Horses of Fire
A Novel of Troy
(Sprache: Englisch)
Behind the timeless tale you know is the captivating story you never heard: a sweeping epic in which Troy's strong, yet misunderstood women take center stage in the most famous war in history. A harrowing novel of palace intrigue, the transcendent bond of...
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Behind the timeless tale you know is the captivating story you never heard: a sweeping epic in which Troy's strong, yet misunderstood women take center stage in the most famous war in history. A harrowing novel of palace intrigue, the transcendent bond of female friendship, and the everyday bravery of invisible heroes in times of war.Lese-Probe zu „Horses of Fire “
1Andromache
The boy is lost.
And so is his mother. I can tell with one glance.
With a warrior this young, there is only ever one reason for such a clean spear wound. A neat hole right between the shoulder blades. Slowly, I roll the stiff corpse back onto the stone slab until he lies face up, eyes unblinking. Across the room, I meet his mother's raw, wild gaze. Her hands fidget anxiously.
There is no hiding what I've seen. She knows that I know.
The primal wail that follows is like no sound I've heard, and yet I've listened to a million variations of the same tune. Every mother's cry of lament is her own. As unrepeatable as each new life she carries. Only this woman's groans speak of a secret.
A song of betrayal. Of cowardice. Shame.
I take a step back from the washing slab, letting the wet cloth in my hand hit the floor with a soppy splat.
"Please, Harsa Andromache. I beg you."
The mother throws herself at my feet, arms wrapped around my calves. She thrusts the rag back into my hand, closing my fingers before returning unceremoniously to her seat at the other end of the slab. There she presses her tear-stained cheeks against the soldier's feet. The part of him farthest from the light that once filled her boy's eyes.
For that is what he is. A boy. Large for his age but younger than a soldier should be. I may not have sons, but I have washed enough of them to know what fifteen summers looks like. This child is at least a year shy of the minimum age for serving in Troy's army. Not that most captains care to check so long as he can carry his shield upright.
"He wanted to follow his father and brothers. For Prince Hector. He was . . . too strong . . . I, I couldn't stop him." The woman's explanation unravels into sobs. "I've given a husband and two sons for Troy already. Will you deprive me of my youngest even in the afterlife?"
My throat tightens. I open my hand. The flax-colored cloth is now pink in most places, a
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rusty red in others. No one in Troy, not even Hector, expects me to cover myself in blood that stains my nail beds brown. But that is exactly why I do it.
I want to get my hands dirty.
When I muster enough courage to look into the eyes of the desperate, childless widow again, I see that she is far from old. Despite her tears, the firm line of her mouth says she would do anything to guarantee her son's safe passage across the Great River.
My eyes land on the knife at the edge of the slab an instant before she lunges. I am fast, but she is faster. The mother brings the blade to her own quivering throat before I can exhale.
"If he is condemned to wander, then I will wander with him."
Her eyes blink fire. A thin, crimson drizzle travels to her collarbone.
"Have you heard me issue such a condemnation?" I ask calmly.
The mother's gaze flickers. Her grip on the knife handle loosens slightly even as her voice shakes. "My son was not a coward."
I nod. "No man who stands across the plain from Achilles can ever be called one."
And the boy who turns and runs from Achilles's spear? Surely the only name for him is human.
But the King's Council is not interested in shaping men. It is demigods they seek to mold. Names, after all, cannot be speared in the back. Names can live on, ringing glory throughout the ages. Which is why the punishment for fleeing the battlefield isn't so merciful as a clean death. It is eternal shame followed by a corpse left exposed. An unburned body that becomes a lost soul, doomed to wander the shadow lands. Even worse, there is nothing the warrior or anyone else can do to redeem his name. The last note of his song has been sung.
But only if you sentence the boy to this fate.
I look down at the blue, bloated face. The full cheeks of a child. With the swift stroke of my hand, I close the black holes of the boy's e
I want to get my hands dirty.
When I muster enough courage to look into the eyes of the desperate, childless widow again, I see that she is far from old. Despite her tears, the firm line of her mouth says she would do anything to guarantee her son's safe passage across the Great River.
My eyes land on the knife at the edge of the slab an instant before she lunges. I am fast, but she is faster. The mother brings the blade to her own quivering throat before I can exhale.
"If he is condemned to wander, then I will wander with him."
Her eyes blink fire. A thin, crimson drizzle travels to her collarbone.
"Have you heard me issue such a condemnation?" I ask calmly.
The mother's gaze flickers. Her grip on the knife handle loosens slightly even as her voice shakes. "My son was not a coward."
I nod. "No man who stands across the plain from Achilles can ever be called one."
And the boy who turns and runs from Achilles's spear? Surely the only name for him is human.
