THE DARK PRINCE

Greek Series #2

by David Gemmell

A story of legend, dark magic and conquest, set in the glory days of Ancient Greece. This is the second title in David Gemmel's fantasy, Lion of Macedon

Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Historical Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Heroic Fantasy

547 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 27, 1991

About the author

David Andrew Gemmell was a bestselling British author of heroic fantasy. A former journalist and newspaper editor, Gemmell had his first work of fiction published in 1984. He went on to write over thirty novels. Best known for his debut, Legend, Gemmell's works display violence, yet also explores themes in honour, loyalty and redemption. With over one million copies sold, his work continues to sell worldwide.

Reviews

[Andy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think i’d have preferred walking on hot coals whilst juggling knives than read this.......

My fault really, as all the warning signs were there early doors plus I coulda jumped ship at around the 100pg mark...... foolishly I strode onwards. So what happened?

First off & the real problem is that I don’t like to mix my fantasy & historical fiction & this series has done that spectacularly. The first book was pure h/f with a little bit of mystic powers being thrown it right at the very end which was sound in the context & I passed it over as I enjoyed reading about Philip of Macedon defending Macedonia against all the odds standing against all the other Greek cities.

I was expecting more of the same...... how wrong could I be..... the mystic powers are on us from the start & then before long the demon Child Alexander (Alexander the Great that is) whose 4 years old is transported into an alternate universe/realm Greece / Macedonia which is populated by creatures of ancient myth (Centaurs, minotaur, Cyclops, fawns, nymphs etc & ruled by his demon demi-god father Philip. Its a right change-up..... however once you get over the initial jolt to the system I got into a fantasy reading rhythm & onwards I went as the writing is actually good but if i’d known from the start the content I would have defo swerved. I thought this series would be similar to his Troy trilogy which although built on myth, read as a pure h/f novel & I loved it. I persevered.......

Then with around 150 pages to go the mystical element is wrapped up, Ive read around 300 pages of an alternate Greece & for what? The story now sends us back to Ancient Greece & for the last chapters of the book it’s wrapped up in piece-meal with years & events rolling by in a paragraph here & there, Alexander going from 4 to 32 years old in that time.... its all very unsatisfactory & what was building to a recovered 3 stars falls like a lead weight as I read staggering to the line...... 1.5 stars rounded up or down..... i don’t really care tbh......

I struggled with a lot of the concepts/plots of this at the start none moreso than having a 4 year old boy acting like he’s 14 going on 40 with his wisdom & cunning over others..... it nearly broke me tbh but then the focus switches to other characters & I managed to continue. Should have bailed then!

If you like h/f & battles I highly recommend Lion Of Macedon & his Troy Trilogy but I would swerve this as it’s a right ol mash-up which really satisfies neither camp in the end........

[Hosein · Rating 5 out of 5]

اول باید بگم که این ریویو، برای هر دو کتاب شیر مقدونیه و شاهزاده‌ی سیاهه.

شیر مقدونیه خیلی خوب بود، داستان بین احساسات انسانی مثل خشم، دلتنگی، حقارت و عشق حرکت می‌کرد و خیلی خوب روی همون‌ها ساخته می‌شد. هر بخش دقیقا همون قدری که بهش نیازه طولانیه، به همه چیز می‌رسه. شخصیت‌ها طبیعی و منطقی رشد می‌کنن. فاصله‌های زمانی بین دوتا فصل کاملا پوشش داده می‌شن و تقریبا چیزی جا نمیمونه.
اما توی شاهزاده‌ی سیاه تمام این‌ها یک قدم میان عقب‌تر. دلیلش هم به نظرم اینه که مجموعه در اصل باید سه جلد باشه. چهارصد صفحه‌ی اول شاهزاده‌ی سیاه یک داستان رو شروع می‌کنه، می‌بره جلو و می‌بنده. تمام بخش‌ها دقیقا مثل شیر مقدونیه بودن و همین باعث می‌شد لذت ببرم. زمانی که کتاب از صفحه‌ی چهارصد رد می‌شد، ما در اصل وارد یک فضای متفاوت می‌شدیم، چیزی که تقریبا مطمئنم که گمل قصد داشت تبدیل به جلد سوم این مجموعه بکنه. شخصیت‌ها تقریبا عوض می‌شدن، این فاصله‌ی زمانی طولانی رو هیچ‌چیزی نمی‌تونست درست توضیح بده و اصلا...جادو یک دفعه غیب می‌شد و در حد همون شیر مقدونیه ازش "می‌شنیدیم".
مسئله‌ی دیگه‌ای که جالب بود، اینه که گمل توی جلد اول خیلی در مورد ماهیت انسان، جنگ، حکومت‌ها و... حرف می‌زنه؛ اما جلد دوم تقریبا همشونو ول می‌کنه و صرفا می‌چسبه به یک داستان فانتزی سیاه. به نظرم نیاز بود که این صحبت‌ها ادامه پیدا می‌کردن، تاثیر مناسبی روی رشد و تغییر شخصیت‌ها داشتن و به هر حال، کل قضیه عمیق‌تر می‌شد.

