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Oracles of Delphi
All Althaia wants on her trip to Delphi is to fulfill her father's last wish and enjoy time away from her tiresome new husband. Finding the body of a young woman on the altar of Dionysos in the theater of the Sacred Precinct on her first day in town is not in her plans. Neither is getting involved in the search for the killer, falling for the son of a famous priestess, or getting pulled into the ancient struggle for control of the two most powerful oracles in the world. But that's exactly what happens when Theron, Althaia's tutor and a man with a reputation for finding the truth, is asked to investigate. When a priest hints that Theron himself may be involved, Althaia is certain the old man is crazy-until Nikomachos, son of the famous priestess of Dodona, arrives with an urgent message. As Theron's past, greedy priests, paranoid priestesses, visions, prophecies, and stolen treasures complicate the investigation, Althaia finds herself falling for Nikomachos whose dangerous secrets may hold the key to the young woman's death.When another body is found and Althaia discovers Nikomachos is being blackmailed, she devises a plan to coerce the killer to reveal himself and, in the process, forces Nikomachos to confront his own past. As the plan unfolds, she comes to realize that love often comes at a high price and that the true meaning of family is more than a blood bond.
324 pages, Paperback
First published October 15, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 7, 2015
3,5 stars
I have to confess I hadn’t heard about the Oracle of Delphi before this and I realized how little I actually know about ancient Greece.
Althaia is a privileged young woman from Athens but thanks to her lenient and loving father she’s had more rights than most women. She has knowledge to perform an autopias on a dead body, which becomes handy when a dead woman is found.
I liked Althaia, Theron and her two slaves. Praxis was almost like a brother to her even though he was a slave and it was nice to see their close relationship. Althaia was very likeable character: strong, compassionate and quite outspoken for that time. We get another perspective of her from the point of view of Nepthys, her personal slave.
Little by little we learn more about their past and how they became to each other’s lives.
I loved reading about the Oracles of Delphi because there the women could have power and be quite independent since women didn’t have much rights in Ancient Greece. And many of the women were born peasants and they could still be powerful.
I have to confess I hadn’t heard about the Oracle of Delphi before this and I realized how little I actually know about ancient Greece.
Althaia is a privileged young woman from Athens but thanks to her lenient and loving father she’s had more rights than most women. She has knowledge to perform an autopias on a dead body, which becomes handy when a dead woman is found.
I liked Althaia, Theron and her two slaves. Praxis was almost like a brother to her even though he was a slave and it was nice to see their close relationship. Althaia was very likeable character: strong, compassionate and quite outspoken for that time. We get another perspective of her from the point of view of Nepthys, her personal slave.
Little by little we learn more about their past and how they became to each other’s lives.
I loved reading about the Oracles of Delphi because there the women could have power and be quite independent since women didn’t have much rights in Ancient Greece. And many of the women were born peasants and they could still be powerful.
January 27, 2025
A murder mystery set in Ancient Delphi. Involving the oracles of Gaia & Apollon and a whole lot of politics.
I loved the setting, the mystery and the detail. The characters were a bit one dimensional but with everything else done well I think I can forgive that.
I loved the setting, the mystery and the detail. The characters were a bit one dimensional but with everything else done well I think I can forgive that.
December 24, 2014
[Full disclosure: I received a free ebook in conjunction with the blog tour in exchange for an honest review.]
I have to admit that I’m not usually one for murder mysteries set in ancient times. They always seemed a little bit cheesy to me, with the investigators using modern techniques that the ancients really did not use. However, I thought Oracles of Delphi sounded pretty cool and was worth a try. Good thing I did because I would have missed out on a pretty good book if I hadn’t.
Althaia is a fascinating character. She’s a woman in Athens, so of course she’s essentially property, but she does have a significant amount of wealth thanks to her father. That allows her the freedom to travel to Delphi, where there’s a little more freedom for women (not that it would take much compared to Athens). There in Delphi she discovers that the Oracles of Apollon and Gaia are competing for supremacy and Apollon’s have been kicking butt for the past hundred or so years. But what was supposed to be a pilgrimage a year after her father’s death turns into a murder investigation when the naked body of a priestess of Gaia shows up on Apollon’s altar.
One of the things that made Althaia really stick out to me was the complexity of her character. She’s intelligent and thoughtful but at the same time can be blinded by her own privilege to the suffering of people around her. This is showcased especially well through the eyes of her personal slave, Nepthys when the book changes points of view. Althaia uses this intelligence to perform an autopias on the body, discovering the cause of death and getting a little closer to the murderer. She’s had an unconventional childhood thanks to her father’s enlightened views so it’s interesting to see her more modern views warring with the increasingly patriarchal society around her.
Speaking of that Marie Savage did a very in-depth study of the Greek world of the time. She posits that this is the time when worship moved away from the goddesses and the gods suddenly reigned supreme. The Oracle of Apollon gained more power while the old Oracle of Gaia lost all of hers. It’s an interesting time of change in the Greek world and I’m so glad that Savage chose to set her novel during this time; it just wouldn’t be nearly as good without the societal conflicts. Add to that the fact that a certain King Philip is reigning in what we know as Macedon and you’ve got yourself a well-researched book where no matter your knowledge of the ancient Greeks, you can at least be familiar with some elements.
The plot is not as fast-paced as that of a modern murder mystery, but it is still fast-paced enough that you won’t want to put it down. Marie Savage managed to slowly ratchet up the tension as the book went along, without all the normal drag in the middle, so you truly will want to make this a one-sitting book. Enemies are around every corner and truly nothing is as it seems in Delphi at the time. Add in just a couple interesting subplots with the main characters and you’ve got a pretty darn good book. I really just can’t recommend it enough if you love either ancient history or murder mysteries.
I give this book 5/5 stars.
I have to admit that I’m not usually one for murder mysteries set in ancient times. They always seemed a little bit cheesy to me, with the investigators using modern techniques that the ancients really did not use. However, I thought Oracles of Delphi sounded pretty cool and was worth a try. Good thing I did because I would have missed out on a pretty good book if I hadn’t.
Althaia is a fascinating character. She’s a woman in Athens, so of course she’s essentially property, but she does have a significant amount of wealth thanks to her father. That allows her the freedom to travel to Delphi, where there’s a little more freedom for women (not that it would take much compared to Athens). There in Delphi she discovers that the Oracles of Apollon and Gaia are competing for supremacy and Apollon’s have been kicking butt for the past hundred or so years. But what was supposed to be a pilgrimage a year after her father’s death turns into a murder investigation when the naked body of a priestess of Gaia shows up on Apollon’s altar.
One of the things that made Althaia really stick out to me was the complexity of her character. She’s intelligent and thoughtful but at the same time can be blinded by her own privilege to the suffering of people around her. This is showcased especially well through the eyes of her personal slave, Nepthys when the book changes points of view. Althaia uses this intelligence to perform an autopias on the body, discovering the cause of death and getting a little closer to the murderer. She’s had an unconventional childhood thanks to her father’s enlightened views so it’s interesting to see her more modern views warring with the increasingly patriarchal society around her.
Speaking of that Marie Savage did a very in-depth study of the Greek world of the time. She posits that this is the time when worship moved away from the goddesses and the gods suddenly reigned supreme. The Oracle of Apollon gained more power while the old Oracle of Gaia lost all of hers. It’s an interesting time of change in the Greek world and I’m so glad that Savage chose to set her novel during this time; it just wouldn’t be nearly as good without the societal conflicts. Add to that the fact that a certain King Philip is reigning in what we know as Macedon and you’ve got yourself a well-researched book where no matter your knowledge of the ancient Greeks, you can at least be familiar with some elements.
The plot is not as fast-paced as that of a modern murder mystery, but it is still fast-paced enough that you won’t want to put it down. Marie Savage managed to slowly ratchet up the tension as the book went along, without all the normal drag in the middle, so you truly will want to make this a one-sitting book. Enemies are around every corner and truly nothing is as it seems in Delphi at the time. Add in just a couple interesting subplots with the main characters and you’ve got a pretty darn good book. I really just can’t recommend it enough if you love either ancient history or murder mysteries.
I give this book 5/5 stars.
December 12, 2014
Oracles of Delphi is a true tale of mystery and adventure in ancient Greece! I adore ancient historical reads, especially mysteries, so I was especially thrilled to dive into this book. Once I did, I moved quickly through it’s pages. Elegantly written, wonderful dialogue, and with an air of the ancient world suspense that Elizabeth Peters brings to readers. These are the kind of books I used to stay up late into the night reading in my younger years, and apparently, that still hasn’t changed!
The research of ancient cultures that had to have been done to present an authentic book was enormous. I applaud Marie for her endeavor. I enjoyed all her descriptions, details, and explanations. Her plot/mystery was solid and her characters, though their names kept me tongue-tied, were intriguing. I enjoyed getting to know Althaia so much that it was a pleasure to be a part of her journey. I hope that there are more books to come now that Althaia is so good at being a sleuth!
Marie winds us around this murder, allowing the reader to pick up clues, adds spiritual visions, dreams, and prophecies, but then balances that with the forensic evidence as well. It’s like a new cast of CSI time-traveling to ancient Greece, with some mythology and mysticism!
Past the mystery element, she deals with what Althaia might have dealt with in regards to losing her father and how she would have survived. As well, the world of ancient Greece at the time of the book (340 BCE) was in the middle of upheaval with religion and politics. Phillip II was in power and doing his “divide and conquering.” (And if you don’t know Phillip, he was Alexander the Great’s father). Marie showed how Althaia, and the other characters, might have navigated these issues while conducting their mystery.
All of her supporting characters were complex and dimensional, just be sure to stay focused, and added depth to her novel. I enjoyed the story lines between many of the various characters and what they learn about each other throughout the book. It was emotional at times as we learn the back story of each character. It was also a great time of duels between religions and beliefs, legends and myths, temples and priestesses. That all intertwined to make the book even more interesting.
If you are a mystery reader that enjoys the ancient historical settings, then I highly recommend Marie’s debut novel. I’m pulling for her to write a second book or a series featuring her characters, as we need more ancient world mysteries on the shelves. I think if you like ancient religions or mythology, you’ll also enjoy this book! It’s enthralling history, entertaining writing, and an engaging mystery that will keep you busy during a long winter night or one that you could also enjoy on a sunny day lounging on the back patio.
I was given a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own.
The research of ancient cultures that had to have been done to present an authentic book was enormous. I applaud Marie for her endeavor. I enjoyed all her descriptions, details, and explanations. Her plot/mystery was solid and her characters, though their names kept me tongue-tied, were intriguing. I enjoyed getting to know Althaia so much that it was a pleasure to be a part of her journey. I hope that there are more books to come now that Althaia is so good at being a sleuth!
Marie winds us around this murder, allowing the reader to pick up clues, adds spiritual visions, dreams, and prophecies, but then balances that with the forensic evidence as well. It’s like a new cast of CSI time-traveling to ancient Greece, with some mythology and mysticism!
Past the mystery element, she deals with what Althaia might have dealt with in regards to losing her father and how she would have survived. As well, the world of ancient Greece at the time of the book (340 BCE) was in the middle of upheaval with religion and politics. Phillip II was in power and doing his “divide and conquering.” (And if you don’t know Phillip, he was Alexander the Great’s father). Marie showed how Althaia, and the other characters, might have navigated these issues while conducting their mystery.
All of her supporting characters were complex and dimensional, just be sure to stay focused, and added depth to her novel. I enjoyed the story lines between many of the various characters and what they learn about each other throughout the book. It was emotional at times as we learn the back story of each character. It was also a great time of duels between religions and beliefs, legends and myths, temples and priestesses. That all intertwined to make the book even more interesting.
If you are a mystery reader that enjoys the ancient historical settings, then I highly recommend Marie’s debut novel. I’m pulling for her to write a second book or a series featuring her characters, as we need more ancient world mysteries on the shelves. I think if you like ancient religions or mythology, you’ll also enjoy this book! It’s enthralling history, entertaining writing, and an engaging mystery that will keep you busy during a long winter night or one that you could also enjoy on a sunny day lounging on the back patio.
I was given a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own.
December 28, 2014
Althaia of Athens is on a pilgrimage to fulfill her deceased father's last wishes. However, when they arrive in Delphi, the body of a young women is found upon an alter and Althaia's tutor, Theron is asked to investigate. Althaia, trained in Egypt in the art of autopsia, assists with the cause of death. When it is discovered that the woman was connected to the Pythia of the Oracle of Gaia, Althaia, Theron and her slaves and plunged into the ongoing conflict between the Oracle of Apollon and the Oracle of Gaia. Althaia has also been having a disturbing dream about a young man; when she meets the young man in her dreams, Nikos, the pieces start falling together for the mystery of the woman left on the alter.
My favorite part of this historical mystery was Althaia's character. She is an intelligent, spunky and does not allow her position as a woman in her time to get in her way. Althaia also had a very modern voice and way of thinking which made it easier to connect with her. The history behind the Oracles of Delphi engaged me more than the mystery in this story. The Oracles were once real women, usually a peasant woman, chosen for the Gods to speak through, the parts of the story concerning the traditions of the women surrounding the Oracle were what really transported me back to ancient Delphi. The mystery in the story took a back seat for me, it was a little slower moving and didn't hold as much mystique as the characters trying to solve it. However, in the end, the solution did surprise me and I ended up loving how the guilty parties were revealed.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
My favorite part of this historical mystery was Althaia's character. She is an intelligent, spunky and does not allow her position as a woman in her time to get in her way. Althaia also had a very modern voice and way of thinking which made it easier to connect with her. The history behind the Oracles of Delphi engaged me more than the mystery in this story. The Oracles were once real women, usually a peasant woman, chosen for the Gods to speak through, the parts of the story concerning the traditions of the women surrounding the Oracle were what really transported me back to ancient Delphi. The mystery in the story took a back seat for me, it was a little slower moving and didn't hold as much mystique as the characters trying to solve it. However, in the end, the solution did surprise me and I ended up loving how the guilty parties were revealed.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
December 14, 2014
Murder, Mystery and Mayhem in Ancient Greece.
I couldn't wait to read this book, and quickly zipped through the story. This well written historical novel revolves around incidents occurring at Delphi. Sound familiar? Most people know of the Oracle at Delphi, but did you know of the cult of Gaia? The Earth Mother and Apollo sharing the same sacred land. Well, as you may guess, two powerful deities cannot share a sacred spot without problems. Murder...
The main characters of this novel are Althaia of Athens, a wealthy educated woman and Theron of Thessaly, a philosopher who assumes the role of ancient homicide detective, as well as a supporting cast of priestesses, priests, slaves and sycophants.
These characters are multi dimensional people. You, the reader, will have a vested interest in their personal lives. We become close to Althaia, Theron and the others and fear for them, we laugh with them and we cry with them.
I must say, I followed the clues of this murder mystery, but at the end, I was flabbergasted. I never saw it coming!
Marie Savage uses the backdrop of ancient Greece to masterfully tell a story full of intrigue while educating us on the religions and myths of ancient Greece. She is a wonderful storyteller. She expertly spins a tale and will leave you stunned and on the edge of your seat!
I hope she continues to write as I anxiously await her next novel.
I couldn't wait to read this book, and quickly zipped through the story. This well written historical novel revolves around incidents occurring at Delphi. Sound familiar? Most people know of the Oracle at Delphi, but did you know of the cult of Gaia? The Earth Mother and Apollo sharing the same sacred land. Well, as you may guess, two powerful deities cannot share a sacred spot without problems. Murder...
The main characters of this novel are Althaia of Athens, a wealthy educated woman and Theron of Thessaly, a philosopher who assumes the role of ancient homicide detective, as well as a supporting cast of priestesses, priests, slaves and sycophants.
These characters are multi dimensional people. You, the reader, will have a vested interest in their personal lives. We become close to Althaia, Theron and the others and fear for them, we laugh with them and we cry with them.
I must say, I followed the clues of this murder mystery, but at the end, I was flabbergasted. I never saw it coming!
Marie Savage uses the backdrop of ancient Greece to masterfully tell a story full of intrigue while educating us on the religions and myths of ancient Greece. She is a wonderful storyteller. She expertly spins a tale and will leave you stunned and on the edge of your seat!
I hope she continues to write as I anxiously await her next novel.
January 4, 2015
"Oracles of Delphi" is a historical mystery set in the ancient city of Delphi. This is a fascinating historical fiction tale with a lot of good historical detail. This book takes place in fourth century Greece, a time and place I have not read a lot about (this book was a great opportunity for armchair traveling). This book gave me a good opportunity to visit someplace new through my reading while being entertained by this mystery.
What made those books so interesting to me is that we really get a front row seat to the murder, which this story surrounds but we also get to see how the various characters deal with this mystery. Believe it or not, knowing whodunit doesn't make this book any less interesting. Even though we know who committed the murder readers will still be pulled into the story by watching the other characters try to figure out who did it.
The beginning of the book starts with a bang when the murder is committed. It did lose a little bit of traction for me during the middle but comes to very satisfying conclusion. The middle of those books went much slower for me than the beginning or the ending of the book. I think some of the detail could have been slimmed down for pacing's sake. I did appreciate the mysticism that is woven throughout the story. I really enjoy magical realism as a literary element within a book. Overall, I think this book gives a really interesting insight into a time and place that was not familiar to me.
What made those books so interesting to me is that we really get a front row seat to the murder, which this story surrounds but we also get to see how the various characters deal with this mystery. Believe it or not, knowing whodunit doesn't make this book any less interesting. Even though we know who committed the murder readers will still be pulled into the story by watching the other characters try to figure out who did it.
The beginning of the book starts with a bang when the murder is committed. It did lose a little bit of traction for me during the middle but comes to very satisfying conclusion. The middle of those books went much slower for me than the beginning or the ending of the book. I think some of the detail could have been slimmed down for pacing's sake. I did appreciate the mysticism that is woven throughout the story. I really enjoy magical realism as a literary element within a book. Overall, I think this book gives a really interesting insight into a time and place that was not familiar to me.
February 1, 2015
Historical setting? Check.
Murder/Mystery? Check.
Fascinating plot? Check.
I love a good murder mystery and if you mix it with historical fiction, it’s even better. I love that there isn’t all of the doodads that we see on CSI and shows of that ilk. There is detective work, there is a swift moving plot and it is never slow. Althaia, Theron and her slaves are wonderful characters and are well balanced. They’re well rounded and quite complex. That is always the fun part to me; to see how the author will ‘draw’ them, so to speak. No one is who they seem and everyone in Delphi seem to have secrets and are somehow involved in some manner of crime.
This said, it meant that Althaia and Theron’s list of suspects is long and lengthy…which is brilliant and definitely leads down some interesting trails. Considering the day and age, Althaia is spunky and sassy and smart. She takes no nonsense and says what she thinks, displaying her knowledge for all to see despite the limitations that they would place on her because of her sex. I am loathe to say too much–I don’t want to give away spoilers! (You know how I feel about spoilers!) So, go and read it!
Don’t waste a moment…go on and read it.
Murder/Mystery? Check.
Fascinating plot? Check.
I love a good murder mystery and if you mix it with historical fiction, it’s even better. I love that there isn’t all of the doodads that we see on CSI and shows of that ilk. There is detective work, there is a swift moving plot and it is never slow. Althaia, Theron and her slaves are wonderful characters and are well balanced. They’re well rounded and quite complex. That is always the fun part to me; to see how the author will ‘draw’ them, so to speak. No one is who they seem and everyone in Delphi seem to have secrets and are somehow involved in some manner of crime.
This said, it meant that Althaia and Theron’s list of suspects is long and lengthy…which is brilliant and definitely leads down some interesting trails. Considering the day and age, Althaia is spunky and sassy and smart. She takes no nonsense and says what she thinks, displaying her knowledge for all to see despite the limitations that they would place on her because of her sex. I am loathe to say too much–I don’t want to give away spoilers! (You know how I feel about spoilers!) So, go and read it!
Don’t waste a moment…go on and read it.
December 24, 2014
I really liked Althaia, her mentor Theron and both her slaves. They were all sympathetic while also having some degree of complexity. Yet I was struck by how many of the characters who lived in Delphi were actively engaged in criminal activities. It was as if the nature of Delphi as a place where people went for assistance and advice encouraged the convergence of thieves and confidence men prepared to take advantage of them. There were also many valuable objects within the Sacred Precinct that seemed to invite theft. Sincere and honest people seemed relatively scarce in what was supposed to be a spiritual environment. This meant that Althaia and Theron's investigations had no shortage of suspects.
There was an element of romance in this novel. The sentimental side of me was pleased by the thoroughly HEA ending, but the realistic side of me wondered how HEA could last for Althaia in particular given her circumstances. I imagine that the author is setting her up for continuing conflict in her personal life in future books of the series.
For my complete review see http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2014/...
There was an element of romance in this novel. The sentimental side of me was pleased by the thoroughly HEA ending, but the realistic side of me wondered how HEA could last for Althaia in particular given her circumstances. I imagine that the author is setting her up for continuing conflict in her personal life in future books of the series.
For my complete review see http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2014/...
April 6, 2016
Take a couple of murders with passion and intrigue, mixed with colorful characters and set in ancient Delphi, and you've got a nice recipe for time period mysteries. Althaia of Athens, a wealthy noble, journeys with her contingent to Delphi to fulfill her recently deceased father's wishes. There she becomes involved with priests and priestesses of two competing oracles (Gaia and Apollon) in trying to solve the murders. Althaia has unusual training in performing autopsies that she acquired in Egypt, and her skills are key to unraveling the causes of death. During the process, she becomes involved in a precarious love triangle, and secrets of members in her contingent surface. Temple rituals, crusty opportunists, nefarious priests, endangered oracles, and some suspenseful action keep the plot moving along. The villain becomes evident fairly early, but the final expose is dramatic. Most enjoyable read, though the manuscript had quite a few grammatical errors. No doubt Althaia will be back with more mysteries to solve.
December 23, 2014
Copy received from Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for an honest review
I personally love books that grab my attention from the first page! "Oracles of Delphi" was one of those books. I loved the plot of a murder mystery in Ancient times. This was a great and fun read. The author kept my attention the entire time and I was constantly anticipating what would happen next!
I personally love books that grab my attention from the first page! "Oracles of Delphi" was one of those books. I loved the plot of a murder mystery in Ancient times. This was a great and fun read. The author kept my attention the entire time and I was constantly anticipating what would happen next!
January 9, 2015
See my full review at: http://bookdilettante.blogspot.com/20...
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews