Ertugrul: Apparently, Destiny Called (Book 1)

Synopsis

Welcome to the 13th century, where being a nomadic Turkish tribe leader in Anatolia was apparently *not* complicated enough. Enter Ertugrul, son of Suleyman Shah, inheriting... well, not much, except a whole lot of trouble. Surrounded by the crumbling Seljuk Sultanate, the terrifying Mongol horde, and the ever-present Byzantines, our hero and his loyal band of companions (who are surprisingly good with axes, considering the circumstances) decide this is the perfect time to not just survive, but *thrive*. And by 'thrive', we mean conquer territories and spread Islam, because, you know, why not? This first installment in the 'Ertugrul: Apparently, Destiny Called' series chronicles the initial, slightly improbable, steps of a man who apparently didn't get the memo about sticking to his own lane. Witness the early struggles, the formation of key alliances (and betrayals, obviously), and the moments where Ertugrul decides that fighting overwhelming odds is just a Tuesday. Featuring a cast of characters who are entirely too brave for their own good, this book is a must-read for history buffs who enjoy watching a small group of underdogs decide they're actually destined to change the world. Spoiler alert: they kind of do.