The Conqueror's Wife: A Novel of Alexander the Great

by Stephanie Marie Thornton

We are the women who loved Alexander the Great. We were lovers and murderers, innocents and soldiers.
And without us, Alexander would have been only a man.
Instead he was a god.

330s, B.C.E., Greece: Alexander, a handsome young warrior of Macedon, begins his quest to conquer the ancient world. But he cannot ascend to power, and keep it, without the women who help to shape his destiny.

His spirited younger half-sister, Thessalonike, yearns to join her brother and see the world. Instead, it is Alexander's boyhood companion who rides with him into war while Thessalonike remains behind. Far away, crafty princess Drypetis will not stand idly by as Alexander topples her father from Persia's throne. And after Alexander conquers her tiny kingdom, Roxana, the beautiful and cunning daughter of a minor noble, wins Alexander’s heart…and will commit any crime to secure her place at his side.

Within a few short years, Alexander controls an empire more vast than the civilized world has ever known. But his victories are tarnished by losses on the battlefield and treachery among his inner circle. And long after Alexander is gone, the women who are his champions, wives, and enemies will fight to claim his legacy…

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Greece, Ancient, Romance, Adult Fiction

496 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 2015

About the author

Stephanie Marie Thornton is a writer, librarian, and history teacher who has been obsessed with women from history since she was twelve. She is the USA Today bestselling author of Her Lost Words, And They Called It Camelot, and American Princess. She lives with her husband and daughter in Alaska where she enjoys running, baking, and beekeeping.

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engrossing historical fiction that raises the voices of women from their historical footnotes into the limeligh. In historical fiction, Stephanie Thornton is gifted with the Midas touch because all her books are pure gold. The Conqueror's Wife earns a coveted 5 star rating for its ability to keep me glued to my chair for the last three hours. Unsurprisingly, this happens every single time I have read a Thornton novel(The Secret History, Daughter of the Gods, The Tiger Queens) and all I can say is "People, you have reading to do!"

Honestly, Alexander the Great has never really held any appeal for me( and that Colin Farell movie didn't help) but this book was like Gladiator +Spartacus( the television show not the Kirk Douglas movie) + Game of Thrones. At times, it's an absolute bloodbath and the men and women are ruthless. I wish I could be one of those people who is already hyped up about all those upcoming Hallmark Hall of Fame Christmas movies but I really enjoyed all the treachery, poisonings, and the vengeful nature of many of the characters. Never fear, I am due for a good Nora Robert's sugary cleanse that will drive it all out of my system.

Now Thessalonike, Roxanna, and Drypetis were all fantastically written characters and drove this novel from beginning to end, but Hephaestion will always have a place in my heart. I loved ST's take on Alexander 's right hand man and I definitely believe other readers will too.

So if you like historical fiction, look no further than a Stephanie Thornton novel!

[Lori Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant! This novel was both educational and highly entertaining. Stephanie Thorton creates truely masterfully constructed novels. Her characters come to life through her writing. I love that she writes about lesser known historical figures and gives the them the attention they deserve. If you are a fan of this genre and have not read her novels, I encourage you to pick one up, I promise you'll not be disappointed.

[Jenny Q · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars. So I think everybody knows by now that I adore Stephanie Thornton's novels. And I got to meet her and tell her so in person at the Historical Novel Society conference back in June! Her previous three books have been fantastic, especially The Tiger Queens. But I must admit, when I saw the subject of her next book, I thought, "Oh, man, why Alexander? He's such a cheap guy!" (To quote one of my favorite movies :) He's definitely not one of my favorite historical figures, and honestly that terrible movie with Colin Farrell probably helped cement that opinion. But Alexander is really just a supporting player in this novel as we see him through the eyes of those around him: his sister, his best friend, his captive, and his future wife.

Stephanie Thornton is a master of creating dimensional characters that dig their way into the reader's heart, and she's at the top of her game in that respect with this book. I'm not going to go too much into plot so as not to spoil any surprises. Readers may have an overall familiarization with the highs and lows of Alexander's life, but this is really the story of those who surrounded him, and their stories are relatively unknown. I relished learning about them and the triumphs and hardships in their lives. Hephaestion, my favorite, gives the reader the most intimate glimpse of Alexander and also the most unfavorable since he witnesses aspects of Alexander's personality that many others don't. That he is able to root out the underlying causes of such behavior, see past it, and continue loving his best friend anyway is to his credit, as are the instances in which he tries to stop Alexander from going too far. He suffers no illusions about the man who thinks he's a god, yet he suffers from some of Alexander's actions all the same, although occasionally he benefits, which brings me to my next favorite character, Drypetis.

Drypetis is the younger daughter of King Darius, captured by Alexander along with her sister, mother, and grandmother. She represents the viewpoint of the people Alexander conquered. Though she hates Alexander with a passion, after long years in pampered captivity, she comes to grudgingly admit that he is at times brilliant, particularly when it comes to technology and architecture, two of her favorite subjects. She is definitely not your ordinary princess, much more of a sharp-tongued tomboy than a simpering miss, and I adored her. She bears much in common with Alexander's younger sister, Thessalonike, who is left behind with Alexander's infamous mother, Olympias, and witnesses firsthand the behind-the-scenes machinations of a ruling family ruthlessly protecting their position of power. She also spends much time in the company of her warrior sister, Cynnane, and her dreaded tutor, Cassander, who will play a larger role when Nike is finally allowed to join Alexander on campaign and who will play a larger role in history.

And finally we have Roxana, Alexander's first wife and the true villain of the story. Though when she is first presented, she is a very sympathetic character. An abused daughter of a grasping nobleman, she uses her only weapon, her beauty, to scratch out a better existence. The reader can totally understand where she's coming from and root for her to succeed until her ambition grows out of control and causes her to do some truly heinous things. I can honestly say I hated her guts by the end of this book.

And what an ending this book has! In the author's note, we learn that all of the insane things that happen in the final pages of this book in rapid succession actually occurred over a thirteen-year period. I'm okay with that. While it means that, in reality, the events were probably not as dramatic since they didn't occur right on each other's heels, in the book, it makes for one heck of a mind-spinning, emotional conclusion. I so want to give this book a full five stars because of all the feels. I cried at the end.

In Stephanie Thornton's previous books, I have found no flaws in her writing, but in this book, one of my biggest reading pet peeves is prevalent. I am not a fan of "forecasting," which is basically telling the reader to get ready for bad news ahead, and it's used rather liberally in this book. I don't like to be warned. I want to be smacked in the face with plot twists so the full emotional impact hits me. And I am concerned that the author made me admire a historical figure's character (Cassander, whose worth the reader sees long before Nike figures it out) when in reality it appears that he was not such a nice guy. One thing she doesn't mention in her note that I was looking for was some background info on Alexander's sexuality and how she decided to portray it, as it remains a source of controversy. I always like to get a glimpse into a writer's head to hear how they decided to tackle controversial or conflicting historical records.

But in spite of these little things, this is still a damned fine book. Rich in history, ambiance, drama, and emotion and filled with unforgettable characters, The Conqueror's Wife is a must-read for fans of ancient history and gripping, transporting historical fiction.

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

There will be historical spoilers in here. Things that everyone who knows a bit about Alexander will already know.

As someone who loves to read fictional books about Alexander the Great, but is very picky about them, I can say that there were a lot of things that I really liked about this book, but also quite a few that made me gnash my teeth in frustration.

Starting with the cover, that is really so misleading, that I wonder for what purpose everything about it was chosen. The title alone makes no sense. This book is not about Alexander's wife. At least not solely. Roxana doesn't even show up till almost halfway through the book or so (and technically she wasn't even his only wife).
This story has four narrators: Thessalonike (his sister, definitely not his wife), Drypetis (the sister of his second wife), Hephaestion (his childhood best friend and lover) and Roxana (ding ding ding finally a wife). They're all of equal importance.
Then we come to the text on the back that claims that this book is basically about the most important women in Alexander's life... which is also not true? I can be convinced to count Thessalonike - who wasn't around him for over a decade after he left Macedon - and Roxana.
Hephaestion obviously isn't a woman and Alexander never cared about Drypetis at all. He barely cared about her sister. Her grandmother on the other hand would count.
Plus, the arguably most important woman in his life doesn't get a POV: His mother Olympias.
Next the cover text claims that Alexander was a God thanks to those women. Otherwise he would only have been a man.
Let's ignore that the underlying message in the book itself was that he really only was just a man and concentrate on the rest of that claim, because no? Let's remember again, that Olympias aka the only woman who has any right to that claim is only a secondary character and that the narrators are three girls who had nothing whatsoever to do with the military happenings and a man who did, but is apparently not included in the "Alexander would have been nothing without these women"-narrative.
Last but not least: The cover really is beautiful to look at, but makes this look like a romance novel I can buy at a train station.

So basically, you should just REALLY ignore the cover and everything on it, if you're hesitant about getting this book. The cover is a lie.

Now let's first talk about the things this book did right:

Hephaestion.
He was everything I ever wanted him to be. He was competent, he was strong, he stood up to Alexander, he was kind, he was witty and people took him seriously, despite being sure he was the bottom in that particular relationship (several characters remark on that over and over again). Cause yes, him and Alexander are explicitely stated to be lovers and we actually get to SEE it for a change. There are embraces, there are kisses and there is sex (not graphic at all, but there). It made me so happy.
I did find it amusing that people kept falling in love with him, cause usually everyone only looks at Alexander. It was a fun change.

I appreciated that the author tried to give several female characters their own part in this male dominated story. I liked that Cynanne was more than a footnote and that the beautiful Stateira was also a kind person and not an arrogant airhead.

I thought the writing style was really nice and easy to read. The author didn't include all the historical events we "know" about and only concentrated on the ones important to her story. I thought that was fine, even if I did miss a few, cause I expected them to be there out of habit.

Now on to the things that raised my hackles and made me give this book a star less than I planned to:

I honestly don't mind tweaking history a bit to make it fit your story better - especially when we know so little of it, since all the original sources are gone.
But it's really annoying when it's done in a really clunky way to make certain characters look bad. In this case mainly Olympias and Alexander himself.
I get wanting to show a flawed Alexander. Someone more realistic than the God like image Mary Renault created decades ago. A human.
But here's the thing: You still need to have someone where the reader believes that people can still love him besides his flaws. Especially when you have someone who is clearly a good person like Hephaestion around, who is supposed to love Alexander above all others.
You can't have Alexander burn someone for funsies and then go back to business as usual.

Alexander has done plenty of cruel things, one doesn't need to make stuff up.
Let me give you an example from early in the book (technically spoilery for this particular scene):

Phillip just got murdered. The scene pretty much played out as it usually does. Except it's Thessalonike's POV. I honestly didn't mind that her and Cynanne were there. I don't even mind that the murderer didn't "stumble" exactly.
In every other book he'd now have been beaten to death by the soldiers that followed him. Not in this book. They stop, because Alexander's sister tells them to for some reason. The murderer awaits a much much crueler fate in this book.

And only a few pages later, Olympias gives another character also a crueler fate than we've ever known of.

Guess those are what we call establishing character moments and I didn't like them at all.
Otherwise, I didn't really mind characters traipsing around locations they definitely weren't supposed to be or two female characters having interests their real life counterparts probably didn't have (mainly fighting and engineering).

Which brings me to another thing that truly bothered me: This book sort of markets itself as a book about women. It gives Thessalonike and Drypetis more personality than pretty much any other book I've read. It's also kind to Stateira and Cynanne and several other women in much smaller roles.
BUT Olympias and Roxana are pretty much the same evil harpies they always are in these stories. Olympias pretty much starts out that way, but I had a bit of hope for Roxana when she first showed up. See, in this story she has a twin brother and an awful father, which I thought was to humanize her and it worked for about maybe two chapters. After them, she's pretty much the greedy, green eyed monster we've seen quite a few times.
And yet, I still was annoyed when Dyreptis and Thessalonike were so obviously looking down on her and called her a whore over and over, when what happened to Roxana through most of her life was truly horrific. (Trigger warning for rape in her chapters!)
Not one spark of female solidarity there, just unison in hating on her and her low birth from the moment they met her aka when they didn't know her true character yet.

Things I was lukewarm about:

The romance between Drypetis and Hephaestion was probably supposed to be slap-slap-kiss, but I thought it didn't work. It was pretty much like a highschool romance how they kept insulting each other, while other characters hinted at ~sexual tension or whatever. My eyes glazed over when I read their scenes and it got worse after they got married, cause suddenly it was the epic-est true love to ever exist and he abruptly went from her evil capturer to the bestest husband she could have hoped for. The apple in her eye. Or something.
Meanwhile, Alexander and Hephaestion worked just fine, except for one weird fight. Despite not being a monogamous couple, they clearly loved each other deeply and the lack of romance tropes probably helped a lot. I actually have to thank this book for some of my (now) favorite Alexander/Hephaestion scenes in all of historical fiction!

Cassander was another odd case of changing the things we "know". In this book he was basically the best man around after Hephaestion. One argument by the author was, that since we don't have the original sources and the secondary ones clearly adored Alexander too much, it's super possible that Cassander just got the villain edit from them. So basically Olympias and Roxana remained the villains we know, but Cassander got to be a hero. Interesting.
I actually did like him quite a bit (which was a truly weird feeling) and mostly didn't mind his romance. It was another slap-slap-kiss one, but it worked a bit better. Probably because it didn't get as much page time as the other and one of them didn't hate the other for their ruined life before madly falling in love with them.

So basically this book was a mixed bag of lot of things I loved and lots of things I either didn't care for or outright hated.
It was still an entertaining read and I can see myself picking it up again and re-reading my favorite scenes a lot.
I could also see myself getting another book by this author, if she chooses to write about another historical favorite of mine.

I'm choosing to ignore the "Questions for discussion" pages at the very end of the book, because just no.

[Meg - A Bookish Affair · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Conqueror's Wife" is the latest offering from Stephanie Thornton. I have loved her other books so I knew that I had to read this one. In this book, she takes on the people that surrounded Alexander the Great. We meet his family, friends, and lovers. He is definitely larger than life but seeing him through the eyes of those closest to him truly gave me a new perspective on his life and legacy. Filled with vivid characters and lush description, this book is a true treat for historical fiction lovers.

Stephanie Thornton is firmly on my must-buy list by now. I love her books. She focuses on ancient history and has a great way of breathing life into historical figures that makes them feel like people that you could really know in real life. I loved that Thornton chose to tell Alexander's story through those closest to him. No one would have probably known him better than those people. Thornton creates an authentic feeling and original voice for each character.

The historical detail in this book is so good. Thornton is great at world building and does a great job of showing readers what Alexander's world would have been like. It was so vivid to me! I also really liked all of the small little details that Thornton included to even further create Alexander's world. They are subtle but really add a lot to the story. This book was fantastic and I am already eagerly awaiting the next book!

[The Lit Bitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was among my most anticipated novels of 2015. I adore Thornton’s novels because they are so unique.

