Genghis, the great warrior who lives for his fights, has united the tribes and organized their armies into an effective military machine. He has sent emissaries out to places he has so far not conquered. Now he finds that some of his emissaries have been mutilated and killed, and that has efforts to set up peaceful trade have been rebuffed.

This is not a state of affairs that Genghis will tolerate. So, he marches his vast army west to punish and conquer the Muslim lands of central Asia ruled by Shah Mohammed, and prepares take war to the offenders. He lays siege, prepared to wipe out an Arab city with a garrison of 20.000. Then he learns that the Shah is on his way with a huge force, well equipped and far outnumbering his own forces.

Genghis: Bones of the Hills has vivid descriptions of bloody battles and of masterful sieges. It is also full of political intrigue. My respect for Genghis as a leader, strategist, tactician, and man increased a lot reading this book. The story is well superbly told by Conn Iggulden, who also throws in a number of interesting side plots, including treachery, a deadly rivalry between two of Genghis’ sons, rape and murder of Genghis’ sister, and rise of the shah’s son as a capable enemy.

This is historical fiction at its best. It is very exciting to read, it is fact-based, and it is told as a grand tale. The pace in this book just never lets up! And Genghis Khan, of course, is an exhilarating and heroic figure. Bones of the Hills is a compelling read. I already find myself looking forward to the next book in the series!

Links to the Genghis Khan series and The Secret History of the Mongols: The Origin of Chingis Khan (C & T Asian Culture Series)
at amazon UK, amazon US: Genghis Khan, and amazon CAN: Iggulden: Genghis and The Secret History of the Mongols: The Origin of Chingis Khan.

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