I enjoyed Pressfield's book on Alexander, and thought that this book on the Amazons would be good, but I was very disappointed. It was very convoluted and confusing (especially with the different narrations by various people, who sound so alike that I kept having to go back and see who was talking at times), and there was just way too much detail on the battles. And I am a reader of history, both fiction and non-fiction. I felt that he gave almost a minute-by-minute history of the battle scenes. I kept putting the book down with frustration, and forced myself to finish it. And just too much detail on characters slaughtering person after person after person. It got boring. I wasn't even that interested in any of the characters either, they weren't very well developed. Just making a female character "tough", doesn't make her a strong character. This book just dragged waaaaaay too long! It only picked up in the last 25-30 pages, and that is the only reason I gave it 2 stars...

I started “Last of the Amazons” with some hesitation. While I appreciate good writing in general, I much prefer the epic fantasy genre. Among my favorites are Robert Jordan’s “Wheel of Time” series, David Gemmell’s “Legend” (pretty much everything Gemmell wrote), and Glen Cook’s “The Black Company”. Recent Authors I enjoy are Scott Lynch, Brandon Sanderson, Joe Abercrombie, and Anthony Ryan. I’m not particularly fond of historical fiction and/or Greek mythology. However, with the book having been recommended by a friend, I wanted to give it a try and, therefore, set out into the story.

At first, I struggled to get into it mostly for the farm politics and references to other legendary stories of the distant past. Also, the multiple POVs was clumsy to me approaching it as a reader. That said, Bones’ accounting of her first-hand experience at sea and her descriptions of her father and uncle started to pull me in. I began to realize throughout the first third of the book that Pressfield was doing something I had never seen executed so well before. The narrations and POVs of each character was a part of their arcs and was shaping them as characters. As I followed the narration of each of the characters, I knew them better as a result. That was a most astonishing experience and I will likely never forget it as characterization is what I enjoy most in any story.

It was this depth of characterization within the narrative in addition to the gritty detail ground into the story that truly captivated me and pulled me through the first half of the book. However, the Amazonian battles on the steppe and, most especially, the assault on Athens completely consumed me. I felt like I was present during the battle at Athens on both sides for which I broke for. I give this book 5 stars for that experience alone.

However, the book isn’t flawless. The dual storylines were fun and clever at times but ultimately pulled away from my favorite parts of the book. The Amazon lore and way of life was so vivid and immersive in the storyline from the past, wherein the present storyline felt slapped together and empty by comparison. In particular, Theseus’ character in the past storyline was brilliant and incredibly engaging only to seem lackluster in the present version. Also, not all characters came across well-developed, I thought Bones’ father Elias was shallow and could have been removed from the story with little impact. Similarly, Borges had little depth and seemed to be the stereotypical representation of evil.

However, the characters of Selene, Eleuthera, Antiope, Damon, Theseus and many others for most of the book were brilliantly human and completely engaging. These characters at the peak of their arcs drew me in so deep I could not put the book down.

Overall, I must say it was an incredible read. I highly recommend it and consider it one of my new favorites due to the gritty lifelike detail, well-written and engaging characters, and overall experience of the story.

Judging by some of the reviews here on Goodreads, this seems to be a love it or hate it type of book. I'm in the former camp - I found LAST OF THE AMAZONS to be a fabulous read. When I read Pressfield for the first time (GATES OF FIRE, of course), I doubted that I'd ever encounter a better retelling of a great piece of military history. I still stand by that - LAST OF THE AMAZONS isn't better than GATES, but it IS the novel's equal.

Previously to reading this, I knew nothing about Amazons or their history, other than a notion of larger-than-life warrior women. Pressfield brings to life their culture, their whole ethos, like no other. Afterwards, I looked at the historical facts surrounding the Amazons, and discovered that historians know very little. To discover that all of this came from Pressfield's imagination means that he has the same unrivalled, grandiose, world-building skill as someone like Tolkien.

Life and death play a big part in the story, and slaughter is seemingly a way of life. Once again, much of the text is taken up with a huge battle, this time the siege of Athens. The described warfare doesn't disappoint, and was among the finest accounts I've ever read. This is definitely a heavy read, with lots of unfamiliar terminology and peoples, but once I got into it I was hooked and shedding tears come the ending. You really get the measure of the Amazonian society and their singular heroism and courage. An absolutely outstanding book.

Captivating

Couldn't put this one down... Another well written tale by Steven Pressfield. Made my return trip home from a deployment go by very quickly.

Ι first met Steven Pressfieled at Marie Forleo's blog when she interviewed him through skype. They were talking about his book Going Pro. In this August of 2019, I saw Marie Forleo again interviewing him in her studio. Only then did I realise that he also writes fiction novels as well apart from his non fiction books. That is why I wanted to read his work as a fiction novelist and I chose this book.

I am Greek and I love Greek history and mythology. The only comment I want to make about this book is that the narration of this part of history/mythology goes way beyond research and history/mythology knowledge. The most amazing part of this book that it is written as if a spirit that once was present and witnessed everything that we readers experienced, talked to the writer and the writer just put down on paper whatever this spirit told him.

Το πρώτο βιβλίο του Πρέσφιλντ που με απογοητεύει. Βαρετό και αδιάφορο σε σημείο να το παρατήσω.

Άγρια πολεμικό, μυρίζει αίμα, με λεπτομερή διήγηση της σύρραξης που έλαβε χώρα στην αρχαία Αθήνα μεταξύ των Αθηναίων και του λαού των Αμαζόνων και των συμμάχων τους με αφορμή την αρπαγή της Αντιόπης από το βασιλιά της Αθήνας. Έχει ιστορικές ανακρίβειες? Δεν ξέρω τόσα πολλά για την εποχή ώστε να μπορώ να το κρίνω, αλλά σίγουρα είναι ένα εκπόνημα μετά από πολύ μελέτη και σεβασμό. Γλαφυρότατο, ωμό και τρυφερό κατά σημεία ταυτόχρονα, πιστεύω ότι θα το πρότεινα σε οποιονδήποτε θα ήθελε να διαβάσει ένα ιστορικό μυθιστόρημα.
http://diavazontasvivlia.blogspot.gr/...

Another amazing work from Steven Pressfield. His storytelling brings you once more onto an ancient battlefield with legends of bygone ages. Here is a compelling story of love and loss, victory and defeat, legend and lore. Pressfield brings to life the ancient story of the Amazons. A warrior tribe of women who rode the plains and struck terror in the hearts of men. A story of the rise of civilized man, and the price civilization would cost. Athens, led by the Greek hero Theseus, would clash with this mighty Amazon nation, but none could imagine the cost this war would require. Love and hate intertwine in this gripping novel, and you cannot help but feel a sense of loss at the conclusion of the Last of the Amazons.

ΤΑ ΒΙΒΛΙΑ ΤΕΤΟΙΑΣ ΚΑΤΗΓΟΡΙΑΣ ΠΑΝΤΑ ΜΟΥ ΑΡΕΣΑΝ. ΩΣ ΑΝΑΓΝΩΣΤΡΙΑ ΜΟΥ ΑΡΕΣΕΙ ΝΑ ΜΑΘΑΙΝΩ ΚΑΙΝΟΥΡΓΙΑ ΠΡΑΓΜΑΤΑ Κ ΠΑΡΑΛΛΗΛΑ ΝΑ ΑΝΑΚΑΛΥΠΤΩ ΜΥΣΤΙΚΑ ΤΟΥ ΠΑΡΕΛΘΟΝΤΟΣ. ΑΥΤΗ Η ΕΠΑΦΗ ΜΕ ΤΟΝ ΙΣΤΟΡΙΚΟ ΛΑΟ ΤΩΝ ΑΜΑΖΟΝΩΝ ΗΤΑΝ ΕΝΑ ΥΠΕΡΟΧΟ ΤΑΞΙΔΙ. ΜΕ ΤΑΞΙΔΕΨΕ ΣΕ ΠΑΛΙΕΣ ΕΠΟΧΕΣ ΣΤΙΣ ΟΠΟΙΕΣ ΟΙ ΑΜΑΖΟΝΕΣ ΑΠΟΤΕΛΟΥΣΑΝ ΕΝΑΝ ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΟ ΛΑΟ. ΑΠΟ ΜΙΚΡΕΣ ΑΝΑΤΡΕΦΟΝΤΑΝ ΓΙΑ ΝΑ ΓΙΝΟΥΝ ΟΙ ΚΑΛΥΤΕΡΕΣ ΠΟΛΕΜΙΣΤΡΙΕΣ ΩΣΤΕ ΝΑ ΑΝΤΙΜΕΤΩΠΙΖΟΥΝ ΚΑΘΕ ΕΧΘΡΟ.

ΣΤΟ ΠΑΡΟΝ ΒΙΒΛΙΟ ΕΜΦΑΝΙΖΟΝΤΑΙ ΓΝΩΣΤΕΣ ΑΜΑΖΟΝΕΣ ΟΠΩΣ ΟΙ ΙΠΠΟΛΥΤΗ, ΑΕΛΛΑ, ΑΝΤΙΟΠΗ, ΕΥΡΩΠΗ, ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΑ... ΟΛΕΣ ΗΤΑΝ ΓΝΩΣΤΕΣ ΓΙΑ ΤΗ ΔΥΝΑΜΗ ΤΟΥΣ. ΔΙΑΚΑΤΕΧΟΝΤΑΝ ΑΠΟ ΠΑΘΟΣ Κ ΕΜΠΑΙΝΑΝ ΣΤΟ ΠΕΔΙΟ ΤΗΣ ΜΑΧΗΣ ΜΕ ΑΥΤΑΠΑΡΝΗΣΗ.

ΣΥΜΦΩΝΑ ΜΕ ΤΟΝ ΠΛΟΥΤΑΡΧΟ ΕΝΑΣ ΣΤΡΑΤΟΣ ΑΠΟ ΑΜΑΖΟΝΕΣ ΚΑΙ ΣΚΥΘΕΣ- ΒΑΡΒΑΡΟΣ ΛΑΟΣ- ΕΠΙΤΕΘΗΚΕ ΣΤΗΝ ΑΘΗΝΑ ΚΑΤΑ ΤΗ ΔΙΑΡΚΕΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙΑΣ ΤΟΥ ΘΗΣΕΑ. ΤΟ ΓΕΓΟΝΟΣ ΑΥΤΟ ΕΙΝΑΙ ΣΙΓΟΥΡΟ Κ ΕΠΙΒΕΒΑΙΩΝΕΤΑΙ ΑΠΟ ΤΑ ΟΝΟΜΑΤΑ ΤΩΝ ΤΟΠΟΘΕΣΙΩΝ ΠΟΥ ΕΧΟΥΝ ΔΙΑΤΗΡΗΘΕΙ ΜΕΧΡΙ ΣΗΜΕΡΑ Κ ΑΠΟ ΤΟΥΣ ΤΑΦΟΥΣ Κ ΤΑ ΜΝΗΜΕΙΑ ΕΚΕΙΝΩΝ ΠΟΥ ΕΠΕΣΑΝ ΣΤΗ ΜΑΧΗ.

Having read Gates of Fire earlier in the year and finding this to be up there with my favourite historical fiction novels, I wished to read another of Steven Pressfield’s novels.

I read this book at a significantly slower pace than usual, but this does not bear reflection on my internet in the novel.

I found this novel to be very bitter sweet with the conflicts depicted and the fate of the Amazon’s. This is another example of a vivid novel and breaches the gap between history and myth and a well thought out and realistic manner.

Will read this again in the future as the book left an impression on me.

Didn't grab me

This is an epic story told by a master.