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Aelric #3
The Blood of Alexandria
The tears of Alexander shall flow, giving bread and freedom—the irrepressible Aelric's third adventure
In 612 AD, Egypt, the jewel of the Roman Empire, seethes with unrest as bread runs short and the Persians plot an invasion. In Alexandria, a city divided between Greeks and Egyptians by language, religion, and far too few soldiers, the mummy of the Great Alexander, dead for 900 years, still has the power to calm the mob—or inflame it. Aelric, the young British clerk who has become a senator and the trusted henchman of Emperor Heraclius, has come to Alexandria to send Egypt's harvest to Constantinople and to force the unwilling viceroy to give its land to the peasants. But the city, with its factions and conspirators, thwarts him at every turn. When an old enemy from Constantinople arrives, supposedly on a quest for a religious relic that could turn the course of the Persian war, he will have to use all his cunning, charm, and talent for violence to survive.
In 612 AD, Egypt, the jewel of the Roman Empire, seethes with unrest as bread runs short and the Persians plot an invasion. In Alexandria, a city divided between Greeks and Egyptians by language, religion, and far too few soldiers, the mummy of the Great Alexander, dead for 900 years, still has the power to calm the mob—or inflame it. Aelric, the young British clerk who has become a senator and the trusted henchman of Emperor Heraclius, has come to Alexandria to send Egypt's harvest to Constantinople and to force the unwilling viceroy to give its land to the peasants. But the city, with its factions and conspirators, thwarts him at every turn. When an old enemy from Constantinople arrives, supposedly on a quest for a religious relic that could turn the course of the Persian war, he will have to use all his cunning, charm, and talent for violence to survive.
512 pages, Hardcover
First published June 10, 2010
11 people are currently reading
123 people want to read
About the author
Richard Blake
79 books68 followersA pseudonym of Dr Sean Gabb.
Richard Blake is a writer, broadcaster and teacher. He lives in Kent with his wife and daughter.
For Hodder & Stoughton, he has written the following six historical novels: "Conspiracies of Rome" (2008), "Terror of Constantinople" (2009), "Blood of Alexandria" (2010), "Sword of Damascus" (2011), "Ghosts of Athens" (2012), "Curse of Babylon" (2013). These have been translated into Spanish, Italian, Greek, Slovak, Hungarian, Indonesian, and Chinese.
In 2015, Hodder & Stoughton republished all six novels in two omnibus volumes: "Death of Rome Saga 1" and "Death of Rome Saga 2."
As Sean Gabb, he has written these novels: "The Column of Phocas" (2006 - historical), "The Churchill Memorandum" (2011 - alternate history thriller), and "The Break" (post-apocalyptic science fiction). This novel was published in 2014, and nominated for the Prometheus Award, but has now been acquired by Caffeine Nights and withdrawn for republication in 2016 under the name Richard Blake. A further novel, "The York Deviation" (alternate history fantasy), is awaiting publication.
He also writes for Endeavour Press. His first historical novel for Endeavour, "Game of Empires," was published in May 2015. His next in this series, "Death in Ravenna," was published in August 2016. Hist next, "Crown of Empire," will be published in April 2016.
You can follow him on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/richard.blak...
You can also follow him on Twitter - https://twitter.com/BlakeTheWriter
His personal website is - http://www.richardblake.me.uk/
Richard Blake is a writer, broadcaster and teacher. He lives in Kent with his wife and daughter.
For Hodder & Stoughton, he has written the following six historical novels: "Conspiracies of Rome" (2008), "Terror of Constantinople" (2009), "Blood of Alexandria" (2010), "Sword of Damascus" (2011), "Ghosts of Athens" (2012), "Curse of Babylon" (2013). These have been translated into Spanish, Italian, Greek, Slovak, Hungarian, Indonesian, and Chinese.
In 2015, Hodder & Stoughton republished all six novels in two omnibus volumes: "Death of Rome Saga 1" and "Death of Rome Saga 2."
As Sean Gabb, he has written these novels: "The Column of Phocas" (2006 - historical), "The Churchill Memorandum" (2011 - alternate history thriller), and "The Break" (post-apocalyptic science fiction). This novel was published in 2014, and nominated for the Prometheus Award, but has now been acquired by Caffeine Nights and withdrawn for republication in 2016 under the name Richard Blake. A further novel, "The York Deviation" (alternate history fantasy), is awaiting publication.
He also writes for Endeavour Press. His first historical novel for Endeavour, "Game of Empires," was published in May 2015. His next in this series, "Death in Ravenna," was published in August 2016. Hist next, "Crown of Empire," will be published in April 2016.
You can follow him on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/richard.blak...
You can also follow him on Twitter - https://twitter.com/BlakeTheWriter
His personal website is - http://www.richardblake.me.uk/
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 30, 2013
This author reminds me somewhat of Robert Graves, whose I Claudius and Claudius the God gave me such immense pleasure when I was a great deal younger.
Graves's books had the advantage of dealing with a period of history many people are either familiar with, or at least vaguely aware of. Blake has the problem - but for me a delight - that he deals with period and places very few people know much about.
His hero is fun; his villains are suitably villainous; his tone amusingly cynical, and his scholarship - as far as I can tell - impeccable.
In a curious way his writing reminded me of the Sister Fidelma books.
They of course are historical whodunits but much of their joy, as with this book, is that you learn a lot about a period and a place that is little known.
Thoroughly recommend.
Graves's books had the advantage of dealing with a period of history many people are either familiar with, or at least vaguely aware of. Blake has the problem - but for me a delight - that he deals with period and places very few people know much about.
His hero is fun; his villains are suitably villainous; his tone amusingly cynical, and his scholarship - as far as I can tell - impeccable.
In a curious way his writing reminded me of the Sister Fidelma books.
They of course are historical whodunits but much of their joy, as with this book, is that you learn a lot about a period and a place that is little known.
Thoroughly recommend.
January 20, 2014
`Richard Blake' has trotted out a new Aelric novel annually for the last six years and I guess there may still be another four to come. `Blake' clearly understands his Classics and has good knowledge of the historical period in which Aelric performs his adventures, but it would be wrong, I think, to consider these novels historically sound as some reviewers have done. While there is a basic substratum of historical fact, i.e. the crisis of the Roman Empire in the Seventh Century and its transformation into the Byzantine Empire during the reign of Heraclius, all this is simply a framework for fantastic plots of a febrile imagination. Some might simply say the stories are a complete load of nonsense.
Of course, these are novels, not non-fiction text books, and strict historical accuracy is neither to be expected or attainable; suspension of belief is necessary for their enjoyment. However, to suspend disbelief over 500 pages is quite an ask, especially in a novel concerned with Byzantine Egypt which manages to incorporate near death experiences, She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed, a possible guest appearance of Edward Gibbon (or is it the author himself?), a most irreverent relic pertaining to the infancy of Jesus and an episode of mass impaling which would have caused envy to Vlad the Impaler himself. The silliness is sublime.
`Richard Blake' just about pulls it off in my opinion. As the novel spirals into fantasy in the last 100 pages or so, it also elicited a few long and sustained bursts of incredulous laughter from this reader. I am assured that laughter prolongs life and health. So, thank-you, Mr `Blake'.
Of course, these are novels, not non-fiction text books, and strict historical accuracy is neither to be expected or attainable; suspension of belief is necessary for their enjoyment. However, to suspend disbelief over 500 pages is quite an ask, especially in a novel concerned with Byzantine Egypt which manages to incorporate near death experiences, She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed, a possible guest appearance of Edward Gibbon (or is it the author himself?), a most irreverent relic pertaining to the infancy of Jesus and an episode of mass impaling which would have caused envy to Vlad the Impaler himself. The silliness is sublime.
`Richard Blake' just about pulls it off in my opinion. As the novel spirals into fantasy in the last 100 pages or so, it also elicited a few long and sustained bursts of incredulous laughter from this reader. I am assured that laughter prolongs life and health. So, thank-you, Mr `Blake'.
