Interesting but has very poor morals and some violent content.
Plot
Locked away in a convent hidden in the hills in Byzantium, Anna Comnena takes pen and ink in hand to set down the tale of her wrongs. Raised as the pampered daughter of the Emperor of Byzantium and destined to be queen of that country, Anna has no qualms when her mother gives birth to a son. Under her grandmother's tutelage, Anna learns how she is to rule Byzantium when her father's throne becomes hers, not heeding the gentle warnings of her mother as to her grandmother's untrustworthiness. The princess secretly despises her teacher, though she willingly learns from her, and unwittingly speaks of her plans to humiliate her grandmother in the hearing of her little brother. Soon the boy and his grandmother have manipulated the Emperor into disinheriting Anna and into believing the girl to be a rebellious and dangerous child. Brokenhearted by her father's rejection of her and burning to seek revenge, Anna tries to murder her brother but finds herself apprehended and banished to spend the rest of her lonely days in a cold convent far away.
Morality
Very poor. At first it seems clear that Anna's mother is the "good guy" and her grandmother the "bad guy" but, though the grandmother clearly remains wrong, the mother tries to kill her own son and advocates other such measures. Anna herself is a somewhat complex character. As the book is written in first person from her perspective, all of her actions are hotly defended so that, as the reader, I am inclined to pity her and feel her aggrieved, but she is thoroughly selfish, arrogant, and without scruple. She harbors bitterness and hatred towards most people and seems to only sincerely care for her father. The lessons her grandmother teaches her are mainly in how to deceive and manipulate the rulers of other kingdoms to her will.
Spiritual Content
Anna's tutor believes in the old Greek gods, though to the rest of the characters they are only legends. Most of the characters are Greek Orthodox, though some are only nominally so and others are devout.
Violence
Anna's grandmother tells her stories of the past which are full of bloodshed. Anna's fiance is killed in battle and her father is wounded. Anna tries to kill her brother a few times. Her father dies and her mother goes insane. Anna's grandmother tries to have her executed. These are only the hightlights of the violence mentioned in the story.
Drug and Alcohol Content
Wine is drunk. Someone tries to poison another.
Sexual Content
Anna kisses her fiance.
Crude or Profane Language or Content
None.
Conclusion
Though Anna of Byzantium is interesting and well-written, with vivid characters and moving scenes, I do not recommend it. Almost all of the characters act from purely selfish motives, using deceit and any means possible to get their desires, so it is difficult to figure out which side is the "right" side, because neither is fully in the right. Much of the story is very sad as it is clearly not written from a Christian worldview, and evil frequently triumphs, even in the end. As the book is not historically accurate, there is no redeeming quality.
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