Author: Eleanor Herman
Series: Blood of Gods and Royals #1
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: August 25, 2015
Source: BEA
Summary from Goodreads:
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.
Review
Legacy of Kings has so much going on that I am having a hard time figuring out where to start my review. Maybe with an introduction to the characters (since there are so many)? There's Katerina, a small-town girl with special abilities and a tragic past who is hell-bent on seeking revenge. Her childhood friend and sweetheart, Jacob, who sets out to compete in the Blood Tournament in an effort to make a name for himself. There is Alexander who will some day be known as Alexander the Great but is currently known as the deformed and powerless Prince. There's his most loyal friend Hephaestion whose pride constantly gets the better of him. And his power-obsessed sister who is determined to prove herself worthy of respect, no matter what. There's also Queen Olympia who is dabbling in something dark and dangerous all in the name of love. And lastly, across the sea, there is Zofia, who runs away from an arranged marriage only to find herself in a more unfavorable predicament.
I think that's everyone who matters, but as you can see, it's a LOT. I love multiple POVs but even I have to admit that this might have been just a TAD too many. Yet, I enjoyed the story that each of their perspectives weaved together. It was a promising start to a new series with history and mythology, magic and mystery, deception and power-plays and more. I don't really now all that much about Alexander the Great but I love getting glimpses of history, even if they are fictitiously told. And I am really intrigued by the characters I've met so far and the roles they will play in the future.
It wasn't a perfect book, I can't say I was 100% immersed in the story 100% of the time, but there was enough that I liked to keep me entertained throughout this massive book. And I am not sure how much my expectations got away from me. It could also be that because there were so many characters, I didn't form a deep bond with any one of them just yet. But again, I see the potential and I am excited for the next book. Now that the foundation is set, I think this series could turn into something really great. So yes I recommend this one. Just don't expect TOO much just yet. :)
