Sword and Conquest — Michael Mounts

The Sword-Princess is called to save the Kingdom, nay, save the world from the menace of the Mamluk Empire. The desperate Queen Olympias and her people have suffered long from the Mamluk predations and now they are ready to strike back, if only they had a leader. Ju-Dan, the Living-Saint of the Steel Blade answers the call of a people in need. Driven by an ambition to do great things, Ju-Dan contorts herself to the political machinations of the environment so that she can gain a position of power, and then lead a war against an enemy that massively outnumbers her army. From beginning to end Ju-Dan never stops maneuvering to overcome her enemies, be they military, political, or spiritual. Ju-Dan is changing that she might fulfil inward desires she only now is realizing. At one time she only sought to be the greatest sword-hand ever seen. Now Ju-Dan seeks to conquer the entire face of the entire world.