Magog: A Novel of the First City (The First City)

In his follow-up to Uruk: A Novel of the First City, James Zwerneman continues his stunning, action-packed historical adventure series set in ancient Mesopotamia.

Jakka has taken his army and Ki , the genius who helped establish Uruk, north to a rich copper mining village to reestablish Magog’s empire. He starts building a fort, mining copper, recruiting warriors, growing fields of Ki’s wheat, and extracting tribute from vassal villages.

Meanwhile, in Uruk, Sargon is elected lugal, and he helps Uruk prosper. But when he finds out where Jakka is keeping Ki, the hostile council refuses to send military to save her. Sargon realizes he must go himself. He goes with Rogg, his best friend, to rally the north to overthrow Jakka. Nisaba, his advisor, remains behind as his deputy lugal, but she warns him that without his influence, wicked chiefs may tear Uruk apart.

On the journey Sargon is captured and sold to work the mines. There, concealing that he is the famous “Gog Slayer,” he takes on his old name “Ta” and rediscovers his purpose. A natural leader, he inspires his fellow slaves to dig an escape. Rogg, who has escaped capture, rallies a tribe to fight Magog.

What follows is not merely a clash of armies, but a collision between cruelty and order, tyranny and freedom. Magog is a relentless historical epic—where the fate of the ancient world will be decided.