در کل، خوندن این دوتا کتاب خیلی لذت‌بخش بود. اگه بخوام به خودشون نمره‌ای بدم قطعا چهار ستاره‌س، ولی وقتی به حس خوبی که این مدت بهم داد فکر می‌کنم یک ستاره‌ی دیگه هم بهش اضافه می‌شه.

[Artemas · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I had not read ( and loved ) Lion of Macedon then this would have been a 4 star book. Don't get me wrong, this was a great book, but the flavor and style felt like it clashed with the previous volume, hence the 3 star rating. Gemmell went from hardcore historical fiction with a splash of myth, to an all out tromp through every mythological greek element that you can think of. Fun, but the flavor didn't blend well with the superb first installment in the series.

[Clemens Schoonderwoert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book in 2011, and its the 2nd volume of the now Macedonian General, Parmenion, and his adventures in the Macedonian courts of King Philip, and later on King Alexander the Great, and latter's travels, wars and conquests throughout the East and the Greek/Egyptian world.

Regarded as one of the best, maybe even the best, General of his time, this born Spartan but now a firm Macedonian, who's making a name for himself within the wars created and won by his King Alexander the Great.

This is tale of mighty conquest and dark magic will capture you when following this legendary General Parmenion, in his quest for fame and land.

What is follow is a fantastic historical mythical tale of the great General Parmenion and his achievements as a person and professional soldier, and this story is brought to us by the author in a most authentic and captivating fashion.

Highly recommended, for this is for me a most compelling addition to this brilliant mini-series, and that's why I like to call this 2nd episode: "A Classic Parmenion Sequel"!

[S. ≽^•⩊•^≼ I'm not here yet · Rating 4 out of 5]

من سالهای خیلی خیلی زیادی زندگی کردم. متوجه شدم که خیانت طبیعت دوم انسانه. الکساندر دوستان زیادی داره و دشمنان زیاد. ولی این مهم نیست. راز حقیقی اینجاست که بتونه اونهارو از هم تشخیص بده.

[Anna Spark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely insane. But it makes as much sense of Alexander's life as many academic articles I've read. And Parmenio is ... Parmenio.

[Charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good and completely different from what I expected.

Spoilers for first book follow.

After reading Lion of Macedon you could be forgiven for thinking this book would follow the amazing conquests of Alexander the Great, albeit with a Gemmell flavour. I was excited about this but was wondering what David would add or change to make it his own story.

What he has done is instead take those characters and put them in a completely different setting but one that also manages to mirror the original world. It's brilliant and the story pushed and pulled me in directions I found both surprising and fun. Huge battle scenes are plentiful but we also are not forced to slog through every one with entire world dominating campaigns being passed over because they didn't advance the story or the character. What we are left with is a trim and fast tale of fathers and sons, jealousy and birth right, magic and murder and the amazing Parmenion who rivals many of Gemmell's best characters.

[Seyed-Sajad Hamedheydari · Rating 5 out of 5]

برای من بدون شک پارمنیون بهترین قهرمانی بوده که گمل خلق کرده.

[Gordon Doherty · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Gemmell again demonstrates why he is the master of the flawed and tragic hero with this tale.

'Dark Prince' will convert any reader who is unsure of the fantasy genre. Indeed, 'Lion of Macedon' was the first David Gemmell book I had read, and being three-quarters historical fiction, one-quarter fantasy, it led me gently away from my usual haunts of historical fiction.

After that I was only to happy to let 'Dark prince' pull away all my preconceptions of how a story should unravel, as Parmenion and Alexander descend into a world where nothing is impossible. Oddly, 'Dark Prince' took me back to my childhood readings of 'The Chronicles of Narnia' in this respect (although DP is certainly a darker tale).

A must read in my opinion. What a writer that man was...

