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Golden Apple Trilogy #3
Tochter des Himmels
Vor dreitausend Jahren tobte ein Krieg, der die damalige Welt in ihren Grundfesten erschütterte: Der Trojanische Krieg hat viele Helden hervorgebracht. Hier erzählen die Frauen von Troja die Legende aus ihrer Sicht.
Dies ist die Geschichte der Griechin Admete und der Amazonenkönigin Hippolyta. Um ein Heilmittel für ihren kranken Bruder zu finden, begibt Admete sich mit Herkules, der als letzte seiner zwölf Aufgaben den Kampfgurt der Hippolyta erringen soll, zu den Amazonen. Die Kultur der Griechen und die der Amazonen prallen aufeinander, es kommt zur bewaffneten Auseinandersetzung. Und Admete und Hippolyta, die emotional mit beiden Kulturen verbunden sind, müssen sich entscheiden, auf wessen Seite sie stehen ...
Dies ist die Geschichte der Griechin Admete und der Amazonenkönigin Hippolyta. Um ein Heilmittel für ihren kranken Bruder zu finden, begibt Admete sich mit Herkules, der als letzte seiner zwölf Aufgaben den Kampfgurt der Hippolyta erringen soll, zu den Amazonen. Die Kultur der Griechen und die der Amazonen prallen aufeinander, es kommt zur bewaffneten Auseinandersetzung. Und Admete und Hippolyta, die emotional mit beiden Kulturen verbunden sind, müssen sich entscheiden, auf wessen Seite sie stehen ...
433 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 14, 2018
6 people are currently reading
1171 people want to read
About the author
Emily Hauser
12 books294 followersEmily Hauser is an award-winning ancient historian and the author of the acclaimed Golden Apple trilogy retelling the stories of the women of Greek myth. She has been featured on BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour and The Guardian alongside Colm Tóibín and Natalie Haynes, and her novel For the Winner was listed among the "28 Best Books for Summer" in The Telegraph. Her latest book, Mythica: A New History of Homer’s World, through the Women Written Out Of It, was an instant Times bestseller.
To find out more, visit her website: http://www.emilyhauser.com
To find out more, visit her website: http://www.emilyhauser.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
August 15, 2019
3,5 ⭐️
October 14, 2018
I have to reiterate my For the Winner review: where was this quality of writing in For the Most Beautiful? The latter two books in this trilogy are better by far than the first book, and I can only assume that Hauser’s debut novel was severely curtailed by the publishing house, who gave it a distinctly frothy, juvenile spin. For the Winner and For the Immortal are thankfully much more interesting.
For the Immortal returns to a dual protagonist set up, but this time it’s well-founded on Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons, and Admete. Admete is such a minor character in myth that honestly I had to be reminded of who she was, but I think Hauser was right when she says in her author’s note that the concept of retrieving Hippolyta’s war-belt simply as a shiny trinket for Admete feels like a half-baked idea, and not terribly compelling. Hauser has elaborated upon that unspectacular beginning to create a stronger motivation for the quest, as well as increasing Admete’s role in it. I didn’t object to the author portraying a darker Hercules (although I wish he’d been named Herakles, since this was a Greek world novel), as there’s plenty in the character’s ancient mythos to suggest a darker side, but I was frankly disappointed that it is just let go at the end. I felt that his twisting, his descent into a darker personality, could’ve provided more of a crisis than it did for the other characters, and that there should have been a final confrontation between Hercules and Admete.
As for Hippolyta, I wasn’t bothered by her being combined with Antiope, since again there is grounds for it in ancient myth. Ancient writers went back and forth on the question of whether the Amazon queen who Hercules stole the war-belt from was the same person as the one who became Theseus’ queen. Plus, from a story-telling point of view, it gives Hippolyta a lot more story. However, I didn’t like the portrayal of Theseus. The ancient writers also give different accounts as to whether Theseus and his Amazon queen were a love match, or whether she was an unwilling captive. Hauser chooses to make her an unwilling captive, and Theseus a special brand of scum. I simply prefer a better Theseus – the one portrayed by Mary Renault and Amalia Carosella – than I do Hauser’s evil Theseus. Maybe it just felt like a bit too much what with a darker Hercules being portrayed as well. Besides, I kept thinking; “But what about Hippolytus?!” There’s no Hippolytus here, and Phaedra, we’re told has long since been acquired and discarded before Hippolyta’s arrival. There’s more. Hauser’s Hippolyta is also combined with and reworked Penthesilea. Oh, and by the way she was married to and had a child with Achilles long before the events of this book happen and she’s captured by Theseus. Wait, what?
Okay, that version of events does, I admit, give a much better reason for Achilles weeping over the queen of the Amazons he just killed than love at first sight. But I had trouble getting over that particular hurdle. I’m not sure the timelines match up. If Achilles, as we’re told in ancient myth, was too young to compete for Helen’s hand, and, in order to avoid being called to the Trojan War successfully disguised himself as a young woman – but old enough to father Neoptolemos during the same time – he must’ve been in his teens at the start of the Trojan War, and less than 30 when he is killed. The events of this book take place roughly between ten and five years before the start of the War, and during it Hippolyta is reminiscing back to about ten years or so earlier than that when she remembers her time with Achilles. Plus, Theseus is supposed to be an old man when he kidnaps a ten-year-old Helen, which is supposed to occur much later than his prime with Hippolyta – both occur together here. Eh, my brain just couldn’t accept this.
I was very surprised when, at about 80% of the way in, the book jumps ahead fifteen years to the Trojan War. It felt tacked on, sudden, and jarring. I prepared myself to criticise this section heavily in my review. I’ve softened to it a little, although I still feel it was overall a misstep. The section doesn’t really add anything to Admete. I like that it recognises Hippolyta’s heroism, and provides a more compelling reason for Achilles to weep over the corpse of the Amazon queen. But I still can’t buy into the Hippolyta/Achilles relationship. I can completely understand the author being tempted to revisit the Trojan War in the story – who wouldn’t want to rewrite the stumbles of For the Most Beautiful and provide a rather more dramatic, mature, and heroic slice of the Trojan War than the passive angsty voices of Briseis and Chryseis – but it did feel very last-minute and just not part of Admete and Hippolyta’s stories.
However, I’ve really enjoyed the more sophisticated writing style of For the Winner and For the Immortal, and the focus of both of them on lesser-explored but active and heroic women of ancient Greek myth, and I do recommend this book. If I were to re-read it though I’ll probably just end the book before the out-of-place time skip.
7 out of 10
For the Immortal returns to a dual protagonist set up, but this time it’s well-founded on Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons, and Admete. Admete is such a minor character in myth that honestly I had to be reminded of who she was, but I think Hauser was right when she says in her author’s note that the concept of retrieving Hippolyta’s war-belt simply as a shiny trinket for Admete feels like a half-baked idea, and not terribly compelling. Hauser has elaborated upon that unspectacular beginning to create a stronger motivation for the quest, as well as increasing Admete’s role in it. I didn’t object to the author portraying a darker Hercules (although I wish he’d been named Herakles, since this was a Greek world novel), as there’s plenty in the character’s ancient mythos to suggest a darker side, but I was frankly disappointed that it is just let go at the end. I felt that his twisting, his descent into a darker personality, could’ve provided more of a crisis than it did for the other characters, and that there should have been a final confrontation between Hercules and Admete.
As for Hippolyta, I wasn’t bothered by her being combined with Antiope, since again there is grounds for it in ancient myth. Ancient writers went back and forth on the question of whether the Amazon queen who Hercules stole the war-belt from was the same person as the one who became Theseus’ queen. Plus, from a story-telling point of view, it gives Hippolyta a lot more story. However, I didn’t like the portrayal of Theseus. The ancient writers also give different accounts as to whether Theseus and his Amazon queen were a love match, or whether she was an unwilling captive. Hauser chooses to make her an unwilling captive, and Theseus a special brand of scum. I simply prefer a better Theseus – the one portrayed by Mary Renault and Amalia Carosella – than I do Hauser’s evil Theseus. Maybe it just felt like a bit too much what with a darker Hercules being portrayed as well. Besides, I kept thinking; “But what about Hippolytus?!” There’s no Hippolytus here, and Phaedra, we’re told has long since been acquired and discarded before Hippolyta’s arrival. There’s more. Hauser’s Hippolyta is also combined with and reworked Penthesilea. Oh, and by the way she was married to and had a child with Achilles long before the events of this book happen and she’s captured by Theseus. Wait, what?
