La luz de Medina

The Caliphate of Córdoba, under the rule of al-Hakam II, has become the light of the West. Medina Azahara, a palatial city, shines as a symbol of power and allure, and the great Caliphal library aspires to gather all the knowledge of the known world. However, it is in the suburbs, far from the strict protocol of the court, where the destinies of two humble young men will intersect: Lubna, a scribe of Christian origin, who will dedicate his life to knowledge, and Abi Amir, a law student, who will use talent and strategy to become Almanzor, the Victorious. United by a shared admiration, both will become witnesses and protagonists of the transformation of this al-Andalus at its zenith. But in the marble and water paradise of Medina Azahara, every move has a price. And little by little, it seems that something is beginning to crack. The caliph has no successor, alliances are fragile, and only a risky plan can guarantee the continuity of the Umayyad dynasty. When the heir is finally born, his secret could shatter the foundations of the caliphate. In a powerful epic set in 10th-century Córdoba, The Light of Medina narrates the rise to power of Almanzor and the inner conflict of a woman who, called upon to safeguard the truth, conceals the most monstrous of lies. A novel about forbidden love, loyalties, betrayals, and destiny, and also about ambition and how it inevitably leads to conflict. And all of this, set to the rhythm of the Quranic surahs and with the rigor of historical chronicles, is what Emma Lira brilliantly and unexpectedly tells us. Two parallel lives, two absolutely fascinating real-life figures: Almanzor, the great Arab military leader, and Lubna, the librarian of Córdoba. And a historical period as alluring as it is magical.