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dozylocal's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars (almost a 4). I thoroughly enjoyed this book. This isn't the typical type of book we usually have in our book club, so reading a different gendre was nice. The story moves at a fair pace which means you keep reading to find out what happens next. This is the first book of a series which also works well as a stand-alone. It starts when Genghis Kahn is still around 13 years old racing horses against his brothers in his father's tribe. Sadly his family's fortunes take a sad turn for the worst and he and his family are deserted on the plains and left to die. They somehow manage to survive and the story culminates with Genghis gathering a significant portion of the tribes together to tackle the Tatars invading from the north. The story/series is loosely based in fact but is written like a story rather than a historic novel. All-in-all thoroughly enjoyable and if you're looking for an action-type read for the holidays, highly recommended!
lundos's review against another edition
4.0
This is the first book in a series of five books about Temujin of the Borjigin, also known as Genghis Khan, the Great Khan of the Mongol Empire, one of the greatest Empires in human history (in size at least).
Genghis: Birth of an Empire is the story of the young Temujin and how he was shaped and molded (in pain and suffering) as a child/teen, how he met his wife, rose the level of Khan, his first experience with the Chin, and how he gathers the Mongol tribes through blood, revenge, battle, and utter ruthlessness.
This is historical fiction and therefore the author took certain liberties with the facts, this is more or less explained in the afterword.
I find it hard to rate. On one hand the story is very compelling - you can almost feel the cold wind on the plains. On the other the writing is detailed to a level that makes the story go slow. The last 40% was quicker and more action oriented.
Genghis: Birth of an Empire is the story of the young Temujin and how he was shaped and molded (in pain and suffering) as a child/teen, how he met his wife, rose the level of Khan, his first experience with the Chin, and how he gathers the Mongol tribes through blood, revenge, battle, and utter ruthlessness.
This is historical fiction and therefore the author took certain liberties with the facts, this is more or less explained in the afterword.
I find it hard to rate. On one hand the story is very compelling - you can almost feel the cold wind on the plains. On the other the writing is detailed to a level that makes the story go slow. The last 40% was quicker and more action oriented.
emjay24's review against another edition
4.0
I read Iggulden‘s Caesar series and enjoyed it, so I finally got around to starting his Conqueror series, about Genghis Khan. This first book begins with his father, and then tells the tale of Temujin (Genghis’s original name) and his boyhood, and how he came to unite the tribes. There’s nonstop action, as he goes from being son of a respected Khan to having pretty much less than nothing, then raising himself back up again, with the help of his mother, brothers, and others. The book ends when Temujin is probably in his early 20’s and gives himself his famous name. Temujin actually wrote an autobiography back at some point in his life. The original was lost, but it still exists in translation, and that seems to be a primary source of facts for this volume. I got caught right into the story, and the large book went fast. I learned about Genghis and his family freshman year in college, in history class, but to be honest, I don’t remember much and it didn’t go into this much detail, so I’m excited to read more and see what happens.
wendyh65's review
4.0
My review for Kaiwaka Library:
This novel is the first book in a series about the dynasty of Genghis Khan - though that name is not heard until the end of the book, when the man takes on that name.
It is a fascinating look at the hard lives led by the Mongols, living in a harsh environment that is often frozen, warring against neighbouring tribes including the Tartars, and sometimes simply surviving when the odds are against you.
I found it surprisingly engaging, and am looking forward to more.
This novel is the first book in a series about the dynasty of Genghis Khan - though that name is not heard until the end of the book, when the man takes on that name.
It is a fascinating look at the hard lives led by the Mongols, living in a harsh environment that is often frozen, warring against neighbouring tribes including the Tartars, and sometimes simply surviving when the odds are against you.
I found it surprisingly engaging, and am looking forward to more.
eharper007's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
buoymehome's review against another edition
I picked it up in the boy's shelves to read a bit last night (as I have the book home and then could easily keep going once back at home)
Ended up reading the whole book this afternoon at his place, mystifying him as I managed to read a whole book in mere hours!
Now I'm wondering why I did not get the second book from his shelves as I could have read it this week.
I really like the pacing of the story and even the sound of a movie playing in the room didn't manage to get me out of the book.
Ended up reading the whole book this afternoon at his place, mystifying him as I managed to read a whole book in mere hours!
Now I'm wondering why I did not get the second book from his shelves as I could have read it this week.
I really like the pacing of the story and even the sound of a movie playing in the room didn't manage to get me out of the book.
amrix11's review against another edition
5.0
Hands down my most recommended read for historical fiction. Conn takes a very unique and personal point of view of a character many tag as a 'villain'. Conn forces you to see this cold heartless warrior from a different point of view, and its nothing short of incredible.
The story follows Genghis Khan, from his childhood to adulthood. The things that happened to him in his childhood are amazingly cruel, and you find yourself rooting for him. Then you follow him as he matures and suddenly everything he does makes sense from his point of view and Genghis is no longer a villain as far as the reader is concerned. I love that.
The connection Conn forms between you and the characters are very real. If Conn has a talent, its writing in a way that the reader forms a strong connection with his characters, and that is critical in any fiction novel.
The writing style is very easy and well done, you can "read through it like butter". Its text and descriptive adjectives are rich, the the language easy to understand. The pace is very fast, the battle scenes packed with every kind of emotion, it will leave you breathless.
Excellent book, I can not recommend this series, or author, enough!
The story follows Genghis Khan, from his childhood to adulthood. The things that happened to him in his childhood are amazingly cruel, and you find yourself rooting for him. Then you follow him as he matures and suddenly everything he does makes sense from his point of view and Genghis is no longer a villain as far as the reader is concerned. I love that.
The connection Conn forms between you and the characters are very real. If Conn has a talent, its writing in a way that the reader forms a strong connection with his characters, and that is critical in any fiction novel.
The writing style is very easy and well done, you can "read through it like butter". Its text and descriptive adjectives are rich, the the language easy to understand. The pace is very fast, the battle scenes packed with every kind of emotion, it will leave you breathless.
Excellent book, I can not recommend this series, or author, enough!
drawde's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
eososray's review against another edition
2.0
Alright, I think I've given Iggulden a fair shot now. I've read each of his series and none of them hold any interest for me.
This one has good subject matter but I didn't/don't really care about how Genghis was created or came about. The story smacked too much of the pre-history that I dislike so much. The 'early' years are never my favorite parts of the story.
This did leave me with an interest in the Chinese side of this story rather than the Mongol horde side though.
This one has good subject matter but I didn't/don't really care about how Genghis was created or came about. The story smacked too much of the pre-history that I dislike so much. The 'early' years are never my favorite parts of the story.
This did leave me with an interest in the Chinese side of this story rather than the Mongol horde side though.