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Blood of Gods and Royals #0.5
Voice of Gods
As the end of an age approaches, gods whisper horrors, families scheme for power, and one woman may hold the secret to a lost legacy.
At 19, Ada of Caria yearns to take the Snake Blood throne from her mad older siblings—and seeks the help of a young orphaned girl named Helen, the first True Oracle to have walked the earth in more than three hundred years.
Helen may be able to channel the voice of the gods, but she hates her gift, and will do anything to get rid of it—even lie to her best friend, Myrtale, the priestess-princess of Epirus who is destined to marry King Philip II of Macedon even though she loves another. And in the shadows lurks a handsome green-eyed stranger who has more at stake—and more to lose—than anyone could possibly imagine.Amid jealousy and heartbreak, torrid affairs and secret rendezvous, it is spoken by the gods that either Helen or Myrtale —newly named Olympias— will carry the destiny of the known world within her womb.
The prequel to LEGACY OF KINGS, VOICE OF GODS traces the intricate web of love and betrayal that led up to the birth of history’s most powerful leader, Alexander the Great.
At 19, Ada of Caria yearns to take the Snake Blood throne from her mad older siblings—and seeks the help of a young orphaned girl named Helen, the first True Oracle to have walked the earth in more than three hundred years.
Helen may be able to channel the voice of the gods, but she hates her gift, and will do anything to get rid of it—even lie to her best friend, Myrtale, the priestess-princess of Epirus who is destined to marry King Philip II of Macedon even though she loves another. And in the shadows lurks a handsome green-eyed stranger who has more at stake—and more to lose—than anyone could possibly imagine.Amid jealousy and heartbreak, torrid affairs and secret rendezvous, it is spoken by the gods that either Helen or Myrtale —newly named Olympias— will carry the destiny of the known world within her womb.
The prequel to LEGACY OF KINGS, VOICE OF GODS traces the intricate web of love and betrayal that led up to the birth of history’s most powerful leader, Alexander the Great.
122 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 15, 2015
57 people are currently reading
1755 people want to read
About the author
Eleanor Herman
16 books1,028 followersNew York Times best-seller Eleanor Herman's new non-fiction book, The Royal Art of Poison: Filthy Palaces, Fatal Cosmetics, Deadly Medicine, and Murder Most Foul, is set to come out in June 2018. Think royal palaces were beautiful places to live? Think again!
Herman offers a rare combination of skills for a historian – her research is intensely scholarly, yet she writes the story in a colorful, witty manner. “History is so fascinating that it never has to be presented in a boring way,” she explains. “These were flesh and blood people, just like you and me, facing war and plague, falling in love, living among splendid art and gut-wrenching poverty. Sometimes people ask me if I plan to write novels. And I say, with all the things that really happened, who needs to make stuff up?”
Reviewers agree. The New York Times Book Review wrote that Eleanor writes “enlightening social history that is great fun to read.”
The Boston Globe wrote, “Herman’s writing sparkles off the pages.”
The Washington Post called Eleanor Herman “A lot more fun than Danielle Steel or Dan Brown.”
Eleanor, a New York Times bestseller, has also written Sex with Kings (a history of royal mistresses), Sex with the Queen (a look at queens' love affairs), Mistress of the Vatican (a biography of an influential papal mistress), and a four-part YA fantasy series on Alexander the Great, called The Blood of Gods and Royals.
Eleanor is a frequent commentator in the media about royal scandals, and has hosted episodes for The History Channel, the National Geographic Channel, and America: Fact vs. Fiction. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Eleanor graduated with a degree in journalism from Towson University, studied languages in Europe, and for thirteen years worked for NATO’S Nations & Partners for Peace magazine. She is married and lives in McLean, VA with four very demanding cats
.
Herman offers a rare combination of skills for a historian – her research is intensely scholarly, yet she writes the story in a colorful, witty manner. “History is so fascinating that it never has to be presented in a boring way,” she explains. “These were flesh and blood people, just like you and me, facing war and plague, falling in love, living among splendid art and gut-wrenching poverty. Sometimes people ask me if I plan to write novels. And I say, with all the things that really happened, who needs to make stuff up?”
Reviewers agree. The New York Times Book Review wrote that Eleanor writes “enlightening social history that is great fun to read.”
The Boston Globe wrote, “Herman’s writing sparkles off the pages.”
The Washington Post called Eleanor Herman “A lot more fun than Danielle Steel or Dan Brown.”
Eleanor, a New York Times bestseller, has also written Sex with Kings (a history of royal mistresses), Sex with the Queen (a look at queens' love affairs), Mistress of the Vatican (a biography of an influential papal mistress), and a four-part YA fantasy series on Alexander the Great, called The Blood of Gods and Royals.
Eleanor is a frequent commentator in the media about royal scandals, and has hosted episodes for The History Channel, the National Geographic Channel, and America: Fact vs. Fiction. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Eleanor graduated with a degree in journalism from Towson University, studied languages in Europe, and for thirteen years worked for NATO’S Nations & Partners for Peace magazine. She is married and lives in McLean, VA with four very demanding cats
.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
August 11, 2016
3.5 stars
ALSO, having finished LEGACY OF KINGS, I can now state with authority that you really should read this before the first full book. Otherwise, you'll have no idea why what's happening is happening. Neither do the MCs (yet), so you'll be ignorant together, but, personally, I prefer not to be ignorant.
Entertaining content, but told in third person present tense (which I HATE). Also, the writing was periodically . . . juvenile? Overly simplistic? Like instead of going for substance, a character simply says:
"Look at all the nice things we have."
*frowns*
Or instead of describing an emotion, one simply "feels helpless."
Still, overall I enjoyed it, and I did adjust to the POV. Definitely worth a gander.
ALSO, having finished LEGACY OF KINGS, I can now state with authority that you really should read this before the first full book. Otherwise, you'll have no idea why what's happening is happening. Neither do the MCs (yet), so you'll be ignorant together, but, personally, I prefer not to be ignorant.
Entertaining content, but told in third person present tense (which I HATE). Also, the writing was periodically . . . juvenile? Overly simplistic? Like instead of going for substance, a character simply says:
"Look at all the nice things we have."
*frowns*
Or instead of describing an emotion, one simply "feels helpless."
Still, overall I enjoyed it, and I did adjust to the POV. Definitely worth a gander.
September 9, 2015
Wow, what a novella. Cannot WAIT to read Legacy of Kings now!
August 14, 2015
If Legacy of Kings is about the level of this novella, I'm thinking it's going to be three or four stars- probably three. It reads a bit clumsily, as if the author isn't really used to writing in a historical/epic fantasy sort of tone. The prophecies definitely aren't the most elegant I've heard (even the ones in PJO, which is a MG series, were a lot more elegant), and the characters are all very archetypical. Then again, this is just the prequel novella, so perhaps things are better developed in the actual book.
Ratings
Overall: 6/10
Plot: 3/5
Romance: 2/5
Writing: 3/5
World Building: 1.5/5
Characters: 2.5/5
Cover: 3/5
Ratings
Overall: 6/10
Plot: 3/5
Romance: 2/5
Writing: 3/5
World Building: 1.5/5
Characters: 2.5/5
Cover: 3/5
August 17, 2016
I fili del destino sono forti anche se sottili quando vedono il fulgore dei veri dei.
Questa è la storia di Elena, una giovane orfana che fugge da Theangela, dal suo padrone Koinos e dai soldati venuti a prenderla per la sua “magia”.
Appena il destino bussa alla sua porta, scappa disperata e si rifugia ad Alicarnasso, spinta dalle voci che vorticano nella sua testa e le sussurrano il futuro. Elena, infatti, è il primo oracolo tornato sulla terra dopo più di trecento anni ma è anche una fanciulla sola e spaventata in cerca di un luogo caldo, di protezione e.. amicizia.
Cerca il palazzo nei marosi agitati, il dio Poseidone si abbraccia le ginocchia, accarezzandoti con vivaci spume ti guiderà a casa.
Le voci le mormorano nella testa, vibrano nelle braccia e nelle gambe, le frusciano dentro come il fumo. Deve cercare la salvezza presso il mare.
Alicarnasso.
