[The Elysian Dynasy 01] • The Swords of the Sultan

*Alternate cover edition for ISBN 1456577670 / ISBN13 9781456577674*

Deep within the heart of an ancient city ruled by a powerful empire, a young orphan named Baltor struggles to survive. Daily, this boy must drink from dirty animal troughs, and steal food, which by imperial law, theft means at least the loss of his hand--perhaps even his life! Inevitably the day comes when Baltor does get caught stealing a link of sausage. Fortunately for him, he is not apprehended by a guard, but by an exotic and beautiful woman named Lady Lydia, who offers to train him to become "a master thief" like herself. Not having any other options in life, Baltor agrees. The two next travel to this "top secret" underground labyrinth located beneath the city, where expert thief-training areas had been built 5 centuries earlier. There, the boy begins his difficult, deadly and hellish training under the watchful eye of a strict & cruel drill instructor named Humonus. And this is where author J. Eric Booker's fantasy/adventure only just begins...