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The Bow of Heaven #2
A Mixture of Madness
At 19, they chained Alexandros to the monstrous tail of a victorious Roman army; just one more morsel among thousands for a city always hungry for another helping of slaves.
30 years later, he rides at the head of seven legions beside his master and benefactor. Marcus Licinius Crassus is a man bent upon a war of revenge. Alexandros will do anything to stop him.
"No excellent soul is exempt from a mixture of madness." - Aristotle
30 years later, he rides at the head of seven legions beside his master and benefactor. Marcus Licinius Crassus is a man bent upon a war of revenge. Alexandros will do anything to stop him.
"No excellent soul is exempt from a mixture of madness." - Aristotle
565 pages, Paperback
First published November 23, 2012
9 people are currently reading
63 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Levkoff
7 books31 followers_______________________________________________________________________
The Other Alexander, book one in The Bow of Heaven series has won the 2012 Readers Favorite Silver Award, Historical Fiction, the 2011 Gold Award for Historical Fiction presented by eLit Book Awards, and in 2014 was shortlisted for the Historical Novel Society's Indie Award
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Andrew Levkoff grew up on Long Island, New York, got a BA in English from Stanford, then put that hard-earned degree to dubious use in the family packaging business. After a decade of trying to convince himself to think 'inside' the box (lots of them), he fled to Vermont where he attempted to regain his sanity by chopping wood and shoveling snow off his roof for 8 years. Like a fine cocktail, he was by then thoroughly chilled; what could be better after this than no sunshine for 13 years. That's right - Seattle.
Since 2005 he has been taking the cure in Arizona, where his skin has darkened to a rich shade of pallid. Here it was that he finally realized, under the heading of hopefully-better-late-than-never, that he needed to return to his first love - writing. Andrew lives in Phoenix with Stephany and their daughter, Allison, crowded into close proximity by hundreds of mineral specimens they have collected while rockhounding. "They're just a bunch of rocks," says Allison. Ouch.
The Other Alexander, book one in The Bow of Heaven series has won the 2012 Readers Favorite Silver Award, Historical Fiction, the 2011 Gold Award for Historical Fiction presented by eLit Book Awards, and in 2014 was shortlisted for the Historical Novel Society's Indie Award
______________________________________________________________________
Andrew Levkoff grew up on Long Island, New York, got a BA in English from Stanford, then put that hard-earned degree to dubious use in the family packaging business. After a decade of trying to convince himself to think 'inside' the box (lots of them), he fled to Vermont where he attempted to regain his sanity by chopping wood and shoveling snow off his roof for 8 years. Like a fine cocktail, he was by then thoroughly chilled; what could be better after this than no sunshine for 13 years. That's right - Seattle.
Since 2005 he has been taking the cure in Arizona, where his skin has darkened to a rich shade of pallid. Here it was that he finally realized, under the heading of hopefully-better-late-than-never, that he needed to return to his first love - writing. Andrew lives in Phoenix with Stephany and their daughter, Allison, crowded into close proximity by hundreds of mineral specimens they have collected while rockhounding. "They're just a bunch of rocks," says Allison. Ouch.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 15, 2019
This is a very different book from the last one, yet somehow it also feels very much the same. The last novel covered about twenty-five years in 350 pages. This one takes 200 more pages to cover two years. Two exciting years to be sure, but we skipped plenty of exciting years (the suppression of Spartacus and Crassus’ consulship with Pompey for a start) and we haven’t even reached Carrhae yet. In fact, this is probably the period with the fewest important historical events. Most of our time is spent getting from point A (Rome) to point B (Antioch). In short, what we do cover we cover in detail! And while this is still Alexander’s story it is now 100% Crassus who’s driving it. In case you ever doubted it.
Crassus comes to this book burning for revenge for what Caesar did to him at the end of the last book. He will destroy that man in the most humiliating way possible, no matter the cost. And the cost is likely to be his basic humanity. That’s clear upfront. While he gets some standout moments of decency, he also demonstrates a clear indifference to moral matters that he would never have expressed previously. I still question the need for a revenge motivation (certainly it seems a roundabout way of getting it) but it works for the plot. And so does Crassus’ fall from grace. He’s no longer capable of being reasoned with. That makes sense. Less persuasive for me was the focus on how immoral it was to involve countless innocents (in this case an entire army of soldiers) in your revenge and how wars of aggression are immoral. That seems overly modern. Revenge was a noble motive, though obviously one that could be taken too far, and there was nothing wrong with wasting countless lives to recover your honor. Just look at the Iliad. And as this is Alexander’s main objection to Crassus’ behavior (and one that only grows as time goes on) I found it frustrating.
Despite the newly political plot, the personal focus remains on slavery and the dehumanizing effect it has on relationships. Alexander remains torn between contentment for the great comforts he has been given and resentment of the fact that he does not control his own destiny. The most notable new addition on the latter front is that he’s now married (or rather in a contubernium) and has a child with Livia. A slave child. And one who they are brusquely separated from since master needs them both with him. All the personal kindness in the world can’t make up for that sort of treatment.
Levkoff has a real love of exploring new things and unexplored aspects of Roman life. On that score we get a new character, a mentally-disabled child called Hanno (or Hannibal). You don’t often see characters like that in Roman fiction, and for good reason. Fools and the malformed are there to be laughed at and mocked for the entertainment of Roman audiences. Otherwise what possible purpose could there be for not exposing them at birth? And this is an attitude maintained by even sympathetic Romans. If Tertulla and Crassus hadn’t been going through a rocky patch they’d have found themselves in that category too. But instead they treat Hanno as an opportunity to come closer as a couple by rescuing the poor child from life as a beggar. Hanno’s almost immediately a lively and lovable presence, though you can easily see why his uncontrollable outbursts can be humiliating. He says everything very loud and with complete enthusiasm and doesn’t see why he can’t give people hugs all the time.
This book is unusually full of Latin terminology, enough so that it actually has a rather essential glossary at the end. A good one too, with pictures and dictionary descriptions rather than just an explanation of what a particular comment meant. Normally, I’d expect this excess of technical terms and names to be alienating, but damned if this book isn’t one of the most engrossing I’ve read. It does overdo it. Why use a word like laudatio funebris when the perfectly adequate eulogy would do? Yet the book still flows and you can ignore the technical terms if you like. It’s mostly clear from context why they’re relevant if not always what they are.
Levkoff’s writing is also filled with witty comments and unusual perspectives. “To make our evening’s home we stole from the landscape an enormous rectangle 1,300 by 1,800 feet.” What an interesting way to describe making a camp. Or this description of Marc Antony: “he paused to exhibit behavior which had all the trappings of thought, though I doubt it contained much of the substance.” Ouch! It’s Alexander’s snarkiness that makes him a great narrator. That and his overthinking of everything.
I see now why Spartacus’ revolt was omitted from the last book. Levkoff wanted us to see Crassus only as a loving family man and slaveowner, with all the complications that implies. His decency was built on the fact that he didn’t go on the sort of destructive ego trips his colleagues did or rely on armies to advance him to the top positions. And he wants us to see this so that he can make this book about his fall from grace. With his heart burning for revenge against Caesar he becomes the very thing he hates: a lawless warlord.
As a theme it works, but man is that deceptive historically. I see little difference between the Crassus who took down Spartacus through brutal methods such as crucifixion and decimation of his own men and the Crassus who robbed Syria blind to maintain his position as one of the top three men in the state. Being top man in Rome requires a level of narcissism that envelopes all else. Of all the great generals only Lucullus arguably lacked it. And that’s why you’re probably asking: who’s Lucullus? So while it does make sense from a storytelling perspective I have to put my skepticals on when hearing it as history.
While I may have found the book’s length and repetitiveness unnecessary and the ending a disappointment I still found myself captivated. The whole thing is like some tragic opera about the innate destructiveness of revenge. Everything that the black beast touches turns to ash, even those things Crassus loves and yearns to protect. And the book remains one of the best examples of the depiction of the experience of ancient slavery. If both of these themes become a little too tired by the end there is still something majestic in their scope.
Plot: 6 (Slow and repetitive with elements of grandeur)
Characters: 9 (Lovable and distinct)
Accuracy: 9 (Attitudes a bit stretched, but details on point)
Crassus comes to this book burning for revenge for what Caesar did to him at the end of the last book. He will destroy that man in the most humiliating way possible, no matter the cost. And the cost is likely to be his basic humanity. That’s clear upfront. While he gets some standout moments of decency, he also demonstrates a clear indifference to moral matters that he would never have expressed previously. I still question the need for a revenge motivation (certainly it seems a roundabout way of getting it) but it works for the plot. And so does Crassus’ fall from grace. He’s no longer capable of being reasoned with. That makes sense. Less persuasive for me was the focus on how immoral it was to involve countless innocents (in this case an entire army of soldiers) in your revenge and how wars of aggression are immoral. That seems overly modern. Revenge was a noble motive, though obviously one that could be taken too far, and there was nothing wrong with wasting countless lives to recover your honor. Just look at the Iliad. And as this is Alexander’s main objection to Crassus’ behavior (and one that only grows as time goes on) I found it frustrating.
Despite the newly political plot, the personal focus remains on slavery and the dehumanizing effect it has on relationships. Alexander remains torn between contentment for the great comforts he has been given and resentment of the fact that he does not control his own destiny. The most notable new addition on the latter front is that he’s now married (or rather in a contubernium) and has a child with Livia. A slave child. And one who they are brusquely separated from since master needs them both with him. All the personal kindness in the world can’t make up for that sort of treatment.
Levkoff has a real love of exploring new things and unexplored aspects of Roman life. On that score we get a new character, a mentally-disabled child called Hanno (or Hannibal). You don’t often see characters like that in Roman fiction, and for good reason. Fools and the malformed are there to be laughed at and mocked for the entertainment of Roman audiences. Otherwise what possible purpose could there be for not exposing them at birth? And this is an attitude maintained by even sympathetic Romans. If Tertulla and Crassus hadn’t been going through a rocky patch they’d have found themselves in that category too. But instead they treat Hanno as an opportunity to come closer as a couple by rescuing the poor child from life as a beggar. Hanno’s almost immediately a lively and lovable presence, though you can easily see why his uncontrollable outbursts can be humiliating. He says everything very loud and with complete enthusiasm and doesn’t see why he can’t give people hugs all the time.
This book is unusually full of Latin terminology, enough so that it actually has a rather essential glossary at the end. A good one too, with pictures and dictionary descriptions rather than just an explanation of what a particular comment meant. Normally, I’d expect this excess of technical terms and names to be alienating, but damned if this book isn’t one of the most engrossing I’ve read. It does overdo it. Why use a word like laudatio funebris when the perfectly adequate eulogy would do? Yet the book still flows and you can ignore the technical terms if you like. It’s mostly clear from context why they’re relevant if not always what they are.
Levkoff’s writing is also filled with witty comments and unusual perspectives. “To make our evening’s home we stole from the landscape an enormous rectangle 1,300 by 1,800 feet.” What an interesting way to describe making a camp. Or this description of Marc Antony: “he paused to exhibit behavior which had all the trappings of thought, though I doubt it contained much of the substance.” Ouch! It’s Alexander’s snarkiness that makes him a great narrator. That and his overthinking of everything.
I see now why Spartacus’ revolt was omitted from the last book. Levkoff wanted us to see Crassus only as a loving family man and slaveowner, with all the complications that implies. His decency was built on the fact that he didn’t go on the sort of destructive ego trips his colleagues did or rely on armies to advance him to the top positions. And he wants us to see this so that he can make this book about his fall from grace. With his heart burning for revenge against Caesar he becomes the very thing he hates: a lawless warlord.
As a theme it works, but man is that deceptive historically. I see little difference between the Crassus who took down Spartacus through brutal methods such as crucifixion and decimation of his own men and the Crassus who robbed Syria blind to maintain his position as one of the top three men in the state. Being top man in Rome requires a level of narcissism that envelopes all else. Of all the great generals only Lucullus arguably lacked it. And that’s why you’re probably asking: who’s Lucullus? So while it does make sense from a storytelling perspective I have to put my skepticals on when hearing it as history.
While I may have found the book’s length and repetitiveness unnecessary and the ending a disappointment I still found myself captivated. The whole thing is like some tragic opera about the innate destructiveness of revenge. Everything that the black beast touches turns to ash, even those things Crassus loves and yearns to protect. And the book remains one of the best examples of the depiction of the experience of ancient slavery. If both of these themes become a little too tired by the end there is still something majestic in their scope.
Plot: 6 (Slow and repetitive with elements of grandeur)
Characters: 9 (Lovable and distinct)
Accuracy: 9 (Attitudes a bit stretched, but details on point)
Read
January 7, 2015I finished writing this book in November of 2012. I am giving myself till the Fall of 2014 to complete the trilogy with Blood of Eagles.
The ebook version of "Madness" (both versions can be found on Amazon) has links that take the reader from a Latin word or phrase to the glossary and back again.
I hope friends of Alexandros will be happy to hear his cantankerous voice once again.
The ebook version of "Madness" (both versions can be found on Amazon) has links that take the reader from a Latin word or phrase to the glossary and back again.
I hope friends of Alexandros will be happy to hear his cantankerous voice once again.
December 3, 2020
The first one was good but this one is a lot more helpful
Part 2 of the story od Alexandros the Greek student of languages, philosophy, botany, logic, mathematics, his enslavement, his love, and his master.
First of all, I think it's great that there are hyperlinks in the text when a Latin word is used,links that take you to a definition in the glossary in back, and when you're done, tap the word "back" at the end od the definition and it will take you to the page you were reading.
The story x0mtiniesz but things are.not right ever since Julius Caesar came inro their lives...and finally, he does something that nearly destroys the family. This leads the master of the family down a path that seems self destructive. Alexandros tries to make them see reason. Meanwhile, Alesandros gjets some new skills and finds he has an unusual talent. Lawlessness is increasing in Rome.
Once, when the family is retruning from another house, The mistress of the househild slies a beggar boy with a beatific smile, and discovers something horrible has been done to him. Later, when the master's younger son returns from Caesar's Gallic wars, je brongs a new and different grpup of mercenaries who see a special religious significance in the beggar boy. At long last, the master of the househild has the wherewithall to do what he has dreamed of doing, despite the misgivings of his trusted advisor.
As the book ends, a rather surprisinf thing has haopened to Alexandros, and we have no idea how the master of the household is doing. That is sin the next book.
Part 2 of the story od Alexandros the Greek student of languages, philosophy, botany, logic, mathematics, his enslavement, his love, and his master.
First of all, I think it's great that there are hyperlinks in the text when a Latin word is used,links that take you to a definition in the glossary in back, and when you're done, tap the word "back" at the end od the definition and it will take you to the page you were reading.
The story x0mtiniesz but things are.not right ever since Julius Caesar came inro their lives...and finally, he does something that nearly destroys the family. This leads the master of the family down a path that seems self destructive. Alexandros tries to make them see reason. Meanwhile, Alesandros gjets some new skills and finds he has an unusual talent. Lawlessness is increasing in Rome.
Once, when the family is retruning from another house, The mistress of the househild slies a beggar boy with a beatific smile, and discovers something horrible has been done to him. Later, when the master's younger son returns from Caesar's Gallic wars, je brongs a new and different grpup of mercenaries who see a special religious significance in the beggar boy. At long last, the master of the househild has the wherewithall to do what he has dreamed of doing, despite the misgivings of his trusted advisor.
As the book ends, a rather surprisinf thing has haopened to Alexandros, and we have no idea how the master of the household is doing. That is sin the next book.
January 15, 2024
Highly recommended Book 2 of the Trilogy...exceptional story telling...
Part 3
Awaits.
Part 3
Awaits.
March 14, 2015
Excellent tale of ancient Roman exploits in Parthia
This book continues the scrolls of the Marcus Crassus' chief slave, Alexandros, in his recollections about how his master became involved in the Parthian campaign. It is the second installment in Andrew Levkoff's trilogy of "The Bow of Heaven," and while it can stand alone as a novel, I read "The Other Alexander" first, so I was familiar with the backstory. In this outing, Alexandros experiences the rocky road to love and witnesses what jealousy and revenge can do to someone who has more money than sense.
In numerous historical novels I have read that were set in ancient Rome, Julius Caesar is portrayed as near god-like, despite a few flaws that are typically swept under the rug. In an interesting turn-about, here he is shown in quite a different light, while Marcus Crassus, who is usually reviled for his greed, is seen as a noble man who cannot live with the self-knowledge that he did not act in a family member's time of need, and who will go to extreme lengthe to restore his self-esteem.
Much of this novel takes place on the campaign to add the wealth of Parthia to Crassus' list of accomplishments, with an unexpected climax that will make you hurry to download the final installment of this trilogy to find out how it all ends. This novel is well-developed, well-written, and adds some interesting secondary characters to the mix. It is highly recommended for fans of writers like Steven Saylor or Robert Harris, who also specialize in bringing ancient Rome to life.
Again, a comprehensive glossary explains the technical terms well -- sometimes even with illustrations -- and lets you learn while you read. An afterword tells where history and fiction collide, although I wanted to find out even more about Marcus Crassus after I read this book.
This book continues the scrolls of the Marcus Crassus' chief slave, Alexandros, in his recollections about how his master became involved in the Parthian campaign. It is the second installment in Andrew Levkoff's trilogy of "The Bow of Heaven," and while it can stand alone as a novel, I read "The Other Alexander" first, so I was familiar with the backstory. In this outing, Alexandros experiences the rocky road to love and witnesses what jealousy and revenge can do to someone who has more money than sense.
In numerous historical novels I have read that were set in ancient Rome, Julius Caesar is portrayed as near god-like, despite a few flaws that are typically swept under the rug. In an interesting turn-about, here he is shown in quite a different light, while Marcus Crassus, who is usually reviled for his greed, is seen as a noble man who cannot live with the self-knowledge that he did not act in a family member's time of need, and who will go to extreme lengthe to restore his self-esteem.
Much of this novel takes place on the campaign to add the wealth of Parthia to Crassus' list of accomplishments, with an unexpected climax that will make you hurry to download the final installment of this trilogy to find out how it all ends. This novel is well-developed, well-written, and adds some interesting secondary characters to the mix. It is highly recommended for fans of writers like Steven Saylor or Robert Harris, who also specialize in bringing ancient Rome to life.
Again, a comprehensive glossary explains the technical terms well -- sometimes even with illustrations -- and lets you learn while you read. An afterword tells where history and fiction collide, although I wanted to find out even more about Marcus Crassus after I read this book.
March 25, 2013
A Mixture of Madness is the perfect blend of characters (some historical, some fictional), setting, and story. Main character Alexander is less strident about his status as a slave, as he is now middle-aged. His narrative brings to life the continuing fall of the Roman Republic, specifically Caesar's rise in power and Crassus' trip to Syria to start his Parthian campaign. The descriptions of Rome and Antioch are vivid, as are the portraits of the characters. And I certainly did not forsee the events of the last few chapters, despite some hints in the text. Andrew Levkoff's writing style has matured from The Bow of Heaven. As good as the first book of this trilogy was, the current volume is better. I also appreciated the illustrated glossary at the end, as well as the Author's afterward. Since the ending volume won't appear until next year, a List of Characters would be helpful for those of us with uncertain memories.
April 15, 2017
I paid for this book after receiving the first book in the series for free in return for an honest review. I thoroughly enjoyed both of these well-written novels, and will definitely buy the final book in the trilogy.
Narrator Alexander (born Alexandros), frightened and brave, intelligent, articulate, swinging between anger and complacency, is a very interesting character to live in for the length of a book, and through him we get to see some key events unfold in late Roman Republican history. I occasionally had trouble keeping the many Roman (and other) names straight. This is a weakness of mine, so I'm not sure what Levkoff could have done to help guide me.
Levkoff strikes what I find an ideal balance between suspense and foreshadowing. Alexander frequently tells you, in a general way, when events will soon be taking a disastrous turn, so that you're not shocked when they do; but he gives no details, letting you wonder about and anticipate the details.
Narrator Alexander (born Alexandros), frightened and brave, intelligent, articulate, swinging between anger and complacency, is a very interesting character to live in for the length of a book, and through him we get to see some key events unfold in late Roman Republican history. I occasionally had trouble keeping the many Roman (and other) names straight. This is a weakness of mine, so I'm not sure what Levkoff could have done to help guide me.
Levkoff strikes what I find an ideal balance between suspense and foreshadowing. Alexander frequently tells you, in a general way, when events will soon be taking a disastrous turn, so that you're not shocked when they do; but he gives no details, letting you wonder about and anticipate the details.
January 20, 2015
Another colorful portrait of life in ancient Rome
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews