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Heroes of Troy #1
The Fall of the Phoenix
The long siege of Troy, the battles fought over it, and the city's eventual capitulation and incineration are events which have often been retold since their first recitation by Homer. Seldom, however, will they have been narrated with such close attention to the minute particulars of battle, to its reek and terror and pain, as in this startling account by Daniel Kelly. Kelly looks minutely at every detail of archaic combat, as well as at the lives and feelings shaped by it. His Troy is not only a scene of shining glory, but also a grimy struggle for survival and mastery. And he introduces surprising what if not everything in the Trojan war came to pass just as Homer tells us? What if the future of the Roman empire were hidden in the burning ashes of Troy's - and not in the way we might expect?
244 pages, Paperback
First published August 30, 2018
20 people are currently reading
9741 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Kelly
2 books134 followersIrish Author. Born in Donegal on the northern edge of the wild Atlantic way. If you have never been, I highly recommend that you visit and you will see exactly why I love history. Great teachers and a love of good historical fiction authors broadened my love of ancient history to a worldwide level. I would love to have a go at writing some of our own amazing Irish legends one day.
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August 19, 2024Daniel Kelly gave me a copy of the book at Bristolcon last year (2019), or more accurately: in the bar just outside Bristolcon which is where I'm to be found on Bristolcon day (though not this year as the event is cancelled).
He's a nice guy, so I read it.
I'm not sure what genre you'd call it. It's a re-imagining of the fall of Troy, but it's not a fantasy, there's no magic and no divine intervention. And you couldn't really call it historical fiction since it's based on myth rather than history. Perhaps mythological fiction, but the actual myth had gods and magic...
Anyway. for the majority of the book the plot appears to stick fairly closely to the classical version. Achilles has his fight with Hector over the death of Patroclus (who is now a younger brother rather than an slightly older and very close friend). We see Agamemnon and Odysseus etc.
The size of the armies are in line with the (to my mind somewhat dubious) Homeric claims, i.e around 200,000 for the Greeks. And we join the action in the 10th year of the siege.
Kelly doesn't spend a lot of time making the setting feel 3000+ years ago, but the Greek legends are so bedded in our psyche that most of us come with the groundwork in place.
There were times I had problems envisioning the scale of the place and how the Trojans ate for a decade under siege. The famous wooden horse for example is described as having its belly 50 feet off the ground. And later it's dragged in through the gates. I never figured out if the gates are stupendously tall or if they simply sealed a gap in the walls.
To humanise the scale of the thing we see a lot of the story through the eyes of a "random" boy and we're plugged into his family drama. Our boy is, of course, sucked into the midst of things and soon gets to follow Achilles around.
When the departure from the traditional story line occurs it's a fairly dramatic one - which is nice - though I did struggle with some of the motivations for the deviation.
For me the main interest, rather than characters or world building was simply to see how the story would go/end. I feel this was probably the author's focus too as we shift from character to character following the main thread of the story and abandoning points of view when they leave focus.
If you like swords and sandals fantasy without the fantasy, and take your wine in an amphora then you might want to beach your ship with the Greeks' thousand and watch Troy burn with Mr Kelly.
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..
He's a nice guy, so I read it.
I'm not sure what genre you'd call it. It's a re-imagining of the fall of Troy, but it's not a fantasy, there's no magic and no divine intervention. And you couldn't really call it historical fiction since it's based on myth rather than history. Perhaps mythological fiction, but the actual myth had gods and magic...
Anyway. for the majority of the book the plot appears to stick fairly closely to the classical version. Achilles has his fight with Hector over the death of Patroclus (who is now a younger brother rather than an slightly older and very close friend). We see Agamemnon and Odysseus etc.
The size of the armies are in line with the (to my mind somewhat dubious) Homeric claims, i.e around 200,000 for the Greeks. And we join the action in the 10th year of the siege.
Kelly doesn't spend a lot of time making the setting feel 3000+ years ago, but the Greek legends are so bedded in our psyche that most of us come with the groundwork in place.
There were times I had problems envisioning the scale of the place and how the Trojans ate for a decade under siege. The famous wooden horse for example is described as having its belly 50 feet off the ground. And later it's dragged in through the gates. I never figured out if the gates are stupendously tall or if they simply sealed a gap in the walls.
To humanise the scale of the thing we see a lot of the story through the eyes of a "random" boy and we're plugged into his family drama. Our boy is, of course, sucked into the midst of things and soon gets to follow Achilles around.
When the departure from the traditional story line occurs it's a fairly dramatic one - which is nice - though I did struggle with some of the motivations for the deviation.
For me the main interest, rather than characters or world building was simply to see how the story would go/end. I feel this was probably the author's focus too as we shift from character to character following the main thread of the story and abandoning points of view when they leave focus.
If you like swords and sandals fantasy without the fantasy, and take your wine in an amphora then you might want to beach your ship with the Greeks' thousand and watch Troy burn with Mr Kelly.
Join my Patreon
Join my 3-emails-a-year newsletter #prizes
..
June 9, 2020
There is something to be said about writing a period piece that feels so organic in the delivery as The Fall of The Phoenix does. From the first page to the last, it summons the reader to be part of the atmospheric and antiquated time of the Trojan War, seemingly effortlessly allured, filled with valor, honor, and heart.
At center stage are the familiar players like Hector, Achilles, Agamemnon, Odysseus, Ajax, Priam, and Diomedes but also a few other key figures important in the turn of events in this novel as well as Homer himself!
The story begins near the end of the long 10-year Trojan War that has left the citizens of Troy marginally starving and depleted of their resources. Greek troops have made camp on the beach all these years while fresh supplies have come in from the homeland in steady intervals to their aid and nourishment; but they are weary and ready to go home - it has been a long 10 years. Word has it that northern horse tribes are threatening the homes and families of the Greek citizens and the Trojan War has to come to an end once and for all so the soldiers can go home.
HECTOR KNOWS HE WILL DIE TODAY.
Under the warm morning sun, one man stood alone in a circle, surrounded by enemies bent on destroying his city. His circle of twenty, his personal bodyguard, unmoving; facing outwards with heavy shields, spears in hand and sheathed swords, hey seemed a fairly flimsy barrier around the ring.
Resplendent in the heavy bronze armour of a prince of his city, Hector looked out across the sea of faces, all of whom wanted him dead. He didn't fear them, however; he knew that none dared approach, though unafraid of him: any of them would die happy if they were the on to take his life, knowing that their name would live down through the ages. A trumped blasted further down the beach, and at this, he did feel fear; it echoed in his head as his won death toll, because this was the day he would die."
In the breath of premonition, Hector falls while an arrow misses its mark. Achilles drags his opponent into the gates of Troy while he finds the archer of the untimely arrow; a young Diomedes all eager to take his father's place in the phalanx but too young to join.
Achilles takes the young Trojan to be his servant boy back to his camp and teaches him a lesson or two. He provides Diomedes with lavish foods he hasn’t had in years and makes him partake in the preparations for the funeral for his fallen brother Patroclus. As Achilles guides the lad in sparring lessons and moments of heart to heart conversations, one might think he is preparing him for something still to come.
BUT THE TROJANS ARE READY FOR A SURPRISE ATTACK AND A VICTORY FOR THEIR MORALE.
"But today I tell you that Troy is not dead because of the fall of one man, because Troy is much greater than any one man! Troy is the spirit, the embodiment, of all men who want to be free of the yoke of Mycenaean oppression. I tell you today that, as long as one man is left to defend the phoenix the Troy lives."
As the Trojans relish in their zealot roars, the Greeks prepare new plans of their own in the form of an offering so they can go back home to Greece marking one last strike.
This is the part of the book where Kelly's tools of deception make the grand entrance to the story that will flip what you know of the original in a well thought out and masterfully choreographed inception of twists and turns into a new work of intrigue. Most ingeniously, this new narrative welcomes a different mythology to the plot that furthers a provoking addition of characters and events, offering the possibility of a "New" Iliad by Homer, who makes his appearance at the most opportune moment.
There is still a Trojan horse, but the battle tactics and strategies of the adversaries are new and different in this version of the story. One thing the Trojans have left at their disposal in defense for this last battle is sand…en masse! So what do you do with all of it? You lure the opponents into it. That’s all I can say without giving it away.
Well-loved heroes shine while others fall and just maybe, the Trojans will live on….
***
What a great read!
This book had me dabble in some research on events, timelines, and characters. I knew I was on to something interesting as soon as I learned of this novel and am so happy my hunch on it was confirmed.
