This is the third book of Conn Iggulden's Conqueror series. Here is a description of the book from Amazon:
"Genghis Khan has united the warring tribes and even taken his armies against the great cities of their oldest enemies. Now he finds trouble rising west of the Mongolian plains. His emissaries are mutilated or killed; his trading gestures rebuffed. So, dividing his armies, using his sons as generals of the various divisions, he sends them out simultaneously in many directions, ranging as far as modern Iran and Iraq. As well as discovering new territories, exacting tribute from conquered peoples, laying waste the cities which resist, this policy is also a way of diffusing the rivalries between his sons and heirs and working out who should succeed the khan."
This book covers many battles throughout Genghis' 12-years of conquest in Central Asia. I think this one is the most bloody of the three. Millions of men, women and children were killed by Genghis' army. He wanted his enemies to fear him. (this reminds me of Vlad Dracula, who also used fear as weapon to control his people) Fear alone would do its work for Genghis; because no one on that part of the land would dare raise an army to challenge his authority.
I also think this book is about leadership. Why do people follow someone to their death? In these days, whether or not you followed the right person was often a matter of life and death. There are quite a few great leaders described in this book. They are all charismatic; they all have an ideal, a goal; and soldiers die for them. I have never experienced the power of a charismatic leader, it's hard to imagine these people's loyalty. It is a mystery.
The book ends with Genghis' death. Although his death was recored in history, the circumstances of that event were not clear and often disputed. I like the author's version but of course I won't say it here. You'll have to read the book to find out.
I really enjoyed this book, though I usually read it with a pretty somber mood...
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Title: Bones of the Hills
Author: Conn Iggulden
Publisher: UK General Books (June 15, 2009)
Paperback 560 pages
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Further reading:
http://www.conniggulden.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genghis_Khan
http://www.fsmitha.com/h3/h11mon.htm
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