330s, B.C.E., Greece: Alexander, a handsome young warrior of Macedon, begins his quest to conquer the ancient world. But he cannot ascend to power, and keep it, without the women who help to shape his destiny.
His spirited younger half-sister, Thessalonike, yearns to join her brother and see the world. Instead, it is Alexander’s boyhood companion who rides with him into war while Thessalonike remains behind. Far away, crafty princess Drypetis will not stand idly by as Alexander topples her father from Persia’s throne. And after Alexander conquers her tiny kingdom, Roxana, the beautiful and cunning daughter of a minor noble, wins Alexander’s heart…and will commit any crime to secure her place at his side.
Within a few short years, Alexander controls an empire more vast than the civilized world has ever known. But his victories are tarnished by losses on the battlefield and treachery among his inner circle. And long after Alexander is gone, the women who are his champions, wives, and enemies will fight to claim his legacy… – Goodreads
I had a bit of a love-hate relationship with this one. I loved that it pulled me out of a reading slump, but I hate how long it took me to read it. I think the length was twofold — one, it was a very slow read. The description was beautiful and she really gets into the characters. It’s also almost 500 pages. Two, life has been a little crazy and I got distracted.
I love Thornton’s work, but multiple characters can be exhausting at times, though she does a pretty amazing job at making all of their voices come together and paint a vivid picture. I loved the concept of portraying Alexander the Great through the eyes of the important people in his life — his sister, his lover, his captive, his best friend.
I also love Thornton’s writing style and dialogue. It’s engaging, witty, and so much fun to read and visualize.
I think if I had read this at a different time in my life, I would have enjoyed it more. Overall, I would definitely recommend this to those who love historical fiction. I rated it a 4/5.
lifebetweenreads.com 