One of the things I love best about Thornton is she writes about both famous and obscure women in antiquity….women that you may or may not have heard of but who have powerful stories.

I love that she has discovered an untapped market in historical fiction. There are shelves of books on the Tudors but not many on Alexander the Great’s Wife, Empress Theodora, or the Queens of Genghis Kahn!

So needless to say, having read so many of Thornton’s books, then I saw this one I was eager to start it!

There was much to love in this book. Hephaestion’s POV was the most memorable for me. Thornton usually focuses on the women but in this case she added a male perspective with Hephaestion which for me just added so much more depth to the story.

I loved reading about his feelings toward Alexander, I haven’t read any books with male homosexuality referenced and this book did not shy away from the reality of the ancient world. The ancient Greeks and Romans were often gay or engaged in homosexual relationships which is often ignored in literature and I love that Thornton was bold enough to write it in to her story…..to me it made the story so much more real and historically accurate.

Of the women characters the one I liked the most was Drypetis. For some reason I just connected with her more than the other women. While this book had a lot of strongly written characters and unique POV characters, it didn’t clip along as nicely for me as some of the other books she’s written. I think my biggest issue was it took a long time to meet and establish the women’s roles in the book.

At the half way mark I found myself wondering when all these POV characters would start coming together to make Alexander the ‘great’ man that he was….it just seemed like everyone was kind of doing their own thing for a while and I felt a little anxious to get into the story. There was just a lot of back story and plot building happening for my taste. But once I got over the ‘hump’ it was smooth sailing.

One character I wanted as a POV was Olympias. Thornton did such a good just with her character as a whole but I really wanted to gain insight into her inner workings. She was clearly a powerful influence for Alexander so I naturally wanted to know what was going on from her perspective.

There was a lot to enjoy with this book…..strong characters, memorable POVs, a unique perspective, and marvelous writing! Even though this one was slower for me, I positively love Thornsont’s books and writing style, if you want to read some historical fiction that’s consistently well written and isn’t just another romance, pick up any of Thornton’s books! You will not be disappointed!

See my full review here

[Elysium · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn’t an era I know much about and for some reason I’ve never been very interested in Alexander. But I’ve heard so much good about Thornton’s books that I jumped at this. And good thing that I did!

The story is told from four points of views: his sister Thessalonike, his friend and sometime lover Hephaestion and wives Roxana and Drypetis, Everyone is very different so we get 4 interesting perspectives. These were strong women who knew what they wanted and were ready to fight for it, by any means necessary. And then there was Alexander’s mother Olympias who sadly wasn’t POV character. She was ruthless, calculating and ready to do anything to get Alexander into power. It would have been great to know her motives for doing things she did.

We don’t get Alexander in a very good view but we see better side of him through Thessalonike’s eyes. But Roxana I loathed. She was the only character I hated and kept hoping something bad happens to her… My favourite was Hephaestion and I might have had a bit of a crush on him… I don’t care to imagine how much more destruction Alexander might have done without Hephaestion holding him back and trying to be a voice of reason.

This was amazing book and it definitely won’t be the last! I need to move Daughter of the Gods up my TBR list.

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Setting: Greece & Paris 330 B.C.E.

Steam Factor: Mild

Upon Alexander's father's death, his mother will ensure that Alexander fits into his father's place and she will continue to hold the strings of power while he is off conquering the unknown world.
Alexander's sister Nike, dreams of following her brother and becomes jealous of his friend Hephaestion, who shares in all of Alexander's triumph's but he also holds a piece of Nike's heart.
Drypetis the conqueror's captive is cunning, and she will not allow him to control her life at any cost.
When a beautiful woman named Roxana enchants Alexander, he takes her as his wife.
Roxana knows she will need all of her wiles and wits to keep him and survive in his palace.
Once Alexander dies, all hell breaks lose and each woman fights their own battle to control the empire.

Well.. you know the saying, behind every great man there hides a powerful woman.
And The Conqueror's Wife certainly goes there.
I have enjoyed this author's others books, and this one didn't disappoint me as well.
The author did a great job with the historical details of the time period, as well as portraying Alexander the Great through the eyes of his lover, sisters, mother, a captive and his wife.
This may sound like a lot of cat clawing women vying for a greater place, but surprisingly it was really engaging and interesting and by weaving various view points through these women, an intriguing portrayal emerged in the telling.
Stephanie Thornton is becoming a favourite got-to-read author for me.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

”We were murderers and poisoners, innocents and warriors. And without us, Alexander would have been only a man.

Instead, he was a god."

4.5 out of 5 stars

This book was like a bag of potato chips. Once you started, the concept of reading 'just one more chapter' completely blows out the window. Furthermore, this book made me desperately want a TV series showcasing Alexander the Great in all his bisexual glory. Please, History Channel, make it happen.

This isn't my first attempt at reading a book about Alexander the Great this year. I tried to read Legacy of Kings earlier this year, which was about a teenage Alexander the Great told from three POV's (two of which are completely fictional). It completely backfired, mainly because it read more like a Harlequin romance novel. Not to mention the fact that Alexander was barely in the book.

But this attempt succeeded where the other book failed.

Like Herman's novel; this book about Alexander the Great is told from multiple points of view; Thessalonike (his sister), Hephaestion (his friend and lover), Drypetis (Alexander's captive and Hephaestion's eventual wife), and Roxana (the first of Alexander's many wives). While not told from Alexander himself, he still plays a huge role in the story, something I think his narcissistic self would greatly appreciate.

Alexander the Great

”Alexander the Great was not a god. He was only a man who had climbed too high and would soon discover how far he had to fall.”

Ah, Alexander; one of the greatest rulers that ever lived. But surprisingly, this book pays tribute to the more human side of him, and how maybe (just maybe), he wasn't that great after all. There's no denying his intelligence and military brilliance (they wouldn't be teaching his tatics in the present day if they weren't effective), but he all too often succumbed to the demons of drink, women, and reckless behavior. I mean, we're talking about a dude who, after a servant dumbly volunteers to set himself on fire for him, actually sets the poor kid on fire. His mercurial temper and ability to care too deeply for those around him were more his downfall than the fever that actually took him, which is probably why his empire collapsed. Thankfully, he's given plenty of page time to let us know that, and getting to read about this version all-too human version of Alexander was a real treat.

Hephaestion

”Aristotle had once described our friendship as one soul abiding In two bodies, and he was right, for Alexander’s life was as vital to me as my own.”

First of all, I would just like to acknowledge the fact that for the first fucking time, someone has acknowledged the fact that Alex and Hephaestion were bisexual. HALLAFUCKINGLUJAH. It's a historical fact, for one thing. Not to mention that it makes sense when studying Alexander's character. Hephaestion is the yin to Alexander's yang. More imposing in size but not as great as his beloved, I actually found myself rooting more for Hephaestion than Alexander. His acerbic personality and dry wit allowed for moments of humor in the brutal, bloody world that was ancient Greece. And his banter with a certain Persian princess was priceless. Speaking of which...

Drypetis

"'You're nothing more than Alexander's man-whore.'

'Well, you just slept with him, so what does that make you?'"

I'm not gonna lie; when this book first started, Drypetis was my least favorite character. Incapable of saying anything nice to pretty much anyone, she was rash in her thinking and even sharper with her tongue. I wanted nothing more for her to just shut up; both because she was annoying and my internal fear that her big mouth would get her killed. But surprisingly, she grew on me, especially because this book features pretty much the best love/hate relationship I've read about in a while; Drypetis and Hephaestion. Yeah, yeah, I know, he had Alexander, but there's no denying one simple fact; the hate-sex these two have is, in her own words, 'earth-shaking'.

Come for the story, but stay for the hate-sex. You won't regret it.

Roxana

”My beauty was like ambrosia, so sweet a nectar that not even a eunuch could avoid its heady allure.”

One thing I want to laud the author on in this book is her ability to make me shift allegiances with characters. Because in the beginning, I actually liked Roxana. Horribly abused as a child by her father, she's dealt pretty much every bad blow a kid could go through. I wanted nothing more than for her to be happy. But gaining power is a funny thing, because once she had her eye on the prize of becoming Alexander's bride, and won that prize, she became a full-fledged raging bitch. And it was so delicious to read about. She literally goes to no lengths to protect herself and ensure her rightful place. Cersai Lannister looks like a saint compared to the she-devil that is Roxana. She's a character you'll love to hate.

(and this may just be me, but I was getting serious sibling incest vibes between her and her twin brother Parizad. But maybe I'm watching too much Riverdale).

Thessalonike

”He called himself Alexander the Great and claimed that he conquered the world. But he would have been lucky to conquer a stinking midden heap populated by swarms of biting flies had it not been for our cunning and daring.”

I'm putting Thessalonike (or Nike) at the bottom of the list because she was the least fleshed out character in the entire book. Alexander's half-sister, she's royally miffed that she was left behind when Alexander left to conquer the world. However, once she leaves, she's not given much to do. Her role in the book pretty much consists of the first 15 minutes or so of Wonder Woman. You see, her sister in law is an Amazon warrior, and she trains under her so she can learn to fight (see? totally Wonder Woman). And... that's it, really. I would say I liked her, but I felt that I didn't really get to know her from the little I read about her.

Stephanie Thornton's background as a history teacher surely helped in her retelling of Alexander's life. By using the people around him to tell his story, she creates a multi-layered portrayal of a man who, by many student's imaginations, is akin to a God himself. But through the eyes of those who loved and hated him the most, he becomes so much more.

And seeing how much of a narcissist he was supposed to be, I think that if he read this book, he would be extremely pleased with his portrayal.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC from NetGalley via publisher. My opinions are my own.

Historical Readings & Reviews

Mass murder, betrayal, brutal and tragic deaths, scheming, love, comic relief, warrior women... a true Greek tragedy.

The title is a little misleading, as Alexander the Great had three wives, all featured in this novel, and also because the tale is told from several points of view. However, the only wife whose point of view we get to read about is Roxana's, so I suppose she is the wife of the book's title, and yet in many ways she is an antagonist in the story. There's lots of complex characters and it's less about Alexander than it is about all of the people in his life, their relationships with each other, and how that influences the future of his empire. In fact, Alexander himself is not a likable character and at times seemed almost like a sociopath, but since it's not really about him anyway, that wasn't a big deal.

With so many characters, it's not surprising that the multiple plots move along steadily. The first half focuses more on character development, so it is slower paced compared to the second half when all hell breaks loose. In some ways I actually felt like the second half was a little too rushed, as the focus turns to the series of events rather than on the characters. But there's no denying that this Greek tragedy is very well told with strong characters and a compelling plot that will keep you saying, "just one more chapter..."

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://booknerdloleotodo.blogspot.com/
copy received from Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for an honest review
I’m going to try not to fan girl too much but I think Stephanie Thornton is a great author! She seems to have a real passion for history and when she focuses on one aspect or figure she really dissects and gives that time period her all. "The Conqueror's Wife" was a thorough depiction of Alexander the Great. Thornton gives different perspectives with different narrators. Although my knowledge of Alexander is limited I felt like Thornton presented a very thorough Alexander, the story instantly drew me in. I love the "behind every successful man lies one woman (or in this case women). Hephaestion is someone I knew nothing about and found him to be fascinating and his relationship with Alexander had so many levels to it. It's impossible not to notice the importance of Drypetis and Roxana. Their roles in this story added to the emotional but also historical importance of Alexander’s accomplishments.

For any readers that have not read Thornton, I can highly recommend " The Tiger Queens" and "Daughter of the Gods." They were both fantastic novels and also very refreshing historical reads. I personally really enjoy that she focuses on women and their importance and I hope that she continues to do this.

[Colleen Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Find my full review at http://aliteraryvacation.blogspot.com.

I always know I'm in for a treat when I pick up a Stephanie Thornton novel! She is the queen of the strong female protagonist and I have read and adored every single one of her previous novels. The covers just happen to be breathtaking as well, which is always a huge plus for me. Ms. Thornton continues her trend of exceptional novels with The Conqueror's Wife, bringing back to life the stories of the women - and one man - behind this great conqueror of civilizations and making them the stars of their own lives instead of the footnotes of history where they have previously been placed.

I think what I appreciate most about The Conqueror's Wife is the fact that it feels completely authentic, making it so much easier to imagine these really are the emotions, actions and spoken words of our characters. None of them are perfect but are real and raw and human. Each has their own skills and strengths but also flaws and weaknesses that aren't glossed over to make them more agreeable. To be perfectly honest, it's Thessalonike's determination, Drypetis' spunk and sharp tongue, and Roxana's willingness to do anything to adapt to just about any situation and come out on top that make me enjoy them as much as I do. Even the secondary characters who, let's face it, refuse to be secondary - Alexander's mother, Olympias, Drypetis' grandmother, Sisygambis, Thessalonike's half-sister, Cynnane, just to name a few - are so multi-faceted that you can't help but admire something about them or appreciate where they are coming from even if they aren't overly likeable characters. And don't get me started about Hephaestion, Alexander's warrier lover...with his own sharp tongue and his weaknesses for wine and pretty faces combined with his love of learning and his just and loyal spirit, he might be my all time favorite character in the whole novel! Anyone who can walk away without really feeling for and with these characters is missing something.

Something else I love about The Conqueror's Wife, and really all of Ms. Thornton's writing, is the skill taken with descriptions that completely immerse the reader in the world these characters are inhabiting. There are vast riches and many luxuries that some of our characters get to experience, and these are all beautifully presented to the reader, but there is also a lot of bloodshed, depravity and violence for them as well. Let's face it, this was not an easy time for anyone, let alone soldiers and women. Ms. Thornton places the reader front and center for torture, desecrated bodies, rape and agony - both physical and emotional - so it is impossible not to be a part of all the action, good and bad. All of it is necessary for the story to be realistic and to highlight why some of our characters are the way that they are. I think it is just brilliantly done and I can't help but be amazed at the author's ability to perfectly walk that fine line between realism and vulgarity.

As you might have guessed by now, I am a total fan girl for all of Stephanie Thornton's novels and The Conqueror's Wife fits perfectly within my admiration of her writing skills. Who would have thought that the great and powerful Alexander, stylizing himself as a god, would be relegated to the backdrop of his own story, but that is exactly what has happened here. He could have been completely left out of the story and I would have been just as mesmerized with the book because it is the brave, strong and determined women that encompassed his life that shine through. They are the ones that are great and powerful and I am so happy that I've finally learned their stories!

[Heather C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is it just me or did anyone else really dislike Alexander in this book? The only time I found him likable was from the perspective of his little sister – even his best friend/sometimes lover disliked his actions fairly often. We see the story of Alexander from those who revolved around him: his friend, his sister, his lover, his enemy – and honestly I found their stories vastly more interesting than the man himself. I found myself anxious for Hephestion to come back on the page (a tiny bit of a crush on him, haha) and I loved Roxana (she really surprised me with how she got her own way!). Drypetis I found a little bit annoying. She was a great viewpoint to see the Macedonians from another perspective and I did love her hatred of and shared scenes with Hephestion, but she sometimes made me weary. And Thessalonike had her moments. As much as this was a story of Alexander, it was a story of all of those around him too.

