Revisiting The Wars of Alexander’s Successors, by Bob Bennett and Mike Roberts

I'd thought I'd reviewed these two books already, but it turns out not. 

It’s been a decade or so since I first read these two volumes, which covers the period immediately after Alexander’s death down to the end of the last direct Diadochi (Successors), Seleucus and Ptolemy. Details are reasonable down to the Battle of Ipsus in 301 BC but become altogether more scant after that.

It’s interesting re-reading history compared to other genres because you can get more out of it and either appreciate a book to a greater extent or realise more contentious matters or even potential flaws (as an aside, I’ve started a book about the early Seleucid/Seleukid Empire and in that the author asserts Demetrius cavalry at Ipsus would probably have been able to deal with elephants rather than being totally terrified, a common view and one held by the authors here).

Since reading these I’ve reading biographies of Antigonus Monopthalmus and Pyrrhus, as well as James Romm’s excellent Ghost on the Throne, all of which cover similar ground from differing angles.

Got to say I still really like Bennett and Roberts’ two volumes on the period, which do an excellent job of presenting the major strokes of the four decades or so after Alexander’s death in the first book, before focusing on some of the biggest battles and other aspects of warfare in the second. As such, there is some overlap and, personally, I would’ve preferred a single larger volume but both are still well worth reading.

I’d still recommend these to anyone, including people who don’t normally read history but are looking to get into it.  The Diadochi period is fascinating because there’s a cauldron of war but a surplus of excellent military commanders who grew up under Alexander. Not only that, there’s plenty of scheming and double crossing, and a number of intriguing leading ladies too. 

Thaddeus

Review: Kingshold, by DP Woolliscroft

Those of you with freakishly good memories may recall I read the sample of this as part of my snapshot reviews a while back, and I’ve decided to make a little progress with those.

Kingshold occurs almost entirely within the city of the same name. Ironically enough, the king and queen have sadly died from a case of decapitation, and it’s time for an elected leader. That, essentially, is the plot, which is written in quite a charming and relaxing way.

The cast, I would say, is more ensemble than focusing on a specific individual, with POV characters including precocious maidservant Alana, Hoskin the looking-forward-to-retiring-but-can’t-yet chancellor who has to govern the city before the new lord protector is elected, Mareth the bard, Motega the mercenary, and Neenahwi[sp], his sister (and also a sorceress).

And there might be yet more skulduggery afoot from elsewhere as the potential leaders use tactics fair and foul to try and get ahead.

The book is pretty simple, and the world is interesting (beneath the city there’s another settlement of dwarves, with whom good relations are typically maintained). Although events are mostly straightforward there are sufficient twists to keep it from being predictable or tedious, a couple of which are particularly good.

I found it to be a good, relaxing read. (NB the next review might be slightly longer than usual as I’m doing a spot of beta-reading, but I may ramble about CK3 in the meantime).

 

Buying note: I got this as part of the bundle within Kingshold: The Wildfire Cycle: Volume 1, which is only £3 and (provided the sample tickles your fancy) offers great value for e-book readers.

Thaddeus