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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
What a unique, unforgettable story. It was unlike anything I had ever read, brutal at times and sweet at times. It pulled me in at the very beginning and kept me captivated until the very end!
This was a slog. I would not even really call it a romance. I felt like historical points were being ticked off but I never really got to the romance and drama of the central relationship. I am sure loads of people would love this but I think I will pass on this author.
Retrase demasiado el final de este libro, no quería que terminara, lo amé demasiado, el único problema fue el uso del leguaje moderno, siento que me desconectó un poco de la historia, aún así esta muy bien realizado, los personajes son súper entrañables. Todo lo que tenga que ver con la Antigua Grecia me resulta fascinante, y este libro me parece una manera diferente y un tanto más entretenida de aprender sobre la historia de Esparta, me encantó.
4.5 stars
Ughhhh, I did end up sobbing guys. Just give me some time and I'll not be sobbing my eyes out in order to write a review.
Fuck.
~*~
Okay *deep breaths* I've calmed down enough to write this. I swear, even though I knew it was coming, this was still me at the end:
One thing I know, I would not have wanted to live in this time. This book was so historically accurate it is crazy - yep, went and looked up Spartan history when I finished this just to be sure - and the only thing that was truly fictional was our main characters, and our main romantic couple. But the society, how they were raised, the geography and names of things in Spartan culture were all real and I commend the author for having done her research. This book is one steeped in reality and the historical accuracy helped.
And ya know, for all of the apparent Spartan training of their men from such a young age, their arrogance is what always, I think, led them to failure. A lot of them thought themselves gods or invincible, what have you, and that was their downfall. I'm sure this is what it was like in real life too because the battles shown in this book were real battles that took place.
Axios and Eryx's love was a great love, and more than this being a historical story, it was a love story. Set in the backdrop of a reality that once was, but a fictional love story nonetheless, although I'm sure there were quite a few Spartan warrior lovers at the time with a love as great as theirs, or close to it.
Born into a society that made you become a warrior whether you wanted to be or not, Axios and Eryx were really just born in an unfortunate time, as they lived in their prime when these legendary battles took place, and several of them are ones the Spartans lost.
But while Eryx seemed almost born to be a warrior and was one of the best, he too had his moments of wishing for another life, one that did no involve going off to battle for perhaps years at a time, and only being home for a few years at best in between.
I would not be able to live that way, knowing I had no choice in the matter and just waiting for the day to come when it was time for battle again.
And of course we have a hope that they might both get to live the rest of their days together, happy, living a normal life and Axios even hopes for it, but like in reality most of the time, they do not get that. UGH, it still makes me so angry and so sad.
But.
Axios and Eryx had an amazing bond, but even they weren't perfect. They were human, and they didn't always see things the same, but they gave each other something the other lacked, and they both fulfilled each other's lives that way. Also, they did have so many years together, so many, and while I wish they had had more, there is also comfort in the fact that they had almost 20 years together - and knew each other for almost thirty.
We go through their whole love story through this book. We didn't get to see as much as I would have liked, but this spanned from when they were 10 to when they were 35, 36 years old, so I loved what we did get, how we got to see them grow to love one another.
And, the only reason I gave off half a star is perhaps because of my own annoyance or pettiness at this, but I did NOT care for
And aside from Axios and Eryx, we got a lot of wonderful side characters too, who it felt almost as painful losing as it did them.
In the end it felt worth it to read this, even though I'm not normally one for character deaths. But it was so good and Axios and Eryx's love was amazing and it sucks that they didn't get the life they deserved, but I was happy they found what little happiness they could with each other in a Spartan world where happiness was few and far between.
I know I'll come back to this book and read my favorite parts with these two - but probably never read the end again if I can help it - and pretend that they got to live out the rest of their life in peace.
So, if you can handle major character deaths, or can get through it at least (with lots of tears along the way), and want to read a beautiful, touching love story, then YES read this. If it would be just too much - which I TOTALLY understand. I usually stay away from major character death like the plague. Can't do it, won't do it the majority of the time - to read that, then I understand passing on this one. You do you :D
But I for one, don't regret reading this <3
Ughhhh, I did end up sobbing guys. Just give me some time and I'll not be sobbing my eyes out in order to write a review.
Fuck.
~*~
Okay *deep breaths* I've calmed down enough to write this. I swear, even though I knew it was coming, this was still me at the end:
One thing I know, I would not have wanted to live in this time. This book was so historically accurate it is crazy - yep, went and looked up Spartan history when I finished this just to be sure - and the only thing that was truly fictional was our main characters, and our main romantic couple. But the society, how they were raised, the geography and names of things in Spartan culture were all real and I commend the author for having done her research. This book is one steeped in reality and the historical accuracy helped.
And ya know, for all of the apparent Spartan training of their men from such a young age, their arrogance is what always, I think, led them to failure. A lot of them thought themselves gods or invincible, what have you, and that was their downfall. I'm sure this is what it was like in real life too because the battles shown in this book were real battles that took place.
Axios and Eryx's love was a great love, and more than this being a historical story, it was a love story. Set in the backdrop of a reality that once was, but a fictional love story nonetheless, although I'm sure there were quite a few Spartan warrior lovers at the time with a love as great as theirs, or close to it.
Born into a society that made you become a warrior whether you wanted to be or not, Axios and Eryx were really just born in an unfortunate time, as they lived in their prime when these legendary battles took place, and several of them are ones the Spartans lost.
But while Eryx seemed almost born to be a warrior and was one of the best, he too had his moments of wishing for another life, one that did no involve going off to battle for perhaps years at a time, and only being home for a few years at best in between.
I would not be able to live that way, knowing I had no choice in the matter and just waiting for the day to come when it was time for battle again.
And of course we have a hope that they might both get to live the rest of their days together, happy, living a normal life and Axios even hopes for it, but like in reality most of the time, they do not get that. UGH, it still makes me so angry and so sad.
But
Spoiler
they did die in each other's arms. I hated it and I was trying not completely break down crying while reading it, wishing these two men who loved each other so dearly could have lived a happy life and died of old age, but there is a kind of comfort to take from them dying together, never having to live without the other. I was actually happy Axios lived long enough to know that Eryx was dying right alongside him, so he knew they both would die together, not apart. But how Eryx just...lets himself die...I mean, it was no use anyway. Eryx probably could have gone on longer, but they were surrounded and as amazing a warrior as he is, I think even Eryx would have died even if he hadn't given up when Axios had been dying. Reading after how Haden found them after, dead but still in each other's arms...it breaks my heart all over again but it's still...beautiful, I guess, that they were never truly apart. And Haden having them buried together in their place! UGH. I'm about to cry again just thinking about it!Axios and Eryx had an amazing bond, but even they weren't perfect. They were human, and they didn't always see things the same, but they gave each other something the other lacked, and they both fulfilled each other's lives that way. Also, they did have so many years together, so many, and while I wish they had had more, there is also comfort in the fact that they had almost 20 years together - and knew each other for almost thirty.
We go through their whole love story through this book. We didn't get to see as much as I would have liked, but this spanned from when they were 10 to when they were 35, 36 years old, so I loved what we did get, how we got to see them grow to love one another.
And, the only reason I gave off half a star is perhaps because of my own annoyance or pettiness at this, but I did NOT care for
Spoiler
the kinda thing, but kinda not thing Axios had with the King, who had been a real historical figure. I thought it unnecessary and while their bond or whatever it was was nowhere near greater than Axios and Eryx, I thought it was kind of pushed a little too much as well, to...idk, include a real historical figure in the story? Nothing happened other than a kiss - that Axios did not respond to, because while he and Eryx were in a not so good place, his heart still belonged to him - and an afternoon or so spent together chatting, but their connection I felt was dragged out for no other reason than to cause some drama and it annoyed the crap out of me. Felt like drama for dramas sake in an otherwise amazing book. That's probably just me, and in the end it wasn't a huge thing, but like...I mean, did we really need an almost-but-not-quite love triangle? No, I didn't think so haha. I think it was made clear that Axios had been attracted to the King but was not in love with him and saw him as someone who could have been a great friend. Still, did not care for that attraction lol. Now I have supppperrrr rambled so I'll shut up on that. Sorry friends!And aside from Axios and Eryx, we got a lot of wonderful side characters too, who it felt almost as painful losing as it did them.
In the end it felt worth it to read this, even though I'm not normally one for character deaths. But it was so good and Axios and Eryx's love was amazing and it sucks that they didn't get the life they deserved, but I was happy they found what little happiness they could with each other in a Spartan world where happiness was few and far between.
I know I'll come back to this book and read my favorite parts with these two - but probably never read the end again if I can help it - and pretend that they got to live out the rest of their life in peace.
So, if you can handle major character deaths, or can get through it at least (with lots of tears along the way), and want to read a beautiful, touching love story, then YES read this. If it would be just too much - which I TOTALLY understand. I usually stay away from major character death like the plague. Can't do it, won't do it the majority of the time - to read that, then I understand passing on this one. You do you :D
But I for one, don't regret reading this <3
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
slow-paced
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
