Like her previous books, BLACK SHIPS and HAND OF ISIS, STEALING FIRE takes place in the ancient world, primarily Egypt, and features historical figures. Also like those previous books, the story is told from a lesser-known, fictional character who is privy to the historical events featured.
The story this time is of the aftermath of Alexander the Great's reign, told by Lydias, a slave turned stableboy turned soldier and Companion of Alexander. Lydias accompanies Ptolemy to Egypt after the death of Alexander, and helps him establish his reign in the new city of Alexandria while fending off his rivals for Alexander's kingship.
Most stories about this time in history focus on Alexander's life and exploits, so it was interesting to read about what happened after his death. What also makes it different is Graham's understanding of the ancients' relationships with their gods, and their everyday interactions with them.
There are also a lot more battle scenes in this story, and they are well-written and easy to follow. I have found battle scenes to be confusing and scattered in other works, but these showed an understanding of tactics and the emotions of people in the thick of them.
Of course, the real heart of any story is its characters, and I found Lydias to be intelligent, compelling, and human. His relationships with Ptolemy and Bagoas, Alexander's favorite eunuch, are especially poignant. Graham brings insight into the complex relationships of men in the ancient Greek world, and the women are more than set decoration; they are intelligent, fully-formed people who have lives of their own outside of their men.
If you like historical fantasy, STEALING FIRE will be right up your alley. And check out Jo Graham's other books as well; you won't be disappointed.