E’ proprio ad lì che conosce Ada di Caria; tra le due nasce una forte amicizia, alimentata anche dal potere di Elena, capacità di cui la giovane principessa usa a suo vantaggio contro i propri fratelli pazzi e incestuosi.
Quando Ada allontana Elena, la giovane ragazza si ritrova orocalo di un tempio secondo solo a quello di Delfi e lì conoscerà Myrtale, la Principessa dell’Epiro, decisa a conoscere il suo futuro e a modificarlo poichè nonostante ami un altro uomo è promessa sposa al re di Macedonia.
Da questo momento entra in moto il destino di Elena: amicizie, lussuria, tradimenti, terribili visioni e un futuro in bilico tra la morte e la vita.
“La voce degli dei” è lungo per essere un semplice racconto e accoglie il lettore in un’atmosfera storica fatta di re, guerre, intrighi di corte e magia.
La storia è principalmente quella di Elena, l’oracolo, ma il suo destino è profondamente intrecciato ad altre due figure molto presenti nel racconto: Ada, principessa di Caria e Myrtale, principessa dell’Epiro.
Ada è una donna scaltra e intelligente, eppure è intrappolata nel suo stesso regno da un potere che non si decide ad arrivare e da fratelli maggiori che governano attraverso un matrimonio incestuoso.
Elena è prima orfana, schiava, poi ancora serva, oracolo rispettato e ricercato e poi ancora schiava; sempre sballottata da un punto a un altro, una giovane ragazza che cerca solo di arginare la propria solitudine e la sofferenza provocata da quelle voci che sente ogni qualvolta inspira del fumo.
L’oracolo è una persona fragile che vive con molta sofferenza il suo stato e odia le voci che le affollano la mente e si fa raggirare facilmente da coloro che le offrono amore, amicizia e conforto.
Detesta le voci. Non hanno fatto altro che rovinarle la vita, costringendola ad abbandonare una dimora dietro l’altra, mettendola in pericolo, portandole via i pochi amici che ha avuto. La gente vuole solo usarla per le profezie.
[..]La conoscenza senza potere è solo tortura.
Myrtale è un personaggio che non mi è piaciuto affatto. Sin dalla sua prima apparizione ho notato qualcosa di sbagliato in lei: combattiva, testarda, egoista e palesemente interessata solo al dono di Elena, non alla sua amicizia.
Un altro pregio dell’autrice, che sono sicura ritroveremo anche negli altri romanzi della serie, è sicuramente l’ambientazione.
Eleanor Herman riesce a creare degli effettivi visivi incredibili.
Io non amo gli storici, anche per la mia difficoltà a immedesimarmi in un mondo che non conosco, che non riesco a “vedere” mentre leggo (capita anche a voi?), eppure in questo caso è accaduto il contrario!
L’autrice è riuscita a rendere ogni cosa reale, dando molta importanza alle descrizioni, che risultano fondamentali e ponderate alla perfezione.
Siamo di fronte all’inizio di un successo esplosivo, vi avverto. Non lasciatevelo sfuggire!
Le pedine sono state disposte sulla scacchiera, ora non ci resta che scoprire cosa accadrà e a cosa corrisponderà il fatidico “scacco matto”.
Il destino del mondo dipende da voi giovani. Siate forti. La fine di un’era si sta avvicinando, Ada lo sa, e questi bellissimi bambini, Katarina e Alessandro e altri come loro, aiuteranno a inclinare il mondo verso un’Era di Mostri o un’Era di Uomini.
Ma questo accadrà più in là. In un altro tempo, in un altro luogo.
Questa è la storia di Elena, una giovane orfana che fugge da Theangela, dal suo padrone Koinos e dai soldati venuti a prenderla per la sua “magia”.
Appena il destino bussa alla sua porta, scappa disperata e si rifugia ad Alicarnasso, spinta dalle voci che vorticano nella sua testa e le sussurrano il futuro. Elena, infatti, è il primo oracolo tornato sulla terra dopo più di trecento anni ma è anche una fanciulla sola e spaventata in cerca di un luogo caldo, di protezione e.. amicizia.
Cerca il palazzo nei marosi agitati, il dio Poseidone si abbraccia le ginocchia, accarezzandoti con vivaci spume ti guiderà a casa.
Le voci le mormorano nella testa, vibrano nelle braccia e nelle gambe, le frusciano dentro come il fumo. Deve cercare la salvezza presso il mare.
Alicarnasso.
E’ proprio ad lì che conosce Ada di Caria; tra le due nasce una forte amicizia, alimentata anche dal potere di Elena, capacità di cui la giovane principessa usa a suo vantaggio contro i propri fratelli pazzi e incestuosi.
Quando Ada allontana Elena, la giovane ragazza si ritrova orocalo di un tempio secondo solo a quello di Delfi e lì conoscerà Myrtale, la Principessa dell’Epiro, decisa a conoscere il suo futuro e a modificarlo poichè nonostante ami un altro uomo è promessa sposa al re di Macedonia.
Da questo momento entra in moto il destino di Elena: amicizie, lussuria, tradimenti, terribili visioni e un futuro in bilico tra la morte e la vita.
“La voce degli dei” è lungo per essere un semplice racconto e accoglie il lettore in un’atmosfera storica fatta di re, guerre, intrighi di corte e magia.
La storia è principalmente quella di Elena, l’oracolo, ma il suo destino è profondamente intrecciato ad altre due figure molto presenti nel racconto: Ada, principessa di Caria e Myrtale, principessa dell’Epiro.
Ada è una donna scaltra e intelligente, eppure è intrappolata nel suo stesso regno da un potere che non si decide ad arrivare e da fratelli maggiori che governano attraverso un matrimonio incestuoso.
Elena è prima orfana, schiava, poi ancora serva, oracolo rispettato e ricercato e poi ancora schiava; sempre sballottata da un punto a un altro, una giovane ragazza che cerca solo di arginare la propria solitudine e la sofferenza provocata da quelle voci che sente ogni qualvolta inspira del fumo.
L’oracolo è una persona fragile che vive con molta sofferenza il suo stato e odia le voci che le affollano la mente e si fa raggirare facilmente da coloro che le offrono amore, amicizia e conforto.
Detesta le voci. Non hanno fatto altro che rovinarle la vita, costringendola ad abbandonare una dimora dietro l’altra, mettendola in pericolo, portandole via i pochi amici che ha avuto. La gente vuole solo usarla per le profezie.
[..]La conoscenza senza potere è solo tortura.
Myrtale è un personaggio che non mi è piaciuto affatto. Sin dalla sua prima apparizione ho notato qualcosa di sbagliato in lei: combattiva, testarda, egoista e palesemente interessata solo al dono di Elena, non alla sua amicizia.
Un altro pregio dell’autrice, che sono sicura ritroveremo anche negli altri romanzi della serie, è sicuramente l’ambientazione.
Eleanor Herman riesce a creare degli effettivi visivi incredibili.
Io non amo gli storici, anche per la mia difficoltà a immedesimarmi in un mondo che non conosco, che non riesco a “vedere” mentre leggo (capita anche a voi?), eppure in questo caso è accaduto il contrario!
L’autrice è riuscita a rendere ogni cosa reale, dando molta importanza alle descrizioni, che risultano fondamentali e ponderate alla perfezione.
Siamo di fronte all’inizio di un successo esplosivo, vi avverto. Non lasciatevelo sfuggire!
Le pedine sono state disposte sulla scacchiera, ora non ci resta che scoprire cosa accadrà e a cosa corrisponderà il fatidico “scacco matto”.
Il destino del mondo dipende da voi giovani. Siate forti. La fine di un’era si sta avvicinando, Ada lo sa, e questi bellissimi bambini, Katarina e Alessandro e altri come loro, aiuteranno a inclinare il mondo verso un’Era di Mostri o un’Era di Uomini.
Ma questo accadrà più in là. In un altro tempo, in un altro luogo.
August 12, 2015
You guys may or may not know that I'm not normally a reader of companion novellas, but this makes me want to start. Long story short, I loved this, and I wanted it to be longer. It had me like 'ouuuuu no she didn't!' the whole time, but it was also really intense and revealing.
This novella follows the parents of two main characters in LEGACY OF KINGS, Katerina and Alexander. And I loved every single one of these people. Olympias, who I already enjoyed as the perfect villain, but watching her turn (or be turned, muahaha) into an evil thing was especially interesting. And not all is as it seems. King Phillip is the same undercover asshole as ever, but I kind of like him too, just because he is so shockingly idiotic that it makes you laugh. Ada is probably one of the best characters in this book, because she was new and smart and fearless (also her family is so WEIRD!!). But Helen. HELEN! She stole the show for me, honestly. In LoK there isn't much to be said about Helen, and certainly nothing FROM Helen, so to hear from her was such a treat. The lives of this generation are more intertwined than anyone ever thought. To see Helen's evolution through years of her life was powerful.
Which brings me to the time jumps in this book. The novella actually spans years, with every chapter jumping weeks, months or years into the future. This is awesome, because its a great way to condense things and provide an entire story. This novella jumps perspectives pretty much with every chapter too, like LoK, but it isn't disorienting in the least which is talent on the authors part, I think. The voices of each character are so different that you immediately know who you're hearing from. Also, I LOVED every character in this book so like LEGACY OF KINGS, I wanted to hear from everyone!
This novella was fantastic, and if you're dying for more of the LEGACY OF KINGS world, this is perfect. I can't wait for book two!
This novella follows the parents of two main characters in LEGACY OF KINGS, Katerina and Alexander. And I loved every single one of these people. Olympias, who I already enjoyed as the perfect villain, but watching her turn (or be turned, muahaha) into an evil thing was especially interesting. And not all is as it seems. King Phillip is the same undercover asshole as ever, but I kind of like him too, just because he is so shockingly idiotic that it makes you laugh. Ada is probably one of the best characters in this book, because she was new and smart and fearless (also her family is so WEIRD!!). But Helen. HELEN! She stole the show for me, honestly. In LoK there isn't much to be said about Helen, and certainly nothing FROM Helen, so to hear from her was such a treat. The lives of this generation are more intertwined than anyone ever thought. To see Helen's evolution through years of her life was powerful.
Which brings me to the time jumps in this book. The novella actually spans years, with every chapter jumping weeks, months or years into the future. This is awesome, because its a great way to condense things and provide an entire story. This novella jumps perspectives pretty much with every chapter too, like LoK, but it isn't disorienting in the least which is talent on the authors part, I think. The voices of each character are so different that you immediately know who you're hearing from. Also, I LOVED every character in this book so like LEGACY OF KINGS, I wanted to hear from everyone!
This novella was fantastic, and if you're dying for more of the LEGACY OF KINGS world, this is perfect. I can't wait for book two!
January 20, 2016
'Voice of Gods' was a prequel I am in AWE of! If this is the standard of Eleanor Herman's writing in this prequel than I can only IMAGINE her standard in 'Legacy of Kings'. I've read 'Voice of Gods' first and before 'Legacy of Kings' upon recommendation from other reviewers. This prequel was really enchanting: Complex prose, unbelievable grammar, twisting plot and tangible characters. I can't say enough about it, only that I am deeply upset that its average rating so far is a meagre 3.99 stars! It should be a 4.5+!
Congratulations to Eleanor Herman on publishing a novella to be proud of! Pssst! It's FREE on Amazon!
Congratulations to Eleanor Herman on publishing a novella to be proud of! Pssst! It's FREE on Amazon!
July 15, 2016
I FINALLY UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING
If you're going to read Legacy of Kings I highly recommend reading this book first. I didn't think it was necessary because it's a novella. But, trust me, it's necessary. Also, it's free on Amazon! So you should all check it out!
If you're going to read Legacy of Kings I highly recommend reading this book first. I didn't think it was necessary because it's a novella. But, trust me, it's necessary. Also, it's free on Amazon! So you should all check it out!
September 4, 2015
Great historical fiction with some magical elements!!! And you can't beat the price! (FREE). Great prequel novella, I can't wait to sink into this series!!!
July 19, 2016
4 stelle -
August 4, 2016
Recensione presente anche sul blog Bookish Advisor http://bookishadvisor.blogspot.it
Quando mi sono decisa a leggere La voce degli dei di Eleanor Herman tutto mi sarei aspettata tranne che trovarmi di fronte ad una storia lunga quasi 150 pagine! La Herman con questa novella non introduce personaggi, non ci dà un assaggio della storia che leggeremo ma costruisce in toto un prequel di tutto rispetto capace di intrigare ed incuriosire il lettore che una volta finita questa storia non può che buttarsi a capofitto nella lettura de L'eredità dei re.
La narrazione lineare si intervalla seguendo la voce di tre donne, la protagonista assoluta Elena, l'oracolo, la vera è propria voce degli dei, giovane, inesperta, un uccellino in gabbia alla ricerca di amore e di libertà, Ada, la principessa di Alicarnasso e Myrtale, futura regina di Macedonia. Diversamente da Elena queste due ragazze sono coraggiose, ostinate, ma più di tutto sanno bene cosa vogliono vedere nel loro futuro: potere, prestigio e il trono dei loro regni.
Devo essere sincera e dire che inizialmente lo stile della Herman non mi era congeniale: PoV in terza persona, molto diretta e che differentemente dagli stili in terza persona a cui sono abituata mi suonava poco emozionante, ma poi proseguendo mi sono ricreduta. Uno stile, diretto, poco costruito in metafore o altri accorgimenti stilistici, ma che rappresenta magnificamente l'epicità e la magnificenza di una storia davvero esistita ma abbellita sola dal potere di una rivisitazione magica, Fantasy.
Da quello che ho potuto constatare la storia della Herman presenta quelle che saranno le caratteristiche più spettacolari del romanzo vero e proprio della serie: un worldbuild caratterizzato da geografia e storia tangibili al quale viene ricamata una formidabile ed originale storia. Ma per potervene parlare con più cognizione di causa rimando alla recensione di L'eredità dei re.
Una delle caratteristiche che ho adorato della storia breve è che all'epicità della storia non sono mancate scene romantiche e palpitanti che mi hanno emozionato e contagiata al punto da non volermi più staccare dalle pagine: le emozioni dei protagonisti sono le tue e mai come in questo libro ho avuto così tanta affinità con i protagonisti. Elena è un personaggio che non puoi non amare anche dopo solo le prime pagine, la sua voglia di libertà di decidere da sé della sua vita ma soprattutto la sua voglia di sentirsi amata per quella che è e non per il suo tramite con la volontà degli dei è uno dei tratti più visibili nella vita di tutti quelli che sono stati ragazzi alla ricerca della propria strada nel mondo.
Una storia breve ma intenza che ci dà più che una prospettiva di quello che vedremo in futuro.
4 Stelle
Ora vado ad iniziare L'eredità dei re!
Quando mi sono decisa a leggere La voce degli dei di Eleanor Herman tutto mi sarei aspettata tranne che trovarmi di fronte ad una storia lunga quasi 150 pagine! La Herman con questa novella non introduce personaggi, non ci dà un assaggio della storia che leggeremo ma costruisce in toto un prequel di tutto rispetto capace di intrigare ed incuriosire il lettore che una volta finita questa storia non può che buttarsi a capofitto nella lettura de L'eredità dei re.
La narrazione lineare si intervalla seguendo la voce di tre donne, la protagonista assoluta Elena, l'oracolo, la vera è propria voce degli dei, giovane, inesperta, un uccellino in gabbia alla ricerca di amore e di libertà, Ada, la principessa di Alicarnasso e Myrtale, futura regina di Macedonia. Diversamente da Elena queste due ragazze sono coraggiose, ostinate, ma più di tutto sanno bene cosa vogliono vedere nel loro futuro: potere, prestigio e il trono dei loro regni.
Devo essere sincera e dire che inizialmente lo stile della Herman non mi era congeniale: PoV in terza persona, molto diretta e che differentemente dagli stili in terza persona a cui sono abituata mi suonava poco emozionante, ma poi proseguendo mi sono ricreduta. Uno stile, diretto, poco costruito in metafore o altri accorgimenti stilistici, ma che rappresenta magnificamente l'epicità e la magnificenza di una storia davvero esistita ma abbellita sola dal potere di una rivisitazione magica, Fantasy.
Da quello che ho potuto constatare la storia della Herman presenta quelle che saranno le caratteristiche più spettacolari del romanzo vero e proprio della serie: un worldbuild caratterizzato da geografia e storia tangibili al quale viene ricamata una formidabile ed originale storia. Ma per potervene parlare con più cognizione di causa rimando alla recensione di L'eredità dei re.
Una delle caratteristiche che ho adorato della storia breve è che all'epicità della storia non sono mancate scene romantiche e palpitanti che mi hanno emozionato e contagiata al punto da non volermi più staccare dalle pagine: le emozioni dei protagonisti sono le tue e mai come in questo libro ho avuto così tanta affinità con i protagonisti. Elena è un personaggio che non puoi non amare anche dopo solo le prime pagine, la sua voglia di libertà di decidere da sé della sua vita ma soprattutto la sua voglia di sentirsi amata per quella che è e non per il suo tramite con la volontà degli dei è uno dei tratti più visibili nella vita di tutti quelli che sono stati ragazzi alla ricerca della propria strada nel mondo.
Una storia breve ma intenza che ci dà più che una prospettiva di quello che vedremo in futuro.
4 Stelle
Ora vado ad iniziare L'eredità dei re!
September 8, 2015
This review (among others) can also be read on my blog: bookrecsandpaperweights.wordpress.com
I had fairly high hopes for this novella, mostly because I've been really excited about reading Legacy of Kings, which is the first full-length novel in this series. Sadly, I was fairly disappointed by this book, for several reasons.
First, I found the time jumps between chapters really abrupt. Almost every chapter opens with "three years later", "a week later", "three weeks later", and after a while, I just felt like there were huge chunks of the story missing. I can understand why this was done--it's only a novella, after all, and there's not a whole lot of time for the author to spend bridging all the gaps in the story--but by the end of the book, I felt like all the jumps were basically cop-outs. Instead of trying to flesh out the story, Herman tried to cover as much material as possible, leaving her novella feeling like the shell of a story instead of an actual story.
Second, in terms of characterization, I feel like it was handled poorly. Ada felt more like a plot device than a character, because she seemed to serve only the purpose of helping Helen. She gave Helen a place to live and protected her--that's pretty much it. I loved the idea of her Snake Blood, but that wasn't explored anywhere near enough. As for Myrtale/Olympias, I didn't like her character much at all. I feel like she was supposed to be a character of great strength and ambition? Because instead of knowing that, I was only told, repeatedly, that she was ambitious; I never really saw it. She wanted to be Queen, sure, but she definitely didn't strike me as a particularly driven character. She just didn't seem to be doing anything to achieve her goals--she just had some. As for her being a strong character, she wasn't that either. She was completely dependent on the people in her life, especially her lover. He was her entire world, her primary focus, and I feel like that took a lot away from her character. Lastly, to touch quickly on Helen, I never ended up feeling much for her. Her power was cool, and I liked the involvement of smoke in the activation of her gift, but she felt very flat as well. I mean, I can understand why she was so upset about essentially having to choose between talking to the gods or being a virgin for life, but she didn't seem to have any other characteristic. She either lusted for sex or she spat out oracles that she understood pretty much right away. Her character had no mystery and no depth.
Third, the sexual/romantic content in this story needed a lot of work. The story felt like it put the romance first, the history second, and the plot last, if that helps explain anything. And for a book with such a heavy dependence on the romance, the one sex scene in the book is a fade-to-black, where the character wakes up afterwards in ecstasy and pain. There's other hints at sex, of course, but nothing is explicit, which feels strange, seeing as the few times sex almost occurs for one of the characters, everything is fairly detailed. Where the would-be lover's hands are, how the girl is feeling, how hot their bodies become. But then sex is just--I gave myself to him, and then I woke up and it was over. It felt like so strange after all the emphasis on romance for the sex in this story to be avoided so painfully.
Fourth, in regards to the historical element of the story, the details were handled well, but envisioning the world itself was really difficult. I feel like the story slid very quickly into dialogue and inner monologue, which is fine, but each chapter had roughly the same set up: description of time of day or location, followed by dialogue and events. After a while, I stopped being able to see the world where the story was happening. Everything was just a dark corridor or bedroom, without embellishment. Personally, I need description in order to bring the plot and the characters to life; I feel like description is a character all of its own, and without it, the world is flat, colourless, and lifeless. I just couldn't see what in the world was going on in some of the chapters, and even cities that should have been beautiful, like Halicarnassus, held no life for me.
Finally, I felt like the plot of the story was badly planned out. The summary for the novella implies a lot of things that the story itself does not deliver. The man with the green eyes comes and goes, and the two children of prophecy (Helen's and Olympias') don't even have a role in the story at all. I spent all novel waiting for something important to happen with these children, but nothing came. And there's also no sense of mystery about whose child will be "the one", seeing as Olympias is very clearly giving birth to Alexander the Great, so...there's no sense of suspense there at all. And the story itself just of ends, at the end. There's no arch in the plot, no ups and downs. The story just trudges along and then ends, with all the problems of the second last chapter solved by a few lines in what is essentially an epilogue.
The one great thing about this book is the fact that it provides the backstory to Legacy of Kings, which I am still looking forward to. But if it could have been better fleshed out, or summarized in some kind of prologue, it probably would have been better. Maybe Herman should have focused on one protagonist instead of 3? Because clearly dividing her attention between all these characters did not help her create a well-developed cast or world. If you'll allow me to paraphrase Bilbo Baggins, the story essentially felt like it was butter spread over too much bread--and for this novella, that proves to be fatal.
I had fairly high hopes for this novella, mostly because I've been really excited about reading Legacy of Kings, which is the first full-length novel in this series. Sadly, I was fairly disappointed by this book, for several reasons.
First, I found the time jumps between chapters really abrupt. Almost every chapter opens with "three years later", "a week later", "three weeks later", and after a while, I just felt like there were huge chunks of the story missing. I can understand why this was done--it's only a novella, after all, and there's not a whole lot of time for the author to spend bridging all the gaps in the story--but by the end of the book, I felt like all the jumps were basically cop-outs. Instead of trying to flesh out the story, Herman tried to cover as much material as possible, leaving her novella feeling like the shell of a story instead of an actual story.
Second, in terms of characterization, I feel like it was handled poorly. Ada felt more like a plot device than a character, because she seemed to serve only the purpose of helping Helen. She gave Helen a place to live and protected her--that's pretty much it. I loved the idea of her Snake Blood, but that wasn't explored anywhere near enough. As for Myrtale/Olympias, I didn't like her character much at all. I feel like she was supposed to be a character of great strength and ambition? Because instead of knowing that, I was only told, repeatedly, that she was ambitious; I never really saw it. She wanted to be Queen, sure, but she definitely didn't strike me as a particularly driven character. She just didn't seem to be doing anything to achieve her goals--she just had some. As for her being a strong character, she wasn't that either. She was completely dependent on the people in her life, especially her lover. He was her entire world, her primary focus, and I feel like that took a lot away from her character. Lastly, to touch quickly on Helen, I never ended up feeling much for her. Her power was cool, and I liked the involvement of smoke in the activation of her gift, but she felt very flat as well. I mean, I can understand why she was so upset about essentially having to choose between talking to the gods or being a virgin for life, but she didn't seem to have any other characteristic. She either lusted for sex or she spat out oracles that she understood pretty much right away. Her character had no mystery and no depth.
Third, the sexual/romantic content in this story needed a lot of work. The story felt like it put the romance first, the history second, and the plot last, if that helps explain anything. And for a book with such a heavy dependence on the romance, the one sex scene in the book is a fade-to-black, where the character wakes up afterwards in ecstasy and pain. There's other hints at sex, of course, but nothing is explicit, which feels strange, seeing as the few times sex almost occurs for one of the characters, everything is fairly detailed. Where the would-be lover's hands are, how the girl is feeling, how hot their bodies become. But then sex is just--I gave myself to him, and then I woke up and it was over. It felt like so strange after all the emphasis on romance for the sex in this story to be avoided so painfully.
Fourth, in regards to the historical element of the story, the details were handled well, but envisioning the world itself was really difficult. I feel like the story slid very quickly into dialogue and inner monologue, which is fine, but each chapter had roughly the same set up: description of time of day or location, followed by dialogue and events. After a while, I stopped being able to see the world where the story was happening. Everything was just a dark corridor or bedroom, without embellishment. Personally, I need description in order to bring the plot and the characters to life; I feel like description is a character all of its own, and without it, the world is flat, colourless, and lifeless. I just couldn't see what in the world was going on in some of the chapters, and even cities that should have been beautiful, like Halicarnassus, held no life for me.
Finally, I felt like the plot of the story was badly planned out. The summary for the novella implies a lot of things that the story itself does not deliver. The man with the green eyes comes and goes, and the two children of prophecy (Helen's and Olympias') don't even have a role in the story at all. I spent all novel waiting for something important to happen with these children, but nothing came. And there's also no sense of mystery about whose child will be "the one", seeing as Olympias is very clearly giving birth to Alexander the Great, so...there's no sense of suspense there at all. And the story itself just of ends, at the end. There's no arch in the plot, no ups and downs. The story just trudges along and then ends, with all the problems of the second last chapter solved by a few lines in what is essentially an epilogue.
The one great thing about this book is the fact that it provides the backstory to Legacy of Kings, which I am still looking forward to. But if it could have been better fleshed out, or summarized in some kind of prologue, it probably would have been better. Maybe Herman should have focused on one protagonist instead of 3? Because clearly dividing her attention between all these characters did not help her create a well-developed cast or world. If you'll allow me to paraphrase Bilbo Baggins, the story essentially felt like it was butter spread over too much bread--and for this novella, that proves to be fatal.
July 21, 2018
3.25
Story and characters are intriguing, but something about the writing just feels so much like a soap opera or something else entirely too modern. Not that historical fiction should be super pretentious with its language, but after reading The Bear and the Nightingale - which has incredibly atmospheric writing that feels true to the era (and even to the cadence or flow of the language they would be speaking in, somehow) - I think the writing can feel old or at least timeless and still not be pretentious.
I may have to lower my rating on the series in general because of that, to be honest (although maybe it's better in the full length novels). The plot does make up for it a bit, but it really annoyed me at times in this book. Oh and some parts, especially the dialogue (!) seemed straight up naive and unrealistic. I still love reading about the time period and found myself thinking about the story even when I wasn't reading it (which is a good sign).
Going to read the next novella soon and then catch up with and finish the series!
Story and characters are intriguing, but something about the writing just feels so much like a soap opera or something else entirely too modern. Not that historical fiction should be super pretentious with its language, but after reading The Bear and the Nightingale - which has incredibly atmospheric writing that feels true to the era (and even to the cadence or flow of the language they would be speaking in, somehow) - I think the writing can feel old or at least timeless and still not be pretentious.
I may have to lower my rating on the series in general because of that, to be honest (although maybe it's better in the full length novels). The plot does make up for it a bit, but it really annoyed me at times in this book. Oh and some parts, especially the dialogue (!) seemed straight up naive and unrealistic. I still love reading about the time period and found myself thinking about the story even when I wasn't reading it (which is a good sign).
Going to read the next novella soon and then catch up with and finish the series!
July 19, 2015
Review:
Protagonist: While this novella has a few third person POVs the main focus is on the character of Helen. Helen is a young girl who has the power to hear the Voice of the Gods. This is a power that is not only extremely rare, but is coveted greatly for the prophecies she hears. Helen has a bit of a love-hate relationship with her gift. She loves it because it has saved her life many times, but she also hates how it's coveted and because of that she's in constant danger. I really loved the character of Helen. Even though this short novella spans many years, Helen's character development never always feels natural, even when her thoughts and feeling no longer match what they did mere chapters ago, it never felt forced. Helen is also a very likable and relateable character. She's not perfect, but she owns that and always strives to be herself.
Romance: This book is split up into four parts. In all but one of the parts Helen has some sort of romance going on. Though as an oracle she has to stay a virgin that doesn't stop her from falling in love. There was really only one part in which I felt the romance developed a little too quickly, though it seemed that it was supposed to be that way. Overall I found the romance to be very interesting. Since this takes place over a long expanse of time, as well as various locales, there wasn't just one guy Helen was caught up on. I liked the realism of this as well as the fact that each guy was a little different in some ways, they weren't all carbon copies of each other.
World-Building: Even though this story is for the most part fiction and fantasy there are aspects of it that are based on real events. These types of tales are my favorite. I love how authors can twist history, add a dash of magic, and make it something incredible. Plus, you know me and Greek Mythology, I mean it's hard not to like a book when it has that in it. Though the mythology of this book is a bit different than the normally accepted Greek Mythos. I mean on the whole there isn't too much mythology, but the portion that we do get just seems a bit, off, it's very mysterious and I'm intrigued to learn more about what this author may have changed or adjusted.
Predictability: Honestly this novella is very unpredictable, Of course the things based on actual events are fairly easy to predict if you know the stories, but the changes made by the author and the larger twists in this book aren't all that easy to predict. I loved how every part had some sort of twist to it, something that added to the excitement of this novella. Not that the novella's not exciting without these twists, but they just take it to another level.
Ending: The ending is pretty much the last part, which consists of two chapters. This last part wraps up the novella extremely well and does a lot to sort of transition toward the first full length novel in this series, A Legacy of Kings. There are great characters that return and it left me with so many questions as to not only where this story is going, but also how certain characters fit into the main series and even if some of my favorite characters will make some sort of appearance in the main series.
Rating:
This novella is amazing, and best of all it's FREE! It may take some to get into it but it's so worth it. Though I think it may have made me prematurely judge Alexander based on how much I despised Olympias, but maybe it'll be fixed when I begin Legacy of Kings very soon!
Protagonist: While this novella has a few third person POVs the main focus is on the character of Helen. Helen is a young girl who has the power to hear the Voice of the Gods. This is a power that is not only extremely rare, but is coveted greatly for the prophecies she hears. Helen has a bit of a love-hate relationship with her gift. She loves it because it has saved her life many times, but she also hates how it's coveted and because of that she's in constant danger. I really loved the character of Helen. Even though this short novella spans many years, Helen's character development never always feels natural, even when her thoughts and feeling no longer match what they did mere chapters ago, it never felt forced. Helen is also a very likable and relateable character. She's not perfect, but she owns that and always strives to be herself.
Romance: This book is split up into four parts. In all but one of the parts Helen has some sort of romance going on. Though as an oracle she has to stay a virgin that doesn't stop her from falling in love. There was really only one part in which I felt the romance developed a little too quickly, though it seemed that it was supposed to be that way. Overall I found the romance to be very interesting. Since this takes place over a long expanse of time, as well as various locales, there wasn't just one guy Helen was caught up on. I liked the realism of this as well as the fact that each guy was a little different in some ways, they weren't all carbon copies of each other.
World-Building: Even though this story is for the most part fiction and fantasy there are aspects of it that are based on real events. These types of tales are my favorite. I love how authors can twist history, add a dash of magic, and make it something incredible. Plus, you know me and Greek Mythology, I mean it's hard not to like a book when it has that in it. Though the mythology of this book is a bit different than the normally accepted Greek Mythos. I mean on the whole there isn't too much mythology, but the portion that we do get just seems a bit, off, it's very mysterious and I'm intrigued to learn more about what this author may have changed or adjusted.
Predictability: Honestly this novella is very unpredictable, Of course the things based on actual events are fairly easy to predict if you know the stories, but the changes made by the author and the larger twists in this book aren't all that easy to predict. I loved how every part had some sort of twist to it, something that added to the excitement of this novella. Not that the novella's not exciting without these twists, but they just take it to another level.
Ending: The ending is pretty much the last part, which consists of two chapters. This last part wraps up the novella extremely well and does a lot to sort of transition toward the first full length novel in this series, A Legacy of Kings. There are great characters that return and it left me with so many questions as to not only where this story is going, but also how certain characters fit into the main series and even if some of my favorite characters will make some sort of appearance in the main series.
Rating:
This novella is amazing, and best of all it's FREE! It may take some to get into it but it's so worth it. Though I think it may have made me prematurely judge Alexander based on how much I despised Olympias, but maybe it'll be fixed when I begin Legacy of Kings very soon!