Thornton writes some great dialogue. As mentioned above, I loved the scenes between Drypetis and Hephestion especially because of the dialogue. There is witty banter, hidden meaning, and snark and spitfire at every turn. At the same time, Thornton had a wide age range of people she needed to represent their thoughts/feelings/and manner of speech. Thessalonike is young and naïve at the beginning of the novel, but you have her in scenes with those a little older, like Hephestion, as well as those who would be her parents age, like Olympia – and Thornton keeps these characters and their mannerisms well defined.

As usual, Thornton carries off an excellent novel of the ancient world that truly brings the people and places to life. I didn’t race through the pages quite as quickly as I have some of her prior novels (I’m looking at you The Secret History!) but I still loved the novel and would highly recommend it to anyone interested in this time period.

This review was previously posted at The Maiden's Court blog and was received in exchange for an honest review.

[Darlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Orinally posted on: http://www.peekingbetweenthepages.com...

If I could describe Stephanie Thornton’s latest novel The Conqueror’s Wife in one word it would be Wow! I’ve read all but one of her books (which I will soon remedy) and this one is my favorite. Despite being almost 500 pages once I began reading I fell head long into an ancient world where the times and the people were ruthless. As I read I could smell the death and see the destruction as though I was walking the same path that Alexander the Great was on. Full of memorable characters and rich in historical detail Stephanie Thornton has weaved an amazing story about a great man and the women who loved him.

Alexander the Great was a powerful man but so were the women who stood behind him – they were strong, independent, and powerful in their own right and they all helped to shape the man Alexander was. There is Alexander’s half-sister Thessalonike who so badly wants to travel the world and wants nothing more than to go along with Alexander but she is forbidden to. Then we have the Persian princess Drypetis who refuses to let go of her traditions and customs despite Alexander taking her father’s throne. Finally there is the crafty Roxana who is extraordinarily beautiful and she uses that beauty to become Alexander’s queen. She’s a dangerous one though and will do anything to keep her crown. As Alexander comes to control an ever vaster empire he learns that not all are to be trusted and long after he’s taken his last breath these women will still be fighting to keep his legacy alive.

Before reading this novel I knew a bit about Alexander the Great but certainly not much. The more I read the more interested I became in all of the characters and I began to search online for more information. To me that is the sign of great historical fiction and a great author. When a book encourages a reader to delve even deeper into history it’s done its job and more. The Conqueror’s Wife is not only an insightful journey into history but also a novel that will captivate the reader and hold them enthralled until the very last page is turned. I loved it and highly recommend it to all readers of historical fiction and if you haven’t experienced a novel of Stephanie Thornton’s yet you truly should!

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stephanie Thornton is one of my favorite authors. Her skilled writing, extensive research and choice in historical figures along with an exciting and adventurous narrative never disappoints. With each new novel she rises and impresses. Her novels if anything, educational.

Alexander the Great is an admired figurehead from history, needless to say I was more than excited to read this book. Thornton weaved an intriguing plot around this fierce icon. She masterfully demonstrated his rise and fall, his mercurial and tender side and his blustery temper as well as his profound loss of Hephaestion. We are privy to the many facets of Alexander, her portrayal was appreciated, especially if you are familiar with this legend through non-fiction.

One of Thornton's standout features is her strong portrayal of women in her novels. Her female protagonists always possess strength, intellect and determination, no shrinking violets in her novels. Beside every great man is a great woman as this talented authoress always demonstrates.

Thessalonike, Drypetis and Roxana are women playing major roles in Alexander's life either directly or indirectly. Women similar and dissimilar, however their motives and roles vary - their strength, independent, intellect and determination undeniable. Even the character of Olympias is a force to reckon with. These women and others with their stellar qualities and admirable flaws add a level of prolonged excitement and action to an already powerful narrative. These beautiful creatures will have you loathing, loving, pitying and admiring them throughout the narrative.

The narrative is full of excitement, intrigue, passion and of course political and power struggles. Between passion on and off the battlefield you will be more than entertained as loyalty, love, betrayal, murder, loss and so much more will captivate and increase your reading journey.

Thornton's incredible writing mixed with a ingenious plot creates the perfect storm for historical fiction. Her fully developed characterizations, historical backdrop and references will propel her to your favorite author list. Historical fiction fans will not want to miss this book as well as past and future works from Stephanie Thornton. Historical fiction at its very best.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.0 out of 5 stars -- Brutal historical fiction

Alexander's reign was marked by blood -- and there are far too many deaths to recount during his saga of endless war and battle to conquer the lands that became his empire. This novel centered on the women connected to Alexander -- and there were many who were there for him during his lustful drive for power. But, he was a man, not a God, and even in death, he left behind those who wanted to secure that role of conqueror for themselves.

I'm sorry to say that I didn't really like this book that much, and I grew weary of reading the unending saga of torture and execution. I did not care for any of the women who were connected to him, not even the ones whom the author decided to cast in the role of champion. Most of the time I was aghast at the senseless deaths, the treachery and the betrayal. The narrative shifts in point of view between the main women -- Thessalonike (sister), Roxana (wife), and Drypetis (warrior). Also heard is the voice of Hephaestation -- Alexander's best friend, fellow soldier, and lover. All of them held in thrall to Alexander the Great.

I've read the authors previous books and loved them, but this is one that I should have passed up as I am left without redemption or satisfaction for all that befell the people who blindly followed the ruthless leaders. I had so looked forward to the release of this new book but am left disappointed in the outcome.

Thank you to Edelweiss and to the publilsher for the e-book ARC to review, but I'm not sure I'd recommend it. Way too much description of mutillation of humans and animals for my taste. Perhaps it is historically accurate, I don't know, but it was just not for me. I am glad that I forced myself to finish it -- but I note that it took me days rather than hours to get through -- and that speaks volumes for someone who is as prolific a reader as I am.

[Kathleen Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alexander the Great
Alexander the Great was the King of the ancient Greek Kingdom of Macedon in the 300's BC. He was a great military man, having virtually no losses in battle. Alexander conquered Persia in the battles of Issus and Gaugamela. A lot of cities were named after him and becoming one of the most influential men in history.
 
 Hephaestion, the son of a Macedon nobleman, was Alexander's friend and close advisor and he plays a pivotal role in this story. Hephaestion and Alexander were friends throughout their lives. He married Drypteis and became part of the royal family.
 
Drypteis was the daughter of Stateira I and Darius III of Persia. Her family which included her mother, her sister Stateira, and her grandmother Sisygambis were captured by Alexander and kept with him for a great period of time. Even though Darius III tried on numerous occasions to ransom his family, he was not successful.
 
Roxana was a Bactrian princess and wife to Alexander. It was rumored that she killed  Stateira II. After Alexander's death, she gave birth to Alexander.
 
Olympias was queen consort to Phillip II and Alexander's mother. She was a very influential woman of her time.
 
Thessalonike was a princess of Macedon and step daughter of Olympias who raised her after her mother died, therefore, she was also a half-sister to Alexander.
 
These characters from history along with many more make this novel a treat to read, it brought back a lot of memories of Greek history to me as I had alway loved this period in history. I read a lot of Greek history in high school. This novel is impeccably researched by the author and she is definitely well versed in this time period. I thoroughly enjoyed this first novel that I have read of Stephanie Thornton and intend to read more.
 
