The Road to Rus' (Kyivan Rus' Book 1)

While a novel, it is 90% actual history. Hnatyshyn uses Scandinavian or Greek names rather than Slavic names for non-Slavs. He shows the actual origins of Ukraine from a Varangian (Viking) viewpoint. Even the names are Varangian: Uskuldr rather than Askold and Dyr, Helgi rather than Oleh,Ingvar rather than Ihor, Euxinus rathe than the Black Sea. The South Slavic tribes are Polian, Siverian, Derevlian, etc. their true Slavic names. Magyars - Hungarians. And the historical events are true in general. Obviously some fiction had to be put in. Just like James Michener's style. Both are excellent historians.And nowhere is the word Russia or Muscovy. They didn't exist till the 12th or 13th century century. And it was in the 17th century that Muscovy usurped the name Rus (Ukraine). The geography is true also, from the Caspian (Khazar) Sea to the Baltic to the Black Sea and to the easternMediterranian. I studied Ukrainian history when I was a boy. Now I saw it as it was. The book brought back many memories and facts. I finally saw them from each culture's viewpoint.

I am not an avid reader of history type books but a friend recommended this to me. I can safely say that i was very surprised. I really enjoyed reading this book and will definitely put it on my Christmas gift list for friends. The story ties together a lot of what happened in Europe, Asia and the Mediterranean. In school they always kept most of these events separate as if they really had nothing to do with each other.I actually found myself looking up a lot of the characters as I was going along and then at the end I realized there was a list of all of them. I was surprised that most of them were actual real people and was glad I got to learn more about this period. The book is well written and even though there are a lot of events and places I think the writer did a great job explaining them and tying them together. I actually felt like I was there.I highly recommend this book. If I enjoyed it I am sure if you like history you will love it.

A Road to Rus is a painstakingly well researched historical novel about the founding of an empire. By telling his story through the eyes of the early Vikings, the earliest of the Kievan princes, a Roman emperor, and an Arab emir, Hnatyshyn traces the earliest days of Rus set within a context of building tensions between Byzantium, Rome, and the Muslim world. It is a novel packed with intrigue, subterfuge, and a whole lot of booty. (The pirate kind, ya dirty….)

Just finished the book. Like it a lot. If looking for a book that ties European history together in the 800s this book is for you - touches upon the Danes, the Kievan empire, the Byzantine empire, Khazars and the Arabs. Get to read a story from all of their points of view - whoch makes for a very interesting read. Hope volume 2 is in the works.

Form very first pages of "The Road to Rus", Michael teleports you into ninth century, full of fearless warriors (with somewhat unusual but symbolic names), greedy merchants (even back then) and quest for collective defense from foreign invaders. I'm glad that book is written as a novel which gives it much more appeal and pleasant cruising trough its pages, with adequate historic representation.

The novel represens a scientific approach that makes it really historical and humanistic. The author made a huge sacrificing labour and his afforts should be praised by the attention of many thankful readers. It would be grate the book to translate and published in Ukraine.

This is a very fresh perspective on a topic that I thought I knew quite well. Touches the events that are rarely reported in the scientific history books. The author doesn't lecture you on historic topics but presents the events in a very unusual and interesting way. I really liked the fictional characters that are blended very well with the historical ones. The heroes were very easy to root for. The author definitely did his homework. What a fun way to learn some history. I can't wait for the series to continue.

A book well worth reading. The author takes you through a tour of Black Sea area most have never explored. Based on documented accounts of the birth of Kyivan Rus in Ukraine and the great Byzantine capital of Constantinople across the Black Sea in Turkey. I enjoyed the story as well as learning the history of the area and the main players in that area. The viking beginnings and how clans and area joined forces to take on the minor and major foes would set the course of history. Hope you enjoy the book as much as I did.

fantastic

This is a well written narrative, especially for an amateur history buff.However, I personally expected and would have preferred an attempt to include more historical fact and less fiction.This would have made the story more valuable as a source of information about the true beginnings of Rus.But, if you treat it as a novel with historical background of the time, you shouldn't be disappointed.

I bought the book for my son for his 15th birthday. He can't put it down, and can't wait to tell me every day what happened next. I highly recommend the book if you're interested in getting your teenager to turn off their video games and read a little. Good mix of story based on historical facts to keep it real.

Very interesting, orrering new research and information. Very glad to have bought and read it. Now my sister is reading it.