WOW!
As the first novel by Robert Fabbri that I have read he has done a stellar job of it.
This period of history is a real interest of mine and I know a lot about it, where Robert has excelled however is taking such a multitude of characters and events and distilling it into a detailed yet approachable story that I think would also work for those with less of a grasp of the period.
I am very impressed by this novel which is the start of a series that I think could end up being compared to those of Christian Cameron who, in my opinion, is the best author of Greek historical fiction at the moment.
The wars of the Diadochi following Alexanders death are complicated, there's a lot of politics and a lot of leaders with similar names involved, and much like GOT it can be easy to get lost. Fabbri's layout of different chapters being told from different perspectives, and how clear that is made in each one goes some way to resolving this.
The history practically writes the story for itself, multiple leaders warring and intriguing over the Macedonian Empire and desperately trying to avoid the inevitable splintering following Alexander's refusal to name his heir.
My only critique is actually in the formatting of the words on the page. There are a number of places where there is a change of setting,or a character appears, but no obvious line break to illustrate that. So one line is talking about doing something or speaking to someone, and the next words are that happening. A minor detail but did cause a little confusion at times.
Still a fantastic start, bringing history to life, and I can't wait to read the rest of the series when they arrive!
As the first novel by Robert Fabbri that I have read he has done a stellar job of it.
This period of history is a real interest of mine and I know a lot about it, where Robert has excelled however is taking such a multitude of characters and events and distilling it into a detailed yet approachable story that I think would also work for those with less of a grasp of the period.
I am very impressed by this novel which is the start of a series that I think could end up being compared to those of Christian Cameron who, in my opinion, is the best author of Greek historical fiction at the moment.
The wars of the Diadochi following Alexanders death are complicated, there's a lot of politics and a lot of leaders with similar names involved, and much like GOT it can be easy to get lost. Fabbri's layout of different chapters being told from different perspectives, and how clear that is made in each one goes some way to resolving this.
The history practically writes the story for itself, multiple leaders warring and intriguing over the Macedonian Empire and desperately trying to avoid the inevitable splintering following Alexander's refusal to name his heir.
My only critique is actually in the formatting of the words on the page. There are a number of places where there is a change of setting,or a character appears, but no obvious line break to illustrate that. So one line is talking about doing something or speaking to someone, and the next words are that happening. A minor detail but did cause a little confusion at times.
Still a fantastic start, bringing history to life, and I can't wait to read the rest of the series when they arrive!