The Eagle and the Swan by Carol Strickland

The Eagle and the Swan Reviews

• 
  Historical Fiction

  Find this and other reviews at:
  http://flashlightcommentary.blogspot....
  
  I've begun to wonder what Theodora might think of her recent celebrity. Since 2010, I've read or sampled four novels that have essentially reintroduced her story, dusting off some 1500 years of human history to breathe life into the legend she left behind. The most recent of these publications is The Eagle and the Swan by Carol Strickland.
  
  Cross comparison serves no real purpose so I apologize for any disappointment my refusal to acquiesce to expectation may cause. I will note, however, significant appreciation for Strickland's unique voice. Considering the subject matter, I was initially worried The Eagle and the Swan might feel much like Duffy or Thornton's novels and was happy to discover her singular view of the material.
  
  Strickland's distinct emphasis on historic detail was intensely interesting though in retrospect I feel this attention to detail proved somewhat detrimental to the pace of the narrative. Don't misunderstand, I love books that are well-researched and the texture such factual notation brings to a title, but I wont deny there were moments where Strickland’s story seemed to peter out amid the wealth of information presents to her readers.
  
  Though a bit modern for the period, I actually liked Strickland's Theodora. Historically speaking, I think the author took certain liberties with her personality, but feel the underlying concepts expressed through the character more than adequate compensation for the discrepancy. What can I say folks? I like books that make you think.
  
  The tale of an oft overlooked woman in a time that is all but forgotten, I found The Eagle and the Swan an enjoyable and thought-provoking read that was well worth looking into.
• 
  Melissa

  3.5 Stars
  
  Carol Strickland's debut novel, The Eagle and The Swan, is about Byzantine Empress Theodora and her husband Emperor Justinian. The story is told from the perspective of the monk Fabianus, a childhood friend of Theodora's who is called upon to write a true history of Justinian and Theodora's reign when it becomes apparent that the official history being written by Procopius may not present Theodora in a favourable light.
  
  Theodora seems to be a popular figure to write about these days, and with good reason, as the Empress lived a fascinating life. The Eagle and The Swan is the second novel of Theodora that I've had the pleasure to read in the past year, so I went into this book with a basic knowledge of both her life and of the time period in which she lived. Overall, I enjoyed Strickland's interpretation of both the characters and events. My favourite aspect of this novel was the heroine herself. Strickland's Theodora is a smart, compassionate, and determined woman, and it is not difficult to see how she was able to rise from poverty and prostitution to become the consort of an Emperor. Theodora never forgot where she came from, and always tried to help young women who found themselves in unfortunate circumstances. Justinian, however, does not come across quite so well. While Theodora cautioned a moderate approach to solving the ills of the state, Justinian continually ignored the advice of his wife and listened to his most trusted advisors, including his prefect John the Cappadocian, who resorted to extreme torture to extract money and information from people. While Justinian is sometimes referred to as Justinian the Great, he comes across as anything but great in this novel -- although this book only covers the early years of his reign.
  
  The Eagle and The Swan is a long novel, but Strickland's smoothly flowing prose keeps the narrative moving along at a steady pace. It wasn't until the final quarter of the novel, when I felt too much extraneous detail was added to the story, that I thought the narrative got somewhat bogged down. At times some of the dialogue comes across as too modern, and the narrative does contain a couple of obvious anachronisms -- the mention of cholera, a disease not found outside of India until the 19th century, and a character's recognition of the need to boil water to avoid it, are the two that most stand out. One element I really wish had been added to the novel was an Author's Note. It's obvious that Strickland conducted a great deal of research in order to write this novel, but I would have appreciated a note explaining what key elements of the story are fact and which are fiction. Regardless of these few shortcomings, the story itself is definitely an enjoyable one and I wouldn't hesitate to read more from Carol Strickland.
  
  The Eagle and The Swan is recommended to readers interested in historical novels set in less common time periods, as well as those who enjoy novels with strong, interesting female protagonists.
  
  Source: I received a copy of this novel as part of Carol Strickland's Virtual Book Tour in exchange for a fair and honest review. This review first appeared on my blog, Confessions of an Avid Reader.
  
• 
  C.P. Lesley

  In 476 CE, according to the chronology most of us learned in school, the Roman Empire fell and the Dark Ages began. That’s how textbook chronologies work: one day you’re studying the Romans, and next day you’re deep in early feudal Europe, as if a fairy godmother had waved a magic wand.
  
