The New Achilles by Christian Cameron (Review by Jillian Tremblay)

Rating – 4/5

Fans of historical fiction will love this action-packed journey through ancient Greece.
The story begins with Alexanor, a soldier who has grown weary of war and bloodshed. He has decided to lay down his sword to pursue a life of peace and to learn the science and art of healing others in the temple of Apollo’s son. While he able to achieve the quiet life for many years, war soon finds him again as he becomes trainer and mentor to the last hero of Greece.

This well-written novel will have you gripped and engaged from the first battle aboard a ship to the very end. If you are new to the genre of historical fiction, this can be an introduction as it is accessible to all readers. This was the first novel I’ve read by the author and I appreciate the diversity in the story, from exciting battles, to an intriguing protagonist where we explore much of his inner world and his struggle with PTSD. While Alexanor, now a healer, is our main character, the subject is really of Philopomen, a Greek commander branded the hero of Greece and “The New Achilles.”

Readers will enjoy this look into the history of ancient Greece, and I especially enjoyed reading about the medicine at the time and how it was approached as a spiritual exchange with the Gods, science and sometimes just luck. I found it a little hard to get into at first, but once I was in to the story, it was hard to put down. So if you find that you aren’t into it, just keep going and you will soon be drawn in to the characters.

I recommend this book to those who are looking for an escape into an ancient world and are looking to expand their reading to a new genre.