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A review by jmatkinson1
Conqueror by Conn Iggulden
4.0
Mongke has become Khan, son of Tolui and grandson of Genghis, and to cement his rule he creates vast khanates for his close relatives. His brother Hulegu consolidates rule in Persia but youngest brother Kublai is told to go into the east. Kublai is a scholar, not a fighter, but he is of the line of Genghis and he accepts the challenge. Harrying the great Sung empire, Kublai is close to conquest when he hears news of the death of Mongke. When his younger brother Arik-Boke declares himself Khan, Kublai is stung into action and politics to become Khan himself. this divides the Mongol nation and sets family against family.
This final book in the series focuses on Kublai Khan. In the historical notes Iggulden says that he deliberately chose to end the series with Kublai becoming Khan, rather than extend the series to cover his whole life. I think that was a really good call. Iggulden is at his best when writing action, he is less successful at dialogue and politics and this book has plenty of action. At its heart is a strong story, family discord and the movement of Mongol nation from a plains-based nomadic group to a more cultured trading nation and all of this taking place within three generations.
This final book in the series focuses on Kublai Khan. In the historical notes Iggulden says that he deliberately chose to end the series with Kublai becoming Khan, rather than extend the series to cover his whole life. I think that was a really good call. Iggulden is at his best when writing action, he is less successful at dialogue and politics and this book has plenty of action. At its heart is a strong story, family discord and the movement of Mongol nation from a plains-based nomadic group to a more cultured trading nation and all of this taking place within three generations.