The Lion of Sabray: The Afghan Warrior Who Defied the Taliban and Saved the Life of Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell

In 2013’s Lone Survivor, thriller novelist and nonfiction author Robinson skillfully told the story of a Navy SEAL mission in Afghanistan gone awry. The disaster left Marcus Luttrell alone and injured before a dramatic rescue by Mohammad Gulab, a former Pashtun mujahideen. In this follow-up, Robinson shares the equally remarkable story of Gulab, who saved Luttrell and nursed him back to life while protecting him from Taliban attackers. Gulab, known as the Lion due to his fierce combat against Soviet invaders, commanded respect within his remote village, which allowed him to risk harboring an American soldier. Robinson artfully builds tension as Gulab, Luttrell, and Afghani soldiers play a cat-and-mouse game with Taliban fighters in treacherous mountain terrain. He reveals Gulab as a devout but conflicted man struggling to communicate with his charge and come to peace with his choice. The book’s sole flaw is Robinson’s rush to wrap up the narrative after Luttrell’s retrieval by American forces, though he does offer updates on Luttrell’s efforts to reconnect with Gulab and the American effort to help rebuild Gulab’s village as a form of repayment. Fans of Robinson’s previous book will find this an insightful and inspiring companion piece. [em](Nov.) [/em]