As a lover of historical fiction and fantasy, I was eagerly anticipating the surprises in this novel. With my shield held at the ready as I began to read, my armor proved to not hold up for very long and Kelly's narrative took to slaying my emotions in less than a quarter into the book. I love it when that happens! What can I say? I'm a sucker for little ones, like young Diomedes and lil’ old ladies, though those were not in here.
The blurb on the back of the book describes THE FALL OF THE PHOENIX "narrated with such close attention to the minute particulars of battle" and I do agree with that. The scenes were certainly captivating and engrossing, but I also found it to be in balance with political intrigue and the characterization of the key players.
While the first part of this novel shines by building up tension in the plot and characters with a few changes from the original, the latter takes home the cake as it capitalizes on the very cleverly injected turn of events drawing from other mythology and a decisive plan by the leaders of the respective factions. THIS was so unexpected and brilliant at the same time, it had me completely astonished. Nicely done!
I definitely recommend this gem of a book to ALL OF YOU!
Enjoy :)
I received a physical copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Thank you :)
More of my reviews here:
Through Novel Time & Distance
At center stage are the familiar players like Hector, Achilles, Agamemnon, Odysseus, Ajax, Priam, and Diomedes but also a few other key figures important in the turn of events in this novel as well as Homer himself!
The story begins near the end of the long 10-year Trojan War that has left the citizens of Troy marginally starving and depleted of their resources. Greek troops have made camp on the beach all these years while fresh supplies have come in from the homeland in steady intervals to their aid and nourishment; but they are weary and ready to go home - it has been a long 10 years. Word has it that northern horse tribes are threatening the homes and families of the Greek citizens and the Trojan War has to come to an end once and for all so the soldiers can go home.
HECTOR KNOWS HE WILL DIE TODAY.
Under the warm morning sun, one man stood alone in a circle, surrounded by enemies bent on destroying his city. His circle of twenty, his personal bodyguard, unmoving; facing outwards with heavy shields, spears in hand and sheathed swords, hey seemed a fairly flimsy barrier around the ring.
Resplendent in the heavy bronze armour of a prince of his city, Hector looked out across the sea of faces, all of whom wanted him dead. He didn't fear them, however; he knew that none dared approach, though unafraid of him: any of them would die happy if they were the on to take his life, knowing that their name would live down through the ages. A trumped blasted further down the beach, and at this, he did feel fear; it echoed in his head as his won death toll, because this was the day he would die."
In the breath of premonition, Hector falls while an arrow misses its mark. Achilles drags his opponent into the gates of Troy while he finds the archer of the untimely arrow; a young Diomedes all eager to take his father's place in the phalanx but too young to join.
Achilles takes the young Trojan to be his servant boy back to his camp and teaches him a lesson or two. He provides Diomedes with lavish foods he hasn’t had in years and makes him partake in the preparations for the funeral for his fallen brother Patroclus. As Achilles guides the lad in sparring lessons and moments of heart to heart conversations, one might think he is preparing him for something still to come.
BUT THE TROJANS ARE READY FOR A SURPRISE ATTACK AND A VICTORY FOR THEIR MORALE.
"But today I tell you that Troy is not dead because of the fall of one man, because Troy is much greater than any one man! Troy is the spirit, the embodiment, of all men who want to be free of the yoke of Mycenaean oppression. I tell you today that, as long as one man is left to defend the phoenix the Troy lives."
As the Trojans relish in their zealot roars, the Greeks prepare new plans of their own in the form of an offering so they can go back home to Greece marking one last strike.
This is the part of the book where Kelly's tools of deception make the grand entrance to the story that will flip what you know of the original in a well thought out and masterfully choreographed inception of twists and turns into a new work of intrigue. Most ingeniously, this new narrative welcomes a different mythology to the plot that furthers a provoking addition of characters and events, offering the possibility of a "New" Iliad by Homer, who makes his appearance at the most opportune moment.
There is still a Trojan horse, but the battle tactics and strategies of the adversaries are new and different in this version of the story. One thing the Trojans have left at their disposal in defense for this last battle is sand…en masse! So what do you do with all of it? You lure the opponents into it. That’s all I can say without giving it away.
Well-loved heroes shine while others fall and just maybe, the Trojans will live on….
***
What a great read!
This book had me dabble in some research on events, timelines, and characters. I knew I was on to something interesting as soon as I learned of this novel and am so happy my hunch on it was confirmed.
As a lover of historical fiction and fantasy, I was eagerly anticipating the surprises in this novel. With my shield held at the ready as I began to read, my armor proved to not hold up for very long and Kelly's narrative took to slaying my emotions in less than a quarter into the book. I love it when that happens! What can I say? I'm a sucker for little ones, like young Diomedes and lil’ old ladies, though those were not in here.
The blurb on the back of the book describes THE FALL OF THE PHOENIX "narrated with such close attention to the minute particulars of battle" and I do agree with that. The scenes were certainly captivating and engrossing, but I also found it to be in balance with political intrigue and the characterization of the key players.
While the first part of this novel shines by building up tension in the plot and characters with a few changes from the original, the latter takes home the cake as it capitalizes on the very cleverly injected turn of events drawing from other mythology and a decisive plan by the leaders of the respective factions. THIS was so unexpected and brilliant at the same time, it had me completely astonished. Nicely done!
I definitely recommend this gem of a book to ALL OF YOU!
Enjoy :)
I received a physical copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Thank you :)
More of my reviews here:
Through Novel Time & Distance
June 17, 2019
Inside the Trojan horse and other secrets
Irish author Daniel Kelly received his training as a chef from Tourism College, Killybegs and has pursued his passion for history by creating this fascinating book about Troy, offering fresh insights into the Trojan War and the famous heroes of Greek literature.
Daniel’s writing style is conducive to penetrating fact from fiction, as his opening Prologue suggests – ‘Under the warm morning sun one man stood alone in a circle, surrounded by enemies bent on destroying his city. His circle of twenty, his personal bodyguard, unmoving; facing outwards with heavy shields, spears in hand and sheathed swords, they seemed a fairly flimsy barrier around the ring. Resplendent in the heavy bronze armour of a prince of his city, Hector looked out across the sea of faces, all of whom wanted him dead. He didn’t fear them, however; he knew that none dared approach, though unafraid of him: any of them would die happy if they were the one to take his life, knowing that their name would live down through the ages. A trumpet blasted further down the beach, and at this he did feel fear; it echoed in his head as his own death toll, because this was the day he would die. The man who held his enemies at bay was approaching. Achilles, his childhood friend, his training companion, had claimed the right to his life that very morning as revenge for the death of his little brother: a right Hector could not deny. Watching the approach of the black-armoured Myrmidons leading Achilles on his chariot, Hector recalled every training bout he had ever fought against Achilles, and vainly tried to remember some slip, some weakness shown. Achilles was a legend come to life; he never made the same mistake twice, and remembered every trick. At fourteen, he had bested his tutors.’
This book explores the historic time surround the Trojan war with such definitive skill that all lovers of ancient history will discover a new light on the mysteries surrounding mythology and history. Daniel’s detailed accounts of battles and skirmishes and relationships are so raw and vivid that the legends come to life as never before. Hopefully this fine writer will continue his explorations of history with further books of the quality of this one. Highly recommended
Irish author Daniel Kelly received his training as a chef from Tourism College, Killybegs and has pursued his passion for history by creating this fascinating book about Troy, offering fresh insights into the Trojan War and the famous heroes of Greek literature.
Daniel’s writing style is conducive to penetrating fact from fiction, as his opening Prologue suggests – ‘Under the warm morning sun one man stood alone in a circle, surrounded by enemies bent on destroying his city. His circle of twenty, his personal bodyguard, unmoving; facing outwards with heavy shields, spears in hand and sheathed swords, they seemed a fairly flimsy barrier around the ring. Resplendent in the heavy bronze armour of a prince of his city, Hector looked out across the sea of faces, all of whom wanted him dead. He didn’t fear them, however; he knew that none dared approach, though unafraid of him: any of them would die happy if they were the one to take his life, knowing that their name would live down through the ages. A trumpet blasted further down the beach, and at this he did feel fear; it echoed in his head as his own death toll, because this was the day he would die. The man who held his enemies at bay was approaching. Achilles, his childhood friend, his training companion, had claimed the right to his life that very morning as revenge for the death of his little brother: a right Hector could not deny. Watching the approach of the black-armoured Myrmidons leading Achilles on his chariot, Hector recalled every training bout he had ever fought against Achilles, and vainly tried to remember some slip, some weakness shown. Achilles was a legend come to life; he never made the same mistake twice, and remembered every trick. At fourteen, he had bested his tutors.’
