Customer Reviews

The Rise and Fall of the Sacred Band of Thebes

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Unfortunately for me, the book started on a weak leg and never achieved the level of writing or historical authenticity I was hoping for. Historical references are splashed about as if to remind the reader that the author did her research instead of being woven into the storytelling as a seamless tapestry that happens to occur during a certain period in history. As such, the storytelling seems very self-conscious and I never achieved a level of total immersion in the characters or the story.

I also found the convoluted language (not just in the dialogue, but in the writing overall) distracting to the story itself. Was the author trying to imitate a pre-English way of speaking through over-use of commas and reverse sentence structure? If so it did not work for me and again resulted in the self-conscious presence of the storyteller in the work itself.

This subject matter is rich with potential and begging for a better tribute to the memory of the valiant soldiers and lovers who perished on the field of battle.

This novel is an excellent companion piece to her first work, 'In the Shadow of Alexander'. She explores the little known shock fighting force that faced King Philip in battle on the plains of Charonea. Meet the unsung heroes of that battle up close and personal in her fictional account of a young aristocrat of Thebes training to become one of the elite.

I was very disappointed in this book; it didn't integrate research and character well. We all know the story of the Sacred Band of Thebes. This book presents nothing new, and presents it without enough muscle or force of narrative. The training and battle scenes are weak. It presents itself as nonfiction in its title and cover treatment and that can be misleading.

Lookout Mary Renault! Someone has invaded the ancient Greece novel empire that you have ruled for so many years. G.A. Hauser assaulted your territory with her "In The Shadow Of Alexander". Now she has successfully achieved a victory and conquered with her latest, "The Rise and Fall of The Sacred Band of Thebes". The Queen is dead! Long live the Queen