Customer Reviews

In the Shadow of Alexander

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A very good book. While I had some initial trouble with the language (it's been awhile since I've read old style language), once I got the hang of it I was good to go. I enjoyed the story and found it flowed well. I discovered about 2/3 of the way through that I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to see what was going to happen. For me that's the sign of a very good book. I was pleased with the way Hauser dealt with the sexual aspect. No graphic descriptions, just implications. I'd recommend this book to adults and juniors/seniors in high school.

I am loath to critcise this book too much, as, after one gets over the fact that Ms Hauser is not exactly a rival for Ms Renault, the story is quite entertaining. The story as is evident from the title is about a soldier in Alexander's army. Thessius, it turns out only signed up because he is madly in love with his commander-in-chief. Whether his passion is requited or not is for you to find out. One does wonder how Alexander managed to squeeze in time to conquer the world when he spent so much time in bed with his lovers - primarily male it seems - although Hephaistion was always Number One. That and keeping them from murdering each other must have required greater skill and taken more energy than many of his famous battles and thoroughly exhausted the man. No wonder he died at 33. The book is badly in need of editing which I hope is done before the second edition, if there is one, goes into print. A paragraph in Chapter 10 begins "It was the spring of 334 B.C." Need I say more?

It's not quite a book of erotica, and it's not quite a deep historical novel. The characters are prettty well fleshed out. Alexander is a god to his men. It's a quick read. (...)

All-in-all, pretty good but not great.

I had the pleasure of reading this book on a very long flight recently and it made the trip go fast. I have a descriptor that I have adopted for myself when I am engrossed in a book and it is called "traveling". To me, it means that the authors craft of words in their respective book enabled me to travel in the time, place, character(s), settings and story line. This book had me traveling and I thank her for writing it. I look forward to other books from her in the future.

Author, G.A. Hauser, has created a book that has been a fascinating and enlighening experience for me. The author's knowledge of those places and events from Ancient European history is astonishing. G.A. Hauser has the ability to take the reader back to another age, another culture, and a way of life that I could never have imagined. She mixes the right touch of humor, along with her frightening descriptions of the bloody wars, to make this a book to remember. Some Hollywood screenwriter would be well advised to consider creating an action movie from this book that would compare to the greatest of the Ancient Greek and Roman dramas. It is my desire to create a fiction novel in the near future. Until now I have only published nonfiction material, (most recently "Like a Cat With Nine Lives), and this work by G.A. Hauser has been a great learning experience for me. Howard

A friend recommended this book to me and though Historical novels are not my usual reading fare I soon found myself flying through the pages of this novel. G A Hauser has taped into a market that is going to explode with popularity by this time next year with the release of the Trojan War epic and the Alexander films that are currently in production. If the films get anywhere near to the atmosphere and sense of richness in both language and description of this book then we are in for a treat. As a precursor to the films I would strongly recommend to anyone with an interest in this era that they buy this book. The story of Thessius, son of Percedicus, starts with a riveting opening forewarning us of the impending drama and the corrupt empire of King Philip and the world his son Alexander is born into and has to fight against. There is more than a hint of homo-eroticism and in true keeping with the times G A Hauser does not draw back from questioning the affection and loyalty of the bonds drawn between men from an age where beauty was respected no matter what the gender. The book though moves brilliantly in the realms of Ancient Greek politics and the power hungry and conniving world of kings and gods. Treachery, greed, jealousy and every emotion both good and bad are drawn with an expert eye and played out in this riveting tale. Hauser builds the background eloquently and paints a vivid picture of the time so true that you easily get absorbed into the story. The writing is slick and does not jar or jolt with its voice. The author has captured the narrative, setting and pace of a story that will keep you rooting for the main characters as you would in a thriller and has made this Historical novel equally thrilling and enthralling. An excellent novel!

From the cover of this book I expected it to be about some young soldier, but it was more, much more than that. It provided me with a trip into a time in history that little has been written about before this. Not your typical summer read, but more satifying than the usual.

It's about time someone has dared to explore the homoerotic aspect of Alexander's sexuality. With tact and humour, this novel reveals the affection the men in the rank and file had for their handsome young king. You will read it and keep a smile on your face. It's an easy flowing book, unburdened by heavy handed writing and classroom complexity. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

The book was froth with detail. I felt as though I were living the experience personally. What genre! The writing style was captivating and exciting, it was truly hard to put down.

I can't wait to see what Hauser has coming next.

The story was an interesting adventure in the lives of Alexanders' army and I thought it humourous. I couldn't put it down and found it a great distraction to my own dreary world!