Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Conqueror: A Novel of Kublai Khan
    Conqueror: A Novel of Kublai Khan
    Conqueror: A Novel of Kublai Khan
    Audiobook18 hours

    Conqueror: A Novel of Kublai Khan

    Written by Conn Iggulden

    Narrated by Richard Ferrone

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    New York Times best-selling author Conn iggulden is hailed the world over for his gripping historical adventures. In Conqueror, he chronicles the rise of the feared Mongolian warlord Kublai Khan-grandson of the notorious Genghis Khan. "Iggulden has created another rip-roaring historical that accurately depicts the cruelty of the age."-Publishers Weekly on Khan: Empire of Silver
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateDec 27, 2011
    ISBN9781461847168
    Conqueror: A Novel of Kublai Khan
    Author

    Conn Iggulden

    Born in London, Conn Iggulden read English at London University and worked as a teacher for seven years before becoming a full-time writer. He lives in Hertfordshire with his wife and their children.

    More audiobooks from Conn Iggulden

    Related to Conqueror

    Titles in the series (5)

    View More
    View More

    Related audiobooks

    Historical Fiction For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Venom In The Cloud Forest

      Mar 10, 2022

      Sweat crept down Acoti’s left temple and tickled his eyebrow as he stabbed his knife into the tree bark. He withdrew the blade and used it to smear the thick, sanguine resin against the wound in his neck. His skin burned as he rubbed it in with his f

      15 min read

    • Article

      The Fool Who Fished For A King

      May 1, 2020

      The Fool Who Fished For A King
      9 min read

    • Article

      Playing God

      Apr 10, 2023

      After Jack was abducted by the alien spaceship, and after the round vessel had vanished into the Milky Way, he found himself walking down a tubular corridor with white vibrating walls, escorted by a sinuous blonde who smiled graciously and said her n

      13 min read

    • Article

      The Wind Feels Loss

      Aug 8, 2019

      The Wind Feels Loss
      7 min read

    • Article

      The Last Kirin

      Nov 1, 2019

      IN A TIME long past, when the world was young and legendary creatures still walked the land, there was a girl named Kiyo, the daughter of the emperor. Every morning, as soon as the sun had risen, Kiyo would go strolling in the palace woods, singing t

      9 min read

    • Article

      The Last Kirin

      Jan 1, 2020

      The Last Kirin
      11 min read

    • Article

      The Nightingale

      May 1, 2019

      The Nightingale
      10 min read

    • Article

      Excerpts From The Works Of The 2024 Whiting Award Winners

      Apr 10, 2024

      The 2024 Whiting Award winners were announced Wednesday night. Below are excerpts from their work.

      19 min read

    • Article

      The Happy Prince

      Jan 8, 2020

      The Happy Prince
      5 min read

    • Article

      Dude’s Last Hunt

      Jul 17, 2023

      Dude’s Last Hunt
      6 min read

    • Article

      The Sun Horse

      Aug 2, 2023

      The Sun Horse
      5 min read

    • Article

      Wajo

      Dec 15, 2022

      Wajo
      7 min read

    • Article

      Whether In Song Or In Silence, Shane MacGowan Exuded The Very Essence Of Life

      Dec 1, 2023

      Shane MacGowan and I sat in near silence for two hours last year. We were at his home, just outside Dublin. I’d been warned by his wife, the writer Victoria Mary Clarke, that he was depressed and anxious, not really in the mood to talk. But nothing c

      4 min read

    • Article

      TALL, WIDE, and Piercing Eyes

      Mar 1, 2019

      TALL, WIDE, and Piercing Eyes
      7 min read

    • Article

      G. C. Waldrep

      Mar 3, 2020

      I was reading a biography of Pugin. Architecturewas how Pugin avoided God.This much is evident. When he slipped out at nightto drift down to the water he was a smoke.He did not look up at the moon. We can be surethat any bargain he made was intention

      4 min read

    • Article

      Wayétu Moore

      Jun 15, 2018

      Lai was hidden in the middle of forests when the Vai people found it. There was evidence of earlier townsmen there, as ends of stoneware and crushed diamonds were found scattered on hilltops in the unexpected company of domestic cats. But when the Va

