Wolf of the Plains

If you read my last entry you will probably have guessed that I have been reading a historical novel based on the life of Genghis Khan – you wouldn’t be wrong. Last night I finished reading Conn Iggledun ‘s “Wolf of the Plains”. This is the first book in a series following the life of Genghis Khan and at over 500 pages is a fairly meaty read. The book has been out for a couple of years but I only picked it up after buying the third book in the series at less than half price via an offer linked to The Times newspaper (which I buy on Saturday’s). Having bought the third one to read in the future I thought I should get hold of the first and second titles and was lucky enough to pick up Wolf of the Plains almost instantly in one of the local charity shops on Mutley Plain where I often buy books. I’m glad I did, because I really enjoyed Wolf of the Plains and thought that Iggledun did a great job of weaving together the factual stuff with a story that zipped along nicely with lots of suspense and exciting set pieces (bloody battles etc). I have been reading the historical novels of Bernard Cornwell for some time and have dipped into one or two other authors of this genre but I have to say that Iggledun runs Cornwell close and perhaps even beats him when it comes to producing a good page-turner. The only problem now that I have finished Wolf of the Plains and left Genghis Khan having defeated the Tartar hordes and in charge of a set of newly united tribes is that I’m going to have to get hold of the second title “Lords of the Bow” – I’ll be making plenty of trips to the charity shops over the coming weeks!