The Tiger Queens by Stephanie Thornton ISBN: 9780451417800
Published by Penguin on 2014-11-04
Format: Paperback
Pages: 454
Source: Publisher
Genres: Historical Fiction
In the late twelfth century, across the sweeping Mongolian grasslands, brilliant, charismatic Temujin ascends to power, declaring himself the Great, or Genghis, Khan. But it is the women who stand beside him who ensure his triumph....
After her mother foretells an ominous future for her, gifted Borte becomes an outsider within her clan. When she seeks comfort in the arms of aristocratic traveler Jamuka, she discovers he is the blood brother of Temujin, the man who agreed to marry her and then abandoned her long before they could wed.
Temujin will return and make Borte his queen, yet it will take many women to safeguard his fragile new kingdom. Their daughter, the fierce Alaqai, will ride and shoot an arrow as well as any man. Fatima, an elegant Persian captive, will transform her desire for revenge into an unbreakable loyalty. And Sorkhokhtani, a demure widow, will position her sons to inherit the empire when it begins to fracture from within.
In a world lit by fire and ruled by the sword, the tiger queens of Genghis Khan come to depend on one another as they fight and love, scheme and sacrifice, all for the good of their family...and the greatness of the People of the Felt Walls.
Disclosure: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
drey’s thoughts:
If you enjoy historical fiction, you have to pick up Stephanie Thornton’s The Tiger Queens! This engrossing story starts with the woman who would be the wife of Genghis Khan, the man whose name ruled the steppes. Borge Ujin is shunned by her people because of an ill-omened prophecy, but overcomes that – and much more – to eventually rule over all under the Eternal Blue Sky as Genghis’ Queen.
But it’s not all about Borte. Sure, the first section is all about her journey from girlhood to queen, but the second is about her daughter Alaqai’s marriage into power, a marriage filled with loathing and unhappiness. These are followed by the story of a slave-girl who becomes the trusted advisor to Borte’s warrior daughter-in-law, Toregene, and the struggle of another daughter-in-law, Sorkhokhtani, to rid the throne of those unfit to rule.
The Tiger Queens is packed with drama and beautiful storytelling. Not that it’s all roses for Borte or any of the other women featured. Strong they may be, but strong they have to be to survive and keep going after what they endure. Life on the steppes is a harsh and difficult one at the best of times, and these times are not the best by any means.
Fans of historical fiction featuring strong women will want to pick up The Tiger Queens. Make sure to set aside the time to appreciate it – good thing it’s that time of the year to curl up with a hot cuppa. 
drey’s rating: Excellent!
Have you read The Tiger Queens? What did you think? And if you haven’t, read on to win your own copy!
Giveaway!
Thanks to the publisher, I have one copy of The Tiger Queens for you. This one’s open to US residents only; no PO Boxes please. To enter, fill out the form below before December 6th. Good luck!
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About Stephanie Thornton
Stephanie Thornton is a writer and high school history teacher who has been obsessed with infamous women from ancient history since she was twelve. She lives with her husband and daughter in Alaska, where she is at work on her next novel.
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