Unabridged Audiobook
It's an epic! This astonishing book seems to come out of nowhere. I've never read anything quite like it. From the weave of both history & myth, a tale emerges that is raw & exciting, but also often vast & meaningful. One can feel the desolation occasioned by the drought that sets off the Bronze Age catastrophe, but the characters that occupy the foreground really commanded my attention. They are not just contemporary characters placed in a different setting, but characters from another time and place (the Hittite Empire, the Peoples of the Sea) who psychologically daily interact with their gods. Yet somehow they remain easily relatable. Warning, there's warlike violence but also a number of explicitly erotic scenes, but they emerge naturally from the narrative. This is an enjoyable book for the more advanced reader. Some knowledge of the late Bronze Age empires would be very helpful, but you could learn as you go. There are many unfamiliar names and strange cultural practices to deal with, but a skilled reader should have no problem. Two further points should be noted: Unique, strong women characters appear throughout the novel each is memorable. Also worth emphasizing, the Classically trained British actor, Simon de Deney, is an excellent narrator for the audiobook. He brings everything to life and makes it real.
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