Mother.GAMER.Writer

Originally Reviewed At:Mother/Gamer/WriterRating: 4 ControllersReview Source: NetGalleyReviewed By: Me Secret battles of Genghis Khan, is a graphic novel (about 30 pages were available for review) which depicts the early rise, or “origin story”, of one of history’s most infamous warriors, Genghis Khan. I must admit that I am a bit of a history fanatic and love reading about ancient civilizations and warriors, myths and legends. When I found this graphic novel on NetGalley I immediately gravitated towards it, in hopes of feeding my history addiction. With only 30 pages of reading material I must say, I was pleasantly surprised by not only how informative the story was, but how wonderful the author captured the Khan’s life. Genghis Khan, born Temujin after a Tatar chieftain his father captured, was the founder and Great Khan of the Mongol Empire. During his reign, the Khan united many of the nomadic tribes creating a unified northeast Asia and was well known for his military and leadership prowess. Specifically in this adaptation of his life, we are introduced with an elderly Temujin on his death bed recounting his birth and rise to power. Every page was filled with tension for the Khan’s journey was not an easy road. What I liked most about this graphic novel was how much information was pack into such a small package. However at the same time, more exploration into his life would have been beneficial to people like myself who enjoy depth. Secret battles of Genghis Khan only scratches the surface by hitting major plot points in the Khan’s notorious life. But I am hoping this is actually addressed in the full book. Overall, I would recommend this graphic novel for those of you who love history. It is informative, enjoyable, and well illustrated. I can’t wait to get my hands on the entire compilation, which should equal to roughly 140 pages according to NetGalley, if it is anything like the beginning narrative. I also recommend it for students who like obtaining their history in fun and nontraditional manners.