Published by Dell Fiction, this 528 page work is the first book in Conn Iggulden's new Genghis series. It's historical fiction of the highest quality! The richness of the work is the result of the author's in depth research and actual time spent in Mongolia living among the descendants of the Mongol hordes discussing history over salted tea and vodka.

Very little of the actual recorded history of Genghis Khan exists. The landmark work entitled The Secret History of the Mongols which was commissioned by Genghis was destroyed, however, another version originally written in Chinese survives. According to Iggulden, his chief reference source was a translation of this Chinese version into English by Arthur Waley. As a result, Conn Iggulden's book, Genghis, is an accurate and realistic, yet fictional, account of the rise of Temujin of the Borjigin (the Blue Wolves).

The book begins with the day Temujin was born to Yesugei the Khan of the Borjign or Blue Wolves tribe. It tells in graphic and gritty imagery the story of Temujin's youth and the near death experiences and trials which forged him into the most formidable ruler the world has ever known.

The action is believable and the book is a page burner. All of the subtleties of Temujin's world are there, woven into the action - driving the reader forward through the book. Not only are we given a realistic taste of the harsh cruelties of life in the Mongol tribes we are allowed to glimpse into the machinations of the Chin court as it plays one Mongol tribe off against another. In fact, it was these very machinations which opened Temujin's eyes to the realities of the greater world around him.

Conn Iggulden lives with his wife and three children in Herfordshire, England. His previous works chronicle the life of Julius Caesar and in the following books:

• Emperor: The Gates of Rome
• Emperor: The Death of Kings
• Emperor: The Field of Swords
• Emperor: The Gods of War

The follow-up novel to Genghis: Birth of an Empire, is Genghis: Lords of the Bow. Conn Iggulden's book is a spell-binding read and worth every penny. He deserves a two thumbs up rating.