Warrior: Path of Destiny — Tim Ellis

Mongolian Steppe (1176 - 1183): Warrior: Path of Destiny, the first book in the Warrior series, tells the story of Temujin's childhood and enslavement. It interweaves the brutality of history, revenge, love, friendship and betrayal in telling the story of Temujin â€" the boy who would become the greatest warrior of all: Genghis Khan.

After Temujin completes warrior training at nine years old his father dies, and together with his family, he is left to die on the Mongolian steppe by the tribe. He vows to survive and seek vengeance against those who left him.

Many years are spent forging allies, and warriors flock to him in search of plunder, but when he is captured and enslaved by an old enemy, his warriors desert him.

Throughout, he learns valuable lessons, and when he escapes his captors he must re-build again. He obtains the friendship of Toghril - the Chief of the Kereit - and together they begin to plunder the steppe. Temujin, however, has a greater purpose in mind, and begins to make plans to create a Mongolian nation.