[Amin · Rating 4 out of 5]

این کتاب به عنوان ادامه کتاب "شیر مقدونیه" کاملا روند متفاوتی رو داشت.
اگه کتاب قبل بیشتر شبیه زندگی نامه بود این کتاب تقریبا یک کتاب جادوییه .
روند داستان واقعا سریعه .
گمل در این کتاب هم سراغ سفر در زمان رفته.گرچه از این نظر به خوبی"تولد یک قهرمان" درنیامده اما باور پذیره .
در مجموع کتاب خوبی بود.

[Baldurian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bombetta questo Il principe nero: Gemmell conclude la sua duologia su Filippo e Alessandro di Macedonia con un apprezzabile
equilibrio fra parte fantasy e ricostruzione pseudostorica, non lesinando su tradimenti, battaglie campali ed efferate uccisioni. Nulla di
rivoluzionario, semplicemente ottimo fantasy eroico scritto con cura.

[Yannis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second and final book of Parmenion's story. I liked it as much as the first one and that's a lot, hence the 5 stars.
This one has more fantasy in it so I can understand that one who chose it as a fiction based on history will be kinda disappointed but the history elements are there and they are solid. Not much is changed. It also gave me some insight about what happned during Parmenion's unsuccessful campaign in Asia Minor. Of course it gives another theory about Alexander's death as well as the rest of the characters but I think it's cleverly done so it fits the history records just fine. Smart twist at the end too.
Farewell, "strategos"!

[Peter Carlisle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the sequel to Gemmell's Lion of Macedon, and it veers much more into the fantasy than the historical fiction of the first book, which initially, I was a little skeptical about. However, Gemmell pulled it off wonderfully, incorporating and expanding on elements of Greek mythology. The two books comprise an interesting interpretation of Alexander the Great. Like in his Troy series, Gemmell focuses more on the 'minor characters' that surrounded Alexander rather than Alexander himself. The main character is Parmenion, one of Alexander's generals and a wonderful and complex protagonist. I would highly recommend this series to anyone who likes historical fiction, especially when mixed with elements of fantasy.

[Marion Phillips-van der Laan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written. It takes a master to mix historical facts with fixtion. One of the best books I have ever read.

[Kostas · Rating 4 out of 5]

8.5/10

Returning back to the classical time of ancient Greece of the stunning Lion of Macedon, following the destiny of Parmenion through history, David Gemmell travels us in Dark Prince, the second and final installment of the Greek series, into the parallel worlds of his universe, taking us in a story of assassins and generals, monarchs and tyrants, mythological creatures and magi, but also in an adventure of dreams and hopes, darkness and sorcery, and immortality and conquest, in a magical, epic sequel.

It has been almost five years since Philip’s rise to power and the birth of his son, Alexander, that marked the beginning of a new era in Greece; and now, with his ever-growing forces to have crushed in battle the one army after other, pushing the borders of his great kingdom further and further away, Macedonia, once forced into the will of its enemies, has taken its turn to bring its dominance across the world – but Parmenion, having stood alongside the King of Macedon through every battle, setting his famed strategies that have tested even the most capable generals, has been carrying all these years a burden that he cannot share with no one.
Feeling a deep guilt since the night on the Isle of Mysteries, filling his heart with both shame and longing, Parmenion will return back to his estates – and the home of his wife and his three children – to try to clear his head, and put his thoughts and feelings in order.
Yet, with the deeds of his past to have pushed him away from the bed and companionship of his wife, leading him again into the stables of his estates where great horses are breeded under the supervision of his Theban friend, Mothac, when an assassination plot gets revealed through the schemes of a Persian spy, and the young prince of Macedon suddenly disappears under mysterious circumstances, Parmenion will find himself traveling through foreign worlds filled with indescribable wonders and great wars, on a quest that may soon prove crucial for the future of Macedonia.

Meanwhile, in the palace of Pella, Alexander, having been born with an evil inside him that has only brought death to anything he touches, seeing his father’s love being replace with fear, when he gets pulled into a strange world, will find himself in the midst of a great war for the sovereignty of the land and an even greater destiny; Attalus, having seen time and time again Philip’s favor towards his First General to have forgiven him everything in the name of friendship, filling him with hatred and bitterness to the bottom of his heart, will seek to put an end to it once and for all; while Derae, having spent all her life in the Temple, healing the poor and the rich, the lowly and the aristocratic, when Aristotle visits her again, wanting to persuade her to fight once more the Dark God from fulfilling his vision of the future, she will have to use her Talent to help Parmenion in his most difficult moments.

