2 out of 4 stars
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Alexandria by Gregory Ness is the second book in the Sword of Agrippa Series. The series is a hybrid between science fiction and historical fantasy and also includes an erotic twist. Alexandria follows two distinct stories told via alternating chapters. The first story takes place in Alexandria during the period of Roman rule and features prolific historical figures like Cleopatra and Agrippa as they explore a sealed temple in search of treasure and historical artifacts. The second plot, set in the near future, follows Roy Swenson’s innovative research into dark energy through the study of dreams. A group of wealthy individuals are eager to cease Roy’s studies due to the financial losses they previously suffered with the development of new forms of energy like wind and solar. Despite the attempts to thwart Roy’s research, Roy and his peers begin live trials where they watch the dreams of preselected individuals. Things seem to be going as planned until, during the first trial, Roy is spoken to directly by a spirit from the specimen’s dream.
Dream psychology, past life regression, and the ethical implications of human trials are all explored in Alexandria. The scientific idea behind Roy’s story (the ability to view dreams) is both interesting and inventive. The author poses compelling questions about the ethical ramifications of viewing another’s dreams and the psychological impact of viewing your own dreams.
The major issue with this novel is that the story taking place in Alexandria doesn’t live up to the excitement found in the story set in the future. At the conclusion, the plot for the past story seemed half-baked and was made worse by some cringe worthy and out of place sex scenes. Moreover, the two stories don’t appear to be connected. Though a connection may come to light in the third book, the alternating plots proved to inhibit suspense because they appeared to be completely unrelated.
Overall the writing felt shallow at best. Though this is a three part series, the book is too short to fully develop the complex ideas and multiple storylines it takes on. Important plot developments are rushed and major revelations throughout the book aren’t portrayed as critical or shocking like one would expect. Similarly, the characters felt superficial and were mostly indistinguishable from one another.
The ingenuity that forms the framework for Alexandria, though exciting, lacks the detailed substance required to give this book a fully fleshed out feel; therefore, I rate Alexandria 2 out of 4 stars. Those who are fans of sci-fi stories that explore future technologies and their ethical aftermaths may find this book enjoyable. However, I would recommend starting with the first book in the series, Antioch. Lastly, the book contains mature content and thus should only be read by an appropriate audience.
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Alexandria
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The premise really does have potential!
