Book Review: Queen of the Amazons

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Queen of the Amazons     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Judith Tarr
Class/Genre:   Fantasy   Historical
Tor, Mar 2004, $24.95, 320 pp.

Queen Hippolyta rules over the Amazon tribes. Though she is quite young and healthy, she is concerned over the succession to the throne as that has always come down through matriarchal lines. Her female progeny is born soulless causing fear among the toughest of these female warriors. Unable to name a creature without a soul many of the tribeswomen led by the queen’s cousin Phaedra believe “that thing” dubbed Etta must die as even animals are named, but mostly because she must never sit on the throne. Hippolyta differs and proclaims Etta as her successor as she expects the infant to one day gain a soul.

Years later Etta still remains within herself as a soulless person is apt to be. However, word has arrived that a great army led by Alexander is coming. Shockingly Etta reacts and flees into t he night towards the camp of the great Macedonian with Hippolyte following. Neither mother nor daughter knows what awaits them when they reach Alexander’s camp, but the Queen prays to the Goddess that her child’s sudden obsession means a soul awaits her.

QUEEN OF THE AMAZONS is an engaging historical fantasy that hooks the reader the moment the seer informs Hippolyte that her daughter has no soul. The somewhat simplistic story line never slows down gripping the audience who will keep reading to learn what happens when two amazons encounter Alexander. Will Etta obtain a soul at last, and how will Phaedra avenge her exile? With a few neat twists to the tale to add spice, sub-genre fans will appreciate Judith Tarr’s latest tale that takes the reader back to an already successful Alexander conquering the world.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner