Marvelous evocation of middle Byzantine history and civilization through the memoirs of Anna Dalassena, sister-in-law to one emperor and mother to another. Anna gives us a window into the lives of aristocratic Byzantines--mostly her extended family--and others close to the throne. I really felt I was transported to that time and place and really got a feeling for the characters' lives and emotions. The story covered the exile of Anna and her grandparents until the start of her brother-in-law's reign, that of Emperor Isaac Comnenus. We see the various family personal stories, upheavals, and reigns of various incompetent or profligate emperors until Isaac and others in the army band together and force the abdication of his predecessor and banishment to a monastery. The author described beautifully that whole milieu. I appreciated the detailed physical descriptions. The coronation scene was outstanding, also how the author had a small incident happen and then how a similar incident or object later in the narration called up memories or lessons learned. The glossary and list of persons really helped me. I could make some sort of sense of the history of the Constantinople of that day.

Highly recommended. I thank the author for giving me a copy of her novel. As far as Anna, I feel this novel was more her background and she will become more important in affairs of state later in the trilogy. ( )