A Delicate Balance – How The Sky Worshipers Weaves Fiction and History
In a recent review of F.M. Deemyad’s upcoming debut novel, The Sky Worshipers, Goodreads user “B.” writes:
“I have to admit, this one surprised me. I expected yet another historical fiction that was light on the history, but Deemyad really put the research in on this one and it shows. What's even more impressive is that Deemyad was able to integrate not only the historical facts, but was able to show, not tell, how those events influenced the people affected by those events. I was thoroughly impressed.”
Deemyad’s debut novel will be officially released on March 2, 2021 and can be Pre-Ordered Now. Or, click the cover image to learn more.
This review is a perfect reflection of our goal as a press. We publish historical fiction that is based on a strong foundation of research. Unlike most historical fiction, we strive to share with readers the sources of that research by including a variety of traditionally nonfiction elements such as a bibliography or list of recommended resources. Our stories are not only engaging for their ability to bring history to life, but informative for their ability to convey historical facts.
It is a delicate balance to create an engrossing fictional story while also including real historical facts and details. But, as observed by Goodreads reviewer “B.”, F.M. Deemyad strikes that balance in her novel of Mongol Conquests, The Sky Worshipers. Let’s briefly explore how Deemyad achieves this balance.
First, the author begins her novel with a detailed introduction which cannot be praised highly enough. In the first few paragraphs Deemyad provides a general, all-encompassing view of Genghis Khan and the Mongol Empire effectively grounding the reader in the historical context of her story. She goes on to describe her own background and interest in Mongol history. This has the effect establishing what’s often called in fiction, “establishing a contract with the reader.” It builds trust in the storyteller. From this point Deemyad describes her research which establishes transparency and further builds trust. Then, she writes about the challenging process of focussing her research and turning that research into a fictional novel. Finally, she describes her creative process of discovering and developing characters to share her research as a compelling, humanized story. The entire introduction works as an incredibly effective way to usher readers into the world of the Mongols, ready and willing to follow the storyteller where she leads them.
Within the narrative, Deemyad utilizes many tools to share historically relevant information in an engaging manner. Perhaps the most effective of these is the first-person perspective of her four female protagonists. In particular, the journal entries of three of those protagonists which are dispersed throughout the story. The women are real historical figures—princesses who were kidnapped by the Mongols and forced to live in isolation as wives to Genghis Khan and his progeny. By using the voice of these women, once lost to history, Deemyad opens a window into the world of the 13th century conquerors in a way that is historically revealing and deeply captivating. The first of these journal entries is shared as an excerpt below. Read it carefully and take note of all the historical information that is delicately woven through the moving human experience of her female protagonist, Chaka.
First Entry by Chaka:
As spring turns over its command of the world to summer, then summer surrenders its reign to autumn and autumn to winter, I watch the change of seasons, lamenting each day for separating me from my family. Temujin (Genghis Khan) forbids me from having any contact with them for fear that they will influence him through me.
I wonder where my sisters are and how my parents are doing. I felt resentful at first that my father had given me away so cavalierly. But I now realize that he had had no choice. The only thing that puts my mind at ease is the fact that through my marriage to Temujin and the ensuing peace treaty between my nation and his, the Tangut people are safe from Mongol attacks and atrocities.
For Temujin who was forty-six-years-old when we married, taking on another wife was not a complicated matter, for the Mongols married multiple wives during their lifetimes. His first love, Borte, only a few years younger than him when they first met, would always retain her much-respected status among the clan.
When I first arrived in Mongolia, adapting to life in this punishing environment was difficult to do. The cold weather, the recurrent thunderstorms, the long stretch of grassland in which rarely any other vegetation grows, make one rather melancholy. There are hills and mountains beyond that I dare not venture toward. Though my bones are delicate, my stubborn soul refuses to succumb to despair.
Civilizations are far away. The Mongols do not understand the rules of other nations or their own limitations, and because of that, they display outstanding courage. They hunt humans as they hunt beasts. To them, the objective justifies the means as they seek victory at all costs.
Ignorance can be an advantage, while knowledge at times is an impediment. For these warriors, ignorance means greater self-confidence; with their aggrandized self-praise, they see no limit to their ambitions. If they can slaughter a bear, if they can kill a lion, they can certainly overcome foreign warriors.
The Mongols abhor the feeling of being inferior to others, and they want to get even. If the other nations have superior literature and poetry, if they possess artisans and capable architects, the Mongols have enough brutality to win wars, and by gaining power through violence, they can capture those artisans and engineers. No civilized mind could resist such brute force.
Men wear long robes they called deel and flat boots of leather with fur lining that reach up to their knees. Fur-lined pointed hats cover the backs of warriors’ necks as well as their ears while the commanders wear metal helmets. The clothing of women looks much more colorful, and their headwear is more elaborate than that of men. I like their attire, especially the embroidered fabrics of lighter weight women wear during warmer months.
Life lacks permanency here, and I find the transience difficult to bear. Being the wife of Genghis Khan, I live in one of the fancier gers. The entire felt structure is rolled away at times, placed on oxen and carried off to where the whim of the Khan decrees.
The routines established in sedentary civilizations and considered the norm there, such as public welfare and taxation, are lacking here. Also lacking, are codes, regulations, and guidelines that bring order to society. I have spoken to Temujin on several occasions about this. That one must establish a society on some form of structure and devise rules for it. I mentioned that Mongolia needs overseers of activities such as building of roads and bridges within the different jurisdictions. Each overseer must then be held accountable by higher ranking officials who in turn must report regularly to the Mongol court.
At first, he would feel offended that a woman was trying to teach him things, but when scholars from the territories of the Jin and Song Dynasties captured by the Mongols gave him the same advice, he relented. Make no mistake; he is indeed a genius in military matters. But he grew up in the wilderness. He is now considering devising a statute of some sort, a body of laws he calls Yassa that would be implemented in all the territories where the Mongols rule.
I must add that one of the best souvenirs the Mongols brought with them from conquered territories is this manuscript upon which I am writing my first entry. The moment I laid eyes on it, I knew it was meant for me to fill its pages. Temujin has some foreign historians at his service and does not permit any other writing about the Mongols. This manuscript must remain hidden or my life will be at risk.
Temujin has left for the warfront; therefore, I feel safe that he would not suddenly walk in and see this. The fire in the pit has died out, and it is getting cold in my ger. I will have to cut short my writing, but I will return to it at every chance.
The Sky Worshipers is Deemyad’s debut novel. It is available for Pre-Order now and will be officially released on March 2, 2021. You can learn more by visiting the book’s landing page. Paperback and ebook formats of the novel are available now direct through the publisher. Click the links below to pre-order your copy or get your copy now.
