Troy: Lord of the Silver Bow

[Lacedaemonian]

The first book in David Gemmell's new trilogy is out on September 1st.

[Winters_Sorrow]

Well, I finished reading this last night.
It's pretty much a typical David Gemmell novel, so if you've enjoyed his earlier works, then you'll enjoy this one. The main character is called Heraklion, a Dardanian (today, northern Turkey) noble who's also a shipping magnate. The novel is told mainly from his viewpoint and that of Andromache, a priestess who is Hektor's (aka Hector) intended bride.

Overall, the story itself is not as progressive as I might have liked. The characters are pretty much "cut and paste" jobs from his earlier works are aren't as multi-layered as I've come to enjoy in other author's works. The finale of the novel is easily the most enjoyable segment and does advance the story along, however this makes the novel feel like a extended prologue for what will be the more 'meaty' 2nd & 3rd novels.

Verdict: an enjoyable, if somewhat cliched romp.

[Rane Longfox]

Enjoyable is good enough for me

[Musashi]

Haven't read it yet because i'm stuck into another book right now, but i got a signed copy for my birthday, so...wow...lol....just can't wait to read it now...

[PenDragon]

I liked this a lot, but I really like ancient greek history and I really like David Gemmel so no suprises there.

Almost made me want to read the Aeneid (but not quite, I'll wait for the next Gemmel book instead).

I agree with Winters_Sorrow to a certain extent, there is a sense that book 1 is mainly set up for the rest of the series but I still really enjoyed it.

[drosdelnoch]

Book two is out in September, it looks pretty good from the snippet Ive had a look at.

[The Peacock]

I liked that one, even if it was just basically a bunch of people trying to get even with each other in grotesque ways. I thought it was cool, and I'm glad he never mentioned Achilles.

[izzy667]

just a wild guess here, what if Heraklion is Achilles. I mean, he is a friend of Odissey, he answers to no king.... all that says that he isn't is his friendship with Hector. But that can change in the next two books Lets hope not.

[Hellbunny]

No. Helikaeon is Aeneas, as it says in the book. Aeneas/Helikaeon is a character from Greek myth/the Iliad, and is (in the myth) supposed to have fled the end of Troy to the land now known as Italy and founded Rome.

[izzy667]

I know, but it would be a fine twist, wouldn't it? At the end best friends locked in a mortal combat. And in the end they would come to their senses after an epic battle, just short of dealing a death blow to each other.

I'm sorry I'm just writing some stuff, still shocked about David.

[HogunFan]

I was unsure when I came to reading this book, but I shouldnt have worried, David more than delivered the goods. This is an amazing book.

[Centurion]

So will this trilogy end prematurely now?

[jenna]

well the second book is already out. i've heard talk about there being a ghost writer to finish the third, not sure how true it is. personally i'm holding off on starting it until i find out what's happening!

[Memnoch]

Apparently David's wife will finish the Trilogy alot has alredy been put down prior to his sad passing,

[jenna]

yeah i had figured that since the second book was completed that the third would have been well underway.