The text doesn't go into great depth, but Robert Byrd's pen-and-ink illustrations feature wonderful details, ranging from the Huns' saddles and weapons to the nine worlds of the Vikings' mythology to the Mongols' endeavors in falconry and astronomy.
—The Washington Post

. . . this handsome volume will fill a collection gap while providing warrior-loving browsers with an informative and brightly illustrated book to enjoy.

Gr 4–7—Kroll describes, in a chapter each, the way of life for Goths, Huns, Vikings, and Mongols; the political, economic, and societal pressures that caused them to leave their homes; and the leaders who successfully changed their boundaries of influence. Byrd's watercolor and pen-and-ink illustrations add a level of detail that will help children visualize the dif-ferent groups of men, women, and children. Full spreads as well as smaller border pictures depict a representative home and some aspects of the community, including agricultural practices, style of dress, building materials, etc. Religious beliefs, including the relationship between paganism and Christianity and the practice of scapulimancy (predicting the future by reading the cracks in burned animal bones) are explored. The dense text is presented in a small-sized font, making the book best suited for older elementary or middle school readers. While the layout and art may indicate a younger audience, elementary-grade children who take the time to explore the work will be rewarded by a thought-provoking, action-packed glimpse into a less-familiar part of history. A detailed time line helps unite the four parts of the book and sets the stage for the Europeans' expansion during the "Age of Discovery" in the 1400s.—Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA

Sure, Vikings get all the good press-but as Kroll points out, they weren't the only warlike people to raid, invade and topple established empires between 100 CE and the death of Tamerlane in 1405. After noting at the outset that the prejudicial connotation of the term "barbarian" was often but not always just, he goes on to profile the relatively brief but bloody careers of the Goths, Attila's Huns, the Vikings and the Mongol Hordes of Genghis Khan and his descendants. Focusing not so much on their gorier practices as on their conquests and most prominent leaders, he chronicles the rise and fall of each, with general comments on origins, life ways and religions. Byrd remarks on the paucity of accurate source material but fills his large illustrations with colorful details, energetic figures and artfully composed reconstructions of historical and mythological scenes, as well as visual references to enduring cultural contributions. Rousing reading for all armchair sword-wielders and plunder-seekers. (Nonfiction. 10-12)