Anna of Byzantium

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Summary: A beautifully crafted tale!
Review: In most books, the character that lusts for power and revenge is the 'bad' character, who is either conquered or subdued by the compassionate yet brave, 'good' character. Anna of Byzantium by Tracy Barrett turns this stereotype upside-down. Anna Comnena is the heir to the throne of the byzantine empire, it has been her right since she was born and she knows it. She doesn't believe the birth of a brother will change anything, and it doesn't, that is until she makes an enemy of her

Grandmother and mentor, Anna Dalassena. By showing her Grandmother, whose thirst for power is unquenchable, that she will not be controlled by anyone when she becomes empress, she loses the support of Anna Dalassena. Her Grandmother immediately turns to Anna's younger brother, John, the next in line for the throne, whom she assumes she can control better than Anna. John and Anna Dalassena scheme to have Anna disinherited, and they succeed. It doesn't take long for Anna Comnena to become as bitter and power-starved as her Grandmother. Yet throughout the book, though we can see where her thinking is confused and disoriented, she still remains the 'good' character in the reader's eye. Tracy Barrett portrays Anna well, vengeful, and yet merciful, proud, and yet lonely. We see Anna, an innocent young girl, ignorant of the world. We see her grow and finally rebel under her Grandmother's extreme domination. We watch as she embitters herself against her own brother and how she is banished to a convent. Lastly we witness her coming to grips with who she is, not who she was, and her learning to love again. Tracy Barrett has written a breathtaking novel that depicts an entire spectrum of human passions - and their consequences. The ending is not, perhaps, what I originally thought it would be but it was immensely satisfying. I was amazed to see how Tracy Barrett could take the historical Anna Comnena and turn her into a person. A person, who loves and hates, who has hopes and dreams; a person just like any other.

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Summary: reader from Madison
Review: A delightful book on the life of a Byzantium princess. Anna, a strong, courageous girl, is determined to soon become a royal empress. But her hopes don't die when her little brother is born. Years later, she finds her whole hopes and dreams shattered as her brother and grandmother betray her. But Anna not stop until she gets whats truely hers.

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Summary: An excellent read
Review: A superb configuration of historical truth and imagination. The vivid tale allows one to experience the emotions on each page. The excellent writing style, though describing the events in detail, is fast-paced and interesting for a quick read. The novel provides a wonderful vision of the actual history, despite the facts being adapted somewhat, and is much more enthralling than a text.

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Summary: A Brilliant piece of Historical Fiction!
Review: Anna is a heroine like no other. She is neither compassionate or kind, in fact some people would disagree to her being called a heroine but that's beside the point. Anna is a strong, often power hungry and conceited character, that remains true to the woman she was based upon. Anna of Byzantium is a historical fiction novel about a young girl growing up in the Byzantine empire. She is a Princess, the heir to the throne, betrothed at infancy to a man she barely knows. Anna wants nothing more than to be empress, to have power, and to rule. She learns from her grandmother the arts of cunning and strategy and learns history and becomes a scholar in the palace walls. But one day she is stripped from everything she hold dear to her. Her brother is now heir to the throne, and she will never be empress. Anna is furious and she will do anything to get her revenge.

I found this book to be very entreating. It's quite a page turner. Knowing little of the Byzantine empire, I was unsure of what I was getting myself into but I'm glad I did. Anna is an intriguing character. The characters of her mother and grandmother are skillfully crafted. I recommend this book to anyone who's a fan of historical fiction taking place in the dark ages.

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Summary: Engaging
Review: Anna is set to take over her father's empire as the future heir. She has been training for this her whole life, when suddenly, her negative comments about her grandmother take their toll. Her brother is to be the new heir, and Anna is astounded. Life is suddenly torture. Anna and her mother plot to gain the throne back, but the scheme backfires and Anna is sent away.
I liked the novel because it grabs your attention until the end. The emotions are real and insightful. The backdrop of the ancient empire is most realistic. This story isn't predictable and leaves itself open to the possibility of a sequel, which I would love to read.
I did not like how much the main character suffered. It made the book slightly frustrating and depressing at times.
Overall, I would recommend this book as a good read. Those who like history will probably like this book, as will those interested in the days long past.

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Summary: A Trip to the Byzantine
Review: Anna of Byzantine is about a princess preparing to take the throne after her father passes away. Two people, her mother and grandmother want to train Anna, the princess, how to rule. Anna's grandmother rules by lying, but always suceeds. On the other hand, her mother rules by God's rules, but is not favored by her people. Annna chooses to be taught by her grandmother. Unfortunately, the throne is given to her little brother, John when he overheards her planning to kill him. One day, Anna's mother and her plans to kill John but is caught, and Anna lives as a nun helping sick people.

In the past, the period of Byzantium didn't interest me that much. Ever since I read this book, my mind opened to the period of Byzantium. Everything in this book fascinated me. What I love the most is how creative and exciting this story is. I can't stop reading the book, because I get trapped in it. Not only is it exciting, but it has a bit of everything, like mystery, romance, adventure, and many more. As a result, I love this book.

I like every part in this book, but my favorite part is when Anna becomes friends with her slave. At first, Anna judged her as if she was a piece of garbage. Yet, as time passed by, they became closer friends. They kept secrets to themselves and went through numerous adventures together. Whenever one was in trouble, they helped wach other out. In the end, they were seperated but met again, both living happier than before.

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Summary: Anna of Byzantium
Review: Anna of Byzantium is a great book. Byzantium is a very little part of the Middle Age.
Anna who was the first born of Emporer, and heir to the thrown is being taught stateship from her grandmother; the advisor to the Emporer who rules him. When Anna starts showing signs of arrogance against her grandmother, and 'spills the beans' about wanting to have killed her brother John when she was a small child, Anna's Grandmother persuades's her father to remove Anna as the heir, and to make the heir John.

This book is well written and shows the trials and tribulations of a princess who has a mind of her own.
The reason that I enjoy this book is because it pulls you into the life of Anna.

I highly reccomend this book for Young Adults.

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Summary: Description of an awesome book
Review: Anna of Byzantium is about the first born Princess of the Byzantium kingdom. In her young years, she gets a younger brother, who she despises since first sight. The boy grows up spoiled by his nurse, since their mother becomes sick after the birth. Because of this, he never comes into the classroom with Anna and her sister, Maria, and always throws tantrums over anything he wants or doesn't want (and always gets his way.) She gets betrothed to her cousin, Constantine. Anna's grandma starts 'teaching' her how to run the empire, since she was the heir. Her grandma talks about affairs, how to run this and that, but also puts down Anna's mother's family.
Anna and her mom try to tell the King of what his mother is doing, but she denies it, so he won't believe them. A lot of history between Anna's mother and grandmother rise up.
Anna, while talking to her tutor, talks about how when she goes to rule the kingdom, she will first kill her brother off. Her brother, being taught by their grandmother, hides out wherever Anna is and tells on her whenever he hears anything. So, he runs straight to his father and Anna is confronted on it. She is scared for her life then because it was death for whoever wished death on a royal.
But, she gets off, but she's not the heir anymore...her brother is. Her father and once betrothed, Constantine, go to war...her father gets sick, and Constantine dies. After her father's death, her brother ends up banning her from the library (where she spends all her time.)
Anna and her mother start a plot on killing Anna's brother. Anna goes to put medicine that was deadly (that she got before her father died by his sickbed) and tried to put it in her brother's cup (he had a king's cup, so no one else's was like his, and only he could drink from it.) well, she gets caught, but her brother, in rebellion to her grandma, sends her to a convent.
Threw all this, Anna's slave, dreams of her freedom and marrying her betrothed. She ends up finding Anna at the convent, after so long without seeing her, and presents Anna with her daughter, who is named 'Anna'.

This book I read in less than a day, straight threw. It was incredible for a book of its length. I would recommend it :)

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Summary: Anna of Byzantium
Review: Anna of Byzantium is one of the best books I have ever read. I was so into it that I read it all within 24 hours. For those who have not read it get a copy. It is exciting . it has drama. it has angst. it is just great.

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Summary: WOW!!
Review: Anna of Byzantium is the most amazing book I have ever read. It is beautifully crafted by the author, Tracy Barrett. Plus it is based on a true story. A few details were changed in the book's making so in actuality its not her biography, but.... It is about Anna Commenus who is a princess that goes through many trials of her life that would drive an ordinary person crazy. Like her monkey faced brother John who was more than a trial to and her evil grandmother who wants a puppet she can rule through. When Anna proves to have her own mind her grandmother has her humiliated by getting her father, the grandmothers son, to declare Anna unfit to take over after his death, which has been her destiny since birth. Read this book and find out what happens.

Also Anna really wrote a book about her father, his deeds, her family, and life, that has been published it is called ALEXIAD