a nationally-acclaimed honor, which "recognizes a first work of fiction or non-fiction that has made a major contribution to the understanding of military history, intelligence operations, or international affairs."
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 11, 2023
A great read, finished en route to Delhi, the other Mamluk capital (Qutb Minar here I come)! Initial gripes with the writing style soon faded, and Mum explained it was rather McCarthy-esque, so the more you know!
It could have done with another run through by its editors, but for an indie-published work it was fine and the several inaccuracies can be excused; Graft is clearly very sincere in his research and interest and, pardon the pun but, certainly put in a hard graft to complete this work. 'Mujahid' would have been more appropriate than 'jihadi', but Graft conceives the medieval Mamluk mind with more tact than one might expect.
The book is set rather earlier (1236-1238) than the period I am familiar with (1290/1341-1382) or anticipated, but thus I felt I learnt quite a bit and I am keen to read on. It has put to rest some scepticism I had had of historical (as opposed to period) fiction, which has kept me under fantasy's sway for so long.
Most outstanding was the insight Graft displays from his own time as a Marine which brings his account of the rigorous Salihi training regime and the bonds of the khushdashiyya to life on the page.
Overall, it is great to see this captivating yet sadly unknown period covered in fiction and so adeptly, inspiring my own dreams to follow it up. The missing fifth star is only due to the roughness around the edges, but I highly recommend it.
It could have done with another run through by its editors, but for an indie-published work it was fine and the several inaccuracies can be excused; Graft is clearly very sincere in his research and interest and, pardon the pun but, certainly put in a hard graft to complete this work. 'Mujahid' would have been more appropriate than 'jihadi', but Graft conceives the medieval Mamluk mind with more tact than one might expect.
The book is set rather earlier (1236-1238) than the period I am familiar with (1290/1341-1382) or anticipated, but thus I felt I learnt quite a bit and I am keen to read on. It has put to rest some scepticism I had had of historical (as opposed to period) fiction, which has kept me under fantasy's sway for so long.
Most outstanding was the insight Graft displays from his own time as a Marine which brings his account of the rigorous Salihi training regime and the bonds of the khushdashiyya to life on the page.
Overall, it is great to see this captivating yet sadly unknown period covered in fiction and so adeptly, inspiring my own dreams to follow it up. The missing fifth star is only due to the roughness around the edges, but I highly recommend it.
September 5, 2021
I enjoyed it. I bought it spontaneously because (after a Wikipedia dive) I became obsessed with the Mamluks and this was the only fiction book a quick google search brought up. The writing style irritated me somewhat, yet the author clearly had a lot of love for the subject matter and that helped. The story itself made me cry (always a sign of a good book). Especially the death of two specific characters (I don't think this is a spoiler; it's a book about war, there's lots of death). The end confused me, though. Like, literally the last few pages. Anyway, if you're interested in the Mamluks, go for it! Just be prepared to cry :)
April 26, 2019
Very nice read, very enjoyable & well written. A few negative
aspects I found many words i did not understand
, This aside, exciting reading just what I love. Can hardly ws
aspects I found many words i did not understand
, This aside, exciting reading just what I love. Can hardly ws
October 1, 2024
Anyone who has been fascinated by the Unsullied in Game of Thrones would probably enjoy this series, as the Mamluks are the real inspiration for them.
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August 1, 2019MWSA Review
Chains of Nobility is the first book in the Brotherhood of the Mamluks trilogy. The Mamluks begin as slaves taken from various places. Slavers take boys from nomadic tribes where the young develop exceptional horsemanship and hunting skills early in life. After being purchased and installed in a training citadel, the slaves develop almost superhuman skills with swords, arrows, lances and horses, or are killed in the effort.
Following Duyal, the main character, on his journey, we see him evolving slowly and believably from a young nomad enslaved after watching his family killed to a deadly Islamic warrior, devoted to the man who bought him and devoted to the cause of Islam.