However, with his journeys over the years to have taken him through strange worlds and lands, training and leading troops of brave and courageous men against the most powerful monarchs and tyrants, when the Chaos Spirit possesses Alexander once more, and the Dark God, in his desire for power, begins to eat his very soul – driving him slowly to insanity – Parmenion will find himself old, tired and alone, facing an enemy beyond his strengths that, if he fails to bring back the light into the heart of the boy he saw grow up and love like no one else, may well mark a very different era for Greece and for the whole world – an era of darkness.

Continuing on the world of the ancient times that the first book of the series, Lion of Macedon, established, managing to bring the history back to life through his imagination, David Gemmel takes us in Dark Prince once again to Macedonia, which, having now been freed from the seemingly bonds that its enemies subjected to its people over the centuries, gathering vast forces and crushing anyone and everyone in its path, has become the largest and greatest kingdom Greece has ever seen in the history of its past, bringing its ever-growing power – and the fear of its might – across the world.
But also transferring us into the parallel world of Achaea: a war-torn land which, once filled with wonders and magic where creatures of the ancient times lived freely to build their own destiny, has fell to the desires of the Demon King for power and immortality, destroying it as never before and bringing the Enchantment that kept them alive in this world slowly towards its end – a land both different and alike to Greece that reveals the differences of the multiple probabilities and futures of the parallel worlds, as well as the extent of his multiverse.

A sequel in which, based on the lives and campaigns of Philip II and his succession by Alexander the Great, Gemmell creates his own Ancient-Greek epic, mixing history and mythology with his imagination – thus building a much different path of the past, but without straying away too much from the real facts – and traveling us in a magical story of generals, monarchs, demons, magi and mythical and legendary creatures, but also in an unrepeatable adventure of campaign and conquest, friendship and loyalty, and great heroes and leaders, that bring the – albeit short – Greek series to its climax, closing Parmenion’s journey with a wonderful and satisfying heroic finale that makes you wish there was more. Just a little more.

In conclusion, Dark Prince is a highly exciting and satisfying second half of the Greek series, with David Gemmell to return for one last time in the ancient world of Greece, traveling us in a story of monarchs, demons and magi, but also in a wonderful adventure of friendship, loyalty and leadership that concludes Parmenion’s journey, bringing to the end this true and unrepeatable epic.

Ελληνική κριτική:
Επιστρέφοντας πίσω στην κλασική εποχή της αρχαίας Ελλάδας του εκπληκτικού Lion of Macedon, ακολουθώντας το πεπρωμένο του Παρμενίων μέσα από την ιστορία, ο David Gemmell μας ταξιδεύει στο Dark Prince, το δεύτερο και τελευταίο μέρος της Ελληνικής σειράς, μέσα στους παράλληλους κόσμους του σύμπαντός του, πηγαίνοντάς μας σε μια ιστορία ασασίνων και στρατηγών, μοναρχών και τυράννων, και μυθολογικών πλασμάτων και μάγων, αλλά και σε μια περιπέτεια ονείρων και ελπίδων, σκότους και μαγείας, και αθανασίας και κατάκτησης, σε μια μαγική, επική συνέχεια.

