The Rise of Zenobia: Volume 1 (Overlord)
The Rise of Zenobia (Overlord, #1) is a solid and gripping piece of historical fiction. The story takes place in the Middle East between AD 253-258 and tells the early life story of the legendary warrior queen of Palmyra. It is told mainly by warrior Zabdas, with part of the narrative set later, in AD 290. This lends the story a further perspective on top of his first-hand involvement in the main plot. The first in a series, the book follows the rise of Zenobia in the unstable world of the third century. Military and security alliances, the fading empire of Rome, trade routines, slavery and plenty of other aspects of life in the third century alongside the fragile position of Palmyra.
The author has done an excellent job at filling the gaps of what is reliably known about the times, making a very convincing and fascinating read. I have been to Palmyra and found the story, the descriptions and historical details accurate and clearly well researched. The plot has fighting action and personal drama with well-developed characters whose positions illustrate perfectly the political situation of the time.
An entertaining and enlightening book.
