The Mantle of the Past is a Literary Titan Gold Book Award winner and the first book in the A Scattering of Leaves Series. Set in The World of Kolgennon and written by Lewis A. D'Ambra. It is placed within the fantasy genre, specifically that of epic fantasy with elements of high fantasy, historical fantasy and sword and sorcery. Kolgennon is a world similar to our own Archaic and Hellenistic Mediterranean and Near East, drawing inspiration from Ancient Greece, Egypt, Mesopotamia and other cultures of that region. The A Scattering of Leaves series follows the events after the death of the King of the Doldun, Tekolger. The Doldun have recently burst from their small kingdom to conquer much of the known world. With an enormous empire the prize, Tekolger's general are locked into a power struggle for the rulership of the world. All the while the conquered peoples plot rebellion and old powers long thought merely myths and legends start to stir.The Mantle of the Past follows the return of the royal army, and the body of the king, from their final campaign in the twilight lands of Zentheldel. As the army marches back to the heart of the empire, schemes unfolded between the generals to seize the king's newborn heir and take power as regent. Meanwhile, exiles from the city of Butophulo take a long and dangerous journey back from a war in the Thelizum valley, back towards their homeland with the hopes of freeing it from the rule of the Doldun.