      29 min read

    • Article

      Left To Lose

      Jul 10, 2022

      Around the time she gives up her name, it starts to feel like this entire revolution isn’t worth it anymore. The world is probably lucky that Kelian—she still remembers Kelian, in spite of everything—is there to pick up the pieces, the way he always

      11 min read

    • Article

      The Dragon Of The North

      Sep 7, 2022

      The Dragon Of The North
      5 min read

    • Article

      A Countryside For All

      Jun 29, 2023

      IT WAS ONE OF THOSE dinner parties that didn’t feel like it was going particularly well. Someone had just broken up with their girlfriend for want of someone else; my little puppy wouldn’t stop howling in the hall, and one of our guests was strung ou

      3 min read

    • Article

      A Change Takes Place

      Oct 28, 2019

      A Change Takes Place
      5 min read

    • Article

      A Bluebeard of Wives

      Oct 3, 2019

      A Bluebeard of Wives
      6 min read

    • Article

      Genghis Khan And The Hawk

      Jan 5, 2022

      Genghis Khan And The Hawk
      2 min read

    • Article

      A Change Happens

      May 29, 2020

      A Change Happens
      5 min read

    • Article

      BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU FISH FOR (You Might Get It)

      Jan 1, 2020

      Cautiously, Prince Bernard lifted his saddle from the wall. Just a buckle’s jingle or the straw crackling beneath his boots might give him away. “Good afternoon, Your Highness. Are you taking Bright Star for a ride?” Would he never escape? Suppressin

      4 min read

    • Article

      The Enchanted Stag

      Nov 3, 2021

      The Enchanted Stag
      4 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for Conqueror

    4/5

    194 ratings38 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      A great ending to a great series on one of the great civilizations of the world. Amazing book telling of how the Mongol leadership changes hands and battled their way through enemies using strategy, speed and the almighty bow. Definitely a great series to read. Can't wait for the next Iggulden series, where will he go next?
    • 4/5
      Enthralling culture/way of life - formidable nomadic war hosts so readily accepted as the nation's daily norm while also recognizing the benefit of a stationary city AND the ability of a woman to rule. Need to explore the avenues of westward expansion into the Ikhanate of Persia/Iran and eastward expansion into the Yuan Dynasty.
    • 4/5
      This is part of a series (5 of 5 so far) that describes what happened to the Mongols of central Asia during and after Genghis Khan's rule. I hadn't read the previous books, and I'm sure that made a big difference in how much I enjoyed this one. However, Conn Iggulden's writing style is wonderful; he's a master storyteller. That being said, this is fiction, not history. The characters may be based upon historical figures, but their actions and personalities are, apparently, entirely the author's own. He's taken a lot of liberty with history, and if that doesn't matter to you, then you will surely enjoy the action and intrigue in this novel. I didn't like the quick changes of POV between chapters, especially, but the story was fascinating.
    • 5/5
      I suspect there will be more of these coming. The author does a nice job of moving into the next set of characters in this saga. In this one, we're a couple generations away from Genghis, and as is the case with most family dynasties, this one is imploding on itself. Kublai is written as the one descendent "worthy" of the kingdom, and as a very likable and admirable character.

      I will say that now that I've gone as far as I can with this series, I'm reading some other history of the time, and have to say I like that Iggulden stayed relatively close to actual history when creating these stories. Sure, he seems to have taken some liberty to develop a good story, but these are novels after all, not pure history books. He "massages" characters to make a better story, which takes away from the likely historical accuracy, but I'm OK with that.

