As a self professed classics nerd, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Black Ships when I read about it in Entertainment Weekly. Yeah yeah, it came out a while ago, I know–I’m doing this review a little belatedly in anticipation for the Hand of Isis.
Black Ships is Jo Graham‘s version of the events of the Aeneid-Aeneas’ escape, travels, and subsequent founding of a new city. Our protagonist is Gull, a lowborn acolyte who ascends her mistress’ place as Pythia, an oracle of the Lady of the Dead. Gull meets Aeneas and realizes that fate has bound him for a great destiny. She travels with the Trojans Wilusans (Trojans in Hittite) in search of a new home. Their travels take them all over the Mediterranean–from an island of the dead to Byblos to Egypt (where they stay awhile) to the caves of Mt. Vesuvius-and finally into the Underworld itself.
This piece of historical fantasy was an enjoyable read, although a little slow at times. It was difficult for me to read at first because I have such set thoughts on Aeneas’ character and how it “should” be but I got over it fairly quickly. I just enjoyed it for what it was-a historical fantasy/romance. I especially enjoyed the disillusioned antics of Egyptian princess Dido Basetamon.
As the bedraggled group travels from place to place, they are pursued by Neoptolemus (his entrance into a fallen Troy and subsequent murder of King Priam is one of the most haunting scenes of the Aeneid). Unfortunately, Neoptolemus is never more than a vague threat in the distance (literally, they see his sails a couple times), and I would have liked a little more conflict there. The scenery and historical details are thorough, and Graham’s writing style is exquisite- it’s beautifully simple and yet still so compelling and vivid.
I am looking forward to the Hand of Isis, which is another historical fantasy set during the reign of Cleopatra, the last Ptolemy! It features Charmian, Cleopatra’s handmaiden (Get it? Hand of Isis? ) and half sister. I am really curious as to how Graham will portray Cleopatra (I would assume she features prominently in the book, maybe not).
Will Cleopatra be portrayed as a dark, Egyptian sorceress (thanks to Octavian’s propaganda) or will she be as she was- a daughter of Ptolemy XII, of Macedonian (not Egyptian) descent, the first Ptolemy who bothered learning Egyptian mores, language, and who was believed to be the incarnation of Isis.
