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A review by rebeccajsanders
Fire from Heaven by Mary Renault
4.0
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.