 

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my third book by the author and I’ll say upfront – I can’t wait for the next one. I love Ms. Thornton’s writing style and her choice to write about the women in history. Often times the women behind the more famous men. In The Conqueror’s Wife the ultimate subject of the book is Alexander the Great but the focus is on three of the women (and one man, his bodyguard and lover) who inhabited his world; his sister, his wife and his captive for lack of a better word.

I have to say that I know very little about Alexander the Great except for what I learned of him through reading about Caesar. He was a very brutal warrior at a very young age. He conquered a large swath of the world and even the great Caesar could not repeat what he had done. But I do not think he was a very nice man and due to that the book has some graphic scenes which I suppose are just part and parcel of writing about a brutal man in a brutal time. Just know that this is no romance novel; it has it’s moments of gore.

I enjoyed getting to know these women even if I didn’t particularly like two of them (Drypetis and Roxana.) It was not a period in history where women were treated especially well so I could appreciate why the characters would be as they were. It is a fascinating look into a long ago time as Ms. Thornton weaves historical fact and best guess into a very compelling story.

4.5

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a novel with a very misleading title. “The Conqueror’s Wife” leads the reader to believe that it will be told from the perspective of one woman: the wife of Alexander the Great. This is not at all the case. The author strives to gain a wider perspective of Alexander by using multiple voices to tell the story. Four voices to be exact. Furthermore, only one of them was Alexander’s wife and it took until page 273 to find out who.

This is not to say that I didn’t enjoy this novel however, I did, but I found myself boggled by the title. In fact during the first few chapters it actually put me off the story a little. The multitude of voices when I expected just one caused me to find the beginning of the novel somewhat diluted. However I’m glad to say that as the novel progressed I became attached to all four characters and appreciated their varied outlooks upon the events of the novel. They are four very unique and vivid characters that highlighted the way of the world during Alexander’s reign.

Hephaestion, one of the four and the only male voice, was a childhood companion of Alexander that travelled by his side throughout his decade-long conquering campaign. It is amazing just how much Hephaestion, and all of Alexander’s loyal soldiers, were willing to give up in order to serve him. It is as though they truly thought him to be the God he declared himself to be and would follow him to Hades itself if he asked. In fact there are certain scenes in this novel that would make you think they were already there.

The author did a wonderful job of depicting the battle scenes, making them realistic and very fast-paced. I learnt much about how Macedonian battles were fought. I found it particularly interesting to learn that many Indian Lords and even the Persian King of Kings Darius III used War Elephants in battle. Overall I really enjoyed all the portrayals of Alexander’s success in battle. This plus the loyalty of his men gave me a good impression of how Alexander was able to build an empire in a relatively short period of time.

My favourite character in this novel was Drypetis, second daughter to King Darius III. It was her perspective in particular that I clicked with the most and I felt a similar dislike of Alexander to that which she felt. Whilst I could see how he was admired through Hephaestion’s eyes, it was through Drypetis’ eyes that my opinion formed. From the very beginning she showed him to be the most human–not at all God-like–and it was this notion that really came through towards the end. Alexander was just a man, flawed as any man is, and I appreciated the author’s talent in taking him down from his pedestal step-by-step. Nothing felt rushed, rather the story came to a head of it’s own accord and Alexander’s world began to unravel. The end of his reign and the years following were very chaotic and somewhat confusing if you read the history. However the author gives us a concise explanation that was easy to follow and ended her story nicely. She explains why she chose to do certain things in her author’s note, which I always appreciate.

Overall this was a very interesting read and I enjoyed it greatly. I just really wish it had a more appropriate title!

[Celise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. This is probably the most investing book I've read this year. I knew very little about Alexander the Great before reading this, but this is some of the best historical fiction I've come across and I found myself quite in awe of the story.

The title is a little bit misleading, as the story is told from four different characters' points of view, not just one of Alexander's wives. In the cases of The Song of Achilles, told by Patroclus, and Nerfertiti, told by Nerfertiti's sister, I had really wanted to hear the story from title character's point of view. In this book however, I didn't much care to hear Alexander's words because the other voices were so interesting. Each character had a fully fleshed out story that I found I cared so much about- even if just to hear how they'd end because I hated them so much (*cough* Roxana).

Hephaestion - Alexander's second in command and sometimes lover, was my favourite point of view. I was definitely in love with him even as a reader. His POV served as the most direct insight into Alexander's campaign, but it was the moments with Drypetis that made him interesting to me.

Drypetis- one of the Persian princesses Alexander captured and took on his campaign. Thornton took a lot of liberties (with realistic justification) with this little known woman in history, and she did a beautiful job of bringing her to life. Some of the more interesting plot developments came through in her chapters.

Roxana - Oh how I hated her by the end. Even then, I loved all of her chapters. What's interesting about the multiple narrators is that some of them truly hated each other, so despite them all being a part of Alexander's story, their individual biases and personalities lent to the intrigue.

Thessalonike- Alexander's sister, and probably the least interesting character. Her POVs offered insight into the treachery of Olympias, Alexander's mother, which I suppose was interesting. I found her personality didn't come through as strongly as the others.

The Conqueror's Wife might have a cover that makes it look like a cheap historical fiction romance (though it is pretty), but it delves right into the horrifying aspects of Alexander's campaign, including the horrible torture scenes, poisonings, and deaths. The women who tell the story lend unique voices and experiences to the time, and colour the period most vividly. The writing is stunning.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alexander the Great is known around the world for his feats of war and contributions to cultural diffusion. However, many people contributed to his rise to power and stay at the top. These women shaped him, compelled him, and kept him leveled throughout his years. His mother, Olympias is willing to do whatever she can see her son rise and protect his legacy. Alexander’s sisters Cynnane and Thessalonike grew up as warriors, waiting to protect Alexander. Roxana, the daughter of a minor noble who will do anything to get herself away from her father and claw her way to the top as Alexander’s first wife. Stateria and Drypetis daughters of overthrown King Darius III, struggle with their new ruler but eventually fall for Alexander’s charms as his new wife and wife of his companion Hephaestion. Then there is Hephaestion, Alexander’s childhood friend and companion who will see him through his conquests to the end.

Told from the alternating points of view of Thessalonike, Drypetis, Roxana and Hephaestion, Alexander’s life is seen through the eyes of those who loved and feared him. I loved that all of the women were independent and strong willed, even though they were all attached to the most powerful man at the time, none of them relied on his power to save him. Thessalonike was as fierce as Alexander, but didn’t get a chance to show her skills while kept under Olympias’ thumb, it wasn’t until after Alexander’s death that Thessalonike got her chance to shine. Roxana was an interesting character for me as she went from someone whom I felt for to the one fighting for Alexander’s crown. Hephaestion’s point of view was also welcome, as someone who might have been more to Alexander than any of the women. Hephaestion’s and Drypetis’ love story stole some of the show for me; Drypetis is the character I related the most to with her fierce determination and love for how things work. In addition to wonderful characters, the time period and history was brought to life through detailed descriptions of Alexander’s battles, the clothing, custom and architecture for a true portrait of Alexander’s life.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner from Thornton! Not many authors can bring the ancient world and obscure historical figures to life quite like Thornton. Every one of her books transports me away to a different world, a different life. This one is no different.

Who hasn’t heard of Alexander the Great? His name is known in all corners of the world and probably in most of its languages. Many would also probably know of his steadfast companion Hephaestion and his mother, Olympias. But who has heard of the others that helped shape him, his destiny, and his ultimate legacy?

