The Fire of Ares

Very pleasantly surprised at this fun read. Lysander, a Helot boy in ancient Sparta possesses a pendant called The Fire of Ares. Because of this, an Ephor, Sarpedon, reveals himself to be the boy's grandfather. One of his sons is Lysander's father and his mother is a Helot woman. Lysander and his ailing mother are now taken under the protection of Sarpedon and Lysander enrolled in the agoge, the Spartan educational system. Lysander undergoes brutal treatment as a mothax [half Helot/half Spartiate sponsored by someone] and finds out who his friends and who his enemies are through bitter experiences. He overcomes bullying and prejudice with the aid of his friends. We see him grow from boy to man and also, his developing show more self-confidence.

Written for young people, this novel gives a glimpse into Spartan society and scattered all through are facts on that culture.
I liked the fact there was a moral: through his speech to Helots, Lysander puts down a Helot revolt without bloodshed. The wrestling match and the Games were exciting. I don't care if the novel was probably clichéd: the underdog overcoming horrendous odds, the sick mother....it was still worthwhile reading.

Highly recommended. show less

I picked up this first in a juvenile series called "Spartan Quest" think it would be Percy Jackson knockoff fantasy. It turns out, however, to be classic juvenile historical fiction, and rather well done at that. The hero is born a Helot, the Messenian serf-class in Sparta; however, it turns out that he has connections, and perhaps a destiny, connected with the ruling-class Spartans. Rather rough stuff here, with lots of bullying and combat, but with a wealth of detail and tackling complex social history with skill. Not for fantasy fans, or those who don't like 'boy fiction' but still quite good. Not sure whether I'll look for sequels.

This is the first in an exciting series following the life of a young Spartan boy, Lysander. Lysander's mother is a Helot, and lives for many years as a Helot slave before he is doscovered by his grandfather and given the opportunity to joint the punishing Spartan school.

He must overcome prejudice, mortal danger, hatred and thefts to prove himself worthy of his place in the school.

This book is written for readers of abou 9-11+, but it rewards older readers too. It contains a wealth of historical information, in much the same way as Caroline Lawrence's Roman Mysteries.

Greece and Sparta always catch my interest. Usually when novels are written about Ancient Greece they are generally about Athens or Athenians, so it was refreshing to find that the author is aware that Greeces' history goes beyond Athens. While realizing that Sparta was very much the opposite of Athens, I have always admired the stubborn almost seemingly manacial bravery of the Spartan citizens. There were many things wrong with Spartan society during the time The Fire of Ares is set. Ford's descriptions are brutally realistic and he does address the terrible inequity of the Spartan citizens and the helots. Lysander is caught between two worlds. His father was a Spartan and his mother was a helot. He wants a better world for his mother, show more his best friend (Timeon), himself and other helots. Lysander is sent to the agoge, where Spartan warriors are trained, because his Spartan grandfather discovers that his son Thorakis has left a son (Lysander). The characters are interesting and there is a good amount of action, which should please male readers. Lysander is strong and just manages to hold his own against most of the Spartan boys who hate him. The ending is a bit surprising and Lysander finds himself in a very tough dilemma. It will be interesting to see what kind of path lies in front of him in the sequel. show less

Lysander, a Helot slave, knows little about the mysterious pendant he wears around his neck, the Fire of Ares. When after a chance meeting, he learns that he is of noble heritage. Suddenly Lysander is thrust into the life of a Spartan warrior and must struggle to prove himself worthy

Lysander is a Helot, a slave who works the fields for Sparta. He longs to help free his people from the injustice of slavery and fight as fiercely as a Spartan. He is given that chance one day, when his grandfather finds him and it is revealed he is half Spartan. He is to enter the agoge and receive Spartan training. At first it is very difficult and he is very whiney. But as the days pass, he becomes stronger in both mind and body and works to be a beacon for both Sparta and the Helots during a time of chaos that is quickly arriving.