      I listened to all of these on audiobook. As I mentioned in an earlier review, I'm really not crazy about the narrator. While he does a good job overall, he keeps changing his pronunciation of words and phrases from book to book. This could be because someone corrected him between books, or it could be that he just changes his mind on how he wants to say it. It's a bit annoying.
    • 4/5
      Iggulden wraps up his Mongol Empire series with the life of Kublai. While the character and plot development isn't as gripping as with his early works in this series, it nevertheless serves as a solid conclusion to the series - yet leaves open the potential for more to come (however unlikely this may be).
    • 4/5
      I enjoy Iggulden's books and have enjoyed all of his Khan series, from Ghengis on to Kublai. Interesting times [not to mention, brutal]
    • 5/5
      Enjoyed the book.
    • 3/5
      I've finished reading this book. I feel like shouting out loud. It wasn't a bad book it just took forever to get through. I don't know why, but it may have had something to do with the frequent change of scene and character. I simply couldn't get attached to anyone until the last 5 chapters. I am glad that Iggulden decided to conclude the book where he did because I don't think that I could have taken a depressing end. Otherwise, there is the same attention to historical facts and a generous offering of action that enhanced the rest of his series.
    • 4/5
      This is the second book I have received through the Early Reviewers program by Conn Iggulden. I have always been a fan of the Mongol Empire, and this was a great way to end the series. The later years of Kublai Khan are well known and would be difficult to play with. In this book Iggulden takes us through the early years of Kublai. It is a story filled with interesting historical facts that too many Westerners don't know. Other than Genghis and Kublai, most people don't know much about the Mongol Empire. Certainly Americans are not taught much about the Mongols other than that they were blood thirsty heathens. In reality, the Mongol Empire was well disciplined and highly advanced for its age. This series, and this book as the finale, go a long way in enlightening readers to an important culture. I would recommend this series to anyone interested in learning more about the Mongol Empire. Yes, it is historical fiction and the author takes some literary license, but he clearly tells the reader where he has done it and why. I think this is important, and applaud the author for making sure he points out where he has played with historical figures and facts. It doesn't make the rest of the story unbelievable.
    • 5/5
      Great series. I have read each one with pleasure, and hope that he changes his mind and continues with the story of Kublai Khan.
    • 3/5
      This is the first book I've reviewed that I didn't like. I'm not saying that this was anything to do with the authors capability, I just didn't like it. I try to pick it up and start it again periodically but read a few more pages and put it down. I do appreciate the way that the book is written and the but the subject matter is such that I wasn't able to get started (after several attempts at a running start)
    • 4/5
      conn iggulden doing what he does best, historical fiction. I have read all his other works and loved them all, this was no exception. I was skeptical because I felt that Ghengis was to large a character to follow but Iggulden delivered the dynamics between the brothers as the fight over the empire built by Ghengis are great. Really good book solid 4 stars
    • 4/5
      Excellent book! This is the 5th and final book in the series, but I have only read the last 2. I want to read the first 3 as well! In this one we get to really meet Kublai as a character. We also get to know all of his brothers much better as well. My knowledge of Genghis and Kublai Khan and that time frame of history has been fairly minimal, but these stories have really brought the time into focus for me. Iggulden tells an excellent tale and brings the mongol horde to life. You can tell he's done a lot of research into the time and culture. It really shines through.I've recently been enjoying many of the historical novels that have been coming out, particularly Rome, but I have now added a new a author to my list of historical story tellers. I thought it was an excellent book and I plan to acquire the first 3 books to read as well.
    • 5/5
      You can almost smell the sweat and feel the heat of battle while you read Conn Iggulden's novel of Kublai Khan. I found the book facinating enough that while I read it, I would dream about it at night. I plan on getting all his novels and rationing them so I always have one waiting to be savored. This book brings the 13th century alive for the reader. The attitudes of the the individuals, the way classes and ethnic cultures differ with in those countries seemed realistic and well thought out. The main characters had the harsh and often cruel outlook of the time they lived in. I grow to understand and respect them despite the horrors they were capable of. This is a great book, if only history were taught like this in school.
    • 4/5
      Conn Iggulden brings to life the bygone landscapes and culture that gave rise to Kublai Khan and his conquests. The dialogue between his characters is relevant and engaging, allowing the reader to forget the centuries that separate us from Khan and his contemporaries. This accessibility makes the novel read easily and in an entertaining manner, while preserving the integrity of the factual history of this period. While Chinese history has not been a particular point of interest for me in the past, Iggulden's book portrays a fascinatingly rich and complex culture steeped in adventure, deceit, tradition, and conquest. For those new to the story of Kublai Khan and the Yuan Dynasty, this novel will pique an interest in this fascinating corner of history.
    • 4/5
      Atmospheric, bloody, suspenseful. Conqueror wasn't a perfect novel but it was one that kept and held my interest. Firstly, let me say that I hadn't read any of the previous books of the series, which was at first a serious distraction for me. It took me some time to adjust to Iggulden's writing style, and more importantly to a world I know little about. But as the story progressed both problems dissolved and I was successfully immersed into the world of the Mongols.Kublai was, from the first, obviously out-of-step with his contemporaries and even more so with the legend of Genghis that all the characters struggled to live up to. That he would eventually become Khan seemed impossible as the story began. A younger son, granted of a noble family, granted grandson of Genghis, but still, he was a thinker, a scholar and no where near bloody-minded enough to beat his wild people into a nation. But as the story unfolded, and as he was forced to become everything he'd tried to avoid (a conqueror), his strengths - analytic, widely read, historian, deep thinker who learned from his mistakes - all came to the fore and made him so much more than any of his contemporaries. I loved how he ended the book and applaud him for that.Conqueror is a terrific read.
    • 4/5
      Conn Iggulden's final entry in the Khan series ends on a strong note. Conqueror tells the story of Kublai, grandson to Genghis, and the twists, turns and machinations that lead to his becoming Khan. The storytelling is vivid and Iggulden really brings the rawness and violence of this epoch to life. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it for fans of Iggulden's other books as well as those who enjoy Bernard Cornwell and David Gemmell.
    • 4/5
      Conn delights once again. He manages to take an era and a area that I'm not even all that fond of, historically speaking, and makes it interesting and entertaining. the only real criticism is hardly fitting since it's a lot of what makes his books enjoyable. Conn doesn't really give the sense that you are reading about people of their time. It always feels like you are reading modern person, set back in history, rather than a product of the era. With that in mind, I'd really like to see him move into slightly more modern and western realms. Start stacking up against Cornwell, Lambdin and Shaara.
    • 5/5
      I've usually limited myself to historical fiction from the modern era. Branching out and trying new authors when it comes to historical fiction is hard to do as one grows used to the stories, character development, descriptions, and reading pace favorite authors have already created. In the case of Conn Iggulden's "Conqueror", I cannot say that I was disappointed. In many ways he does for the Mongols what Bernard Cornwell does for the Saxons with his most recent series. There is an immense amount of ground covered in "Conqueror" and by the end I didn't want the book to end. As I started with this book, I'll definitely have to go back to read the first books in the series. The history of Genghis Khan and his descendents never interested me beyond the idea that they were able to accomplish so much in so little time, but the amount of historical research Iggulden seems to have put into his tale shows how rich the history of the Mongol Khanate truly is and the immense impact they had on the world. The pace of the book was good, I somewhat hoped for better battle descriptions, but when you have masses of tens of thousands struggling against each other, there is only so much one can describe without getting bogged down in needless minutia. The political intrigue, the secrecy, and the new 'worlds' one encounters as the Mongols attempt to spread their rule are all intriguing in their own way, especially the Assassins in the Middle East. While historical fiction isn't the best way to learn history, it is an open door to at least experiencing part of a world we'll never truly know. Definitely a book I would recommend.
    • 5/5
      Conn Iggulden continues his series of novels about the Mongol Empire with Conqueror, the story of the rise and early accomplishment of Kublai Khan. As he has so aptly done before in his earlier novels about Genghis Kahn, the author delivers a solid story filled with action and intrigue. Iggulden has a knack of taking the reader into the souls and minds of the characters he writes about. Characters in this novel are well developed and the plot is tightly woven. The author excels in his descriptions of battle and often leaves the reader feeling drained after having lived through the vivid written description and experience of a conflict conducted by the single mindedness of the Mongol tumans.Whether it is a tale of Rome or the Mongols, this author never fails to please!
    • 5/5
