The long siege of Troy, the battles fought over it, and the city's eventual capitulation and incineration are events which have often been retold since their first recitation by Homer. Seldom, however, will they have been narrated with such close attention to the minute particulars of battle, to its reek and terror and pain, as in this startling account by Daniel Kelly. Kelly looks minutely at every detail of archaic combat, as well as at the lives and feelings shaped by it. His Troy is not only a scene of shining glory, but also a grimy struggle for survival and mastery. And he introduces surprising questions: what if not everything in the Trojan war came to pass just as Homer tells us? What if the future of the Roman empire were hidden in the burning ashes of Troy's - and not in the way we might expect?

Title: The Fall of The Phoenix

Author: Daniel Kelly

Paperback: 244 pages

Publication Date: 08/30/2018

Publisher: Olympia Publishers

Language: English

ISBN: 1788301951

ISBN-13: 9781788301954

My Review

There is something to be said about writing a period piece that feels so organic in the delivery as The Fall of The Phoenix does. From the first page to the last, it summons the reader to be part of the atmospheric and antiquated time of the Trojan War, seemingly effortlessly allured, filled with valor, honor, and heart.

At center stage are the familiar players like Hector, Achilles, Agamemnon, Odysseus, Ajax, Priam, and Diomedes but also a few other key figures important in the turn of events in this novel as well as Homer himself!

The story begins near the end of the long 10-year Trojan War that has left the citizens of Troy marginally starving and depleted of their resources. Greek troops have made camp on the beach all these years while fresh supplies have come in from the homeland in steady intervals to their aid and nourishment; but they are weary and ready to go home - it has been a long 10 years. Word has it that northern horse tribes are threatening the homes and families of the Greek citizens and the Trojan War has to come to an end once and for all so the soldiers can go home.

Hector knows he will die today.

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In the breath of premonition, Hector falls while an arrow misses its mark. Achilles drags his opponent into the gates of Troy while he finds the archer of the untimely arrow; a young Diomedes all eager to take his father's place in the phalanx but too young to join.
Achilles takes the young Trojan to be his servant boy back to his camp and teaches him a lesson or two. He provides Diomedes with lavish foods he hasn’t had in years and makes him partake in the preparations for the funeral for his fallen brother Patroclus. As Achilles guides the lad in sparring lessons and moments of heart to heart conversations, one might think he is preparing him for something still to come.

But the Trojans are ready for a surprise attack and a victory for their morale.

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As the Trojans relish in their zealot roars, the Greeks prepare new plans of their own in the form of an offering so they can go back home to Greece marking one last strike.

This is the part of the book where Kelly's tools of deception make the grand entrance to the story that will flip what you know of the original in a well thought out and masterfully choreographed inception of twists and turns into a new work of intrigue. Most ingeniously, this new narrative welcomes a different mythology to the plot that furthers a provoking addition of characters and events, offering the possibility of a "New" Iliad by Homer, who makes his appearance at the most opportune moment.

There is still a Trojan horse, but the battle tactics and strategies of the adversaries are new and different in this version of the story. One thing the Trojans have left at their disposal in defense for this last battle is sand…en masse! So what do you do with all of it? You lure the opponents into it. That’s all I can say without giving it away.

Well-loved heroes shine while others fall and just maybe, the Trojans will live on….

***

What a great read!

This book had me dabble in some research on events, timelines, and characters. I knew I was on to something interesting as soon as I learned of this novel and am so happy my hunch on it was confirmed.

As a lover of historical fiction and fantasy, I was eagerly anticipating the surprises in this novel. With my shield held at the ready as I began to read, my armour proved to not hold up for very long and Kelly's narrative took to slaying my emotions in less than a quarter into the book. I love it when that happens! What can I say? I'm a sucker for little ones, like young Diomedes and lil’ old ladies, though those were not in here.

The blurb on the back of the book describes THE FALL OF THE PHOENIX "narrated with such close attention to the minute particulars of battle" and I do agree with that. The scenes were certainly captivating and engrossing, but I also found it to be in balance with political intrigue and the characterization of the key players.

While the first part of this novel shines by building up tension in the plot and characters with a few changes from the original, the latter takes home the cake as it capitalizes on the very cleverly injected turn of events drawing from other mythology and a decisive plan by the leaders of the respective factions. THIS was so unexpected and brilliant at the same time, it had me completely astonished. Nicely done!

I definitely recommend this gem of a book to ALL OF YOU!

Enjoy :)

I received a physical copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

All opinions are my own.

Thank you :)