Conqueror

Iggulden wraps up his Mongol Empire series with the life of Kublai. While the character and plot development isn't as gripping as with his early works in this series, it nevertheless serves as a solid conclusion to the series - yet leaves open the potential for more to come (however unlikely this may be). ( )

Unfortunately I couldn't get engaged in this book. It ended up sitting on a shelf neglected and never finished. ( )

I enjoy Iggulden's books and have enjoyed all of his Khan series, from Ghengis on to Kublai. Interesting times [not to mention, brutal] ( )

Enjoyed the book. ( )

I've finished reading this book. I feel like shouting out loud. It wasn't a bad book it just took forever to get through. I don't know why, but it may have had something to do with the frequent change of scene and character. I simply couldn't get attached to anyone until the last 5 chapters. I am glad that Iggulden decided to conclude the book where he did because I don't think that I could have taken a depressing end. Otherwise, there is the same attention to historical facts and a generous offering of action that enhanced the rest of his series. ( )

This is the second book I have received through the Early Reviewers program by Conn Iggulden. I have always been a fan of the Mongol Empire, and this was a great way to end the series. The later years of Kublai Khan are well known and would be difficult to play with. In this book Iggulden takes us through the early years of Kublai. It is a story filled with interesting historical facts that too many Westerners don't know. Other than Genghis and Kublai, most people don't know much about the Mongol Empire. Certainly Americans are not taught much about the Mongols other than that they were blood thirsty heathens. In reality, the Mongol Empire was well disciplined and highly advanced for its age. This series, and this book as the finale, go a long way in enlightening readers to an important culture.

I would recommend this series to anyone interested in learning more about the Mongol Empire. Yes, it is historical fiction and the author takes some literary license, but he clearly tells the reader where he has done it and why. I think this is important, and applaud the author for making sure he points out where he has played with historical figures and facts. It doesn't make the rest of the story unbelievable. ( )

Great series. I have read each one with pleasure, and hope that he changes his mind and continues with the story of Kublai Khan. ( )

This is the first book I've reviewed that I didn't like. I'm not saying that this was anything to do with the authors capability, I just didn't like it. I try to pick it up and start it again periodically but read a few more pages and put it down. I do appreciate the way that the book is written and the but the subject matter is such that I wasn't able to get started (after several attempts at a running start) ( )

conn iggulden doing what he does best, historical fiction. I have read all his other works and loved them all, this was no exception. I was skeptical because I felt that Ghengis was to large a character to follow but Iggulden delivered the dynamics between the brothers as the fight over the empire built by Ghengis are great. Really good book solid 4 stars ( )

Excellent book! This is the 5th and final book in the series, but I have only read the last 2. I want to read the first 3 as well! In this one we get to really meet Kublai as a character. We also get to know all of his brothers much better as well.

My knowledge of Genghis and Kublai Khan and that time frame of history has been fairly minimal, but these stories have really brought the time into focus for me. Iggulden tells an excellent tale and brings the mongol horde to life. You can tell he's done a lot of research into the time and culture. It really shines through.

I've recently been enjoying many of the historical novels that have been coming out, particularly Rome, but I have now added a new a author to my list of historical story tellers. I thought it was an excellent book and I plan to acquire the first 3 books to read as well. ( )

It's a telenovela! for men! with Mongols! And, to be fair, it doesn't have many exclamation points, just a lot of brutal men living by a code of honor in a brutal era. Will Kublai, grandson of Genghis and second son of Tolui, outlive his gay cousin? his brutal older brother? his self-indulgent younger brother? Will he have more success in China than his other brother has against Bagdad and the Assassins? How many ways are there to depict weak men dying pathetically, crushed by fate? Overall, it's a fine historical adventure, but (1) it seems surprisingly long for having so little actually happen in the plot; (2) Kublai Khan, who we're told is very smart, doesn't seem as sharp or brave as his top commanders -- he comes across as a bit of a whiner, really; and (3) perhaps to make the brutality more palatable to a soft modern audience, the losers are always meaner or more debauched than the winners, as though what happens to them is a kind of rough justice. But then, it's supposed to be satisfying fiction, so why not. And the cover certainly has a lot of Mongols on it. ( )

Disclosure: I received this book as part of the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program. Some people think this may bias a reviewer so I am making sure to put this information up front. I don't think it biases my reviews, but I'll let others be the judge of that.

Conqueror: A Novel of Kublai Khan is the fifth and final book in Conn Iggulden's Conqueror series, picking up right where Empire of Silver left off. Just two generations after Genghis united the Mongol nation under one banner and set about conquering the world, the empire he forged is already beginning to fragment. After the death of Ogedai Khan, his son Gyuk moved quickly to consolidate power under himself, but as the novel opens, it is clear that he is probably not up to the task of ruling the vast domains of the Mongol nation. In Conqueror, the Mongol nation reaches its greatest heights which paradoxically are the very things that will destroy it. In the book, the stories of four Great Khans unfold, three revealing lessons that the Mongol nation is simply unequipped to learn, and the fourth giving the reader a glimpse of the final undoing of everything that Genghis had wrought.

The Mongols were history's ultimate wild card coming out of seemingly nowhere to establish the largest empire in history. But within just a few generations, their empire was just a bad memory, a time of misery and suffering for their neighbors that had come and gone. And in Conqueror, by showing the Mongols at the height of their power, Iggulden illustrates why this is the case, revealing that for all their power and cruelty, the empire they established was little more than an empty shell. With nothing holding their nation together but oaths and the promise of wealth gained by conquest, the Mongols' unity was fragile at best. And lacking in any cultural gifts beyond that of the horse, the bow, and a ruthless approach to warfare, the Mongols had to borrow from those they conquered to control their empire, ceding the running of their conquests to those they had conquered. And in this regard, they are sort of like the prizefighter who has won lots of money by fighting, but then turns over the responsibility of managing that money to accountants and lawyers without any real understanding of what they are doing on his behalf. Or what he presumes is his behalf.

At the outset of the story, Gyuk, with the assistance of his mother Torogene, has planted himself at the head of the Mongol nation. But it is clear that Gyuk, trained exclusively in the direct brutality of Mongol warfare, is entirely unequipped to engage in the delicate political maneuvering required to maintain the loyalty of the various factions within the nation he aspires to lead. Gyuk does not learn the important lesson that rulers must learn: your power is not absolute unless you can command the loyalty of those who you would command, and attempting to assert your absolute authority over them against their will is hazardous. And Gyuk's reign is challenged almost immediately by the non-appearance of Batu, who simply did not appear at the ritual oath swearing, and has instead ensconced himself in the forests of Russia. It is here that the story shows both that holding an empire is much different from conquering one and the most valuable possessions that an empire has are its own constituent parts. As Gyuk leads an army to bring Batu to heel, Kublai begins almost unknowingly to sow the seeds of his own rise to power.

And the resolution of Gyuk's campaign against Batu reveals yet another weakness of the Mongol system: by creating a political structure dependent upon personal loyalty to one man, it is possible to disrupt the actions of that structure merely by removing that one man. And as a result, the entire nation grinds to a halt and goes into reverse whenever power changes hands. And after Gyuk's undistinguished turn at the helm, power transfers to Tolui's line and Mongke takes control of the nation as Great Khan. And Mongke's instinctive answer to the dissolute nature of Gyuk's reign is to try to return to the ways of their forefathers and rule from the saddle. However, unlike Gyuk, he is clever enough to realize that he cannot simply leave the administration of his domains to the Chinese servants, but he does send his brothers Hulegu and Kublai to expand the dominions of his suzerainty - giving Kublai strict instructions that he must give up his "soft" adoption of Chinese customs and prove himself to be a true Mongol Khan.

The contrast between Hugelu and Kublai makes clear exactly why the Mongol nation's influence on history is so ephemeral. Hulegu is sent west, to Persia and Arabia to seek his Khanate among the Islamic nations, while Kublai heads east, to carve out his own fiefdom from the domains of the Chinese emperor. In one case, the Mongols operate according to the "old" ways - treating their invasion much like a giant raid seeking riches and revenge. Hulegu's goal, it seems, is to try to extract as much gold from Baghdad and the surrounding cities as possible and cart it away. Nothing else about Baghdad or its people interests Hugelu - not their knowledge, their achievements, or even what they might produce in the future. He starves the city, disarms it, ransacks it, and destroys much of its populace in a wasteful orgy of slaughter. Hulegu also exposes the weakness that will doom the Mongol political system: despite the oft repeated boast that a Mongols' "word is iron", he feels no remorse over repeatedly breaking promises made to al-Mustasim. And alongside Hulegu's petty lust for gold, is his petty lust for revenge as he seeks to bring to a close the unfinished business between Genghis' family and the cult of Assassins, expending an enormous volume of manpower and effort on the vendetta, to the point where the success of his military campaign is jeopardized. The lesson Iggulden drives home with Hulegu's campaign is that despite their glorious victories, despite their ruthless conquests, the Mongols are little more than bandits who can lay siege to cities. And because of this, once their victims have weathered the storm, they will be essentially unchanged by the passing horde.

But on the other side of the continent, Kublai reveals the other side of the coin: the "new" ways adopted from the Chinese via his mentor Yao Shu. Perhaps because he faced an enemy that outnumbered him so immensely, perhaps because he absorbed the "soft" lessons of civilization from Yao Shu, or perhaps because he figured out that a populace hard at work is more profitable than a populace decimated and terrorized, Kublai adopted a policy of not turning his men loose upon conquered cities to loot, rape, and pillage. And this leads Kublai to have to pay his men, which means he has to find a source of bullion, which constrains his actions. By seizing towns rather than destroying them, by making the populace his subjects rather than his victims, and by trying to rule a functioning economy rather than acting as a parasite, Kublai transforms the Mongols he leads into something more, but he also makes himself vulnerable in the same ways that the Mongols themselves exploited when conquering their enemies. In effect, to have any chance at conquering China, Kublai has to become Chinese, and therein lies the seeds of the Mongols' destruction. Because they have no cultural achievements of their own, they have to borrow them from those they conquer, and in doing so cede their own nature, trading their identity for that of their subjects. In a way, Kublai is as trapped by his Mongol heritage as Hugelu, and his actions are just as futile. The only change that the Chinese will feel is the identity of the men giving the orders, but their way of life will go on unchanged.

Finally, when Mongke dies unexpectedly, it precipitates the final lessons as to why the Mongol empire faded so quickly. First, the Mongols' have to learn the lesson that all empires eventually learn: before too long, the most valuable prize to be had is the empire itself. And when both Arik-Boke and Kublai claim the position of Great Khan, the Mongols face their most dangerous foe when they turn against one another. Paradoxically, though the novel is named Conqueror, presumably in honor of the final victor in this conflict, the only land that he conquers in this volume is the Mongol nation itself. But this internal conflict reveals the inherent weakness of the Mongols - when Kublai must secure the loyalty of Alghu, the Mongol ruler of Samarkand who had already given his oath to Arik-Boke he says that as the true Great Khan he can relieve Alghu of his oath to the false one. And to save himself, Alghu assents to this and changes his loyalty from one brother to the other. But this reveals that the Mongol oaths are meaningless except when backed by force, and if someone else shows up with more force, then those oaths can be cast aside. And by highlighting this, Iggulden is exposing the Achilles heel of the Mongol political system, because it relies upon the strength of personal oaths, and once it is revealed that those oaths can be cast aside, the nation is on the path to disintegration.

In Conqueror, Iggulden shows the Mongol empire at the height of its power and influence. But he also skillfully shows the reader that the nomadic tribesmen that leapt to world dominance from the cold steppes of Mongolia were uniquely suited to conquer the world, but remarkably ill-equipped to actually rule what they had gained. By the time the events in this novel had rolled around, the rapid ascent to power had sown the seeds of the empire's own destruction. By showing us the Mongols as they were and showing them on their own terms, Iggulden shows us why they were a force that stood over all of Asia, but also shows us why they swept over the world and left a legacy that is remarkable only for its paucity. Conqueror, with a cast of interesting and well-drawn characters, contains a strong story set in one of the most turbulent periods in history and brings to a close the fascinating journey Iggulden crafted that took the reader on a guided tour of the rise of the largest empire in history.

This review has also been posted to my blog Dreaming About Other Worlds. ( )

You can almost smell the sweat and feel the heat of battle while you read Conn Iggulden's novel of Kublai Khan. I found the book facinating enough that while I read it, I would dream about it at night. I plan on getting all his novels and rationing them so I always have one waiting to be savored. This book brings the 13th century alive for the reader. The attitudes of the the individuals, the way classes and ethnic cultures differ with in those countries seemed realistic and well thought out. The main characters had the harsh and often cruel outlook of the time they lived in. I grow to understand and respect them despite the horrors they were capable of. This is a great book, if only history were taught like this in school. ( )

Conn Iggulden brings to life the bygone landscapes and culture that gave rise to Kublai Khan and his conquests. The dialogue between his characters is relevant and engaging, allowing the reader to forget the centuries that separate us from Khan and his contemporaries. This accessibility makes the novel read easily and in an entertaining manner, while preserving the integrity of the factual history of this period. While Chinese history has not been a particular point of interest for me in the past, Iggulden's book portrays a fascinatingly rich and complex culture steeped in adventure, deceit, tradition, and conquest. For those new to the story of Kublai Khan and the Yuan Dynasty, this novel will pique an interest in this fascinating corner of history. ( )

So you’ve reached the fifth and final book in Conn Iggulden’s Mongol series. One hopes you liked them to have come so far. You know well that these books are flawed, as are almost all books. The writing, though serviceable, shocks you with its arbitrary clichés. The loser in an upcoming confrontation is foreshadowed without suspense; one need merely look for the leader who has been unkind to his subordinates, offends his peers with his boorishness, or fails to exercise control over his appetites.

But you are able to overlook these matters, because Iggulden tells a good story. He has a feel for pacing, allowing suspense to emerge over time. Though he writes multiple POV tales, he stays with his storylines long enough that they are not unduly choppy and disconcerting to the defenseless reader. His subject matter necessarily emerges on a grand scale, and you are caught up in its breadth, scope and sheer audacity.

Has he written the definitive historical novels about the Mongols? Possibly not, but having come so far with pleasure, there is nothing in the final volume to disturb you, the reader who has ridden such a distance with these mounted warriors.

Atmospheric, bloody, suspenseful. Conqueror wasn't a perfect novel but it was one that kept and held my interest.

Firstly, let me say that I hadn't read any of the previous books of the series, which was at first a serious distraction for me. It took me some time to adjust to Iggulden's writing style, and more importantly to a world I know little about. But as the story progressed both problems dissolved and I was successfully immersed into the world of the Mongols.

Kublai was, from the first, obviously out-of-step with his contemporaries and even more so with the legend of Genghis that all the characters struggled to live up to. That he would eventually become Khan seemed impossible as the story began. A younger son, granted of a noble family, granted grandson of Genghis, but still, he was a thinker, a scholar and no where near bloody-minded enough to beat his wild people into a nation.

But as the story unfolded, and as he was forced to become everything he'd tried to avoid (a conqueror), his strengths - analytic, widely read, historian, deep thinker who learned from his mistakes - all came to the fore and made him so much more than any of his contemporaries.

I loved how he ended the book and applaud him for that.

