Amazon.com: Bring Down the Sun (Alexander the Great): Judith Tarr: Books

From Publishers Weekly
Ancient history and violent religious myth collide in this romantic fantasy-tinged biography of Myrtale, the imposing, powerful mother of Alexander the Great. Tarr (Queen of the Amazons) opens with a weak segment on the queen's early days as Polyxena, an impossibly beautiful and rather childish acolyte of the Mother goddess. Once she seduces Philip of Macedon, who calls her Myrtale (crowned one) and promises her a kingdom to go with her queenly new name, the story becomes far more compelling and suspenseful. As temples and kingdoms plot and quarrel, Myrtale mercilessly wields the authority of the retiring goddess and her own sexuality to further her ambitions for her husband and her son. (The book ends with Alexander's birth, leaving unmentioned the complex and bloody intrigues of Myrtale's later life as the dowager empress Olympias.) Occasionally confusing but often vibrant, this romantic story warms into a strong narrative about a fascinating woman. (June)
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Review

"Tarr excels at bringing historical events to life." --Publishers Weekly on Queen of Swords

“This well-written novel about loyalty, passion, and the search for understanding between different kinds of people showcases Tarr’s ability to create fascinating, passionate characters and to bring their unique cultures to life. Highly recommended.” --Library Journal on White Mare's Daughter

“Seduction, power and politics are the order of the day.” --Library Journal on Throne of Isis

“Tarr spins an entertaining and often enlightening tale...In keeping with the distances she must travel, historical and otherwise, Tarr travels light. Her prose is lean and powerful, and she exerts admirable control over an impressive cast of characters.” --Washington Post Book World on Lord of Two Lands

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Product Details

Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: Tor Books (May 27, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0765303973
ISBN-13: 978-0765303974
Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.8 x 1 inches
Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #912,366 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)
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Inside This Book (learn more)

First Sentence:
Every morning, even so early in spring, the young men ran in a mob out of the king's house to the practice field. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
eldest priestess

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Judith Tarr, Great Gods, The Hymenides

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2 Reviews

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3.0 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews)

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not Wow'd, August 20, 2008

By	K. Kochevar "lady_stardancer" (Cary, NC United States) - See all my reviews

The book cover got my attention and the write-up about this story sounded like it would be a great read. I was really disappointed.

Ok, I have to admit I just finished reading the final book in Jacqueline Carey's Kushiels Legacy trilogy (awesome!), and I was hoping to find a similar caliber of story and quality of writing style in Bring Down The Sun. That didn't happen. Didn't even come close.

The story had moments of good momentum which I kept hoping it would maintain. But often I would get lost in the much too detailed thoughts of the main character or in descriptions of what was going on during a magical event and the story lost steam. I just had to work too hard to get through this book.

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2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars engaging biographical fiction, June 15, 2008

By	Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

The flirtatious Polyxena knows she is a beauty and acts accordingly though that is not normal behavior of an acolyte of the Mother goddess. When Philip of Macedon meets the enticing playful Polyxena, he is enchanted by her beauty and her sexual lure. He calls her Myrtale the "crowned one" and pledges to make her his queen when he becomes king.

No longer using the name Polyxena, Myrtale ruthlessly uses her sexual appeal and her connection to the Mother goddess to further the ambitions of her now husband Philip. Her plan is to do likewise when her unborn son the heir is old enough. No one will stand in the way of Myrtale as she plots power and greatness for her family.

The power behind the throne of Philip is his ambitious cunning wife; that is the essence of this engaging biographical fictional account of the mother of Alexander the Great. The story line actually ends with the birth of Alexander; so expect a sequel when her son becomes the ruler and her ambition is as strong as ever. Although the opening sequence when she is still Polyxena pales next to her as Myrtale, fans will appreciate this deep look at a woman the history texts ignore, but proves as powerful in her way as her more famous husband and son.

Harriet Klausner

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