If you studied Latin in high school, or if you’re an ancient history buff, you will remember the endless battles between various empires as conquerors sought dominion over one country after another. One of the greatest of these conquerors was Alexander the Great of Greece, who by the time of his death at age 33 ruled an empire that stretched from Greece to Northwestern India. Alexander is the primary male protagonist in Realm by Alexandrea Weis. But it is his Persian wife, Roxana, who is the key player in this absorbing historical romance. Roxana wasn’t Alexander’s only wife, but unlike his other two politically motivated marriages, Alexander married the 16-year-old for love. But his was a love the beautiful and feisty Roxana didn’t want…at least initially. The fact that he was Greek and she was Persian didn’t help her accept his love despite her attraction to him. Nor did it help her be accepted as the wife of a “king” by his Greek generals, his massive legions of followers, and his domineering mother.

To tell you the full plot of Realm would be sinful. It’s so intricate and full of intrigue thanks to a huge cast of evil characters forever plotting someone else’s demise. Despite the fact that most of the book involves Roxana and Alexander moving from one camp and country to another while soldiers fight and feast…Alexander loves throwing banquets…one is never bored, if for no other reason than the character of Roxana is so compelling: if she were around today, she’d be campaigning for women’s rights. Realm explores the status of women as secondary to men in all areas, but Roxana fights that status throughout the book, often proving to Alexander, his men and the reader that women were created for far more than being bedded and having babies. Female readers will love Roxana, even at those times when life gets on top of her and she reaches for the wine. When she bounces back, she is proof our struggles can make us stronger.

There are so many things about Realm that I enjoyed I couldn’t possibly list them all. Even though I felt the language used in the plentiful dialogue was occasionally a tad too modern, the overall writing style is excellent, with just enough description to capture the changing geographic and other scenes. Apart from male/female inequalities, Realm presents a clear picture of the life and people of the times, the loyalty of servants to kind masters and mistresses, the deep friendships between rulers and followers, along with the jealousies and bloodlust of war. Of course, much of the interplay between the key characters is fictionalized but Weis is such a good writer, you’ll find yourself thinking that’s how it all really happened. Weis says Realm was a labour of love. That love shows throughout this book. Enjoy.

Realm by Alexandrea Weis is a historical romance novel about Alexander the Great and one of his half-Persian wives. This book is written in a novel format and follows a more or less chronological sequence of events. The story starts with an introduction to Roxana, the half-Persian daughter of a chief, who is not only beautiful, but also brave and skilled. When Alexander and his Greek troops make their way to her family tent, they are surprised to find a girl who understands their language and is not afraid to stand proud in front of them. When Alexander meets her for the first time at a banquet, he is enamored of her and quickly asks for her hand in marriage. Although this is an alliance that is meant to foster peace between these groups, the primary motivation is love and passion on the part of Alexander. What follows is their story of marriage, love, desire, and the future of the kingdom set against the backdrop of war and conquests of those times.

Realm by Alexandrea Weis is a very well-written novel that I really enjoyed reading. Although the story is seemingly based on some true facts, essentially this is a historical retelling of the marriage between Alexander and Roxana, written in their own voices. So, we have direct access to their thoughts and emotions. I liked that this is not just a love story, but also portrays many characters and their lives such as Alexander’s close friends and family, his affairs with other women and his multiple marriages, his homosexual relationships along with the Greek culture of those times, and the warfare and conquests of kingdoms which formed such a big part of Alexander’s life. Throughout all of this, Roxana remains a central figure in the book and she is depicted as the chief influence on Alexander out of his numerous wives and queens. This is a well written and entertaining read.

Realm by Alexandrea Weis is the fictional account of Roxana, the wife of one of the greatest military commanders who ever lived. She was only sixteen when Alexander the Great swept into Persia at the head of his mighty army. His conquest of the country was swift and complete and marked a turning point in Persian history. It also marked a turning point in the life of Roxana, daughter of a Persian nobleman from Bactria. She caught Alexander’s eye when she danced for him at a banquet. She was young and beautiful, and it was said to be love at first sight for Alexander. History does not tell us how Roxana felt. This novel is an imagining of her story. It follows Roxana as she travels with Alexander’s army and tries to find her place with her husband and his people.

Weis convincingly conveys the atmosphere of intrigue and danger that must have surrounded Roxana, the Persian wife of a great Macedonian king. The idea of the story is fascinating. Who is the woman who captured the passion of Alexander the Great, a man famous for his disinterest in romantic relations? Weir takes what little we know about Alexander’s wife and weaves a compelling tale filled with adventure and tragic romance. Roxana is transformed from a footnote in the life of her husband into a real woman caught between two worlds, whose life was fraught with hopes and fears and broken dreams. Realm is a great interpretation of the bittersweet life of one of history’s forgotten heroines.

Terrific historical account of Roxana that is easily understandable and accessible to youth in the modern era.