Reviews

Fire from Heaven by Mary Renault

keysmashhh's review against another edition

adventurous informative slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

Plot: 3.5/5
Character: 3.5/5
Relationships: 3/5
World-Building: 3.5/5
Genre: 4/5

very glad i read The Persian Boy first because I think i wouldn't have picked it up if i'd read fire from heaven. This is a PSA for anyone who felt 50/50 on this book and doesn't know if they should push on with the series - PLEASE DO!! i haven't read the final book yet but The Persian Boy is much better than fire from heaven. I think my main issue with this book was the pacing it was so unbelievably slow at times, really not helped by the fact the chapters were sometimes up to 70 pages long making it feel like i was making such slow progress through the book. i found the storyline of this book harder to follow compared to The Persian Boy, i felt like there were more flashbacks/tangents that i found harder to follow and at times I felt a general sense of disinterest for some of the action. segments were great though, i love the story of Alexander obtaining Oxhead, his growing relationship with Hephaestion (especially the small sections from Hephaestion's POV) and the time he spent studying with Aristotle. I'd say this book was a bit hit and miss for me, and perhaps its because I read The Persian Boy first and rated it 5 stars but i felt a little let down by this one. I'm still going to push on with the final book of the trilogy but take some time away so i can fully appreciate it. That being said Mary Renault's writing and interpretation of the ancient world is still second to none

jiu_2024's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.5

robiok's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

A true staple oh historical literature 
Masterful for sure, the writing style chosen evokes an atmosphere that is smack in between the hyperrealism ans naturalistic feel of this ancient time and mixes in a sense of myth and epicness almost homeric.
Its both intimist and grandiose.
The unexpected and continuous switch of pov is intimist but the third person omnicent slipping in gives it also the tone of history and fate being already spelled and inescapable.
It wasnt easy to read and follow, many times the turns odd phrases escaped me and so it loses a little in my rating.
I dont know if i can dare say Renault was experimenting with language, truly here, given that the novel was published in 1969-70. It may well have been a completely popular style. I also take into account that although fluent im not a native english speaker, its my second language
I will now take a MUCH needed break before i continue in the trilogy, The Persian Boy will technically be a reread but the first time in the original english text.
Loved the Author’s note at end btw

codysmovingcastle's review

challenging slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

dannybailey's review against another edition

I will definitely be returning to finish this book! It has been on my TBR for so long! But, unfortunately, I picked it up at the wrong time thinking I could read it despite my reading slump energy, so I've decided to leave it for when I'm in a better space so I don't miss out on enjoying this price of writing and history.

alialicece's review against another edition

informative medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

phloon's review against another edition

adventurous

4.0

krobart's review against another edition

4.0

See my review here:

https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2019/03/28/review-1332-fire-from-heaven/

lasama's review against another edition

adventurous informative relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

jannythelibrarian's review against another edition

historical fiction. lin's favourite book. follows alexander's childhood. honestly not for me. well written and well researched but not into this stuff. needed a map, index, glossary and family tree = kept getting confused.