Okay, that version of events does, I admit, give a much better reason for Achilles weeping over the queen of the Amazons he just killed than love at first sight. But I had trouble getting over that particular hurdle. I’m not sure the timelines match up. If Achilles, as we’re told in ancient myth, was too young to compete for Helen’s hand, and, in order to avoid being called to the Trojan War successfully disguised himself as a young woman – but old enough to father Neoptolemos during the same time – he must’ve been in his teens at the start of the Trojan War, and less than 30 when he is killed. The events of this book take place roughly between ten and five years before the start of the War, and during it Hippolyta is reminiscing back to about ten years or so earlier than that when she remembers her time with Achilles. Plus, Theseus is supposed to be an old man when he kidnaps a ten-year-old Helen, which is supposed to occur much later than his prime with Hippolyta – both occur together here. Eh, my brain just couldn’t accept this.
I was very surprised when, at about 80% of the way in, the book jumps ahead fifteen years to the Trojan War. It felt tacked on, sudden, and jarring. I prepared myself to criticise this section heavily in my review. I’ve softened to it a little, although I still feel it was overall a misstep. The section doesn’t really add anything to Admete. I like that it recognises Hippolyta’s heroism, and provides a more compelling reason for Achilles to weep over the corpse of the Amazon queen. But I still can’t buy into the Hippolyta/Achilles relationship. I can completely understand the author being tempted to revisit the Trojan War in the story – who wouldn’t want to rewrite the stumbles of For the Most Beautiful and provide a rather more dramatic, mature, and heroic slice of the Trojan War than the passive angsty voices of Briseis and Chryseis – but it did feel very last-minute and just not part of Admete and Hippolyta’s stories.
However, I’ve really enjoyed the more sophisticated writing style of For the Winner and For the Immortal, and the focus of both of them on lesser-explored but active and heroic women of ancient Greek myth, and I do recommend this book. If I were to re-read it though I’ll probably just end the book before the out-of-place time skip.
7 out of 10
April 4, 2019
Dieses Buch rundet die Trilogie wirklich grandios ab 👌🏼 Auch wenn die Namen der Amazonen teils echte Herausforderung sind 😅 Es hat einfach riesigen Spaß gemacht der Amazonenkönigin Hippolyta und der Halbamazone Admete auf ihren Wegen zu folgen! Beide wachsen einem ziemlich schnell ans Herz und man fiebert wieder unentwegt mit. Speziell in diesem Teil finde ich die Sicht der Frauen sehr gelungen, da sie ein ganz anderes Bild auf die Helden der damaligen Zeit wirft 👌🏼 Auch wenn es mir etwas das Herz gebrochen hat 💔😭
Leider muss ich aber auch sagen, dass es sich ,für meinen Geschmack, manchmal etwas langatmig gelesen hat. Was aber auch an der leichten Leseflaute durch die LBM verursacht worden sein kann 🙈 Auch etwas schade ist, dass der Humor der Götter hier etwas auf der Strecke bleibt. Genau das hat mir nämlich an den anderen beiden Teilen noch so besonders gut gefallen 😕
Jedoch haut Emily Hauser mit dem Ende einen echt um! Die letzten 50 Seiten haben mich so fertig gemacht und einfach nur dazu 👉🏻 🤯 geführt! Hammer, was hier passiert und sich vorher nicht im Geringsten erahnen lässt 😱
FAZIT:
Ein grandioser Trilogieabschluss, der den Leser auf eine sehr emotionale Achterbahnfahrt mitnimmt! Jedoch sind einige Passagen etwas langatmig und auch der fehlende Humor der Götter bereitet etwas Herzschmerz 😔
Nichtsdestotrotz ein Buch, was aus der Sicht der Frauen ein ganz anderes Bild auf die Helden wirft und noch eine Weile zum Nachdenken anregen wird!
Von mir gibts 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫/5 Sterne!
Leider muss ich aber auch sagen, dass es sich ,für meinen Geschmack, manchmal etwas langatmig gelesen hat. Was aber auch an der leichten Leseflaute durch die LBM verursacht worden sein kann 🙈 Auch etwas schade ist, dass der Humor der Götter hier etwas auf der Strecke bleibt. Genau das hat mir nämlich an den anderen beiden Teilen noch so besonders gut gefallen 😕
Jedoch haut Emily Hauser mit dem Ende einen echt um! Die letzten 50 Seiten haben mich so fertig gemacht und einfach nur dazu 👉🏻 🤯 geführt! Hammer, was hier passiert und sich vorher nicht im Geringsten erahnen lässt 😱
FAZIT:
Ein grandioser Trilogieabschluss, der den Leser auf eine sehr emotionale Achterbahnfahrt mitnimmt! Jedoch sind einige Passagen etwas langatmig und auch der fehlende Humor der Götter bereitet etwas Herzschmerz 😔
Nichtsdestotrotz ein Buch, was aus der Sicht der Frauen ein ganz anderes Bild auf die Helden wirft und noch eine Weile zum Nachdenken anregen wird!
Von mir gibts 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫/5 Sterne!
October 10, 2020
It makes me sad that I didn't enjoy this one, but unfortunately, I just wasn't able to get into it.
August 13, 2019
3,5 🌟
June 18, 2018
I’ve been a huge fan of the Golden Apple trilogy for a while, so you can imagine my delight when I was invited onto the For The Immortal blog tour.
Emily really has a fantastic way of making the Greek legends come to life in this fantastic book. The reader really feels like they have been transported to ancient Greece, watching events unfold. I could almost smell the herbs that Admete used for her healing and smell the sweat, fear and blood from the fierce Amazon battles.
The story is told from the point of view of two very strong and determined woman from very different worlds. Hippolyta is a fierce Amazon warrior queen who shows great skills on the battlefield but has a big heart when it comes to her tribe, particularly the children. Admete is a princess but works hard at being a healer which she really enjoys. She too has a big heart when it comes to her family and it is her desire to help her I’ll brother that makes her go on Hercules quest. I actually liked both characters which made it hard to decide whose side I was on as I wanted them both to succeed!
This is a fast paced and gripping story that intrigued me straight away. I was instantly hooked and kept turning the pages to find out what would happen next. The author clearly knows her stuff when it comes to Greek history and I loved all the historical details about what life was like then and the food they used to eat. I had of course heard of Hercules before (mainly sadly from the Disney film) but didn’t know much about his story so found this book to be a fascinating read.
This is Emily’s third book and a brilliant conclusion to the Golden Apple trilogy. It can easily be read as a standalone alone however as each book is about a different Greek Legends so there isn’t much overlap.
Huge thanks to Hannah Bright and Transworld publishers for my copy of this book and for inviting me onto the blog tour. If you like gripping historical fiction I think you’ll like this book!
Emily really has a fantastic way of making the Greek legends come to life in this fantastic book. The reader really feels like they have been transported to ancient Greece, watching events unfold. I could almost smell the herbs that Admete used for her healing and smell the sweat, fear and blood from the fierce Amazon battles.
The story is told from the point of view of two very strong and determined woman from very different worlds. Hippolyta is a fierce Amazon warrior queen who shows great skills on the battlefield but has a big heart when it comes to her tribe, particularly the children. Admete is a princess but works hard at being a healer which she really enjoys. She too has a big heart when it comes to her family and it is her desire to help her I’ll brother that makes her go on Hercules quest. I actually liked both characters which made it hard to decide whose side I was on as I wanted them both to succeed!
This is a fast paced and gripping story that intrigued me straight away. I was instantly hooked and kept turning the pages to find out what would happen next. The author clearly knows her stuff when it comes to Greek history and I loved all the historical details about what life was like then and the food they used to eat. I had of course heard of Hercules before (mainly sadly from the Disney film) but didn’t know much about his story so found this book to be a fascinating read.
This is Emily’s third book and a brilliant conclusion to the Golden Apple trilogy. It can easily be read as a standalone alone however as each book is about a different Greek Legends so there isn’t much overlap.
Huge thanks to Hannah Bright and Transworld publishers for my copy of this book and for inviting me onto the blog tour. If you like gripping historical fiction I think you’ll like this book!
January 3, 2020
Geschichte in all ihren Facetten
Griechenland 1300 v. Chr., zwei Frauen, wie sie unterschiedlicher nicht sein könnten. Es trennen sie nicht nur unendliche Weiten und Meere, sondern auch kulturelle Welten voneinander. Doch trotz dieses Kontrasts, eint eins die beiden Frauen, die emotionale Verbundenheit zur jeweils anderen Kultur. Die Griechin Admete und die Amazonenkönigin Hippolyta, deren Leben sich durch das Schicksal und Herkules letzte, seiner 12 berühmten Aufgaben, unweigerlich aufeinander zu bewegen, sich im Strudel der Zeit berühren und vermischen. Trotz ihrer tiefen Verbundenheit muss sich jede für eine der beiden Kulturen entscheiden, auch wenn diese Aufgabe unüberwindlich scheint.
Tochter des Himmels ist der dritte Teil aus der Trilogie „Die Frauen von Troja“ von Emily Hauser. Die in Brighton lebende Autorin, hat sich den Geschichten, um das Leben der Frauen in der Antike verschrieben. Es handelt sich dabei zum Teil um historische Fiktion, da im Laufe der Zeit nicht mehr alles klar belegt werden kann. Sie schafft es jedoch Aufgrund ihres Studiums in Geschichte unfassbar viel fundierten Background aus überlieferten Sagen, Funden und Ausgrabungen in ihren Erzählungen vorherrschen zu lassen. Dabei richtet sie die Aufmerksamkeit auf Frauen, die der Leser sehr wohl aus altkannten Sagen kennt, die bis jetzt aber kaum im Fokus standen. Zum Beispiel, der allseits bekannte Halbgott Herkules, dessen Heldentaten den meisten geläufig sind, nimmt in dieser Geschichte eine verschwindend kleine Rolle gegen über den Protagonistinnen ein. Es geht um Admete, eine griechische Königstochter, welche mit Herkules befreundet ist und in das Land der Amazonen aufbricht um ein Heilmittel für ihren sterbenskranken Bruder zu finden. Hier stößt sie auf Hippolyta, die Amazonenkönigin, deren Herz und Vergangenheit unweigerlich mit der griechischen Kultur verbunden sind, was sie aber als Geheimnis für sich Bewahren muss, um dem Stamm der Amazonen eine würdige Königin und Anführerin zu sein. Während die beiden Frauen sich über ihre Zukunft und ihre Gefühle noch uneins sind, spinnen die Schicksalsgöttinnen schon ihre Fäden und zwingen beide, sich sowohl mit ihrer Vergangenheit, der Gegenwart als auch mit ihrer Zukunft auseinander zu setzen. Für den Leser ist es ein ständiges auf und ab der Emotionen. Ein Wechselbad der Gefühle durchlebt man beim Lesen zusammen mit Admete und Hippolyta. Von Hoffnung über Angst, Wut, Entsetzen und Trauer bis hin zu freudestrahlenden, glückliche Momenten ist jedes Gefühl Facettenreich vertreten. Die Geschichte konnte mich zum Teil mehr in den Bann ziehen als so mancher Thriller und gab mir so die Gelegenheit mich ganz in der Story zu verlieren. Möglich machte dies auch der fesselnde Schreibstil und Emily Hausers bildgewaltige Sprache. Mit dem geschichtlich fundierten Background, war es eine wahnsinnig beeindruckende Reise in diese vergangene Zeit. Das Schicksal der beiden Frauen zog mich, oft über Kapitel hinweg, in den Bann und lies mir ein ums andere Mal den Atem stocken, so gefesselt war ich. Ich habe Gehofft, gebangt, gelacht, gestaunt und sogar geweint.
Fazit: Auch der 3. Teil der Frauen von Troja Reihe konnte mich restlos begeistern. Geeignet für alle die den ersten Versuch im Bereich Historische Romane wagen wollen aber auch für alle die, die sich für griechische Sagen oder Geschichten über heldenhafte Frauen interessieren.
Griechenland 1300 v. Chr., zwei Frauen, wie sie unterschiedlicher nicht sein könnten. Es trennen sie nicht nur unendliche Weiten und Meere, sondern auch kulturelle Welten voneinander. Doch trotz dieses Kontrasts, eint eins die beiden Frauen, die emotionale Verbundenheit zur jeweils anderen Kultur. Die Griechin Admete und die Amazonenkönigin Hippolyta, deren Leben sich durch das Schicksal und Herkules letzte, seiner 12 berühmten Aufgaben, unweigerlich aufeinander zu bewegen, sich im Strudel der Zeit berühren und vermischen. Trotz ihrer tiefen Verbundenheit muss sich jede für eine der beiden Kulturen entscheiden, auch wenn diese Aufgabe unüberwindlich scheint.
Tochter des Himmels ist der dritte Teil aus der Trilogie „Die Frauen von Troja“ von Emily Hauser. Die in Brighton lebende Autorin, hat sich den Geschichten, um das Leben der Frauen in der Antike verschrieben. Es handelt sich dabei zum Teil um historische Fiktion, da im Laufe der Zeit nicht mehr alles klar belegt werden kann. Sie schafft es jedoch Aufgrund ihres Studiums in Geschichte unfassbar viel fundierten Background aus überlieferten Sagen, Funden und Ausgrabungen in ihren Erzählungen vorherrschen zu lassen. Dabei richtet sie die Aufmerksamkeit auf Frauen, die der Leser sehr wohl aus altkannten Sagen kennt, die bis jetzt aber kaum im Fokus standen. Zum Beispiel, der allseits bekannte Halbgott Herkules, dessen Heldentaten den meisten geläufig sind, nimmt in dieser Geschichte eine verschwindend kleine Rolle gegen über den Protagonistinnen ein. Es geht um Admete, eine griechische Königstochter, welche mit Herkules befreundet ist und in das Land der Amazonen aufbricht um ein Heilmittel für ihren sterbenskranken Bruder zu finden. Hier stößt sie auf Hippolyta, die Amazonenkönigin, deren Herz und Vergangenheit unweigerlich mit der griechischen Kultur verbunden sind, was sie aber als Geheimnis für sich Bewahren muss, um dem Stamm der Amazonen eine würdige Königin und Anführerin zu sein. Während die beiden Frauen sich über ihre Zukunft und ihre Gefühle noch uneins sind, spinnen die Schicksalsgöttinnen schon ihre Fäden und zwingen beide, sich sowohl mit ihrer Vergangenheit, der Gegenwart als auch mit ihrer Zukunft auseinander zu setzen. Für den Leser ist es ein ständiges auf und ab der Emotionen. Ein Wechselbad der Gefühle durchlebt man beim Lesen zusammen mit Admete und Hippolyta. Von Hoffnung über Angst, Wut, Entsetzen und Trauer bis hin zu freudestrahlenden, glückliche Momenten ist jedes Gefühl Facettenreich vertreten. Die Geschichte konnte mich zum Teil mehr in den Bann ziehen als so mancher Thriller und gab mir so die Gelegenheit mich ganz in der Story zu verlieren. Möglich machte dies auch der fesselnde Schreibstil und Emily Hausers bildgewaltige Sprache. Mit dem geschichtlich fundierten Background, war es eine wahnsinnig beeindruckende Reise in diese vergangene Zeit. Das Schicksal der beiden Frauen zog mich, oft über Kapitel hinweg, in den Bann und lies mir ein ums andere Mal den Atem stocken, so gefesselt war ich. Ich habe Gehofft, gebangt, gelacht, gestaunt und sogar geweint.
Fazit: Auch der 3. Teil der Frauen von Troja Reihe konnte mich restlos begeistern. Geeignet für alle die den ersten Versuch im Bereich Historische Romane wagen wollen aber auch für alle die, die sich für griechische Sagen oder Geschichten über heldenhafte Frauen interessieren.
June 9, 2019
Mit "Die Tochter des Himmels" endet die wunderbare Trilogie über die Frauen von Troja von Emily Hauser. Im Mittelpunkt dieses dritten historischen Romans stehen die beiden sehr sympahtischen Frauen Admete und Hippolyta. Admete ist die Tochter des Königs von Tiryns und der Amazonin Antimache. Hippolyta ist die Amazonenkönigin und lebt fast am Ende der damals bekannten Welt. Beide leben in unterschiedlichen Kulturen und kommen im Laufe der Geschichte aufeinander zu. Admete macht sich mit Herkules auf den Weg zu den Anazonen, um ein Heilmittel für ihren schwer kranken Bruder zu finden. Herkules begleitet sie, um den Kampfgurt der Hippolyta zu erobern. Admete ist dabei aber auch auf der Spur nach ihrer Mutter, die sie damals verlassen hatte, da sie mit der Kultur der Griechen nicht zurecht kam. Letztlich muss sie sich entscheiden, ob sie bei den Amazonen bleiben oder nach Griechenland zurück kehren möchte.
Hippolyta hingegen muss einige Schicksalsschläge hinnehmen, doch wie ein Stehauffrauchen, kommt sie immer wieder auf die Beine. Beide Protagonistinnen sind auch hier wieder sehr detailliert und überzeugend gezeichnet, man fiebert mit ihnen mit und hofft das Beste für sie trotz des auf die beiden zukommenden Trojanischen Krieges. Die männlichen Helden dieses Krieges und der Heldensagen stehen auch hier wieder nur in der zweiten Reihe und haben Nebenrollen.
.
Der Schreibstil von Emily Hauser ist erneut sehr flüssig und angenehm zu lesen. Die Seiten fliegen sehr schnell vorbei und ehe man es merkt, ist das Buch auch schon zu Ende. Das Einzige, was mich etwas störte, war, dass immer abwechselnd ein Kapitel zu Admete und dann eins zu Hippolyta folgte. Da fehlte es mir an einer gewissen Kontinuität, da man sich immer wieder umorientieren musste.
.
Wie auch die beiden Bücher zuvor, gibt es auch hier wieder Landkarten, Personen- und Ortsregister wie auch Hinweise der Autorin zur Entstehungsgeschichte des Buches und weitere Literaturhinweise.
.
Auch dieser dritte Band hat mich voll abgeholt und fasziniert und ich kann dieses Buch wie auch die Trilogie insgesamt nicht nur historisch interessierten Lesern nur wärmstens empfehlen.
.
Daher bekommt es von mir 5 Sterne.
Vielen Dank an den Goldmann Verlag und das Bollgerportal für dieses Rezensionsexemplar.
Hippolyta hingegen muss einige Schicksalsschläge hinnehmen, doch wie ein Stehauffrauchen, kommt sie immer wieder auf die Beine. Beide Protagonistinnen sind auch hier wieder sehr detailliert und überzeugend gezeichnet, man fiebert mit ihnen mit und hofft das Beste für sie trotz des auf die beiden zukommenden Trojanischen Krieges. Die männlichen Helden dieses Krieges und der Heldensagen stehen auch hier wieder nur in der zweiten Reihe und haben Nebenrollen.
.
Der Schreibstil von Emily Hauser ist erneut sehr flüssig und angenehm zu lesen. Die Seiten fliegen sehr schnell vorbei und ehe man es merkt, ist das Buch auch schon zu Ende. Das Einzige, was mich etwas störte, war, dass immer abwechselnd ein Kapitel zu Admete und dann eins zu Hippolyta folgte. Da fehlte es mir an einer gewissen Kontinuität, da man sich immer wieder umorientieren musste.
.
Wie auch die beiden Bücher zuvor, gibt es auch hier wieder Landkarten, Personen- und Ortsregister wie auch Hinweise der Autorin zur Entstehungsgeschichte des Buches und weitere Literaturhinweise.
.
Auch dieser dritte Band hat mich voll abgeholt und fasziniert und ich kann dieses Buch wie auch die Trilogie insgesamt nicht nur historisch interessierten Lesern nur wärmstens empfehlen.
.
Daher bekommt es von mir 5 Sterne.
Vielen Dank an den Goldmann Verlag und das Bollgerportal für dieses Rezensionsexemplar.
July 15, 2018
Emily Hauser’s Golden Apple trilogy investigates various women from Greek mythology. Although the three books are connected, they can be viewed as a standalone as each covers a different legend. The final book in this trilogy centres around three women Hippolyta the Queen of the Amazons, Admete the daughter of Eurystheus and Hera, goddess and wife of Zeus.
For the Immortal mostly alternates between the stories of Admete and Hippolyta - two seemingly unrelated stories, but in time, the paths of these two women do cross. Admete and Hippolyta come from such different backgrounds and way of life, but both face similar problems - the overriding authority of living in a male dominated world. These (in)famous men are portrayed very differently here - you really won’t like them - but that is the point.
These stories are, in the words of the author, ‘based around a conglomeration of different myths from all sources’. In this instalment, you will encounter the stories of: Hercules (formerly Alcides); Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons; briefly, Theseus; and of course, the Greek Gods themselves with the spotlight here on Hera. Hauser’s notes at the end of the story clearly outline her decision making in which myths and characters she included and her interpretation of them. I particularly enjoyed her portrayal of Hippolyta and her two sisters and how she fictionalised each of them in distinct phases.
There are some slow parts but overall another wonderful escape into the world of Greek mythology. It is clearly evident the amount of research Hauser has undertaken, and how she cleverly provides a wealth of information, merged and translated for fictional purposes in an effort to create her unique and fascinating interpretation. Definitely worth a read for lovers of Greek mythology.
‘You are a bard, and I a scribe. Together we may make a story, a tale of heroes that will be told down the generations’
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release
For the Immortal mostly alternates between the stories of Admete and Hippolyta - two seemingly unrelated stories, but in time, the paths of these two women do cross. Admete and Hippolyta come from such different backgrounds and way of life, but both face similar problems - the overriding authority of living in a male dominated world. These (in)famous men are portrayed very differently here - you really won’t like them - but that is the point.
These stories are, in the words of the author, ‘based around a conglomeration of different myths from all sources’. In this instalment, you will encounter the stories of: Hercules (formerly Alcides); Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons; briefly, Theseus; and of course, the Greek Gods themselves with the spotlight here on Hera. Hauser’s notes at the end of the story clearly outline her decision making in which myths and characters she included and her interpretation of them. I particularly enjoyed her portrayal of Hippolyta and her two sisters and how she fictionalised each of them in distinct phases.
There are some slow parts but overall another wonderful escape into the world of Greek mythology. It is clearly evident the amount of research Hauser has undertaken, and how she cleverly provides a wealth of information, merged and translated for fictional purposes in an effort to create her unique and fascinating interpretation. Definitely worth a read for lovers of Greek mythology.
‘You are a bard, and I a scribe. Together we may make a story, a tale of heroes that will be told down the generations’
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release
March 20, 2021
I really enjoy Emily Hauser's writing. The stories read very smoothly and she has strong characters.
August 30, 2019
1.5/5 mehhhhh
September 1, 2018
I have just finished the final book in this exquisite trilogy, and For The Immortal has been my favourite of the three. Emily Hauser’s trilogy has come to us amid a flurry of Classics-themed feministic literature in the last year of so: Madeline Miller’s Circe, Emily Wilson’s unsparing translation of Homer’s Odyssey, and even Mary Beard’s enrapturing little book, Women and Power.
Hauser achieves a similar result to that of Miller: we are taken on the torturous but inspiring journeys of these mythical women who are constantly at the mercy of the males around them, but often manage to break through the unrelenting patriarchy in desperate, clever ways. The persecution of women is central to Hauser’s trilogy, and Hauser is very aware of her exposure of this theme. She does it in a way that makes her twenty-first century audience cringe at the way Admete’s male counterparts speak to her in what most of us now deem as archaic: “…keep your opinions to yourself, as befits a woman.” But what I like in Hauser’s trilogy is that she seems to present a slight discomfort even among the men themselves, an awareness of the accepted injustice between genders.
And Hauser is far from painting all of her male characters as villains. Yes, there are some real dirt bags throughout, and Theseus shoulders the burden of the antagonist in For The Immortal. But there is also an encouraging balance of “good guys” throughout, and some of the best male characters are the ones who struggle with where to place their loyalty – with the women they love or with the men with whom they abide. Alcides/Hercules in For The Immortal is a case in point.
On a different note, and a bit of a spoiler at that, I was delighted with Hauser’s decision to merge three mythical Amazons – Hippolyta, Antiope and Penthesileia – into the one. As a student of Classics, I could recognise the tropes of each as I progressed through the book, but it wasn’t until the final encounter with “the Greek” that I fully realised Hauser’s creative act of genius. If you are not one to take diversions from the “original myth” lightly, then Hauser’s explanation in the author’s note justifies her merging of the Amazon myths.
Finally, I enjoyed the sense of feeling the author grow into her writing as the trilogy progressed. I remember feeling a bit baffled with Hauser’s depiction of the Olympian gods in For The Most Beautiful; I can’t remember any specific examples, but I felt like she’d given them such relaxed speech that it came across as a bit “backstreet.” As much as I appreciated the sense of carelessness that the gods espoused, I did feel that the writing itself matured throughout. I can’t wait to see more of Hauser’s work in the future.
