Gods and Warriors is one of the best historical fiction books I have read this year because of the clearly researched themes and contrasting characters. The book is about a goat herder named Hylas living in ancient Greece. Hylas is forced out of his home by an evil force and meets several new characters, each from a different background. This means that he is able to learn more about the world that he resides in. Mainly written in the historical fiction genre, Gods and Warriors could be classed as an adventure book and possibly fantasy, though most of the ideas are very believable. It is written for older children right up to teens though it does have some adult themes like betrayal, honour and some death.
The reader’s attention is caught from the first line and from then on the book is spellbinding; a magical storyline from the author of the critically acclaimed Chronicles of Ancient Darkness. It is about how people from different backgrounds can become friends despite any superficial differences that they have.
I particularly liked the level of historical accuracy that the book contains and the detailed characterisation that is used to help the reader empathise with the situations Hylas faces. The reader can clearly understand what is happening and the book is very easy to understand, this makes for a much better reading experience.
I would recommend this book to others because it will give you a greater knowledge of ancient Greece whilst being thoroughly enjoyable. In my opinion this is one of the best books on Greek history around because it remains believable throughout. If you have read the Percy Jackson series then I recommend that you try this book to extend your understanding of life at that time.
Oscar KLF
Here’s a great video of Michelle Paver introducing the characters of Gods and Warriors:







