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despenkhenk's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
3.5
waqasmhd's review
5.0
its been a while since i read some great historical fiction, and i am a sucker for history books especially the medieval age when swords ruled the hearts.
we all know Genghis khan to be one of the greatest conquerors but i had never read a book about Genghis khan, so i was very interested and knew that i was going to like this book.
this is a solid book. highly entertaining and almost read like an adventure movie.
this book takes you to the origins of Genghis khan. from the time he was born (as Temujin) and the day he called himself Genghis khan.
the good thing about this book is that its not written only from Genghis khan's perspective. you are given the chance to understand what goes on in the mind of most of the characters, especially the villain (Eeluk- Genghis father's loyal bondsman). you are left to decide whether what Eeluk did after Genghis's father died would be a natural reaction of any trusted bondsman in the event of a tribal leader's death.
whatever you decide, Genghis believed in the unity of all people.
it was great to know how Temujin became Genghis and the great conqueror as we know him today.
samanthagoodman787's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
clayjd's review
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
donnaadouglas's review against another edition
5.0
Wowee wow wow wow!!! I can't remember the last time I was so drawn in by a novel. It's a rare occurance these days so it's high praise for a novel to do that to me!
The story of Temudgin - young Genghis Khan - is certainly one full of adventure and drama. His heroism and strength of will are admirable to say the least, and make for page-turning events.
Iggulden needs to take a lot of credit for making this story so enthralling. It shows him to have a lot of talent at writing historical fiction. He sticks closely to historical fact (and clearly admits in his afterword where he has strayed from the truth and why), taking artistic liberties where there are holes in the story and in order to 'flesh it out' without sacrificing too much of the truth surrounding the khan's life.
This is a series I will definitely continue, and I only hope that the second installment lives up to the first.
The story of Temudgin - young Genghis Khan - is certainly one full of adventure and drama. His heroism and strength of will are admirable to say the least, and make for page-turning events.
Iggulden needs to take a lot of credit for making this story so enthralling. It shows him to have a lot of talent at writing historical fiction. He sticks closely to historical fact (and clearly admits in his afterword where he has strayed from the truth and why), taking artistic liberties where there are holes in the story and in order to 'flesh it out' without sacrificing too much of the truth surrounding the khan's life.
This is a series I will definitely continue, and I only hope that the second installment lives up to the first.
zaphod46's review against another edition
3.0
Other historical fiction pieces I have read tend to be period pieces, but Genghis, as you can probably tell from the title, focuses on a real historical figure. Iggulden, then, needs to tell his story while knowing that everyone else knows how it will eventually end. It is very nice of him to include a brief addendum describing where he varies from known history and where he filled in some gaps.
Instead of focusing on plot twists or eureka moments, the emphasis is on story telling. The storytelling, however, is only OK. It moves quickly, but what I remember is only plot, not descriptions or even any particular characters. It is hard to get to know a character when all he does is fight, think about fighting, and practice not talking or showing emotion.
Instead of focusing on plot twists or eureka moments, the emphasis is on story telling. The storytelling, however, is only OK. It moves quickly, but what I remember is only plot, not descriptions or even any particular characters. It is hard to get to know a character when all he does is fight, think about fighting, and practice not talking or showing emotion.
johnbreeden's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book, contrary to what I expected. The character development was done quite well, along with the blending of the story and the action. I respect the author's choice to make some alterations in telling the tale - to the extent that this is historical "fiction." The last section helps to make some of this clear. In the same way, I respect what must have been a mountain of research to climb. This novel seems to hold firm to its connections with the historical basis while breathing life into its characters.
pmullane11's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
suzemo's review against another edition
4.0
This book was quite an excellent audiobook (read by one of my favorites - Stefan Rudnicki).
It literally starts with the birth of Temujin (the future Genghis) and follows his life until he starts consolidating power. It's definitely a historical fiction in that it changes a few things around to make the storytelling smoother, but it does make for an engaging story (if a bit slow with the pacing to start).
It literally starts with the birth of Temujin (the future Genghis) and follows his life until he starts consolidating power. It's definitely a historical fiction in that it changes a few things around to make the storytelling smoother, but it does make for an engaging story (if a bit slow with the pacing to start).
dantastic's review against another edition
4.0
Temujin, the son of Yesugei, khan of the Wolves, goes to a neighboring tribe to find a wife. While he's away, his father is murdered by a gang of Tartars. Worse still, his father's friend usurps the role of khan and leaves Temujin and his family to die on the steppe. Can Temujin and his family survive long enough to get revenge on the Tartars and regain control of the Wolves?
The story of Temujin and his rise to uniting the tribes against the Tartars is a powerful one. Temujin goes through a lot of hell from the age of twelve onward, from being abandoned on the steppe during winter, to being imprisoned in a pit and being urinated on, to having his wife kidnapped and raped by Tartars. Once he started uniting the tribes, even I felt like riding with the young khan. While he's not always likeable, he's definitely a charismatic character.
The action scenes were by far the highlight of the book. People get peppered with arrows or hacked to death by swords on a fairly regular basis. While Iggulden plays fast and loose with history, it's still a great story. And since I'm already aware I'm reading fiction, I don't really care about historical accuracy. Iggulden's writing makes for an engaging read. You will not easily be able to put this down.
The story of Temujin and his rise to uniting the tribes against the Tartars is a powerful one. Temujin goes through a lot of hell from the age of twelve onward, from being abandoned on the steppe during winter, to being imprisoned in a pit and being urinated on, to having his wife kidnapped and raped by Tartars. Once he started uniting the tribes, even I felt like riding with the young khan. While he's not always likeable, he's definitely a charismatic character.
The action scenes were by far the highlight of the book. People get peppered with arrows or hacked to death by swords on a fairly regular basis. While Iggulden plays fast and loose with history, it's still a great story. And since I'm already aware I'm reading fiction, I don't really care about historical accuracy. Iggulden's writing makes for an engaging read. You will not easily be able to put this down.