The book begins with the accidental death of Babur's father, and twelve-year-old Babur's ascension to the throne of Ferghana - a small mountain kingdom, a fragment of the mighty empire established by Babur's illustrious ancestor, Timur. With the support of some loyal followers, Babur manages to quell his dissidents, and hold off the threat of the Uzbeks lead by Shaibani Khan. Within a year, Babur conquers Samarkand - the jewel of Timur's empire, and it seems like he is well on his way to fulfilling his destiny as Timur's heir. But the wheel of fortune turns once again - Babur is betrayed by his cousins, and loses not just the throne of Samarkand, but also his birthright, the crown of Ferghana.
This minor setback cannot hold back the true heir of Timur, though. He wins back Samarkand - not once, but twice - each time having to relinquish the throne under heartbreaking circumstances. Finally, accepting that Samarkand is not his destiny, Babur crosses the Hindu Kush mountains to Kabul. As the king of Kabul, Babul achieves stability for the first time - but he is not satisfied. He yearns to follow in the footsteps of Timur, to carve out an empire, to make his ancestors proud. To the west of Kabul, the Shah of Persia and the Uzbeks in Samarkand leave him no room for expansion - Babur turns eastwards, once again following in Timur's footsteps - crossing the mighty Indus to the land of 'dust and diamonds', to Hindustan.
Babur's army is outnumbered by the vast strength of Ibrahim Lodi - but Turkish guns and cannons lead Babur to a victory which would echo down the annals of Indian history. In one stroke, Babur is the master of the Delhi Sultanate, and has laid the foundation of his Mughal dynasty which would go on to rule India for the next four centuries. Nevertheless, his success is tainted with his deep dislike of this new land he has conquered, and he spends his last days yearning for the cool mountain breezes of his homeland - indeed it is dying wish that he be buried in Kabul...
What a brilliant start to the series! I have to admit I'm hooked - can't wait to get my hands on the next book! The author has done a wonderful job of layering the bare bones of factual history with a rich, dazzling tapestry of characters and events. The main characters are all historical, and so are the milestone events - fact and fiction blend seamlessly! I did feel that the Battle of Panipat, and also later, the defeat of Rana Sanga - both, momentous events, which changed the history of India - could have been more detailed. Compared to the bloody descriptions of the Samarkand wars, these are almost tame! But this is a minor quibble - the book surpasses all expectations!
A young dashing hero, a glorious destiny, a lifetime of peril, blood thirsty enemies, intrigues and deception, unwavering loyalty and fealty - 'Raiders from the North' is historical fiction at its best - history that reads like a high-adrenalin fiction thriller! Definitely a must-read!
