The Conqueror's Wife

Alexander the Great is known around the world for his feats of war and contributions to cultural diffusion. However, many people contributed to his rise to power and stay at the top. These women shaped him, compelled him, and kept him leveled throughout his years. His mother, Olympias is willing to do whatever she can see her son rise and protect his legacy. Alexander’s sisters Cynnane and Thessalonike grew up as warriors, waiting to protect Alexander. Roxana, the daughter of a minor noble who will do anything to get herself away from her father and claw her way to the top as Alexander’s first wife. Stateria and Drypetis daughters of overthrown King Darius III, struggle with their new ruler but eventually fall for Alexander’s show more charms as his new wife and wife of his companion Hephaestion. Then there is Hephaestion, Alexander’s childhood friend and companion who will see him through his conquests to the end.
Told from the alternating points of view of Thessalonike, Drypetis, Roxana and Hephaestion, Alexander’s life is seen through the eyes of those who loved and feared him. I loved that all of the women were independent and strong willed, even though they were all attached to the most powerful man at the time, none of them relied on his power to save him. Thessalonike was as fierce as Alexander, but didn’t get a chance to show her skills while kept under Olympias’ thumb, it wasn’t until after Alexander’s death that Thessalonike got her chance to shine. Roxana was an interesting character for me as she went from someone whom I felt for to the one fighting for Alexander’s crown. Hephaestion’s point of view was also welcome, as someone who might have been more to Alexander than any of the women. Hephaestion’s and Drypetis’ love story stole some of the show for me; Drypetis is the character I related the most to with her fierce determination and love for how things work. In addition to wonderful characters, the time period and history was brought to life through detailed descriptions of Alexander’s battles, the clothing, custom and architecture for a true portrait of Alexander’s life.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review. show less

Another winner from Thornton! Not many authors can bring the ancient world and obscure historical figures to life quite like Thornton. Every one of her books transports me away to a different world, a different life. This one is no different.

Who hasn’t heard of Alexander the Great? His name is known in all corners of the world and probably in most of its languages. Many would also probably know of his steadfast companion Hephaestion and his mother, Olympias. But who has heard of the others that helped shape him, his destiny, and his ultimate legacy?

Persian princess Drypetis, prostitute-wife Roxana, strong sister Thessalonike, warrior sister Cynnane, general Antipater, and his son Casssander…. All are names not often repeated in show more history but who played such an important part in Alexander’s story. Thornton makes all of them real to the reader; they’re not just names on a page but real individuals with thoughts, ambitions, motives, and emotions all their own.

I’ve also got to give a shout out for Thornton’s characterization of Alexander too. While the story is never told from his POV, she still gives us a window into the mind of a man who is intelligent, courageous, and ambitious all the while being a bit psychotic, warped, and cruel. His actions speak volumes for what he believed in and what he stood for.

Then, as always, there’s Thornton’s skill at scene setting and historical detail. Like every other novel of hers, the ancient world makes a vibrant painting in the mind’s eye of her readers. From ancient cities like Susa and Persepolis with their incredible murals, mosaics, and grand palaces to the arid battlefields of the Middle East and Persia, the book spares no expense at giving us visceral descriptions interwoven with intriguing dialogue.

I keep loving this author; she could probably write a dry mathematical mechanics paper, and I’d still like it. LOL She always writes strong characters, vivid landscapes, and dramatic historical stories. This book is no exception. I can’t recommend her highly enough. Her books, including this one, are all keepers for me and have a prized place on my shelf of awesome. show less

I loved this book. LOVED. Another top ten read for 2015.

To be fair, I anticipated I'd love it, having adored Thornton's previous novels (Daughter of the Gods and The Secret History). But this one, featuring those closest to Alexander the Great, really blew me away.

Unlike her previous novels about Theodora and Hatshepsut, it is the figures in Alexander's life who tell his story (and despite the title, more than wives, too): Hephaestion, Alexander's best friend and lover; Thessalonike, his adoring younger sister; Drypetis, the fierce daughter of Persia's King Darius; and Roxana, the scrappy Persian who becomes Alexander's first wife. Through these four points-of-view, we see a kind of Alexander as they know him: inspiring and loving, show more angry and vengeful, passionate and curious.

Each of the four narrators is wildly different in voice and tone (although almost all have a flirty/combative relationship with Hephaestion, interestingly enough!). And each figure has a different kind of relationship with Alexander, which makes for an intriguing and more well-rounded portrait. Thessalonike adores her brother while Drypetis wishes Alexander dead. Roxana is determined to keep Alexander captivated while Hephaestion has a long, deep, and complicated one with this mercurial man. While I never fell in love with Alexander, I was taken with each of these four narrators, mesmerized by their lives and their fierce determination to live.

As with Thornton's other novels, the historical details are wonderfully rendered, rich when needed and otherwise unobtrusive. The meat of this book is the relationships these narrators have with Alexander and each other, but the landscapes around them are neatly evoked and echo, in some ways, the tumultuous emotion racing between our four narrators.

Speaking of emotions, I can't finish this review without remarking on Thornton's handling of Alexander's and Hephaestion's bisexuality.

After a battle, you bed a woman to forget what has happened. You bed a man because he knows exactly what you're trying to forget. (p131)

She does so beautifully; it is normalized and remarked upon in equal part, treated in a manner that feels historically accurate without injuring bi/queer readers. There's nothing explicit, either hetero or homosexual, however, for those who aren't in the mood for a bodice ripper (and in fact, the sex here is a far cry from romance, really; a sobering reminder of how bodies are used and traded).

Thornton became an author I automatically buy after her first book; this one just confirmed her as one of my favorite historical novelists. No matter the era or figure, she manages to pluck figures from past and breath into them personality, life, and emotion. This is escapism at its best: treat yourself, and the other hist fic fans if your life, with this one! show less

This is my third book by the author and I’ll say upfront – I can’t wait for the next one. I love Ms. Thornton’s writing style and her choice to write about the women in history. Often times the women behind the more famous men. In The Conqueror’s Wife the ultimate subject of the book is Alexander the Great but the focus is on three of the women (and one man, his bodyguard and lover) who inhabited his world; his sister, his wife and his captive for lack of a better word.

I have to say that I know very little about Alexander the Great except for what I learned of him through reading about Caesar. He was a very brutal warrior at a very young age. He conquered a large swath of the world and even the great Caesar could not repeat show more what he had done. But I do not think he was a very nice man and due to that the book has some graphic scenes which I suppose are just part and parcel of writing about a brutal man in a brutal time. Just know that this is no romance novel; it has it’s moments of gore.

I enjoyed getting to know these women even if I didn’t particularly like two of them (Drypetis and Roxana.) It was not a period in history where women were treated especially well so I could appreciate why the characters would be as they were. It is a fascinating look into a long ago time as Ms. Thornton weaves historical fact and best guess into a very compelling story. show less

Finally, a book on Alexander the Great that I actually liked - almost loved. Told by 4 people in the first person: Thessalonike his half-sister, the Persian princess Drypetis, Roxana daughter of a minor Persian nobleman, and Hephaestion, his best friend and lover, this book put Alexander in a much darker light as, not a god, but a man.

The book boasts about the women in Alexander's life and one of the four narrators is man, Hephaestion. Unlike a lot of reviewers, I found the narrators too similar in voice and tone - so much snark and fight in them. I would have loved to hear from Stateira, the more demure Persian Princess or the conniving Olympias, Alexander's mom.

At 496 pages, it's a lot of book. It's a lot of good book and I learned a show more lot. I rather liked the name of Roxanne ... now after learning more about Roxanne and her deeds, that name has dropped a lot in my book. show less

Alexander the Great was the King of the ancient Greek Kingdom of Macedon in the 300's BC. He was a great military man, having virtually no losses in battle. Alexander conquered Persia in the battles of Issus and Gaugamela. A lot of cities were named after him and becoming one of the most influential men in history.

Hephaestion, the son of a Macedon nobleman, was Alexander's friend and close advisor and he plays a pivotal role in this story. Hephaestion and Alexander were friends throughout their lives. He married Drypteis and became part of the royal family.

Drypteis was the daughter of Stateira I and Darius III of Persia. Her family which included her mother, her sister Stateira, and her grandmother Sisygambis were captured by Alexander show more and kept with him for a great period of time. Even though Darius III tried on numerous occasions to ransom his family, he was not successful.

Roxana was a Bactrian princess and wife to Alexander. It was rumored that she killed Stateira II. After Alexander's death, she gave birth to Alexander.

Olympias was queen consort to Phillip II and Alexander's mother. She was a very influential woman of her time.

Thessalonike was a princess of Macedon and step daughter of Olympias who raised her after her mother died, therefore, she was also a half-sister to Alexander.

These characters from history along with many more make this novel a treat to read, it brought back a lot of memories of Greek history to me as I had alway loved this period in history. I read a lot of Greek history in high school. This novel is impeccably researched by the author and she is definitely well versed in this time period. I thoroughly enjoyed this first novel that I have read of Stephanie Thornton and intend to read more. show less