Review: Legacy of Kings (Blood of Gods and Royals #1) by Eleanor Herman

Title: Legacy of Kings (Blood of Gods and Royals #1)

Author: Eleanor Herman

Published: 1st September 2015
Publisher: Harlequin Teen Aust
Source: Harlequin Teen Australia
Reviewed: Sapphired Dragon
Rating: ****  

My Review:

This book was a bit of a mixed bag for me. It took me a while to get through the first half of the book but I flew through and really enjoyed the second half. However, whilst I found it a good read with a solid storyline and an interesting premise, and while I will almost certainly read on in the series, it didn't excite me as much as I really wanted it to.

Let's start with the good.

I love this genre - History mixed with fantasy has always fired up my imagination as magic and fiction gets infused with real life people and events. Alexander the Great and this time period in particular are fascinating to read about. This is one of the reasons I was drawn to this novel in the first place. And I like the way Ms Herman has melded the superstition and magic with the people of this time and the period itself and reinterpreted it into the start of what looks to be an awesome and sweeping saga.

This is not a light read. This is a full attention, immerse yourself into the world type of story. So when sit down to read it, set yourself off dedicated reading time for this story to get the full experience and enjoyment out of this novel. Besides you will need it as once you are in, you won't want to put it down till the end.

I loved the intricacy of the story. Already we can see the web being spun and the main characters spinning off with their own individual stories, seeking glory, power, magic or revenge. This story is told from multiple view points as we follow the stories of the different characters and each chunk is big enough to get a sense of the story and character before switching to the next one.

I had a little trouble getting into this story at first. Though to be perfectly honest, I am not entirely sure whether that was me or the book. It took me a couple of tries to really start reading this book and I actually set it down a couple of times to read other things before I had even gotten through the first 200 pages. However once I sat down and gave it my full attention, that was when I finally was able to feel myself enter the world. The last 200 pages absolutely flew by with the story really grabbing me and leaving me wanting to find out what happens next and where the story is going to go.

As this is the first book of a series, there was a lot of setting up and introducing of characters to be done to get the story in full flight and we are also slowly fed certain background information at a nice pace, if,  and when we need it. I think was part of the reason why it took me a little time to get into it.

I also had a little trouble relating or feeling for the characters at first. At first they seemed quite black and white with some of their reactions to things, in my opinion, just a little bit simplistic. It wasn't till further along in the book that we start to see some more complexity in the characters, which makes them infinitely more interesting to read and to see events through their eyes.

Overall though, it is the story that ultimately wins through and makes this novel what it is. I think this is a great set up novel for what looks to be an enthralling new series. I, for one will definitely be continuing on with this series and greatly look forward to book 2.

I give this book 4 stars.

Sapphired Dragon xx

About The Book:

Legacy of Kings (Blood of Gods and Royals #1) by Eleanor Herman

Imagine a time when the gods turn a blind eye to the agony of men, when the last of the hellions roam the plains and evil stirs beyond the edges of the map. A time when cities burn, and in their ashes, empires rise.
Alexander, Macedonia’s sixteen-year-old heir, is on the brink of discovering his fated role in conquering the known world but finds himself drawn to newcomer Katerina, who must navigate the dark secrets of court life while hiding her own mission: kill the Queen. But Kat’s first love, Jacob, will go to unthinkable lengths to win her, even if it means competing for her heart with Hephaestion, a murderer sheltered by the prince. And far across the sea, Zofia, a Persian princess and Alexander’s unmet fiancée, wants to alter her destiny by seeking the famed and deadly Spirit Eaters.
Weaving fantasy with the salacious and fascinating details of real history, New York Times bestselling author Eleanor Herman reimagines the greatest emperor the world has ever known: Alexander the Great, in the first book of the Blood of Gods and Royals series.



Purchase: Amazon | HarlequinTeen Aust  | Book Depository