Hauser achieves a similar result to that of Miller: we are taken on the torturous but inspiring journeys of these mythical women who are constantly at the mercy of the males around them, but often manage to break through the unrelenting patriarchy in desperate, clever ways. The persecution of women is central to Hauser’s trilogy, and Hauser is very aware of her exposure of this theme. She does it in a way that makes her twenty-first century audience cringe at the way Admete’s male counterparts speak to her in what most of us now deem as archaic: “…keep your opinions to yourself, as befits a woman.” But what I like in Hauser’s trilogy is that she seems to present a slight discomfort even among the men themselves, an awareness of the accepted injustice between genders.
And Hauser is far from painting all of her male characters as villains. Yes, there are some real dirt bags throughout, and Theseus shoulders the burden of the antagonist in For The Immortal. But there is also an encouraging balance of “good guys” throughout, and some of the best male characters are the ones who struggle with where to place their loyalty – with the women they love or with the men with whom they abide. Alcides/Hercules in For The Immortal is a case in point.
On a different note, and a bit of a spoiler at that, I was delighted with Hauser’s decision to merge three mythical Amazons – Hippolyta, Antiope and Penthesileia – into the one. As a student of Classics, I could recognise the tropes of each as I progressed through the book, but it wasn’t until the final encounter with “the Greek” that I fully realised Hauser’s creative act of genius. If you are not one to take diversions from the “original myth” lightly, then Hauser’s explanation in the author’s note justifies her merging of the Amazon myths.
Finally, I enjoyed the sense of feeling the author grow into her writing as the trilogy progressed. I remember feeling a bit baffled with Hauser’s depiction of the Olympian gods in For The Most Beautiful; I can’t remember any specific examples, but I felt like she’d given them such relaxed speech that it came across as a bit “backstreet.” As much as I appreciated the sense of carelessness that the gods espoused, I did feel that the writing itself matured throughout. I can’t wait to see more of Hauser’s work in the future.
May 10, 2018
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Alexander, heir of Tiryns, is dying. His sister Admete is a skillful healer, but her knowledge can’t save him, so she persuades her father to let her join Hercules on one of his labours: they will travel to the Amazons, the legendary female warriors, in search of a cure. The Greek are seen with suspect by the Amazons, but queen Hippolyta gives them hospitality. The encounter will have consequences both on Admete’s and Hippolyta’s lives, and will be the start of an immortal story.
When I requested the book I had no idea it was the third in a trilogy, but luckily it read much like a stand alone. The stories are connected, but I think you don't miss that much reading one without the others. That being said, I will definitely check out the previous novels because I really enjoyed this one.
I wasn’t familiar with the myth, so the story kept me interested. There were some slow parts, but for the most part I enjoyed myself. I liked both Admete’s and Hippolyta’s storylines. They were distinct characters who found themselves in different situations, but they faced similar challenges, the main one being struggling in a male-dominated world. I was glad there wasn’t romance in this book, because the male characters were all awful! I was constantly mad at them, but their behaviour was in accordance with the time period and also made the two heroines stand out more. I admired both of them for what they had to suffer and for how they found their strenght despite everything.
Lastly, the author’s note at the end was great. It is clear Emily Hauser did a lot of research and that she is passionate about the subject. She gives lots of interesting informations about the original sources and also explains how she changed or merged them in order to create her own story. Definitely worth a read.
Alexander, heir of Tiryns, is dying. His sister Admete is a skillful healer, but her knowledge can’t save him, so she persuades her father to let her join Hercules on one of his labours: they will travel to the Amazons, the legendary female warriors, in search of a cure. The Greek are seen with suspect by the Amazons, but queen Hippolyta gives them hospitality. The encounter will have consequences both on Admete’s and Hippolyta’s lives, and will be the start of an immortal story.
When I requested the book I had no idea it was the third in a trilogy, but luckily it read much like a stand alone. The stories are connected, but I think you don't miss that much reading one without the others. That being said, I will definitely check out the previous novels because I really enjoyed this one.
I wasn’t familiar with the myth, so the story kept me interested. There were some slow parts, but for the most part I enjoyed myself. I liked both Admete’s and Hippolyta’s storylines. They were distinct characters who found themselves in different situations, but they faced similar challenges, the main one being struggling in a male-dominated world. I was glad there wasn’t romance in this book, because the male characters were all awful! I was constantly mad at them, but their behaviour was in accordance with the time period and also made the two heroines stand out more. I admired both of them for what they had to suffer and for how they found their strenght despite everything.
Lastly, the author’s note at the end was great. It is clear Emily Hauser did a lot of research and that she is passionate about the subject. She gives lots of interesting informations about the original sources and also explains how she changed or merged them in order to create her own story. Definitely worth a read.
June 12, 2018
I came to For the Immortal without having read the first two books in the series, but that didn't matter, because it is a standalone story. I loved Hauser's recreation of the well-known tale. She tells it from an intriguing new perspective, and that worked incredibly well. The different narrators all had interesting and unique voices, and I found myself caught up in their personal dramas and decisions. I particularly enjoyed the chapter lengths, which made it easy to pick up the book and read the odd bit here and there when I had time. Occasionally, during the more narrative passages, my attention wavered, but the action soon drew me back in. Actually, one of the things I found most enjoyable was the author's afterword, in which she discusses her approach to recasting the myth. Overall, this is a good read for those who enjoy fairytale and myth retellings, and I give it a solid 4 stars.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley.
July 17, 2018
Wow, I absolutely loved reading this! The stories of Homer have been rehashed so many times, or I've read so many of them, but this is different, covering a period prior to the Trojan war about two women, one a princess of Greece and the other Queen of the Amazons, and their exploits up to and including the final battles of this war. At a point near 3/4 through I thought it was finished, but then there was more, and aside from taking me by surprise, it showed me a different side to the story and a female perspective on the times and cultures of these two 'tribes'. I'm sure I've read one of the other of this trio of books, but I'm going to take a look for that I have definitely yet to read, as the writing was scintillating and done exceedingly well.
February 23, 2020
If you’ve read my review of the previous book in this trilogy, For the Winner, you’ll know that I LOVE Emily Hauser’s writing of Greek myths from a female perspective. Seriously, I found out she is a lecturer of classics at Exeter university and began considering it to apply to!
For the immortal is the stunning conclusion to Hauser’s Golden Apple trilogy, following two viewpoints- Queen of the Amazons Hippolyta and Admete, a friend of Hercules. Admete’s brother becomes ill so she goes with Hercules to first visit the amazons, then to find a golden apple.
Hippolyta is bold and brave and powerful, plagued by a mysterious past which is slowly revealed. I enjoyed Hauser’s interpretation of the amazons, them being a nomadic society of men and women. When she is captured her loneliness, pride and shame are so vividly illustrated and her actions always for the best of her people. While I found Hippolyta’s viewpoint interesting, I personally preferred Admete’s. Through her eyes the reader sees Hercules change, from Admete’s closest friend to a jerk obsessed with chasing glory. Admete is not as obviously courageous as Hippolyta, yet she confronts someone from her past, travels with a group of men who don’t want her there and thrives among the Amazons while cultivating her skills in herb healing.
Hauser has a beautiful writing style, full of descriptions weaved into the fabric of the story and little details that make the scenes all the more immersive. The prose is breath-taking from the prologue, the vast amount of time covered never boring and the alliances of the capricious Greek gods fascinating.
The ending of the book, and therefore conclusion of the series, pulls the trilogy together in an unexpected way, linking them in ways I never foresaw. These unique interpretations of three well known myths weave gods, mortals and ancient Greek customs together, illustrating an alien world with vastly different customs in an accessible way. And there’s an epic final battle, so what more could you want?
Would I survive this book? No. I can’t live without a hot shower and lots of books. Not to mention freedom from being sold as a bride.
For the immortal is the stunning conclusion to Hauser’s Golden Apple trilogy, following two viewpoints- Queen of the Amazons Hippolyta and Admete, a friend of Hercules. Admete’s brother becomes ill so she goes with Hercules to first visit the amazons, then to find a golden apple.
Hippolyta is bold and brave and powerful, plagued by a mysterious past which is slowly revealed. I enjoyed Hauser’s interpretation of the amazons, them being a nomadic society of men and women. When she is captured her loneliness, pride and shame are so vividly illustrated and her actions always for the best of her people. While I found Hippolyta’s viewpoint interesting, I personally preferred Admete’s. Through her eyes the reader sees Hercules change, from Admete’s closest friend to a jerk obsessed with chasing glory. Admete is not as obviously courageous as Hippolyta, yet she confronts someone from her past, travels with a group of men who don’t want her there and thrives among the Amazons while cultivating her skills in herb healing.
