A Wolf On The Prowel (Wolf Of The Plains - Conn Iggulden)

Member Name: Andy.mack

Product:	Wolf Of The Plains - Conn Iggulden
Date:	15/08/07 (125 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fast paced, gripping read. Excellent Characters and educational as well

Disadvantages: A little slow to start

At the age of just eleven, Temujin, the second son of the khan of the Wolves is sent to his mother's tribe to progress into adulthood. As his father returns from dropping him off he is killed in an ambush by a rival tribe. Temujin, his mother and brothers are thrown out of the tribe and left to starve on the Mongolian plains as winter approaches. Instead of giving in, Temujin and his brothers fight against starvation and become far more ruthless in the process. During this time Temujin dreams of uniting the tribes and bringing the Mongolian's together as one.

After the success of Conn Iggulden's first series of books on the live and times of Julius Caesar, it was little surprise that another series wasn't far round the corner. This time the subject of Iggulden's focus and writing abilities is Genghis Khan. The challenge of following up on Rome's greatest leader with the most famous Mongolian would prove quite daunting to most, but Iggulden seems to have really taken it in his stride. Since I had really enjoyed the Emperor series I though this was a must read and certainly wasn't disappointed.

In a similar vein too the Emperor books this first novel on the life of Genghis is really setting up the series and giving an insight into the future Khan. He keeps the events and timelines very similar to what actually happened during the first 18 years of Temujin's life. I think by using the real events and really bringing them to life with his own twists and turns is what really captivates me about Iggulden's writing and these series. Like the previous series it actually acts as a sort of history lesson, as well as enjoyable dose of escapism.

I've found that although like the first book in his previous series, this book does take a little while to get in, you soon become hooked. Rather than let the books drift on, Iggulden carries the story at a decent pace, which means you are constantly turning the pages. I found it almost impossible on a number of occasions to actually put the book down. It certainly filled a great amount of time while I was in hospital and I was certainly glad of how addictive his writing is.

As this is the first of another series, which will be at least 4 books like the Emporor series, it was important for Conn to create decent characters. I think wihtout failure he has done that with every single character he has created. With Temujin he is a lead character that although you know who he is destined to become you really do hope he survives all the challenges he faces along the way. By creating a sense of empathy with his lead characters, Iggulden ensures that you will read on, desperate to know how things turn out for them.

In fact the same is true of all his lead characters. He creates a world where you really want to see certain people survive and succed within the story. Likewise there are an equal number of characters, such as the new head of the Wolf tribe that you hope to see endure a painful death. It's not just his characters that really stand out either. He seems to have a real ability to create a war scene and bring it to life. His descriptive writing is outstanding and one of the main reasons you'll keep turning the pages in this book.

Overall while this is a very slow starter it is certianly worth sticking with. It suddenly changes into a very fast paced story, filled with action and war in the introduction to Genghis Khan's life. This is a good mix of Historical fact, with non fiction story telling that will not only entertain the reader but will also educate. Since the Emporor series, Iggulden's writing has certainly improved and that too adds to the appeal and readability of this book. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book to anyone, especially if you liked the Emporor series or are a fan of the likes of Bernard Cronwell.

Amazon: £8.98
Amazon Marketplace: £4.99
www.conniggulden.com

Summary: The first of the Conqueror series