      (Note: I'll be the first to admit I normally stick with Europe whenever I read a historical fiction novel, but Conqueror gave me a chance to broaden my horizons for once. Not having read Iggulden's Genghis Khan series I was a little disoriented at first with respect to the characters and locations that were introduced in the book, but was able to quickly catch on thanks to the straightforward writing style.)If you read the back cover you will be told that this book is about the rise of Kublai Khan, grandson of Genghis Khan and one of the most recognizable figures of Mongolian history. Starting with the rise of Guyuk, the book covers the first few decades of Kublai's life, from his scholarly introductions to his militaristic conquests. While there are a few liberties taken it is a good description of how Kublai makes his ascendancy. Reading this book really makes you appreciate not only what the Mongols accomplished, but also how they did it. Usually outnumbered, their mobility gave them an advantage over any infantry force they faced. And as Iggulden says in the notes at the end, "...had [it] not actually happened, a fictional account of Kublai's attack on Sung langs would be ludicrous." Sometimes the truth really is stranger than fiction.Lastly this book does what a truly good historical fiction will do, it will make you want to learn more. Learn more about the time period, the characters involved, and what happened after. I would recommend this book if you ever had any interest in the Mongols, Kublai, or just want a good book to read.
    • 4/5
      Conn Iggulden's latest and perhaps final book about the Mongol empire is about Kublai, thegrandson of Genghis Khan and man who defeated the Sung Empire. Iggulden sets the stage by moving through the procession of Khans who followed Ogedai, revealing the tensions between different members of the empire (which continue to be an important part of the story as it reaches a climax). Kublai takes center stage shortly before the accesssion of his brother Mongke and continues to be the focus of the story, though he is but one of multiple point of view characters. Iggulden does a good job at drawing out the various personalities and revealing the (understandable) tensions between the different generations of Mongols, though he admits in the historical note that he deliberately juxtaposed the personalities in part to draw out the differences. Thus Kublai is shown as the merciful, scholarly ruler, while his brother Hulegu is shown as a ruthless killer.As with all his novels, Iggulden provides an excellent historical note that discusses the points at which he deviated from the historical record in favor of a better story. Once again the note reveals an excellent knowledge of the historical period and sources, as well as a great deal of forethought as to the changes made.Conqueror is an excellent piece of historical fiction. If I had to critique any particular aspect, it is that some of the transitions between point sof view were awkward. For example, Iggulden repeatedly fit both the Hulegu and Kublai points of view into the same chapter rather than rounding out the action in one character before moving to the second. This is a minor critique, though, and overall the book reads very well.
    • 4/5
      Conqueror is not the typical genre I would have chosen to read but I was greatly surprised by the quality of work. The story successfully weaves fact and assumption into a wonderful family story of the Khan’s. While some of the acts represented are brutal the feeling portrayed was not. In fact there was a touch of humanity about the book that made it more realistic. I would heartily suggest this book to anyone who enjoys history or a good family saga. It is a must buy.
    • 5/5
      One of the great joys for an avid reader is discovering an author, an author you may even have never heard of before, an author you know will become one of your favorites. This happened for me when I read Conn Iggulden's CONQUEROR. I'd put him right up with Bernard Cornwell and Jeff Shaara--author of RISE TO REBELLION and other historical novels.Iggulden tells the story of Kublai Khan, grandson of Genghis Khan, and his rise to power. Iggulden makes the intrigue facinating, the action powerful, and the characters both believable and sympathetic. Making the "Kahn brothers"--Monkge, Hulegu, and Arik-Boke, and of course Kublai--sympathetic must have been a considerable challenge, after all, these were men who believed it was their right to take over other peoples, other nations, and kill anyone they wanted to kill for any reason or no reason at all. In effect, this novel, and presumably the other novels in the series, is a cautionary tale in what men who believe they have a right to something are capable of doing. In Kublai's case, there is evidence that, lacking that belief, he'd have been a relatively good man for the time. Iggulden shows the reader several cases where Kublai doesn't kill anyone in cities or towns when the people surrender without a fight, he shows Kublai as a scholar as a youth and a lifelong lover of Chin culture.Like many people who read this book, I knew little about Genghis Khan, Kublai Khan or the Mongols, so this was both an entertaining read and an informational read. I learned that, "It is interesting to note that the popular idea of a Mongol horde overwhelming smaller armies is almost completely false." (From the book's Historical Note. In my opinion, a historical novel without a Historical Note, several pages telling of history left out or history slightly changed to make a better story, is failing its readers.)Though I often know little about my favorite authors and though it wouldn't affect my opinion of their novels, it was pleasant to find out that Conn Iggulden seems to be a pretty good guy. There are videos of