Hauser has a beautiful writing style, full of descriptions weaved into the fabric of the story and little details that make the scenes all the more immersive. The prose is breath-taking from the prologue, the vast amount of time covered never boring and the alliances of the capricious Greek gods fascinating.
The ending of the book, and therefore conclusion of the series, pulls the trilogy together in an unexpected way, linking them in ways I never foresaw. These unique interpretations of three well known myths weave gods, mortals and ancient Greek customs together, illustrating an alien world with vastly different customs in an accessible way. And there’s an epic final battle, so what more could you want?
Would I survive this book? No. I can’t live without a hot shower and lots of books. Not to mention freedom from being sold as a bride.
May 19, 2019
Mich hat dieser Abschlussband der Trilogie leider nicht ganz überzeugen können, auch wenn er einen Bogen zu den anderen Romanen wirft und so vieles erst verständlich wird – dafür waren mir die beiden Erzählstränge zu weit auseinander und die Götter des Olymps zu wenig präsent.
Diesmal geht es um Admete, die das Volk der Amazonen aufsucht, um Kräuter gegen das Fieber ihres schwerkranken Bruders zu finden. Begleitet wird sie von Alkides, der später als Herkules bekannt werden wird, wenn er seine 12 Aufgaben erfüllt hat. Der andere Erzählstrang handelt von Hippolyta – sie ist Königin der Amazonen und muss sich wieder dem Kampf gegen die Griechen stellen.
Jeder Erzählstrang für sich war interessant, auch wenn ich mir mehr Tiefe gewünscht hätte und nicht immer nur wichtige Szenen, die kurz beleuchtet werden, um dann zur nächsten wichtigen Szene überzugehen. Auch hat mir die Verknüpfung der beiden Handlungsstränge gefehlt, und auch wenn sie nachher miteinander verstrickt sind, waren mir diese Verknüpfungen doch zu wenig. Für die Kürze der Erzählstränge sind die weiblichen Charaktere gut gezeichnet, trotzdem habe ich zu wenig Zeit mit ihnen verbracht, um ihnen wirklich nahe zu sein. Die Männer hingegen sind nur sehr flach und oberflächlich skizziert und kommen insgesamt in diesem Buch leider nicht gut weg.
Gefehlt haben mir mehr Einschübe von den Göttern des Olymps – gerade im zweiten Band fand ich ihre Sicht immer sehr interessant und auch amüsant – diesmal können die Götter am Ende zwar mit einer Überraschung punkten, zwischendurch aber tauchen sie leider kaum auf.
Gelungen fand ich im letzten Drittel den Zeitsprung, der dann wieder zu den trojanischen Kriegen führt und so dann auch eine Brücke zum ersten Band schlägt. Überhaupt hat die Autorin gut recherchiert und unterhaltsam einen mir nicht so gut bekannten Teil der griechischen Geschichte nahegebracht. Dazu hat auch die einfache und gut lesbare Sprache beigetragen, denn die Seiten flogen rasch dahin.
Trotzdem konnten mich die beiden Erzählstränge nicht richtig überzeugen, so dass ich 3 von 5 Sternen vergebe.
Mein Fazit
Die Autorin hat gut recherchiert und bringt spielerisch und unterhaltsam ihr Wissen an den Leser. Trotzdem hat mich dieser Band nicht richtig überzeugen können, da mir die beiden Erzählstränge zu oberflächlich waren und ich sie einfach ausführlicher gehabt hätte – so hatte ich das Gefühl, nur von einer Situation zur anderen zu springen. Gelungen ist aber wieder das Ende, das eine Brücke schlägt zum ersten Band und zum Namen der Reihe. Ich gebe diesem Abschlussband 3 von 5 Sternen.
Diesmal geht es um Admete, die das Volk der Amazonen aufsucht, um Kräuter gegen das Fieber ihres schwerkranken Bruders zu finden. Begleitet wird sie von Alkides, der später als Herkules bekannt werden wird, wenn er seine 12 Aufgaben erfüllt hat. Der andere Erzählstrang handelt von Hippolyta – sie ist Königin der Amazonen und muss sich wieder dem Kampf gegen die Griechen stellen.
Jeder Erzählstrang für sich war interessant, auch wenn ich mir mehr Tiefe gewünscht hätte und nicht immer nur wichtige Szenen, die kurz beleuchtet werden, um dann zur nächsten wichtigen Szene überzugehen. Auch hat mir die Verknüpfung der beiden Handlungsstränge gefehlt, und auch wenn sie nachher miteinander verstrickt sind, waren mir diese Verknüpfungen doch zu wenig. Für die Kürze der Erzählstränge sind die weiblichen Charaktere gut gezeichnet, trotzdem habe ich zu wenig Zeit mit ihnen verbracht, um ihnen wirklich nahe zu sein. Die Männer hingegen sind nur sehr flach und oberflächlich skizziert und kommen insgesamt in diesem Buch leider nicht gut weg.
Gefehlt haben mir mehr Einschübe von den Göttern des Olymps – gerade im zweiten Band fand ich ihre Sicht immer sehr interessant und auch amüsant – diesmal können die Götter am Ende zwar mit einer Überraschung punkten, zwischendurch aber tauchen sie leider kaum auf.
Gelungen fand ich im letzten Drittel den Zeitsprung, der dann wieder zu den trojanischen Kriegen führt und so dann auch eine Brücke zum ersten Band schlägt. Überhaupt hat die Autorin gut recherchiert und unterhaltsam einen mir nicht so gut bekannten Teil der griechischen Geschichte nahegebracht. Dazu hat auch die einfache und gut lesbare Sprache beigetragen, denn die Seiten flogen rasch dahin.
Trotzdem konnten mich die beiden Erzählstränge nicht richtig überzeugen, so dass ich 3 von 5 Sternen vergebe.
Mein Fazit
Die Autorin hat gut recherchiert und bringt spielerisch und unterhaltsam ihr Wissen an den Leser. Trotzdem hat mich dieser Band nicht richtig überzeugen können, da mir die beiden Erzählstränge zu oberflächlich waren und ich sie einfach ausführlicher gehabt hätte – so hatte ich das Gefühl, nur von einer Situation zur anderen zu springen. Gelungen ist aber wieder das Ende, das eine Brücke schlägt zum ersten Band und zum Namen der Reihe. Ich gebe diesem Abschlussband 3 von 5 Sternen.
September 20, 2019
Hauser brings her Golden Apple trilogy to a close with For The Immortal, a book that brings to life Hippolyta, the Amazons, and the daughter of a Greek king who accompanies Hercules on his final two labors.
This book was hard for me in the middle. While I loved the sections involving Hippolyta and the Amazons, the "Becoming Greek" section was a difficult read. I almost stopped reading, but I've enjoyed Hauser's books so much I pressed on. I was glad I did. The last section, while a time jump, was well done. I loved the emphasis on the strength and courage of the Amazon warriors.
Our other main character, Admete, had a quiet strength and really held her own in a group of Greek warriors. I was impressed by the opportunities she created for herself despite living in such a male-dominated society. The information about herbs and their medicinal treatments were well researched.
Overall, there are some great moments that I relished. However, I wanted more from Hippolyta in the middle portion. She shouldn't have lost her strength so drastically. However, Hauser really sparked my interest to learn more about the Amazon society.
Hauser really does her research. I agreed with the choices she made on the mythical characters. The interplay of the Greek gods and goddesses were also well realized. The twist on who the immortal apple was meant for was great. Hauser ends her series strong. I hope she continues to write about this time period and its heroines.
This book was hard for me in the middle. While I loved the sections involving Hippolyta and the Amazons, the "Becoming Greek" section was a difficult read. I almost stopped reading, but I've enjoyed Hauser's books so much I pressed on. I was glad I did. The last section, while a time jump, was well done. I loved the emphasis on the strength and courage of the Amazon warriors.
Our other main character, Admete, had a quiet strength and really held her own in a group of Greek warriors. I was impressed by the opportunities she created for herself despite living in such a male-dominated society. The information about herbs and their medicinal treatments were well researched.
Overall, there are some great moments that I relished. However, I wanted more from Hippolyta in the middle portion. She shouldn't have lost her strength so drastically. However, Hauser really sparked my interest to learn more about the Amazon society.
Hauser really does her research. I agreed with the choices she made on the mythical characters. The interplay of the Greek gods and goddesses were also well realized. The twist on who the immortal apple was meant for was great. Hauser ends her series strong. I hope she continues to write about this time period and its heroines.
April 22, 2019
DEUTSCH │ GERMAN
Danke für das Rezensionsexemplar.
Ein geschenktes Buch ändert trotzdem nichts an meiner eigenen Meinung.
>> Inhalt <<
Admete ist begandete Heilerin und kennt sich hervorragend mit Kräutern aus. Als ihr Bruder Alexander erkrankt, steht sie jedoch vor einer Sackgasse: Sie kann ihn nicht heilen.
Zusammen mit einem Freund, Alkides, welcher später nur noch als Herkules bekannt sein wird, macht sie sich auf den Weg zum Amazonenvolk ihrer verschollenen Mutter, um dort nach den legendären Heilkräutern zu suchen. Das ganze nicht ganz uneigennützig - sie hofft, ihre seit langem vermisste Mutter, welche gebürtige Amazone ist, wiederzufinden.
Herkules stimmt dieser Reise zu, da er als eine seiner zwölf Heldenaufgaben, den Kampfgurt der Amazonenkönigin Hippolyta steheln soll.
>> Charaktere <<
Die Protagonisten sind vielfältig und unterschiedlich gestaltet, jeder auf seine Weise individuell und tiefgreifend, sowie detailliert beschrieben.
Admete als Heilerin, die sich um ihren Bruder und die Zukunft ihres Königreiches sorgt; sowie Herkules, welcher die zwölf Aufgaben nur antritt, um seinem Vater Zeus zu gefallen; und Hippolyta, die sich ebenfalls nur nach Anerkennung und Liebe sehnt.
>> Fazit <<
Wie die beiden Vorgänger mochte ich dieses Buch auch sehr gerne.
Die unterschiedlichen Welten (Amazonen und Griechen), die hier aufeinandertreffen, waren sehr spannend zu beobachten. Emily Hausers Erzählweise gefällt mir wahnsinnig gut und sie schafft es jedesmal, den Leser mitzureißen.
Auch die einzlenen Sprünge zwischen den Kapiteln, die die unterschiedliche Sicht der Amazonen und Griechen darstellen, haben mir sehr gefallen.
Danke für das Rezensionsexemplar.
Ein geschenktes Buch ändert trotzdem nichts an meiner eigenen Meinung.
>> Inhalt <<
Admete ist begandete Heilerin und kennt sich hervorragend mit Kräutern aus. Als ihr Bruder Alexander erkrankt, steht sie jedoch vor einer Sackgasse: Sie kann ihn nicht heilen.
Zusammen mit einem Freund, Alkides, welcher später nur noch als Herkules bekannt sein wird, macht sie sich auf den Weg zum Amazonenvolk ihrer verschollenen Mutter, um dort nach den legendären Heilkräutern zu suchen. Das ganze nicht ganz uneigennützig - sie hofft, ihre seit langem vermisste Mutter, welche gebürtige Amazone ist, wiederzufinden.
Herkules stimmt dieser Reise zu, da er als eine seiner zwölf Heldenaufgaben, den Kampfgurt der Amazonenkönigin Hippolyta steheln soll.
>> Charaktere <<
Die Protagonisten sind vielfältig und unterschiedlich gestaltet, jeder auf seine Weise individuell und tiefgreifend, sowie detailliert beschrieben.
Admete als Heilerin, die sich um ihren Bruder und die Zukunft ihres Königreiches sorgt; sowie Herkules, welcher die zwölf Aufgaben nur antritt, um seinem Vater Zeus zu gefallen; und Hippolyta, die sich ebenfalls nur nach Anerkennung und Liebe sehnt.
>> Fazit <<
Wie die beiden Vorgänger mochte ich dieses Buch auch sehr gerne.
Die unterschiedlichen Welten (Amazonen und Griechen), die hier aufeinandertreffen, waren sehr spannend zu beobachten. Emily Hausers Erzählweise gefällt mir wahnsinnig gut und sie schafft es jedesmal, den Leser mitzureißen.
Auch die einzlenen Sprünge zwischen den Kapiteln, die die unterschiedliche Sicht der Amazonen und Griechen darstellen, haben mir sehr gefallen.
April 28, 2019
In "Tochter des Himmels" gibt es wieder zwei Erzählstränge. Zum einen geht es um Admete, Tochter des Königs von Tiryns, die sich zu den Amazonen aufmacht, wo sie ein Heilmittel für ihren schwer erkrankten Bruder Alexander vermutet. Begleitet wird sie von Alkides, welcher versucht seine 12 Aufgaben zu erfüllen, um fortan als Herkules bekannt zu sein und Unsterblichkeit zu erlangen.
Der zweite Teil befasst sich mit Hippolyta, der Königin der Amazonen. Sie versuch ihrem Volk eine gute Königin zu sein, muss sich aber immer wieder gegen die Griechen behaupten.
Die Geschichten dieser beiden Frauen sind wieder sehr interessant und auch gut durchdacht. Für mich war der Anfang nicht ganz so toll wie die ersten beiden Bücher. Ich wusste nicht genau wo es hingehen sollte und Herkules war mir ziemlich unsympathisch. So waren die ersten beiden Drittel des Buches wie immer gut geschrieben und interessant. Das letzte Drittel hat mich dann aber wieder sehr beeindruckt und gefesselt. Plötzlich gibt es nämlich einen Zeitsprung und wir befinden uns mit Admete und Hippolyta mitten im trojanischen Krieg. Wir erfahren weitere, bisher unbekannte Details und alles wird zu einem großen Ganzen.
Die Zwischenkapitel der Götter waren auch wieder sehr interessant. In diesem Buch lag der Fokus dabei vor allem auf der Zusammenführung aller drei Bücher. Denn erst mit den göttlichen Geschehnissen aus diesem Buch versteht man, wieso weshalb und warum das alles überhaupt passiert ist.
Ich bin wieder sehr begeistert und kann dieses Buch und diese ganze Trilogie nur jedem ans Herz legen, der sich für Mythologie, Griechenland, Geschichte, Epen und starke Frauen interessiert.
Der zweite Teil befasst sich mit Hippolyta, der Königin der Amazonen. Sie versuch ihrem Volk eine gute Königin zu sein, muss sich aber immer wieder gegen die Griechen behaupten.
Die Geschichten dieser beiden Frauen sind wieder sehr interessant und auch gut durchdacht. Für mich war der Anfang nicht ganz so toll wie die ersten beiden Bücher. Ich wusste nicht genau wo es hingehen sollte und Herkules war mir ziemlich unsympathisch. So waren die ersten beiden Drittel des Buches wie immer gut geschrieben und interessant. Das letzte Drittel hat mich dann aber wieder sehr beeindruckt und gefesselt. Plötzlich gibt es nämlich einen Zeitsprung und wir befinden uns mit Admete und Hippolyta mitten im trojanischen Krieg. Wir erfahren weitere, bisher unbekannte Details und alles wird zu einem großen Ganzen.
Die Zwischenkapitel der Götter waren auch wieder sehr interessant. In diesem Buch lag der Fokus dabei vor allem auf der Zusammenführung aller drei Bücher. Denn erst mit den göttlichen Geschehnissen aus diesem Buch versteht man, wieso weshalb und warum das alles überhaupt passiert ist.
Ich bin wieder sehr begeistert und kann dieses Buch und diese ganze Trilogie nur jedem ans Herz legen, der sich für Mythologie, Griechenland, Geschichte, Epen und starke Frauen interessiert.
July 3, 2018
This story is told from the point of view of three women; Hippolyta the Queen of the Amazons, in the Land of the Saka. Admete the daughter of Eurystheus, King of Tiryns. and Hera, goddess and wife of Zeus.
We follow Admete as she travels away from Greece with Hercules to discover new herbs to discover a cure for her brother Alexander and on her voyage hopes to meet her mother who returned to her homeland when Admete was a young girl. Hercules is also on his quest to gain immortality and must seize the war belt from Queen Hippolyta and find the golden apples that were stolen on the night of Hera's marriage. Hera is determined to prevent Hercules from completing his final quests as she is angry with his father and her husband Zeus for having an affair with a mortal. Will Hera prevent Hercules and can Admete find her mother and the herbs to save her brother in time?
