Gifts of the Gods: Iron and Bronze
by Thomas J. Berry
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Pub Date Oct 30 2018 | Archive Date Feb 11 2019
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Description
Five men and women in Ancient Greece are set on a dangerous journey of self-discovery during the bitter conflict of the Peloponnesian War.
Fifty years after King Leonidas of Sparta and his brave 300 fought to the death against Xerxes' Persian hordes at Thermopylae, a long and bloody rivalry erupted between the new superpowers of the era. The world of Ancient Greece in 480 B.C. was evolving into a new landscape. The isolated, socialist regime that grew from their king's sacrifice soon found itself at a vital crossroads with the democratic empire of Athens. The Peloponnesian War was not just a battle for political ideology but a brutal military campaign pitting the world's strongest army against the most powerful navy that ever sailed the seas. The fallout from this consummate struggle would change the course of human history forever.
Amidst the battlefields, ordinary men and women continue to work together behind walled cities and open farmland in order to survive. The Olympic festivals honor the gods with their renowned athletic contests and one woman finds herself in a deadly gamble when she must make an agonizing choice. A young helot slave longs for freedom while a new wife imperils herself to stand by her husband and home. When a wealthy aristocrat finds his world turned upside down, he must learn what true sacrifice and honor are all about. A Spartan officer who has lived by a strict code of tradition must discover new ways to cope in an unconventional war.
Five people from different walks of life must adapt to their changing world while remaining true to themselves. Who will survive the war and what will their lives be like when it's over?
Advance Praise
The author has a keen sense for storytelling and his attention to historical detail is impressive. The main characters are fully developed and their narratives are artfully woven together. The reader feels like a friend along for the ride.
Featured Reviews
Librarian 296405
Iron and fire starts chronologically soon after the film 300 ends. Tight descriptive writing really pulled me in and soon I was lost in the multi-purpose story. I loved the classic Gates of Fire book by Steve Pressfield but honestly, I am enjoying this more. Highly recommended.
Anya D, Reviewer
This is a long and very well re-searched historical fiction. We're thrown in right after the famous scene of the 300 Spartans and follow Xerxes, Jycos, Kalli and a cast of characters through the wars and ordeals they have to face.
I learned a lot during this novel and I wish that history books in school would be written like this.
The author clearly knows his subject, but the novel might benefit from one more edit due to some confusing passages.
Holly C, Reviewer
A couple of years ago, I never would have been interested in reading about the ancient world. Then my daughter had a school assignment for her English class that involved reading a retelling of The Iliad and to better help her review, I sat down and read the book myself. Shockingly, I was hooked. Since then I have looked for books that are in this genre and Gifts of the Gods has not disappointed. This is a well-written book following the ancient world that draws the reader into this world. Fully engaging.
#GiftsOfTheGodsIronAndBronze #NetGalley
Librarian 538143
This period of time has always been interesting to me, but hard to find good historical fiction series for! It's an era of time that is just as dynamic and epic as Roman History, but is often overlooked. I really appreciated the depth of the story and the amount of detail that the author incorporated.
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