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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My first Mary Renault read!
Historical fiction focusing on the childhood of Alexander the Great. This zooms in on the animosity between his mother and father, and how he is dragged into their conflict time and time again. He is shaped by this enmity, and it will make him into the man who defied every expectation and cemented his name in history.
Mary Renault has a wonderful writing style. She really has such a skill, and that is on full display in Fire from Heaven. Her prose is smooth and powerful, but not over-the top. She uses this really well to craft unique characters with their own ambitions and hidden desires, with believable prose that works fantastically on a surface level but also exploring the subtext, which was perfect for the political machinations and interactions.
However, whilst many of the case were complex and well-developed, Alexander the Great as a child is shown as basically being... perfect. Which, for me at least, does not fit with the mass-murderer we know of history. We may want to read about him, but that is not because of his morality. However, in Fire From Heaven, he is just wonderful with everything he does. Sadly, that detracted from the story for me, especially in the latter half, where it became apparent this trend was not going to change.
Aside from that though, it was an engaging and intriguing read with a close analysis of character and political machinations that hooked me. I will definitely be reading more my Mary Renault!
Historical fiction focusing on the childhood of Alexander the Great. This zooms in on the animosity between his mother and father, and how he is dragged into their conflict time and time again. He is shaped by this enmity, and it will make him into the man who defied every expectation and cemented his name in history.
Mary Renault has a wonderful writing style. She really has such a skill, and that is on full display in Fire from Heaven. Her prose is smooth and powerful, but not over-the top. She uses this really well to craft unique characters with their own ambitions and hidden desires, with believable prose that works fantastically on a surface level but also exploring the subtext, which was perfect for the political machinations and interactions.
However, whilst many of the case were complex and well-developed, Alexander the Great as a child is shown as basically being... perfect. Which, for me at least, does not fit with the mass-murderer we know of history. We may want to read about him, but that is not because of his morality. However, in Fire From Heaven, he is just wonderful with everything he does. Sadly, that detracted from the story for me, especially in the latter half, where it became apparent this trend was not going to change.
Aside from that though, it was an engaging and intriguing read with a close analysis of character and political machinations that hooked me. I will definitely be reading more my Mary Renault!
very rarely do i read a book and spend most of the time mourning the fact that i will only be able to read it for the first time once
my immediate response upon finishing (i then told people to read it)
my immediate response upon finishing (i then told people to read it)
adventurous
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
https://cdnbookworm.blogspot.com/2025/03/fire-from-heaven.html
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is the Alexander of the past. The Alexander of Plutarch, the Alexander Julie's Caesar cried over. Alexander the golden child, the general, the conqueror, the god king larger than life. He is more than human, characterised as almost perfect, a prodigy with a sharp mind and short temper. Heavily romanticised but it works so well.
I loved it. This is my 5th book by Mary Renault and by now I know what to expect. I don't go to Mary Renault for a nuanced portrait of a hero of past. I don't expect any comments on the lives of women and slaves. Mary Renault is good at what she does because she writes like an ancient Greek man herself. She does not question the conventions of the time, she does not insert a character with modern views, she works with the society of the time and goes with it. This is definitely not to everyone's taste but does make for a great story.
And by god does it work. I really felt like I was there with Alexander and his friends in the mountains of Macedon, the palace of Pella, the battlefields of Attica. I love her writing style, archaic as it may be at times, her intense devotion to detail and "historical accuracy" (in regard of the ways of life, maybe not necessarily in regards to the actual character of Alexander).
I loved it. This is my 5th book by Mary Renault and by now I know what to expect. I don't go to Mary Renault for a nuanced portrait of a hero of past. I don't expect any comments on the lives of women and slaves. Mary Renault is good at what she does because she writes like an ancient Greek man herself. She does not question the conventions of the time, she does not insert a character with modern views, she works with the society of the time and goes with it. This is definitely not to everyone's taste but does make for a great story.
And by god does it work. I really felt like I was there with Alexander and his friends in the mountains of Macedon, the palace of Pella, the battlefields of Attica. I love her writing style, archaic as it may be at times, her intense devotion to detail and "historical accuracy" (in regard of the ways of life, maybe not necessarily in regards to the actual character of Alexander).
Fire From Heaven is a deep and compelling on the early years of Alexander the Great.
What it suffers from is pacing; wallowing in some scenes, jumping out of and through others without warning, referencing facts and characters obscure and unexplained. In this it does a poorer job of holding me as a reader than brilliant works like I, Claudius or the early books of the Masters of Rome series. Too often in the first half or so, Fire From Heaven meanders, relying on the certain interest because the story is about Alexander the Great, instead of telling it in a way that would fascinate regardless.
That said, the core story of Alexander's upbringing and troubled family life is excellent once it picks up steam. Renault comes off as an expert on this subject matter, threading the story with details that make ancient Greece come to life. And she is without doubt a skilled author.
Anyone who enjoys historical novels, especially those that keep very close to the truth of their subject matter, ought to enjoy this trek through the lesser-known details of Alexander's life. I learned much and enjoyed the journey.
What it suffers from is pacing; wallowing in some scenes, jumping out of and through others without warning, referencing facts and characters obscure and unexplained. In this it does a poorer job of holding me as a reader than brilliant works like I, Claudius or the early books of the Masters of Rome series. Too often in the first half or so, Fire From Heaven meanders, relying on the certain interest because the story is about Alexander the Great, instead of telling it in a way that would fascinate regardless.
That said, the core story of Alexander's upbringing and troubled family life is excellent once it picks up steam. Renault comes off as an expert on this subject matter, threading the story with details that make ancient Greece come to life. And she is without doubt a skilled author.
Anyone who enjoys historical novels, especially those that keep very close to the truth of their subject matter, ought to enjoy this trek through the lesser-known details of Alexander's life. I learned much and enjoyed the journey.