Shield of Thunder

January 22, 2007
Prolific historical novelist Gemmell continues his imaginative and addictive Trojan War trilogy with this second installment (after Troy: Lord of the Silver Bow
). While King Agamemnon schemes and "dreams of a war with Troy," rival monarch Priam of Troy maneuvers to secure his city's future through the marriage of his son Hektor to Princess Andromache of Thebe Under Plakos. Born with a birthmark resembling the shield of Athene—"the Shield of Thunder"—Andromache will, according to prophesy, bear the Eagle Child: a king who will never be defeated and whose city "will be eternal." Faithful to Homeric legend, there is enough intrigue, treachery and sanguinary violence to keep readers riveted as Priam publicly humiliates King Odysseus of Ithaka, who had hoped to remain neutral in the coming conflict. With Odysseus and the demigod warrior Achilles among his allies, Agamemnon attacks Troy in a war for hegemony. Seamlessly blending legend, mythology and history, Gemmell vividly recreates the world of the Greek city-states in all of their nobility and pettiness. Lively and seductive, this is historical fiction at its page-turning best.

July 1, 2007
Adult/High School-The events and characters in this story only loosely follow those set down in the epic Greek poems and legends. To begin with, Gemmell dispatches the likes of Zeus, Poseidon, and Apollo as active participants and the Achilles here does not have a sea nymph for a mother. All of the actors are human, and they live, love, and die with great passion. The relationships are deep and complicated. Relatives kill one another, and the fates of cities are often in the hands of traitors. Gemmell brings his Troy to life with confidence and creates rich new players and plotlines that complement the classics even as he rewrites them. Hektor, for example, has been emasculated from a battle wound but he gets the chance to beat up Achilles anyway. The battles are chaotic and exciting, and the author does a good job of keeping the myriad opponents and allies straight. This second book in the series is a perfect follow-up for teens who have enjoyed Homer or Frank Miller and Lynn Varley's "300" (Dark Horse, 2007)."Will Marston, Berkeley Public Library, CA"

Copyright 2007 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2007
Historical fiction or fantasy? This second volume in the "Troy" trilogy, which began withLord of the Silver Bow (2005), may confuse readers a bit. At the close of the first book, Hektor appeared to have fallen in battle, leading one to believe that Gemmell was following in the footsteps of authors such as Harry Turtledove by creating an alternate history in which Troy did not fall to the Greeks. In fact, the first novel is merely a prelude to the second installment, in which Gemmell continues his dramatic retelling of the historic conflict between the Greeks and the Trojans. During a gathering for games and chariot races at Troy, the enmity between the two culminates in war, plunging the region surrounding the Great Green (Mediterranean Sea) into bloodshed and chaos from which no one will survive unscathed. Here, readers will meet the same wonderful characters from the first book (and from Greek mythology and literature): Odysseus, storyteller, warrior, and trader; Andromache, betrothed to Trojan hero Hektor; and the treacherous and wily King Priam. This is a wonderfully readable story filled with blood feuds, fierce battle scenes, remarkable courage, and devastating betrayal. It will keep the reader enthralled long after bedtime. Highly recommended for all public libraries.Jane Henriksen Baird, Anchorage Municipal Libs., AK

Copyright 2007 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2007
Gemmell's Trojan War continues, with Troy now fully under siege. The Greeks have their champion in Achilles, a young warrior possessed of godlike prowess and self-esteem. In Troy, thanks to Athena, Andromache continues to play a larger role than that of merely Hector's consort. Greek leader Agamemnon has more rank than ability or diplomacy, putting wise Odysseus in the awkward position of being sworn to support him while foreseeing disaster in his leadership. Characterizations and action measure up to Gemmell's usual standards, and since highly readable historical action tales are his metier, fans of such fare will be pleased.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)