Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Conqueror: A Novel of Kublai Khan by Conn Iggulden

So you must read these books in order.

1. Genghis: Birth of an Empire
2. Genghis: Lords of the Bow
3. Genghis: Bones of the Hills
4. Khan: Empire of Silver
5. Conqueror: A Novel of Kublai Khan

And, yes, I've read and given them all 5 stars! Love, love, love this series that started with Birth of an Empire, which won the Alex Award when I was on the committee.

The series is wrapping up with this #5--Genghis's grandson Kublai is a scholar who takes after the Chin ways.  After his older brother becomes khan, Kublia is ordered to give up his scholarly traits and go conquer the Song and rule the Chinese lands.  And he does.  Well.  All that book reading and studying of history made Kublai one smart khan.  He romps all over China, taking cities and allowing people to surrender and live if they promise to follow him.  This is a switch--Mongols used to just kill everybody.  It was awesome to see Kublai grow from a scholar into a scholar warrior--he was just downright lethal on a battlefield! So many good decisions about moving troops and surprise attacks and methods of warfare.  This is the kind of book that makes me want to brush up on my military history again.  Love, love, love.  Sorry the series is over, but I'm moving on to his War of the Roses soon!

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