June 29, 2016
Voice of Gods by Eleanor Herman is a prequel novella to her Blood of Gods and Royals series - Legacy of Kings being the first official one.
Interestingly enough, I read novella's very rarely, but I really wanted to read Voice of Gods because I wanted to return to this particular world (I had read Legacy of Kings beforehand). And right at the start I instantly felt back at home in the world. The writing sucked me right in and I had absolutely no problems envisioning the world that the words were creating in my mind.
Voice of Gods, being a prequel novella, takes place before the Legacy of Kings story line happens. It is actually mostly the story of Helen and of Olympias - of how they came to be who they were as the reader will come to know them later in Legacy of Kings.
Now, I read Voice of Gods long after I read Legacy of Kings, so I was continually trying to remember how things in this story were relating to what I had read back then. Who characters were, the relationships between them, etc. It wasn't very easy to do sometimes, but then again, not all of these characters were present in Legacy of Kings.
Voice of Gods is told from a couple of different point of views, however, there were not nearly as many as I encountered when I read Legacy of Kings...which was nice especially since this story line was much shorter. It would have been hard to get to know too many different story tellers in a novella, so I am thankful that Eleanor Herman kept it at a minimum in her novella.
The whole time I read Voice of Gods I had kept my eyes open for spoilers for Legacy of Kings, and I am happy to report that I don't think I came across any. We, the readers, simply got to understand how certain older characters got to where they were for the time that Legacy of Kings goes through. Eleanor Herman did a great job keeping her story under wraps while giving us an introduction to this world!
Also, you don't have to feel like you have to read the novella, but I do think it makes some things that happen in Legacy of Kings a bit more clear and I appreciated it. I kind of wish I had read it before I had read Legacy of Kings, but it definitely is not necessary to do so. Reading it later one while waiting for the next book, Empire of Dust, to release allowed me to visit a world that I had been missing.
My Rating
4 Stars
Thoughts and opinions contained within this review are mine and mine alone. No compensation was received for this review.
Find more of my reviews here:
http://readingwithcupcakes.blogspot.com/
Interestingly enough, I read novella's very rarely, but I really wanted to read Voice of Gods because I wanted to return to this particular world (I had read Legacy of Kings beforehand). And right at the start I instantly felt back at home in the world. The writing sucked me right in and I had absolutely no problems envisioning the world that the words were creating in my mind.
Voice of Gods, being a prequel novella, takes place before the Legacy of Kings story line happens. It is actually mostly the story of Helen and of Olympias - of how they came to be who they were as the reader will come to know them later in Legacy of Kings.
Now, I read Voice of Gods long after I read Legacy of Kings, so I was continually trying to remember how things in this story were relating to what I had read back then. Who characters were, the relationships between them, etc. It wasn't very easy to do sometimes, but then again, not all of these characters were present in Legacy of Kings.
Voice of Gods is told from a couple of different point of views, however, there were not nearly as many as I encountered when I read Legacy of Kings...which was nice especially since this story line was much shorter. It would have been hard to get to know too many different story tellers in a novella, so I am thankful that Eleanor Herman kept it at a minimum in her novella.
The whole time I read Voice of Gods I had kept my eyes open for spoilers for Legacy of Kings, and I am happy to report that I don't think I came across any. We, the readers, simply got to understand how certain older characters got to where they were for the time that Legacy of Kings goes through. Eleanor Herman did a great job keeping her story under wraps while giving us an introduction to this world!
Also, you don't have to feel like you have to read the novella, but I do think it makes some things that happen in Legacy of Kings a bit more clear and I appreciated it. I kind of wish I had read it before I had read Legacy of Kings, but it definitely is not necessary to do so. Reading it later one while waiting for the next book, Empire of Dust, to release allowed me to visit a world that I had been missing.
My Rating
4 Stars
Thoughts and opinions contained within this review are mine and mine alone. No compensation was received for this review.
Find more of my reviews here:
http://readingwithcupcakes.blogspot.com/
August 30, 2015
I have rarely read such an intricate and well researched novel(la) before. Everything about Voice of Gods was detailed, to the point of perfection. Every place that was visited by any one of the characters was completely and utterly visible in my mind. I love not having to imagine places because of lack of ample description, and Voice of Gods was in the opposite in this respect.
I love that I was able to read this prequel novella without knowing much about the novel that follows. All I know is that Legacy of Kings follows Alexander the Great (and I am HIGHLY interested in finding out if the author writes his sexuality accurately), and that Voice of Gods was a story about how he came to be.
Legacy of Kings needs to be in my hands right now, because I need more of this world, and its characters. I want to see if anyone that I fell in love with is going to make an appearance, because all of the characters are incredibly intricate, and still have so much more to tell.
That being said, the stories of the characters in this novella – Helen, Ada, and Myrtale – were incredibly fleshed out. I often feel that novellas are ‘fillers’, but I actually came to care about these characters (well, not Myrtale later on because reasons) just as much as I do about characters in complete novels. Which is pretty amazing, if you ask me.
Helen was the character that drew the biggest emotional reaction from me, not just because her life had seen many hardships, but because she was so used. By her friends, by the man she falls in love with. I just really wanted her to have a life that she wanted. Although, I must admit that Myrtale also elicited a reaction in me, but only because she was so shallow early on, and pretty cruel when she rose in status.
I would have loved to read more about Ada, and what happened to her in the in-between years, because I think that her life is incredibly interesting. I really hope that I see more of her in Legacy of Kings, because she is a pretty awesome character to read about, and I want to see where she ended up in life.
All in all, Voice of Gods was an incredible introduction into the world of Blood of Gods and Royals, and I can without a doubt say that I am eagerly awaiting the release of Legacy of Kings.
© 2015, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity . All rights reserved.
I love that I was able to read this prequel novella without knowing much about the novel that follows. All I know is that Legacy of Kings follows Alexander the Great (and I am HIGHLY interested in finding out if the author writes his sexuality accurately), and that Voice of Gods was a story about how he came to be.
Legacy of Kings needs to be in my hands right now, because I need more of this world, and its characters. I want to see if anyone that I fell in love with is going to make an appearance, because all of the characters are incredibly intricate, and still have so much more to tell.
That being said, the stories of the characters in this novella – Helen, Ada, and Myrtale – were incredibly fleshed out. I often feel that novellas are ‘fillers’, but I actually came to care about these characters (well, not Myrtale later on because reasons) just as much as I do about characters in complete novels. Which is pretty amazing, if you ask me.
Helen was the character that drew the biggest emotional reaction from me, not just because her life had seen many hardships, but because she was so used. By her friends, by the man she falls in love with. I just really wanted her to have a life that she wanted. Although, I must admit that Myrtale also elicited a reaction in me, but only because she was so shallow early on, and pretty cruel when she rose in status.
I would have loved to read more about Ada, and what happened to her in the in-between years, because I think that her life is incredibly interesting. I really hope that I see more of her in Legacy of Kings, because she is a pretty awesome character to read about, and I want to see where she ended up in life.
All in all, Voice of Gods was an incredible introduction into the world of Blood of Gods and Royals, and I can without a doubt say that I am eagerly awaiting the release of Legacy of Kings.
© 2015, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity . All rights reserved.
March 3, 2021
This novella did not start well for me. I found it boring and wasn't drawn in. The writing was clumsy and there were editing errors that I found distracting. The author does create an intriguing fantasy world that made me want to read more. The characters and the prophecies lacked depth. Not sure I'm intrigued enough by this prequel to continue the series.
October 15, 2016
3.5 stars.
Voice of Gods is a very nice short story, both because it gives some interesting background to the main characters of the following books, and because it definitely made me excited to pick up this series.
What I enjoyed the most was the setting and world building. I loved how Eleanor Herman interweaved historical traditions with mythology and magic. I really can't wait to see more of this world because it was really fascinating.
The characters were likeable enough. The story follows three girls, Elena, Ada and Myrtale, and, while none of them was particularly memorable or complex, it was easy to differentiate them and to become interested in their fates. I liked the female friendships, but was disappointed that
I wasn't much impressed by the writing. The narration is in present tense, with a third person narrator, which I often don't like, and overall the style felt overly simplistic. But I'm hoping it will be better in the next novels.