  Reality is more complex. The Fall of Rome affected only the western territories of that great world power, which had in fact been weakening for some time. The Eastern Roman Empire—later known as Byzantium or the Byzantine Empire—survived for another thousand years. Recast under Turkish rule as the Ottoman Empire, it lasted five hundred years more.
  
  But the Eastern Roman Empire endured shocks and fissures of its own, and its survival was far from assured. Under the rule of Emperor Justinian I and his empress, Theodora, it entered a crucial phase. Justinian began life as a swineherd, Theodora as a bear keeper’s daughter, yet they fought their way to the pinnacle of power in Constantinople and, once there, established a new set of governing principles that for a while almost restored the empire that Rome had lost. Carol Strickland, in The Eagle and the Swan, traces the first part of Justinian’s and Theodora’s journey. Listen in as she takes us through the circuses, streets, brothels, monasteries, and churches of early sixth-century Byzantium, all the way to the imperial court.
  
  My interview with Carol Strickland is at
  http://newbooksinhistoricalfiction.co....
  
  I received a free copy of this book so that I could prepare for the interview.
• 
  Kathleen

  I received "The Eagle and the Swan" for review purposes, after reading a sample which I really liked. The book, like the lives of Justinian and Theodora, had it's ups and downs. Possibly a bit too many details of Theodora prior "occupation",but it does explain the narrator Fabianus. All in all I like it a lot and will look forward to the sequel.
  
  A well written and researched tale of two important persons in the last days of the Roman Empire. Justinian, sometimes called the "Great" was born into a Latin speaking peasant family in what is now Serbia. All of that information was delightful. It is a era I like a lot.
  
  Justinian's judicial reforms have importance today, especially his protection of women who were abused. Surely that speaks to his marriage to Theodora and why Fabianus told her story in the book.
  Hopefully in the next volume we will hear more of Justinian's voice.
  
  Recommended for ancient history fans as well as those of us who really enjoy stories of Roman life.
• 
  Erin Al-Mehairi

  I can't rave enough about the experience I've had over the last month with Carol Strickland's The Eagle and the Swan, Part 1 and the enhanced version offered by Erudition Digital. At first I had only read part one as I thought that was all I was offered in exchange for an honest review so I read it on the Kindle and then read it again and took time using the enhanced version on the PC (though I will go back and check out on the Ipad as well). I'll get back to that in a little bit.
  
  This novel features the rise and life of Empress Theodora during the time of the Byzantine Empire (6th Century), a time period that leaves me quite enthralled. It seems to be rising in popularity as more historical women are being earthed from the long-buried dirt and adorned with rich and vibrant details to jump at us off the page. Theodora is the main woman featured to us at the moment, due to her vibrant personality, her rags to riches story, and her political prowess during her reign with her husband, Roman Emperor Justinian the Great as they sought to reconquer some of the lost western world.
  
  Though many novels featuring these queens of strength, light, intelligence, and political might are written with a more fantasy appeal, and are very good in their own right as well, this novel is also highly researched and well-written as if it will be featured as an epic movie, like Cleopatra or Spartacus. A movie we might see now remastered and colored that we sit absorbed for four hours to watch. It tends toward a more historical masterpiece that explodes with information and is told from the viewpoint of a monk, a childhood friend. It juxtaposes between time seamlessly and offers superb dialogue as we learn about these larger than life, though real, historical people. It's definitely a historical biography and features so much information that it's a great historical resources for other writers or students.
  
  Even with this said, it's also vibrant, lush in details, the sentences smooth and delightful, and her descriptions beautiful and immaculate. It's compelling and urges you to turn the page, as not only is Theodora's story engaging, but the book flows smoothly. It has intrigue, sex, decadence, shame, love, scandals, paranoia, and so much more. It easily runs the emotional gamut. And that is just part one.
  
  Unfortunately I can only review part one at this time, as when I added it to the Kindle for review and read the extra version on the PC, I wasn't aware that I was able to download part 2-4 for the review as well. I sure wish it would have been made more clear to me, but in the end I did some searching on the Erudition website and figured out that joining the Reader's Club allowed me access to part 2-4. It's totally my fault for not taking the time to look earlier, always hurrying.
  
  Anyway, it's pretty cool that they do that to get feedback and social sharing after each portion. From a marketing standpoint, as a professional one myself, I think this is a unique, fresh, and engaging idea, but I learned too late. I hope other readers coming in to the site understand how to purchase it. I am thrilled though to go back and read 2-4 now and I'll add those in to the review here once I finish and revise this section. Good news is, I can't wait to finish the other parts.
  
  I spent a lot of time perusing and using the enhanced version. It includes all types of photos of the time period, plus plenty of words are highlighted so that if you click on them, you can see a definition or a photo and short summary. This really adds to the novel is you are versed in the historical time period or people. I enjoyed all the photos throughout and felt it added so much to the overall experience. It wasn't just a novel, it was an adventure in time. I also really liked the added bonuses at the end of the timelines, the maps of places like the Byzantine Empire, and other resources. My son is about to enter high school and is a huge historian, he is going to love having these maps and extra resources added to his reading on the Ipad. What a great way to help your talented and gifted children, or those interested in history, have additional content added to their studies.
  
  Overall, I am thrilled. Not only will I read more of Carol Strickland, as she is a fabulous writer and historian with a great novel that could be destined for the big screen of old, or maybe now....oh, would they make epic historical movies again on a more mainstream level? One can only hope. I would also seek out more of these types of digital reading experiences.
  
  Part one of the book by Carol gets 5 stars from me, but as well Erudition's new concept gets a high thumbs up. I just hope they make sure that most readers understand the concept clearly for best process though I am not sure buying from that site is an option for others yet. I think if you buy off Amazon, you just get the whole file. I'll be watching for more to come, by both Carol and this publisher.
• 
  Zoe

  I really wanted to like this story but I think it got tripped up in its format - as the "truthful, personal story" of the Roman Emperor Justinian and Empress Theodora. The beginning made me roll my eyes more than once. How fortunate for us (and the author) that it was ordered suppressed for exactly 1500 years! (Which would actually have it opened about ten years from now.) It just kept beating that fact home, how the real truth could be told since it would be opened so far in the future. Ignoring the obvious holes (who's been holding on to it this long and never even stolen a peek?), I could understand the premise of Theodora wanting her side of the story told as she was obviously never going to get a fair shake from the aristocracy and their chroniclers due to her low-born past. The whole sealed-for-1500-years business was unnecessary, especially since it is never mentioned later on.
  The story of Theodora's childhood and young life is facilitated by her chronicler, a boy she saved from the gutters who was eventually taken in by and became a monk, accounting for his writing ability. When talking about her past, the story is engaging. When it reverts to its present, we're surrounded by a cast of one-dimensional stereotypes who never had an original thought or change in motivation in their lives, and I'm including Justinian. Theodora is the only fully-rounded character, which might be appropriate since it's her commissioned chronicle, but it makes for boring and predictable reading. I can't think of anything truly unexpected done by any of the characters.
  The author spent so much time on the structure of the chronicler that you'd expect it to at least be finished out as a historian would, but it is abruptly cut off, almost mid-sentence. Add to that a couple of completely garbled paragraphs (it looks like someone fell asleep on the keyboard), and an annoying structure of starting off with an extensive author's bio, and ending after the abrupt cut-off of the story with the promise of a more "enhanced" version of the book to come and inviting you to join a mailing list for it.
  I feel like I've paid to read a work-in-progress, yet another example of Amazon's amazing disregard for basic editing when it comes to eBooks. It frustrates me more every time - why, when something could so easily be read and edited, is it released to be bought? Show more respect to your readers! This story had, and has, great potential, but I don't see it in the hands of this author.
• 
  Darlene

  
  The Eagle and the Swan by Carol Strickland takes us on a journey back to a time long forgotten. It is the tale of Theodora who rose from being a bear keeper’s daughter in the circus to Empress of the Byzantine Empire. Carol Strickland weaves fact and fiction as she tells of court intrigue, betrayals, and the ultimate power struggles.
  
  Theodora didn’t come from riches but from a poor family and when her father dies she is forced into prostitution. Eventually she gives up that life knowing that she wants more for herself and her daughter – she knows that her prince charming is out there somewhere. Then she meets Justinian who becomes Emperor and knows this is the man. He wants and knows of her past but that isn’t Theodora’s life anymore and she refuses him unless he agrees to court her out in public. Theodora’s rise to Empress isn’t an easy one. She has to live as Justinian’s mistress until he is crowned Emperor. She now has all the wealth and jewels she could ever want but Justinian works obsessively and in some ways she still feels as lonely as she did when she had nothing. When the Empire falls will Justinian finally listen to Theodora?
  
  Theodora was a woman before her time and used her power in any way she could. She believed that women should have a voice in the way things were done. Not only was she a leader but she was caring and generous with her wealth. She wanted to help the people who really needed it like the hungry and the prostitutes. So many of these were young girls just as she had been that had been forced into that life. Everybody has a story and Theodora was interested in hearing that story before passing judgment. Needless to say Justinian doesn’t at first heed Theodora’s warnings and because of that the Empire suffers.
  
  I knew nothing about Theodora or the Byzantine Empire before picking up this novel which was one of the main reasons I wanted to read it. The novel is rich in historical detail and vividly brings to life this period in history. I came away from reading The Eagle and the Swan feeling as though I learned something and that to me is what makes historical fiction so great! For those who enjoy historical fiction and reading about a little known time in history The Eagle and the Swan is a great pick!
• 
  Patty

  Much of what is known about Empress Theodora has come to us through the writings of one of her contemporaries, Procopius. He was a historian of her age and he wrote about Justinian and Theodora - in one book he praised them and in his "Secret History" found many, many years later he presented a totally opposite picture. What is truth? As with most situations like is - it probably lies somewhere in the middle. This novel is Theodora's response to Procopius's Secret History; she has a trusted friend write it with the caveat that it not be read until 1500 years in the future when it will be better received and understood.
  
  Like Theodora, the daughter of a bear trainer who grew up to be an actress, then a whore, then a courtesan - the book is bold, raw and ribald. Theodora directs it and she states from the start that she will not lie nor will she present a life of sunshine and sugar. She will tell her story, warts and all.
  
  I must admit that while she was not always likable I really liked Theodora. She was handed a really raw deal in life and yet she used what she had - her looks and her brains - and she rose to be Empress. She worked for women's rights in a time when women were nothing more than chattel. I wonder what more she might have done had her life not been cut so short. The book was riveting and I loved losing myself in Theodora's world as unpleasant as it was at times.
  
  4.5
• 
  Margaret

  Like so many others that have reviewed this book, I also was introduced to Theodora with Stephanie Thornton's book, The Secret History (I loved it). Was I nervous about reading this book and comparing the two? No, not at all. I find it interesting to read the same subject matter by different authors, it adds a unique and individual prospective.
  
  This book did not disappoint, right from the beginning I was drawn in. The writing style reflected the time period and made for a very enjoyable read. The narrative had me visualizing sights and smells in my head. This book was drafted by a monk and childhood friend named Fabianus. As Theodora tells her story there were times when Fabianus went back in time to their childhood recalling events and filling in the gaps. Theodora had quite the life, beginning in the circus with a bear training father, turning actress, prostitute and mate to Justinian.
  
  The book centers also on Justinian and his story, how he became Emperor, though a lowly man, the son of a pig farmer.
  
  This book is rich in detail, the author has shown that a vast amount of research and time went into writing this novel. This is my first book by Carol Strickland, I will be looking at what else she has written, I like her style.
  
  There were no Author Notes and that I missed.
• 
  Martina

  The story of the Empress Theodora is new to me so when the opportunity came to review the book, I jumped at the chance. I’m absolutely thrilled I did because I really like her!
  
  Not only that, but the book itself is amazing. Carol Strickland is a wonderful writer. She writes Theodora’s story through the voice of Fabianus who is a monk and was a close childhood friend of the Empress. The book also tells the details of Justinian, the Emperor, but in truth, I liked the Theodora parts best. I like how the story shifted from present to past as their tales are told. I’ve read other books done with this format which I found confusing, but not so with The Eagle and the Swan. It flowed perfectly and I didn’t get lost within the stories.
  
  Carol Strickland paints a lovely landscape when describing the surroundings for the characters. With her spot-on descriptiveness, we are dropped in the midst of an ancient land and become happily ensconced, living lives with Theodora, Justinian, and Fabianus.
  
  I will gladly read another of Strickland’s book, anytime! I’m a definite fan.
• 
  Aurora

  
  http://sveta-randomblog.blogspot.com/...