Zenobia (warrior queen)

When at first I picked this book up and started reading it I got to page 30 and put if down before reading two others. Ms Garwoods story telling style is so different to most other writers of historical fiction that it can take a little while to get used to. I am happy to say I picked the book back up and after that couldnt put it down.Its the story of Zenobia (Queen of Palmyra)and her husband King Odainat and their kingdoms struggles against the enemies of Rome (their ally at the beginning of the book). Entwined with this is the story of Aurelian, a cunning Roman officer who wants one day to rise to Emperor and who curries favour with whomever has influence enough to help him achieve that goal. When a rising Aurelian decides that Palmyra is becoming too powerfull for Romes good, he sets up an assassination attempt on its leaders. Zenobia survives. Bereft of her much loved husband she must stem mutiny and insurrection and rebuild her kingdom whereupon she is determined to become Romes greatest enemy and reap revenge for the betrayal of her and her husbands loyalty. In particular she wants to one day confront the perpetrator of the plot that killed her husband - Aurelian.Aurelian is a backstabbing, frontstabbing, viper of a man, bent on power who lets neither friendship of loyalty to his leaders get in his way where goals are concerned. He contrasts with the more sensible and calmer Zenobia. Much of the book follows their trial and tribulations as Zenobia seeks to claim Roman lands from Asia Minor to Egypt and strangle Romes power in the East while Aurelian must fight off Barbarians threatening Romes West while plotting his way to the Emperors throne. Only when Emperor can he see his desire to defeat the rising power of Zenobias kingdom - a challenge he has considered for 20 years - come to fruition.Haley Garwoods writing is very fast flowing. There is little superfluous in her descriptions of events/objects be it battles, travels,temples, palaces, people and places, or landscape. Marching to battle and the battle from beginning to end itself can be covered in as little as a page while a temple is described as a temple with maybe a brief description of one the Gods enshrined within and thats about it. The focus is on fast paced action and interaction between the key characters. Given the way the book flows from East to West and all points in between its probably just as well otherwise the book would take 900 pages to describe. Characterisation is not given much emphasis either. Zenobia is shown to be good by her love of her husband and children, her leadership qualities in peace and war as well as the respect she those around her have for her. Aurelian is shown to be bad because he is always brooding, plotting and backstabbing when not eagerly risking life and limb to lop off some Goths head in battle. The book basically succeeds for you or fails based on the fast non stop flow of the action. In terms of action its quite fascinating.If you love history with the, setting, events, characters, painted and described in vivid detail in the grand manner of such books as Memoirs of Cleopatra and the like then you may not like this book. However if you are the sort of reader who can use their imagination and like a non stop action packed historical account of a little known Palmyran heroine taking on a little known Roman tyrant then this is your read. Highly recommended.

Was hoping for a historical depiction but got a lot of romantic gobbledegook instead

Impressive!

Garwood's Warrior Queen series is great historical fiction. Not on the level of Morgan Llywelyn, but still enjoyable. There is just a touch of romance. She chooses little known, real-life female rulers who were remarkable in that they actually ruled--in a time when women did not (a queen always had a king to rule her).Zenobia was a third-century queen of Palmyra. She fought against Rome, like Boudica of England. A good series for anyone looking to learn about little known history.

Garwood brings this historical fiction to life with extremely well-crafted physical descriptions and realistic battle scenes. She weaves the narrative back and forth between the protagonist and antagonist in an effortless way that builds tension until the end.I highly recommend this writer and the Warrior Queen Series to both readers of historical fiction and those just wanting a good adventure to escape into. Well worth the time and money.

In a country called Palmyria in the 260s A.D, there was a queen named Zenobia. And what a queen!! She can out fight, outdrink, outride, and outwit any man. When the Romans kill her husband, she lives for revenge and fights to keep the throne for her sons. She answers Egypt's call for aide. She ensures that traveling merchants are protected from raiders. She increases trade and brings prosperity to her people. Meanwhile, in Rome, a man named Aurelian is killing one emperor after another in hopes of attaining the title of emperor for himself. He also has Zenobia in his deadly sights. They will have to meet in battle.Zenobia is not the only strong woman in the story. There is also a Jewish woman named Rebekeh that many female readers will like and relate to. Miriam is another female character that exhibits strong traits. Both of these women play major roles in Zenobia's life and kingdom.Can Zenobia keep control of Palmyria for her sons? Can she keep her sons safe until they are grown and able to rule? It is obvious that Aurelian is going to be a formidable foe.I loved this book and the strong women in it. It is not just war tho. There is love and romance between Zenobia and her husband and later, her general. There is drama, a love triangle, a crazy grieving mother, and Zenobia's love for her sons as she watches them grow. A fine novel. I will be reading more of Haley Elizabeth Garwood.