Rating: 
Summary: This "Mary Sue" is not for fans of historical accuracy!!
Review: "Mary Sue": a story in which the author (usually a female) puts too much of her own wishes/daydreams and physical attributes (or wannabe attributes) into a tale, allowing herself to become the heroine that "saves" the hero and--of course--wins his love in the end.And a "Mary Sue" is exactly how to describe this book! It had me rolling my eyes so often I thought they were going to spin right out of my head! Much of the plot was laughable, with Roxanne needing rescuing far too many times, and Alexander's near obsessive attraction to her was simply unbelievable. Without revealing any spoilers, I will say that the author clearly projected herself into her Xena-like heroine, and stretched all plausibility by not only making her a fair-skinned redhead (like herself), but by also giving her far too much importance in Alexander's life, putting her front and center into very significant events where the real Roxanne probably played no role. (Of course, in all fairness, without this inflated role we would have a rather boring Roxanne-related book.) More often than not her Alexander wasn't a terribly likeable character, and I only found myself reading it to the end just to find out how many times the author would change known historical facts just to suit her plot. This is not a book I would place on an Alexander 'must-read' list, except for *really* die-hard romance fans, as the author did follow the usual schlock romance formula. And Alexander was a blonde, so what's with the brunette on the cover?? Just one more historical inaccuracy that had me shaking my head!
Rating:
Summary: This "Mary Sue" is not for fans of historical accuracy!!
Review: "Mary Sue": a story in which the author (usually a female) puts too much of her own wishes/daydreams and physical attributes (or wannabe attributes) into a tale, allowing herself to become the heroine that "saves" the hero and--of course--wins his love in the end. And a "Mary Sue" is exactly how to describe this book! It had me rolling my eyes so often I thought they were going to spin right out of my head! Much of the plot was laughable, with Roxanne needing rescuing far too many times, and Alexander's near obsessive attraction to her was simply unbelievable. Without revealing any spoilers, I will say that the author clearly projected herself into her Xena-like heroine, and stretched all plausibility by not only making her a fair-skinned redhead (like herself), but by also giving her far too much importance in Alexander's life, putting her front and center into very significant events where the real Roxanne probably played no role. (Of course, in all fairness, without this inflated role we would have a rather boring Roxanne-related book.) More often than not her Alexander wasn't a terribly likeable character, and I only found myself reading it to the end just to find out how many times the author would change known historical facts just to suit her plot. This is not a book I would place on an Alexander 'must-read' list, except for *really* die-hard romance fans, as the author did follow the usual schlock romance formula. And Alexander was a blonde, so what's with the brunette on the cover?? Just one more historical inaccuracy that had me shaking my head!
Rating: 
Summary: Good Background History, But I Struggled To Finish!!
Review: As a history major in college I love to read the historical that you can tell the author took the time to research. Ms. French does know her stuff when it comes to Alexander the Great! This was a good story which is true to history (be prepared Alexander the Great died at the age of 32 and so too does our hero) and so I was reluctant to pick up a book that was based on an actual historic figuer such as Alexander. After all I want a happy ending right? The problem that I had with the book was due to the fact that there were so many slow parts, and parts where our heroine was just so silly or "strong willed" that I simply could not like her. I did take into account the time period, the fact that she had been raised and allowed to think that even though she was a princess born she had the ability to be a prince, (not to say that women can't do it all) and then expect the conquering army to just leave her alone. She finally warms up to Alexander after he marries her, sired a child on her, and tells her that he loves her problem is she comes around not long before he dies. Of course by this time she realizes what a goose she's been but it's too late. Still over all Ms. French pens a very vividly descriptive tale that takes you back in time to a very unsettled period where armies did sweep steepes and seas in order to call a far off didstant land theirs. This book may not be for everyone but it's still worth reading and if your unsure if you want to spend a lot of money, borrow it from a friend or by it second hand.
Rating:
Summary: Good Background History, But I Struggled To Finish!!
Review: As a history major in college I love to read the historical that you can tell the author took the time to research. Ms. French does know her stuff when it comes to Alexander the Great! This was a good story which is true to history (be prepared Alexander the Great died at the age of 32 and so too does our hero) and so I was reluctant to pick up a book that was based on an actual historic figuer such as Alexander. After all I want a happy ending right? The problem that I had with the book was due to the fact that there were so many slow parts, and parts where our heroine was just so silly or "strong willed" that I simply could not like her. I did take into account the time period, the fact that she had been raised and allowed to think that even though she was a princess born she had the ability to be a prince, (not to say that women can't do it all) and then expect the conquering army to just leave her alone. She finally warms up to Alexander after he marries her, sired a child on her, and tells her that he loves her problem is she comes around not long before he dies. Of course by this time she realizes what a goose she's been but it's too late. Still over all Ms. French pens a very vividly descriptive tale that takes you back in time to a very unsettled period where armies did sweep steepes and seas in order to call a far off didstant land theirs. This book may not be for everyone but it's still worth reading and if your unsure if you want to spend a lot of money, borrow it from a friend or by it second hand.
Rating: 
Summary: If you read romance to be uplifted do not touch this book !!
Review: I don't know why someone would write a romance novel based on Alexander the Great as we all know it ends badly.
I also don't know what I was thinking in picking it up, mabey it was the cover, mabey I thought that the couple would be happy in the end before he dies so young and have a happy hopeful ending for the woman.
Boy was I wrong !!!
If you wish to be deperessed this book is great for you.
They are always arguing and never truley work it out right up to the end and the woman goes on to have a depressing and horrible end. If you look at romance novels to have at least a glimmer of happiness at the end don't bother with this.
Rating:
Summary: DEpressing!!!
Review: I must agree with previous reviewer. I made myself finish hoping for a happy (even if fictional) ending. Great cover! That's what made me pick it up. That and Judith French has had stories in anthologies with Hannah Howell, one of my favorites.
I keep most of the books I read and take those I KNOW I'll nver want to reread to a used bookstore as a trade. This one is already in the bag to go. I want my happy endings!
Rating:
Summary: DEpressing!!!
Review: I must agree with previous reviewer. I made myself finish hoping for a happy (even if fictional) ending. Great cover! That's what made me pick it up. That and Judith French has had stories in anthologies with Hannah Howell, one of my favorites.
I keep most of the books I read and take those I KNOW I'll nver want to reread to a used bookstore as a trade. This one is already in the bag to go. I want my happy endings!
Rating: 
Summary: I loved this book!!!
Review: I really loved this novel. It was the first time I have read a novel from this time period and setting. Ms. French's attention to detail helped me "see" in my mind's eye the people, palaces, war, and opulance of that time period. I couldn't put the book down. I read it in 2 1/2 days (that's hard for me to do with 3 kids). I cried at the end of this book and once you read it you will understand why. I'm not used to my books ending that way, but that's ok. I REALLY LOVED this book!!
Rating:
Summary: I want my 6 hours back!!
Review: I was very disappointed in this book. I didn't like the way the "hero" acted and I did not enjoy how he treated his "heroine". It may have been historically accurate, but if you read romance novels for warm and fuzzy tales of true love, DON'T BOTHER READING THIS BOOK. The hero, and I use this term very loosely in this case, is arrogant, selfish, delusional, politically nieve twards his companions, and completely clueless about the inner workings of women. The heroine is childish and prideful, but is good with weaponry which may be of some interest to feminists. I was surprised that it didn't have a traditional type ending, but historcally it remained true. To a point. (If my memories of high school are correct, Alexander the Great died of VD) The only thing worse than paying full price for this book, is that I wasted the time to read it. If you want to read this book, please go to a library.
Rating:
Summary: I want my 6 hours back!!
Review: I was very disappointed in this book. I didn't like the way the "hero" acted and I did not enjoy how he treated his "heroine". It may have been historically accurate, but if you read romance novels for warm and fuzzy tales of true love, DON'T BOTHER READING THIS BOOK. The hero, and I use this term very loosely in this case, is arrogant, selfish, delusional, politically nieve twards his companions, and completely clueless about the inner workings of women. The heroine is childish and prideful, but is good with weaponry which may be of some interest to feminists. I was surprised that it didn't have a traditional type ending, but historcally it remained true. To a point. (If my memories of high school are correct, Alexander the Great died of VD) The only thing worse than paying full price for this book, is that I wasted the time to read it. If you want to read this book, please go to a library.
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