3/08/2015

The Princess of Prophecy: Heroes of the Trojan War, Volume II by Aria Cunningham

In Volume II of this saga, we follow the lovers as they make their escape from Mycenae to Troy. Desperate to make it there before Menelaus and Agamemnon can catch up with them, Paris and Helen find themselves in a precarious position when they are delayed in Egypt after attempting to stop for supplies. With the death of Pharaoh eminent, Paris and Helen find themselves caught up in battle for succession, local politics and traditions. Throw in a dash of sibling rivalry, a hired assassin, a power hungry king, and an empire on the brink of war, and you get the exciting tale that is The Princess of Prophecy.

After finishing The Princess of Sparta, I was excited for the next installment of this series, and Cunningham doesn't disappoint. This book was just as good as the first, if not better. Cunningham does an amazing job of weaving together historical events and giving them a human touch. While the narrative is based on historical facts, it does not possess a dry, scholarly feel. Her story lines have many moving parts that she artfully weaves together to keep it moving forward and keep the reader interested. Her characters are well developed and dynamic, and she has a talent for reinventing some of the most iconic historical figures, and humanizing them, turning them into relatable human beings.

I enjoyed the couple's foray into Ancient Egypt, one of the most fascinating civilizations in the history of our world. I think when we study these ancient cultures that it is easy to compartmentalize them and forget that they were real civilizations that existed at the same time and interacted with each other. I loved seeing iconic figures, such as Nefertiti, come to life within the pages of this novel. This is definitely a "middle" book, meaning that while Cunningham does a good job moving the story forward, readers should not expect any real resolution. According to end notes, we should expect the third installment, The Princess of Troy, sometime in Spring, 2016. I for one, will be looking forward to it.

One more final note, I have to say that the cover art for this installment is much better than the previous one, which looked a bit like a cheesy Harlequin romance novel you would find in the discount bin. I like this cover much more, and I think it is a much better representation of the quality story that is The Princess of Prophecy. Get your hands on this series. It is well worth the read.

*Note: I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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