Sarantium is the golden city: holy to the faithful, exalted by the poets, jewel of the world and heart of an empire. The artisan Caius Crispus accepts a mysterious summons from the emperor and sets off on a journey toward the distant city. But before Crispin can reach Sarantium, with its taverns and gilded sanctuaries, chariot races and palaces, he must pass through a land of pagan ritual and mortal danger.

In this first volume of the Sarantine Mosaic, Guy Gavriel Kay weaves an utterly compelling story of the allure and intrigue of a magnificent city and the people drawn into its spell.

“Sailing to Sarantium is an intricately plotted, fascinating historical novel and a moving story. Kay's distinctive prose style always flows smoothly and sometimes reaches strikingly beautiful depths.”—The Winnipeg Free Press

“A spellbinding tale … the chapters speed by as you lose yourself in passages that are indescribably elegant … Simply one of the most beautifully written books I have read in ages.”—The Evening Telegram (St. John's)

“Kay at his finest. Sarantium itself is vast, sumptuous, and dangerous … Beneath the shining authorial handiwork lies something closer to Yeatsian miracle...”—Locus

“Sailing to Sarantium confirms, yet again, Kay's status as one of our most accomplished and engaging storytellers.”—Toronto Star