machiavelliancyborg

[machiavelliancyborg]

Novel - Hephaestion the Shade

Previously titled "The Lion's Heart"

Here it is, my novel! Taking about 200 days to write, it is finally complete and open for anyone to read. It has 25 chapters and is around 65,000 words long.

It is the story of Hephaestion, an odd, meek boy of noble birth from Pella, as he lives his life alongside his friend-turned-lover, Alexander the Great. As he accompanies the king on his campaigns, he grapples with the conflict between making Alexander happy and being content himself, as he witnesses the luxuries and atrocities of being a part of the Macedonian army.

If you read it, please give feedback, thanks!

xxx

[machiavelliancyborg]

So, uh, been a while

I haven't put any chapter logs up in a while, not because I stopped writing my book or because of writer's block, but because I kept forgetting, then remembering, followed by procrastination, then further forgetting, and the cycle repeats. In that time, I have finished the book entirely, clocking in at 25 chapters and ~65,000 words. I'm currently going through and editing it, but when I am done, I'll post the google docs link here for you to peruse at your pleasure. Hold on tight, love y'all.

[machiavelliancyborg]

The Lion's Heart Chapter 8 Log

The Lion's Heart is a novel I am writing detailing the life and death of Alexander the Great, told by Hephaestion, his lover.

Chapter 8 - Gordian Knot - 333 BC

Boy, I wonder what happens in this one. I had to do some research into scaphism which traumatised me, but other than that the rest was pretty smooth sailing. I have routinely gone back and forth (and I will almost definitely change it again and again) on the treatment of Hephaestion's first kill at Termessus. Hephaestion finally gets his revenge on Parmenion and that was cathartic for me.

Favourite Quote - "And as the assassin was thrown to the ground, pinned down and bound, my soul felt nothing but gladness. The non-man was treated as he should be."

[machiavelliancyborg]

The Lion's Heart Chapter 7 Log

The Lion's Heart is a novel I am writing detailing the life and death of Alexander the Great, told by Hephaestion, his lover.

Chapter 7 - Phaselis - 333 BC

This was a bottle chapter and hoo boy was it hard to write. The army begins wintering in Phaselis and a whole bunch of wacky shenanigans ensue, culminating in Alexander and Hephaestion bathing together. This was the chapter where I got really messed up on years and ages because I'm stupid and don't understand time and when I scorned every ancient source for not giving me a concrete time for how long they stayed in Phaselis. I was nice and vague for that. Also, Euripides is quoted a lot because Alexander is a Euripides nerd. Aren't we all.

Favourite Quote - "I was as careful and gentle as Alexander in Epirus as I took him that night. His shoulders tensed but were soothed by my touch. As I caressed his jaw, I could feel his teeth had been clenched together, but a kiss was enough to part them. He was tight around me but relaxed soon enough after whispered words of praise."

[machiavelliancyborg]

The Lion's Heart Chapter 6 Log

The Lion's Heart is a novel I am writing detailing the life and death of Alexander the Great, told by Hephaestion, his lover.

Chapter 6 - Three Letters - 334 BC

Chapter away from Alexander! Not that Hephaestion isn't totally obsessed with him. This chapter was reeeaaally hard to write, because it consists of three love letters written from Halicarnassus, a city about to be sieged upon by the Macedonians, as Hephaestion is staying there for recon. He's desperate, as always, and is insecure, also as always. He meets a cat, too, and calls him little Hermes because he's just the sweetest.

Favourite Quote - "It chimes like the divine bells on Olympus as it falls to the floor and reveals the image of the naked god."

Spicy. I'm thinking of changing the title, anyone got any ideas? Feel free to message me for more context. Thanks!

[machiavelliancyborg]

The Lion's Heart Chapter 5 Log

The Lion's Heart is a novel I am writing detailing the life and death of Alexander the Great, told by Hephaestion, his lover.

Chapter 5 - Apex Predator - 334 BC

This one was fun to write (I know I say that every time shut up). I felt the beginning felt slightly underdeveloped with Antipater being declared king in just a single sentence but it wasn't really relevant. I loved writing Parmenion and Alexander's interactions, stoic and childish respectively. Hephaestion comparing his relationship with a fictional one and thinking about how he got the wrong end of the stick, we've all been there (I've read too much yaoi). The Battle of the Granicus was obviously not written about in great detail and Cleitus the Black is introduced as Hephaestion's drinking buddy! Overall quite a relaxed chapter with the introduction of two major characters.

Favourite Quote - "We feasted that night, gorging our hungry souls on stacks of meat and fish, towering pillars of fruits and bowls of grapes, everlasting cups and amphorae of wine, diluted with the water of the Granicus."

[machiavelliancyborg]

The Lion's Heart Chapter 4 Log

The Lion's Heart is a novel I am writing detailing the life and death of Alexander the Great, told by Hephaestion, his lover.

Chapter 4 - King of Macedonia - 336-335 BC

The subjugation of Greek city states! And I decided to controversially make Hephaestion take part in almost none of it. After travelling down to Corinth he is taken back up to the Palace of Aigai to stay with Olympias. I was really happy with this one because I think I really got deep into the Olympias-Hephaestion dynamic (spoilers: she doesn't like him that much) whilst still leaving room at the end for Alexander's assault of an oracle and the sacking of Thebes. Not a great light painted on Alexander in this one, though he's hardly in it.

Favourite Quote - "Olympias, gorgon-owl, treated as if she were the man of the household."

[machiavelliancyborg]

The Lion's Heart Chapter 3 Log

The Lion's Heart is a novel I am writing detailing the life and death of Alexander the Great, told by Hephaestion, his lover.

Chapter 3 - Hephaestion the Shade - 337-336 BC

Boy, I charged through this one and it's landed as the longest of my chapters so far, despite the plan not being that long. I accidentally added a long bit at the start. Also, this is the most egregious time jumps I've had and plan to do, from age 16 to 19. This is because I simply couldn't think of anything that Hephaestion would do in between the ages. Alexander did a lot, but this is not a story from Alexander's perspective. This features the wedding of Philip II and Cleopatra and features Hephaestion getting over sexual trauma, yay! And some big insecurity from our boy Hephaestion.

Favourite Quote - "A slave gave me plated fish, sliced up into even chunks, coated with an even glaze of honey, a bowl of small fruits and a sizeable cup of wine."

[machiavelliancyborg]

The Lion's Heart Chapter 2 Log

The Lion's Heart is a novel I am writing detailing the life and death of Alexander the Great, told by Hephaestion, his lover.

Chapter 2 - Finally, Alexander - 340 BC

This chapter was very fun to write. It develops Hephaestion's daddy issues with Amyntas and shows the first battle (sorta). I made the decision not to include details of the battle, and I will continue to do so for every single upcoming fight. Hephaestion is a diplomat, not a fighter. Also a lover. Also there's an Apollo cameo!

Favourite Quote - "The endlessly simple, childish, foolish, nonsensical statement brought a smile to my newly kissed lips."

[machiavelliancyborg]

The Lion's Heart Chapter 1 Log

The Lion's Heart is a novel I am writing detailing the life and death of Alexander the Great, told by Hephaestion, his lover.

Chapter 1 - Boy in Violet Robes - 343-342 BC

This chapter was generally easy to write, as I had nothing, really, to draw from. It introduces Hephaestion's trauma and daddy issues, along with Alexander, Aristotle and Callisthenes. Alexander is a little goof and Hephaestion is a shy little guy with an instant crush on the boy in violet robes.

Favourite Quote - "[…] when I finally closed my eyes and came to rest, I caught myself thinking about the boy in violet robes."