Troy: Fall of Kings

This is an excellent send off for the late great David Gemmell. His historical fiction about Troy tops his previous efforts about Sparta and Alexander the Great. Though you know the end of the story is going to be Troy falling, David brings you to it with so many twists and turns. Then when you think the end is near, there are twists beyond even that. Some might object to the altering of events from Homer, it is fiction and not a historic reproduction of events. I'm not sure how little Stella had to finish, but whatever part she had her hand in was unnoticeable from David's work. I noticed James Barclay's name in the acknowledgments, so perhaps he had a guiding hand in finishing David's last work. My only regret is that I have read all of David Gemmell's novels and will never get the thrill of spotting his newest book. Still, I have saved them all and will surely reread them many times over.

I won't waste a lot of time and words on this. The basic outline of what happens is pretty obvious, just the hows and whys have been changed. In doing so, this is a much more believable rendition of the story of Troy than what one is accustomed to. I am somewhat amazed by some of the reviews complaining it didn't follow history. In fact, it is probably much closer to the historical fact than the Iliad is. Also the characterization is excellent. Andromache is hardly a whiner as one person pointed out and the aspect of many people being torn in two directions is not only well portrayed but also very realistic for people in those situations. I am sure that if David had been able to finish the book, it would probably have been longer and a little more complex, but I think Stella did an excellent job working just from chapter outlines. And a special thank you to Stella for her special tribute to her husband at the end of the book (one page from the end).

this book was great, and im surprised the trasition from David's already written chapters to Stella's was so seamless. i noticed like one word that David seemed like he wouldn't use, and the story went along nicely through out the book. im glad that the ending wasn't anything like i expected it to be. very origional. Hope everyone else feels the same way.

... I could just leave it at that. Wow! If you are a fan of historical-fiction then this "Troy" series is something that you simply must read! I was very saddened when I heard that he died and was wondering how the series would pan out. Then I hear that his wife would take over. Couldn't imagine how hard that must have been for her and she has my DEEPEST and sincerist graditude! Ok... the story... This book was a glorious finish to one hell of a series. I know some people (morons) will have a cow because David ( & Stella) didn't follow history. I say "a pox on history"! Writers have the right to use thier imagination when telling a story and they sure use it here. You'll be suprised to hear about how Troy fell, about Achilles, Hecktor, and a very nice surprise when you find out who Gershom is. That one I NEVER saw coming!! You will LOVE this story as you will have fallen in love with the characters from the first 2 books. The ending was written so perfect that reading Chapter 36 to the end might take you as long as it did to read the whole book! No joke! Heck, I might go back and read it when I get done writing this review! :-) You can't help but compare the fall of the heroes to the passing of David Gemmell himself. I don't say that to be flippant but those who have read him will know. This world has too many authors and not enough storytellers, so the passing of a true storyteller will be missed. 5 stars isn't enough to give to this book/series/epic.

i love all of Gemmell's books and have been for a few years now ordering them via the UK to get them that much sooner. this book was a blessing and a curse well i read it. the curse was knowing this would be the last, the blessing was knowing i would get to read the end of the story. it's funny, the whole time i was expecting this book i knew how it would end, but as i started reading it i forgot that i was reading a story i knew and that is what makes Gemmell so great. he could retell any story and you would feel like this was all new. i am bad with spelling and also bad with names so i won't say names but i will say this. when the Trojan horse ploy got pulled i was surprised beyound belief. i won't say what it was, but it wasn't what was expected... ironicly that is what i should have expected. the book is filled with tragity as you expect for Gemmell, not the kind that makes you hate him, but the kind that gives you a reffresher in the fact that Gemmell will kill a main charicter that you love. that is one of his best qualities as no one is safe and you know it, and are surpised when it happens. there is no diffrence between the two Gemmell's writing, atleast not enough to tell the diffrence. the book is well worth the read and you can read it without reading the classic version first.