Lords of the Bow

Starred review from January 7, 2008
Iggulden, coauthor of the megaseller The Dangerous Book for Boys
, continues his masterful series on Genghis Khan (following Genghis: Birth of an Empire
) with another vividly imagined chapter. In the debut volume, the Great Khan rises from the barren plains of central Asia to unify the scattered Mongol tribes into a nation. Here, Genghis turns to the conquest of the “bloated, wealthy” cities of the Chin, or Chinese, Kingdom. Aided by his brothers Kachiun and Khasar, Genghis strikes first against the Xi Xia Kingdom south of the Gobi Desert—a route into China that circumvents the Great Wall. The Mongols’ insatiable quest to conquer drives the narrative, but Iggulden deftly weaves several intriguing character-driven subplots into the saga, including tales of sibling rivalry between Genghis’s two eldest sons and the cupidity of a powerful and enigmatic shaman. Borrowing from history and legend, Iggulden reimagines the iconic conqueror on a more human scale—larger-than-life surely, but accessible and even sympathetic. Iggulden’s Genghis series is shaping up as a triumph of historical fiction.

March 1, 2008
The second installment (after "Genghis: Birth of an Empire") in Iggulden's historical saga about Genghis Khan finds the Mongolian warlord consolidating his power over the tribes of his homeland and casting his eyes toward the temptations of the rich but decadent empire of the Chin (modern-day China). As in the first volume, Iggulden believably portrays the superstitious mysticism and ruthless realpolitik of the age without losing sight of his characters' fundamental humanity. His Genghis, although an uncanny and ruthless military genius, still has very human concerns about family and tribe, even as he evolves from an upstart border warlord to a fearsome conqueror. Readers who enjoy well-researched tales of historical adventure with an emphasis on political intrigue, exotic settings, and military conflict will enjoy the ride. For all popular fiction collections. [See Prepub Alert, "LJ" 11/1/07.]Bradley A. Scott, Brighton Dist. Lib., MI

Copyright 2008 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2008
Adult/High School-This novel begins where "Genghis: Birth of an Empire" (Delacorte, 2007) leaves off. After defeating the last of the Mongol tribes, Genghis, with his formidable army, sets his sights toward the Chin, whom he has long vowed to conquer. He has become a fearsome force who, with his ruthlessness and cunning need to vanquish, will lead his army to unfathomable victories. Along the way, readers are introduced to the devious shaman Kokchu and witness the troubled relationship between Genghis and his first born, the dynamics between Genghis and his brothers, and Genghis's complicated romantic interests. Treachery, intrigue, and rivalry carry the powerful story to its satisfying conclusion, though with the understanding that there will be a third novel that will likely continue with the next generation. Iggulden is a master storyteller who keeps readers hooked with the unexpected twists and turns of an intriguing plot along with insightful character development. A real page-turner."Jane Ritter, Mill Valley School District, CA"

Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.