So, over all, I am happy I decided to pick this one up (also because it was free!), and now I am definitely excited to start Legacy of Kings.
Voice of Gods is a very nice short story, both because it gives some interesting background to the main characters of the following books, and because it definitely made me excited to pick up this series.
What I enjoyed the most was the setting and world building. I loved how Eleanor Herman interweaved historical traditions with mythology and magic. I really can't wait to see more of this world because it was really fascinating.
The characters were likeable enough. The story follows three girls, Elena, Ada and Myrtale, and, while none of them was particularly memorable or complex, it was easy to differentiate them and to become interested in their fates. I liked the female friendships, but was disappointed that
I wasn't much impressed by the writing. The narration is in present tense, with a third person narrator, which I often don't like, and overall the style felt overly simplistic. But I'm hoping it will be better in the next novels.
So, over all, I am happy I decided to pick this one up (also because it was free!), and now I am definitely excited to start Legacy of Kings.
November 2, 2016
This book was much worse than the other two which I read first. the first two were thrilling and engaging and this was boring. The writing was good in this prequel but the depth of character and the plot was not done well at all. I thought that role of Ada was completely misused and provided little to no use for reading the first and second books. I did think that the family relationship with Ada's family provided some element of intrigue due to the slight disgust that came with the incest. The backstory for Myrtale/Olympias was good because it gave us a reason for her stone cold behavior in the first and second books.
Helen is where Herman failed to create a deep character. Helen was exactly what you would expect she would be from reading the first and second books before this prequel. Helen was so annoying that she made root for Olympias. I liked her in the beginning but after she found out that Stranger/Riel was also a lover to Olympias everything went downhill. Helen became way to dramatic and it took her down a path of self ruin including losing her virginity, stripping her voices away. I wanted her to become a leader but instead she clung on to leaders which is her personality but I wanted her to break out.
Helen is where Herman failed to create a deep character. Helen was exactly what you would expect she would be from reading the first and second books before this prequel. Helen was so annoying that she made root for Olympias. I liked her in the beginning but after she found out that Stranger/Riel was also a lover to Olympias everything went downhill. Helen became way to dramatic and it took her down a path of self ruin including losing her virginity, stripping her voices away. I wanted her to become a leader but instead she clung on to leaders which is her personality but I wanted her to break out.
August 26, 2015
Interesting set up for the full length novel (which I will be reading shortly), but it kind of felt like the author threw it together as an after thought. I hope Legacy of Kings is a bit more polished because I sorta have high hopes for it. . .
Read
August 3, 2015Couldn't get past the first few chapters. Just not my thing. Characters were getting on my nerves too quickly. POV shift didn't work for me.
October 27, 2015
I just love this story and this author. I would recommend reading this after Legacy of Kings like I did. I think I would have been confused reading this first. I need the next book!
February 5, 2017
Ancient Grecian novella? Just what I expected. So much drama! Can't wait for the next book!
December 15, 2016
In some ways, this novella reminds me of Stephanie Thornton's The Conqueror's Wives where the story about Alexander the Great is told through the eyes of three women whose lives are interconnected with his. Herman's book is slightly different but keeps the same vein of three women's whose lives and loves will have a huge impact on Alexander's life or at least his beginning, since I have not read The Legacy of Kings yet.
Like many novellas, character development is somewhat clumsy as the format's length does not give the writer a chance to explore in depth each of her characters. My ranking in preference from most likeable to least likeable would have to be Helen, Ada and Myrtale/Olympias. Helen is the so-called "heroine" but at times, she comes across as somewhat pitiful character whose prophecy skills are constantly manipulated by those around her, namely Myrtale and the Stranger. Still, you can't help cheering for her if only to see how her daughter will influence Alexander's life. For classical literature enthusiasts, I had to chuckle at the name choice of Helen, the woman of immense beauty whose kidnapping by the Trojan prince Paris, helped to launch 10, 000 Greek ships and start the Trojan war. Like her namesake, Herman's Helen appears to be a catalyst for oncoming death and destruction.
Ada is in the middle for me mostly because I am still unsure of how she fits into the next story. Will she simply be the wise woman whose secret powers help sway the political and power dynamics in the future? Possibly. One thing for sure, her family is incredibly dysfunctional and downright creepy on so many levels.
My least favorite is Myrtale/Olympias because she is the classic villian. A girl who does not see beyond herself and her own selfish needs. Granted, King Philip seems like the typical ass as he is usually portrayed but one can't help but for feel slightly sorry for the man as he does seem to love Myrtale in his own twisted kind of way. Yet, Myrtale's/Olympias' tragic upbringing, especially her ill-treatment by her stepmother, rings hallow to me as if the author is forcing me to sympathesize with her. Unfortunately, not going to happen because Myrtale shows no sign of maturity whatsoever as she is so unaware of being used by Riel/Stranger that she herself is becoming as warped and twisted as those around her. I guess in Myrtale's case, "Absolute power corrupts absolutely" especially when it comes to being a queen.
In any case, I will likely read the next book in the series which is the whole point of this novella--to provide some background and to get you excited by the actual full-length book.
Like many novellas, character development is somewhat clumsy as the format's length does not give the writer a chance to explore in depth each of her characters. My ranking in preference from most likeable to least likeable would have to be Helen, Ada and Myrtale/Olympias. Helen is the so-called "heroine" but at times, she comes across as somewhat pitiful character whose prophecy skills are constantly manipulated by those around her, namely Myrtale and the Stranger. Still, you can't help cheering for her if only to see how her daughter will influence Alexander's life. For classical literature enthusiasts, I had to chuckle at the name choice of Helen, the woman of immense beauty whose kidnapping by the Trojan prince Paris, helped to launch 10, 000 Greek ships and start the Trojan war. Like her namesake, Herman's Helen appears to be a catalyst for oncoming death and destruction.
Ada is in the middle for me mostly because I am still unsure of how she fits into the next story. Will she simply be the wise woman whose secret powers help sway the political and power dynamics in the future? Possibly. One thing for sure, her family is incredibly dysfunctional and downright creepy on so many levels.
My least favorite is Myrtale/Olympias because she is the classic villian. A girl who does not see beyond herself and her own selfish needs. Granted, King Philip seems like the typical ass as he is usually portrayed but one can't help but for feel slightly sorry for the man as he does seem to love Myrtale in his own twisted kind of way. Yet, Myrtale's/Olympias' tragic upbringing, especially her ill-treatment by her stepmother, rings hallow to me as if the author is forcing me to sympathesize with her. Unfortunately, not going to happen because Myrtale shows no sign of maturity whatsoever as she is so unaware of being used by Riel/Stranger that she herself is becoming as warped and twisted as those around her. I guess in Myrtale's case, "Absolute power corrupts absolutely" especially when it comes to being a queen.
In any case, I will likely read the next book in the series which is the whole point of this novella--to provide some background and to get you excited by the actual full-length book.
November 19, 2017
"Schlangenblut" ist die Vorgeschichte zur "Royal Blood"-Reihe, in der es unter anderen um Alexander den Großen und Magie geht. Der erste Band hatte für mich sehr viel Potential, konnte es aber meiner Meinung nach nicht richtig ausschöpfen. Olympias, die Mutter des Prinzen, ist ein interessanter Charakter, weshalb ich gespannt auf diese Vorgeschichte war, in der es um sie gehen sollte. Tatsächlich liegt der Fokus aber eher auf Helena, die in "Schattenkrone" ebenfalls eine Rolle gespielt hat.
Es war interessant zu sehen, wie die Lebenswege der Figuren miteinander verknüpft sind und über welche mysteriösen Wege die Worte der Götter, die durch das Orakel gesprochen werden, sich erfüllten. Obwohl die Geschichte eher kurz ist, hat die Autorin es gut geschafft, die Charaktere entscheidend weiter zu entwickeln und zu zeigen, wie ihre Leben sich verändert haben und wodurch. Dabei war mir vor allem Helena sehr sympathisch, mit der ich wirklich mitfühlen konnte, doch auch Myrtale (später Olympis) fand ich faszinierend und ihre Entwicklung war gut dargestellt. Sie war schon immer ziemlich raffiniert und gerissen, aber in "Schlangenblut" erfährt man mehr darüber, wie sie sich verändert hat und zu der Königin wurde, die man bereits im ersten Buch der Reihe kennen lernen konnte.
