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Written in the Ashes
Who burned the Great Library of Alexandria?
When the Roman Empire collapses in the 5th century, the city of Alexandria, Egypt is plagued with unrest. Paganism is declared punishable by death and the populace splinters in religious upheaval.
Hannah, a beautiful Jewish shepherd girl is abducted from her home in the mountains of Sinai and sold as a slave in Alexandria to Alizar, an alchemist and successful vintner. Her rapturous singing voice destines her to become the most celebrated bard in the Great Library.
Meanwhile, the city’s bishop, Cyril, rises in power as his priests roam the streets persecuting the pagans. But while most citizens submit, a small resistance fights for justice.
Hypatia, the library’s charismatic headmistress, summons her allies to protect the world’s knowledge from the escalating violence. Risking his life, his family, and his hard-earned fortune, Alizar leads the conspiracy by secretly copying the library’s treasured manuscripts and smuggling them to safety.
When Hannah becomes the bishop’s target, she is sequestered across the harbor in the Temple of Isis. But an ancient ceremonial rite between a monk and priestess inside the Pharos lighthouse ignites a forbidden passion.
Torn between the men she loves, Hannah must undertake a quest to the lost oracles of Delfi and Amun-Ra to find the one thing powerful enough to protect the The Emerald Tablet.
Meanwhile, the Christians siege the city, exile the Jews, and fight the dwindling pagan resistance as the Great Library crumbles.
But not everything is lost. . .
When the Roman Empire collapses in the 5th century, the city of Alexandria, Egypt is plagued with unrest. Paganism is declared punishable by death and the populace splinters in religious upheaval.
Hannah, a beautiful Jewish shepherd girl is abducted from her home in the mountains of Sinai and sold as a slave in Alexandria to Alizar, an alchemist and successful vintner. Her rapturous singing voice destines her to become the most celebrated bard in the Great Library.
Meanwhile, the city’s bishop, Cyril, rises in power as his priests roam the streets persecuting the pagans. But while most citizens submit, a small resistance fights for justice.
Hypatia, the library’s charismatic headmistress, summons her allies to protect the world’s knowledge from the escalating violence. Risking his life, his family, and his hard-earned fortune, Alizar leads the conspiracy by secretly copying the library’s treasured manuscripts and smuggling them to safety.
When Hannah becomes the bishop’s target, she is sequestered across the harbor in the Temple of Isis. But an ancient ceremonial rite between a monk and priestess inside the Pharos lighthouse ignites a forbidden passion.
Torn between the men she loves, Hannah must undertake a quest to the lost oracles of Delfi and Amun-Ra to find the one thing powerful enough to protect the The Emerald Tablet.
Meanwhile, the Christians siege the city, exile the Jews, and fight the dwindling pagan resistance as the Great Library crumbles.
But not everything is lost. . .
448 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
100 people are currently reading
1258 people want to read
About the author
K. Hollan Van Zandt
3 books44 followersK. Hollan Van Zandt is also published under Kaia Alexander.
I'm a California girl with a big heart for ancient history- especially Greece and Egypt. My first novel, Written in the Ashes, took 15 years to write and research. I was mentored by novelist Tom Robbins and late comedian Garry Shandling. I'm a surfer, mom, and moon worshipper.
I'm a California girl with a big heart for ancient history- especially Greece and Egypt. My first novel, Written in the Ashes, took 15 years to write and research. I was mentored by novelist Tom Robbins and late comedian Garry Shandling. I'm a surfer, mom, and moon worshipper.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
June 21, 2012
BEFORE READING:
This book is currently available for $2.29 in Kindle format at Amazon. At this price and having checked the sample, I figured why not try it. Hypatia and the Alexandria library - the subject matter is interesting.
***********************
ON COMPLETION:
I have the hardest time writing reviews for those books that neither anger me because they are so terrible nor excite me because they are so wonderful. This is such a book.
I wanted to learn more about the life of Hypatia, the famed woman astronomer, philosopher and mathematician who lived at the turn of the 5th Century CE. I wanted to learn more about the Library of Alexandria and the Emerald Tablet of Hermes Trismagistus. However, after reading this book, I feel I could have gotten the same from a rapid search at Wikipedia. In fact I did feel compelled to read at Wikipedia anyhow. There are today so many unsolved questions. The author has done an admiral job of offering us one possible explanation detailing Hypatia’s death and the circumstances of the burning of the library. In an epilog she has explained where she has altered known facts, willfully allowed anachronisms and specified the unknowns. I cannot criticize that. It is just that I simply didn’t learn enough. This book is a dramatization of one possible scenario.
So let’s look at the manner of dramatization. I believe a primary problem for me is that the tone of the novel is too cinematic. Many people enjoy plot oriented books with dramatic turns and bravado behavior. This is a book for them. I think it is totally corny when in the heat of the fire a character throws a shard of emerald and, whamo, kills the bad guy…….
This felt like fiction to me. Given the acknowledged known facts, how can these be puzzled together to make sense? This is how the author has approached the subject matter. This is in fact logical, but it becomes “too cleaned up”, too simple. This event has to happen so that event can happen. A message is to be delivered so the characters do this or that so the message can be given. True life is so much messier and complex. In this novel, a repentant bishop is just too “sweet” for my tastes, but you see the author wants to make a particular statement that will please her readers or her own beliefs. We know that Bishop Cyril did exist, although some events remain unclear. The author has chosen one very plausible alternative to profess her point of view and to achieve a moving story. In addition, there is clear forewarning of coming events. I appreciate more subtlety.
The author employs a few writing gimmicks, for example, the repetitive use of a one word sentence: “So.” The reader is supposed to stop and pause and think and then go on. It is just that it was used repetitively.
The author imagines one character who has a wonderful view of religion based on kindness, compassion and understanding. This character states that he follows all religious beliefs not limiting himself to just one. A person of any faith will nod and say: THIS is what religion should be about. I too thought the lines beautifully expressed how religion should be manifested. THIS is what we must seek. Pretty lines that I guarantee all will love……..but again, a bit obvious. On a Kindle you can see the number of people who have marked a particular passage. Yup, everyone loved these lines. No one could hate them.
For me this book was good, but I wanted a lot more. I want more nuances. I wanted more complicated people. I wanted more answers. Unfortunately we do not today have all the answers. That is certainly not the author’s fault, but we have to decide if we want to spend time on the book.
This book is the first of the planned Mediterranean Trilogy. It is optioned for television. Many people will enjoy the cinematic feel. If you are curious for more, visit www.WrittenInTheAshes.com/Hannah
This book is currently available for $2.29 in Kindle format at Amazon. At this price and having checked the sample, I figured why not try it. Hypatia and the Alexandria library - the subject matter is interesting.
***********************
ON COMPLETION:
I have the hardest time writing reviews for those books that neither anger me because they are so terrible nor excite me because they are so wonderful. This is such a book.
I wanted to learn more about the life of Hypatia, the famed woman astronomer, philosopher and mathematician who lived at the turn of the 5th Century CE. I wanted to learn more about the Library of Alexandria and the Emerald Tablet of Hermes Trismagistus. However, after reading this book, I feel I could have gotten the same from a rapid search at Wikipedia. In fact I did feel compelled to read at Wikipedia anyhow. There are today so many unsolved questions. The author has done an admiral job of offering us one possible explanation detailing Hypatia’s death and the circumstances of the burning of the library. In an epilog she has explained where she has altered known facts, willfully allowed anachronisms and specified the unknowns. I cannot criticize that. It is just that I simply didn’t learn enough. This book is a dramatization of one possible scenario.
So let’s look at the manner of dramatization. I believe a primary problem for me is that the tone of the novel is too cinematic. Many people enjoy plot oriented books with dramatic turns and bravado behavior. This is a book for them. I think it is totally corny when in the heat of the fire a character throws a shard of emerald and, whamo, kills the bad guy…….
This felt like fiction to me. Given the acknowledged known facts, how can these be puzzled together to make sense? This is how the author has approached the subject matter. This is in fact logical, but it becomes “too cleaned up”, too simple. This event has to happen so that event can happen. A message is to be delivered so the characters do this or that so the message can be given. True life is so much messier and complex. In this novel, a repentant bishop is just too “sweet” for my tastes, but you see the author wants to make a particular statement that will please her readers or her own beliefs. We know that Bishop Cyril did exist, although some events remain unclear. The author has chosen one very plausible alternative to profess her point of view and to achieve a moving story. In addition, there is clear forewarning of coming events. I appreciate more subtlety.
The author employs a few writing gimmicks, for example, the repetitive use of a one word sentence: “So.” The reader is supposed to stop and pause and think and then go on. It is just that it was used repetitively.
The author imagines one character who has a wonderful view of religion based on kindness, compassion and understanding. This character states that he follows all religious beliefs not limiting himself to just one. A person of any faith will nod and say: THIS is what religion should be about. I too thought the lines beautifully expressed how religion should be manifested. THIS is what we must seek. Pretty lines that I guarantee all will love……..but again, a bit obvious. On a Kindle you can see the number of people who have marked a particular passage. Yup, everyone loved these lines. No one could hate them.
For me this book was good, but I wanted a lot more. I want more nuances. I wanted more complicated people. I wanted more answers. Unfortunately we do not today have all the answers. That is certainly not the author’s fault, but we have to decide if we want to spend time on the book.
This book is the first of the planned Mediterranean Trilogy. It is optioned for television. Many people will enjoy the cinematic feel. If you are curious for more, visit www.WrittenInTheAshes.com/Hannah
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2018
I’d been wanting to learn more about the great library of Alexandria and Hypatia...along came this book to satisfy my desire!! I highly recommend this book for lovers of ancient history fiction! Xx
November 14, 2016
Written In the Ashes takes place in the 5th century after the Roman Empire collapses, in Alexandria Egypt. It opens with teenager, Hannah, a shepherd girl roaming the desert with her father in search of a new place to live that has water for their sheep and themselves to live. One night Hannah sleeps close to the sheep to keep an eye on them but she is awakened by men who kidnap her and rape her. They bring her to Alexandria and auction her off as a slave to the highest bidder, Tarek. However, Tarek is a young man, still living in his father's house. His father, Alizar soon discovers Hannah.
Alizar recognizes the beauty and talent in Hannah for her intelligence and singing voice. He decides to give her the opportunity to buy back her freedom and sends her to the Library of Alexandria to get educated and is taken under the wings of Hypatia, the library's headmistress and other's. When Hypatia gives lectures, she invites Hannah to sing and the audience is mesmerized.
Meanwhile, the Bishop, Cyril vows to rid Alexandria of all he views as pagan, including Jews and Hypatia. Cyril does find a way to chase the Jews out and a great many are killed. How far will he go? Does he and his disciples have anything to do with the burning of the Great Library? How will Hannah fair in all of this?
You must read Written In the Ashes to find out! Yes, this is a must read for all historical fiction lovers. This is K. Hollan Van Zandt's first book but you would never guess it. It sung to me like the main character, Hannah with beautiful prose, gleaming characters and 5th century Alexandria, Egypt being brought to life. The words poured off the pages and as hard as I tried to savour each word, I could not put Written In the Ashes down. I cried at the end because I was so upset that the book ended!
Written In the Ashes is book one in what Van Zandt hopes to be a trilogy. It has been optioned by Mark R. Harris, Academy Award-Winning Producer (Crash, Gods & Monsters) for a TV mini-series! Van Zandt told me that one of the big publishers really loved the book but doesn't think that readers are interested in 5th century Alexandria, Egypt and the burning of the Great Library. I find that hard to believe and I hope you will help K. Hollan Van Zandt, I, and others prove them wrong. Written In the Ashes is in my top 5 books of all time, I hope it will be yours as well!
Alizar recognizes the beauty and talent in Hannah for her intelligence and singing voice. He decides to give her the opportunity to buy back her freedom and sends her to the Library of Alexandria to get educated and is taken under the wings of Hypatia, the library's headmistress and other's. When Hypatia gives lectures, she invites Hannah to sing and the audience is mesmerized.
Meanwhile, the Bishop, Cyril vows to rid Alexandria of all he views as pagan, including Jews and Hypatia. Cyril does find a way to chase the Jews out and a great many are killed. How far will he go? Does he and his disciples have anything to do with the burning of the Great Library? How will Hannah fair in all of this?
You must read Written In the Ashes to find out! Yes, this is a must read for all historical fiction lovers. This is K. Hollan Van Zandt's first book but you would never guess it. It sung to me like the main character, Hannah with beautiful prose, gleaming characters and 5th century Alexandria, Egypt being brought to life. The words poured off the pages and as hard as I tried to savour each word, I could not put Written In the Ashes down. I cried at the end because I was so upset that the book ended!
Written In the Ashes is book one in what Van Zandt hopes to be a trilogy. It has been optioned by Mark R. Harris, Academy Award-Winning Producer (Crash, Gods & Monsters) for a TV mini-series! Van Zandt told me that one of the big publishers really loved the book but doesn't think that readers are interested in 5th century Alexandria, Egypt and the burning of the Great Library. I find that hard to believe and I hope you will help K. Hollan Van Zandt, I, and others prove them wrong. Written In the Ashes is in my top 5 books of all time, I hope it will be yours as well!
November 16, 2011
I finished this book a few days ago and I wanted it to settle before I wrote my review. The novel, by the author's admission is part history, part imagination and part magic. Going back so far in time leaves an author with little written record to rely on for fact. The burning of the Great Library at Alexandria was a monumental loss to humanity. The facts of the matter aside, this novel was truly arresting and I had a hard time putting it down to get anything done.
Ancient history fascinates me. Religion fascinates me. This book manages to tie both together in a story that resonates through time. People have been fighting over the "better god" for millenia and I fear it will never end. Written in the Ashes pits the ever strengthening Christianity against the Old Ways considered to be Pagan. Cyril, the bishop in charge of Alexandria wants to solidify his power base (uh-huh, as if it's ever REALLY about religion) and get rid of the practitioners of any other religion other than his own. He does this through fear and intimidation.
Hypatia, the last recorded librarian for the Great Library is a forward thinking woman who wants all to be able to practice as they feel. She has a base of support but Cyril is calling her a witch and a whore so the people are learning to fear her. One of her main supporters Alizar has recently taken a slave into his household, Hannah. Hannah is a Jewess who was kidnapped from her father. She has a destiny of which she is completely unaware.
The book was fascinating. The characters were well developed and I really didn't want to leave this world of ancient Alexandria. The imaginary, magical priests and the beautiful goddesses created by Ms. Van Zandt lent themselves to a mystical world that was quite believable within its context. As the story unfolded I was rooting for Hannah to fulfill her destiny and find peace with her past. I am looking forward to the next chapters in these characters lives.
Ancient history fascinates me. Religion fascinates me. This book manages to tie both together in a story that resonates through time. People have been fighting over the "better god" for millenia and I fear it will never end. Written in the Ashes pits the ever strengthening Christianity against the Old Ways considered to be Pagan. Cyril, the bishop in charge of Alexandria wants to solidify his power base (uh-huh, as if it's ever REALLY about religion) and get rid of the practitioners of any other religion other than his own. He does this through fear and intimidation.
Hypatia, the last recorded librarian for the Great Library is a forward thinking woman who wants all to be able to practice as they feel. She has a base of support but Cyril is calling her a witch and a whore so the people are learning to fear her. One of her main supporters Alizar has recently taken a slave into his household, Hannah. Hannah is a Jewess who was kidnapped from her father. She has a destiny of which she is completely unaware.
The book was fascinating. The characters were well developed and I really didn't want to leave this world of ancient Alexandria. The imaginary, magical priests and the beautiful goddesses created by Ms. Van Zandt lent themselves to a mystical world that was quite believable within its context. As the story unfolded I was rooting for Hannah to fulfill her destiny and find peace with her past. I am looking forward to the next chapters in these characters lives.
May 31, 2017
After seeing the rave reviews of Written in the Ashes from my blogger peeps I knew I had to read it, and when Teddy emailed me with the chance to review it for Kaia's Blog Tour I immediately signed up! And boy am I glad that I did! It's just as intriguing and un-put-down-able as I hoped it would be!
Written in the Ashes brings us back to 5th century BC, to Alexandria and the events leading up to the burning of the Library at Alexandria. The story is told through the eyes of Hannah, a young girl who is taken from her homeland and sold as a slave to a prominent man in Alexandria. Her intelligence and lovely singing voice set her apart and her new owner, Alizar, sends her on a quest for the Emerald Tablet, which Alizar believed would be the key to uniting the empire.
I read Written in the Ashes in just a few sittings, despite the massive size (500 pages) and suffering from motion sickness on a road trip. No way was I going to let a little naseua keep me from finishing this amazing novel! The perfect mix of action, adventure, mysticism, history, and a strong female protagonist, Van Zandt knocks it out of the park and written the quintessential historical fiction novel. Highly recommended!
Important Note: I feel that I would be remiss in mentioning that there is a pretty vivid rape scene in the beginning of the novel. I don't feel that it took away from the book itself, but I would hate for someone that has been a victim of sexual assault to be triggered by such a scene.
Thanks to Teddy from Virtual Author Book Tours & K. Hollan Van Zandt for the chance to read this amazing book!
Written in the Ashes brings us back to 5th century BC, to Alexandria and the events leading up to the burning of the Library at Alexandria. The story is told through the eyes of Hannah, a young girl who is taken from her homeland and sold as a slave to a prominent man in Alexandria. Her intelligence and lovely singing voice set her apart and her new owner, Alizar, sends her on a quest for the Emerald Tablet, which Alizar believed would be the key to uniting the empire.
I read Written in the Ashes in just a few sittings, despite the massive size (500 pages) and suffering from motion sickness on a road trip. No way was I going to let a little naseua keep me from finishing this amazing novel! The perfect mix of action, adventure, mysticism, history, and a strong female protagonist, Van Zandt knocks it out of the park and written the quintessential historical fiction novel. Highly recommended!
Important Note: I feel that I would be remiss in mentioning that there is a pretty vivid rape scene in the beginning of the novel. I don't feel that it took away from the book itself, but I would hate for someone that has been a victim of sexual assault to be triggered by such a scene.
Thanks to Teddy from Virtual Author Book Tours & K. Hollan Van Zandt for the chance to read this amazing book!
May 1, 2012
Oh where to begin with this book? Where to begin? There were so many things that I loved in this book. First, one of the main stars of the show is the Great Library of Alexandria. As a voracious reader with a love for history, I've always felt a little sad when I think about the Great Library burning. While it may seem silly to still be upset about things that happened hundreds and hundreds of years ago, just think of all that information that was lost when that library burned. Think of everything that was lost!!! Think of what we could have learned! Okay, now that I've made you a little bit sad about a building burning down many, many years ago, let's continue ;)
VanZandt does a fantastic job with recreating what it must have been like to live back in Alexandria during the 400s. You can see the sites of the port in your mind's eye. You can imagine the clothing of all of the different kinds of people that made their way to Alexandria. I love great settings and I love great characters but I love most of all when an author can give you a full bodied experience. And what I mean by that is when an author gives you everything you could want in a book. You feel like you could be in the setting. You know exactly what the characters look like. You can see yourself hanging out with them (oh, Hannah, you are so awesome) or punching them in the face (oh, Tareq, you're pretty terrible and have way too much for your own good). To say I got sucked into the book would be an understatement. In the interest of full disclosure, I found myself sneaking looks at my Kindle just to read another page or two whenever I could. And yes, this book almost made me miss my Metro stop (I didn't miss it but came very close to doing so; a mark of a great book).
