Rating: 
Summary: Unique & Exquisite!
Review: I've always been fascinated by Byzantine times, and my mother, knowing this, told me about this book. Yes, it is loosely based on historical fact, but Ms. Barrett explains that very thouroughly in her author's notes. In it, you are drawn into a world of intrigue and historical majesty. Anna wasn't so kind and sweet; she was quite frankly polished to be a ruler. Ever seen "I, Claudius"? I've only seen the Masterpiece Theatre version, but Anna's grandmother sure reminded me of Livia-- wicked and crafty and all. One thing that needs to be changed is the arrangement with the ending. The second to last chapter had such good closer, and the information in the last chapter should have come before. The analogy with Sophie's picture left me with such satisfaction that I was sort of jolted with another chapter. But, all around, this is the best book I read this summer!
Rating:
Summary: The Best!!!
Review: I've been reading various historical fiction since I could read, and it doesn't get much better than this. With a realistic, captivating heroine, a breathtaking setting, and a truly gripping plot, I can honestly say that this is one of the best books I've ever had the pleasure of reading, in any genre.
Princess Anna has always had everything. As the firstborn and heir to the throne, with a loving mother and younger sister, doting father, and servants running to suit her every need, her future as empress is ashured, and it is a bright future indeed. But, with the birth of a son into the family, could Anna's place in history be threatened? Like I said before, this was an excellent book, good for anyone over the age of ten or eleven.
Rating:
Summary: A terrific book
Review: In my job as a children's librarian, I read many books for children and young adults. I loved Anna of Byzantium, and was shocked to see a reader call the book "racist." I've had many young readers tell me that they loved this book. Not one of them ever mentioned feeling that it was racist. In fact, I first found out about Anna of Byzantium in a special issue of Book Links (a journal for librarians) that addressed the issue of multicultural literature (Dec. 2000/Jan. 2001)! Anna of Byzantium was a featured book. The book is NOT racist. In fact, it is clear that Anna is showing how arrogant and self-centered she is, when she is unable to perceive the beauty of her companion, Sophia (Sophia is a Turk, one of many enslaved by the Greek rulers). As Anna grows and matures, she learns to respect and love Sophia. At the end, she wonders how she could ever have perceived her as ugly. (. . .) Anna thinks he is stupid because he can't read. But careful attention to the reading will show that he is dyslexic. Unfortunately, even today some people confuse the two. So it's understandable that a jealous big sister, living centuries before anyone ever heard of learning disabilities, would fall into that trap too. If there were more than 5 stars to give to a book, I would give them to Anna of Byzantium!
Rating:
Summary: A terrific book
Review: In my job as a children's librarian, I read many books for children and young adults. I loved Anna of Byzantium, and was shocked to see a reader call the book "racist." I've had many young readers tell me that they loved this book. Not one of them ever mentioned feeling that it was racist. In fact, I first found out about Anna of Byzantium in a special issue of Book Links (a journal for librarians) that addressed the issue of multicultural literature (Dec. 2000/Jan. 2001)! Anna of Byzantium was a featured book. The book is NOT racist. In fact, it is clear that Anna is showing how arrogant and self-centered she is, when she is unable to perceive the beauty of her companion, Sophia (Sophia is a Turk, one of many enslaved by the Greek rulers). As Anna grows and matures, she learns to respect and love Sophia. At the end, she wonders how she could ever have perceived her as ugly. One other reviewer made a similar mistake, when she (he?) said that it was hard to see how John, a cruel and evil child, could grow up to be a beloved ruler of the Byzantine Empire. Can't this reader tell that we are seeing John through the eyes of his desperately jealous big sister? If not, I guess this proves that Barrett is so skillful at drawing the reader into Anna's world that an inattentive reader might confuse her misguided perceptions with the reality: that he is a lonely little boy who is trying hard to get his power-hungry, manipulative relatives to love him. Anna thinks he is stupid because he can't read. But careful attention to the reading will show that he is dyslexic. Unfortunately, even today some people confuse the two. So it's understandable that a jealous big sister, living centuries before anyone ever heard of learning disabilities, would fall into that trap too. If there were more than 5 stars to give to a book, I would give them to Anna of Byzantium!
Rating:
Summary: ***READ THIS BOOK***
Review: Overall I felt that this book was very well written with a strong-willed heroine and a setting of intrigue. The author created an amazing word with culture and customs interwoven throughout the novel. I learned a lot about the Byzantine Empire from the book although I really loved it because of the incredible storyline. At times Anna, the main character, was a little annoying because she came across as too self-centered but it was still a fantastic read!
Rating: 
Summary: The Perils of Royalty.
Review: Royalty seems like something that is perfect; but this is false in Anna Comnena's case. Ever since Anna's birth she has been proclaimed to be her father's chosen successor. Her life as a child is monotonous; she sits in the library with her teacher Simon, she has lessons on diplomacy from her grandmother, and she frolics and plays like any child with her sister Maria. However, a little while later a brother by the name of John is born. John seems like a threat to Anna and her claim to the throne. Though John looks like a threat, Anna's grandmother, Anna Dalassena keeps teaching her lessons on diplomacy so that one day Anna will be fit to rule the throne. It is only later that Anna realizes that her grandmother is a manipulative woman who will use Anna as a pawn to her liking even if Anna becomes empress. As Anna realizes this she begins to take drastic measures, and puts her fate into her own hands.
The only thing I disliked in this story was the portrayal of John. In the book, he was an obnoxious boy who only cared about himself, however later on in the book he made decisions that sounded merciful. Also, in the Author's Note, it is written that John was highly acclaimed by his people. Other than that note, the book was well written~!
Rating:
Summary: One of the best children's books I've ever read!
Review: So many children's book are about nothing at all, stupid and boring. They prepare a child to read Tom Clancy (or some other big name author) books I guess. This one is absorbing, intriguing and realistic. I loved the history and how the author fleshed out the characters. She doesn't confuse the fact it is fiction though. This book was really nicely written and I hope to read more novels from her. In the meantime, I may check out her non-fiction.
Rating: 
Summary: A Book That Lacks Quality
Review: The book, Ana of Byzantium, by Tracy Barrett, is a story that takes place in the third century AD. This book contains what one might expect to find in a less-then-average book. Ana, the eldest daughter and a princess, is heir to the throne of the Byzantine Empire. Ana gets tutored on how to be an empress. Ana's grandmother, the mother of her father, who loathes Ana, convinces the emperor to make Ana's younger brother, John, the heir. When Ana's father gets fatally sick, and John becomes emperor, Ana has to find someway to take her rightful place as empress of the Byzantine Empire. This book is not right for an average reader, because the book has nothing going on in the beginning. At the beginning, the book looks at what it would be like to be a nun. It takes a long time to get to where the actual storyline starts taking place, and even then, the beginning is completely irrelevant to the rest of the story. This book also lacks depth, and takes large jumps in time, leaving the reader hanging. There are no long pieces of time, and once one thinks he knows something, several years pass and everything changes. Because of this, one cannot get to know the characters well without them changing ages and personalities. Some very patient readers may find this book interesting, because it must be read very slowly to be understood well. People who like history might also enjoy this book, because it takes place before the middle ages. Most historians will be disappointed by the lack of historical accuracy. This book just isn't quality reading material. Even the most patient readers will be disappointed in the lack of quality and description. If one doesn't mind not knowing about the characters, this is a fine book to read, but otherwise, this is a book that should be avoided. Overall, this is not a book that should
Rating:
Summary: Great book that show's all aspects of being a princess
Review: The main reasons why I liked this book was because it did not have the all to common happy ending and Anna was portrayed as middle ages princess, not a modern thinking girl. She had a bit of a temper and was rather selfish at times, whiich I thought made her character all the more interesting. A must read book, filled with lessons to be learned
Rating:
Summary: Great book that show's all aspects of being a princess
Review: The main reasons why I liked this book was because it did not have the all to common happy ending and Anna was portrayed as middle ages princess, not a modern thinking girl. She had a bit of a temper and was rather selfish at times, whiich I thought made her character all the more interesting. A must read book, filled with lessons to be learned
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