Book reviews from wideangle_2000

The King Must Die

by Mary Renault

I first read the sequel to this book, and couldn't rest until I found the first one. It was more than worth the wait. Ms. Renault's vivid descriptive ability literally makes this book come to life. The characters are so real you can almost believe you know them personally and the tale is completely captivating. It blends a mythological story with pertinent known facts and creates a tale which could easily have been based on truth. Theseus is grown from a child to a young man with all his larger than life qualities and adventures in ancient Greece, with pathos and understanding. You will never want it to end. Beautiful! I have probably re-read it 40 or more times, and would recommend it to anyone without reservation.