Last week I decided to revisit the work of David Gemmell again. I remember enjoying his books the first time I read them, but that was around ten years ago. This time I am liking the immersion in his blend of history, mythology and fantasy. And reading books set in the world of Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey is very appropriate too with the new film!

The first book of the Troy trilogy is Lord of the Silver Bow. This is the blurb…

“Three lives will change the destiny of nations. Helikaon, the young prince of Dardania, haunted by a scarred and traumatic childhood. The priestess Andromache, whose fiery spirit and fierce independence threatens the might of kings. And the legendary warrior Argurios, cloaked in loneliness and driven only by thoughts of revenge.In Troythey find a city torn apart by destructive rivalries – a maelstrom of jealousy, deceit and murderous treachery. And beyond its fabled walls blood-hungry enemies eye its riches and plot its downfall.It is a time of bravery and betrayal; a time of bloodshed and fear.”

And here is my response on Goodreads…

Lord of the Silver Bow by David Gemmell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I originally read this book over ten years ago and found it even better on a re-read. Having a background in Ancient History and having read the Iliad in Ancient Greek, I really enjoyed Gemmell’s version of the famous tale. He has taken well known characters and made them very human, with faults as well as heroism. I also enjoyed the way he has lifted female characters closer to the spotlight, particularly Andromache. His writing is so brilliant that I almost didn’t notice the length of each book!

All in all, highly recommended!

View all my reviews

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On finishing the first part of the trilogy, I then went on to the second…

Part two is called Shield of Thunder. Here is the blurb…

“The second exciting novel in the bestselling Troy trilogy. Interlacing myth and history, adventure and love, this is epic storytelling at its best.

The war in Troy is looming, and all the kings of the Great Green are gathering, friends and enemies, with their own dark plans of conquest and plunder.

Into this maelstrom of treachery and deceit come three travellers — Piria, a runaway priestess nursing a terrible secret, Kalliades, a warrior with a legendary sword, and Banokles who will carve his own legend in the battles to come.

Shield of Thunder takes the reader back into the glories and tragedies of Bronze Age Greece, reuniting the characters from Lord of the Silver Bow — the dread Helikaon and his great love, the fiery Andromache, the mighty Hektor, and the fabled storyteller, Odysseus.

This is my short review on Goodreads…

Shield of Thunder by David Gemmell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The second part of the Troy trilogy is a more complex book than the first. Quite a lot of new characters are brought in with new storylines and one who were the main focus before step back a little so that all of the different plot strands can play their part. We are taken all over the Aegean Sea, to many islands, states and cities, by boat and on foot. Battles and skirmishes are fought, ships are sunk, people are killed. Gemmell’s brilliant writing makes the reader feel present in the action rather than being merely an onlooker.

Fantastic writing from a wonderful author!

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I am now well into the third book and still enjoying the writing so much that I don’t really want it to come to an end! I will definitely return to Gemmell’s work in the coming months.

Happy Reading!

Love and best wishes,

Anne

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