MoM is the _best_ game ever. I am playing it for nearly a decade. It RoX
Try Halflings with full Nature book once... the result is amazing. Halflings have more food, less unrest, and have Slingers... with full Nature you can transorm any lands with your spells in Nature... all your cities grow very fast.
(On the other hand, the first two Sorcery books are essential to be quick enough in the beginning. They give you the Phantom Warriors which is a _very_ useful spell.)
cya,
HaaS