Hand of Fire by Judith Starkston

A Novel of Briseis and the Trojan War.

The Trojan War threatens Troy’s allies and the Greek supply raids spread. A young healing priestess, designated as future queen, must defend her city against both divine anger and invading Greeks. She finds strength in visions of a handsome warrior god; will that be enough when the half-immortal Achilles attacks? Hand of Fire, a tale of resilience and hope, blends history and legend in the untold story of Achilles’s famous captive, Briseis.

"In Hand of Fire, Starkston's careful research brings ancient Greece and Troy to life with passion and grace. This haunting and insightful novel makes you ache for a mortal woman, Briseis, in love with a half-god, Achilles, as she fights to make her own destiny in a world of capricious gods and warriors. I devoured this page-turning escape from the modern world!" -- Rebecca Cantrell, New York Times bestselling author of The World Beneath.

Publication Date: September 10, 2014
Fireship Press
Page Count: 330
ISBN 13: 9781611792966

****

The Iliad is one of my favorite books.  There is just something timeless and, of course, poetic about it.  After reading Hand of Fire it is obviously a favorite of Judith Starkston.  She has taken the character of Briseis and created a world where the reader not only gets to know her but sees another side of Achilles as well.  

Using Greek Mythology and the Trojan War a lovely picture has been painted of the bond between Achilles and Briseis. From her upbringing where she was trained as a healer, a wife and future queen she is finally captured by Greek soldiers, Briseis is easy to connect with.  She is a strong character, having suffered much but courageous and daring.

The authors immense knowledge of this time period is evident here with vivid descriptions, strong characters, a smooth writing style and an interesting story. this is a solid debut, leaving me anticipating what the author is working on next. 

Find an excerpt, Q&A, book reviews, ancient recipes, historical background as well as on-going information about the historical fiction community on Starkston’s website  www.JudithStarkston.com

Buy Links:

Amazon 

Amazon UK  

 

 Nook 

 

Itunes  

Link to the tour schedule: Hand of Fire Fireship Press Virtual Tour

Advance Praise:

"But what is the difference between a good historical novel and a brilliant one?

I suggest you read Judith Starkston's Hand of Fire and you'll discover the answer."  Helen Hollick,

Historical Novels Review Editor and author of Forever Queen

"In Hand of Fire, Starkston's careful research brings ancient Greece and Troy to life with passion and grace. This haunting and insightful novel makes you ache for a mortal woman, Briseis, in love with a half-god, Achilles, as she fights to make her own destiny in a world of capricious gods and warriors. I devoured this page-turning escape from the modern world!" -- Rebecca Cantrell, New York Times bestselling author of The World Beneath

“In her portrayal of Briseis, Judith Starkston has cast a bright light on one of the Iliad's most intriguing sub-plots. With her fast-paced story, three-dimensional characters, and fascinating cultural details, Starkston has given historical fiction fans a tale to remember.” –Priscilla Royal, author of Covenant with Hell



Judith Starkston is a classicist (Greek and Latin literature and history), having received her B.A. from the University of California, Santa Cruz and her M.A. from Cornell University. She taught high school English, Latin, and humanities for twenty-one years. Judith fell under the spell of Homer’s Iliad as an undergraduate; the ancient poem later became a perennial favorite among her students. Judith Starkston lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her husband and golden retriever, Socrates. She has two grown children. 

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