A review by seconddaysea
The King Must Die by Mary Renault

4.0

More readable than Fire from Heaven in first person, which is not something I would've thought I'd ever say. But good as well, and interesting, though not because Theseus becomes a compelling character as much as Alexander was. I think missing Alexander's mystery, being one step removed from his deepest thoughts and seeing him through the eyes of those who loved him best made him into something greater than a man.
In this Theseus is humanized in the other direction; a figure of myth picked apart until he becomes a man. Which is arguably the purpose of the book, but magical was lost in return for this.