For the Immortal is a journey of finding out how to truly become immortal. It"s a different take on greek legends, and even though its the 3rd story in the series it is a stand alone read. It pushes the strong female characters and their caring sides, and hammers it home that it all about the heroines rather than heroes. At first the flow of flicking between the characters was a little confusing, especially as they had what seemed like different time lines, one following the Day of the Fire in the Season of Tabiti, 1250BC or Day of Month of the Grape Season, 1250BC, though in reality it was just different places or calendars according to the person. I learnt much about the legends and overall I enjoyed it, but didn't need it rammed down my throat at the end that it was about heroines.
I received this book from netgalley in return for a honest review.
We follow Admete as she travels away from Greece with Hercules to discover new herbs to discover a cure for her brother Alexander and on her voyage hopes to meet her mother who returned to her homeland when Admete was a young girl. Hercules is also on his quest to gain immortality and must seize the war belt from Queen Hippolyta and find the golden apples that were stolen on the night of Hera's marriage. Hera is determined to prevent Hercules from completing his final quests as she is angry with his father and her husband Zeus for having an affair with a mortal. Will Hera prevent Hercules and can Admete find her mother and the herbs to save her brother in time?
For the Immortal is a journey of finding out how to truly become immortal. It"s a different take on greek legends, and even though its the 3rd story in the series it is a stand alone read. It pushes the strong female characters and their caring sides, and hammers it home that it all about the heroines rather than heroes. At first the flow of flicking between the characters was a little confusing, especially as they had what seemed like different time lines, one following the Day of the Fire in the Season of Tabiti, 1250BC or Day of Month of the Grape Season, 1250BC, though in reality it was just different places or calendars according to the person. I learnt much about the legends and overall I enjoyed it, but didn't need it rammed down my throat at the end that it was about heroines.
I received this book from netgalley in return for a honest review.
August 25, 2018
Hippolyta is the Queen of the Amazons, a race of fierce female warriors who live in Scythia, proud to be an Amazon, Hippolyta has a secret she keeps from her people. Admete is a princess of Greece but her mother was an Amazon, skilled in healing Admete wants to travel to the lands of her mother's race to seek a cure for her sick brother. Alcides is the son of Zeus but in order to gain immortality he must complete 12 labours and his final one is to capture the warbler of Hippolyta.
Weaving together the twelve labours of Hercules, the backstory of Achilles and the Trojan War, this book gives a different perspective on the Great myths. Hauser is an accomplished writer, her knowledge of the myths and Ancient Greece as a whole are outstanding and the artistic licence she takes is fully explained in the accompanying notes. What is also strong in her writing is the characterisation and emotions she brings to the tales. The humiliation of Hippolyta at the hands of Theseus is heart-wrenching.
Weaving together the twelve labours of Hercules, the backstory of Achilles and the Trojan War, this book gives a different perspective on the Great myths. Hauser is an accomplished writer, her knowledge of the myths and Ancient Greece as a whole are outstanding and the artistic licence she takes is fully explained in the accompanying notes. What is also strong in her writing is the characterisation and emotions she brings to the tales. The humiliation of Hippolyta at the hands of Theseus is heart-wrenching.
July 12, 2021
Irrespective of the two plot holes, the book is a very good read. By far my favourite one of the series. The complicated threads of this story is skilfully plotted together and couldn’t have been easy to keep factual. The clear plot holes the author had to build in to the trilogy shows why these stories may not have been threaded together by previous novelists. Certain artistic licence is required and the author has used that along with the mash-up character of Hippolyta and the provision of an Amazon mother as a backstory and pretext for Admete to travel with Hercules and his band of thugs. Admete’s brother who is sick is not Alexander the Great as I originally assumed when reading; this is a different Alexander....https://chroniclesoftania.wordpress.c...
July 5, 2019
actual rating: 2.25/5
I enjoyed this one far less than the first of the series. The writing style seemed much more formal and antiquated, which shows the author's strong writing ability, but wasn't enjoyable to read. Of course I still love the premise of retelling ancient epics with the focus on female characters. Hauser maintains historical accuracy while putting new interpretation on the action and giving humanity and depth to the characters. She also does a beautiful job of raising themes of fate vs free will and the power of storytelling. The action of the goddesses/muses in this book ties together all three books of the trilogy. The writing style just made me bored the entire way through.
I enjoyed this one far less than the first of the series. The writing style seemed much more formal and antiquated, which shows the author's strong writing ability, but wasn't enjoyable to read. Of course I still love the premise of retelling ancient epics with the focus on female characters. Hauser maintains historical accuracy while putting new interpretation on the action and giving humanity and depth to the characters. She also does a beautiful job of raising themes of fate vs free will and the power of storytelling. The action of the goddesses/muses in this book ties together all three books of the trilogy. The writing style just made me bored the entire way through.
July 6, 2024
Book 3 of this Golden Apple Series
Overall, the story between the Amazons and Greeks are quite engaging and enthralling.
I love how the author cleverly incorporated happenings of Trojan War at the end. It’s definitely weaved along beautifully with the story of Amazon Queen, the Greeks and Trojan. Everything in the end correlates and makes sense.
However, just as Book 2 - I somewhat dislike the conversations of the Gods or perhaps the Gods POV and how they took part to plot the war and all. It’s quite draggy at times.
To sum up - this book is definitely to be read by any mythological lovers any time. I would love to explore more books written by this author surely.
Overall, the story between the Amazons and Greeks are quite engaging and enthralling.
I love how the author cleverly incorporated happenings of Trojan War at the end. It’s definitely weaved along beautifully with the story of Amazon Queen, the Greeks and Trojan. Everything in the end correlates and makes sense.
However, just as Book 2 - I somewhat dislike the conversations of the Gods or perhaps the Gods POV and how they took part to plot the war and all. It’s quite draggy at times.
To sum up - this book is definitely to be read by any mythological lovers any time. I would love to explore more books written by this author surely.
June 25, 2025
If you read these in reverse order then the god plot line probably makes more sense.
Pros:
The ending is actually good.
Cons:
81 word sentences are never needed.
Hera randomly forgets about Hercules for 2 months and is like ‘wtf how are you alive after I told some Amazons to kill you and left like a Bond villain’ which seems very out of character.
The characters go hunting and 5 seconds later there is a blinding thunderstorm (but it’s not one of the 2 thunderstorms that Hera summons at other times in the book) which seems like not the ideal conditions to go hunting.
The Amazon Queen gets captured for a year and comes back with a baby. ‘This is a foundling I found abandoned in the fields’ is going to fool absolutely no one.
Pros:
The ending is actually good.
Cons:
81 word sentences are never needed.
Hera randomly forgets about Hercules for 2 months and is like ‘wtf how are you alive after I told some Amazons to kill you and left like a Bond villain’ which seems very out of character.
The characters go hunting and 5 seconds later there is a blinding thunderstorm (but it’s not one of the 2 thunderstorms that Hera summons at other times in the book) which seems like not the ideal conditions to go hunting.
The Amazon Queen gets captured for a year and comes back with a baby. ‘This is a foundling I found abandoned in the fields’ is going to fool absolutely no one.
August 21, 2019
I am so glad I stuck with this series after really disliking the first book. The first book was childish and had huge flaws in the character development. Fortunately, the second book, For the Winner, and this one have been absolutely amazing! This last of the trilogy nicely wraps up the series and links all three together beautifully. I just wish the first one was as good but this does make up for it. I loved this book and would look forward to reading more from this author, especially if she continues retelling mythology.
February 1, 2020
I loved this book and the retelling of the myths of Hercules from the perspective of two women closely involved with one of the labours. The writing and the characters were brilliant. I did get very mad at the way some of the male characters treated the female characters (I think I was supposed to though) and did have to put the book down a couple of times because I was absolutely fuming. I also loved how it all tied together overall and would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in Greek Mythology.
May 3, 2024
This book tells the story of Hippolyta and Ademete, who are two strong and highly determined women. Unfortunately, both women suffer at the hands of the men they meet as I imagine most women from that era did. It was refershing for the men to be portrayed as detestable rather than these golden heroes. This book is gripping and transports you to Ancient Greece while bringing the myths to life. It's the final book in the Golden Apple trilogy but can be read as a stand-alone novel.
August 23, 2019
Meh. Again. Same feeling as the previous in the series. Kind of wish I hadn’t bothered 😏
I wanted to learn more about Ancient Greece and Greek Gods and Myths, so I’m glad that I know more than I did before I read these books, buuuuut the truth is that these books just aren’t that good. I’m sorry. I wanted to like them.
I wanted to learn more about Ancient Greece and Greek Gods and Myths, so I’m glad that I know more than I did before I read these books, buuuuut the truth is that these books just aren’t that good. I’m sorry. I wanted to like them.
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