But the King's Council is not interested in shaping men. It is demigods they seek to mold. Names, after all, cannot be speared in the back. Names can live on, ringing glory throughout the ages. Which is why the punishment for fleeing the battlefield isn't so merciful as a clean death. It is eternal shame followed by a corpse left exposed. An unburned body that becomes a lost soul, doomed to wander the shadow lands. Even worse, there is nothing the warrior or anyone else can do to redeem his name. The last note of his song has been sung.
But only if you sentence the boy to this fate.
I look down at the blue, bloated face. The full cheeks of a child. With the swift stroke of my hand, I close the black holes of the boy's e
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Autoren-Porträt von A. D. Rhine
A. D. Rhine is the pseudonym of Ashlee Cowles and Danielle Stinson. The authors are united by their military “brat” upbringing, childhood friendship spanning two decades, and love of classical literature. Ashlee holds graduate degrees in Medieval History from the University of St. Andrews and Theological Studies (with an emphasis in the Ethics of War and Peace) from Duke University. Danielle holds a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from Tufts University. Their adult debut Horses of Fire is the book they have always dreamt of writing together.
Bibliographische Angaben
- Autor: A. D. Rhine
- 2023, 528 Seiten, Masse: 15,3 x 22,8 cm, Kartoniert (TB), Englisch
- Verlag: Dutton
- ISBN-10: 059347306X
- ISBN-13: 9780593473061
- Erscheinungsdatum: 21.07.2023
Sprache:
Englisch
Pressezitat
Praise for Horses of Fire"Feminist re-tellings of Greek myth are having a moment, but Horses of Fire is destined to stand out, spinning a fresh take on classic themes with mesmerizing energy. AD Rhine crafts a distinctive trio of heroines: Prince Hector's wife Andromache, less demure queen-in-waiting and more embattled Amazon; Rhea, an enslaved horse-girl seeking to carve herself a new life in Andromache's household; and war-prize Helen, despising both the battles fought in her name and the vicious prince who brought her to Troy. Lovers of the classics and lovers of fierce female characters alike will rejoice!" Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Diamond Eye
Narrated by the fierce women of Troy, Horses of Fire is epic in scope and intricately vivid in the details. Reminding us why myths are timeless and sacred guides, A. D. Rhine brings the ancient world to vibrant life while expertly planting us firmly in history. With lyrical language and spellbinding details, this is a re-imagining that captivates and enchants. I felt every pound of the horse s hooves, heard every whispered desire, tasted the dust of the land, and fell in love with all four complicated women. You ll never see the old stories the same way again. Horses of Fire is an immersive and sensory experience of page-turning adventure. Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author
"The Trojan War is a much-storied saga of brave men, of treachery, and loss. Not since Euripides have the Trojan women been so celebrated in all their sacrifice and courage, as they fight for their children, their parents, and their right to be recognized as the warriors they are. In Horses of Fire, A.D. Rhine has written a novel of substance that you won t soon forget." Jacquelyn Mitchard, New York Times bestselling author of The Deep End of the Ocean
One of those singular books that pulls readers into a completely immersive world with a
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dazzling story and characters so deftly drawn that you can t help but ache for them. Lisa Maxwell, New York Times bestselling author
Horses of Fire is utterly extraordinary. A.D. Rhine masterfully weaves a tale that takes the reader through the city of Troy in a way that has never been done before. This exceptional work offers us a deeper delve into the women of Troy and is an absolute must-read for any lovers of Greek Mythology. Hannah Lynn, author of Athena s Child
"A.D. Rhine's Horses of Fire is a feminist retelling of the Trojan War from the point of view of its famous women, whose stories we may have heard but whose thoughts and desires we have sorely missed, until now. In this enthralling version of the story, the women of Troy, queens and servants alike, bend the course of history as they work together in secret and solidarity. Full of surprises, gorgeous and thrilling." Caroline Woods, author of Fraulein M. and The Lunar Housewife
In this radiant retelling of the Trojan War, three women set the battleground ablaze with intrigue and brilliance A sprawling, breathtaking saga for fans of Greek mythology and heroines who remain fearless against all odds. Booklist
Horses of Fire is utterly extraordinary. A.D. Rhine masterfully weaves a tale that takes the reader through the city of Troy in a way that has never been done before. This exceptional work offers us a deeper delve into the women of Troy and is an absolute must-read for any lovers of Greek Mythology. Hannah Lynn, author of Athena s Child
"A.D. Rhine's Horses of Fire is a feminist retelling of the Trojan War from the point of view of its famous women, whose stories we may have heard but whose thoughts and desires we have sorely missed, until now. In this enthralling version of the story, the women of Troy, queens and servants alike, bend the course of history as they work together in secret and solidarity. Full of surprises, gorgeous and thrilling." Caroline Woods, author of Fraulein M. and The Lunar Housewife
In this radiant retelling of the Trojan War, three women set the battleground ablaze with intrigue and brilliance A sprawling, breathtaking saga for fans of Greek mythology and heroines who remain fearless against all odds. Booklist
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