His story is set in a nearly forgotten time when Islamic princes fought the European Crusaders, the eastern Mongols, and amongst themselves using mercenary and quasi-enslaved armies. Many pages held something surprising—a five-senses description of living freely on the Russian steppe or in a prison cell, a boy’s memory of his lost family fading slowly or intruding into the present, some feat of endurance or prowess that bordered on unbelievable.
The book involves various nomadic cultures, Russians, Mongols, Muslims living in Egypt, horse culture, warrior culture, slave trading at a massive scale, royal blood feuds, detailed information about and use of various ancient weapons of war—and that doesn’t begin to cover the characters, places and times, journeys and relationships, settings and subplots, political and other intrigues throughout.
The author has created an intriguing and believable world from ancient ideas, settings, and characters, a masterful job of both history and fiction. The interior is beautifully designed and easy to read, despite its 443 pages. Clever use of fonts signal the shift between the characters’ present lives and pasts, easing the reader through the transition to memories.
Chains of Nobility will appeal to anyone with an interest in unusual military history, the history of Islamic jihad, ancient weaponry, or warrior training.
Review by Barb Evenson (August 2019)
Chains of Nobility is the first book in the Brotherhood of the Mamluks trilogy. The Mamluks begin as slaves taken from various places. Slavers take boys from nomadic tribes where the young develop exceptional horsemanship and hunting skills early in life. After being purchased and installed in a training citadel, the slaves develop almost superhuman skills with swords, arrows, lances and horses, or are killed in the effort.
Following Duyal, the main character, on his journey, we see him evolving slowly and believably from a young nomad enslaved after watching his family killed to a deadly Islamic warrior, devoted to the man who bought him and devoted to the cause of Islam.
His story is set in a nearly forgotten time when Islamic princes fought the European Crusaders, the eastern Mongols, and amongst themselves using mercenary and quasi-enslaved armies. Many pages held something surprising—a five-senses description of living freely on the Russian steppe or in a prison cell, a boy’s memory of his lost family fading slowly or intruding into the present, some feat of endurance or prowess that bordered on unbelievable.
The book involves various nomadic cultures, Russians, Mongols, Muslims living in Egypt, horse culture, warrior culture, slave trading at a massive scale, royal blood feuds, detailed information about and use of various ancient weapons of war—and that doesn’t begin to cover the characters, places and times, journeys and relationships, settings and subplots, political and other intrigues throughout.
The author has created an intriguing and believable world from ancient ideas, settings, and characters, a masterful job of both history and fiction. The interior is beautifully designed and easy to read, despite its 443 pages. Clever use of fonts signal the shift between the characters’ present lives and pasts, easing the reader through the transition to memories.
Chains of Nobility will appeal to anyone with an interest in unusual military history, the history of Islamic jihad, ancient weaponry, or warrior training.
Review by Barb Evenson (August 2019)
December 2, 2024
I am fascinated by Mamluk-era Egypt, so I was excited to find a novel series set in this period. Brad Graft does an excellent job setting the scene for our characters, with frequent digressions into practices on the open steppe or training exercises detailed in actual historical texts. He attempts to portray the Mamluks as competent, professional soldiers with an outstanding esprit de corps, rather than the faceless, heathen enemies that often appear in Western historical texts. His writing is evocative, if sometimes long-winded, and the reader is immediately immersed in the world that the Mamluks live in.
The story follows a small cast of young Mamluks-in-training, often boys taken as slaves from the steppes or refugees from the Mongol invasion, along with their alcoholic drillmaster, who is haunted by his experiences on campaign. The boys pass through hardship after hardship to achieve their goal of serving their prince, the historical al-Salih Ayyub. The story concludes with their manumission and rumblings of further conflict on the horizon. Overall, I enjoyed the story, the setting, and the author's writing style!
The story follows a small cast of young Mamluks-in-training, often boys taken as slaves from the steppes or refugees from the Mongol invasion, along with their alcoholic drillmaster, who is haunted by his experiences on campaign. The boys pass through hardship after hardship to achieve their goal of serving their prince, the historical al-Salih Ayyub. The story concludes with their manumission and rumblings of further conflict on the horizon. Overall, I enjoyed the story, the setting, and the author's writing style!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews