Lost In The Wind

Historical fiction · Ancient Rome & Parthia

Lost in the WindSaga

A historical novel series by Peyman Golkar

Rome takes his freedom. A Roman noblewoman puts his loyalties to the test.

Defeated in battle and sold into slavery, the Parthian commander Surena enters Constantia’s household determined to return home. As captivity gives way to a dangerous attachment, freedom becomes a choice that could cost him the woman he loves.

Explore the books See the reading order
  • Two books published
  • English & Persian editions
  • Book III in progress
The Captive Commander by Peyman Golkar, 3D book cover
Book I · Begin hereThe Captive Commander
The Crimson Return by Peyman Golkar, 3D book cover
Book II · The story continuesThe Crimson Return

The published novels

The books of Lost in the Wind

Follow Surena from captivity in Rome to a troubled homecoming in Parthia. Begin with The Captive Commander, then continue with The Crimson Return.

The Captive Commander by Peyman Golkar, English edition cover

Book I · Start the series

The Captive Commander

He knows how to command an army. Now he must learn to live under another’s command.

Sold into the household of the Roman noblewoman Constantia, Surena must conceal his identity and survive a life in which even his name is no longer his own. An unlikely friendship with a fellow slave offers an ally, while his defiance brings him into conflict with the woman who owns him.

As hostility gives way to desire, their unequal bond puts his longing for freedom to the test. Beyond the palace, unrest threatens the fragile life they have begun to build.

Available on Amazon. Choose your edition:

English edition Persian edition
The Crimson Return by Peyman Golkar, English edition cover

Book II · Read after The Captive Commander

The Crimson Return

Home restores his rank. It cannot give him back the woman he left in Rome.

Surena returns to Parthia to find a besieged frontier and a royal court divided by ambition. Restored to command, he is drawn into a struggle over succession as rebellion and the threat of Rome demand his loyalty.

From desperate city defenses to delicate negotiations in the East, each new duty delays his return to Constantia. To reach her, he must carry the war back toward Rome, where political bargains may prove as dangerous as the battlefield.

Available on Amazon. Choose your edition:

English edition Persian edition

Inside the world of the novels

From Roman households to the courts of Parthia

Power changes its form as Surena travels. In Rome, it belongs to the people who own him. At home, it lies in royal favor, family alliances, and the armies he must lead. Each setting asks something different of the man he has become.

Illustration of Rome for the Lost in the Wind novels
Rome

Beyond the palace walls

The city extends from wealthy households and imperial audiences to crowded streets and fighting pits. Beyond the protection of a powerful name, food, shelter, and a trusted companion can matter more than rank.

Illustration of Constantia's Red Palace in the saga
Constantia’s household

The Red Palace

Servants, guards, and the woman who commands them live within a strict hierarchy. An order can offer protection or bring punishment. Here, Surena must learn whose help to accept, when to resist, and what trust might cost.

Illustration of the eastern lands of the Lost in the Wind saga
Parthia & the East

A homeland under pressure

The journey east leads through the royal court at Ctesiphon, frontier cities, and the distant court of Taxila. Disputes over succession and uneasy alliances draw Surena into conflicts that military skill alone cannot settle.

Reading order

Where to start with Lost in the Wind

Read the novels in publication order. They follow one continuing story, so start with The Captive Commander before moving on to The Crimson Return.

  1. Book I

    Published

    The Captive Commander

    Start here. Meet Surena, Constantia, and Gannicus in the novel that establishes their relationships and the choices that shape the series.

    Explore Book I

  2. Book II

    Published

    The Crimson Return

    Continue after Book I. Surena’s return to Parthia opens the story to court rivalries and wider conflicts, carrying forward the relationships of the first novel.

    Explore Book II

  3. Book III

    In progress

    The Imperial Fury

    Currently being written. The next novel follows the consequences of Book II, as Surena faces new struggles over power, loyalty, and the people he hopes to protect.

    Get Book III updates

Books I and II are available in English and Persian. Choose your edition in the book introductions above; the reading order is the same in either language.

Characters & chronicles

The people who shape Surena’s story

A mistress accustomed to obedience. A companion who survives by his wits. A princess with ambitions of her own. Meet six characters from the novels, without revealing where their stories end.

Character illustration of Constantia

Roman noblewoman

Constantia

Wealth gives Constantia command of her household, but little practice in accepting refusal. Surena’s defiance challenges her authority and exposes the distance between possessing someone and earning his trust.

Character illustration of Amphilica

Keeper of the household

Amphilica

A freedwoman entrusted with managing Constantia’s household, Amphilica knows its rules and the cost of breaking them. Her concern for Surena makes the boundary between duty and personal feeling increasingly difficult to maintain.

Character illustration of Gannicus

Thracian companion

Gannicus

Gannicus understands dangers that military rank never taught Surena to see. Practical, wary, and quick with a joke, he becomes an ally in captivity while holding on to his own hopes for a life beyond it.

Character illustration of Galia

The emperor’s daughter

Galia

Galia understands how a favor, a secret, or a promise can alter someone’s future. Her interest in Surena brings him close to imperial power, where accepting help may leave him with an obligation he cannot easily escape.

Character illustration of Atusa

Parthian princess

Atusa

Atusa remembers Surena from childhood. His return brings personal hopes into a court where marriage carries political weight, and where what she wants may differ from what others have planned for her.

Character illustration of Marduk

Heir to the Parthian throne

Marduk

Marduk expects his birthright to secure his future. Surena’s return and growing standing at court unsettle that certainty, bringing the prince’s resentment into a struggle over who deserves the king’s trust.

The reading experience

What to expect from the saga

For readers who enjoy historical adventure with a strong focus on relationships. The story moves between close personal encounters, court intrigue, and military campaigns, with Surena’s loyalties tested in each.

Begin with The Captive Commander

  • Love under unequal power

    Surena and Constantia meet as slave and owner. Their attraction grows amid conflict over obedience, dignity, and freedom, making trust difficult even when desire draws them together.

  • Friendship beyond rank

    Gannicus brings humor and practical judgment to Surena’s struggle. Their friendship gives the story room for companionship and the ordinary hope of building a life beyond war.

  • An expanding stage

    Book I centers on captivity and relationships in Rome. Book II broadens the story into succession disputes, sieges, and diplomacy, as Surena’s personal wishes compete with the duties of command.

Peyman Golkar, author of the Lost in the Wind Saga
Peyman Golkar
About the Author

Peyman Golkar, Author of Lost in the Wind Saga

Peyman Golkar is the author of the Lost in the Wind Saga, a historical epic series shaped by themes of empire, exile, captivity, forbidden love, memory, identity, and the long shadow of war.

Drawing on a deep fascination with ancient worlds and emotionally driven storytelling, his work follows broken heroes, powerful women, impossible choices, and the fragile line between survival and surrender.

“I wanted to write a story where history, love, pride, and loss are not separate forces — but chains wrapped around the same human heart.”
Genre Historical fiction, epic drama, ancient-world romance
Series Lost in the Wind Saga
Editions Available in English and Persian on Amazon
Read Full Bio Contact the Author
Reader Praise

What Readers Say About The Captive Commander

Real reader responses to the first book of Lost in the Wind Saga — a historical epic of Ancient Rome, Parthia, captivity, power, romance, politics, and unexpected turns.

Five-Star Review
★★★★★
“

I was extremely pleased and hooked after the first chapter. His style is simple yet very effective to grab you and keep you in the story. Ancient Rome, Parthia, politics, romance and unexpected turns will keep you emotionally engaged.

Julien L'Hermet March 23, 2026
Five-Star Review
★★★★★
“

This book turned out to be an unexpected jewel. I loved the power dynamics between Constantia and Surena. It has action, romance, intrigue — and I would absolutely recommend it.

Ra April 1, 2026
Five-Star Review
★★★★★
“

I had such a great time reading this. It hooked me right from the start. The action kept things exciting, the characters felt really engaging, and the setting was beautifully described.

Hamid May 3, 2026

These five-star reader excerpts are shortened for display. Full reviews may appear on Amazon, Goodreads, or reader platforms where the book is listed.

Explore the Books Join the Reader List