"The deeds of our husbands, our brothers, and our sons have eclipsed our own as surely as when the moon ate the sun during the first battle of Nishapur. "

A new viewpoint of the women in Genghis Khan’s life, all of whom were strong and resilient enough to survive in a harsh and unforgiving environment with harsh and unforgiving men. The Mongols were fierce warriors who learned to ride horses almost before learning to walk - the women were also excellent riders who knew how to shoot an arrow, though most of their activity was domestic. The story details Genghis Khan’s rise from a young and ambitious warrior to the conqueror of much of the known world.

The stories of these incredible women the wives, daughters, grand-daughters, and even a captive from one of the many cities Genghis and his people conquered are told in a novel that is a sweeping saga of love, power, loyalty, and the strength of indomitable women who helped to make the Mongol Empire feared throughout the medieval world.

The author also knows how to write fantastic characters. Not only do we get to see a very human side to Genghis, but we get a genuine sense of the feminine power behind him, the same power that will hold his empire together for a time. Strong Borte, wise Fatima, patient Sorkhokhtani, and energetic Alaqai all have their part to play and come to such an incredible life in this author’s hands that I felt like I’d known these women all my life.

Thornton has done an excellent job of teaching about Ghengis Khan and the way his tribes lived, the details of their everyday lives, their homes, clothing, foods, and values.

Well written, well composed, incredibly informative and insightful, and wonderfully enjoyable. A fabulous piece of historical fiction about strong, willful, intelligent, and powerful women.