ailurophile_bibliophile89's review
4.0
Updated Review 1/12/2022: 4 Stars
Original Review 1/4/2018: 4 Stars
Updated Review:
No update, really. This was a quick, easy read, like the first time around, and even more enjoyable than the first.
Original Review:
I told myself I wouldn't buy any new books until later in the year because I wanted to focus on building up stock for my business.
Obviously that did not happen, as I recently used a gift card and ordered four new books from Barnes & Noble. I truly did try....for about a day and a half.
I very much enjoyed Thornton's The Secret History but I didn't realize until recently that she has written anything else. I think what I love most about her is that she does not write about the usual woman in history that most novelists focus on. Granted, I enjoy a good piece of historical fiction as any other person but Thornton focuses on the women who are not so well known as Elizabeth I, Nefertiti, or Marie Antoinette. All remarkable women in their time, but so many books have been written about them that I find myself tiring of the subject after reading so much about Tudor England and the French Revolution. It's certainly nice to take a breath of fresh air and read something new.
Thus, The Secret History and The Conqueror's Wife have provided me a step into period of history I know very little about. As it is, I know some general facts of Alexander the Great and of the women in his life (his mother, from what I understand, is either a brilliant queen or an ambitious shrew or both, depending on who's telling the tale) but nothing more than the usual.
So I look forward to a good session on the internet reading about the women in his life.
Original Review 1/4/2018: 4 Stars
Updated Review:
No update, really. This was a quick, easy read, like the first time around, and even more enjoyable than the first.
Original Review:
I told myself I wouldn't buy any new books until later in the year because I wanted to focus on building up stock for my business.
Obviously that did not happen, as I recently used a gift card and ordered four new books from Barnes & Noble. I truly did try....for about a day and a half.
I very much enjoyed Thornton's The Secret History but I didn't realize until recently that she has written anything else. I think what I love most about her is that she does not write about the usual woman in history that most novelists focus on. Granted, I enjoy a good piece of historical fiction as any other person but Thornton focuses on the women who are not so well known as Elizabeth I, Nefertiti, or Marie Antoinette. All remarkable women in their time, but so many books have been written about them that I find myself tiring of the subject after reading so much about Tudor England and the French Revolution. It's certainly nice to take a breath of fresh air and read something new.
Thus, The Secret History and The Conqueror's Wife have provided me a step into period of history I know very little about. As it is, I know some general facts of Alexander the Great and of the women in his life (his mother, from what I understand, is either a brilliant queen or an ambitious shrew or both, depending on who's telling the tale) but nothing more than the usual.
So I look forward to a good session on the internet reading about the women in his life.
sindijow's review against another edition
1.0
Terrible. I don't mind historical revisionism, but outright whitewashing of a character based on their pet status in the eyes of the author is just cheap.
Wasn't for me. Whenever I see modern stream of consciousness in a "historical" novel, it just ruins my immersion. I can only suspend my disbelief for so long.
Wasn't for me. Whenever I see modern stream of consciousness in a "historical" novel, it just ruins my immersion. I can only suspend my disbelief for so long.
missywinesalot's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
hello_meggielou's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
bookowl's review against another edition
4.0
Another solid book by Stephanie Thornton. The characters were well-written and I didn't know many of them, so it was interesting to learn about them. Told from the POV of the many women in his life, and his best friend and lover. Enjoyed seeing how all the characters came together.
winterpirate's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. This is probably the most investing book I've read this year. I knew very little about Alexander the Great before reading this, but this is some of the best historical fiction I've come across and I found myself quite in awe of the story.
The title is a little bit misleading, as the story is told from four different characters' points of view, not just one of Alexander's wives. In the cases of The Song of Achilles, told by Patroclus, and Nerfertiti, told by Nerfertiti's sister, I had really wanted to hear the story from title character's point of view. In this book however, I didn't much care to hear Alexander's words because the other voices were so interesting. Each character had a fully fleshed out story that I found I cared so much about- even if just to hear how they'd end because I hated them so much (*cough* Roxana).
Hephaestion - Alexander's second in command and sometimes lover, was my favourite point of view. I was definitely in love with him even as a reader. His POV served as the most direct insight into Alexander's campaign, but it was the moments with Drypetis that made him interesting to me.
Drypetis- one of the Persian princesses Alexander captured and took on his campaign. Thornton took a lot of liberties (with realistic justification) with this little known woman in history, and she did a beautiful job of bringing her to life. Some of the more interesting plot developments came through in her chapters.
Roxana - Oh how I hated her by the end. Even then, I loved all of her chapters. What's interesting about the multiple narrators is that some of them truly hated each other, so despite them all being a part of Alexander's story, their individual biases and personalities lent to the intrigue.
Thessalonike- Alexander's sister, and probably the least interesting character. Her POVs offered insight into the treachery of Olympias, Alexander's mother, which I suppose was interesting. I found her personality didn't come through as strongly as the others.
The Conqueror's Wife might have a cover that makes it look like a cheap historical fiction romance (though it is pretty), but it delves right into the horrifying aspects of Alexander's campaign, including the horrible torture scenes, poisonings, and deaths. The women who tell the story lend unique voices and experiences to the time, and colour the period most vividly. The writing is stunning.
The title is a little bit misleading, as the story is told from four different characters' points of view, not just one of Alexander's wives. In the cases of The Song of Achilles, told by Patroclus, and Nerfertiti, told by Nerfertiti's sister, I had really wanted to hear the story from title character's point of view. In this book however, I didn't much care to hear Alexander's words because the other voices were so interesting. Each character had a fully fleshed out story that I found I cared so much about- even if just to hear how they'd end because I hated them so much (*cough* Roxana).
Hephaestion - Alexander's second in command and sometimes lover, was my favourite point of view. I was definitely in love with him even as a reader. His POV served as the most direct insight into Alexander's campaign, but it was the moments with Drypetis that made him interesting to me.
Drypetis- one of the Persian princesses Alexander captured and took on his campaign. Thornton took a lot of liberties (with realistic justification) with this little known woman in history, and she did a beautiful job of bringing her to life. Some of the more interesting plot developments came through in her chapters.
Roxana - Oh how I hated her by the end. Even then, I loved all of her chapters. What's interesting about the multiple narrators is that some of them truly hated each other, so despite them all being a part of Alexander's story, their individual biases and personalities lent to the intrigue.
Thessalonike- Alexander's sister, and probably the least interesting character. Her POVs offered insight into the treachery of Olympias, Alexander's mother, which I suppose was interesting. I found her personality didn't come through as strongly as the others.
The Conqueror's Wife might have a cover that makes it look like a cheap historical fiction romance (though it is pretty), but it delves right into the horrifying aspects of Alexander's campaign, including the horrible torture scenes, poisonings, and deaths. The women who tell the story lend unique voices and experiences to the time, and colour the period most vividly. The writing is stunning.
misskrislm's review against another edition
4.0
Alexander the Great is lauded as one of the most powerful and far-reaching men of all time, and this novel pays homage to that while also tipping it on its head. No one takes such a strong look at the women who helped shape his life as Thronton does. Prior to this book, I had minimal knowledge about Olympias, and nothing about his wives and sisters, but now I want more and more stories about these incredible ancient women. Powerful and dreadful, loving and kind, inventive and precocious, they spanned the spectrum of humanity and each played their part to bring about a great leader and an even greater nation.
kd123's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I nearly threw this book across the room multiple times and it brought me nothing but pain and suffering. I loved it
Let it be known that I would do anything for Hephaestion and Drypetis.
Let it be known that I would do anything for Hephaestion and Drypetis.
katejeminhizer's review against another edition
4.0
This book was not what I expected. The title really should have been The Conqueror's Women. That change alone would have given me a better perspective on what the novel contained. I did enjoy the book very much. The research behind the book is evident in every page. While it did take me a while to grasp the multiple narrations, once I did I found the relationships between the characters to be memorable. Thornton has an uncanny ability to bring history alive no matter what time period she is focused on. This novel just once again proves her talent.
ayanagray's review against another edition
4.0
Beautifully written. This novel is brimful with strong, vibrant characters who I mourned for, cheered for and missed when the story was over. Well done, Ms. Thornton!