Rating: 
Summary: "Des" Troy Game
Review: Luckily, I listened to this book while I exercised rather than read it and found that Douglass's straightforward uncomplicated literary style directly complimented the mindless activity I strove to accomplish. This is not to say that I thought the book uninteresting or boring in any way. On the contrary, the storyline moves along, albeit the pre-historical plotline jars pathetically with the author's modern jargon leaving the reader no choice but to roll one's eyes upward in utter amazement at the blatant inconsistency.
In a nutshell, the plot revolves around a somewhat undefined 'game' at which a labyrinth plays an integral part in protecting the city in which it is located. With the anger of a spurned woman, Ariadne of Crete beseiges her half-man half-bull brother Asterion to teach her the dark ways that will help her destroy the power of the labyrinth after Theseus throws her over for her younger sister. Of course, as mistress of the labyrinth, she leaves a backdoor for herself and her female progeny--a way in which to recreate the game in a future time and reclaim her power. Approximately 100 years later, Ariadne's heir Genvesa is all but ready, however she needs a King man to help her dance the mystical powers of the game back into being and forever trap Asterion in the center of the maze. Trojan Brutus, adept at the game, is her man and through a series of ploys and adventures, Genvesa lures him from Greece to the misty land of Albion--the southern portion of the British Isles. One crucial problem arises to snag Genvesa's plans when Brutus impulsively takes Cornelia, the daughter of a conquered king, as his wife and drags her along on his quest for the promised land of New Troy. In Albion, Genvesa has all but destroyed the old god and goddess that ruled the island. When the Albion mother goddess, Mag, Genvesa's chief foe, hides within Cornelia, Genvesa's plans to reconstruct the game are almost permanently foiled.
As you can imagine, this tale is long and fraught with the machinations of all characters who seek either self-preservation or the heady power of pure domination. Douglass cleverly combines many myths to support her premise and to bring alive the baser natures of her creations. However trite, there is sex, gore and raw emotion galore, so much so that I found myself wincing with disgust at many of the too descriptive passages enlightening the reader to scenes of birth, death and utter savagery. The characters seem to be intentionally crafted as archetypes like the gods and goddesses of ancient Greece rather than real fleshed out personas. Brutus lives only for the power of kingship and possession of Genvesa. Cornelia, raped and torn from her family and country, somehow improbably forgets her grief and yearns for love from her brutal husband. Genvesa connives with a hallowe'en witch's malevolence while the rest of the cast are simply not finely drawn enough to not be categorized as either good or evil. All characters are either blighted with trite dialogue or overly long-winded emotional explosions.
Bottom line: While the story will keep your attention, none of the characters are subtle enough to capture your emotions; they are stylized shadows which at times fail to elicit much response other than a shrug and a turn of the page. The literary style fails to recreate a feel for ancient times, rather it attributes modern day sensibilities to otherwise primordial savages. I don't know if I will read the second volume of this trilogy unless I could again listen to it while I engaged in something physically challenging.
Rating:
Summary: None of the camp of Xena nor the beauty of the real thing
Review: Oh lord where to begin. There is something so innately wrong with a modestly talented modern writer who cannot leave the modern age behind her when composing, who insists on recasting classic figures in a pseudo-classic style that threatens to break the fourth wall altogether by the end of the trilogy. Ick. These characters are sort of the stock from bad twenties movies, with the dialog to boot. Now, on the good side. There is less of the silly, predictable stuff of the Wayfarer Redemption, Douglass's earlier effort, though the curses are as flat here as the prophecies were there. The characters are still not very well drawn, but they are somewhat better. On the whole, Douglass is improving, but this icky combo of fakey modern classic era god-knows-what is still not worth paying hardcover price for.
Rating: 
Summary: Not Worth Buying
Review: Once again, Douglass proves her inability to develop interesting, sympathetic characters. While sympathetic characters are not necessary to all stories and writing styles, it does not suit Douglass's. The characters in this story are cardboard cut-out characters. They do not progress or grow believably from one behavior to another. First they act in a certain way, then all of a sudden, for no apparent reason, they do a complete one-eighty. She tries to have heroes, but her heroes act so replusively that you cannot root for them. Or, they act so pathetically that you would rather scream at them then root for them. This writing style is choppy and does not progress well form one scene to another. Plot threads go nowhere. Actions happen for no apparent reason. I will not buy any more of Douglass's works, and I would recomment that you either check this book out from the library, or wait for it in paperback. It is not worth the hardback price.
Rating: 
Summary: can't wait for the next one!
Review: This book does start off a little slow, but stick with it! This is the first Sara Douglass book I've read, and it will not be the last. Great action, memorable characters, and a plot that just keeps twisting! I read in a previous review that this book is some sort of testament to the abused woman scenario. I assure you that this is not true. The character of Cornelia can give as well as she gets. The constant power struggle between characters is a great sub-plot. If you want a nice soft affirmation of life type book, I would recommend something from the Oprah list. If you want an action-packed read then try this one!
Rating:
Summary: Not so good.
Review: This book is the reason I will never buy Sara Douglass in hardcover ever again. With her Wayfarer Redemption series I actually enjoyed it enough to order the rest of the 5 online from England in order to not wait on US publication. However, this book had no characters I could empathize with though I did finish it. I might buy the sequel in paperback if there's nothing else good out.
Rating:
Summary: Hades' Daughter
Review: This book was great. I love greek mythology, and this mixes with one of my favorite stories. Sara Douglass really did a good job of making you like or hate the characters in here. you really felt for them. i loved it
Rating:
Summary: An incredible reading adventure
Review: This book was incredible. I couldn't put it down. If anyone is at all interested in Greek mythology and modern day, Douglass interweaves the two unbelievably well. I cannot wait to read the second book in the trilogy and makes me want to read more of her books. An incredible, incredible writer and I have recommended this book to several of my friends. Read and enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: ugh
Review: This book was utterly dissapointing for a sara douglass. It's a confusing (but somehow manages to be boring) plot, and it's waaay to graphic for its own good....
Cornelia, Sara Douglass's main character (actually I'm still not sure WHO are the main characters) is a pompous, arrogant spoilt brat, and she doesn't have much of a character at all. Her husband, Brutus is not much more than a complete and total .... The characters do not really support the story. Nothing that they do makes sense. Also, she mixes different types of mythology, which I must say brings out a totally confusing and muddled theme.
This book is NOT worth reading. If you want to read REAL fantasy, read Sara Douglass's other books like Starman, or Beyond The Hanging Wall. Just don't waste your time with this one:(
Rating:
Summary: An unpleasant work of highly sexist sado-machochism
Review: This is a book of the "oh he raped and beat me, but that was then, now I love him" sort. Forget the rambling plot, the strange treatment of history and mythology, the lack of imagination in naming people and places, and outright lousy editing. But if you're into poorly-written stories of torture, abuse, and obscure mysticism, this is for you.
Rating:
Summary: Simply the Best
Review: This is a book that didn't capture me in the first few pages, but suddenly it was like a light went on, the intrigue, the characters, the plot. Everything started to come together with a bang and it took off. I could NOT put this book down, I became part of the Troy Game. This book lived and breathed with me until I finished it. And then of course I was frustrated because I had to know what happened next !
I high recommend this book and book 2 God's Concubine which is just as enthralling and leaves you clamouring for more.
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