Let me tell you about the characters too. Hannah, the main character, was a stand out for me. She's the type of person that I'd love to have a glass of wine with and just chat. She was from Sinai and was brought to Alexandria where she was sold as a slave. She's bright and is so nice to everyone who is nice to her. She also knows how to kick you-know-what and take names when she needs to. I love that she can do both. It's such a good balance.
Not only did this book take me to a place that I had never really been before (I've read historical fiction about Egypt but most of it seemed to take place elsewhere and not in Alexandria). I think I would have gotten on well in Alexandria. It seems like my kind of place with all of the education and philophizing going on. This was sooooo good!
Bottom line: Historical fiction lovers who want a full bodied experience must read this book (emphasis on the must; this is not optional)!
VanZandt does a fantastic job with recreating what it must have been like to live back in Alexandria during the 400s. You can see the sites of the port in your mind's eye. You can imagine the clothing of all of the different kinds of people that made their way to Alexandria. I love great settings and I love great characters but I love most of all when an author can give you a full bodied experience. And what I mean by that is when an author gives you everything you could want in a book. You feel like you could be in the setting. You know exactly what the characters look like. You can see yourself hanging out with them (oh, Hannah, you are so awesome) or punching them in the face (oh, Tareq, you're pretty terrible and have way too much for your own good). To say I got sucked into the book would be an understatement. In the interest of full disclosure, I found myself sneaking looks at my Kindle just to read another page or two whenever I could. And yes, this book almost made me miss my Metro stop (I didn't miss it but came very close to doing so; a mark of a great book).
Let me tell you about the characters too. Hannah, the main character, was a stand out for me. She's the type of person that I'd love to have a glass of wine with and just chat. She was from Sinai and was brought to Alexandria where she was sold as a slave. She's bright and is so nice to everyone who is nice to her. She also knows how to kick you-know-what and take names when she needs to. I love that she can do both. It's such a good balance.
Not only did this book take me to a place that I had never really been before (I've read historical fiction about Egypt but most of it seemed to take place elsewhere and not in Alexandria). I think I would have gotten on well in Alexandria. It seems like my kind of place with all of the education and philophizing going on. This was sooooo good!
Bottom line: Historical fiction lovers who want a full bodied experience must read this book (emphasis on the must; this is not optional)!
September 18, 2012
"Save your hate for someone who deserves it."
This and other beautiful quotes fill the pages of Written in the Ashes :)
Written is the Ashes was at first refreshing because this is the first non-YA book I've read in weeks, which is highly unusual. It's also a historical novel, which I don't read very often.
Every once in a while, a book comes along that restores my faith in indie/small pub books. I read indies to discover books like this - brilliant, unique, original and well-written reads - gems that only be found if you dig deep enough through the mud and the rock. I can hardly believe such a novel exists that so few people know about... well, enough that an Academy-Award-winning producer read it and snatched it up for a TV miniseries. :D
This novel is highly entertaining as well as thought-provoking, and the amount of hard work and research put into it is evident on every page. I could clearly picture the beauty and the danger of the 5th century setting and the stunning characters, especially the beautiful and brave Hannah.
Ashes has it all - love, passion, growth, drama, adventure, danger, murder, humor, and above all, an absolutely gripping and gorgeous writing style.
I am absolutely a fan of Kaia VanZandt and I have just one question for her: where can I get the sequel??
P.S. Apparently, Ashley Judd (yes, the lead in TV show Missing) talks about Kaia - “Kaia is an old soul. She’s a powerful, intelligent woman. I look forward to reading her book!”
Cool, huh?
This and other beautiful quotes fill the pages of Written in the Ashes :)
Written is the Ashes was at first refreshing because this is the first non-YA book I've read in weeks, which is highly unusual. It's also a historical novel, which I don't read very often.
Every once in a while, a book comes along that restores my faith in indie/small pub books. I read indies to discover books like this - brilliant, unique, original and well-written reads - gems that only be found if you dig deep enough through the mud and the rock. I can hardly believe such a novel exists that so few people know about... well, enough that an Academy-Award-winning producer read it and snatched it up for a TV miniseries. :D
This novel is highly entertaining as well as thought-provoking, and the amount of hard work and research put into it is evident on every page. I could clearly picture the beauty and the danger of the 5th century setting and the stunning characters, especially the beautiful and brave Hannah.
Ashes has it all - love, passion, growth, drama, adventure, danger, murder, humor, and above all, an absolutely gripping and gorgeous writing style.
I am absolutely a fan of Kaia VanZandt and I have just one question for her: where can I get the sequel??
P.S. Apparently, Ashley Judd (yes, the lead in TV show Missing) talks about Kaia - “Kaia is an old soul. She’s a powerful, intelligent woman. I look forward to reading her book!”
Cool, huh?
February 24, 2012
K. Hollan Van Zandt’s debut novel about the burning of the Great Library of Alexandria is a fantastic page-turner. Anyone who starts this will be riveted from page one to the end.
I am a lover of epics, and this filled me with its wonderful, grand sweep of history, tantalizing detail and compelling characters making me feel like I was there. This is also an action-adventure with an epic scale complete with terrifying, high-stakes battles between nation states, rulers, and those devoted to a beloved cause.
The fabric of Ashes is history, the thread is a grand love story that keeps building in passion, desire and some inevitable regret. It made me think about true love versus life and living. Can they meet?
As a student of history and philosophy the book teaches the importance of Hypatia of Alexandria and the Great Library itself. It was truly the Internet of antiquity. Van Zandt’s exhaustive research and attention to detail make this pivotal moment in history leading to the Dark Ages come alive.
As a Jew, the book and its central character Hannah, takes on added importance, as it taught me another lesson about what it means to be Jewish, and why Israel must stay strong.
I am a lover of epics, and this filled me with its wonderful, grand sweep of history, tantalizing detail and compelling characters making me feel like I was there. This is also an action-adventure with an epic scale complete with terrifying, high-stakes battles between nation states, rulers, and those devoted to a beloved cause.
The fabric of Ashes is history, the thread is a grand love story that keeps building in passion, desire and some inevitable regret. It made me think about true love versus life and living. Can they meet?
As a student of history and philosophy the book teaches the importance of Hypatia of Alexandria and the Great Library itself. It was truly the Internet of antiquity. Van Zandt’s exhaustive research and attention to detail make this pivotal moment in history leading to the Dark Ages come alive.
As a Jew, the book and its central character Hannah, takes on added importance, as it taught me another lesson about what it means to be Jewish, and why Israel must stay strong.
August 24, 2025
This book was hard to rate. There were times I felt like I was reading several books at once. There were certain inconsistencies that I found bothered me throughout the book and Part 2 nearly lost me. The story as a whole did keep me engaged though and I wound up getting back into it in Part 3.
attempted-not-for-me
July 17, 2017There wasn't anything wrong it with this, but it just failed to capture my attention and I felt like I was just plodding along more out of determination then enjoyment.
July 23, 2020
I honestly was rather surprised and very pleased with how much I liked this book. The characters were likable so I was invested in them. and the plot kept me reading. Don't let the title and cover fool you, because this book is action packed.
Hypatia was an engaging character and I really liked her a lot. I'm sure it would've been frustrating for her, being as intelligent as she is but not having people really understand you. I love a woman who goes on a journey, a quest, for something of value to her people or society or whatever, and that the goal gives her the impetus to follow through and do whatever it takes. The male characters of Gideon and Julian were also both likable and I thought they were both basically good people at their core.
Traveling to Delphi and Egypt are places that I don't know much about, but it was interesting for them to go before the oracles and plead their cases so to speak.
When they left Delphi I felt sad. After the fall of the Great Library I felt like I too was standing on the shore watching as the ash fell everywhere and again I felt the sadness that I am sure engulfed many at the time. I've never really thought in terms of The Great Library but I must say that "watching" what happened made me sad.
Hypatia was an engaging character and I really liked her a lot. I'm sure it would've been frustrating for her, being as intelligent as she is but not having people really understand you. I love a woman who goes on a journey, a quest, for something of value to her people or society or whatever, and that the goal gives her the impetus to follow through and do whatever it takes. The male characters of Gideon and Julian were also both likable and I thought they were both basically good people at their core.
Traveling to Delphi and Egypt are places that I don't know much about, but it was interesting for them to go before the oracles and plead their cases so to speak.
When they left Delphi I felt sad. After the fall of the Great Library I felt like I too was standing on the shore watching as the ash fell everywhere and again I felt the sadness that I am sure engulfed many at the time. I've never really thought in terms of The Great Library but I must say that "watching" what happened made me sad.
June 3, 2012
While this book initially started out a little bit slow for me, it quickly picked up and I became instantly attached to the characters and the events that transpired. The characters were wonderfully written and I LOVED Hypatia. I had a vision of her in my head from the film Agora staring Rachel Weisz and I think my biggest issue was that I couldn’t match the Hypatia in the book with the one in the movie. But as far as looks go, that is my least concern. For someone who we don’t really know all that much about I loved getting to know her. She was a very learned woman and it was entirely unfair that people didn’t understand the difference between science and witch craft and the world lost her much too soon. In terms of the leading men, I found myself intermittently in love with Gideon and Julian – both very good and brave men.
I enjoyed all of the drama brought about by the quest given to Hannah to find the Emerald Tablet. The exchanges between the characters in these scenes were some of my favorites. The scenes at the height of the novel were so action packed that I couldn’t put it down; I felt like somehow I would miss things unfolding while the cover was closed.
I have to give high praise to the author for the atmospheric world of Alexandria and beyond that she brought to the page. For a lighthouse and library that no longer stand – and which I have never seen any images of – I could certainly picture them in my mind. We also travel to two oracles – one at Delphi and one in Egypt, whose name escapes me right now. I had not ever read about oracles before and really didn’t know what to expect, however I enjoyed how van Zandt presented them. When they left Delphi I felt sad. After the fall of the Great Library I felt like I too was standing on the shore watching as the ash fell everywhere and again I felt the sadness that I am sure engulfed many at the time.
There were two small complaints that I have about this novel. The first I am not sure was an e-book issue or actually part of the novel – this is my first e-book on my Kindle. Sections were periodically divided with “So”. Sometimes it felt like this was appropriate as in, “and then this happened” while at other times is felt like some sort of glitch in the e-book process. If anyone has read the paper copy please let me know! The other issue I had was where periodically referenced was an angel. I’m not really sure of the angel’s purpose but it was distracting to me and I didn’t feel like it was a necessary addition.
Overall I thought that this was a wonderful read that I would highly recommend. Not only do we get treated to a beautiful view of Alexandria but the story is one that deserves to be told. I can’t wait for this to be brought to the screen!
This book was received for review from the author - I was not compensated for my opinions and the above is my honest review.
I enjoyed all of the drama brought about by the quest given to Hannah to find the Emerald Tablet. The exchanges between the characters in these scenes were some of my favorites. The scenes at the height of the novel were so action packed that I couldn’t put it down; I felt like somehow I would miss things unfolding while the cover was closed.
I have to give high praise to the author for the atmospheric world of Alexandria and beyond that she brought to the page. For a lighthouse and library that no longer stand – and which I have never seen any images of – I could certainly picture them in my mind. We also travel to two oracles – one at Delphi and one in Egypt, whose name escapes me right now. I had not ever read about oracles before and really didn’t know what to expect, however I enjoyed how van Zandt presented them. When they left Delphi I felt sad. After the fall of the Great Library I felt like I too was standing on the shore watching as the ash fell everywhere and again I felt the sadness that I am sure engulfed many at the time.
There were two small complaints that I have about this novel. The first I am not sure was an e-book issue or actually part of the novel – this is my first e-book on my Kindle. Sections were periodically divided with “So”. Sometimes it felt like this was appropriate as in, “and then this happened” while at other times is felt like some sort of glitch in the e-book process. If anyone has read the paper copy please let me know! The other issue I had was where periodically referenced was an angel. I’m not really sure of the angel’s purpose but it was distracting to me and I didn’t feel like it was a necessary addition.
Overall I thought that this was a wonderful read that I would highly recommend. Not only do we get treated to a beautiful view of Alexandria but the story is one that deserves to be told. I can’t wait for this to be brought to the screen!
This book was received for review from the author - I was not compensated for my opinions and the above is my honest review.
May 11, 2012
In K. Van Zandt’s Written in the Ashes, we follow young shepherd girl Hannah across the desert of Sinai, to the great city of Alexandria, through Egypt and to Greece in her initiation into womanhood and quest for the preservation of the works at the Great Library of Alexandria. An advocate for ancient cultures and a brilliant storyteller, Van Zandt passionately executes this heroine’s journey with rich humor, deep compassion, sexual vibrancy, and an acute respect for knowledge.
In this time of tumultuous social change, Van Zandt’s propensity to reimagine history from a non-patriarchal perspective must be applauded and relished. Written in the Ashes is an essential read for anyone who has felt the gravity and loneliness of protecting what is true in a shaky world.
The characters in Written in the Ashes will stay with me as I undergo my own odyssey for knowledge, candor, and love.
- Sofia Greenberg, student of Creative Writing and Literature at The California College of the Arts
In this time of tumultuous social change, Van Zandt’s propensity to reimagine history from a non-patriarchal perspective must be applauded and relished. Written in the Ashes is an essential read for anyone who has felt the gravity and loneliness of protecting what is true in a shaky world.
The characters in Written in the Ashes will stay with me as I undergo my own odyssey for knowledge, candor, and love.
- Sofia Greenberg, student of Creative Writing and Literature at The California College of the Arts
September 30, 2012
Let me first make a confession. I joined this book review tour because the description for Written in the Ashes sounded intriguing. What might our world be like today if the Great Library of Alexandria hadn’t burned?
Once I received my copy, I put it on my Kindle, but didn’t start reading it until about two weeks ago. Now I regret waiting so long to begin this book. From the very first paragraph, no, the first sentence, I was in love with Van Zandt’s prose and her mastery of historical fiction. The story begins:
All trees hold secrets.
How could I put it down after that opening sentence? If only I had started the book sooner, I could have read it once and read it again by now. Yes, this is one of those books to keep on your shelf or ereader to be enjoyed many times over.
Let me make another confession. I haven’t finished this book yet. However, it’s because I take my time with the best historical books, savoring the sensations and descriptions as I read. I found myself stopping to reread passages and leaning back in my chair, taking a moment to picture things the author had created on the page.
K. Hollan Van Zandt has a magical way with words that sweeps you into ancient Egypt so readily, and with such finesse, that not only can you picture the setting, you can smell the dusty clay earth floating into your nostrils as you walk the trails. Her writing evokes the taste of desert honey melting in the sun and dripping off your fingers as you lift them to your lips. For example, in this very short excerpt, I can feel the breeze and taste the salt in the air as I watch the wind lift the bed curtains.
A slight ocean breeze from a north-facing balcony nudged two sheer luminous veils draped around the bed, lifting them like the hands of a dancing phantom. The scent of the sea was stronger in that room than in any other Hannah had been in, sweet and salt-laden. She relished it, breathing in and licking her lips. She did not want to leave the woman’s bedside the way she would not want to draw her cold hands away from a fire.
Not only are the descriptions wonderful, the author makes the characters so lifelike, it’s hard to believe they’re not sitting nearby, waiting to share a meal with you. I instantly felt a connection with Hannah, a young girl sold into slavery in the opening chapters.
Written in the Ashes took Van Zandt a decade to write. My only hope is that it won’t take her another decade to write the sequel.
Here is what some people are saying about Written in the Ashes.
Disclosure: I received my review copy from Virtual Author Book Tours.
April 1, 2012
The Library at Alexandria has always facinated me. What if it had not disappeared? What history of the ancient world might we know?
This book is a very interesting novel which looks at one scenario for the destruction of this famed library. As the author notes in the epilogue "It is most important to recognize that this novel in your hands is a synthesis of legend, history and imagination." Since so much of the actual history of this time was lost by the destruction of this famed library, I think the author did a great job of creating a story with what history we do know, and I love how she tells at the end of the book what is based on history, what is based on legend, and what parts she created to fill in the story.
I also enjoyed learning about Hypatia, an amazing historical woman who I knew nothing about prior, and the legend of The Emerald Tablet is also facinating to me.
A great historical novel, and an excellent job for the first work of this author. I would recommend it for fans of historical novels who have any interest in learning about this time period. The kindle edition I purchased was a great deal.
This book is a very interesting novel which looks at one scenario for the destruction of this famed library. As the author notes in the epilogue "It is most important to recognize that this novel in your hands is a synthesis of legend, history and imagination." Since so much of the actual history of this time was lost by the destruction of this famed library, I think the author did a great job of creating a story with what history we do know, and I love how she tells at the end of the book what is based on history, what is based on legend, and what parts she created to fill in the story.
I also enjoyed learning about Hypatia, an amazing historical woman who I knew nothing about prior, and the legend of The Emerald Tablet is also facinating to me.
A great historical novel, and an excellent job for the first work of this author. I would recommend it for fans of historical novels who have any interest in learning about this time period. The kindle edition I purchased was a great deal.
October 3, 2019
This book is fantastic! Although "historical fiction" isn't really my thing - I really thoroughly enjoyed this read. Do yourself a favor - read and savor this! The only complaint I have is the occasional wrong word - such as "pouring" when it should have been "poring" or "gate" when it should have been "gait". I don't know if this is the author's or the editor's fault. In the end, that is only a minor annoyance. The author spent ten years on completing this novel, and the story is well-written and well-embellished.
June 2, 2017
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Once in a very long while, there comes along a book that you wonder how you ever lived without it before. One that you have read, and your mind wanders back to on occasion. There are a few books like that for me.....The Firebrand by Marion Zimmer Bradley and A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle. The Firebrand inspired my love for all things in Greek mythology, and A Wrinkle In Time is actually the book that inspired by first major in college, physics.
Then this book, Written in the Ashes comes along. I hate comparing any book to the great classics, like A Wrinkle in Time or Firebrand, but it wouldn't be fair if I didn't. It's really just that good. The book is really long, 500+ pages, but it goes into such detail and the action is so well drawn out you don't feel those pages.
There are minor things I didn't like about the book. I feel like the time of Hannah's before slavery time was far too short. I would have loved to see more about the Jewish culture in there. There was the constant writing of the word "so" in the book. Maybe it broke the book down, and it was supposed to make it seem more like a very long oral story, but it didn't work for me.
Once in a very long while, there comes along a book that you wonder how you ever lived without it before. One that you have read, and your mind wanders back to on occasion. There are a few books like that for me.....The Firebrand by Marion Zimmer Bradley and A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle. The Firebrand inspired my love for all things in Greek mythology, and A Wrinkle In Time is actually the book that inspired by first major in college, physics.
Then this book, Written in the Ashes comes along. I hate comparing any book to the great classics, like A Wrinkle in Time or Firebrand, but it wouldn't be fair if I didn't. It's really just that good. The book is really long, 500+ pages, but it goes into such detail and the action is so well drawn out you don't feel those pages.
There are minor things I didn't like about the book. I feel like the time of Hannah's before slavery time was far too short. I would have loved to see more about the Jewish culture in there. There was the constant writing of the word "so" in the book. Maybe it broke the book down, and it was supposed to make it seem more like a very long oral story, but it didn't work for me.
September 30, 2012
A compelling, ambitious work of historical fiction set around the time of the burning of Alexandria’s magnificent library. I like big books and I cannot lie.
Let me begin by saying how daunting it is to review a work of quite epic proportions (and this is only book 1!). Once upon a time, I did entertain dreams of being an Egyptologist, thanks to Henry Jones Jr., but I claim no formal qualifications—just a fascination with history in general because it has been said that ‘the past is never dead. It’s not even past.’
‘Hatred is a poison, you cannot drink it and expect another to die’.
What an amazing line! I feel as though an essay might better suffice, but then Written in the Ashes is a journey that is better experienced without the spoilers that a review of that length would no doubt be littered with. Yes, the novel is inspired by actual historical figures and events, but it is told mainly through the eyes of Hannah, a Jewish shepherd girl abducted from her home in the deserts of Sinai and sold into slavery on the streets of Alexandria.
Admittedly there are shifting viewpoints, most notably that of Hypatia, daughter of mathematician and philosopher Theon of Alexandria who herself was to become a philosopher and the first recorded female mathematician. Written in the Ashes is, of course, a fictionalised account of her as the headmistress of the Great Library of Alexandria, but it’s not really Hypatia’s story. I am ashamed to say I knew next to nothing about her and I’m grateful that reading Ms Hollan Van Zandt’s novel prompted further research into this brilliant woman.
‘So.’
Can I say that I have never come across a more inspired use of such an unassuming two-letter word in the English language before? With it, Hollan Van Zandt effortlessly evokes the quiet intensity of the novel’s myriad of characters. Admittedly I found I lost interest in what went on with these other characters (such as the main antagonist Bishop Cyril of Alexandria) and just wanted to get back to Hannah but these parts were few and far in between.
Eloquently told in three parts, Written in the Ashes has an engaging heroine who learns to survive in the life she was viciously thrust into. Exploring the religious conflict that plagued Alexandria circa 415 AD, it’s not a religious book per se, but in touching on the intermingling subjects of science and religion it delivers a wonderful message of tolerance.
On that regard, I was reminded of Yann Martel’s Life of Pi, in which the book’s protagonist, Pi (as in the mathematical constant), is baffled by agnosticism because he believes that ‘to choose doubt as a philosophy of life is akin to choosing immobility as a means of transportation’. I thought he would make great friends with Alizar (Hannah’s kind and successful vintner ‘owner’) who ‘adhere[s] to any religion that has love as its foundation…[because] God has no boundaries…[and] we are the ones who imagine separation’.
There is also an underlying thread of romance that I appreciated—for no grand tale is complete without a romance—and even an unexpected love triangle that wasn’t intrusive to the main plot and was part of Hannah’s growth as a character. I’m so glad that this book has been picked up as a TV mini-series and, last I checked K. Hollan Van Zandt’s website, she is in talks with the writer of the fantastic HBO series Rome. This would be amazing on the screen if it were adapted properly.
YAY OR NAY?
This book is a compelling, ambitious work of historical fiction that retells the tumultuous events that culminated to the burning of Alexandria’s magnificent library and the brutal death of its headmistress through the eyes of a beautiful young Jewish shepherdess. It’s not a romance novel, but the love story in it is strong and aids to propel the story.
Who might enjoy it: Historical fiction readers partial to tomes
Who might not enjoy it: Readers who don’t like big books and cannot lie
A review copy of this book was generously provided by Virtual Author Book Tours, but I ended up purchasing the hardback halfway through reading it.
{Review from bookthingo.com.au}
Let me begin by saying how daunting it is to review a work of quite epic proportions (and this is only book 1!). Once upon a time, I did entertain dreams of being an Egyptologist, thanks to Henry Jones Jr., but I claim no formal qualifications—just a fascination with history in general because it has been said that ‘the past is never dead. It’s not even past.’
‘Hatred is a poison, you cannot drink it and expect another to die’.
What an amazing line! I feel as though an essay might better suffice, but then Written in the Ashes is a journey that is better experienced without the spoilers that a review of that length would no doubt be littered with. Yes, the novel is inspired by actual historical figures and events, but it is told mainly through the eyes of Hannah, a Jewish shepherd girl abducted from her home in the deserts of Sinai and sold into slavery on the streets of Alexandria.
Admittedly there are shifting viewpoints, most notably that of Hypatia, daughter of mathematician and philosopher Theon of Alexandria who herself was to become a philosopher and the first recorded female mathematician. Written in the Ashes is, of course, a fictionalised account of her as the headmistress of the Great Library of Alexandria, but it’s not really Hypatia’s story. I am ashamed to say I knew next to nothing about her and I’m grateful that reading Ms Hollan Van Zandt’s novel prompted further research into this brilliant woman.
‘So.’
Can I say that I have never come across a more inspired use of such an unassuming two-letter word in the English language before? With it, Hollan Van Zandt effortlessly evokes the quiet intensity of the novel’s myriad of characters. Admittedly I found I lost interest in what went on with these other characters (such as the main antagonist Bishop Cyril of Alexandria) and just wanted to get back to Hannah but these parts were few and far in between.
Eloquently told in three parts, Written in the Ashes has an engaging heroine who learns to survive in the life she was viciously thrust into. Exploring the religious conflict that plagued Alexandria circa 415 AD, it’s not a religious book per se, but in touching on the intermingling subjects of science and religion it delivers a wonderful message of tolerance.
On that regard, I was reminded of Yann Martel’s Life of Pi, in which the book’s protagonist, Pi (as in the mathematical constant), is baffled by agnosticism because he believes that ‘to choose doubt as a philosophy of life is akin to choosing immobility as a means of transportation’. I thought he would make great friends with Alizar (Hannah’s kind and successful vintner ‘owner’) who ‘adhere[s] to any religion that has love as its foundation…[because] God has no boundaries…[and] we are the ones who imagine separation’.
There is also an underlying thread of romance that I appreciated—for no grand tale is complete without a romance—and even an unexpected love triangle that wasn’t intrusive to the main plot and was part of Hannah’s growth as a character. I’m so glad that this book has been picked up as a TV mini-series and, last I checked K. Hollan Van Zandt’s website, she is in talks with the writer of the fantastic HBO series Rome. This would be amazing on the screen if it were adapted properly.
YAY OR NAY?
This book is a compelling, ambitious work of historical fiction that retells the tumultuous events that culminated to the burning of Alexandria’s magnificent library and the brutal death of its headmistress through the eyes of a beautiful young Jewish shepherdess. It’s not a romance novel, but the love story in it is strong and aids to propel the story.
Who might enjoy it: Historical fiction readers partial to tomes
Who might not enjoy it: Readers who don’t like big books and cannot lie
A review copy of this book was generously provided by Virtual Author Book Tours, but I ended up purchasing the hardback halfway through reading it.
{Review from bookthingo.com.au}
October 3, 2012
Way back in the Dark Ages when I was a teenager, I fell in love with history and, in particular, with the ancient lands of Egypt, Greece, Italy, Britain, etc. I seriously considered going into archaeology as a career but, fortunately, I figured out early on that I’m a couch potato at heart and really not cut out for all that sweat and hard work. Despite that setback, I’ve never lost my love for those places and their stories.
Then, in 1989, I had the great good fortune to go with my younger daughter to visit my older daughter who was studying in Greece. We did the tourist thing in Greece and then went on to Egypt. I don’t expect to ever again experience anything like it and that wonderful trip confirmed my belief that those two countries, in particular, have history that’s magical.
That magic is what the reader finds in Written in the Ashes. From my first introduction to Hannah, I was captivated by her and by what happens to her, and she became a very real person in my imagination. I could feel her emotions, her fear, her strength. I could once again experience the heat, the red dust, the intense sun, the incredibly blue sky, the sense of being in a place that would have an immense effect on the rest of humanity for eons to come. And Hypatia—what an incredible woman she is in the author’s hands and must have been in real life. To think that she played such an integral role at a time when religions and the empire were in great turmoil, a time when an intelligent woman was looked upon with suspicion and distrust, is mesmerizing.
These two very different women and the secondary characters that touch their lives for good or bad, bring to life the story of what happened in Alexandria and the massive changes that occurred in the religious world of the 5th century. Whether the reader is Christian or Jewish or pagan or of any other belief—or even atheistic—really doesn’t matter because we all live today with the ramifications of those events. Ms. Van Zandt has done a masterful job of creating a compelling and absorbing story around a fascinating piece of history.
Ms. Van Zandt is also to be commended for her meticulous research but, most of all, for her flowing, striking prose that frequently caught my breath; I’d find myself re-reading passages just to see if they sounded the same a second time. (Hint: they did and, sometimes, were even better.) I really do hope this author will offer us either a sequel or another novel entirely without making us wait too long.
One note of caution for those readers who are easily offended—while you’ll find love and excitement and danger and even a little humor, the author does not hold back when it comes to scenes of violence and abuse and I applaud her for that. After all, slavery, rape, murder, arson and mob behavior are all about brutality and should be portrayed accordingly, but I highly recommend Written in the Ashes for any reader who enjoys tales from our past that are grounded in truth and written in beauty.
Then, in 1989, I had the great good fortune to go with my younger daughter to visit my older daughter who was studying in Greece. We did the tourist thing in Greece and then went on to Egypt. I don’t expect to ever again experience anything like it and that wonderful trip confirmed my belief that those two countries, in particular, have history that’s magical.
That magic is what the reader finds in Written in the Ashes. From my first introduction to Hannah, I was captivated by her and by what happens to her, and she became a very real person in my imagination. I could feel her emotions, her fear, her strength. I could once again experience the heat, the red dust, the intense sun, the incredibly blue sky, the sense of being in a place that would have an immense effect on the rest of humanity for eons to come. And Hypatia—what an incredible woman she is in the author’s hands and must have been in real life. To think that she played such an integral role at a time when religions and the empire were in great turmoil, a time when an intelligent woman was looked upon with suspicion and distrust, is mesmerizing.
These two very different women and the secondary characters that touch their lives for good or bad, bring to life the story of what happened in Alexandria and the massive changes that occurred in the religious world of the 5th century. Whether the reader is Christian or Jewish or pagan or of any other belief—or even atheistic—really doesn’t matter because we all live today with the ramifications of those events. Ms. Van Zandt has done a masterful job of creating a compelling and absorbing story around a fascinating piece of history.
Ms. Van Zandt is also to be commended for her meticulous research but, most of all, for her flowing, striking prose that frequently caught my breath; I’d find myself re-reading passages just to see if they sounded the same a second time. (Hint: they did and, sometimes, were even better.) I really do hope this author will offer us either a sequel or another novel entirely without making us wait too long.
One note of caution for those readers who are easily offended—while you’ll find love and excitement and danger and even a little humor, the author does not hold back when it comes to scenes of violence and abuse and I applaud her for that. After all, slavery, rape, murder, arson and mob behavior are all about brutality and should be portrayed accordingly, but I highly recommend Written in the Ashes for any reader who enjoys tales from our past that are grounded in truth and written in beauty.
May 21, 2012
I love ancient Egypt. I’m sorry, that sentence doesn’t accurately describe my feelings towards the subject. If I were standing in the same room with you, I would yell “I LOVE ANCIENT EGYPT THIS MUCH!” and spread my arms as wide as they could possibly stretch, just to give you a tiny taste of my enduring love. So I was really excited when I first read the premise of Written in the Ashes, as it is set in Alexandria after the fall of the Roman Empire.
The book revolves around Hannah, a young Jewish shepherdess, who is kidnapped, sold into slavery and finds herself working in the house of a renowned wine maker and secret alchemist. When Hannah’s talent as a singer is discovered, she quickly lands in the Great Library, learning the ways of the bard. Hannah interacts with a few historic figures and groups of the era throughout the story, and finds herself on a quest to find an ancient tablet that could protect the Pagan and Jewish communities against the radical Christians who have taken over the city.
I’m a big fan of historical fiction that tries to fill in missing pieces of history, which is what K. Hollan Van Zandt does in Written in the Ashes. I also really love when a bit of fantasy or supernatural elements are part of the plot. Part of what intrigues me about ancient Egyptians is their spirituality and belief in an afterlife. I don’t want to give anything away, but I really enjoyed the storyline of Julian the monk and the twists Hannah’s quest took. I honestly didn’t think the author would go down that road, so-to-speak.
While I think the book contained all the fundamentals of a great and engaging story, as a reader I felt like I was held an arm’s length away from the characters and heart of the story. I couldn’t connect to Hannah or any of the other characters in the novel. There was also a point in the book where the story jumped ahead three years after a crucial plot point, which is fine, except the characters seemed to pick up everything right back up where they were a few pages ago. “Oh hey, that really important thing that happened three years ago? I just NOW thought of something relevant to that moment that will probably change everything. I can’t believe I didn’t think of it before now!” Perhaps it was just me, but it felt a bit jarring.
Aside from those small quibbles, I thought the story was interesting and I really enjoyed the small supernatural elements woven into the novel. The writing and the descriptions are lovely; I just found it a bit cold. I never warmed up and fell in love with the book like I wanted and thought I would. It could be I just wasn’t in the right frame of mind to read this book when I did, which is perhaps why I didn’t connect with it as much as other readers. If you like historical fiction (and Egypt!), I would give it a read and see what you think.
Reviewed for Reflections of a Book Addict: http://wp.me/p18lIL-11g
The book revolves around Hannah, a young Jewish shepherdess, who is kidnapped, sold into slavery and finds herself working in the house of a renowned wine maker and secret alchemist. When Hannah’s talent as a singer is discovered, she quickly lands in the Great Library, learning the ways of the bard. Hannah interacts with a few historic figures and groups of the era throughout the story, and finds herself on a quest to find an ancient tablet that could protect the Pagan and Jewish communities against the radical Christians who have taken over the city.
I’m a big fan of historical fiction that tries to fill in missing pieces of history, which is what K. Hollan Van Zandt does in Written in the Ashes. I also really love when a bit of fantasy or supernatural elements are part of the plot. Part of what intrigues me about ancient Egyptians is their spirituality and belief in an afterlife. I don’t want to give anything away, but I really enjoyed the storyline of Julian the monk and the twists Hannah’s quest took. I honestly didn’t think the author would go down that road, so-to-speak.
While I think the book contained all the fundamentals of a great and engaging story, as a reader I felt like I was held an arm’s length away from the characters and heart of the story. I couldn’t connect to Hannah or any of the other characters in the novel. There was also a point in the book where the story jumped ahead three years after a crucial plot point, which is fine, except the characters seemed to pick up everything right back up where they were a few pages ago. “Oh hey, that really important thing that happened three years ago? I just NOW thought of something relevant to that moment that will probably change everything. I can’t believe I didn’t think of it before now!” Perhaps it was just me, but it felt a bit jarring.
Aside from those small quibbles, I thought the story was interesting and I really enjoyed the small supernatural elements woven into the novel. The writing and the descriptions are lovely; I just found it a bit cold. I never warmed up and fell in love with the book like I wanted and thought I would. It could be I just wasn’t in the right frame of mind to read this book when I did, which is perhaps why I didn’t connect with it as much as other readers. If you like historical fiction (and Egypt!), I would give it a read and see what you think.
Reviewed for Reflections of a Book Addict: http://wp.me/p18lIL-11g
May 21, 2012
This is the first time I have ever read a book that takes place during the 400's, and it was definitely a well-written, well-researched book. I was impressed with the scholarship and research that was displayed in the book, and I came to love a good share of the characters. The story had a plethora of dramatic components, and very often I found myself either drawn in or repulsed. And I loved the strength of the women in these books--unusual for this time period, or so I thought!
I was quite impressed with the realistic elements and description the author included in the book. I never felt that the book was too violent or gory, but there were moments that I was glad I was not watching a video. I found myself talking with others about the horrible punishments and deaths recorded in the book, and I marveled at the fact that much of the historical information was unfamiliar to me. Why had I never heard of the Jews being slaughtered during the 400's in Alexandria? That is the key right there--I know very little (if anything) of Eastern history. I only know marginally more when it comes to Western history. It amazes me how many things we do not teach students!
I found the author's description of the Christian religion quite intriguing and entirely accurate--unfortunately. And we wonder why the world hates and distrusts Christians! I always hate to see what people who have claimed my faith have done in the name of Christ! And the author's story of how the worship of Mary came about was fascinating--trust or not, it was plausible.
As much as I liked a lot of this book, I am afraid I do have a few criticisms. I will not be criticizing bedroom scenes--they were not detailed nor offensive. The language in the book was acceptable, but I would have preferred not reading slang terms for bodily functions--I did not feel that was appropriate for a book of this calibre, but that is just my opinion. I also did not like the parts that seemed to imply that the gods and goddesses were real. I don't want to give anything away, but at times I struggled to tell the difference between reality and fable. I am not well-versed in the portion of history, but I sometimes felt this story revered the pagan beliefs over anything else. I also had another pet peeve. Whenever the author got to a transition, the word "so" appeared. I found this annoying after a while. Sometimes I felt there was too much description. But all that is just my opinion. In fact, all of my criticisms are just that--my opinion.
I have given this book a 4-star rating. I loved the first section, did not care for the second section, but basically enjoyed the final section. I am not saying I definitely would not read a sequel--second books are often better than firsts--but it would not be on top of my "to do" list.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated in any way, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
I was quite impressed with the realistic elements and description the author included in the book. I never felt that the book was too violent or gory, but there were moments that I was glad I was not watching a video. I found myself talking with others about the horrible punishments and deaths recorded in the book, and I marveled at the fact that much of the historical information was unfamiliar to me. Why had I never heard of the Jews being slaughtered during the 400's in Alexandria? That is the key right there--I know very little (if anything) of Eastern history. I only know marginally more when it comes to Western history. It amazes me how many things we do not teach students!
I found the author's description of the Christian religion quite intriguing and entirely accurate--unfortunately. And we wonder why the world hates and distrusts Christians! I always hate to see what people who have claimed my faith have done in the name of Christ! And the author's story of how the worship of Mary came about was fascinating--trust or not, it was plausible.
As much as I liked a lot of this book, I am afraid I do have a few criticisms. I will not be criticizing bedroom scenes--they were not detailed nor offensive. The language in the book was acceptable, but I would have preferred not reading slang terms for bodily functions--I did not feel that was appropriate for a book of this calibre, but that is just my opinion. I also did not like the parts that seemed to imply that the gods and goddesses were real. I don't want to give anything away, but at times I struggled to tell the difference between reality and fable. I am not well-versed in the portion of history, but I sometimes felt this story revered the pagan beliefs over anything else. I also had another pet peeve. Whenever the author got to a transition, the word "so" appeared. I found this annoying after a while. Sometimes I felt there was too much description. But all that is just my opinion. In fact, all of my criticisms are just that--my opinion.
I have given this book a 4-star rating. I loved the first section, did not care for the second section, but basically enjoyed the final section. I am not saying I definitely would not read a sequel--second books are often better than firsts--but it would not be on top of my "to do" list.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated in any way, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
November 12, 2016
I was on the fence about accepting WRITTEN IN THE ASHES until I read Michelle Moran’s blurb for it. Sold! I’ve loved everything I’ve read of Moran’s so if she’s saying this is a good one, I need no further enticement. I guess blurbs do work! Usually I don’t care who says what about what, but in this case one of my favorite authors helped me decide.
Overall it’s a beautiful story. The ancient world VanZandt pulled directly from the past is its own character; exactly how I like it. It’s alive in all her rich descriptions. I felt like I was there just watching everything happen around me. When the library started to burn, I’ll admit it. I got teary-eyed. I couldn’t help myself. We have such a disconnect from the ancient worlds today because of this event and it just killed me. Forever resentful of Christianity for what they did.
Hannah was a compelling character and I really enjoyed tagging along in her story, even through the more brutal moments she was exposed to. WRITTEN IN THE ASHES is definitely a more character-driven story than anything else. The plot is very slow-moving but most of the time I couldn’t tell. I was so engrossed in the description that it didn’t matter to me. I just wanted to stay in this world of ancient Egypt.
As much as I loved the descriptions they were a little long-winded at times. Every once in a while I’d come across some overlong sentences that comprised an entire paragraph themselves. It did push me out of the story a little bit but not much. Just enough to think ‘that was a really long sentence’ and then move on.
I also didn’t understand the italicized angel moments throughout the story. By the end of it I thought that was kind of a straggling piece of the plot. Correct me if I’m wrong, anyone who has read this, but it didn’t lead to anything. I kept waiting for that shoe to drop and it never did. Unless it’s a really deep metaphorical moment I’m missing, I got nothing there.
Overall, if you like Michelle Moran you’ll like VanZandt’s WRITTEN IN THE ASHES. An astute attention to detail coupled with an enduring love for the past that shines through in the writing, you’ll be absorbed into the world alone from the second you open the book. I think where they diverge is where Moran is more concise in her storytelling, VanZandt seems to meander a bit. While I didn’t mind, again, because I loved her painting of the world, WRITTEN IN THE ASHES is an unnecessarily long book for all that doesn’t happen with the plot. Not uncommon with character-centric books, but something readers should be aware of. Settle in for this one. You’re in it for the long haul. I’m okay with it.
4
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Overall it’s a beautiful story. The ancient world VanZandt pulled directly from the past is its own character; exactly how I like it. It’s alive in all her rich descriptions. I felt like I was there just watching everything happen around me. When the library started to burn, I’ll admit it. I got teary-eyed. I couldn’t help myself. We have such a disconnect from the ancient worlds today because of this event and it just killed me. Forever resentful of Christianity for what they did.
Hannah was a compelling character and I really enjoyed tagging along in her story, even through the more brutal moments she was exposed to. WRITTEN IN THE ASHES is definitely a more character-driven story than anything else. The plot is very slow-moving but most of the time I couldn’t tell. I was so engrossed in the description that it didn’t matter to me. I just wanted to stay in this world of ancient Egypt.
As much as I loved the descriptions they were a little long-winded at times. Every once in a while I’d come across some overlong sentences that comprised an entire paragraph themselves. It did push me out of the story a little bit but not much. Just enough to think ‘that was a really long sentence’ and then move on.
I also didn’t understand the italicized angel moments throughout the story. By the end of it I thought that was kind of a straggling piece of the plot. Correct me if I’m wrong, anyone who has read this, but it didn’t lead to anything. I kept waiting for that shoe to drop and it never did. Unless it’s a really deep metaphorical moment I’m missing, I got nothing there.
Overall, if you like Michelle Moran you’ll like VanZandt’s WRITTEN IN THE ASHES. An astute attention to detail coupled with an enduring love for the past that shines through in the writing, you’ll be absorbed into the world alone from the second you open the book. I think where they diverge is where Moran is more concise in her storytelling, VanZandt seems to meander a bit. While I didn’t mind, again, because I loved her painting of the world, WRITTEN IN THE ASHES is an unnecessarily long book for all that doesn’t happen with the plot. Not uncommon with character-centric books, but something readers should be aware of. Settle in for this one. You’re in it for the long haul. I’m okay with it.
4
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 7, 2012
Alexandria, Egypt is a city of unrest and divided loyalties after the fall of the Roman empire. The rise of Christianity has made pagan rituals punishable by death and many Alexandrian citizens are caught between the rising tide of violence. Hannah is a Jewish shepherd girl when she is abducted and sold as a slave in this city filled with tension. She is bought by Alizar, a chemist and vintner, and she quickly rises to fame as her beautiful singing voice becomes very sought after and she becomes a bard in Alexandria's Great Library. While this sounds like a blessing, Hannah becomes the target of the city's bishop, Cyril, who is set on bringing down anything and everything that even breathes of what he believes to be paganism or heresy. Meanwhile, Alizar is working with the the headmistress of the Great Library, Hypatia, to safeguard the information stored in the library by copying the rare manuscripts and hiding them from the reach of Cyril and his followers. The religious tension of the city rises and Hannah leads the charge to save the pagan artifacts, rituals, and followers that are quickly being wiped out.
The first thing I noticed about this novel was how beautiful the writing is. Van Zandt is extremely talented at making what could be an ordinary description of a day turn into poetry. I was immediately drawn into the book and could not put it down because of how well written it was. After I fell in love with the writing, I fell in love with the characters. After being introduced to Hypatia in Selene of Alexandria, I was excited to see her in Written in the Ashes. She is a fascinating character who steals any scene she is in and, as with all of the characters in Van Zandt's novel, she was incredibly intriguing and realistic. Hannah and Alizar are equally wonderful while Cyril is the character you love to hate and who serves as the prime example of what happens when the love and want of power overrule reason and sense of humanity. The scene is set beautifully and I couldn't help but feel as though I were taken back in time and walking the streets of Alexandria and looking on the wonders held in the Great Library. Overall, this was a fascinating novel and I cannot wait to read the next book in the series.
*Please note, I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The first thing I noticed about this novel was how beautiful the writing is. Van Zandt is extremely talented at making what could be an ordinary description of a day turn into poetry. I was immediately drawn into the book and could not put it down because of how well written it was. After I fell in love with the writing, I fell in love with the characters. After being introduced to Hypatia in Selene of Alexandria, I was excited to see her in Written in the Ashes. She is a fascinating character who steals any scene she is in and, as with all of the characters in Van Zandt's novel, she was incredibly intriguing and realistic. Hannah and Alizar are equally wonderful while Cyril is the character you love to hate and who serves as the prime example of what happens when the love and want of power overrule reason and sense of humanity. The scene is set beautifully and I couldn't help but feel as though I were taken back in time and walking the streets of Alexandria and looking on the wonders held in the Great Library. Overall, this was a fascinating novel and I cannot wait to read the next book in the series.
*Please note, I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.
October 19, 2016
This book took me a while to read. Not because it was boring so much as it meandered around the plot too often. I was never quite sure where the book was going. So at times, this was a little frustrating.
What I very much enjoyed about the book was the settings. The author explores places of antiquity well. I loved the Great Library most. But all the places we ventured to were well-described and somewhat magical for the readers. I delighted in the rich historical settings.
In terms of main characters, I think the plot would have been more focused if Hypatia had been our main voice. Hannah's plight is well narrated. She's a likable character, but the love triangle was a bit distracting from the main adventure. There was more sex than I expected, which was most often not necessary (one of the meandering areas of the book).
Of note, the main character compares something she sees to looking like "penguins on an ice shelf." How would a girl raised in the desert and living in Egypt know about penguins or ice shelves? Yes, there's the great library, but its improbable that she would reference this ever in this time period and place. Plus, how would she even know what an ice shelf is if she's never seen or experienced ice?
The author does a great job at presenting very good diverse points of view. The Christian church at this time was so destructive and narrow-minded. However, the author presented characters that really relayed the true message of Jesus about acceptance and forgiveness to help counterbalance the extreme religious actions. I appreciated her multi-dimensional analysis of the difficult times.
In the end, as a reader, you know what's going to eventually happen in terms of the fate of the Library of Alexandria. As the story came to a close, I felt as if this book was a set up for another more significant work. There were hints about "doors opening" and "a warrior coming." However, these hints did not come to full realization in this book. So I was left a bit off-kilter on how I felt by the last chapter. Nothing is really resolved, despite the 448-page story. So I'm wondering where the author is going next. I would read another book if there is a series on the horizon but hope the plot is a little tighter.
What I very much enjoyed about the book was the settings. The author explores places of antiquity well. I loved the Great Library most. But all the places we ventured to were well-described and somewhat magical for the readers. I delighted in the rich historical settings.
In terms of main characters, I think the plot would have been more focused if Hypatia had been our main voice. Hannah's plight is well narrated. She's a likable character, but the love triangle was a bit distracting from the main adventure. There was more sex than I expected, which was most often not necessary (one of the meandering areas of the book).
Of note, the main character compares something she sees to looking like "penguins on an ice shelf." How would a girl raised in the desert and living in Egypt know about penguins or ice shelves? Yes, there's the great library, but its improbable that she would reference this ever in this time period and place. Plus, how would she even know what an ice shelf is if she's never seen or experienced ice?
The author does a great job at presenting very good diverse points of view. The Christian church at this time was so destructive and narrow-minded. However, the author presented characters that really relayed the true message of Jesus about acceptance and forgiveness to help counterbalance the extreme religious actions. I appreciated her multi-dimensional analysis of the difficult times.
In the end, as a reader, you know what's going to eventually happen in terms of the fate of the Library of Alexandria. As the story came to a close, I felt as if this book was a set up for another more significant work. There were hints about "doors opening" and "a warrior coming." However, these hints did not come to full realization in this book. So I was left a bit off-kilter on how I felt by the last chapter. Nothing is really resolved, despite the 448-page story. So I'm wondering where the author is going next. I would read another book if there is a series on the horizon but hope the plot is a little tighter.
June 11, 2012
Review originally published at my blog: AWordsWorth.blogspot.com
eBook provided by author for review.
Hannah is a Jewish shepherdess, roaming the wilds of Sinai with her father, until her world is shattered by slave traders one night. Sold to a prestigious - and merciful - family in Alexandria, Hannah struggles to regain interest and enthusiasm for life, bearing scars on her body and her heart. As time begins to heal her wounds, Hannah finds her new life to be one of surprises. From private tutoring in the Library of Alexandria, to finding a strangely patched-together new 'family' in her master's house, Hannah slowly settles into her life. But these are uneasy times, and nothing is permanent. Nothing is safe - not even life. Relations between the Bishop in Alexandria, Cyril, and the "traditional" population are tense and volatile. The Library itself is threatened, and anyone deemed in cahoots with "the pagan enemy" is placed on a watch list, or "questioned" as a preemptive measure. This is Hannah's new reality, and she finds herself playing a surprising role in the bloody 'negotiations.'
The story is engrossing. It's rough and brutal - very blunt, a little gory. It's not a light read, and if you're particularly sensitive some scenes could be disturbingly harsh. I loved the characters - Hannah stole my heart from the very beginning, still out on the plains of Sinai, and as I met new characters, I forged new alliances, even as she did. It's a detailed story, rich in ideas and images. The Library at Alexandria has long captured my imagination, as a librarian and as a story-loving history geek, and to read about its struggle for survival, to get a glimpse into how things could have been - it's beautiful, even as it's heart-wrenching. I feel as though I've learned much about Alexandria, the crossroads of culture and religion, the struggle to orient in a changing world. Written in the Ashes is a sweeping story to enjoy, but also one to think about. To pause and consider, to look at this particular presentation of the "ancient world" - and see how it reflects humanity.
eBook provided by author for review.
Hannah is a Jewish shepherdess, roaming the wilds of Sinai with her father, until her world is shattered by slave traders one night. Sold to a prestigious - and merciful - family in Alexandria, Hannah struggles to regain interest and enthusiasm for life, bearing scars on her body and her heart. As time begins to heal her wounds, Hannah finds her new life to be one of surprises. From private tutoring in the Library of Alexandria, to finding a strangely patched-together new 'family' in her master's house, Hannah slowly settles into her life. But these are uneasy times, and nothing is permanent. Nothing is safe - not even life. Relations between the Bishop in Alexandria, Cyril, and the "traditional" population are tense and volatile. The Library itself is threatened, and anyone deemed in cahoots with "the pagan enemy" is placed on a watch list, or "questioned" as a preemptive measure. This is Hannah's new reality, and she finds herself playing a surprising role in the bloody 'negotiations.'
The story is engrossing. It's rough and brutal - very blunt, a little gory. It's not a light read, and if you're particularly sensitive some scenes could be disturbingly harsh. I loved the characters - Hannah stole my heart from the very beginning, still out on the plains of Sinai, and as I met new characters, I forged new alliances, even as she did. It's a detailed story, rich in ideas and images. The Library at Alexandria has long captured my imagination, as a librarian and as a story-loving history geek, and to read about its struggle for survival, to get a glimpse into how things could have been - it's beautiful, even as it's heart-wrenching. I feel as though I've learned much about Alexandria, the crossroads of culture and religion, the struggle to orient in a changing world. Written in the Ashes is a sweeping story to enjoy, but also one to think about. To pause and consider, to look at this particular presentation of the "ancient world" - and see how it reflects humanity.
September 22, 2012
To all the pagans out there, here is a book for you! Written in the Ashes does not over play the pagan side of the story or down play it.
To the history buffs, this is a book for you! The author spent ten years or more digging around doing the research for this book and it shows!
To all of the Rome fans out there, this is a book for you! Only better, in my humble opinion, for the shear fact that nothing was over the top drama but rather just right. Things unfold in the story line much the way life moves.
Be careful though, this is an addictive read, I think I have read Written in the ashes about five or six times now! If you are an avid reader, you might find yourself craveing to revisit! There is also a secret chapter, which as a Pagan myself, I LOVED!!!
This writer is able to do one thing in paticular that is very rare. She is able to tell a story and basically invite the reader in, if you will, to see for yourself what is happening. In other words, I could see in my minds eye, the scenes discribed, the players on the stage and I could almost hear their voices. I mean this in the respect that the characters were well developed and each their own person! In the day of bad writting- Thank the Gods for books like this!!!
This is an epic book, that I hope will become an epic series!! Nod, nod, wink, wink! ;)
I am going out and telling everyone I know about this book!
To the history buffs, this is a book for you! The author spent ten years or more digging around doing the research for this book and it shows!
To all of the Rome fans out there, this is a book for you! Only better, in my humble opinion, for the shear fact that nothing was over the top drama but rather just right. Things unfold in the story line much the way life moves.
Be careful though, this is an addictive read, I think I have read Written in the ashes about five or six times now! If you are an avid reader, you might find yourself craveing to revisit! There is also a secret chapter, which as a Pagan myself, I LOVED!!!
This writer is able to do one thing in paticular that is very rare. She is able to tell a story and basically invite the reader in, if you will, to see for yourself what is happening. In other words, I could see in my minds eye, the scenes discribed, the players on the stage and I could almost hear their voices. I mean this in the respect that the characters were well developed and each their own person! In the day of bad writting- Thank the Gods for books like this!!!
This is an epic book, that I hope will become an epic series!! Nod, nod, wink, wink! ;)
I am going out and telling everyone I know about this book!
September 16, 2012
Written in the Ashes by K. Hollan VanZandt is a historical fiction account inspired by true events. The story follows Hannah, a girl kidnapped and sold into slavery. Her journey takes her into the city of Alexandria where she meets some extraordinary people. Hannah has a beautiful voice and a thirst for knowledge. She meets Hypatia who is the keeper of the great library in Alexandria. Hypatia offers her a place at the library, but Hannah's life leads her into another direction first. This book has a mixture of history and mythology. It is set during a tumultuous period for religion. Where anything/anyone non-christian is given the death penalty. Danger lurks at every turn, and Hannah must find a way to survive.
I enjoyed reading Written in the Ashes. I loved that the author used real historical events and people to build the story around. Hannah is a good, strong character. Her journey sucked me in from the beginning. Her life is not an easy one. She's the victim of violence and threatened because of her beliefs. Hannah is a survivor.
The story line is intense at times and full of action at others. I liked all the characters, good and bad. The author does a fantastic job of bringing history to life. Written in the Ashes is a beautifully written story that you don't want to end.
I enjoyed reading Written in the Ashes. I loved that the author used real historical events and people to build the story around. Hannah is a good, strong character. Her journey sucked me in from the beginning. Her life is not an easy one. She's the victim of violence and threatened because of her beliefs. Hannah is a survivor.
The story line is intense at times and full of action at others. I liked all the characters, good and bad. The author does a fantastic job of bringing history to life. Written in the Ashes is a beautifully written story that you don't want to end.
September 27, 2012
Summary: Hannah, a Jewish slave with a beautiful voice, finds herself in Alexandria at a tumultuous time. As Rome falls, religious and political turmoil threaten Egypt and the supporters of the Great Library, including Hypatia, the great female philosopher and mathematician.
Thoughts: To a librarian, the Great Library of Alexandria is what Verrocchio’s Florence workshop is to a painter or Shakespeare’s Globe Theater is to an actor — a time and place when the profession reached a height that, as an imagined ideal, it will never reach again. That ideal is romantic and unreal, but it serves a purpose in elevating the purpose of day-to-day operations.
What a treat, then, to spend time in this fictional recreation of the Great Library with Hypatia, who I think of as something of a patron saint for librarians, and the fictional singer Hannah. Alexandria, Egypt comes alive at the time when Rome is collapsing and the Western world is about to enter an age that is darker because of the loss of the Great Library.
Check out my blog tomorrow, September 28, 2012 for an interview with the author and a chance to win an electronic copy of Written in the Ashes: Joy's Book Blog
Thoughts: To a librarian, the Great Library of Alexandria is what Verrocchio’s Florence workshop is to a painter or Shakespeare’s Globe Theater is to an actor — a time and place when the profession reached a height that, as an imagined ideal, it will never reach again. That ideal is romantic and unreal, but it serves a purpose in elevating the purpose of day-to-day operations.
What a treat, then, to spend time in this fictional recreation of the Great Library with Hypatia, who I think of as something of a patron saint for librarians, and the fictional singer Hannah. Alexandria, Egypt comes alive at the time when Rome is collapsing and the Western world is about to enter an age that is darker because of the loss of the Great Library.
Check out my blog tomorrow, September 28, 2012 for an interview with the author and a chance to win an electronic copy of Written in the Ashes: Joy's Book Blog
May 28, 2012
A beautiful historical fiction, this book will stay with you long after it’s over.
This is really historical fiction at its best. The writing is lush with details, leading the reader into a time that is not as well known, perhaps, as the usual Victorian or even Renaissance periods. There is an epic feel to the story which bodes well for having a sequel, or even a few books to follow it. There is enough action to keep most readers interested, even amidst the beautiful and rich descriptions, so don’t think that it will be all period detail and no plot line.
The writing is well balanced, although there are a few grammatical concerns. I think with a tiny bit more editing all of that could be resolved. There is a wonderful sense of magic along with history that will fascinate most readers into wanting to read more about this time period. The goddesses that the author creates are alone worth the book.
I highly recommend this. It is a quick read which is a strange thing to say about a novel that takes place in the fifth century, but since its pacing is so well done, there is not a single moment of dullness. Definitely an interesting read.
This is really historical fiction at its best. The writing is lush with details, leading the reader into a time that is not as well known, perhaps, as the usual Victorian or even Renaissance periods. There is an epic feel to the story which bodes well for having a sequel, or even a few books to follow it. There is enough action to keep most readers interested, even amidst the beautiful and rich descriptions, so don’t think that it will be all period detail and no plot line.
The writing is well balanced, although there are a few grammatical concerns. I think with a tiny bit more editing all of that could be resolved. There is a wonderful sense of magic along with history that will fascinate most readers into wanting to read more about this time period. The goddesses that the author creates are alone worth the book.
I highly recommend this. It is a quick read which is a strange thing to say about a novel that takes place in the fifth century, but since its pacing is so well done, there is not a single moment of dullness. Definitely an interesting read.
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September 29, 2012I really wish I didn't have to say bad things about this story. I can see the writer has labored long and hard to say it all just so. And there are crisp metaphors (silver leaves like minnows, the shifting city life like a pendulum swing) and dramatic scenes but GAH, the info-dump. Pages and pages of the Alexandrine Library, of the Christian conflict, of scientific discoveries. You remember when you had to read something at school and you'd ask, "Why do I need to know this? How will this ever help me in life?" At this point in my life, I read to feel, and occasionally a story will make me feel so much I'll come away a different (and hopefully better) person. I don't need another fact in my life. And sadly, that's all this story seemed destined to give me.
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