Logo
Prev
search
Print
addthis
Rotate
Help
Next
Contents
All Pages
Browse Issues
Home
'
Good Reading : March 2008
Contents
adventure / thriller word of mouth Lords of the Bow Conn Iggulden Genghis Khan, now a mature warrior, having overcome the last resistance from the scattered Mongol tribes, wields absolute power as the gurkhan (Khan of Khans) of all Mongols.Turning his gaze upon the hated Chin, who have pillaged his people for centuries, he literally runs up against a brick wall – part of the Great Wall. Undaunted, the Mongols triumph, swar ming into the lands of the Xi Xia, trapping the ruler and his ar my in their heavily fortified capital.This is Genghis’s first experience of walled fortifications, something the Mongols have no idea how to attack. Genghis learns quickly, turning the Xi Xia into allies and enlisting Chin master masons who show him how to besiege and successfully attack fortified cities. So ar med, he leads his people into the heart of the Chin lands to exact the Mongols’ long-awaited revenge. Iggulden doesn’t just paint a picture of warfare and ravaging Mongols – we also see Genghis the man, leader of his tribe, managing myriad factional divisions, unafraid to adopt new tactics and weaponry, willing to use his brain to gain his objective, a leader ever looking to the longer-ter m strategy. This is a thrilling tale, painting a remarkable portrait of one of history’s more charismatic leaders. ★★★★ HarperCollins $32.99 Reviewed by Leslie Lightfoot Sword Song Bernard Cornwell The saga of Uhtred of Bebbanburg continues in this, the fourth tale in Cor nwell’s ‘Saxon Stories’. Bor n to Saxon nobility, captured and raised by Vikings and now chief head- kicker for the King of Wessex (known to history as Alfred the Great), Uhtred has matured some- what here, with a successful marriage, children, his own liege-men, lord of the fortress town of Coccham and defender of the River Thames against the regular Viking raids that come upriver from London. He is, however, still a pagan, which pits him directly against the Christian priests who infest Alfred’s court. His paganism also offends Alfred’s own zealous piety – one day, when his usefulness is over, there will be a showdown between Uhtred and Alfred. In the meantime, Alfred tasks Uhtred with driving the Vikings from London so that Alfred can award the lordship of Mercia, not to Uhtred as may be expected, but to Uhtred’s cousin Ethelred, who is also to marry the King’s daughter. This daughter’s very existence soon imperils both Alfred’s throne and Uhtred’s life. Choosing his own path as always, Uhtred marches to battle, perhaps to save a kingdom and a King’s daughter, perhaps to die: the slaughter of the shield wall will decide the outcome. ★★★★ HarperCollins $32.99 Reviewed by Brooke Walker
Links
Archive
February 2008
April 2008
Navigation
Previous Page
Next Page