January 4, 2013
I've read the first two Aelric books as well and enjoyed this one the least of the three. It has some of the same virtues as the other books (fast paced, interesting chronological and geographical setting) and some of the same vices (needless - infrequent - obscenity). What I think made this book work less well for me was the too consulted nature of the plot (too many twists and turns), the use of an unexplained "deus ex machina" - the Mistress - and the invention of a Pre-Egyptian advanced race with magical powers.
June 23, 2013
Historical fiction set in 7th century Alexandria - didn't know anything about the time period going into the book, but the author did a great job of bringing the setting alive.
January 2, 2016
Alexandria, Egypt.
Oh, what it must have been like to live in this city in ancient times.
The center of learning in the western world for centuries as well as the scene of countless riots and bloodshed through the years.
It is also the location of the third book of Aelric, a young Briton who finds himself matching wits with the high and mighty of the Byzantine Empire in 612 AD.
I can sum up the story this way: What a hell of a ride.
Political intrigue abounds. There are mysteries to be solved There are travels up the Nile to the ancient tombs of Pharaohs. There are battles a plenty.
The writing is crisp; the words paint a vivid picture. The characters are fleshed out and are real. They breath. They are alive.
Thank you Richard Blake for your talents.
Oh, what it must have been like to live in this city in ancient times.
The center of learning in the western world for centuries as well as the scene of countless riots and bloodshed through the years.
It is also the location of the third book of Aelric, a young Briton who finds himself matching wits with the high and mighty of the Byzantine Empire in 612 AD.
I can sum up the story this way: What a hell of a ride.
Political intrigue abounds. There are mysteries to be solved There are travels up the Nile to the ancient tombs of Pharaohs. There are battles a plenty.
The writing is crisp; the words paint a vivid picture. The characters are fleshed out and are real. They breath. They are alive.
Thank you Richard Blake for your talents.
September 29, 2014
In book three of the Aelric series, the author takes us to Egypt. An Egypt that is essential for the survival of the Roman Empire because of its food production.
Relics, politics, revenge and cunning all combine to make this a fascinating journey through the upper echelons of Alexandrian society and the dregs of its humanity.
Relics, politics, revenge and cunning all combine to make this a fascinating journey through the upper echelons of Alexandrian society and the dregs of its humanity.
October 1, 2019
Mix together a bit of James Bondish intrigue/espionage with an archaeologically themed Indiana Jones-like adventure in 7th century Alexandria, Egypt.
Throw in a hint of time travel (or witchcraft - call it what you choose) and perhaps a smidgen of a near death experience. Then add a pinch of Atlantean influence in Egypt's shadowy past and you have one helluva lively and amusing adventure/fantasy tale.
Of course the heroes in this story wear tunics and carry swords rather than business suits and semi-automatic pistols, but the conflict between two empires rivals any modern cold war situation. And though Alaric may not wear a Fedora he sees sights as weird as any Doctor Jones ever encountered.
As he has done with the first two titles of this series, Richard Blake has produced a near-perfect blend of historical detail and atmosphere with the plot of a thriller, vivid characters (many of which are the author's characterization of authentic historical figures), and a light, cynical tone.
You will enjoy this book.
Throw in a hint of time travel (or witchcraft - call it what you choose) and perhaps a smidgen of a near death experience. Then add a pinch of Atlantean influence in Egypt's shadowy past and you have one helluva lively and amusing adventure/fantasy tale.
Of course the heroes in this story wear tunics and carry swords rather than business suits and semi-automatic pistols, but the conflict between two empires rivals any modern cold war situation. And though Alaric may not wear a Fedora he sees sights as weird as any Doctor Jones ever encountered.
As he has done with the first two titles of this series, Richard Blake has produced a near-perfect blend of historical detail and atmosphere with the plot of a thriller, vivid characters (many of which are the author's characterization of authentic historical figures), and a light, cynical tone.
You will enjoy this book.
March 4, 2018
The first two in the series were fascinating well paced and exciting to read. Alexandria needed better editing. and the storyline fell apart. Im committed to the series!
June 26, 2013
Gave up half way through. Have lost interest
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews