The narrative follows the early life of Temujin, the second son of Yesugei, the khan of the Mongolian "Wolves" tribe.

Fearing the sons of the former khan may contest his leadership when they reach adulthood, Eeluk banishes Temujin's family from the tribe, leaving them to fend for themselves on the harsh Steppes.

But the Wolf tribe return to the area, and advanced riders, sent by Eeluk to ensure the family had perished, capture Temujin.

Temujin joins his small fledgling tribe with Toghrul's, and leads a joint army to advance on the Tartars.

It is in the following battle that Temujin begins to show outstanding tactical abilities, as the Mongols ease to victory.

In addition to differences to some names of characters and tribes, some major inaccuracies include: Borte was captured by the Merkit tribe, not the Tartars; and she was held captive for several months, rather than a few weeks; Temujin's childhood enslavement by the Ta'yichiut, also lasting several months, is not described; however, some elements of his escape (being liberated by a sympathetic member of the capturing tribe, but then returning to their home to hide) is incorporated into the fictional account of his capture by the "Wolves"; Temujin's childhood friend, blood-brother, and major rival Jamuka is excluded from the story; the relationship between Temujin and Toghrul is simplified: it is not mentioned that he and Yesugei were Anda and the omission of the influence Toghrul's son Senggum had on their relationship; and the influence of the Chin emissary is entirely fictional.

Sue Arnold, in a review in The Guardian, thought the book "every bit as dazzling and action-packed" as Iggulden's previous Emperor series.

[1] Suchitra Behal, of The Hindu, opined that despite "some liberties with historical facts", the work was a "brilliant portrait of Genghis Khan".