This book explores the historic time surround the Trojan war with such definitive skill that all lovers of ancient history will discover a new light on the mysteries surrounding mythology and history. Daniel’s detailed accounts of battles and skirmishes and relationships are so raw and vivid that the legends come to life as never before. Hopefully this fine writer will continue his explorations of history with further books of the quality of this one. Highly recommended
September 5, 2021
WOW! This book is bold and I am here for it.
January 18, 2021
This gets 5-stars for me.
Many of you will have read something of these events in the past, or you will have seen the film 'Troy'; but haven't you always wanted to know more about the ins and outs of characters like Hector and Achilles? Haven't you ever wanted a different angle on the story? A different outcome, perhaps?
Well, here in this first book of a series you will discover just those things. You will obviously get battles, and there will be some love and betrayal in there too. There is also a coming-of-age element in there; so those of you who like the idea of the birth of new heroes, stand ready.
I won't muddy the waters any further by babbling on; I shall just say that I enjoyed the journey and that I will be happy to read the following instalments of this series. This is well worth your time if you like the idea of a series based on the events of Troy.
Thanks for reading.
Many of you will have read something of these events in the past, or you will have seen the film 'Troy'; but haven't you always wanted to know more about the ins and outs of characters like Hector and Achilles? Haven't you ever wanted a different angle on the story? A different outcome, perhaps?
Well, here in this first book of a series you will discover just those things. You will obviously get battles, and there will be some love and betrayal in there too. There is also a coming-of-age element in there; so those of you who like the idea of the birth of new heroes, stand ready.
I won't muddy the waters any further by babbling on; I shall just say that I enjoyed the journey and that I will be happy to read the following instalments of this series. This is well worth your time if you like the idea of a series based on the events of Troy.
Thanks for reading.
August 29, 2020
An Irish look at an old story
Typical of Irish stories there is no happy ending as two nation's struggle for superiority as the oldest of stories gets a new voice
Typical of Irish stories there is no happy ending as two nation's struggle for superiority as the oldest of stories gets a new voice
August 18, 2021
I received a gifted copy of this book to read and review in exchange for an honest review as part of the book tour hosted by The Book Scenes Tours.
The Fall of the Phoenix is the first book in the historical fiction series Heroes of Troy.
This book follows Achilles and Hector who's friendship changed after Hector's sword came in contact with the blood of Patroclus.
The story begins towards the end of a long and tiresome 10 year war - The Trojan War.
There are many recognisable characters within this book: Odyssus and Priam being two of them and all of whom played important and memorable roles within this story.
This book is fast paced and full of Greek mythology which I can never get enough of. I loved how the author wove this story and made it quite unique - I struggled to pull myself away from this book! The scenes were amazing and I could clearly visualise them from such detailed writing, and the authors clever spin on the original tale is true genius!
Fans of historical fiction and mythology need to read this!
Now for book two!!!
The Fall of the Phoenix is the first book in the historical fiction series Heroes of Troy.
This book follows Achilles and Hector who's friendship changed after Hector's sword came in contact with the blood of Patroclus.
The story begins towards the end of a long and tiresome 10 year war - The Trojan War.
There are many recognisable characters within this book: Odyssus and Priam being two of them and all of whom played important and memorable roles within this story.
This book is fast paced and full of Greek mythology which I can never get enough of. I loved how the author wove this story and made it quite unique - I struggled to pull myself away from this book! The scenes were amazing and I could clearly visualise them from such detailed writing, and the authors clever spin on the original tale is true genius!
Fans of historical fiction and mythology need to read this!
Now for book two!!!
June 19, 2019
I have to admit my knowledge of the Trojan war is just what I’ve picked up from movies and TV, but I found Kelly’s book to be quite enthralling which I wasn’t sure about before I began to read it. The writing is very visual and this would make a great adaption for a movie or mini-series. The characters are larger than life with great dialogue and everything pulls together to make a book historical fiction fans will love. Even those that aren’t particularly interested in the period but love thrilling fiction will get a real kick out of this too.
November 25, 2018
The Fall of the Phoenix by Daniel Kelly gives us a look at the ancient city of Troy in a way in which we've never seen it before. We get to experience what daily life was like behind the walls, we sneak a peek at the machinations of the powerful and the would-be powerful, and we are granted a front row seat at some of the most epic battles in history. And though we know that it can't all end happily from the Trojans, it's the getting there that makes this book an exciting and entertaining read.
The Fall of the Phoenix opens with the famous duel between Troy's favorite son, Hector, and the Greek hero, Achilles. Once friends, these two are now out for blood, and boy do they get it. Their epic fight is described in all of its gory detail, setting a wonderfully gruesome tone for the rest of the book. Daniel Kelly has clearly done his homework, and his clear, concise writing style can't help but draw the reader into the story. But this is no history lesson, nor is it a mere blow-by-blow accounting of the Trojans struggle for survival. This is tale of real people caught in an impossible situation, doing what they can and often what they must. It serves as a potent reminder that heroes and villains can come from the unlikeliest of places, and that the difference between the two is almost always a matter of perspective. Five enthusiastic stars for The Fall of the Phoenix and for Daniel Kelly. I can't wait to see where he'll take us next!
The Fall of the Phoenix opens with the famous duel between Troy's favorite son, Hector, and the Greek hero, Achilles. Once friends, these two are now out for blood, and boy do they get it. Their epic fight is described in all of its gory detail, setting a wonderfully gruesome tone for the rest of the book. Daniel Kelly has clearly done his homework, and his clear, concise writing style can't help but draw the reader into the story. But this is no history lesson, nor is it a mere blow-by-blow accounting of the Trojans struggle for survival. This is tale of real people caught in an impossible situation, doing what they can and often what they must. It serves as a potent reminder that heroes and villains can come from the unlikeliest of places, and that the difference between the two is almost always a matter of perspective. Five enthusiastic stars for The Fall of the Phoenix and for Daniel Kelly. I can't wait to see where he'll take us next!
March 27, 2020
Full disclosure - the author gave me a free copy of the book, but having said that I wouldn't have reviewed it unless I'd enjoyed it.( Or I'd really hated it to the point that keeping quiet would have annoyed me, I suppose.)
Fortunately, the former was true. This is a hugely entertaining slice of historical fiction, drawing on historical source with a little tweaking to make it work better as fiction. It's a debut novel (so far as I'm aware) and there's a little roughness especially at the start, but VERY few debuts are perfectly polished. Quickly it settles into an absorbing slice of history with normal, flawed people living through legendary times, furious action and tragic heroism. He doesn't dwell upon the violence, but nor does he shy from the reality and to me it seemed an honest portrayal of how battle would be viewed by ancient warriors. Highly recommended!
Fortunately, the former was true. This is a hugely entertaining slice of historical fiction, drawing on historical source with a little tweaking to make it work better as fiction. It's a debut novel (so far as I'm aware) and there's a little roughness especially at the start, but VERY few debuts are perfectly polished. Quickly it settles into an absorbing slice of history with normal, flawed people living through legendary times, furious action and tragic heroism. He doesn't dwell upon the violence, but nor does he shy from the reality and to me it seemed an honest portrayal of how battle would be viewed by ancient warriors. Highly recommended!
November 2, 2018
a modern view of the war of troy where the gods have been replaced with the greed of men
August 25, 2020
I received a free copy from the Author in exchange for my honest review
It really doesn’t matter how many times I read them, I’m always down for a mythology/historical fiction retelling 😂 There is just so much to examine and play around with that every story brings something new and I was very excited to see what new lens The Fall of the Phoenix would bring to the fall of Troy.
This novel does rely a little on the reader already knowing some of the story of Troy, but only so that it can flip it on its head, and it is very fun to watch it play out. Kelly's writing shines in the small moments: the battle between Achilles and Hector (excellent!), the scene of the final reveal (no spoilers, but it’s good 😘), and the death of Priscus (which was hands down my favourite scene in the novel, it was so poignant, so full of emotion, and so freaking good; I would read the heck out of a book that followed the build up to that scene).
The fairly large cast with POVs also allowed us to see many angles of the fall of Troy, however, this did feel like a weak point for such a short book, since it did leave the novel feeling just a little unfocused.
With the ability to write scenes that hook you in, I can’t wait to see what Kelly does next, though I will be selfish and hope for more mythos 😁
It really doesn’t matter how many times I read them, I’m always down for a mythology/historical fiction retelling 😂 There is just so much to examine and play around with that every story brings something new and I was very excited to see what new lens The Fall of the Phoenix would bring to the fall of Troy.
This novel does rely a little on the reader already knowing some of the story of Troy, but only so that it can flip it on its head, and it is very fun to watch it play out. Kelly's writing shines in the small moments: the battle between Achilles and Hector (excellent!), the scene of the final reveal (no spoilers, but it’s good 😘), and the death of Priscus (which was hands down my favourite scene in the novel, it was so poignant, so full of emotion, and so freaking good; I would read the heck out of a book that followed the build up to that scene).
The fairly large cast with POVs also allowed us to see many angles of the fall of Troy, however, this did feel like a weak point for such a short book, since it did leave the novel feeling just a little unfocused.
With the ability to write scenes that hook you in, I can’t wait to see what Kelly does next, though I will be selfish and hope for more mythos 😁
November 2, 2018
A gritty, very human, take on an epic battle. This fresh perspective was totally engrossing. I couldn't put it down!
August 4, 2021
So you think you know the story of Troy. Think again. Author Daniel Kelly starts his Heroes of Troy series with a simple question: What if the stories passed down by Homer were at best an exaggeration, and at worst, a straight-up lie? It's an interesting concept, and one that instantly drew me in. The Fall of the Phoenix is told through the POV of Achilles, the greatest warrior of the time, and a young boy named Diomedes Achilles takes under the wing, and follows the events at the end of the Trojan war.
Immediately I was sucked in by Kelly's writing. His characters are well fleshed out, and the fighting is fast-paced and well written. It's a very easy book to read and devour, one of those books it's hard to put down because you want to follow the action. I would have given this novel a higher rating, except there were some problems I simply could not overlook.
If I were to ask the average person to name one central figure of the Trojan war, I think 9 out of 10 would say: Helen. And yet, Helen is not in this story. I don't even think she's even mentioned. This wouldn't be a problem really, except there are no women at all. No Cassandra. No Andromache. No Queen Hecabe. No Briseis. Even the female gods (you know, the ones arguably responsible for this war - Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite) aren't mentioned. Every iteration of this story I have ever read had prominent female characters. And it's not because ancient writers were progressive or anything. Female characters in the story of Troy are significant because it underlines the fact that this war was an invasion, that families with women and children were being protected behind the walls of Troy. The Greeks fought for glory and power. The Trojans fought for home, for their families. But in Kelly's book, it almost feels like the men are away at a summer camp for war.
Then comes the most troubling matter. Reading the blurb on the back of the book, a big deal is made about how Kelly will bring historical accuracy to the battles and daily lives of these ancient people in a way that's never been shown before. How Kelly thinks he can write about ancient war and lives better than ancient writers is mind-boggling to me. It would be better to say that Kelly brings a modern sensibility to the novel, and I'm not sure that's needed, or wanted.
For example, take the character of Achilles. Kelly has completely rewritten this character so he is kind-hearted, always putting others before himself, and a patriot to the Greeks (which is doubly strange since the concept of Greeks didn't really exist at the time - this was an army made up of alliancing of many different nations). In this novel, Achilles is a true leader among men. This is a very modern concept of a character, and bears no resemblance to who and what Achilles is and represents. Not the mention the ending completely undermines the choice Achilles made, between giving his life to glory in warfare, versus dedicating his long days to home and family.
Obviously, Kelly either did not do a lot of research on the ancient texts or purposefully ignored them. He's operating under the assumption that Homer came up with the story of Troy, or at least was the first person to write about it. The most cringeworthy moment comes at the end, when Homer literally shows up at the end to get the details of the battle from Agamemnon. This would be the equivalent of writing a novel about Alexander Hamilton, and ending it with a young musician named Lin-Manuel Miranda showing up to ask Eliza about her husband. Homer, if he existed at all, lived about 3 or 4 hundred years AFTER the fall of Troy. He neither wrote the first nor the definitive version of the Iliad.
And don't even get me started on the whole Remus and Romulus things (two mythical characters that actually would have been Homer's contemporaries, but definitely should not exist at this time) and their 'true' identities.
If Kelly had written a novel about a Bronze Age siege and had not tried to rewrite one of the greatest stories ever told, I would have loved this novel to death. As I said, it's very well written, and most of the details Kelly gets spot-on. I would highly recommend this novel to a person who's never read the Iliad, or heard the word Troy before. And personally, I would love to read a more original work from Kelly.
Immediately I was sucked in by Kelly's writing. His characters are well fleshed out, and the fighting is fast-paced and well written. It's a very easy book to read and devour, one of those books it's hard to put down because you want to follow the action. I would have given this novel a higher rating, except there were some problems I simply could not overlook.
If I were to ask the average person to name one central figure of the Trojan war, I think 9 out of 10 would say: Helen. And yet, Helen is not in this story. I don't even think she's even mentioned. This wouldn't be a problem really, except there are no women at all. No Cassandra. No Andromache. No Queen Hecabe. No Briseis. Even the female gods (you know, the ones arguably responsible for this war - Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite) aren't mentioned. Every iteration of this story I have ever read had prominent female characters. And it's not because ancient writers were progressive or anything. Female characters in the story of Troy are significant because it underlines the fact that this war was an invasion, that families with women and children were being protected behind the walls of Troy. The Greeks fought for glory and power. The Trojans fought for home, for their families. But in Kelly's book, it almost feels like the men are away at a summer camp for war.
Then comes the most troubling matter. Reading the blurb on the back of the book, a big deal is made about how Kelly will bring historical accuracy to the battles and daily lives of these ancient people in a way that's never been shown before. How Kelly thinks he can write about ancient war and lives better than ancient writers is mind-boggling to me. It would be better to say that Kelly brings a modern sensibility to the novel, and I'm not sure that's needed, or wanted.
For example, take the character of Achilles. Kelly has completely rewritten this character so he is kind-hearted, always putting others before himself, and a patriot to the Greeks (which is doubly strange since the concept of Greeks didn't really exist at the time - this was an army made up of alliancing of many different nations). In this novel, Achilles is a true leader among men. This is a very modern concept of a character, and bears no resemblance to who and what Achilles is and represents. Not the mention the ending completely undermines the choice Achilles made, between giving his life to glory in warfare, versus dedicating his long days to home and family.
Obviously, Kelly either did not do a lot of research on the ancient texts or purposefully ignored them. He's operating under the assumption that Homer came up with the story of Troy, or at least was the first person to write about it. The most cringeworthy moment comes at the end, when Homer literally shows up at the end to get the details of the battle from Agamemnon. This would be the equivalent of writing a novel about Alexander Hamilton, and ending it with a young musician named Lin-Manuel Miranda showing up to ask Eliza about her husband. Homer, if he existed at all, lived about 3 or 4 hundred years AFTER the fall of Troy. He neither wrote the first nor the definitive version of the Iliad.
And don't even get me started on the whole Remus and Romulus things (two mythical characters that actually would have been Homer's contemporaries, but definitely should not exist at this time) and their 'true' identities.
If Kelly had written a novel about a Bronze Age siege and had not tried to rewrite one of the greatest stories ever told, I would have loved this novel to death. As I said, it's very well written, and most of the details Kelly gets spot-on. I would highly recommend this novel to a person who's never read the Iliad, or heard the word Troy before. And personally, I would love to read a more original work from Kelly.
July 30, 2019
Daniel’s historical fiction takes full advantage of its source material – both its strengths and weaknesses – to weave a tale from the final days of the mythic Trojan War. He captures the full grandeur of its heroes on both sides (Hector, Achilles, Priam, Agamemnon, Odysseus, and many others). Though a new telling, most of these famous characters feel true to personas we’ve associated with all of them. But he also takes advantage the conflicting source material to spurn some of the details (and timeline) to form another account, no less probable than any of the authoritative sources, and more in tune with the tastes of audiences in the modern West. Perhaps the greatest testament to the book is that you go in guarded against falling in love with the Trojan characters, knowing the fate the must befall at least most and likely all of them, but you find you can’t. The result is a sorrowful, yet uplifting, retelling of the Fall of Troy.
March 3, 2019
Brilliant, couldn’t put the book down. Can not wait for more book to be written
March 20, 2024
The twist in this book is either completely ridiculous or utterly brilliant. I'm not sure. But one thing is for sure, it was unique and unexpected. If you feel like you've heard the story of Troy enough times but want a short war novel that will still surprise you, this is definitely a worthwhile endeavor.