Persian princess Drypetis, prostitute-wife Roxana, strong sister Thessalonike, warrior sister Cynnane, general Antipater, and his son Casssander…. All are names not often repeated in history but who played such an important part in Alexander’s story. Thornton makes all of them real to the reader; they’re not just names on a page but real individuals with thoughts, ambitions, motives, and emotions all their own.

I’ve also got to give a shout out for Thornton’s characterization of Alexander too. While the story is never told from his POV, she still gives us a window into the mind of a man who is intelligent, courageous, and ambitious all the while being a bit psychotic, warped, and cruel. His actions speak volumes for what he believed in and what he stood for.

Then, as always, there’s Thornton’s skill at scene setting and historical detail. Like every other novel of hers, the ancient world makes a vibrant painting in the mind’s eye of her readers. From ancient cities like Susa and Persepolis with their incredible murals, mosaics, and grand palaces to the arid battlefields of the Middle East and Persia, the book spares no expense at giving us visceral descriptions interwoven with intriguing dialogue.

I keep loving this author; she could probably write a dry mathematical mechanics paper, and I’d still like it. LOL She always writes strong characters, vivid landscapes, and dramatic historical stories. This book is no exception. I can’t recommend her highly enough. Her books, including this one, are all keepers for me and have a prized place on my shelf of awesome.

[Kathleen Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alexander the Great was the King of the ancient Greek Kingdom of Macedon in the 300's BC. He was a great military man, having virtually no losses in battle. Alexander conquered Persia in the battles of Issus and Gaugamela. A lot of cities were named after him and becoming one of the most influential men in history.

Hephaestion, the son of a Macedon nobleman, was Alexander's friend and close advisor and he plays a pivotal role in this story. Hephaestion and Alexander were friends throughout their lives. He married Drypteis and became part of the royal family.

Drypteis was the daughter of Stateira I and Darius III of Persia. Her family which included her mother, her sister Stateira, and her grandmother Sisygambis were captured by Alexander and kept with him for a great period of time. Even though Darius III tried on numerous occasions to ransom his family, he was not successful.

Roxana was a Bactrian princess and wife to Alexander. It was rumored that she killed Stateira II. After Alexander's death, she gave birth to Alexander.

Olympias was queen consort to Phillip II and Alexander's mother. She was a very influential woman of her time.

Thessalonike was a princess of Macedon and step daughter of Olympias who raised her after her mother died, therefore, she was also a half-sister to Alexander.

These characters from history along with many more make this novel a treat to read, it brought back a lot of memories of Greek history to me as I had alway loved this period in history. I read a lot of Greek history in high school. This novel is impeccably researched by the author and she is definitely well versed in this time period. I thoroughly enjoyed this first novel that I have read of Stephanie Thornton and intend to read more.



- See more at: http://celticladysreviews.blogspot.co...

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have an excerpt and giveaway going on right now at justonemorechapter.com

Stephanie Thornton became a favorite of mine with The Secret History: A Novel of Empress Theodora and The Tiger Queens: The Women of Genghis Khan. She writes about lesser known women of history - those that were close to the action, whether wife, lover or daughter of someone famous. The Conqueror's Wife is no exception.

This is a time period I have never read before and knew next to nothing of Alexander the Great. With that amount of knowledge it is always great to hunker down with no preconceived ideas of what to expect and can enjoy the ride.

Again Stephanie Thornton did not disappoint, she has that wonderful ability to breath life into her characters. Each one of them with unique personalities and traits, it's through them that we get a clear picture of Alexander. Alexander was a great man in his time, but it was through the women in his life that helped shape who he was. With his half-sister, Thessalonike (determined and ready for action), Drypetis (warrior) or Roxana, (his beautiful queen) alternatively telling their story that we see who Alexander the Great was. There is also his male friend Hephaestation that rounds out the narrative.

This isn't a small book, coming in at almost 500 pages leaving plenty of time for the strong character development here as well as depth to the story. Even with these 4 narratives the story flowed along nice and smooth, Thornton's historical detail shows her knowledge of this time period, it wasn't hard to visualize so much that was taking place, it was easy to get lost in the pages. I highly recommend The Conqueror's Wife to lovers of HF, especially those that crave strong lesser known women.

[Mystica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is ancient history and may not appeal to all. You have to stick to the story, tedious though it maybe at times because life I guess was not instant gratification in those times. The story of Alexander the Great, his life, his loves, his victories, his defeats and the personal charisma (and shortcomings) of the man are beautifully, carefully enacted in this book. For lovers of historical fiction a must.

Alexander the Great could not come into power, neither could he maintain his position without the support of several women. His half sister was the most loyal of women and though she had the heart of a man, she was always sidelined to stay behind and be just a woman whilst the men went to war. The Princess Drypetis (one of the spoils of war) who became his queen was a loyal woman, completely in love with her husband but she had to fight Roxanna who was the self proclaimed Queen of Queens and fought to the death her position as the first Queen. There were numerous other women all contributing in some way to both Alexander's rise as well as his fall from power.

The loyalty and support which Alexander got from those close to him as well as those soldiers who fought battles where they were mere fodder for the enemy is enough testimony to the charisma which was Alexander. The man himself is powerful but brutal and only thinks of his own victory though his loyalty to his friend remains steadfast throughout.

How a single man rose to control such a vast empire and how quickly it disintegrated on his death is this story.

[Bren fall in love with the sea. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to be honest and say I did not love this book and did not finish it. I try..always..to finish books but do not always succeed. And this wasn't bad or even not good but it was not the right book for me.

I adore Historical Fiction but in the Conqueror's Wife, the story is told from the viewpoint of multiple women in Alexander's life. I just do not like the format. It was confusing and there were several times I could not differentiate the various voices and tell which lady was speaking so I'd have to go back to the beginning of the chapter and look.

I also found the level of violence a bit to much. Now I do read many books with violence in them but this starts almost from the first page and it prevented me from really enjoying this.

And thirdly this seemed less about Alexander then about the various women in his life. At the end of the day it just was not the right book for me.

[Monica Hills · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic novel by Stephanie Thornton! This novel focuses on four people who all were connected somehow to Alexander the Great. The novel is about Thessalonike his sister, Drypetis, a Persian princess, Roxana also of Perian descent and Hephaestion, Alexander's friend.

This is a very moving story. I cared about each of the characters even when some of them had a darker side. I learned more about Alexander the Great and the history surrounding him. The details in this book were so well done. I could tell the author had thoroughly researched everything. A good book is one that you don't want to end and you find yourself thinking about even when you can't be reading it. Stephanie Thorton is one of my favorite authors because all of her novels are like this. This is a must read!!!

[Natasa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story behind the legendary Alexander the Great; his early days of conquest, his rise to power, the expansion of this kingdom across Greece, Persia, and India, and the women who supported, challenged, and loved him. A great blend of history with a human story. Full review on my blog: https://poetryofreading.blogspot.com/...

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as good as Tiger Queens but still an interesting read

[Marcella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bati o olho na capa de The Conqueror's Wife e JULGUEI FORTE. Vi que era alguma coisa sobre Alexandre o Grande e JULGUEI MAIS AINDA. Imaginei um crossover entre 50 Tons de Cinza e 300, onde homens sarados, oleosos e beirando o neandertalismo jogam mulheres doces na parede e dizem coisas como 'Tomá-la-ei com meu portentoso machado dos deuses, em nome de Hera e pelas barbas de Apolo!'

Depois desse show de preconceito, eu fui ler a respeito e vi que esse livro tem uma rating alta bagarai. E, ao contrário do que eu imaginava, ele não é narrado apenas pela esposa (mais famosa) do Xandoco, Roxana, mas por quatro personagens diferentes: Thessalonike, a irmã mais nova, Drypetis, a segunda filha do Rei Darius III, e Hephaestion, BFF, general, padrinho, vela, cartomante e amante do Alexandre nas horas vagas - todos eles, com exceção do Hephaestion, esposas de conquistadores em algum momento.

E olha... Não decepcionou! Que livro, senhores! Um romance histórico bem peculiar e poderosíssimo! A autora fez o dever de casa na pesquisa e seguiu a linha do tempo da vida do Alexandre - narrada pelas pessoas que o cercavam - certinha, incluindo todos os pontos importantes que fizeram da lenda o que ela é até hoje, de forma obviamente condensada (pergunta pro Oliver Stone se é fácil resumir a vida do Xandinho). E dá o tom certo de como ele era aquele ser maior que o mundo, que instigava amor e adoração ao mesmo tempo em que causava medo. De forma alguma o Alexandre é uma pessoa boa. Pelo contrário: ele é apresentado aqui com o lado mais negativo dos relatos históricos. Um raparigo extremamente inteligente e educado pelos pensadores e estrategistas mais sagazes da época (entre eles o próprio Aristóteles), mas que sofria do mal de ser EXTREMAMENTE MIMADO. O que dava a ele um temperamento que beirava o insuportável; podia ser caridoso e gentil num instante para no seguinte enfiar a faca no meio da testa de alguém porque esqueceram de colocar tempero na salada dele. O cara achava de verdade que ele era um DEUS - o que esperar desse serumaninho, né vdd? Ao mesmo tempo, era extremamente carismático e corajoso, sempre cavalgando na linha de frente de todas as batalhas, o que fazia com que o exército tivesse uma paixão inabalável (quase) pelo seu comandante (só isso explica a jornada de 13 anos que a galera aguentou ao lado dele).

Apesar do Alexandre ser o elo que une todo mundo, o ponto alto aqui na verdade não é a história dele, e sim a das mulheres que o cercavam, e por isso eu já posso dizer que tenho amor pela Stephanie Thornton. As mulheres são quase que uma nota de rodapé na vida do Alexandre, em grande parte porque o período histórico não ajuda em nada. Sabe-se que a mãe dele exerceu uma influência enorme na vida do rapaz e participou ativamente das arapucas políticas, durante a vida do filho e depois da morte. A Olympias não tem POV aqui, mas Thessalonike, a irmã mais nova (que tem uma cidade na Grécia nomeada até hoje com o seu nome), sim, e ela passa uma boa parte da história envolvida nas tramoias da Olympias e aprendendo ao lado da irmã mais velha dos dois, Cynane, que era uma amazona treinada nas artes da guerra. No começo da história ela tem só 10 anos e é uma pirralha que irrita um pouquinho, mas com o passar do tempo eu fiquei apaixonada pela Thessalonike, a espivitada! <3 Apesar de a maioria dos capítulos dela se passarem longe da ação principal, tudo o que acontece vai ter um desdobramento enorme no final. Também curti a liberdade poética que a autora tomou aqui na relação da Nike com o Cassander. Eu sempre fui meio antipática ao Cassander por conta da óbvia ambição dele (rumores milenares de que ele foi responsável pela morte do Alexandre, por envenenamento) e o Jonathan Rhys Meyers não ajuda muito né (uma bicha linda porém ô cara de nojenta!).

A Drypetis é outra personagem que desafia todos os estereótipos da época: uma princesa arretada que, por ser a segunda filha e feia, nunca teve qualquer pretensão de virar moeda de troca na mão de marmanjo. Ela é inteligente, fala o que quer (sem ser uma estúpida que faz burrice só porque é ~~forte~~; esse é um romance histórico muito on point, gente), é corajosa e o romance dela com o Hephaestion me pergou em cheio no coraçãozinho porque eu não imaginava que fosse shippar o menino Hephy com ninguém além do Xandoco na minha vida, PORÉM SIM. Muito por conta dela eu fiquei triste pra cacete no final, mesmo já sabendo o que iria acontecer pois não existem spoilers na história, né vdd. Eu gostei da forma como a Stephanie narrou todo o drama de ser uma prisioneira de guerra com grife e ver os familiares e o povo dela sendo perseguidos e mortos um a um pelo mesmo homem a quem ela tinha de dobrar o joelho. A dignidade dessa menina!

A Roxana eu quero que MORRA (já morreu kkk). Eu nutro um certo respeito por ela porque, naquela época, uma mulher de baixo nascimento e com cérebro tava fadada a uma vida muito, muito triste. As opções eram quase nulas. E a Roxana usa a única arma que ela tem para se virar como pode. Os homens na vida dela são todos uns escrotos e ela tem bastante razão de ter nutrido muito pouca afeição por quase todos eles. Porém existe um limite para as coisas que podem ser justificadas e ela acaba se tornando uma personagem amarga, mesquinha e extremamente detestável. Já não gostava dela desde a época da Rosario Dawson e ela é ainda pior em Conqueror's Wife.

Por fim, Hephaestion. <3 <3 <3 <3 Eu DESAFIO qualquer um a ler esse livro e não sair apaixonado pelo Hephaestion! A autora aqui embarcou no trem da alegria que defende que ele e o Alexandre foram amantes até o fim da vida e a forma como ela retrata a relação dos dois é ao mesmo tempo (supostamente) muito fiel, instigante e muito bonita. A única pessoa que conseguia controlar os ânimos do Xandoco e colocar a cabeça dele no lugar certo era o Hephaestion, seu melhor amigo, confidente e declaramente pessoa preferida. Era o único em quem o Xandy confiava plenamente, tanto nas questões pessoais quanto diplomáticas e militares. Ele era o segundo-no-comando, chefe da "tropa de elite" do exército e o encarregado das tarefas mais tretosas - desde construir pontes para a passagem do exército até negociar com rebeldes, escolher líderes estratégicos e chefiar metade do exército em batalhas. O que deixa bem claro que não eram só as pernas do Hephaestion que encantavam (registro histórico: "Alexandre só foi derrotado pelas coxas de Hephaestion"), mas a capacidade extrema dele, o que eu considero uma representação mais fiel à história e mais digna também (o cara era um GÊNIO da engenharia, culto pra cacete, se correspondia com Aristóteles, gostava de poesia, falava 200 línguas, era a favor da integração entre os povos, um general extremamente sagaz e retratam ele como um menino frágil e bonitinho que o Alexandre gostava de dar uns pegas de vez em quando - AFF). É de longe o narrador mais interessante, que mostra bem a devoção e o asco que o Alexandre era capaz de invocar ao mesmo tempo, além dele próprio ter uma personalidade que é muito amorzinho. O menino sabe que pode pra caraleo e é convencido (como você imagina que uma pessoa na posição dele seria), mas sem se tornar um boçal. Vamos combinar que ter uma imagem mental do Jared Leto no auge da beleza (e antes de se revelar um mongolão) ajuda bem (sou futil e não faço mistério).

Enfim, uma forma muito interessante, moderadamente fiel e cheia de mulheres incríveis (algumas de moral e ética duvidosas, mas ainda sim personagens bem intrigantes) de recontar a história de uma lenda. Eu fiquei grudada no livro e só não terminei mais rápido porque eu me forcei a parar em alguns momentos, já temendo o fim da história. Recomendadíssimo, especialmente para quem tem o <3 molinho por romances históricos duca ambientados em uma época ligeiramente mais alternativa!

E mais um pra conta dos livros que dobraram minha língua corneteira!