Review: Realm by Alexandrea Weis

When her homeland is conquered by the mighty Alexander the Great, Roxana—the daughter of a mere chieftain—is torn from her simple life and thrown into a world of war and intrigue.

Terrified, the sixteen-year-old girl of renowned beauty is brought before the greatest ruler the world has ever known. Her life is in his hands; her future his to decide.

Without formal education or noble blood, Roxana is chosen by the Greek conqueror to be his bride. Soon she comes to know profound happiness and unyielding desire in her warrior’s arms.

However, being the king’s consort comes at a heavy price. To survive her husband’s treacherous kingdom, she must endure continuous warfare, deadly plots, jealous rivals, victory-hungry generals, and the stigma of being a barbarian. Persian blood will keep her from claiming the grandest title of all—queen—but her reign will seal the fate of an empire.

History tells his story. This is hers.

Most people are familiar with Alexander the Great and his unprecedented military campaign throughout Asia and northeast Africa. However, there is little known about his wife, whom he married out of love, Roxana.

I find it an interesting angle to take a man so noted in history and examine the woman behind him. Although Roxana is young when she first meets Alexander, she proves to be a strong, confident, and capable woman. Her arc from daughter of a chieftain, to wife of a Greek king, to widow is fascinating. I love the historical aspects and a story created from remnants of historical truth.

Although I enjoyed this book, I found it to be slow at times. It seemed to drag on. I had different expectations since the book had a YA/fantasy feel to it based on the cover. It’s funny how expectations prior to reading can shape the reading experience itself.

If you’re into history, this book would be a good choice for you.

Purchase Links

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About Alexandrea Weis

Alexandrea Weis, RN-CS, CRRN, ONC, PhD, is a multi award-winning author of twenty-five novels, a screenwriter, ICU Nurse, and historian who was born and raised in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Having grown up in the motion picture industry as the daughter of a director, she learned to tell stories from a different perspective and began writing at the age of eight. Infusing the rich tapestry of her hometown into her novels, she believes that creating vivid characters makes a story moving and memorable. A permitted/certified wildlife rehabber with the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries, Weis rescues orphaned and injured animals. She lives with her husband and pets in New Orleans. Weis writes paranormal, suspense, thrillers, horror, crime fiction, and romance.

Connect with Weis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.