Alexander and Alestria

On the heels of Empress, Shan Sa returns with another brilliant historical novel-this time following the true exploits of Alexander the Great and his fictional love affair with the queen of the Amazons. The story begins with his childhood in Macedonia with his father, the abusive, tyrannical King Philip and his overbearing mother Olympias. Educated by Aristotle and put through military training, Alexander develops the fierce character, strength, and ambition to overthrow his abusive father and take the crown.

Meanwhile, in the wilds of the Siberian steppe, we meet Alestria, queen of the Amazons-the tribe of female warriors who dominate this vast land at the edge of the known world-and Tania, the queen's loyal follower and confidante. Switching between the distinct voices of Alexander, Alestria, and Tania, Shan Sa brings the reader to the center of their physical and emotional battles.

After Alexander conquers and unifies all of ancient Greece and Egypt and sets out to the Orient to conquer his rival, King Darius of Persia, Alexander and Alestria first encounter each other on the battlefield; surprised to find that his adversary is a woman, Alexander is instantly smitten: her hair is long and black, her body muscular and bronzed, and her skin scarred from years of battle. At last, Alexander-renowned for his beauty and love of men-has found his queen. And at last, this independent woman who had renounced men has found a reason to leave her tribe. Their love, deeply passionate and problematic, is played against an exotic, historical backdrop of warfare and political turmoil.

Beautifully translated by Adriana Hunter (who also translated the critically acclaimed Empress), Alexander and Alestria brings the familiar figure of Alexander the Great to brilliant new life; Shan Sa's richly imagined tale entwines his historical legacy with an imagined love affair that explores the compelling clash of western and eastern cultures.