Review: Incredibly enjoyable
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 26, 2013
Michael Hickland's `The Guardian of Genghis Khan's Tomb' is one of the best, if not the definite best historical fiction title I have seen in a year. Of course, it had me at "Genghis Khan" and "massive amounts of lost treasure." If you're a fan of Clive Cussler or even Dan Brown, then you're in for an awesome treat with Hickland's book.At the heart of this book is the story about a great conqueror and his legendary treasure. Genghis Khan struck fear in the hearts of his enemies in his lifetime, and he has since continued to inspire awe and fascination even centuries after his death. The rumors about the lost treasure reverberated across the fusty centuries, but the treasure was never found. That is, until paleontologist Kate Barrows and serendipity enter the picture. Looking for dinosaur fossils in Mongolia, Barrows instead stumbles into an artifact that points to the presumably nearby presence of Genghis Khan's treasure. But as it turns out, the governments of Russia and China fiercely covet the treasure for themselves, and the ensuing conflict and race to find the treasure pushes the world to the brink of a large-scale war. Add the fact that Barrows's financial backer, Drew Moss, used to be a Navy SEAL and still has strong connections with the higher echelons of the US government, and he and his men are not going to stand on the sidelines and let others dip their hands in the golden cookie jar.Written in a heart-racing but delicious pace, Hickland's `The Guardian of Genghis Khan's Tomb' is immensely enjoyable and one that will literally compel you to keep turning the pages. It is cleverly written, with more than enough emotional gravitas (for instance, there is something so poignant and admirable about Qasar's ultimate sacrifice in obliterating any trace of his lord's tomb to protect it) to compel readers to take the narrative seriously. Hickland's attention to historical accuracy and his vivid imagination are highly commendable--he succeeds in seamlessly weaving a highly addictive story that "catapults" you into a relentless pursuit for the book's truth, with clever twists and turns that keep you guessing, and often guessing wrong.Hickland is like Dan Brown without the often cloying writing--he writes with a sharpness and deftness that enthralls you and keeps you holding the edge of your seat. `The Guardian of Genghis Khan's Tomb' is a resounding literary achievement that deserves its own Hollywood movie version. I'm hoping somebody buys the movie rights, and very soon. Highly recommended reading!