Bones of the Hills is the third book in Iggulden’s sweeping epic of the rise of Genghis and the Mongols. In Birth of an Empire, Iggulden traces Genghis’ rise from an outlawed boy to the uniting of the Mongol tribes. It was a great book and a promising start to what should have been an excellent trilogy.

In the second book, Lords of the Bow, the story started to unravel for me. I read the book on the heels of finishing Birth of an Empire. Looking back, perhaps I wasn’t prepared for the change in tone from following Genghis very intimately, to viewing the entire Mongol nation from a distance. The scope of the story changed, and I wasn’t that impressed. In it, the Mongols invade China and destroy hundreds of cities.

I took my time getting to the third book. I wanted to finish the series, but I was concerned that it was going to be more like the second book than it was like the first. In that, I was correct. It didn’t follow just Genghis like it did in the first. It did follow his sons, brothers, and top generals, though. Perhaps it was the time away from the first book in the series that made it more enjoyable in the third than in the first. Or perhaps it was the invigorating battle scenes and intricate discussions of Mongol tactics and their ability to change the rules of war when presented with challenges.

Whatever it was, it worked. I was captivated by this book from the first page and had trouble setting it down at night. A few scenes stand out as memorable: A cavalry chase across hundreds of miles in the dead of night, a mano y tiger fight to the death, and a scene of loyalty and sadness involving a wayward son of Genghis that was surprising, merciless and heartbreaking all at the same time. This book truly showed why Genghis was feared throughout the world. His army was mobile, fast, and devoid of mercy.

If you like historical fiction, you will be a fan of the Genghis series that Iggulden has crafted. The first and third books are truly memorable. I wasn’t a big fan of the middle book, but I may have to go back and revisit it. Maybe I missed something.

Rating: 4 out of 5  (What’s This?)

Gates of Fire by this same author is one of my all time favorites. If I read it again soon, it will receive the coveted five star status. Killing Rommel will not get five stars, but it’s better than I thought it would be, and that’s a huge plus for Pressfield.

In this instance, I did Judge a Book by its cover. Or rather, by its cover price. I don’t know what’s going on in the world of publishing, but to expect me to be happy with paying $15 for an oversized paperback version of a short book is insane. I was upset by this that I purposely didn’t buy the book for a long time as my own little personal boycott. The only reason I ended up with it is because I forgot to take it off my Amazon wishlist and I received it for Christmas.

So, I began the book on a very sour note. The story started out a little slow for me, but picked up gear as the main character, “Chap” joins the Long Range Desert Group on a mission to kill the German General in North Africa, Erwin Rommel. The story takes many twists and turn. The description of the loneliness of the desert really rings through, especially interspersed with chaotic gunfights and repetitive manual labor, and a chronic shortage of supplies.

I was too often confused by the names of secondary characters and locations in the desert, but wasn’t too interested in keeping track of them. They all seemed ancillary to the story. As for the story itself, I wasn’t sold on it until the last twenty pages. The conclusion was top notch and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

If you can find this story at the library or borrow it from a friend, definitely do so. Otherwise, consider getting a Kindle so you can put an end to the ridiculous new paperback sizes and their oversized prices.

Rating: 3 out of 5  (What’s This?)

The final book in the praised series by Manfredi was not as bad as the second book in the series. I am sure this book suffers from loss in translation. There are things that should be joshing between friends or emotional scenes that should elicit a strong response from the reader, but for me, it fell flat.

I was happy to see the trilogy through to the end. The story of Alexander is one that demands as many retellings as we are willing to give it. Manfredi does an excellent job of showing us the locales, people, and battles that were involved in the campaigns, as well as the tension between Alexander and his army the farther they moved from home.

For me, Manfredi’s books are interesting, but not great. I will continue my search for the penultimate Alexander book.

Rating: 3 out of 5 (What’s This?)

I am very tardy with my book reviews. Between getting ready for a trip to China, the trip itself, and holiday preparations, I have neglected the blog. For this I apologize. I shall attempt to remedy the lack of literary synopsis with a few rapid fire reviews of the books I have read lately.

The first on the block is Byzantium by Stephan Lawhead. This book was once in the upper echelon of favored books. I first read it in college 10 years ago or more. It’s a rousing tale of adventure, loss, and finding one’s calling. I particularly enjoyed the simple way that the Danish Vikings viewed the world in contrast with the scheming and moral ambiguity of the Byzantium court and the righteousness and guilt of the Cele De monks.

The story follows Aidan, a monk from Ireland, as he attempts to make a pilgrimage to Byzantium. Along the way he is captured and made a slave a couple of times, loses his faith, and struggles to find it again.

If you have not read Byzantium before, and enjoy historical fiction with a hint of religious fervor, this book is for you.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars. (What’s this?)

I hated the first chapter of this book. I was ready to toss it aside almost immediately.  I didn’t like the author’s tone, the way he talked directly to me, the way he described his characters, and the old style English it was written in. It took me three days to get through that first chapter.   A good friend of mine promised that the book got better, so I kept going.

And I am very glad that I did.  Chapter two immediately improved. Cooper stopped talking to me, and started telling the story.  The main protagonists were introduced; Hawkeye, the white scout living among Indians, Chingachgook, a lone Mohican chief and friend of Hawkeye, and Uncas, the son of Chingachgook, and the last of the Mohicans.  These three, along with three other white characters, spend the novel trying to recover two young ladies captured by the Hurons.

The action starts immediately in chapter two and doesn’t let up through the rest of the book.  There are many skirmishes between the heroes and the wily Hurons, a massacre at an English fort, a night raid, disguises, and a full scale battle to round out the story.  

It isn’t an easy read, but if you can persevere and begin to find the ebb and flow of Scott’s prose, you’ll be rewarded with a great tale.  I was truly moved at the end of the book. Either that or someone was chopping onions as I the last chapter ended.  I was attached to the characters and stunned with the way things concluded.

I don’t know that I’ll be picking up the book any time soon, but I am definitely going to be watching the movie.

4 out of 5.