The long siege of Troy, the battles fought over it, and the city’s eventual capitulation and incineration are events which have often been retold since their first recitation by Homer. Seldom, however, will they have been narrated with such close attention to the minute particulars of battle, to its reek and terror and pain, as in this startling account by Daniel Kelly. Kelly looks minutely at … every detail of archaic combat, as well as at the lives and feelings shaped by it. His Troy is not only a scene of shining glory, but also a grimy struggle for survival and mastery. And he introduces surprising questions: what if not everything in the Trojan war came to pass just as Homer tells us? What if the future of the Roman empire were hidden in the burning ashes of Troy’s – and not in the way we might expect?
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This book is the perfect cozy mystery read. From the aesthetic of the little town and the antique shop to the eclectic cast of characters involved in the story. Julia is such an intriguing character to follow. She is intelligent, hardworking, and loving. But she also holds some mystery, a past she is running away from. I was pulled in to the story within the first few pages and found it incredibly hard to put the book down. The mystery is intriguing and kept me guessing from beginning to end. The book is cleverly written and a joy to read. I would highly recommend this book!
Very few historical books grab me, and historical fiction really has to be on point with research before I give it a good review. Kelly does a great job of making the story identifiable through his own takes on very common lore surrounding Troy (and the fall thereof).
We start off right away with Achilles on the beach of Troy with his Myrmidons.
Kelly does a great job of showing us both sides of the fence. No character is without drive or motive in what they do. The development is rich (much of these characters we’ve seen and heard before); but seeing the skilled writing and Kelly’s take made this story very interesting. It’s a fast paced read, you could get through it in a few days. I highly recommend this book!
If you are looking for a fine, well-crafted retelling of classical Greece’s war with the Trojans then look no further than this! Author Daniel Kelly has proven himself to be a master storyteller who takes a well-known storyline from antiquity and gives it his own spin which I could not help but marvel at. This begins with a duel between two of ancient Greece’s greatest heroes: one being the Trojan warrior, Hector and the other being Greece’s Achilles. It goes on until Achilles ends up killing Hector by tiring him while in battle. I am one who is not really a fan of violence and gore so I had to force myself to read through this novel which is laden with that kind of stuff. But I won’t lie though, I still felt riveted to this story because the action goes on from the first page until the last. And you will find yourself agreeing with me that Kelly does so well with explaining certain changes he’s made to the classic story you will want to read other books by him if he has any. This is a work of historical fiction and it helped that I had some knowledge of the Trojan War before I got to read this book.
The book is all violence right from start to end. There is endless mention of blood, wounds, sores, weapons, and the sort. There are also some episodes of bromance in this story between Achilles and a character called Diomedes and again Achilles and a surprise character you will come upon in the middle of the book. Oh! And there are loads of surprises for you. I mentioned before that this is a retelling and Kelly is a master at it. The ending will leave you feeling amused and satisfied that you chose to read this interesting book. There is a lack of women characters in this story as mainly it is about soldiers at war with each other. If you are not familiar with the Trojan War then I suggest to you to do your research online because you may need it to understand the story better. Does this story include gods and goddesses? I’ll let you find that out for yourself! Does this story have a vengeful god or goddess who is helping one side win over the other? Again, I’ll let you find that out for yourself.
This book is for the Greek mythology enthusiasts. I learned about this story from back in elementary and high school. I think I haven’t seen a movie made out of it or? I don’t know. But yeah, this book is not for the faint of heart as it is a blood and gore fest. This book is for the lover of war stories. This book is for one who loves a fine and innovative retelling of one of history’s greatest wars. Before you have any doubts about this book, I assure you that it will make you so satisfied to have read it, especially when you are familiar with the famous men of old, Achilles and Hector.
Opening prolong scene captured my attention with bold imagery. Bodyguards by the dozens shielded with heavy battle armor. The army pointed straight at our protagonist; Hector. The timing; final days of the Trojan War in the city of Troy. Hector is he good or bad? The scene suggests he’s angered someone in the prince castle but time will tell.
I read the book and have my interpretation of bad with good intentions and good with bad action. Meaning his will might be correct but in his responsibility and job his morals are set aside and for that evil emerges.
The Fall of the Phoenix by Daniel Kelly is a detailed retelling of the fantastic battle of Troy. The prologue was wonderfully gritty, detailing a battle between Achilles and Hector. The depth of attention paid to every single aspect of this battle sets the tone for an informative and great story. The city of Troy is fully explored, exposing nuances and everyday life that is seldom written about. This book is a great combination of history and mythology as the author explores the history of the time. Not merely just a recounting of history, this tale tells of the struggles for survival in a very unique time. Often it’s hard to discern who to root for, who is the bad or the good guy, but knowing that everyone involved has their own unique motivations and cultural influences. The battles scenes are so spot on, you feel you are a witness to the heroics displayed. Fine writing sets this book apart from simple historical fiction. Highly recommend.