Wolf of the Plains - Rated 
Wolf of the Plains is Conn Iggulden's tale of the early years of none other than Mongolian warlord Genghis Khan, told through the eyes of a multitude of characters as well as the young Genghis himself; but this knowledge of who the central character will one day become does nothing to diminish this first part of the story's nail-biting, page-turning ability to grip the reader.
In fact Iggulden focuses on his characters and their struggles on the unforgiving and bleak Mongolian plains with such pace, intensity, and emotion that it's impossible to think of any of these events as pre-ordained or certain. The storytelling thunders onwards from chapter to chapter with barely a pause, and Temujin, the young Genghis, quickly becomes a character that readers will care about, making every brutal injustice, tense battle, or inspired success keenly felt. Yet even characters we're rooting for can surprise us with their own cruelty or ruthlessness, and all is drawn in shades of grey that give Wolf of the Plains a deeply convincing sense of realism. Nor is Iggulden afraid to surprise us; in a similar vein to R.R. Martin, this realism can leave the reader just a little uncertain about what is to follow, which only demands that pages continue to turn into the early hours. I type this review bleary-eyed and wishing for more chapters, having read the hardcover edition's 450 pages in two sittings.
But the book is not without its flaws. The author avoids detailed description and long dialogue in favour of the story's relentless pace, and this does leave several less-important characters disappointingly -- and sometimes unconvincingly -- undeveloped. Similarly, characters can show an ability to change their outlooks and loyalties quite abruptly in ways that seem simply to suit the developing plot, which does detract from the overall, gritty realism that Iggulden succeeds in creating. The rate at which events unfold (a great deal happens over those 450 pages) also leaves dialogue between characters feeling somewhat flat in places, with no one truly memorable by way of speech or personality, excepting Temujin himself.
Despite these criticisms, Wolf of the Plains is an exciting, deeply gripping take on the history of the famous warlord that never really slows before reaching its powerfully-written final chapters. Once picked up, it can't easily be put down again; I eagerly await the forthcoming continuation of the series.
Magnifico - Rated 
I am a huge fan of Igguldens style and subject matter. I bought this in paperback at Gatwick. I resisted the temptation to start reading it on the plane to Pisa but it consumed me when I started the next morning, finishing it in the day! I now have the hardback on order for my bookshelf and look forward to taking it off the shelf next February to enjoy again before the new book is published. Get it!
The Khan of all Reads! - Rated
Absolutely the best read I have had in ages.
Totally transports you into the period - The authors research gives the impression, at least to someone like myself who is not a Historian, that lifestyles, attitudes and traditions depicted here are all entirely authentic!
Absolutely first rate I am certainly going to read the sequels and I would recommend to all lovers of Fact based fiction(ish) that you do too!
Excellent reading - Rated
I loved the Emperor series and I bought this with high hopes, and I wasn't disappointed. I've been struggling with a book of a Nobel Prize winning author for months on end and it was such a joy to pick up a book, and not be able to put it down again.
Mr Iggulden is one h**l of a storyteller and I can't wait to get my hands on the next book, which is not Ghengis: Birth of a Nation as I learned here just before I clicked "buy".
Wolf of the Plains - Rated
I found Wolf of the Plains a great read. Iggulden really knows how to create vivid characters in anchient history. I loved the Emperor series, and this seems to be just as good.
Strongly recommended
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