In a book such as this, setting is extremely important. The outcome is highly trained and skilled warriors, but the cost is high, especially for Axios. At a young age, he was taken from his home, stripped of his clothing, and put under the most rigorous of training where boys are called upon to make horrifying decisions in the name of saving themselves and in the name of Sparta. The life of a Spartan male is harsh and Axios wants no part of it. He longs for things that Spartan men have no business longing for. The narrator, Axios, is a more gentle soul as the book opens. The book is more character focused than I had anticipated given the setting.

I read a lot of self-published books and had yet to try one from Jaclyn Osborn so the Self Published Book challenge provided the perfect opportunity. Historical books are not my go-to genre, but the potential for an epic love story here called to me. Love stories set in Sparta are not so common and this book intrigued me simply on that premise alone. Fighting for Sparta is seen as the greatest honor and while the battlefield is where wars are won or lost, Axios and Eryx know that if one of their lives ends, the other’s will as well.

But love and feelings are a weakness in Sparta as the only focus can be the fight. They also spend any free moment together as they come of age and develop a deep love for each other. From training partners, to friends, to lovers, to soulmates, their bond is unbreakable through the years and they fight side by side. In the midst of all this, as a young boy, Axios meets Eryx and their attachment is instant and ever-lasting. But his reality is brutal, harsh, and relentless. He wants all people to be treated as equal and he longs for a quieter life surrounded by nature. Whether the men want to be warriors or not, there is no choice and their reality is kill or be killed.Īxios is a more gentle soul and being a warrior is not the life he dreams of. Axios trains with other boys in harsh conditions to learn how to fight, how to take orders, and how to withstand pain and hunger. At the age of seven, all Spartan males are taken from their homes and becoming a warrior is the only option. Axios was born in Sparta and as a male, his life is determined for him.

Galen jaclyn osborn