The Christian Patriarch of Constantinople is fighting a holy war against the forces of Islam. His attempts to rally the support of European countries fail to give him the strength he desires against the pushes of Islam. Fearing defeat, he sends his attracts the fantastic Christian ruler in the East, Prester John – for the Patriarch was once a guy named Kostas, a beginner in the service of John, long before he became king. The Patriarch’s message, apparently via divine providence, manages to mix into the world of about The Folded Globe John’s Kingdom, where John’s devotion to Christ overcomes his wife’s misgivings. To Hagia, Christianity and Islam are similarly foreign to her and her world, and neither is worth fighting for, or against. The Kingdom rallies behind John’s banner, and his magical hosts march over the worlds. The nearer the armies of Prester John arrive to Jerusalem, the more info reaches the Patriarch as to its nature, and the much less comfy he feels along with his alliance. Can John and his armies save Jerusalem? Will the Patriarch stay an alley, or turn into a dangerous enemy? And what will happen to the worlds given that an military provides breached the barriers between them? Mythopoeic Honor champion Catherynne M. Valente continues to re-imagine the legends of the center Ages, making a rich fantasy tapestry that has captivated the imaginations of modern readers. “Valente can be writing the smartest, gentlest, deepest work in the field, and she’s sufficient to do it. I remain in awe.” ~ Daniel Abraham, author of The Long Cost Quartet “Valente can be a modern-day Scheherazade.” ~ SFSite