Conqueror is a terrific read. ( )

Conn Iggulden's final entry in the Khan series ends on a strong note. Conqueror tells the story of Kublai, grandson to Genghis, and the twists, turns and machinations that lead to his becoming Khan. The storytelling is vivid and Iggulden really brings the rawness and violence of this epoch to life. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it for fans of Iggulden's other books as well as those who enjoy Bernard Cornwell and David Gemmell. ( )

Conn delights once again. He manages to take an era and a area that I'm not even all that fond of, historically speaking, and makes it interesting and entertaining. the only real criticism is hardly fitting since it's a lot of what makes his books enjoyable. Conn doesn't really give the sense that you are reading about people of their time. It always feels like you are reading modern person, set back in history, rather than a product of the era. With that in mind, I'd really like to see him move into slightly more modern and western realms. Start stacking up against Cornwell, Lambdin and Shaara. ( )

I loved this book! The characters were great (I love a bloodthirsty group of people) and the plot moved quickly. The author's knowledge about the era of Ghengis and Kublai Khan is evident. It proved to be a history lesson for me. I am thankful that there was more plot movement via the political machinations of the characters than descriptions of war. I will definately be reading all of the earlier books in the series. The author will be added to my blog's list of favorite authors. ( )

I've usually limited myself to historical fiction from the modern era. Branching out and trying new authors when it comes to historical fiction is hard to do as one grows used to the stories, character development, descriptions, and reading pace favorite authors have already created. In the case of Conn Iggulden's "Conqueror", I cannot say that I was disappointed. In many ways he does for the Mongols what Bernard Cornwell does for the Saxons with his most recent series.

There is an immense amount of ground covered in "Conqueror" and by the end I didn't want the book to end. As I started with this book, I'll definitely have to go back to read the first books in the series. The history of Genghis Khan and his descendents never interested me beyond the idea that they were able to accomplish so much in so little time, but the amount of historical research Iggulden seems to have put into his tale shows how rich the history of the Mongol Khanate truly is and the immense impact they had on the world.

The pace of the book was good, I somewhat hoped for better battle descriptions, but when you have masses of tens of thousands struggling against each other, there is only so much one can describe without getting bogged down in needless minutia. The political intrigue, the secrecy, and the new 'worlds' one encounters as the Mongols attempt to spread their rule are all intriguing in their own way, especially the Assassins in the Middle East. While historical fiction isn't the best way to learn history, it is an open door to at least experiencing part of a world we'll never truly know. Definitely a book I would recommend. ( )

Conn Iggulden continues his series of novels about the Mongol Empire with Conqueror, the story of the rise and early accomplishment of Kublai Khan. As he has so aptly done before in his earlier novels about Genghis Kahn, the author delivers a solid story filled with action and intrigue. Iggulden has a knack of taking the reader into the souls and minds of the characters he writes about.

Characters in this novel are well developed and the plot is tightly woven. The author excels in his descriptions of battle and often leaves the reader feeling drained after having lived through the vivid written description and experience of a conflict conducted by the single mindedness of the Mongol tumans.

Whether it is a tale of Rome or the Mongols, this author never fails to please! ( )

(Note: I'll be the first to admit I normally stick with Europe whenever I read a historical fiction novel, but Conqueror gave me a chance to broaden my horizons for once. Not having read Iggulden's Genghis Khan series I was a little disoriented at first with respect to the characters and locations that were introduced in the book, but was able to quickly catch on thanks to the straightforward writing style.)

If you read the back cover you will be told that this book is about the rise of Kublai Khan, grandson of Genghis Khan and one of the most recognizable figures of Mongolian history. Starting with the rise of Guyuk, the book covers the first few decades of Kublai's life, from his scholarly introductions to his militaristic conquests. While there are a few liberties taken it is a good description of how Kublai makes his ascendancy. Reading this book really makes you appreciate not only what the Mongols accomplished, but also how they did it. Usually outnumbered, their mobility gave them an advantage over any infantry force they faced. And as Iggulden says in the notes at the end, "...had [it] not actually happened, a fictional account of Kublai's attack on Sung langs would be ludicrous." Sometimes the truth really is stranger than fiction.

Lastly this book does what a truly good historical fiction will do, it will make you want to learn more. Learn more about the time period, the characters involved, and what happened after.

I would recommend this book if you ever had any interest in the Mongols, Kublai, or just want a good book to read. ( )

Conn Iggulden's latest and perhaps final book about the Mongol empire is about Kublai, thegrandson of Genghis Khan and man who defeated the Sung Empire. Iggulden sets the stage by moving through the procession of Khans who followed Ogedai, revealing the tensions between different members of the empire (which continue to be an important part of the story as it reaches a climax). Kublai takes center stage shortly before the accesssion of his brother Mongke and continues to be the focus of the story, though he is but one of multiple point of view characters. Iggulden does a good job at drawing out the various personalities and revealing the (understandable) tensions between the different generations of Mongols, though he admits in the historical note that he deliberately juxtaposed the personalities in part to draw out the differences. Thus Kublai is shown as the merciful, scholarly ruler, while his brother Hulegu is shown as a ruthless killer.

As with all his novels, Iggulden provides an excellent historical note that discusses the points at which he deviated from the historical record in favor of a better story. Once again the note reveals an excellent knowledge of the historical period and sources, as well as a great deal of forethought as to the changes made.

Conqueror is an excellent piece of historical fiction. If I had to critique any particular aspect, it is that some of the transitions between point sof view were awkward. For example, Iggulden repeatedly fit both the Hulegu and Kublai points of view into the same chapter rather than rounding out the action in one character before moving to the second. This is a minor critique, though, and overall the book reads very well. ( )

Conqueror is not the typical genre I would have chosen to read but I was greatly surprised by the quality of work. The story successfully weaves fact and assumption into a wonderful family story of the Khan’s. While some of the acts represented are brutal the feeling portrayed was not. In fact there was a touch of humanity about the book that made it more realistic. I would heartily suggest this book to anyone who enjoys history or a good family saga. It is a must buy. ( )

One of the great joys for an avid reader is discovering an author, an author you may even have never heard of before, an author you know will become one of your favorites. This happened for me when I read Conn Iggulden's CONQUEROR. I'd put him right up with Bernard Cornwell and Jeff Shaara--author of RISE TO REBELLION and other historical novels.

Iggulden tells the story of Kublai Khan, grandson of Genghis Khan, and his rise to power. Iggulden makes the intrigue facinating, the action powerful, and the characters both believable and sympathetic. Making the "Kahn brothers"--Monkge, Hulegu, and Arik-Boke, and of course Kublai--sympathetic must have been a considerable challenge, after all, these were men who believed it was their right to take over other peoples, other nations, and kill anyone they wanted to kill for any reason or no reason at all. In effect, this novel, and presumably the other novels in the series, is a cautionary tale in what men who believe they have a right to something are capable of doing. In Kublai's case, there is evidence that, lacking that belief, he'd have been a relatively good man for the time. Iggulden shows the reader several cases where Kublai doesn't kill anyone in cities or towns when the people surrender without a fight, he shows Kublai as a scholar as a youth and a lifelong lover of Chin culture.

Like many people who read this book, I knew little about Genghis Khan, Kublai Khan or the Mongols, so this was both an entertaining read and an informational read. I learned that, "It is interesting to note that the popular idea of a Mongol horde overwhelming smaller armies is almost completely false." (From the book's Historical Note. In my opinion, a historical novel without a Historical Note, several pages telling of history left out or history slightly changed to make a better story, is failing its readers.)

Though I often know little about my favorite authors and though it wouldn't affect my opinion of their novels, it was pleasant to find out that Conn Iggulden seems to be a pretty good guy. There are videos of him on his website, including a funny one of outakes of him starting a promotional video, where he comes off as relatively modest, quite bright, and having a good sense of humor. In my country, USA, we have an expression "The All American Boy," for someone who embodies the best of what American boys or men can be. After checking out his website, I wondered if in England they have a similar expression. "The All England Boy" perhaps? Anyway, it's an interesting website, worth checking out regardless of whether of not Iggulden actually is a nice guy.

To date, I've gotten 17 free books from LibraryThing Early Reviewers. Most have been at least decent, one or two were dogs, and a few very good. CONQUEROR blows them all away. I'll be buying and reading all of Iggulden's novels.

So, if you enjoy historical fiction, you'll likely enjoy this novel. Buy the book! ( )