Though history has relegated her role to that of a bystander, what if Gorgo, Queen of Sparta, had played a central role in the Greek resistance to the Persian invasion?
Though history has relegated her role to that of a bystander, what if Gorgo, Queen of Sparta, had played a central role in the Greek resistance to the Persian invasion?
Alternative history, Historical
Xerxes, the Great King of Persia invades Greece in 480 B.C. at the head of a massive army. Three hundred Spartans and King Leonidas die heroically blocking the Persian advance at the pass of Thermopylae. The Persians are poised to conquer all of Greece. The only one standing in their way is a woman – Gorgo, Queen of Sparta.
Though history has relegated her role to that of a bystander, what if she played a central role in the Greek resistance to the Persian invasion. What if she kept her true role a secret in order to play it more effectively? What if she was hiding other secrets too – dark secrets of murder and vengeance? What if the only person who truly appreciated her genius was an enemy prisoner whom she has vowed to kill? What if after their victory, the Greeks started to turn on each other? What if, eventually, Gorgo had to choose between the security of Sparta and safety of her son? And what if the only one who could find a way out is the same prisoner who had once fought against the Spartans?
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Gripping storytelling by Chaudhry that sheds a completely new light on a saga many times told before. I can only recommend to read it. But beware - you won't be able to put it down until you're through! ~ Bastian Richter, Amazon.de
u dont hear a lot about the women of ancient times the only heros u hear about are the ones that most of us hear about have been the ones we have heard about since we where kids. this book tells us about gorgo and many other heroic women in ancient times. i loved how the author goes over all the historical facts and puts gorgo the mastermind behind one of the greatest battle known to man-kind. it takes u from india to italy and places in between. very enjoyable read could not put it down, cant wait for the authors next book ~ John Warren, Amazon.com
A vivid and superbly researched original history of what it was like to have lived in this fascinating period of time. It holds the attention of the reader throughout and would make a great movie - the book itself is practically a screenwriter's template !! ~ John Ryan, Amazon.co.uk
This novel presents an interesting variation on the story of the Spartan-led resistance to the Persian invasion. At the center of it is Gorgo, the Queen of Sparta, who tries to unite a group of key Greek states against the enemy. Her brilliance, though recognized by the historian Herodotus, is generally understated. Here she is shown as an astute political leader, not a warrior queen, who uses intelligence (both meanings) to defeat the enemy. But this is not just a story about Gorgo; it is also a story about Sparta and its society, about the internal politics within Greece and how tensions soon after war created the conditions which would lead to the devastating Peloponnesian War. But first and foremost,Chaudhry, a history enthusiast, wrote an exciting, fascinating political thriller. It's about war and peace, loyalty and betrayal, politics and espionage, Greeks and barbarians, East and West, love and hate. I read it in one weekend! If you liked Maddox’ SPQR mystery series, you should not miss the Queen of Sparta. I gave her a whole week end. ~ Marco Kalbusch, Amazon.com
The Queen of Sparta strikes the perfect balance between history and storytelling, managing to wonderfully draw the reader into an exciting story of political intrigue, espionage, power and war. Chaudhry takes you into a rich world in which Queen Gorgo must strategize and wield power to protect Sparta and control the war; as great beauty in history, Chaudhry could have gone the predictable route, but instead describes and teases out a much more complex character. You also see the story through the eyes of Sherzada, who you first meet as he is fighting for the enemy in battle scenes that makes you feel like you're standing in the field with him. Later captured, an interesting exchange begins between him and the Queen which changes the course of this untold, or underplayed, part of history and Gorgo's role in it. A great read for any lover of historical fiction. ~ Hannah, Amazon.com
This novel is an exciting re-imagining of events in Ancient Greece. Rich in detail, with excellent battle scenes and sections on military strategy as well as compelling lead characters, Chaudhry manages to make his intricate story accessible and involving. I will look out for more from this author. ~ CL, Amazon.co.uk
