Under Heaven

"Under Heaven" is a historical fantasy novel published in 2010 that follows a man named Shen Tai in a fictionalized version of Tang Dynasty China, called Kitai. Tai inadvertently sparks a political crisis after receiving the extraordinary gift of 250 Heavenly Horses. This volatile gift thrusts him into the center of imperial intrigue.

Yes, the novel is a "quarter turn to the fantastic" based heavily on the real history of China's Tang Dynasty in the 8th century. Kay uses a fictionalized version of China (Kitai) to explore the An Lushan Rebellion. The famous Heavenly Horses are also drawn from actual historical accounts of Chinese emperorship.

Yes, it is followed by "River of Stars," published in 2013. The sequel is set in the same universe but takes place 400 years later, drawing inspiration from the Song Dynasty rather than the Tang Dynasty. Reading the first book is highly recommended to understand the foundational history of the world.

The primary protagonist is Shen Tai, a scholarly man who spent two years burying the bones of fallen soldiers at a remote battlefield. His act of piety leads a neighboring kingdom to gift him 250 magnificent Sardian horses. The novel explores his perilous journey to survive the political fallout of accepting such a gift.