The Eye of the Nomad is the first book of the War of Fear Trilogy by Umberto Nardolicci. It begins the legend of Yasotay, who is a prince with a special gift for acquiring and retaining knowledge. But Yasotay is discontent in the palace and wants to learn from experiencing real life rather than just reading about it in the extensive library. His journey takes him first to a farm where he works as a farm hand, and then, after he rescues a nomad, to join the nomad’s tribe where he fights with them and eventually becomes one of them. There is plenty of excitement and suspense in this novel as Yasotay rescues Temujin and they make the hazardous journey back to his camp. Yasotay learns the ways of the nomads and later embarks on a race against time attempting to save two women from kidnappers and a terrible fate.
 
This historical saga is based on actual events that occurred in the 12th century. The novel transports the reader to the Eurasian Steppe where the author succeeds in bringing an ancient world to life. Works like this require extensive research, and researching as far back as the 12th century is surely extremely challenging. I salute Umberto Nardolicci for the work that must have been done before this spellbinding story of war, love, and revenge could be written. Historical fiction is not the kind of story I typically read, but I found it an extremely enjoyable read. The characters were generally well-developed and the epilogue leaves the reader wanting more. I recommend The Eye of the Nomad without hesitation to anyone who loves a great story from the distant past that brings interesting characters to life and provides insights into a world and a way of life few of us could ever begin to imagine. Overall, a great story well told.

Umberto Nardolicci’s Eye of the Nomad: Book One in the War of Fear Trilogy is a riveting historical story set in the 12th century in the steppes of Mongolia. Best suited to mature readers, the story draws inspiration from the historical figure Yasotay, the mastermind and strategic thinker in building elite strike forces for the founder of the Mongol Empire, Genghis Khan. Eye of the Nomad begins in 1165 CE when Yasotay is five years old, a prince at the Emperor’s court in the Jin Empire. He is gifted with a sharp intellect and formidable memory. At 15, he is a young scholar at the Purple Cloud Temple of the Song Empire. In 1176 CE, he leaves his princely life to experience the world for himself and rescues a young Mongolian nomad from captivity. Together, the two young men find their way to the nomad’s clan in the mountains. Over the next few years, Yasotay becomes immersed in the nomad world. The story twists and turns, and the pace and action pick up as war between nomad clans spreads through the surrounding mountains and steppes.  

I enjoyed reading Eye of the Nomad, an immersive and gripping story, for its compelling characters and exceptional world-building. In particular, I liked how Yasotay’s character develops. I loved how his development as a young boy and scholar also revealed the rich details of life at court and in the Taoist temples. The connections between Yasotay’s scholarly days and his subsequent life with the nomads created a vibrant and vivid character. I liked how the Silu Road, on which traders and merchants travel, appears in the tale. I particularly liked how his knowledge of languages and religions connects to the other characters he meets. The challenges he faces reveal his training in martial arts and exceptional fighting abilities and he eventually becomes a formidable strategist in the art of warfare. What I liked about Yasotay is his open-mindedness, curiosity, and sense of integrity and honesty. I loved the vivid and beautiful descriptions of Mongolia’s steppes, valleys, and mountains; I could imagine Yasotay’s journeys through these new lands. Umberto Nardolicci’s novel is a fascinating story of a complex and extraordinary character, a scholar and a warrior; it is also a story of love, loyalty, war, and betrayal.

A new beginning in life can be a blessing. However, it can also have disastrous consequences. Eye of the Nomad: War of Fear Book One by Umberto Nardolicci is an intriguing example of what can happen when someone breaks with the past and seeks a new life. As a child, Yasotay is a prodigy, paraded to royalty and scholars for their interest and amusement. But he grows tired of this life as he becomes an adult. Years later, as a young adult, Yasotay is disgusted by the ever-present machinations in his routine-filled life and walks away. One day, he helps a captive, tormented nomad, and this encounter leads him to experience a world unlike any he has known before. Feeling pity for the nomad, Temujin, Yasotay helps him escape and return to his small clan, where Yasotay will finally experience what true family is all about. Unfortunately, Yasotay will experience much more, as Temujin is none other than the youthful Genghis Khan.

Fiction with a touch of history, Eye Of The Nomad by Umberto Nardolicci is a superbly written adventure of the highest quality. The story revolves around Yasotay, a historical figure with limited known information, except that he was an early proponent of the role of special forces in conflict. The novel explores multiple themes like camaraderie, ambition, and love. The character development, particularly of Yasotay, is outstanding. He is a captivating individual portrayed as intelligent and thirsty for knowledge, yet sometimes lacking in wisdom. A strong pace with a steady build-up underpins the novel and results in an exemplary read. Eye Of The Nomad is a perfect book for historical fiction and action-adventure fans while serving as a reminder that superior organization, innovation, and technology in the wrong hands can have devastating results. This is a very well-written and professional piece of work.

Eye of the Nomad: Book One in the War of Fear Trilogy by Umberto Nardolicci is a wonderfully exciting exploration of the rise of the Mongol nation in 12th-century Eurasia. Yasotay is a young man with incredible gifts and abilities. A prince in the Chinese court, his talents are spotted early and he is earmarked for greatness. After a childhood of learning under some of the greatest masters in China, Yasotay is devastated when the woman who raised him, and whom he sees as more of a mother to him than his birth mother, is murdered. He decides that instead of reading and learning about the world through the books and records of others, it is time to seek adventures and experiences. Running away from the masters who instruct him, he heads into the vast hinterland of the Empire. When he rescues a young man being held as a slave, he begins an adventure into the Mongol steppes of Eurasia where he encounters a culture and a people that he not only identifies with but falls in love with. The Mongols are now a caste society, endlessly warring against and massacring each other. Temujin, the man Yasotay saved from captivity, dreams of uniting the Mongol tribes and conquering the world. For that, he needs Yasotay’s brilliance, fighting abilities, and intellect. He will do whatever needs to be done to ensure Yasotay stays with his tribe and helps him achieve the greatness he believes is rightfully his.

Eye of the Nomad is an epic tale of war, love, friendship, and betrayal that will keep readers turning pages anxiously to see what happens to these characters. Although author Umberto Nardolicci has to a large extent used characters and events that did exist and happen in this 12th-century adventure, it is, of necessity, highly fictionalized but that merely adds another layer of depth and breadth to what is a remarkable story. Yasotay and Temujin did exist and what the author has done with his literary license is weave a fantastic story around their interactions. I particularly enjoyed Yasotay’s difficulties in adapting to life on the steppes and his highly moral attitude to his love for a woman who was already betrothed to another. The beautifully descriptive prose of the emptiness, desolation, and yet innate beauty of the steppes is a highlight of the story that immerses the reader in this strange and foreign land. The relationship between Yasotay and Temujin was inherently complex. Although there was a deep love for each other, there was also the understanding that each was using the other to try to attain their purpose in life. Yasotay’s love for Tera provides the perfect element of peace and calm in what is a violent and fast-paced tale. This is a wonderful story of place and time that resonated deeply with me. My biggest joy is that it is book one of a planned trilogy which means we are not done with these characters and I look forward to book two with keen anticipation. This is a wonderful book that I highly recommend.