I was sent this book as as ARC, in exchange for my honest review.
I don’t generally read historical fiction, but I was intrigued by both the subject matter (I’ve always loved Greek mythology, and history) and by the MM aspect.
Overall, I think this is a really good debut novel. It’s comprehensive, clear and precise. It tackles quite the character, and adds a few twists and turns that aren’t wildly unbelievable.
Watching Alexander and Hephaestion’s relationship grow from a simple friendship to an all-encompassing love affair was the obvious focus of the story. They met every obstacle head-on, always ending up together and stronger for it. The characters of Barsine and Roxana were a nice addition, whether real or not, and I appreciated how they propelled the story forward.
I do think the novel could benefit from a little more… luxuriating. Each scene seems to go by so quickly, and the characters’ dialogue is fast and sometimes takes large steps that the reader struggles to keep up with.
The modern dialogue, in the setting of Ancient Greece, is really strange, as well. I’m absolutely sure that the phrase ‘dicked down’ wasn’t commonly used in Alexander the Great’s time. This is purely just a personal preference, though.
Also, the mention of the Aeneid really took me out of it. Don’t quote me, but I’m also quite sure that the Aeneid wasn’t written by the time Alexander came around.
Other than that, though, if you’re interested in more of a personal look into what might have been Alexander the Great’s life, this would be a good read for you!