Έχουν περάσει σχεδόν πέντε χρόνια από την άνοδο του Φίλιππου στην εξουσία και την γέννηση του γιου του, του Αλέξανδρου, που σηματοδότησε την αρχή μιας νέας εποχής στην Ελλάδα· και τώρα, με τις συνεχώς αυξανόμενες δυνάμεις του να έχουν συντρίψει στη μάχη τον έναν στρατό μετά τον άλλον, ωθώντας τα σύνορα του μεγάλου βασιλείου του όλο και πιο μακριά, η Μακεδονία, κάποτε αναγκασμένη στη θέληση των εχθρών της, έχει πάρει την σειρά της για να φέρει την κυριαρχία της σε όλο τον κόσμο – αλλά ο Παρμενίων, έχοντας σταθεί στο πλευρό του Βασιλιά της Μακεδονίας μέσα από κάθε μάχη, θέτοντας τις φημισμένες στρατηγικές του που δοκίμασαν ακόμη και τους πιο ικανούς στρατηγούς, κουβαλάει όλα αυτά τα χρόνια ένα βάρος που δεν μπορεί να μοιραστεί με κανέναν.
Αισθανόμενος μια βαθιά ενοχή από την νύχτα στην Νήσο των Μυστηρίων, γεμίζοντας την καρδιά του τόσο με ντροπή όσο και με λαχτάρα, ο Παρμενίων θα επιστρέψει πίσω στα κτήματά του – και το σπίτι της γυναίκας του και των τριών παιδιών του – για να προσπαθήσει να καθαρίσει το κεφάλι του, και να βάλει τις σκέψεις του και τα αισθήματά του σε τάξη.
Κι όμως, με τις πράξεις του παρελθόντος του να τον έχουν ωθήσει μακριά από το κρεβάτι και την συντροφιά της γυναίκας του, οδηγώντας τον και πάλι στους στάβλους των κτημάτων όπου μεγάλα άλογα αναθρέφονται κάτω από την επίβλεψη του Θηβαίου φίλου του, του Μοθάκ, όταν μια πλεκτάνη δολοφονίας αποκαλυφθεί μέσα από τις σκευωρίες ενός Πέρση κατασκόπου, και ο μικρός πρίγκιπας της Μακεδονίας εξαφανιστεί ξαφνικά κάτω από μυστηριώδεις περιστάσεις, ο Παρμενίων θα βρεθεί να ταξιδεύει μέσα από ξένους κόσμους γεμάτους με απερίγραπτα θαύματα και μεγάλους πολέμους, σε μια αποστολή που μπορεί να αποδειχθεί σύντομα κρίσιμη για το μέλλον της Μακεδονίας.

Εν τω μεταξύ, στο παλάτι στην Πέλλα, ο Αλέξανδρος, έχοντας γεννηθεί με ένα κακό μέσα του που έχει φέρει μονάχα το θάνατο σε οτιδήποτε αγγίζει, βλέποντας την αγάπη του πατέρα του να αντικαθιστάτε με φόβο, όταν τραβηχτεί μέσα σε έναν παράξενο κόσμο, θα βρεθεί εν μέσω ενός μεγάλου πολέμου για την κυριαρχία της χώρας και ένα ακόμη μεγαλύτερο πεπρωμένο· ο Άτταλος, έχοντας δει ξανά και ξανά την εύνοια του Φίλιππου προς τον Πρώτο Στρατηγό του να του συγχωρεί τα πάντα στο όνομα της φιλίας, γεμίζοντάς τον με μίσος και πικρία μέχρι τα βάθη της καρδιάς του, θα αναζητήσει να βάλει ένα τέλος σε αυτό μια και καλή· ενώ η Δέρη, έχοντας περάσει όλη την ζωή στον Ναό, θεραπεύοντας τους φτωχούς και τους πλούσιους, τους ταπεινούς και τους αριστοκρατικούς, όταν ο Αριστοτέλης την επισκεφθεί ξανά, θέλοντας να την πείσει να πολεμήσει για άλλη μια φορά τον Σκοτεινό Θεό από το να εκπληρώσει το όραμά του για το μέλλον, θα πρέπει να χρησιμοποιήσει το Ταλέντο της για να βοηθήσει τον Παρμενίων στις πιο δύσκολες στιγμές του.

Ωστόσο, με τα ταξίδια του με τα χρόνια να τον έχουν πάρει μέσα από παράξενους κόσμους και χώρες, εκπαιδεύοντας και οδηγώντας στρατεύματα γενναίων και θαρραλέων ανδρών ενάντια στους πιο ισχυρούς μονάρχες και τυράννους, όταν το Πνεύμα του Χάους κυριεύσει και πάλι τον Αλέξανδρο, και ο Σκοτεινός Θεός, στον πόθο του για εξουσία, αρχίσει να του τρώει την ίδια του την ψυχή – οδηγώντας τον σιγά-σιγά προς την παραφροσύνη – ο Παρμενίων θα βρεθεί γερασμένος, κουρασμένος και μόνος, αντιμετωπίζοντας έναν εχθρό πέρα από τις δυνάμεις του που, αν δεν καταφέρει να φέρει πίσω το φως μέσα στην καρδιά του αγοριού που είδε να μεγαλώνει και να αγαπά όπως κανένας άλλος, μπορεί κάλλιστα να σηματοδοτήσει μια πολύ διαφορετική εποχή για την Ελλάδα και για ολόκληρο τον κόσμο – μια εποχή σκοταδιού.