The unfortunate part is that I didn't really enjoy reading the book. I think the author is bad at writing dialogue, I can't think of any conversations that felt realistic or good; most felt stilted or awkward. I felt the character motivations in the book are always pretty murky or liquid. It's like he decided how he wanted the story to be different, and didn't put enough thought into how to get everyone there.
Also, near the end of the book, it randomly switches to first person, as in there's a narrator actively telling you the story, which was not employed previously. And then a page later, he actually briefly introduces Homer. So the "narrator" is not Homer. So I'm just....really unsure why this switch was seen as a good idea, because I found it pretty jarring and strange.
Also I'm still waiting for a book to give Diomedes his due. I'm not sure why he is always cut, or killed off early, or in this case, made into a random petulant child (literally a child). Diomedes is badass.
The unfortunate part is that I didn't really enjoy reading the book. I think the author is bad at writing dialogue, I can't think of any conversations that felt realistic or good; most felt stilted or awkward. I felt the character motivations in the book are always pretty murky or liquid. It's like he decided how he wanted the story to be different, and didn't put enough thought into how to get everyone there.
Also, near the end of the book, it randomly switches to first person, as in there's a narrator actively telling you the story, which was not employed previously. And then a page later, he actually briefly introduces Homer. So the "narrator" is not Homer. So I'm just....really unsure why this switch was seen as a good idea, because I found it pretty jarring and strange.
Also I'm still waiting for a book to give Diomedes his due. I'm not sure why he is always cut, or killed off early, or in this case, made into a random petulant child (literally a child). Diomedes is badass.
August 4, 2021
"The Fall of the Phoenix" penned by the author Daniel Kelly is a retelling of the tale of the fall of Troy. The story began with the duel between Hector and Achilles who trained together, grew to men as brothers and fought together. Hector and Achilles both are powerful and being face-to-face in the final battle means only one will survive. Can Hector beat Achilles and save Troy from Greece?
Written in 274 pages, this story is full of action. This classical story about the fall of Troy is well described by the author. I haven't heard about this story before so it's an insightful read to me. Both Hector and Achilles are amazing, making it difficult to pick one. The story is detailed. Since I have read the story about the fall of Troy for the first time, I had to re-read a few pages but it's totally worth it. Language used in the book has good vocabulary so one would come across many new words.
Those who love reading historical fiction should definitely pick this one.
Written in 274 pages, this story is full of action. This classical story about the fall of Troy is well described by the author. I haven't heard about this story before so it's an insightful read to me. Both Hector and Achilles are amazing, making it difficult to pick one. The story is detailed. Since I have read the story about the fall of Troy for the first time, I had to re-read a few pages but it's totally worth it. Language used in the book has good vocabulary so one would come across many new words.
Those who love reading historical fiction should definitely pick this one.
October 15, 2020
This is a self-published novel that you MUST not miss. It has an alternate history, fantasy, heroic action, excellent attention to details of the fighting, city street combat. This is an epic journey to the city streets of Troy itself. I reviewed this book back in mid-2019. Now I feel this book needs that attention once again.
I loved the characters, the way Daniel has interpreted the novel, and it is clear he’s done his research. The plot of this novel is so good, that I will not spoil the twists or ending that come after this. The vivid descriptions of armor, battles. Everything about this novel is fantastic. This book had fantastic action sequences combined with a vivid sense of combat.
This book has a better interpretation of the Iliad than what the movie depicts. The movie depicted the elite nobles of both sides, Trojan and Greek scheming against each other. When in reality, this really wasn’t the case at all? Both sides knew each other pretty well. Daniel must have scoured through the annals of Greek literature to find some obscure references of which I am sure he will have added into this novel. Where they showed all the elites of both sides, Trojan and Greek scheming against each other when in reality the Trojans and the Greek nobility knew each other. Daniel must have read some obscure material and used it for this book. Diomedes was my favorite character in this book. I liked his innocence, because that war, whether it happened, took a toll on everybody. I imagine that was what the aftermath of WW2 was. Priam was excellent, and Agamemnon, he was a cunning old wolf. Odysseus is older than I interpreted. You also got to see the viewpoint of the Trojans, which is very rare. Also, search Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Ambient Music for 4 hours. This is perfect for the ambiance and immersion.
The dialogue, the prose, everything about this book is excellent. I’m in praise. What more can I say? I would have wanted this novel to be bigger, and more explanations as I have a lot of questions regarding this book. This could be an under-explored genre that, if Daniel capitalizes on, could work very well for him.
Thank you so much for writing this, Daniel. This is historical fantasy at its best.
This is a self-published novel that you MUST not miss. It has an alternate history, fantasy, heroic action, excellent attention to details of the fighting, city street combat. This is an epic journey to the city streets of Troy itself. I reviewed this book back in mid-2019. Now I feel this book needs that attention once again.
I loved the characters, the way Daniel has interpreted the novel, and it is clear he’s done his research. The plot of this novel is so good, that I will not spoil the twists or ending that come after this. The vivid descriptions of armor, battles. Everything about this novel is fantastic. This book had fantastic action sequences combined with a vivid sense of combat.
This book has a better interpretation of the Iliad than what the movie depicts. The movie depicted the elite nobles of both sides, Trojan and Greek scheming against each other. When in reality, this really wasn’t the case at all? Both sides knew each other pretty well. Daniel must have scoured through the annals of Greek literature to find some obscure references of which I am sure he will have added into this novel. Where they showed all the elites of both sides, Trojan and Greek scheming against each other when in reality the Trojans and the Greek nobility knew each other. Daniel must have read some obscure material and used it for this book. Diomedes was my favorite character in this book. I liked his innocence, because that war, whether it happened, took a toll on everybody. I imagine that was what the aftermath of WW2 was. Priam was excellent, and Agamemnon, he was a cunning old wolf. Odysseus is older than I interpreted. You also got to see the viewpoint of the Trojans, which is very rare. Also, search Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Ambient Music for 4 hours. This is perfect for the ambiance and immersion.
The dialogue, the prose, everything about this book is excellent. I’m in praise. What more can I say? I would have wanted this novel to be bigger, and more explanations as I have a lot of questions regarding this book. This could be an under-explored genre that, if Daniel capitalizes on, could work very well for him.
Thank you so much for writing this, Daniel. This is historical fantasy at its best. 10/10
I loved the characters, the way Daniel has interpreted the novel, and it is clear he’s done his research. The plot of this novel is so good, that I will not spoil the twists or ending that come after this. The vivid descriptions of armor, battles. Everything about this novel is fantastic. This book had fantastic action sequences combined with a vivid sense of combat.
This book has a better interpretation of the Iliad than what the movie depicts. The movie depicted the elite nobles of both sides, Trojan and Greek scheming against each other. When in reality, this really wasn’t the case at all? Both sides knew each other pretty well. Daniel must have scoured through the annals of Greek literature to find some obscure references of which I am sure he will have added into this novel. Where they showed all the elites of both sides, Trojan and Greek scheming against each other when in reality the Trojans and the Greek nobility knew each other. Daniel must have read some obscure material and used it for this book. Diomedes was my favorite character in this book. I liked his innocence, because that war, whether it happened, took a toll on everybody. I imagine that was what the aftermath of WW2 was. Priam was excellent, and Agamemnon, he was a cunning old wolf. Odysseus is older than I interpreted. You also got to see the viewpoint of the Trojans, which is very rare. Also, search Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Ambient Music for 4 hours. This is perfect for the ambiance and immersion.
The dialogue, the prose, everything about this book is excellent. I’m in praise. What more can I say? I would have wanted this novel to be bigger, and more explanations as I have a lot of questions regarding this book. This could be an under-explored genre that, if Daniel capitalizes on, could work very well for him.
Thank you so much for writing this, Daniel. This is historical fantasy at its best.
This is a self-published novel that you MUST not miss. It has an alternate history, fantasy, heroic action, excellent attention to details of the fighting, city street combat. This is an epic journey to the city streets of Troy itself. I reviewed this book back in mid-2019. Now I feel this book needs that attention once again.
I loved the characters, the way Daniel has interpreted the novel, and it is clear he’s done his research. The plot of this novel is so good, that I will not spoil the twists or ending that come after this. The vivid descriptions of armor, battles. Everything about this novel is fantastic. This book had fantastic action sequences combined with a vivid sense of combat.
