there were a couple lines in this that i thought were beautiful to the point of like wanting to throw my kindle like a ninja star down the length of the tube carriage but overall i found it pretty ????? underwhelming ????? in its historicla detail it maybe loses the like snap of creating complex portraits of historical figures. alexander was clearly mary's little meow meow. fair play. l

Born into a noble Persian family, Bagoas expects to become a lord. However when his father is brought down, Bagoas is captured and sold into slavery as a eunuch. After becoming a favourite of King Darius, Bagoas is given to the invader Alexander.
This is a classic novel with a new foreword and an emphasis on its LGBTQ credentials. That takes away from the fact that this is just a really well-written story with a huge amount of depth.

Mary Renault has a very engaging, and at times very beautiful, writing style. Her vision of Alexander is a romantic one, but her novels about him, the so-called Alexander Trilogy (Fire From Heaven, The Persian Boy, and Funeral Games), and her non-fiction biography of the man, The Nature of Alexander, are realistic and impeccably researched. Her Alexander may be nobler than he really was, but her vision is a realistic one and the world she creates is very real and consuming. It is a wonderful story masterfully written.

I have been curious about Mary Renault for a long time; I keep hearing that she is a wonderful writer of historical fiction, so I was really pleased when Virago sent me this ARC of a new edition of The Persion Boy, (and the physical hardback edition looks absolutely beautiful).

Whilst I realise that this is very well researched, and I can see that it is well written, I couldn't get into the story. I appreciate it, and I will pick it up again at some point in the future because I feel this is a matter of timing. (I will probably but this hardback just to look pretty on my shelves too.

*Many thanks to Netgalley and Virago Press for a review copy in exchange for an honest opinion.*

The Persian Boy was a LGBT historical romance featuring Alexander the Great with one of his lover Bagoas, a eunuch and courtier.

I think this book is suppose become details of Alexander's extraordinary conquest. But Bagoas's narration also delivered different side of Alexander. As his lover, he can portrayed the conqueror from ontime POV. He showed us humanity side of Alexander, his feeling, his flaws, his love.

The problem is POV 1 isnt working for me when I dont like the narrator. He was submisive, annoying, judgemental and emotional. I love the author writing style but I just dont enjoy his melancholy love story. But I will still recommend this book for reader who love The Song of Archilles.

Thank you Netgalley and Virago from Little Brown Book Group UK for providing copy of this ebook. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Expecting release date : 18 July 2024

The Persian boy tells the incredible story of Alexander the Great from when he conquers Persia until his death in Babylon. Bagoas is The Persian Boy, from a noble family who after witnessing his father betrayed, disfigured and then beheaded is taken, castrated and sold into prostitution. Still a child he is gifted to Darius King of Persia and then as a beautiful teenager to Alexander. Author Mary Renault captures the tender devotion, trust and love that Bagoas feels for Alexander and describes events through the prism of this intimacy of knowing a man as a servant and lover. Alexander is charismatic, bold, loyal and driven. Bagoas is skilled at being invisible, pleasing and essential. Renault places Bagoas at the centre of events, described through his eyes as a servant used to intrigue, danger, xenophobia and prejudice. Renault navigates modern sensibilities around paedophilia, abuse and slavery and her Bagoas is accepting of his life as a eunuch and prostitute because he has no other choice. She also helps the reader to accept that these were different times but still makes emotional sense in her writing. It is a tight rope morally which she treads thoughtfully on the whole. The fact that Bergoas is loved and respected by Alexander and gets to tell his story in independent and happy old age is reassuring. This book brought to life the battles and lives of the Macedonian army, their wives and children and the armies formed from Persia and other allied nations, as they marched through Uzbekistan, Iran, through Afghanistan through the Khyber pass and across the Himalayas to India returning to Iraq through the Pakistan/Iranian desert then trying to find trade routes across the Arabian sea. Living in tents, fighting, surviving, dying. All led by one man and his thirst for adventure.

The Persian Boy was a very good read. It took me a while to get into the story, but as soon as that happened, I was hoked. For readers who like historical fiction.

There's a reason Mary Renault is considered a master of historical fiction. She writes such immersive, beautiful stories set in Ancient Greece that feel familiar, yet foreign. The Persian Boy is no exception and also provides us with extremely nuanced characters and relationships while Renault takes us on a sprawling journey across Alexander the Great's campaigns.

The Persian Boy was beautifully written and a much easier read compared to Fire From Heaven and the decision to have a single narrator is really pays off in terms of pacing, readability and plot. And Bagoas was such an interesting choice for a narrator given the relationship between he and Alexander is so different in station (and also because he's the #1 Alexander fan, #1 Hephaestion hater).

The novel can be read as a standalone, but, in my opinion, there are a few necessary references from Fire From Heaven and the dynamics from the previous book aren't obvious since Bagoas's perspective is so biased/limited, which is something to be aware of for readers who do not read the first book. For instance, Alexander's relationship with Hephaestion simultaneously central to the plot but also on the periphery of the story as we only get glimpses of their bond. (And because of the narrator's bias, Bagoas only truly acknowledges the extent of their bond after a certain point.)

But the highlight for me is just how immersive Renault's writing is. You can really tell that contemporary authors like Madeline Miller or even CS Pacat had inspiration and were influenced from Renault's work and writing style.

Challenging at times, but rewarding - easy 5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley, Little, Brown Book Group UK and Virago for providing me with an ARC. And the cover for this edition absolutely gorgeous - here's to hoping more of Renault's work gets the same re-release treatment!

I read this book not having first read Fire from Heaven, so I'm sure I missed some context, but this novel works as a standalone anyway. No need to have read the first book to enjoy this one.

In The Persian Boy, Mary Renault tells the story of Bagoas, a young Persian eunuch, who becomes the lover of Alexander the Great. It is through Bagoas's eyes that we see not only the story of Alexander's conquest of Persia unfold but also the interpersonal relationships Alexander has with others, including Bagoas's love rival, Hephaistion. Bagoas's relationship with Alexander deepens over the novel and is moving, passionate, and intimate. As well, the novels touches upon themes of political conquest, intrigue, and ambition. What space is there for love in Alexander's heart which yearns for power?

Parts of the book can be slow or difficult at times but Renault's attention to detail, character, and plot richly reward readers who invest their time. I can see Renault's influence on some of my favourite writers of historical fiction, such as Madeline Miller, Jennifer Saint, and CS Pacat. A queer classic, The Persian Boy is a great and rewarding novel.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for providing me with an eARC.

There's a reason Mary Renault is considered one of the greats of historical fiction. Her stories immersive and beautifully written.

The Persian Boy is filled with well written and well researched characters and relationships while we follow Alexander the Great's campaigns.
This is one of Renault’s easier reads. It can be read as a standalone, but there are some things taken from Fire From Heaven and the dynamics from the previous book that are not made obvious through limited perspective.

I’m glad The Persian Boy has received new life with a stunning new cover to hopefully draw some newer historical fiction fans into her work - you can definitely see where popular current historical fiction authors take their inspiration.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for the ARC.

While the novel can be enjoyed independently, I believe there are some essential references from "Fire From Heaven" that enrich the reading experience. The dynamics established in the previous book might not be immediately apparent because of Bagoas's biased and limited perspective. This is something readers should be mindful of if they haven't read the first book.

For example, Alexander's relationship with Hephaestion is crucial to the plot, yet it remains somewhat on the periphery of the story. We only catch glimpses of their bond, and due to Bagoas's biased narration, he only fully acknowledges the depth of their relationship after a certain point in the narrative.

Navigating these nuances adds layers to the story, offering insights into both the characters and their interactions that may not be fully apparent at first glance. Readers who have read "Fire From Heaven" will likely appreciate these subtleties more deeply, while newcomers may find it helpful to familiarize themselves with the background to fully grasp the intricacies of the relationships portrayed.

3.5/5.

http://thesecretbookreview.co.uk

This intriguing story about the relationship between Alexander the Great and the eunuch Bagoas kept me engaged throughout. It is interesting to follow Alexander's remarkable series of conquests through Persia and as far as India as seen through the eyes of 'the Persian Boy' and to discover how Alexander adopted many Persian customs and developed good relations with the Peoples he conquered. It was also fascinating to see the loving relationship between the great warrior and the young eunuch, particularly how Bagoas felt and expressed his devotion to his Macedonian master whose behaviour and customs he initially found so uncivilized and puzzling but whom he 'educated' into understanding and appreciating the Persian modes of behaviour, manner of dress, culture and language. Bagoas is drawn in a detailed and very sympathetic way by Mary Renault. The reader will find it easy to visualise and engage with the novel's many vividly depicted scenes and dramatic incidents.

Mary Renault, a master of historical fiction, delivers a compelling tale with “The Persian Boy”. This ebook chronicles the life of Bagoas, a young Persian who becomes the lover of Alexander the Great, weaving themes of love, power, and loyalty.

The book is an engrossing and emotional journey. Renault’s exquisite prose and meticulous research bring ancient history to life, capturing the grandeur and brutality of Alexander's world. The strong, vividly drawn characters, especially the resilient Bagoas and the complex Alexander, make the story deeply compelling. Their intricate relationship is portrayed with sensitivity and depth, adding rich layers to the narrative.

The pacing can be slow at times, which might cause some readers to lose focus. However, Renault’s masterful storytelling, rich character development, and vivid descriptions more than make up for this.

I highly recommend “The Persian Boy” to fans of historical fiction and those fascinated by ancient history. Renault’s exploration of love and power in the ancient world, combined with her strong characters, makes this an unforgettable read.

My thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK for providing me with an ARC via NetGalley.

A wonderful historical novel set in the time of Alexander the Great and his wars with Persia. The main character is forcibly castrated at a young age, and abused by several men until he is assigned to Darius, the king. I found it very moving, and his character well drawn. Mary Renault has written a great book, because as far as possible, her detailed historical research reveals the way people actually lived in those days, without the veneer of modernity. Thus it is with the main character being made a eunuch.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for giving me a copy of the book.