Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction discussion

This is the discussion thread for the April group read of Raiders from the North (Empire of the Moghul #1)
by Alex Rutherford



THE EPIC STORY OF ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL EMPIRES IN HISTORY

The mighty Empire of the Moghuls burst out of Central Asia into India in the sixteenth century. The first in a compelling new series of novels, Raiders from the North tells the largely unknown story of the rise and fall of the Mogul dynasties.

It is 1494 when the ruler of Ferghana dies in an extraordinary accident. His only son, Babur, faces a seemingly impossible challenge. Babur is determined to live up to the example of his legendary ancestor, Tamburlaine, whose conquests transformed the face of the earth from Delhi to the Mediterranean, from wealthy Persia to the wildernesses along the Volga. But Babur is dangerously young to inherit a kingdom.

Before Babur can summon enough warlords to declare him the rightful king, plots against his crown, even his life, are hatching. And soon, he will discover that even the bravest and most fearless leader can be betrayed. With the wisest of advisers and most courageous of warriors by his side, Babur can achieve a great destiny and found an empire in India, but every step of his journey will be fraught with danger.

Set in a world of tribal rivalries, rampaging armies, and ruthlessly ambitious enemies, Raiders from the North is historical adventure at its very best.

Count me in! I got the book today! see ya all on April 1st.

I am going to try and get to this one too. It all depends on whether my library has it. (haven't checked yet).
If it has it, then count me in too!

I'm in!

I'm still trying to decide. . . This one looks exciting, which is good for audio because I don't have to fight to stay awake, the other looks more cerebral, which at my advanced(!) age may lead to more snoozing than listening. . .

My library only has the audio, so it looks like I am out. :(

Not that it matters...but some readers may be surprised to know that the author of this book is a woman. Alex Rutherford

I am one that was surprised. :) I only just found out by looking at her author profile.

Oh, drat. I am so over-committed in April that it defies belief. But how can I resist Babur?! I will have to participate, some way, somehow.

C'mon, Bryn, you will read this too, right? ;-)

This is going to be another group read that will pain me because I cannot join in....:(

Oh, come on, Terri, you can do audio! Just take it in small, measured doses and if you fall asleep, back up until something sounds like you've already heard it. It is also suggested to take notes, which I've always been too lazy to do but can see where it would help, especially with names.

Just picked my copy up from the library last night. I'll enjoy discussing this with my husband, since he's from India and is really interested in India's history.
Maybe there are things he can clarify for me.

On the way from Amazon, I'm ready.

Interlibrary loan on this one, it will come to me.....when it comes. :P

So long as it's better than Harold Lamb's Babur the Tiger: First of the Great Moguls, which pretended to be a novel but was just a retelling of Babur's memoir, The Baburnama: Memoirs of Babur, Prince and Emperor, I'll be happy. If I'm going to read the memoir, I'll read the original, which is quite fascinating in and of itself.

Nancy wrote: "Oh, come on, Terri, you can do audio! Just take it in small, measured doses and if you fall asleep, back up until something sounds like you've already heard it. It is also suggested to take notes, ..."

Ug. Nah. I can't do audio. :)
I know it is perfectly fine for others, but for me, because it is using different senses, I do not absorb it the same way.
Plus, I live in the bush and therefore like my peace and quiet. The only noise I hear when my hubby is at work is the sounds of nature (and sometimes a bit of tv and sometimes a bit of my music).
Audiobooks just sound like someone is incessantly yapping at me and i want to tell them to shuuuuuuttt upppp for heavens sake.
:)

I'm in. I've been wanting to read this since visiting Agra and Jaipur in 2012. I picked up a copy at the local bookstore on their sale.

C you April 1, Carolien. :)
I won't be reading it with you, but I'll be haunting the discussion.

I'm in! Never going to read this series otherwise, lol.

That is why I was going to be in too. Without a group read I would never have read it...now, since my library doesn't have it, that chance has slipped away from me. :)

Oh Terri I'm sorry you won't be in!

Me too!

*sniffle* :(
I am having monthly group read withdrawals.

Where did my comment go? I wrote to say I have the book and am in the group read for April. If anyone finds my first comment, ignore it. Lol

Linda wrote: "Where did my comment go? I wrote to say I have the book and am in the group read for April. If anyone finds my first comment, ignore it. Lol"

Consider it ignored. I will be happy to read alongside you as this will be my first group read with this awesome group! For so long I've read in isolation wishing to be able to share the experience with others so now my hermit side will work hard to keep up with discussion. Cheers!

Back at you, Jesse!

Jesse wrote: "For so long I've read in isolation wishing to be able to share the experience with others so now my hermit side will work hard to keep up with discussion. Cheers! ..."

I was you once, Jesse. :) I remember it like it was yesterday.
Thank goodness for this website and thank goodness for the people who have come and joined this group.

Me, too Jesse and Terri. Even though I have 3 good books going, I'm very much looking forward to April 1. And I love goodreads too.

Me too. Can't wait!

Have it, I will start this one on the 1st

Terri wrote: "Jesse wrote: "For so long I've read in isolation wishing to be able to share the experience with others so now my hermit side will work hard to keep up with discussion. Cheers! ..."

I was you onc..."

Once was lost but now I'm found...was blind but now I see! Hehe didn't take you for a Wilberforce fan. I'm mostly thankful for you guys on here to interact with. In all my years of reading, I've never received such good recommendations as I do on here. BTW, April will be difficult as I have this one, Fall of Giants by Follett and two other large tome's. So I have declared it Group Read month so as not to overwhelm myself.

Looks like I will be joining in on this one. My copy is in at the library, well, two copies actually....both the LP and the CD.
Not sure how much time I will have to chat about it but I'm looking forward to reading it.

Who is this Wilberforce you speak of?

EDIT: Oh, you mean William Wilberforce?

Hi! My name is Carlos and I am a cheater. I started early (today) this book. so far so good. Please don't hate me, life made me this way (I could blame my parents but I am still afraid of 'em).

Hi Carlos, glad you're going to be joining the group, whether you've already started or not! That's a funny comment about your parents. I'm going to start on April 1 on the dot, cause that's when I get to download my next audiobook. See y'all then!

Terri wrote: "Not that it matters...but some readers may be surprised to know that the author of this book is a woman. Alex Rutherford

I am one that was surprised. :) I only just found out by l..."

I found the author thing yesterday. Does it influence the way I feel about the book? Yes. That is somehow disturbing. Mr. and Mrs. were named as the authors, so I wonder if one was the illustrator or held another position in writing this book. Please let me know. LL

Don't worry Carlos. I have noticed you are not alone in starting early! ;D

Can't say that I'm bothered by Alex Rutherford being a couple. I actually find that rather cool. The book is great (I am 100 pages in, but withholding more specific comments for now), so I really don't care whether the author is a man, a woman, or a wombat. ;-)

It is a wombat, I feel sure. lol. LL

Carlos, cute comment. We could be related!lol Ll

C.P. wrote: "Can't say that I'm bothered by Alex Rutherford being a couple. I actually find that rather cool. The book is great (I am 100 pages in, but withholding more specific comments for now), so I really d..."

Their being a couple writing under a nom de plume doesn't bother me either. I've read the whole John the Eunuch Byzantine mystery series: One for Sorrow is an example and a 'Nordic noir' mystery, both also written by husband-and-wife.

Now I'm intrigued. Can't wait to get stuck in!

C.P. wrote: "Can't say that I'm bothered by Alex Rutherford being a couple. I actually find that rather cool. The book is great (I am 100 pages in, but withholding more specific comments for now), so I really d..."

Much, much LOL on a wombat writer.

Finished! No review until a moderator says so.

That was speedy Linda!

You're good to go now, it's April 1st in Australia (just barely) and we've always used that as starting time when we're in a hurry!!

So that said, I haven't gotten very far into the story myself.
I am at (view spoiler)[the point where they are 5 months into the second seige on his uncles kingdom (hide spoiler)].

So far I'm finding it a bit boring. My usual complaint about books. I'm hoping it picks up soon.

I'll be interested to start this one, since it's based on the history of my husband's native country: India. In fact he's already told me Babur's story.

I've never heard of Babur so this will be interesting history for me.
Besides, considering the massive South Asian population where I live, I should know something about their history. It's only polite!! :)

Delivery got delayed. It will be another week before I even get this one to start it.

Well here we are on April 1, west coast USA, I've got my audiobook, listened to chapter 1. Quality of narration and writing good so far although I'm obviously not going to be spelling very many of these names :-)

Plenty of authentic names to be had in this one? :)