Alexander: The Sands of Ammon
Alexander: The Sands of Ammon, (Alexandros Trilogy, Book 2), by Valerio Massimo Manfredi 
Blurb:Continuing the international bestselling saga of Alexander the Great, The Sands of Ammon brilliantly describes his quest to conquer Asia, the limitless domain ruled by the Great King of the Persians. In a seemingly impossible venture, the mighty Alexander and his men storm Persian fortresses and harbours, crippling King Darius's domain. Even the legendary Halicarnassus is defeated by the Macedonian armies. But there is danger ahead. The island city of Tyre and the towers of Gaza prove to be formidable obstacles. Embattled but undeterred, Alexander's army surges forth over land and sea to the mysterious deserts of Egypt. There, in the sands, lies the Oracle of Ammon, waiting to reveal an amazing truth to Alexander. One that will change his already astonishing life...This book is seriously packed with action! It was a really enjoyable and interesting book to read and it seamlessly follows the first book interest little confusion. However... the one thing I found was that, though I loved reading it, I often found that I had trouble recalling what had actually happened in previous chapters, just because so much is going on in this book. There are so many characters, places and things going on that I constantly found myself flicking back to figure out what was going on.The authors writing style makes you feel like you're actually reading an ancient epic and I loved that there are other POV's involved, not just Alexander's. For example, I loved the character of Memnon and I like that, although he is Alexander's enemy, he isn't portrayed as a villain... he's just a man, he has a wife and kids and he is defending his country. *SPOILER ALERT* His death, and his mens devotion, was the most emotion scene in this book for me. Alexander is also a very interesting and complex character; he's headstrong, often reckless, but an amazing leader, both in war tactics and the love he has for his men. However, I personally, can't fully think of him as the hero, for the simple reason that he's conquering lands and making war. It was different time and the history lover in me can see the excitement and the glory in his actions and is desperate to know more but then another part of me thinks that parts of this story really happened and sympathises with people who were conquered, though admittedly Alexander is painted as a better King than the Persian King whose lands he is taking… That little rhyme that Alexander and his friends would chant at their old teacher when they were children, about the 'silly' solider that goes to war and dies, pretty much sums up my feelings about Alexander's campaign and his fathers before him - they seem to be making war for no real reason other than glory, risking the lives of their men and razing cities while supposedly trying to until the countries and make peace... Still, I'm looking forward to the final instalment of this trilogy and I'm sure I'll grab a few non-fiction books about Alexander the Great afterwards too! If anyone has any suggestions that would be great. :-) 
My favourite quotes from 'Alexander: The Sands of Ammon':" 'And you? Have you let yourself be won over by love?'Memnon returned her gaze. 'Love is the only opponent I accept defeat from.' " " 'My men must see me and must know that I risk my own life before risking theirs.' "" 'If you do not know the past, you cannot understand the present.' " " '... my sister is like one of those little birds that is taken from the nest too early - sometimes she remembers that she is still a young girl and she misses the home and the parents she no longer has.' " " 'And does this prospect not frighten you?' 'I am never frightened by things that have not yet come to pass.' " " 'There is either a solution to the problem and therefore it is pointless to worry about it, or there is no solution and it is pointless to worry about it.' " " '... He is like the wind that passes and disappears. And no one can imprison the wind. If you know that you cannot bear separation, then do not succumb to love.' "
Blurb:Continuing the international bestselling saga of Alexander the Great, The Sands of Ammon brilliantly describes his quest to conquer Asia, the limitless domain ruled by the Great King of the Persians. In a seemingly impossible venture, the mighty Alexander and his men storm Persian fortresses and harbours, crippling King Darius's domain. Even the legendary Halicarnassus is defeated by the Macedonian armies. But there is danger ahead. The island city of Tyre and the towers of Gaza prove to be formidable obstacles. Embattled but undeterred, Alexander's army surges forth over land and sea to the mysterious deserts of Egypt. There, in the sands, lies the Oracle of Ammon, waiting to reveal an amazing truth to Alexander. One that will change his already astonishing life...This book is seriously packed with action! It was a really enjoyable and interesting book to read and it seamlessly follows the first book interest little confusion. However... the one thing I found was that, though I loved reading it, I often found that I had trouble recalling what had actually happened in previous chapters, just because so much is going on in this book. There are so many characters, places and things going on that I constantly found myself flicking back to figure out what was going on.The authors writing style makes you feel like you're actually reading an ancient epic and I loved that there are other POV's involved, not just Alexander's. For example, I loved the character of Memnon and I like that, although he is Alexander's enemy, he isn't portrayed as a villain... he's just a man, he has a wife and kids and he is defending his country. *SPOILER ALERT* His death, and his mens devotion, was the most emotion scene in this book for me. Alexander is also a very interesting and complex character; he's headstrong, often reckless, but an amazing leader, both in war tactics and the love he has for his men. However, I personally, can't fully think of him as the hero, for the simple reason that he's conquering lands and making war. It was different time and the history lover in me can see the excitement and the glory in his actions and is desperate to know more but then another part of me thinks that parts of this story really happened and sympathises with people who were conquered, though admittedly Alexander is painted as a better King than the Persian King whose lands he is taking… That little rhyme that Alexander and his friends would chant at their old teacher when they were children, about the 'silly' solider that goes to war and dies, pretty much sums up my feelings about Alexander's campaign and his fathers before him - they seem to be making war for no real reason other than glory, risking the lives of their men and razing cities while supposedly trying to until the countries and make peace... Still, I'm looking forward to the final instalment of this trilogy and I'm sure I'll grab a few non-fiction books about Alexander the Great afterwards too! If anyone has any suggestions that would be great. :-) My favourite quotes from 'Alexander: The Sands of Ammon':" 'And you? Have you let yourself be won over by love?'Memnon returned her gaze. 'Love is the only opponent I accept defeat from.' " " 'My men must see me and must know that I risk my own life before risking theirs.' "" 'If you do not know the past, you cannot understand the present.' " " '... my sister is like one of those little birds that is taken from the nest too early - sometimes she remembers that she is still a young girl and she misses the home and the parents she no longer has.' " " 'And does this prospect not frighten you?' 'I am never frightened by things that have not yet come to pass.' " " 'There is either a solution to the problem and therefore it is pointless to worry about it, or there is no solution and it is pointless to worry about it.' " " '... He is like the wind that passes and disappears. And no one can imprison the wind. If you know that you cannot bear separation, then do not succumb to love.' "
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