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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
informative
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
fast-paced
A brilliant story, which doesn’t take the typical route of telling Just Leonidas’s story, or just the perspective of Xerxes. Having multiple perspectives, all centering around Xanthippus makes the story unique. This isn’t just the story of the 300 Spartans at Thermopylae, as I expected it to be. I have never read a story about this time with such attention to detail when it came to early Greek democracy, where people followed its rulings but with a lot of heavy hearts and frustrations. The ending was incredible, and reading the historical notes shows just how historically accurate the book is. Bridging the gaps of history was to be expected, but I now find myself wanting a life-size Miltiades helmet...
Good yarn but probably one of the weakest of CFI’s books. The plot is very linear, the characters pretty flat, and it feels like a rattling off rather than a truly considered or well loved story. There is little tension as the historical events form the thrust of the narrative: Greeks win at marathon then the 300 Spartans hold up the Persians for a while a bit later on. Fun, but felt more like an airport book than many of his others.
The Lion Shield by Conn Iggulden is an enjoyable and entertaining read, focusing perhaps more on the politics of Athens than the bloody fighting that must take place, for those who are 'in the know.'
The opening few chapters are quite stunning, as the battle of Marathon takes place, and the reader is introduced to Xanthippus, and then slowly, more of the main players come into focus. The threads of betrayal quickly make an appearance and will continue throughout the book, accounting for the actions and thoughts of the main characters.
The author does quite a slow reveal, lingering over some details, and ensuring even the most ignorant (me) understand how the governance of Athens worked. Xanthippus is a rigorous and unyielding man, Themistocles a 'man of the people.' Aristides is a calmer character, more assured of who he is and what he stands for, whereas Miltiades' son is the young counter to the 'older men,' a character to perhaps represent all the hot-heads within Athens.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. I had. a little chuckle at the name of Darius (the title of Iggulden's fantasy book) and might well have given this a 5/5 only for it to be lost in the last paragraph. I did not need that lingering imag . Too cruel!
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my review copy.
The opening few chapters are quite stunning, as the battle of Marathon takes place, and the reader is introduced to Xanthippus, and then slowly, more of the main players come into focus. The threads of betrayal quickly make an appearance and will continue throughout the book, accounting for the actions and thoughts of the main characters.
The author does quite a slow reveal, lingering over some details, and ensuring even the most ignorant (me) understand how the governance of Athens worked. Xanthippus is a rigorous and unyielding man, Themistocles a 'man of the people.' Aristides is a calmer character, more assured of who he is and what he stands for, whereas Miltiades' son is the young counter to the 'older men,' a character to perhaps represent all the hot-heads within Athens.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. I had. a little chuckle at the name of Darius (the title of Iggulden's fantasy book) and might well have given this a 5/5 only for it to be lost in the last paragraph. I did not need that lingering imag . Too cruel!
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my review copy.
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was so delighted at how well-written, informative, and fascinating this book is that I’ve just bought the sequel. (I usually only read library books so that’s a statement of my enthusiasm.) This is a book for people who love ancient history and the history of warfare. The battle scenes are so clear that you know exactly what’s going on. That said, the book would benefit from having maps of troop and fleet movements.
The book opens and closes with battles between the attacking Persians and the defending Greeks. In between is character development as well as descriptions of everyday life in Athens between 490-480 BC. We learn how the newly formed democracy works - and doesn’t - and how votes are taken. We learn about family life, political rivalries, and the preparations for war.
The author fills in the broad outlines of what is known in the historical record about the main characters’ real lives. Considering this period was 2500 years ago, a surprising amount is known, not just speculated, about ancient Greece. Sparta, usually a deadly rival of Athens, participated in the defense in the second Persian invasion. The Battle of Thermopylae, known from the 2006 Gerard Butler movie “300,” is a large part of the last section.
I fear I’m not articulating how very, very good I found this book. Looking forward to what happens in the sequel.
The book opens and closes with battles between the attacking Persians and the defending Greeks. In between is character development as well as descriptions of everyday life in Athens between 490-480 BC. We learn how the newly formed democracy works - and doesn’t - and how votes are taken. We learn about family life, political rivalries, and the preparations for war.
The author fills in the broad outlines of what is known in the historical record about the main characters’ real lives. Considering this period was 2500 years ago, a surprising amount is known, not just speculated, about ancient Greece. Sparta, usually a deadly rival of Athens, participated in the defense in the second Persian invasion. The Battle of Thermopylae, known from the 2006 Gerard Butler movie “300,” is a large part of the last section.
I fear I’m not articulating how very, very good I found this book. Looking forward to what happens in the sequel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Slavery, Blood, Grief, War, Injury/Injury detail