Andromakhe - An Epic Novel of Troy and a Woman's Triumphant Valor (Paperback)

by Kristina O'Donnelly (Author) "Goodbye, Viktor, farewell, my beloved Priam," Rosemary Thompson whispered, standing upon the hill facing the frosty dawn inching to light up the Trojan Plain in..." (more)
Key Phrases: cartouche ring, bear with courage, toy chariot, King Peleos, Dea Madre, Mount Ida (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
... a grim, hard-hitting story showing the subjugation of women that was and still is standard practice in much of the world." Piers Anthony, author, Xanth and Geodyssey series. --On record.

Judge #1: The language is delicious. Description beautifully worded. (O'Donnelly is) One of the BEST from the group of writers (local POW/FWA). Very well edited w/little to no error in grammar and story line. Judge # 2: This book is a unique approach to the story of Troy. Judge # 4: Great romance and historical story. 2007 POW! Awards. The judges of this prestigious award are professors and teachers from Florida Community College of Jacksonville at North Campus, but they prefer to remain anonymous. --On record.

Product Description
"Kristina O'Donnelly takes the immortal tale of Troy – gods, heroes, and battles, but gives us the woman's take. The strong women that are victimized by the violence, yet survive and ultimately rise above it. O'Donnelly has done a great job taking the violent male-centered story of The Iliad and bringing it a female perspective. Men get the glory, women do the suffering (men suffer too, of course, but it's often their choice--women have fewer choices, and had fewer yet in those ancient days). Andromakhe is a must-read story for 2006." Rob Preece, Author Veil of the Goddess.

-- In Classic Literature, Trojan hero Hektôr and his wife Andromache are the archetypical loving and loyal couple. Andromache’s name conjures up an appealing vision of Hektôr's lovely and devoted other half, bravely suffering the loss of all her loved ones, mother, father, seven brothers, husband, son and friends.

Most novels about the Trojan War end with the Fall of Troy. But here, as we dwell in Andromâkhe’s life, we have an account that encompasses the main as well as pre and post-Iliad years. Love, hate, greed, war, intrigue, heroes and villains combine with authenticated geography/history, offering an intimate view into the Bronze Age.

We meet her at age thirteen, as a Princess in Mysian Thébé, and follow her life from marriage to Hektôr, Prince of Troia, through the siege of Troia by the Achaians – modern day Greeks – and Troy’s destruction.

But Fates have declared that she must survive and triumph over more heartbreak and tragedy. After Troia’s fall, she is tossed to Epirus—modern day Albania—as a captive, where Hermione, daughter of King Menelos, tries to murder her, then back to Teuthrania, near Mysia, where she rises as the Patroness of the Kingdom of Pergamos—modern day Bergama, in Turkey. Haunted by flashes of a previous life in a land called Shardana, she has a mysterious bond with Alexis (Paris) Prince of Troy.

Admired by the legendary Memnon, King of Ethiopia, who comes to Troia’s aid after Hektôr’s death, to win her as prize, to Pyrrhos Neoptolemus, son of Akhilles, who enslaves her and loves and hates her at the same time, to Hektôr’s brother Helenos, a warrior, seer, a priest of Apollo, and King, men battle gods and fates to win Hektôr’s widow, whose heart remains faithful to him even beyond his death.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 528 pages
• Publisher: Rose International Publishing House; 1st edition (June 25, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1930574592
• ISBN-13: 978-1930574595
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #693,788 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A different strokes for different folks, kind of Andromache, September 4, 2006

By	Maeve of Tara "Avid Reader" (Ireland) - See all my reviews

"Andromakhe" is an interesting, well-researched, but for some readers, quite unusual take on an old legend. While O'Donnelly is reasonably faithful to the original storyline, meaning this novel is not "alternate history," therefore Andromache does marry Hector, he is the love of her life forever, she does have an existence apart from what we are generally familiar with. For example, she is a scribe, loves reading and researching, from philosophy to history, has ESP, ponders reincarnation, communicates with animals, and trains herself to wield the sword. But she is not exactly an amazon warrioress a la M.Z. Bradley's Cassandra in The Firebrand, but neither is she the spoiled, selfish brat from Kolchis, Andromache is portrayed as in The Firebrand. Well, I happen to like The Firebrand, so this is not a putdown of Bradley's novel, just an observation of how different authors can interpret familiar characters differently. For example, in David Gemmel's excellent novel, Lord of the Silver Bow (Book I in Gemmel's Troy series), Andromache is presented as a (comparately speaking) mature woman in her twenties, a priestess with the skill of an amazon in how she uses bow and arrow, sexually liberated (or a swinger, depending on your p.o.v on these matters) who enjoys sex with women but falls in love with Aeneas, Prince of Dardania, then agrees to love and marry Hector.

In the opening of "Andromakhe", we meet her at the age of 13, as a loving daughter in her father's palace in Anatolian Thebe, and we start walking in her shoes (and her soul). We get acquainted with the era, customs, locale, her parents and her complex relationship with them. Andromache has a close-encounter with what seems to be the Goddess, and later, during a near-death experience (while out of her body) has an ethereal meeting with the man who might or might not have been a brother of hers during a past life.

Another deviation from the legend is her relationship with Helenos, Hector's brother (according to various legends, the man she weds many years after Hector's death, while they are in exile in Greece). They are still teenagers when a tender love springs between them -- long before she is promised to Hector. But when the "game of empire" demands that the heir of Troy takes her to wife, Andromache, dutiful (albeit somewhat rebellious, as befits a teenager) daughter that she is, is obligated to go along with it.
What I found believable is how Hector and Andromache ultimately fell in love with each other, with a devotion that transcended time and space.
The writing style is not heavy-handed, with good historical details that illuminate the "backstage" of the great war, politics and psychology. Overall, Andromakhe the Novel covers a lot of new ground with a plucky heroine who has willpower, stamina, faith, and thus, triumphs in her own way.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars O'Donnelly has insight!, April 16, 2008

By	Nicole Drumheller Gargus "Nicole Drumheller G... (Bryn Mawr, PA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

After studying the Iliad in graduate school and reading it for the fifth time in my life again just last month I felt more and more certain there had to be more details about the women in this Epic story. I have long been mesmerized by the character of Hector and over time I became more and more interested in his wife Andromache and his mother Hekabe... I was thrilled to find that in fact there is an in depth book about Andromache - when I found Kristina O' Donnelly's book I ordered it right away! I read it quickly the first time because I became completely absorbed into it. I have not been this lost in a book since I read the Mists Of Avalon years ago! It seems that O'Donnelly has insight!
This book is timeless. I could relate to Andromache's agony in being married to a military/warrior man. Many military wives have tread Andromache's path - O'Donnelly grabs her reader with her ability to bring us right into Andromache's heart. I cried as I read this book many times and I also rejoiced as I felt triumph with Andromache through her life. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in the Classics and especially to those who value hearing a new perspective, and of course, a woman's point of view.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A different slant on a Greek legend, November 28, 2006

By	Barbara Korsness "Author of novels and avid r... (Lake Mary, FL. USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This novel recreates the life of Andromakhe of Greek legend. It covers her marriage to Hector, her life in Troy, and what happened to her after the city's fall. Showing the strength of one woman in a male dominated society, it goes into detail about her doomed relationship with Hector and brutal the death of their son. It is action packed and a fascinating portrait of Andromakhe and the life she might have led. If you are familiar with Greek legend you will recognize many of the characters.

Although the book does not claim to be fact, there is a lot of historical research woven into the plot. The story is beautifully written and it is a creative story of strength and love. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel.