100 Pages A Day...Stephanie's Book Reviews

Althaia of Athens is on a pilgrimage to fulfill her deceased father's last wishes. However, when they arrive in Delphi, the body of a young women is found upon an alter and Althaia's tutor, Theron is asked to investigate.  Althaia, trained in Egypt in the art of autopsia, assists with the cause of death.  When it is discovered that the woman was connected to the Pythia of the Oracle of Gaia, Althaia, Theron and her slaves and plunged into the ongoing conflict between the Oracle of Apollon and the Oracle of Gaia.  Althaia has also been having a disturbing dream about a young man; when she meets the young man in her dreams, Nikos, the pieces start falling together for the mystery of the woman left on the alter. 

 

My favorite part of this historical mystery was Althaia's character.  She is an intelligent, spunky and does not allow her position as a woman in her time to get in her way.  Althaia also had a very modern voice and way of thinking which made it easier to connect with her. The history behind the Oracles of Delphi engaged me more than the mystery in this story.  The Oracles were once real women, usually a peasant woman, chosen for the Gods to speak through, the parts of the story concerning the traditions of the women surrounding the Oracle were what really transported me back to ancient Delphi.  The mystery in the story took a back seat for me, it was a little slower moving and didn't hold as much mystique as the characters trying to solve it. However, in the end, the solution did surprise me and I ended up loving how the guilty parties were revealed.  

 

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.