Pages:
432
Publisher:
Harlequin Teen
Release
Date: 18th
August 2015
Edition:
US e-proof,
NetGalley review copy
Imagine
a time when the gods turn a blind eye to the agony of men, when the last of the
hellions roam the plains, and evil stirs beyond the edges of a map. A time when
cities burn and in their ashes, empires rise.
Alexander,
Macedon’s sixteen-year-old heir, is on the brink of discovering his fated role
in conquering the known world, but finds himself drawn to a newcomer…
Katerina
must navigate the dark secrets of court life, while keeping hidden her own
mission: kill the queen. But she doesn’t account for her first love…
Jacob
will got to unthinkable lengths to win Katerina, even if it means competing
with Hephaestion, a murderer sheltered by the prince.
And
far across the seas, Zofia, a Persian princess and Alexander’s unmet fiancée,
wants to alter her destiny by seeking the famed and deadly spirit eaters.
Legacy
of Kings is the
first book is what the synopsis promises is an epic tale of gods, kings,
princesses, war, love and Ancient Greece. What more could I ask for, I thought?
A little more is the answer.
Eleanor Herman’s YA debut is
strong on historical detail, puts you right in the moment and details the
fascinating early life of Alexander the Great, who I knew nothing about
previously, but I felt kept at a distance. Legacy
of Kings is told in an unusual third person present tense narration and
while at first I thought it was pretty cool, it quickly alienated me. There are
a lot of main characters in this novel – five, I think – and I don’t feel like I
got to know any of them properly. There was no connection between me and the
book at all, I skimmed a lot of it to be honest, especially Zo’s chapters. Her story
felt unnecessary and tacked on. I’m sure they’ll be more important in book two,
but I won't be reading that.
Though this book is promoted as
high fantasy, it felt a lot more like historical fantasy to me. The detail and
the setting and the politics felt a lot more important than the fantastical
elements that didn’t even come in until fairly late in the novel. You could
tell that Eleanor Herman is a historian and she clearly knows the period in
incredible depth; her passion came across vibrantly but it also detracted from
the characters and story a little at times.
I was really quite disappointed
by Legacy of Kings unfortunately. I loved
the setting and the idea, but the execution just didn’t work for me, sadly.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin
Teen for the review copy.
Sophie
So with you on this! I was incredibly excited about this one and then I read it and kinda wondered why I'd bothered. Such a shame!
ReplyDeletehmm, I was really looking forward to reading this book... gutted to hear you found it so disappointing. May just give this one a miss.
ReplyDelete