Zwischendurch war die Handlung für mich etwas zäh, aber insgesamt ließ die Geschichte sich sehr gut lesen und mir hat gefallen, wie die Konsequenzen der verschiedenen Entscheidungen aufgezeigt und wie sehr die verschiedenen Figuren davon beeinflusst wurden. Ich fand es schade, dass es so viele Zeitsprünge gab, allerdings lag der Fokus eben auf den wichtigsten Ereignissen und nicht dem 'normalen' Leben dazwischen. Trotzdem kamen mir die Sprünge kamen etwas abrupt vor und ich hätte nicht nur gerne mehr über Helenas Leben als Orakel oder am Hof erfahren, sondern auch über Ada, die am Anfang viel Raum einnahm, aber mehr charakterisiert hätte werden können.
Von mir gibt es 3,5/5 Sternen für eine interessante Kurzgeschichte, die sich gut lesen lässt und auf jeden Fall dazu beiträgt, dass man bereits bekannte Charaktere besser kennen lernt.
Es war interessant zu sehen, wie die Lebenswege der Figuren miteinander verknüpft sind und über welche mysteriösen Wege die Worte der Götter, die durch das Orakel gesprochen werden, sich erfüllten. Obwohl die Geschichte eher kurz ist, hat die Autorin es gut geschafft, die Charaktere entscheidend weiter zu entwickeln und zu zeigen, wie ihre Leben sich verändert haben und wodurch. Dabei war mir vor allem Helena sehr sympathisch, mit der ich wirklich mitfühlen konnte, doch auch Myrtale (später Olympis) fand ich faszinierend und ihre Entwicklung war gut dargestellt. Sie war schon immer ziemlich raffiniert und gerissen, aber in "Schlangenblut" erfährt man mehr darüber, wie sie sich verändert hat und zu der Königin wurde, die man bereits im ersten Buch der Reihe kennen lernen konnte.
Zwischendurch war die Handlung für mich etwas zäh, aber insgesamt ließ die Geschichte sich sehr gut lesen und mir hat gefallen, wie die Konsequenzen der verschiedenen Entscheidungen aufgezeigt und wie sehr die verschiedenen Figuren davon beeinflusst wurden. Ich fand es schade, dass es so viele Zeitsprünge gab, allerdings lag der Fokus eben auf den wichtigsten Ereignissen und nicht dem 'normalen' Leben dazwischen. Trotzdem kamen mir die Sprünge kamen etwas abrupt vor und ich hätte nicht nur gerne mehr über Helenas Leben als Orakel oder am Hof erfahren, sondern auch über Ada, die am Anfang viel Raum einnahm, aber mehr charakterisiert hätte werden können.
Von mir gibt es 3,5/5 Sternen für eine interessante Kurzgeschichte, die sich gut lesen lässt und auf jeden Fall dazu beiträgt, dass man bereits bekannte Charaktere besser kennen lernt.
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December 11, 2024Voice of Gods by Eleanor Herman
As the end of an age approaches, gods whisper horrors, families scheme for power, and one woman may hold the secret to a lost legacy. At 19, Ada of Caria yearns to take the Snake Blood throne from her mad older siblings—and seeks the help of a young orphaned girl named Helen, the first True Oracle to have walked the earth in more than three hundred years. Helen may be able to channel the voice of the gods, but she hates her gift, and will do anything to get rid of it—even lie to her best friend, Myrtale, the priestess-princess of Epirus who is destined to marry King Philip II of Macedon even though she loves another. And in the shadows lurks a handsome green-eyed stranger who has more at stake—and more to lose—than anyone could possibly imagine.Amid jealousy and heartbreak, torrid affairs and secret rendezvous, it is spoken by the gods that either Helen or Myrtale —newly named Olympias— will carry the destiny of the known world within her womb. The prequel to LEGACY OF KINGS, VOICE OF GODS traces the intricate web of love and betrayal that led up to the birth of history’s most powerful leader, Alexander the Great.
To be blunt, this novella is fantastic. Eleanor Herman intricately sets up the backstories for the complex characters we see in LEGACY OF KINGS. We come to know the characters that we tauntingly see so little of in the first installment. She pulls you in immediately, providing all of the necessary information through high stakes and action. The world building is a perfect mix of accuracy and fiction, historical facts riddled with magical elements. Her new take on said magic marks this a refreshing read, sure to pull anyone in instantly. The novella is short but packed with war, drama, deceit and romance that are sure you get you excited for LEGACY OF KINGS.
The perfect start to what is sure to be the next YA hit trilogy. Plus, it’s FREE>> Read it now, before LEGACY and watch it live up to all of the hype.
A+ to Eleanor Herman.
As the end of an age approaches, gods whisper horrors, families scheme for power, and one woman may hold the secret to a lost legacy. At 19, Ada of Caria yearns to take the Snake Blood throne from her mad older siblings—and seeks the help of a young orphaned girl named Helen, the first True Oracle to have walked the earth in more than three hundred years. Helen may be able to channel the voice of the gods, but she hates her gift, and will do anything to get rid of it—even lie to her best friend, Myrtale, the priestess-princess of Epirus who is destined to marry King Philip II of Macedon even though she loves another. And in the shadows lurks a handsome green-eyed stranger who has more at stake—and more to lose—than anyone could possibly imagine.Amid jealousy and heartbreak, torrid affairs and secret rendezvous, it is spoken by the gods that either Helen or Myrtale —newly named Olympias— will carry the destiny of the known world within her womb. The prequel to LEGACY OF KINGS, VOICE OF GODS traces the intricate web of love and betrayal that led up to the birth of history’s most powerful leader, Alexander the Great.
To be blunt, this novella is fantastic. Eleanor Herman intricately sets up the backstories for the complex characters we see in LEGACY OF KINGS. We come to know the characters that we tauntingly see so little of in the first installment. She pulls you in immediately, providing all of the necessary information through high stakes and action. The world building is a perfect mix of accuracy and fiction, historical facts riddled with magical elements. Her new take on said magic marks this a refreshing read, sure to pull anyone in instantly. The novella is short but packed with war, drama, deceit and romance that are sure you get you excited for LEGACY OF KINGS.
The perfect start to what is sure to be the next YA hit trilogy. Plus, it’s FREE>> Read it now, before LEGACY and watch it live up to all of the hype.
A+ to Eleanor Herman.
November 25, 2016
Anyone that knows me knows how much I love history and magic. So when I heard about this series, I was very eager to read it. I did enjoy reading this and I particularly liked the elements of magic that were incorporated. There were times that I felt that the writing was a bit lagging but for the most part the writing and the plot were nice. I enjoyed Ada's story more compared to Helen's because I felt that Helen tried to suppress her powers more while Ada embraced hers. I liked Myrtale - or should I say Olympias - in the beginning when she genuinely cared for Helen. I felt that towards the end she became too power hungry and I understand why she did. The only problem that I had with the story was that I felt there was to much instant love. That's just my opinion. Overall, I enjoyed reading this and I am definitely going to read the rest of the series to see where the story goes from here.
September 11, 2017
I could definitely tell this e-book was written for filler info and not for its own merit. I was not a fan of the writing style, didn't really care for the characters except for maybe Helen in the last ten or so pages. It took forever to read despite it being only 142 or so pages. I'm really hoping Legacy of Kings is better and reads better and is overall more entertaining or else I'll have suffered for nothing.
July 19, 2018
I was fairly skeptical of this for the first 30 pages or so, it seemed like plain writing with even blander prophecies. But soon, I was incredibly hooked. I have yet to read the Legacy or Kings, yet even so I am already so deeply entrenched in the world of Ancient Greece. If you’re a fan of history, mythology, lore, and exploring the unknown, this is the story for you.
February 12, 2021
Davvero interessante, non vedo l'ora di continuare la saga.
April 2, 2023
this novella was only a hundred pages and yet it took me hours to read! it was way too hard to dive into this universe
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