Συνεχίζοντας στον κόσμο της αρχαίων εποχών που καθιέρωσε το πρώτο βιβλίο της σειράς, το Lion of Macedon, καταφέρνοντας να φέρει την ιστορία στη ζωή ξανά μέσα από την φαντασία του, ο David Gemmel μας πηγαίνει στο Dark Prince για άλλη μια φορά στη Μακεδονία, η οποία, έχοντας πλέον ελευθερωθεί από τα φαινομενικά δεσμά που οι εχθροί της υπέβαλαν στο λαό της με τους αιώνες, συγκεντρώνοντας τεράστιες δυνάμεις και συνθλίβοντας οποιονδήποτε και τους πάντες βρεθεί στο πέρασμά της, έχει γίνει το μεγαλύτερο και σπουδαιότερο βασίλειο που έχει δει ποτέ η Ελλάδα στην ιστορία του παρελθόντος της, φέρνοντας την συνεχώς αυξανόμενη εξουσία της – και τον φόβο της δύναμής της – σε όλο τον κόσμο.
Αλλά και μεταφέροντάς μας στον παράλληλο κόσμο της Αχαΐας: μια διαλυμένη από πολέμους χώρα η οποία, κάποτε γεμάτη θαύματα και μαγεία όπου πλάσματα των αρχαίων εποχών ζούσαν ελεύθερα να χτίσουν το δικό τους πεπρωμένο, έχει πέσει στις επιθυμίες του Δαιμονικού Βασιλιά για εξουσία και αθανασία, καταστρέφοντας τον όσο ποτέ ξανά και φέρνοντα�� την Μαγεία που τα κράταγε ζωντανά σε αυτόν τον κόσμο σιγά-σιγά προς το τέλος της – μια χώρα τόσο διαφορετική όσο και όμοια με αυτή της Ελλάδας, που αποκαλύπτει τις διαφορές των πολλαπλών πιθανοτήτων και μελλόντων των παράλληλων κόσμων, όπως επίσης το μέγεθος του πολυσύμπαντός του.

Μια συνέχεια στην οποία, βασισμένος στη ζωή και τις εκστρατείες του Φίλιππου Β’ και την διαδοχή του από τον Μέγα Αλέξανδρο, ο Gemmell δημιουργεί το δικό του αρχαιοελληνικό έπος, αναμιγνύοντας την ιστορία και την μυθολογία με την φαντασία του – χτίζοντας έτσι ένα αρκετά διαφορετικό μονοπάτι του παρελθόντος, αλλά χωρίς να απομακρύνεται πάρα πολύ από τα αληθινά γεγονότα – και ταξιδεύοντάς μας σε μια μαγική ιστορία στρατηγών, μοναρχών, δαιμόνων, μάγων και μυθικών και θρυλικών πλασμάτων, αλλά και σε μια ανεπανάληπτη περιπέτεια εκστρατείας και κατάκτησης, φιλίας και αφοσίωσης, και μεγάλων ηρώων και ηγετών, που φέρνουν την – αν και μικρή – Ελληνική σειρά στο αποκορύφωμά της, κλείνοντας το ταξίδι του Παρμενίων με ένα υπέροχο και ικανοποιητικό ηρωικό φινάλε που σε κάνει να εύχεσαι να υπήρχε περισσότερο. Μονάχα λίγο περισσότερο.

Εν κατακλείδι, το Dark Prince είναι ένα άκρως συναρπαστικό και ικανοποιητικό δεύτερο μισό της Ελληνικής σειράς, με τον David Gemmell να επιστρέφει για μια τελευταία φορά μέσα στον αρχαίο κόσμο της Ελλάδας, ταξιδεύοντάς μας σε μια ιστορία μοναρχών, δαιμόνων και μάγων, αλλά και σε μια υπέροχη περιπέτεια φιλίας, αφοσίωσης και ηγεσίας που ολοκληρώνει το ταξίδι του Παρμενίων, φέρνοντας στο τέλος αυτό το πραγματικό και ανεπανάληπτο έπος.

[Jake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Double Wow, for some reason this two book series is just the kind of reading i love(book1: Lion of Macedone, book2: Dark Prince). The main character in this series is Perminion and he is a half-blood spartan that becomes the greatest general on the earth and is nicknamed "The death of Nations" he is a stud, and in short is word is his bond. he is not all good though as is the price you pay when you are a warlord as he is. The second book takes a big twist and fully entreches this novel into the realm of historical-FANTASY; if there is such a thing, whereas the first novel i thought bordered on Historical Fiction with some traces of fantasy.

Again, I have only given three books besides these two 5 stars to me, means that this is a book/series that should not be missed.

However if you are are looking for something to read, seriously read the Warlord series by Bernard Cornwell (The winter king, Enemy of God, Excalibur) I promise, you will be happy you did. And if you like that, then try this series out, another gem in my opinion.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is more fantasy than history ,the first half was slow with all the plots and alternate worlds ,the second half shows the debased Alexander murdering people and conquering nations and finally realizing what exists within him.A blend of heavily altered history and fantasy .Average read not as good as the first book in the series.

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I usually don't live Fantasy. But this book is a mix of history and fantasy and I ended up loving it. Is well written and I became fan of the author ... sequel is also amazing. Go for it!!!!!!

[Evan Montgomery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really Intresting to read about the Ancient Greek Mythology and The Great Alexander, even if there is Some Spell bound Characters in the book.
Non Stop Action!
Predicttions of the end Constantly changes.

[Daniel Ionson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent accomplishment by Gemmell. Worth the re-read.

[lézengő reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

utálom az időhorgolást meg a hasonmásosdit, még ha nem is olyan primkó, mint fawcettnél
ha biztosan tudnám, hogy többet ilyet nem csinál, ugranék a trójára vagy a rigantéra rá :(

[Druss · Rating 5 out of 5]

A much overdue reread. I had forgotten the threads and links to other Gemmell tales. So glad I returned. Better than I remember.

[Finn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The mix of history and magic; the lack of clarity between good and evil; and the battles, pace and characters of the books made them immersive to read.

[Tami · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this - it was kind of a parallel universe about Alexander the Great

[Amarilli 73 · Rating 4 out of 5]

[English review below]
Sono indietro con le recensioni e, per quanto riguarda le letture, invece di iniziare i millemila fantasy appena usciti, sono alle prese con due serie, di cui questa è più vintage che non si può. Ne ho recuperati vari volumi in inglesi, e vedrò cosa riesco a fare.
Per il momento ho concluso la dilogia greca nel ciclo Stones of Power o Sipstrassi, con il secondo volume dedicato a una rivisitazione della vita di Parmenion, generale di Alessandro Magno, trasformato da personaggio storico (vero) a eroe paranormal-fantasy, con tanto di maghi, pietre magiche e entità oscure che prendono il sopravvento sul conquistatore macedone.

Pur continuando ad amare lo stile di Gemmel (queste sono oltre 500 pagine che scorrono via con un bel ritmo), ho preferito di gran lunga il primo volume.
Amavo il Parmenion giovane, la sua crescita a Sparta e a Tebe; qui lo ritroviamo, già più vecchio e stanco di guerre e massacri). I suoi figli sono soldati come lui, ma destinati alla morte, la sua amata compare e ricompare tra le pieghe del tempo, con una sensazione costante di rammarico; il Principe Nero si scontra con la figura di Alessandro che avevo in testa (sì, erano note, le sue collere, i suoi deliri alcolici, una crudeltà celata dietro la maschera di un condottiero semidivino, ma qui, più che all'uomo, tutto è attribuito a un'influenza oscura).
Certo, il finale riserva un contentino, ma il sentimento predominante è l'amarezza, per cui questa lettura ti provoca il forte bisogno di epic con una maggior dose di speranza.
A presto con (spero) la trilogia del Jerusalem Man.

*****

For the time being, I have completed the Greek dilogy in the Stones of Power or Sipstrassi cycle, with the second volume devoted to a retelling of the life of Parmenion, Alexander the Great's general, transformed from a (real) historical character into a paranormal fantastic hero, complete with wizards, magic stones and dark entities taking over the Macedonian conqueror.
While I still love Gemmell's style (these are over 500 pages that flow at a nice pace), I much preferred the first volume.

I loved the young Parmenion, his growing up in Sparta and Thebes; here we find him older and tired of wars and massacres). His sons are soldiers like him, but destined to die; his beloved appears and reappears in the folds of time, with a constant feeling of regret; the Black Prince clashes with the figure of Alexander I had in my head (yes, they were well known, his tantrums, his alcoholic delirium, a cruelty hidden behind the mask of a semi-divine leader, but here everything is attributed to a dark influence instead of the man).

Of course, there is a sweetener at the end, but the overriding feeling is one of bitterness, so that this reading makes you long for an epic with a greater dose of hope.
See you soon with (I hope) the Jerusalem Man trilogy.

