| Date: 12 April 2011, 02:48
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Great story. This was one of those books where you cant wait to have time to keep reading more. I just finished this novel and I am gonna pass the book on to a friend who I have already talked it up to. Ive been reading mostly historical fiction lately: Manfredi, Pressfield, Ford. When I saw this novel was about ancient Mesopotamia I bought it because I think that time period is very interesting, and the authors basic plot only made it more so. I wasnt disappointed in what I found. Plenty of action, intrigue and great characters, details on what life may have been like at that time, plus some intelligent ideas on what it takes to be a good leader and motivator of people. I also thought this book was well researched, though I think the author obviously had to stretch or guess on some things since there isnt much recorded history from that far back in time. The real work here for the author was in tying all the pieces together to create a believable setting and plot, while still writing a good story that kept the readers attention. I think he succeeded at it. One way I judge a book is how long it takes me to go back to it once I put it down. A book that I dont go back to quickly when I have the chance, or that I dont have that urge in the back of my mind to make time for, fails. This book I did have that urge to go back to, and I found myself making time to finish. That to me is a successful story.
Trella was really a surprise. My girlfriend has no interest in books like this, but I am trying to get her to read it because I think she would like that character very much and Id like it if we had something more to talk about. In some ways she kinda stole the show in parts but in a good way. I liked how her characters beauty was more her intelligence than her body and how that was what impressed those around her. She didnt pull a Cleopatra by trying to seduce people to manipulate them which was what I would have expected. She was a strong character without behaving in a masculine or trampy way. As a nobleman's daughter in Sumeria, her father had taught her how to be an intelligent wife to a chieftain and her relationship with Eskkar gave her the chance to put these lessons to good use, even if the death of her family had led to her being made a slave just before they met. Eskkar was already a natural warrior and leader, but she gave him the extra insight he needed to truly grow into his role.
I liked it that the author spent a good amount of time detailing the defenders planning. This made me get more into the story because instead of just writing about them building a wall, he went into the thoughts behind their plans. Those who read military history would recognize many of the basic leadership and strategy ideas the author went into, and he connected them together in the right way. These people are in the early bronze age so they didnt know all of the answers already, instead they were learning as they went. So its mostly them using their common sense to apply things they had already learned in new ways to build a defense that hadnt really been attempted before. Different minds and talents who mostly had nothing to do with war being turned to a new idea and working together to solve the problem. The author also made good use of these conversations to not only detail plans for the city and its defense, but also explain aspects of life during that timeperiod. A much smoother blending of story and facts than some writers take.
The last like hundred and fifty pages of the book is the siege. Not nonstop fighting which would be crazy, but the assaults on the walls mixed with the drama of waiting between attacks, preparing for the next assault and dealing with plots and betrayal within the city itself. A lot happens in this story. This novel isnt dry historical fiction, it has the qualities of an adventure.
Someone made a comment about the book being too long. I think thats just a matter of opinion. I like long books and long movies, so long as the story keeps my attention. So I didnt have a problem with the length of the novel, but I know other people may feel differently. This book is near 500 pages long. Ive read 250 page books that have felt much longer than this one, all because the story wasnt written well and didnt move. For me the length of a book is how long it takes me to read it, and if reading it is enjoyment or a job Im trying to get done with. Reading this didnt feel like a chore.
I was almost turned off to the book by the negative post a reviewer made here which says the book's history lacked evidence of research. I saw the book's author had replied to him here which surprised me so I read more about it here and then on my own. I looked up the things that he complained about in an online encyclopedia and some books I have. Whats wrong is that the reviewer only read 3 chapters of the book which is like 50 pages. He makes assumptions based on the little he read and he is way off. Some of what he says is actually historically incorrect, but the rest is just his confusion since he didnt read the book.
I took the time to look up the details about what he said so I want to write something about that here since it might help others. The information is easy to find and prove on the internet even. 1- There is nothing wrong with the horsemen having lances or the author calling them that. A lance is just another word for a spear type weapon used by someone on a horse. They have been used since people first rode horses and were probably the first weapons used from horseback. 2- There were nomadic tribes who were both herders and raiders way before the Huns and Mongols, and I dont know why he is confusing the nomads in the book with them anyway. Its like comparing a single apple to a whole huge orange grove. Mongol-type raiders are way later and much different. 3- The nomads in the novel didnt survive totally on plunder. They were hunters, herders, and raiders, just like many tribesmen in history. 4- Early swords date to ancient Sumeria which is just south of the book's city, and the ones mentioned in the story werent the main weapons used anyway. It was bows and spears, and rocks from the walls. 5- Trella wasnt born a slave, she was free through her childhood and was educated during that time. She was born to an important family and educated fittingly. 6- Cunieform writing existed in ancient Sumeria at this time, and this is where Trella was born and raised.
Another reviewer said this was the kinda tale that makes you want to go learn more about the peoples that inspired the book. Hes right, thats just what I did. Lot of interesting things Im finding out but this isnt the place for that.
This was a much better told story than a lot of the historical fiction I have read, which usually turns out dry and unevenly paced. Not all historians are good story tellers, no matter how much they know about their subject. Its not the absolute best book Ive ever read in my entire life, but I liked it very much and I would definitely recommend it. I wish other authors would try writing about very early time periods like this one too.
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