The Tiger Queens by Stephanie Thornton is a wonderful combination of fiction and history as she writes of a group of women who helped to shape, sustain and control the wide-spread empire of Genghis Khan. These women were relatives and friends who supported, advised and watched out for each other while sharing their intimate confidences.

The women were Borte, the first wife and queen of the empire, her daughter Alaqai, a warrior princess, her daughter-in-laws Toregene and Sorkhokhtani, and finally Fatima, taken as a slave but evolved into a well loved and revered scribe and friend. They lived in violent times and women were not often elevated to a position of power, but these women were members of the ‘Golden Family’ and were situated to have influence, political savvy and ability.

The book is set in the late 12th century and details the life of Genghis Khan and, after his death, how the family plotted and schemed for his throne. The story unfolds through the voice of 4 of the women who played such strong and fierce roles in the reign of Genghis Khan. I loved the story and in particular the setting of the sweeping grasslands and harsh steppes of central Asia. The author immerses us in the food and culture and doesn’t shy away from the horrific violence that was part of the Mongol horde’s day to day life. This mix of a great story with fascinating history makes The Tiger Queens a very compelling read. ( )

Tiger Queens sheds light on people and a time in history that is often overlooked. Genghis Khan is one of those figures everyone knows about, and that's it. It was fascinating delving into this time in history and meeting all of the different women and their impact on the surrounding landscape. With that said, this is not for the faint of heart. While it was interesting as a first dive into Mongolian history, I didn't find it especially captivating but more gruesome and shocking. This is a brutal and tough time period, with several dynamic female characters. Even so, I found myself often wishing for the book to end.

For starters, I just want to warn readers that there is a lot of sexual violence in this book. The Mongolian steppes were incredibly dangerous, particularly for women; although, warring tribes usually were hazardous to women, no matter where they were located. It's a difficult subject to tackle, and some readers might be uncomfortable with just how much rape there is in this book because there is a lot, especially at the beginning, so I just want to warn readers of that.

Aside from the rape, I often found the women's stories were watered down and made too mundane. Unfortunately, there are so few sources from this time period, so it probably wasn't easy researching this book. That said, I was personally put off by the fact that the majority of the stories centered around rape and birth. There were so many child birthing scenes. I suppose that's why Thornton tried to spice it up by creating a prophecy that Borte's actions would wreak havoc over the steppes. Unfortunately, that fell flat too, as it's extremely clear that Borte's actions have nothing to do with the wars being raged between the clans.

That's the thing I've noticed with Thornton's books. With both this and Hatshepsut, she has these fascinating subjects, gives them both prophecies to add some drama, but then the prophecy happens independently of the central characters. It makes their stories sometimes seem superfluous. I wish Thornton took more artistic license to have the women be more involved in politics, so she could show us how they could be cunning and competent and not just doomed.

I do think this book got better over time. Alaqai, Fatima, and Sorkhokhtani were all very dynamic women with desires, schemes, and fears. Although, I found that sometimes Thornton would move away just as things became exciting. Alaqai, in particular, sounds like she had an eventful life, but it didn't really play out that way in the novel. Meanwhile Sorkhokhtani is on the edge of the story for so long that when she finally takes center stage, she still doesn't really take command of her story.

Despite its faults, this book is very interesting, and I'm glad I read it. I recommend it for the historical fiction reader who is looking for something different and challenging and isn't about Nazis. Just remember to proceed with caution, as it's a very heavy read. ( )

"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. "

The Tiger Queens, Stephanie Marie Thornton

Five stars. Maybe the best of the year so far.

I am having such a year with books in 2020. I have had the pleasure to read lots of 4 and 5 star books, particularly in the last month or so. This maybe the best of the year so far.

For a book about Genghis Khan, I did not think this book would be so....soulful. But it is. The story is told by the women he loved and who loved him.

And I went into it, thinking I'd not like it or maybe even DNF. I took a chance. The last book I attempted to read, told about a famous warrior from the viewpoint of the women who loved him, was "The conqueror's wife" about the women who loved Alexander the Great and I never finished it.

But how wrong was I! This book is amazing. It is narrated by four different women, all of whom were intricate parts of Genghis Khan's life.

The first part of the book..and the longest story..is told by his first wife, Borte Ujin. What a woman she was! I love reading about strong women and Borte Ujin falls into that category. She had more strength in one finger than many have in a lifetime. Reading about her was a wonderful experience.

As I said, her story is first and the longest. It starts shortly before she meets Genghis for the first time, when she is just a young girl. But it continues through many many days and years of both deep darkness and tragedy as well as searing and intense beauty.

Then there are three other point of views, including Alaqui, the first daughter of Khan, Fatima, (The Rose), a captured slave and Sorkhokhtan, his daughter in law.

All four women's stories are fascinating in their own right. And all four women live through so much tragedy.

Tiger Queens spans years. It is a long book filled with love, loss and mesmerizing stories and events. It is also not for the faint of heart. There is blood and gore and rape and death..just know that before you go into it. And there is also extreme violence, torture and rape. So TRIGGER ALERT! Also, I am the first to turn away from stories involving animal cruelty but this story is about a culture that did indeed do things like eat horse meat on a regular basis. I was OK during these scenes but do feel compelled to let the reader know.

But that is a small part of the book. Tiger Queens is at once a cultural read as well as a story about families and love, friendships and loyalty. The story that emerges is hauntingly lovely and captivating. I was..and am..enthralled.

Atmosphere plays a big role and the villages and customs of the Mongol empire are described in detailed and starkly gorgeous prose that is all consuming and drops you right into the book itself. Time will slip away from you are you read this.

I think you will know, almost from the start if this is a book for you or not. I love the sensitivity in Khan that the reader is made deeply aware of. He loved and he loved hard. He loved his wife, his children and his whole family as they did him. I was struck by the loyalty and devotion depicted here.

It is impossible..or at least it was for me..not to feel as though I am walking in the villages with these people. You will feel everything from the winds blowing across the villages to the glimmering snowmelt to the lush fields and lakes and streams. I do not see how once read, anyone will be able to ever forget this book. ( )

I'm not sure I'm cut out for historical fiction. I mean, I love learning about the time period and how people lived, but dealing with fictional characters as they experience all the violence and the rape and the death and the helplessness of their time? No. Too heart-breaking, too gut-wrenching. ...I should probably stick to my fantasy alternate histories or historical mysteries and encounter history in the safe confines of a nonfiction tome. ( )

4.5 Stars!

Four tiger women tell the story of the Mongol Empire in four tragic and harrowing sections. It's Joy Luck Club for ancient Mongol history. I love how Stephanie Thorton gives voice to nearly forgotten women in history.

I remember reading about Genghis Khan's family drama and how each shuffle and sniffle felt like it would change the course of history. Those books are written from Genghis Khan's points of view building on a story on manly bloody conquest. Now Tiger Queens is not as bloody but do not shy away from bloody contact.

With a confusing and missing from history Mongolian family tree, some cuts (and merges) had to made to make the story work. I'm saddened but not docking her for not including more about Genghis Khan's brothers and Subutai, his most decorated general.

The villains of the story were one dimensional. The four tiger queens were some of the beautifully crafted people I've seen in the literary world. Stephanie is one my new favorite authors and I look forward to what she has next (Alexander the Great's women)

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