Skip to main content

Kassandra: A Tale of Love, War, and One Woman's Destiny: A Novel of Ancient Greece by Alison Blasdell: A Book Review

Kassandra: A Tale of Love, War, and One Woman’s Destiny: A Novel of Ancient Greece
Author: Alison Blasdell
Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasy
Publisher: Alison Blasdell
Release Date: 2023
Pages: 369
Source: This book was given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: She was born Athenian and raised an Amazon warrior. But betrayal and heartbreak will force her to choose who she is.

     This is the tale of Kassandra, born in Athens, Greece, in the 4th century BC, and her transition from a frightened but determined girl into a formidable warrior—a path of trust and betrayal,
love and loss, joy and heartbreak—the story of a woman who challenges the very gods of Greece to find happiness.

     Kassandra was just ten years old when her mother spirited her away in the middle of the night to avoid an arranged marriage, traveling until they reached the mountains the Greeks believed belonged to Zeus. There, her mother left her alone, telling her she must climb the mountains, a feat no man had accomplished, to find the secret band of free warrior women—the Amazons.

     Thus begins Kassandra’s journey, a journey that will take her from the battlefields of Persia to Athens at the height of its glory and ultimately fulfill her destiny.

     My Review: Kassandra is the illegitimate daughter of an Athenian noble and a hetaera. When Kassandra is ten years old, her father arranges a marriage for her. In order to avoid the arranged marriage, her mother takes her to the mountains to find the Amazons. Kassandra trains and becomes an Amazonian. Throughout her journey with the Amazons, Kassandra is repeatedly tested through a series of trials and even finds love along the way.

     Kassandra is a very strong character. She has a harsh upbringing and goes through many trials. Yet, she is very resilient and determined. Her persistence leads to overcome her hardships. I also find Kassandra to be very kind and merciful. She is very loving and cares for the people around her! Therefore, Kassandra is a very admirable and compelling character. I was deeply invested in her story and wanted to know what happened to her.

      Overall, Kassandra: A Tale of Love, War, and One Woman’s Destiny was a deeply moving coming-of-age story. Some of the characters, especially her love interest, were very one-dimensional. Nevertheless, I found Kassandra’s bond with her mother to be the best aspect of the novel. I like how Kassandra: A Tale of Love, War, and One Woman’s Destiny moved at a very fast-pace. There was never a dull moment in the novel, and I found myself reading it in one sitting! I like how the novel incorporates Greek mythology with Greek history! This was a very meticulously researched story that is filled with vivid imagery! I felt that I was walking alongside Kassandra in Ancient Greece! I recommend this novel for fans of Penelope Haines, Amalia Carosella, and Claire M. Andrews!

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Peasant King by Tessa Afshar: A Book Review

The Peasant King Author: Tessa Afshar Genre: Historical Fiction, Christian, Biblical Fiction, Romance  Publisher: Tyndale House Publishing  Release Date: 2023 Pages: 376 Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review.  Synopsis: Jemmah has always thought of herself as perfectly ordinary . . . until she faces extraordinary circumstances.     When her mother, the Persian king’s famous senior scribe, is kidnapped, Jemmah and her sister must sneak undetected into enemy territory to rescue her. But infiltrating their adversary’s lands proves easier than escaping them. Fleeing through dangerous mountain passes, their survival depends on the skills of a stranger they free from prison: a mysterious prince named Asher.      Asher is not who the world believes he is. Despite his royal blood, he has had to climb his way out of poverty to forge success from nothing. A manufacturer of some of the best weaponry in th...

Cook Recipes From The Women of The American Revolution

     My friend recommended to me  Founding Mothers by Cokie Roberts. It is a biography the wives, sisters and daughters of America's Founding Fathers. In her biography, she included some recipes that these women used. I found them fascinating, so I decided to share some of them with you. I hope you enjoy reading them as I did. Be sure to check out Cokie Roberts Founding Mothers . This is a book you wouldn't want to miss for it is the story of the Founding of America told from the perspective of the Founding Fathers' women. Martha Washington’s Recipes: Crab Soup: Ingredients: Fresh crabs   Butter         Flour                                                      Hard-boiled eggs                             ...

A Thousand Miles to Freedom: My Escape from North Korea by Eunsun Kim and Sebastien Falletti: A Book Review

A Thousand Miles to Freedom: My Escape from North Korea Author: Eunsun Kim and Sebastien Falletti Genre: Nonfiction, Modern History, Autobiography and Memoir Publisher: St. Martin's Press Release Date: July 21, 2015 Pages: 240 Source: My State Public Library Synopsis: Eunsun Kim was born in North Korea, one of the most secretive and oppressive countries in the modern world. As a child Eunsun loved her country...despite her school field trips to public executions, daily self-criticism sessions, and the increasing gnaw of hunger as the country-wide famine escalated.       By the time she was eleven years old, Eunsun's father and grandparents had died of starvation, and Eunsun was in danger of the same. Finally, her mother decided to escape North Korea with Eunsun and her sister, not knowing that they were embarking on a journey that would take them nine long years to complete. Before finally reaching South Korea and freedom, Eunsun and her family would live homeles...