Tom Swan and the Last Spartans: Part One Florence

Tom Swan and the Last Spartans #1

by Christian Cameron

Fifteenth-century Europe. Tom Swan is not a professional soldier. He's really a merchant and a scholar looking for remnants of Ancient Greece and Rome - temples, graves, pottery, fabulous animals, unicorn horns. But he also has a real talent for ending up in the midst of violence when he didn't mean to. Having used his wits to escape execution, he begins a series of adventures that take him to street duels in Italy, meetings with remarkable men - from Leonardo Da Vinci to Vlad Dracula - and from the intrigues of the War of the Roses to the fall of Constantinople.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fantasy

94 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 24, 2015

About the author

Aka Miles Cameron. Also publishes as Gordon Kent with his father Kenneth M. Cameron.

Christian Cameron was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1962. He grew up in Rockport, Massachusetts, Iowa City, Iowa,Christian Cameron and Rochester, New York, where he attended McQuaid Jesuit High School and later graduated from the University of Rochester with a degree in history.

After the longest undergraduate degree on record (1980-87), he joined the United States Navy, where he served as an intelligence officer and as a backseater in S-3 Vikings in the First Gulf War, in Somalia, and elsewhere. After a dozen years of service, he became a full time writer in 2000. He lives in Toronto (that’s Ontario, in Canada) with his wife Sarah and their daughter Beatrice, currently age four. And a half.

Reviews

[Liviu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tom Swan rides again - this time supposedly to Mistra (which is the last Sparta of the title so to speak) - though for now he only makes it to Florence after a long (and not so peaceful) sejour in Rome; the usual intrigue, past deeds that come to haunt him, need for money and information, friends, enemies...

Highly entertaining and a page turner that ends on a semi-cliffhanger for once; definitely happy to see Tom Swan (or Tomaso Suane as he is known in Rome) back and looking forward for the next installment as I expect the way to Greece to be a long one...

[Angela Boord · Rating 4 out of 5]

The installments in Italy are the best, and I appreciated the intrigue-based plot after all the war and action of the last series. I also appreciate that Tom is growing up, all his experiences have changed him. But I dearly wish that Alessandro would be involved in more of these stories, because their interaction is what I love the most about this series.

[Logan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant characters and intrigue. A historical spy novel.

[Bart · Rating 4 out of 5]

*** 4.00 ***

[Alissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up. Powerful start!

[Mark Redman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tom Swan and the Last Spartan is another gripping installment in Christian Cameron’s historical adventure series. Set in the turbulent 15th century, this novella follows the cunning and charismatic Tom Swan, a scholar-turned-mercenary, as he navigates the brutal world of Renaissance warfare and political intrigue.

Cameron’s meticulous research and vivid storytelling shine through in every scene, from the dusty battlefields to the echoing ruins of ancient Sparta. The blend of action, historical detail, and sharp dialogue keeps the pace brisk and engaging. Swan himself is a compelling protagonist—flawed, clever, and surprisingly introspective.

While short, this entry packs a punch and offers a satisfying mix of adventure, history, and character development, great stuff!

[Silvia · Rating 1 out of 5]

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[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christian Cameron/Miles Cameron can write! Everyone should try some of his stuff.

[Dag Brück · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magnificent adventure story. Tom Swan is not only soldier, knight and spy, he can now add detective to his resumé. Very well told, historically interesting too.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

More!

Not much action but plenty of intrigue, as Tom Swan goes to work for the Pope, and much is learned about late mediaeval banking. The Riccardo of Lucca should have been so lucky. A suspenseful ending has me inpatient for the next installment.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic read!

Tom Swan keeps getting better and better... superb dialogue, complex plots, and many colorful details will delight the reader. I found the unexpected twists of fate to be masterful. I can't wait to read the next installment!

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent series.

Easily one of the best writers working in historical fiction and fantasy. Historically immersive, beautifully crafted storytelling and the best action scenes I've ever read. I've read them over and over, my highest praise.