This book has a better interpretation of the Iliad than what the movie depicts. The movie depicted the elite nobles of both sides, Trojan and Greek scheming against each other. When in reality, this really wasn’t the case at all? Both sides knew each other pretty well. Daniel must have scoured through the annals of Greek literature to find some obscure references of which I am sure he will have added into this novel. Where they showed all the elites of both sides, Trojan and Greek scheming against each other when in reality the Trojans and the Greek nobility knew each other. Daniel must have read some obscure material and used it for this book. Diomedes was my favorite character in this book. I liked his innocence, because that war, whether it happened, took a toll on everybody. I imagine that was what the aftermath of WW2 was. Priam was excellent, and Agamemnon, he was a cunning old wolf. Odysseus is older than I interpreted. You also got to see the viewpoint of the Trojans, which is very rare. Also, search Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Ambient Music for 4 hours. This is perfect for the ambiance and immersion.
The dialogue, the prose, everything about this book is excellent. I’m in praise. What more can I say? I would have wanted this novel to be bigger, and more explanations as I have a lot of questions regarding this book. This could be an under-explored genre that, if Daniel capitalizes on, could work very well for him.
Thank you so much for writing this, Daniel. This is historical fantasy at its best. 10/10
April 3, 2020
Well, I didn't expect that.
There was plenty of action, it's fast-paced, plenty of attention to various characters, and it's also something to read for the atmosphere. There are scenes that we don't get to see in The Iliad (like the 'Trojan horse') and it gave the characters more attention, which was great to read. There is plenty of action. It's something to read if you've read The Iliad and Odyssey, it takes a more historical approach to the events (that's to say there was no direct godly intervention). Also, those salty over the events of The Iliad should read the entire thing. Like the material it builds on, the book has a lot of characters which might be a bit intimidating to those who haven't read The Iliad but if someone is used to reading books with many characters, I think they could still keep track of events (just be ready for it when reading the book). Those that love war or siege stories will like this.
-----small Edit: I was looking over my book log and found a good quote I noted:
-----"War makes butchers of all good men, Achilles." (pg 59).
Those that like stories to be concise might not like this. We get to see what the characters are thinking but there might be more words used to describe it than necessary (the book is short so maybe there is that...).
The language in the book is very formal at times (reminds me of the Rise of the Phoenix in that respect) more than some high fantasy I've been reading lately. It definitely adds to the atmosphere. It might take some getting used to when reading it. The characters still are very human which helps to get used to the formal language.
There was something about the society that wasn't explained much (probably to avoid info-dumping for no reason):
- Greeks don't bow (proskynesis) unless it's to a god(s). The Persians did bow (the Ancient Near East had the practice) so it's one thing for Trojans or Greeks who encounter or entertain those from Asia Minor.
- The wine was usually mixed (not diluting it was seen as 'barbaric'). There were specific mixing bowls (kraters) for that.
That's it for the fun facts but mostly it's just the stuff that was ever-present that didn't really need mentioning but I figured to mention for the enthusiasts.
Overall, it's a good book.
***I received a review copy from the author through Voracious Readers***
There was plenty of action, it's fast-paced, plenty of attention to various characters, and it's also something to read for the atmosphere. There are scenes that we don't get to see in The Iliad (like the 'Trojan horse') and it gave the characters more attention, which was great to read. There is plenty of action. It's something to read if you've read The Iliad and Odyssey, it takes a more historical approach to the events (that's to say there was no direct godly intervention). Also, those salty over the events of The Iliad should read the entire thing. Like the material it builds on, the book has a lot of characters which might be a bit intimidating to those who haven't read The Iliad but if someone is used to reading books with many characters, I think they could still keep track of events (just be ready for it when reading the book). Those that love war or siege stories will like this.
-----small Edit: I was looking over my book log and found a good quote I noted:
-----"War makes butchers of all good men, Achilles." (pg 59).
Those that like stories to be concise might not like this. We get to see what the characters are thinking but there might be more words used to describe it than necessary (the book is short so maybe there is that...).
The language in the book is very formal at times (reminds me of the Rise of the Phoenix in that respect) more than some high fantasy I've been reading lately. It definitely adds to the atmosphere. It might take some getting used to when reading it. The characters still are very human which helps to get used to the formal language.
There was something about the society that wasn't explained much (probably to avoid info-dumping for no reason):
- Greeks don't bow (proskynesis) unless it's to a god(s). The Persians did bow (the Ancient Near East had the practice) so it's one thing for Trojans or Greeks who encounter or entertain those from Asia Minor.
- The wine was usually mixed (not diluting it was seen as 'barbaric'). There were specific mixing bowls (kraters) for that.
That's it for the fun facts but mostly it's just the stuff that was ever-present that didn't really need mentioning but I figured to mention for the enthusiasts.
Overall, it's a good book.
***I received a review copy from the author through Voracious Readers***
May 2, 2021
Daniel Kelly’s The Fall of Phoenix is a fresh take on classical history. I found both the development of his characters (especially Achillies) and the interconnection between historical and mythical Ancient Greek figures to be particularly interesting, as the writing preserved key traits of the characters while offering a more humanized perspective of them. I initially found the story a bit challenging to get into, but the prologue definitely establishes that it is a tale worth telling and reading through. The descriptive battle scenes generally preserve the historical accuracy of Greek battle while creating tension to stir emotion within the reader, which really creates the sense of tragedy. Overall, I would recommend this novel to fans of historical fiction, particularly those who enjoy classical history, as it captures the essence of this period quite well.
January 15, 2021
This is an alternative history tale of the Iliad. There is not much in the way of fantasy elements in this story, but want Daniel Kelly does add to the story is great twists. He pushes the envelope to reimagine what we truly know about the fall of Troy and what took place in the after math. I’m a classics buff and I got a big kick out of the several surprises in this story. Some sections are slow, but there is plenty here to enjoy.
Cheers!
Cheers!
January 1, 2021
The story is an amalgamation of greed and conflict with history. Every minute detail of the war has been taken care of by the author. All the characters are well developed and the mysteries and twists will keep you engaged. This is the most interesting retelling of the story of the Trojan war that I have ever come across. An excellent and unputdownable debut novel.
August 4, 2021
The Fall of the Phoenix
By
Daniel Kelly
My Review:
Daniel Kelly's The Fall of the Phoenix is a fascinating tale about the siege of Troy. Story started with two main characters: Achilles and Hector. Hector is the one that won my heart with his amazing nature even though Achilles is also an unbeatable warrior. Achilles and Hector's friendship changed after Hector's sword tasted the blood of Patroclus. Hector, Achilles, Priam, Agamemnon, Odysseus, etc are the characters that play an important role in the story.
This is a captivating story. I enjoyed reading every bit of it. It has developed more of my interest in Greek mythology. This is the first book of Greek literature that has captured my interest. It's an unputdownable and gripping story that hooks the reader's attention totally in the plot. Narration is smooth and the author's storytelling skills are amazing.
If you enjoy stories of Greek mythology/historical fiction, try this one. I am sure you won't regret reading it.
My Rating: 5/5
By
Daniel Kelly
My Review:
Daniel Kelly's The Fall of the Phoenix is a fascinating tale about the siege of Troy. Story started with two main characters: Achilles and Hector. Hector is the one that won my heart with his amazing nature even though Achilles is also an unbeatable warrior. Achilles and Hector's friendship changed after Hector's sword tasted the blood of Patroclus. Hector, Achilles, Priam, Agamemnon, Odysseus, etc are the characters that play an important role in the story.
This is a captivating story. I enjoyed reading every bit of it. It has developed more of my interest in Greek mythology. This is the first book of Greek literature that has captured my interest. It's an unputdownable and gripping story that hooks the reader's attention totally in the plot. Narration is smooth and the author's storytelling skills are amazing.
If you enjoy stories of Greek mythology/historical fiction, try this one. I am sure you won't regret reading it.
My Rating: 5/5
April 12, 2021
“The fall of the Phoenix” is the first book in the “Heroes of Troy” series by Daniel Kelly, and what a beautiful start it was! I finished it in a few days but needed a short break before putting my thoughts into words because I was emotional, but just so you know: I really loved it.
Why? This book is a gem for everyone interested in history/ myth, action and more. Kelly takes the well-known story of the fall of the great city of Troy and completely makes it his own.
I think we all know the basics about the fall of Troy and how the Greeks used the wooden horse to trick the Trojans, but still, the author told it so vividly and gave it his own unique twist (even a world-shattering plot twist fairly at the end) that made it tough to put the book down. From the first page, I was hooked. Kelly’s prose was capturing and instantly built tension. I liked how the reader is made aware that by the beginning of the story, the war has already been going on for over ten years. The people on both sides are tired and are longing for peace.
What is more, the story is not only told from one point of view but from many different POV’s, from people in low and high positions on both sides of the war, which I found to be very refreshing. The most interesting POV, in my opinion, is the one of the boy Diomedes who was born in Troy but, through a thoughtless action, finds himself behind the lines of the enemy. But, as I said before, because the story is told from so many POVs, it is very hard for the reader to pick sides because we understand why they chose to act a certain way. They all want to count their losses and protect their own, so besides one character (Fuck you, Agamemnon), I felt sympathy for everyone.
It was also beautiful to see male friendship portrayed so loving and true, especially between warriors like Achilles and Hector. A few of my favourite quotes from the book are:
- “You don’t have to hate someone because fate has made them your enemy.”
- ‘The love and gratitude between the two men was evident even from a distance, as they both fell quiet for a moment.’,
- “There are no debts between friends.” and
- “Then come, stand beside me, and let us die glorious deaths.”
But there are many more quotes worth mentioning, which is why I added a list with my favourites below. (The author also breaks the fourth wall at one point, which I found hilariously fitting.)
The only thing I found lacking was a female POV, but because of the circumstances, I understand why there was none. I have high hopes for the next book, though. :)
In summary, “The Fall of the Phoenix” was a beautifully written novel with lots of action, tension, plot twists and friendship, which I loved and has made me eager to read the next instalment of the series. :)
I received an electronic copy of this novel from the author and Booktasters in exchange for an honest review, but all opinions are my own. Thank you!
Here are other amazing quotes (and sometimes, my reaction to them), as promised:
- “War makes butchers of all good men.”
- “[...] If enough people believe something will happen, they will work to see it happen.”
- “If you prove yourself, maybe you can earn the right to carry that blade.”
- “Are you more concerned about doing what’s right or about how you will be remembered?”
- “They have taken their shot and think us broken,” he shouted. “Now is our time to show them that we are not.”
- “If you have any men sober enough to hold the right side of a spear, this would be a good time to fetch them.” - Burn. Achilles clearly does not have a high tolerance for bullshit; he also does not give a flying fuck, lol.
- ‘Agamemnon could feel the knot of stress ease in his chest when the screaming began inside the walls. A satisfied smile spread over his face.’ – What a dickhead.
- ‘I wish I could tell you of the glories, the heroism, the deus ex machina or last-minute saviour turning back the tide of the Greek onslaught; but this is a Trojan story, and for the Trojans, there is no happy ending.’
- ‘But no Greek who had gained entrance to the palace left alive.’
- ‘And for what? Everything was gone.’
- “Homer is going to tell the story of this war, Agamemnon, and you can control how it is seen and how you are remembered. Turn this loss into a victory. We are the only people who know what happened.” - What a sneaky bastard. 😂😂😂 But sadly true, since history is written by the victors.”
Why? This book is a gem for everyone interested in history/ myth, action and more. Kelly takes the well-known story of the fall of the great city of Troy and completely makes it his own.
I think we all know the basics about the fall of Troy and how the Greeks used the wooden horse to trick the Trojans, but still, the author told it so vividly and gave it his own unique twist (even a world-shattering plot twist fairly at the end) that made it tough to put the book down. From the first page, I was hooked. Kelly’s prose was capturing and instantly built tension. I liked how the reader is made aware that by the beginning of the story, the war has already been going on for over ten years. The people on both sides are tired and are longing for peace.
What is more, the story is not only told from one point of view but from many different POV’s, from people in low and high positions on both sides of the war, which I found to be very refreshing. The most interesting POV, in my opinion, is the one of the boy Diomedes who was born in Troy but, through a thoughtless action, finds himself behind the lines of the enemy. But, as I said before, because the story is told from so many POVs, it is very hard for the reader to pick sides because we understand why they chose to act a certain way. They all want to count their losses and protect their own, so besides one character (Fuck you, Agamemnon), I felt sympathy for everyone.
It was also beautiful to see male friendship portrayed so loving and true, especially between warriors like Achilles and Hector. A few of my favourite quotes from the book are:
- “You don’t have to hate someone because fate has made them your enemy.”
- ‘The love and gratitude between the two men was evident even from a distance, as they both fell quiet for a moment.’,
- “There are no debts between friends.” and
- “Then come, stand beside me, and let us die glorious deaths.”
But there are many more quotes worth mentioning, which is why I added a list with my favourites below. (The author also breaks the fourth wall at one point, which I found hilariously fitting.)
The only thing I found lacking was a female POV, but because of the circumstances, I understand why there was none. I have high hopes for the next book, though. :)
In summary, “The Fall of the Phoenix” was a beautifully written novel with lots of action, tension, plot twists and friendship, which I loved and has made me eager to read the next instalment of the series. :)
I received an electronic copy of this novel from the author and Booktasters in exchange for an honest review, but all opinions are my own. Thank you!
Here are other amazing quotes (and sometimes, my reaction to them), as promised:
- “War makes butchers of all good men.”
- “[...] If enough people believe something will happen, they will work to see it happen.”
- “If you prove yourself, maybe you can earn the right to carry that blade.”
- “Are you more concerned about doing what’s right or about how you will be remembered?”
- “They have taken their shot and think us broken,” he shouted. “Now is our time to show them that we are not.”
- “If you have any men sober enough to hold the right side of a spear, this would be a good time to fetch them.” - Burn. Achilles clearly does not have a high tolerance for bullshit; he also does not give a flying fuck, lol.
- ‘Agamemnon could feel the knot of stress ease in his chest when the screaming began inside the walls. A satisfied smile spread over his face.’ – What a dickhead.
- ‘I wish I could tell you of the glories, the heroism, the deus ex machina or last-minute saviour turning back the tide of the Greek onslaught; but this is a Trojan story, and for the Trojans, there is no happy ending.’
- ‘But no Greek who had gained entrance to the palace left alive.’
- ‘And for what? Everything was gone.’
- “Homer is going to tell the story of this war, Agamemnon, and you can control how it is seen and how you are remembered. Turn this loss into a victory. We are the only people who know what happened.” - What a sneaky bastard. 😂😂😂 But sadly true, since history is written by the victors.”
March 11, 2021
To practitioners of Greek antiquity, the story is familiar. The gods throw a party, but do not invite goddess Discord. Angered, Discord throws an apple into the party, labeled "To the Fairest." Three goddesses argue about who should receive the prize. They ask Zeus, who wants no part of this. Zeus selects Paris, Prince of Troy, reputed to be a smart human, to be the judge. The goddesses offer bribes to Paris, who decides upon the one who proffers the most beautiful woman on earth. This beautiful woman turns out to be Helen, wife of Menelaus, King of Sparta. Through the use of magic, Helen is spirited away by Paris. Menelaus consults his brother Agamemnon, King of Mycenae, the most powerful Greek city state, to gather an army to go to Troy and rescue Helen. 1000 Greek ships head for Troy, and combat is waged for 10 years. This is where The Fall of the Phoenix begins.
Perhaps you've heard the rest of the story, known as the Iliad, which is the tale of the war with Ilium, the Greek name for Troy. In the original version, Achilles, King of the Myrmidons, fighting on the side of the Greeks, is a Greek hero, and having been dipped in the River Styx, is invincible. Achilles, however, argues with Agamemnon over ownership of a female slave, and decides not to help the Greeks. Patroclus, friend of Achilles, borrows Achilles's armor to make the Trojans think Achilles has rejoined the battle and intimidate the Trojans, but Patroclus is killed. Achilles rejoins the fray, slays Trojan prince and hero Hector and drags his body around the city. The war continues. Achilles and Paris are killed. Odysseus, King of Greek Ithaca designs a wooden horse, the Greeks feign departure, the horse is wheeled inside the Trojan walls, soldiers inside it throw the gates of the city open, and Troy is defeated.
Set aside everything you know about the Iliad. The Iliad and the Odyssey, related through oral tradition by someone named Homer, who may or may not have actually lived, is a terrific story, but it may not have been factual, and why should Daniel Kelly not create his own version, which relies less on gods and goddesses, yet is perfectly satisfying?