him on his website, including a funny one of outakes of him starting a promotional video, where he comes off as relatively modest, quite bright, and having a good sense of humor. In my country, USA, we have an expression "The All American Boy," for someone who embodies the best of what American boys or men can be. After checking out his website, I wondered if in England they have a similar expression. "The All England Boy" perhaps? Anyway, it's an interesting website, worth checking out regardless of whether of not Iggulden actually is a nice guy.To date, I've gotten 17 free books from LibraryThing Early Reviewers. Most have been at least decent, one or two were dogs, and a few very good. CONQUEROR blows them all away. I'll be buying and reading all of Iggulden's novels.So, if you enjoy historical fiction, you'll likely enjoy this novel. Buy the book!
    • 5/5
      This is a historical novel set after the death of Genghis Khan.. telling the story of one of his grandson who started out as a scholar but was to become Khan of the great kingdom. As you would expect with a novel about the Mongols there is a lot of violence in it which just adds to the drama. I really enjoyed reading this book a lot. The author had clearly done his research and the descriptions of the places. and people were rich and well written. It is a fairly large read but well worth sticking it out to the end.
    • 5/5
      An excellent entry in the Fictionalized history genre, especially in an area not heavily mined for material. You don't have to read the earlier books in the series, but I would recommend it, because Kublai Khan's rise to power depended heavily on the intrigues and actions which happened since his grandfather Genghis began the Mongol Empire.The book is full of action and I really enjoyed the different chapters which detailed how things were happening at different places at the same time. I do wish the book had been longer with more details on costume, customs and scenery--and I do wish there had been a family tree instead of just a list of names as sometimes the characters got a bit confusing. Maps would have also been useful!Otherwise, it's a good way to learn some history in a pleasant and easy manner., especially about a time period and people where there is very little written.
    • 3/5
      Blood, battles, and brutality...a good example of adventure/military fiction. Folks who like this kind of book, will very much enjoy Conqueror. I didn't read the first three books in this series, but did get an ER copy of the fourth book and also this one. Conqeror kept me reading, but more like a person who can't take her eyes away from a tragedy as it unfolds. Iggulden is relentless in his description of savagery and death from the large scale sacking of Baghdad to the small scale execution of a defenseless woman. Iggulden does a great job of creating a believable world, allowing us to see into the culture and people in this very different time and place. We get intimate details of everyday life, understanding of the politics of the times and insight into major characters' motivations. Kudos for illuminating this little-written about time. Normally I would give the book four stars for the writing and story. However, I couldn't get past the blood and gore. Women have almost no role, even though two women ruled the Mongols for five years (the time between the fourth and fifth books.) So, for personal pleasure reasons, I knocked it down a star.
    • 5/5
      Conn Iggulden has outdone himself in this, the final in his Genghis Khan series. Genghis and Kublai are my favorite characters, although the sons, cousins and grandsons of this conquering Mongol family round out the adventurous tales and make all of these books most enjoyable reading. 5 stars for sure!
    • 4/5
      This was a good conclusion to the Conqueror series. The end of Empire of Silver saw the death of Ogedai who had built Karakoram and this book shows us what arose since that vacuum in the Mongol nation. Ultimately there is a great deal of fratricide and political intrigue as several potential claimants to the title of Khan prove unsuitable to all. We then see Kublai emerge as a scholar-warrior bent on defeating the Sung and establishing a new capital at Xanadu to further expand and develop the Mongol people. Iggulden develops his character well throughout the book. Furthermore other family members, generals and opponents are also usefully characterised in the book. As one would expect battle scenes are well described in the book in immense detail as before indicating considerable research. An author has got to know when to end a series and Iggulden has certainly given his readers five books of considerable entertainment, detail and knowledge on Genghis Khan and his family. The map, glossary and family tree could have been more detailed, however as you continually have to refer to these documents. I look forward to reading the author’s next project.
    • 5/5
      Fascinating subject! This fictional reproduction of the history of 13th century Mongol empire is a very good introduction to the world of constant battles, intrigues and brutality. I haven't read the first four books in this series but I will definitely be looking for them now. The author took a framework of historical facts and added fictionalized description of characters. You can argue how historically correct any particular description but it does create a very interesting - and educational - read. I just wish that the flow of the book would not be sometimes slow.