H. Allenger’s “Polyxena” receives critical acclaim from Hollywood Book Reviews
As a publishing company that promises to build our authors’ reputation, ARPress is working hard to make good on that pledge. Today, we’re proud to announce that Polyxena, a historical fiction written by H. Allenger, has received a positive review from the Hollywood Book Reviews.
The book tells the story of the eponymous character who faces death for having rejected the advances of her captor after the fall of Troy. The daughter of King Priam, Polyxena relates her thoughts to Aphrodite, the Greek Goddess she holds responsible for having orchestrated her fate, to find solace and overcome her fear of death.
She recounts how she was sent to the Amazons to call for aid in their war against the Greeks. She then becomes a captive of Achilles when he defeats the Trojan warriors and the two found romance with each other. After returning to Troy, she tries to keep their forbidden love a secret but, through treachery, her brothers learn of it, leading to a tragic outcome for them both. As she tries to make sense of it all, Polyxena’s introspection leads her to surprising conclusion about the life she has lived.
In the review, Tara Mcnabb describes the book as skillfully combining “classical mythology with steamy romance and tragic warfare; and a bit surprisingly, a healthy dose of feminism.” She goes on:
“The entire narrative is told from Polyxena’s point of view, which gives the reader a stronger sense of intimacy that would otherwise be lacking. Her joys and sorrows successfully take on a sense of urgency as we read, making it easy to feel invested in her character. Serious in tone, the descriptions of daily life in the classical world are both sumptuous and vivid, especially when it comes to the grand splendor of the Amazonian Palace. And because the pace moves along steadily there’s no time for dullness; every chapter efficiently builds on the next. What you’re left with is an entertaining and exotic read that pulls the heartstrings.”
Allenger was a U.S. Army officer for seven years before he retired in 2008 to pursue his passions, which include archaeology, art, history, mythology, and writing.