In this version of the story, which I like a lot, Achilles fights Hector but defeats him through trickery, as his sword blade has been poisoned through order of Agamemnon. This is the last straw for Achilles, who has been feuding with Agamemnon over leadership from the start. Achilles wanted no assistance and resents the poison. Achilles, however, rescues Hector with an antidote, and the two later unite and become known as Romulus and Remus, who will found Rome. Achilles actually abandons the Greeks and sides with Troy. There are other distinctions to this story. A major character in this version is Diomedes, a Trojan captured and held by Achilles. The original has Menelaus fighting in single combat against Paris; Paris is no fighter, but is rescued due to trickery.
Per Mr. Kelly, Troy still fell, Odysseus's horse from "Greeks bearing gifts" was involved in the final battle, Agamemnon afterward is free to return to Mycenae, and frankly, though I'm quite familiar with the original, I'm looking forward to seeing where this series goes.
Perhaps you've heard the rest of the story, known as the Iliad, which is the tale of the war with Ilium, the Greek name for Troy. In the original version, Achilles, King of the Myrmidons, fighting on the side of the Greeks, is a Greek hero, and having been dipped in the River Styx, is invincible. Achilles, however, argues with Agamemnon over ownership of a female slave, and decides not to help the Greeks. Patroclus, friend of Achilles, borrows Achilles's armor to make the Trojans think Achilles has rejoined the battle and intimidate the Trojans, but Patroclus is killed. Achilles rejoins the fray, slays Trojan prince and hero Hector and drags his body around the city. The war continues. Achilles and Paris are killed. Odysseus, King of Greek Ithaca designs a wooden horse, the Greeks feign departure, the horse is wheeled inside the Trojan walls, soldiers inside it throw the gates of the city open, and Troy is defeated.
Set aside everything you know about the Iliad. The Iliad and the Odyssey, related through oral tradition by someone named Homer, who may or may not have actually lived, is a terrific story, but it may not have been factual, and why should Daniel Kelly not create his own version, which relies less on gods and goddesses, yet is perfectly satisfying?
In this version of the story, which I like a lot, Achilles fights Hector but defeats him through trickery, as his sword blade has been poisoned through order of Agamemnon. This is the last straw for Achilles, who has been feuding with Agamemnon over leadership from the start. Achilles wanted no assistance and resents the poison. Achilles, however, rescues Hector with an antidote, and the two later unite and become known as Romulus and Remus, who will found Rome. Achilles actually abandons the Greeks and sides with Troy. There are other distinctions to this story. A major character in this version is Diomedes, a Trojan captured and held by Achilles. The original has Menelaus fighting in single combat against Paris; Paris is no fighter, but is rescued due to trickery.
Per Mr. Kelly, Troy still fell, Odysseus's horse from "Greeks bearing gifts" was involved in the final battle, Agamemnon afterward is free to return to Mycenae, and frankly, though I'm quite familiar with the original, I'm looking forward to seeing where this series goes.
July 22, 2020
A muscular retelling of the fall of Troy, but not as you know it!
It's a brave author who seeks to re-invent the Illiad (or more accurately, the lost Aethiopis of the Epic cycle). Not only does it invite direct comparison with Homer, but also some spectacularly successful recent attempts, most notably The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller.
Fortunately, Daniel Kelly proves up to the task with this finely written action-orientated interpretation. The focus is very much on the male warriors who dominate the original texts, but there's also a keen eye on the human cost of war - and the motif of the fallen soldier. The sense of place is excellent and the characters are well developed and believable, in particular the youth Diomedes.
I wouldn't necessarily class this as fantasy, more as psuedo-historical fiction. While the gods and omens are present in the minds of the characters, there is nothing fantastical on the page. If anything this reads like a 'truth behind the legend' exposé.
It's not until the latter stages of the book that the story diverges significantly from versions you might have read before. For my taste, this was actually where it was at its strongest, and the unexpected finale left me looking forward to the next installment. I read somewhere that Kelly is also considering applying the same treatment to the Ulster Cycle. I sincerely hope he does, as I expect the result would be spectacular.
It's a brave author who seeks to re-invent the Illiad (or more accurately, the lost Aethiopis of the Epic cycle). Not only does it invite direct comparison with Homer, but also some spectacularly successful recent attempts, most notably The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller.
Fortunately, Daniel Kelly proves up to the task with this finely written action-orientated interpretation. The focus is very much on the male warriors who dominate the original texts, but there's also a keen eye on the human cost of war - and the motif of the fallen soldier. The sense of place is excellent and the characters are well developed and believable, in particular the youth Diomedes.
I wouldn't necessarily class this as fantasy, more as psuedo-historical fiction. While the gods and omens are present in the minds of the characters, there is nothing fantastical on the page. If anything this reads like a 'truth behind the legend' exposé.
It's not until the latter stages of the book that the story diverges significantly from versions you might have read before. For my taste, this was actually where it was at its strongest, and the unexpected finale left me looking forward to the next installment. I read somewhere that Kelly is also considering applying the same treatment to the Ulster Cycle. I sincerely hope he does, as I expect the result would be spectacular.
September 9, 2019
Opening prolong scene captured my attention with bold imagery. Bodyguards by the dozens shielded with heavy battle armor. The army pointed straight at our protagonist; Hector. The timing; final days of the Trojan War in the city of Troy. Hector is he good or bad? The scene suggests he’s angered someone in the prince castle but time will tell.
I read the book and have my interpretation of bad with good intentions and good with bad action. Meaning his will might be correct but in his responsibility and job his morals are set aside and for that evil emerges.
Master storytelling reveals Homer questioning what if the war never happened. How would lives be changed?
If the Greek armies took different battle strategies? What if?
Main elements of this Greek marvel; Battles, conflict, time, culture, and circumstance. I felt drawn to Homer imagining him to have wisdom that he doesn’t quite ever credit for.
But today is today and the Greek’s govern over the city of Troy. Chilling descriptions with accuracy to mysteries surrounding mythology and history as the plot reads as real life.
I read the book and have my interpretation of bad with good intentions and good with bad action. Meaning his will might be correct but in his responsibility and job his morals are set aside and for that evil emerges.
Master storytelling reveals Homer questioning what if the war never happened. How would lives be changed?
If the Greek armies took different battle strategies? What if?
Main elements of this Greek marvel; Battles, conflict, time, culture, and circumstance. I felt drawn to Homer imagining him to have wisdom that he doesn’t quite ever credit for.
But today is today and the Greek’s govern over the city of Troy. Chilling descriptions with accuracy to mysteries surrounding mythology and history as the plot reads as real life.
November 5, 2019
Alright, first of all let me thank Daniel for reintroducing me to the magnificent, blood soaked world of Greek mythology again. I fell in love with the characters of Achilles, Hector and Priam (surprisingly, the old man struck me as a whining, doddering fool in earlier versions and the Iliad.) They are flawed mortals, not demigods, each with his own dreams, ambitions, frustrations and weaknesses. And yet each has the capacity for apotheosis:- transcendence to godhood through one's actions.
The battle sequences are visceral and satisfy every lover of grimdark. I never realized the glory and gore of a siege can transform into tightly-knit, brutal street fighting within hours. Claustrophobic, unholy and awful. And yet Daniel manages to spill blood in a heroic way, narrowing down the narrative to fit in the perspectives of every prominent character engaged in the bitter tussle. Wonderfully written, well researched and with a pleasant surprise towards the end, The Fall of the Phoenix deserves a read. And a re-read, of course.
The battle sequences are visceral and satisfy every lover of grimdark. I never realized the glory and gore of a siege can transform into tightly-knit, brutal street fighting within hours. Claustrophobic, unholy and awful. And yet Daniel manages to spill blood in a heroic way, narrowing down the narrative to fit in the perspectives of every prominent character engaged in the bitter tussle. Wonderfully written, well researched and with a pleasant surprise towards the end, The Fall of the Phoenix deserves a read. And a re-read, of course.
August 9, 2019
The Fall of the Phoenix by Daniel Kelly is a detailed retelling of the fantastic battle of Troy. The prologue was wonderfully gritty, detailing a battle between Achilles and Hector. The depth of attention paid to every single aspect of this battle sets the tone for an informative and great story. The city of Troy is fully explored, exposing nuances and everyday life that is seldom written about. This book is a great combination of history and mythology as the author explores the history of the time. Not merely just a recounting of history, this tale tells of the struggles for survival in a very unique time. Often it's hard to discern who to root for, who is the bad or the good guy, but knowing that everyone involved has their own unique motivations and cultural influences. The battles scenes are so spot on, you feel you are a witness to the heroics displayed. Fine writing sets this book apart from simple historical fiction. Highly recommend.
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