[Amzon_Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS.CANNOT.BE.BEATEN-EVER!

As above—this is truly the best of the best. To have a mind and imagination capable of this content, quality and immensely mind enhancing philosophy; it has enhanced my minds utterly.

HUGELY Important: Read These Books In Order! The ‘Sipstrassi’ Collection should be read as follows:

Chronological order

Lion of Macedon
Dark Prince

Ghost King
Last Sword of Power

Wolf in Shadow
The Last Guardian
Bloodstone
—- —- —-

There are conversations between the MC & the (notional) Aristotle that will completely blow the mind. Some content on theories of Space|Time, Spirit Worlds and Philosophies are the work of total genius by DG.

I made lot’s highlights here & they’ll keep me busy for a long time: links/thoughts; so much so I’d say the money I paid for DG’s Biblio. COMPLETE (both in paperback & digital) is worth the content highlights in this book.

Yes, hundreds of pounds for a fantastic collection in both formats is a brilliant investment for what I’ve gained from the highlights in this book alone. Never mind all the other series’ are well worth it too.

If you consider yourself a reader of top quality writing, like things that make you think about everything: life, existence etc. then no sane and sensible reader should be without these books - huge acclaim from me!

Go forth, fellow fantasists, philosophers, warriors, thinkers and readers, and join with many others in what should be called ‘The Cult Of David Gemmell.’ It’s a thing you’ll never regret, this’s reading as it should be!

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sequel to David Gemmell's earlier Lion of Macedon, with more emphasis on the mystical elements this time around: whereas that earlier novel was perhaps 90/10 in favour of history, this is (IMO) closer to 40/60.

As the novel starts, Alexander is but a 4 year old and Parmenion is out of favour with Philip of Macedon, who is jealous of the Spartan general's success in battle. Alexander is still plagued by the Chaos Spirit, and - at around the 1/4 mark - is magically transported into an alternate Greece, where the myths and monsters of Greek legend are all real. With a little help from Aristotle and the Siptrassi stones, Parmenion is soon off on a rescue mission, accompanied by Philip's assassin Attalus (without Philips knowledge). The bulk of this novel - parts 2 and 3 (of 4) - then takes place in that alternate Greece, with Parmenion - again - reliving his past and playing a key role in proceedings, before it returns to 'our' Greece for the final part of the novel.

As is standard for Gemmell, lots of musing on the nature of Good and evil throughout, and with a conflicted central protagonist.

[Victor Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

More like a solid 4.3. I rated the Lion of Macedon more highly because that felt like a more rounded and cohesive story, but this is largely just as enjoyable, and some aspects are executed even better. I must say that for whatever reason, I expected this to be more from Alexander's perspective than it ended up being, and I do wish we were privy to his internal struggle more than we are, especially in the 4th and final part of the book. This remains Parmenion's story first and foremost. The final part of the book seemed rushed for me, almost like the Greek series could've easily been a trilogy. The only way I could justify the quickened ending (there's a lot of jumping through the years and not as much internal dialogue as previously) is that because this is towards the end of Parmenion's life, the years flash by more quickly, sort of like an elderly haze. Something tells me it also had to do with the extensive research that would have been required to focus more on the years of Alexander's conquests. In the end, I did thoroughly enjoy, and the last few chapters were almost psychedelic in their execution. Loved Derae's role in the story.

[Sam Goodings · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a huge David Gemmell fan and have been rationing reading his books since his death. This was the penultimate fantasy of his that I have left, just Legend of Deathwalker to go.

Dark Prince is something of a departure from Lion of Macedon. Although it picks up the story of Parmenion, Philip and Alexander, it has far more fantasy elements than its predecessor and is less focused on the history of the time, much of the story taking place in an alternate world.

I have seen from the reviews that this didn't please everyone, especially those who are looking for a more authentic account of the period. Personally I enjoyed the story and thought Gemmell managed to weave history and fantasy together skilfully.

[Peter · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars.

This second book in the Greek series felt like it should not really have been written. It felt like David Gemmell had not really more story then for one novella but he grafted another story based on Greek folklore he had laying around on top of this. This book feels very rambly with all sorts of tropes, half formed ideas and time travel that Gemmell used to better effect in some of his other stories.

Of course David Gemmell did not suddenly forget how to write so the dialogues, characters and especially the fight scenes are still very enjoyable. Don't judge Gemmell based on this books. There are others you should probably read before you pick up this one.