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Leonidas of Sparta Trilogy #1
Leonidas of Sparta: A Boy of the Agoge
The smaller of twins, born long after two elder brothers, Leonidas was considered an afterthought from birth -- even by his mother. Lucky not to be killed for being undersized, he was not raised as a prince like his eldest brother, Cleomenes, who was heir to the throne, but instead had to endure the harsh upbringing of ordinary Spartan youth. Barefoot, always a little hungry, and subject to harsh discipline, Leonidas had to prove himself worthy of Spartan citizenship. Struggling to survive without disgrace, he never expected that one day he would be king or chosen to command the combined Greek forces fighting a Persian invasion. But these were formative years that would one day make him the most famous Spartan of them all: the hero of Thermopylae.
This is the first book in a trilogy of biographical novels about Leonidas of Sparta. This first book describes his childhood in the infamous Spartan agoge. The second will focus on his years as an ordinary citizen, and the third will describe his reign and death.
This is the first book in a trilogy of biographical novels about Leonidas of Sparta. This first book describes his childhood in the infamous Spartan agoge. The second will focus on his years as an ordinary citizen, and the third will describe his reign and death.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
31 people are currently reading
611 people want to read
About the author
Helena P. Schrader
38 books150 followersDr. Helena P. Schrader is a highly acclaimed author with a remarkable portfolio of six critically acclaimed non-fiction history books and twenty historical novels. A testament to her storytelling prowess, twelve of her novels have earned one or more prestigious literary awards, with three titles achieving Amazon best-selling status.
Helena's deep historical insight stems from her PhD in history from the University of Hamburg, where her ground-breaking biography of a leader of the German Resistance to Hitler earned her doctorate. Her rich experiences also include a distinguished career as an American diplomat in Europe and Africa.
Her expertise spans critical historical periods and subjects, including:
Aviation
The Second World War
Ancient Sparta
The Crusader States
Award Highlights:
Helena's dedication to historical accuracy and compelling narratives has been recognized with numerous accolades:
"Cold Peace" Won the Independent Press Award for Political Thrillers 2024 and was "Runner-Up for BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023" from the Historical Fiction Company
"Moral Fibre" won GOLD in the Global Book Awards for 20th Century Historical Fiction 2024
"Where Eagles Never Flew" won the Hemingway Award for 20th Century Wartime Fiction from Chanticleer International Book Awards 2021
"Envoy of Jerusalem": Book Excellence Award for Best Biography 2017.
As the highly respected Feathered Quill Reviews noted: "Helena Schrader’s in-depth stories, fantastic characters, and ability to write an unforgettable tale make her one of the best authors out there!”
For a comprehensive list of awards and more information, please visit her author website.
Helena's deep historical insight stems from her PhD in history from the University of Hamburg, where her ground-breaking biography of a leader of the German Resistance to Hitler earned her doctorate. Her rich experiences also include a distinguished career as an American diplomat in Europe and Africa.
Her expertise spans critical historical periods and subjects, including:
Aviation
The Second World War
Ancient Sparta
The Crusader States
Award Highlights:
Helena's dedication to historical accuracy and compelling narratives has been recognized with numerous accolades:
"Cold Peace" Won the Independent Press Award for Political Thrillers 2024 and was "Runner-Up for BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023" from the Historical Fiction Company
"Moral Fibre" won GOLD in the Global Book Awards for 20th Century Historical Fiction 2024
"Where Eagles Never Flew" won the Hemingway Award for 20th Century Wartime Fiction from Chanticleer International Book Awards 2021
"Envoy of Jerusalem": Book Excellence Award for Best Biography 2017.
As the highly respected Feathered Quill Reviews noted: "Helena Schrader’s in-depth stories, fantastic characters, and ability to write an unforgettable tale make her one of the best authors out there!”
For a comprehensive list of awards and more information, please visit her author website.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 18, 2015
More like 4.5
Not quite a should-be classic, but I might change my mind after reading the rest of the trilogy. This first volume of Schrader's trilogy on life of Spartan King Leonidas was enthralling from first page to last. There's not much on his life historically; the author tells us she has invented most of this Bildungsroman. It's also a way for the author to explain different aspects of Spartan life. This particular novel concentrates on Leonidas's school years in the agoge, from admission at 7 to full Spartan citizenship at 21: "graduation ceremony", as it were. Each chapter covers one full school year focusing on a major adventure and Leonidas's growth from boy to man. Along with a poor but intelligent classmate for whom Leonidas pays tuition and other fees, Alkander, Leonidas's other best friend, Prokles, is also a classmate, the latest generation of the author's fictional Spartan family from other novels unrelated to this trilogy. The three boys are inseparable.
Schrader's done a marvelous job in painting a picture of ancient Sparta and her people. Her characters were so lifelike and realistic I felt I got to know them. I haven't read the other books in the trilogy yet, but I can see where the values inculcated in Leonidas's childhood will influence the rest of his life.
Outstanding were his phouxir or fox-time [part of the curriculum--period of time he was given a small knife and told to survive on his own in the wild] and, due to his own [he admits it] stupidity, kidnapping but fortuitous rescue. As an eirene, a young man on the verge of becoming a citizen, he supervises a group of teenage boys; this is his first taste of leadership.
This novel is most highly recommended. I have the other two sequels in hand to read.
Not quite a should-be classic, but I might change my mind after reading the rest of the trilogy. This first volume of Schrader's trilogy on life of Spartan King Leonidas was enthralling from first page to last. There's not much on his life historically; the author tells us she has invented most of this Bildungsroman. It's also a way for the author to explain different aspects of Spartan life. This particular novel concentrates on Leonidas's school years in the agoge, from admission at 7 to full Spartan citizenship at 21: "graduation ceremony", as it were. Each chapter covers one full school year focusing on a major adventure and Leonidas's growth from boy to man. Along with a poor but intelligent classmate for whom Leonidas pays tuition and other fees, Alkander, Leonidas's other best friend, Prokles, is also a classmate, the latest generation of the author's fictional Spartan family from other novels unrelated to this trilogy. The three boys are inseparable.
Schrader's done a marvelous job in painting a picture of ancient Sparta and her people. Her characters were so lifelike and realistic I felt I got to know them. I haven't read the other books in the trilogy yet, but I can see where the values inculcated in Leonidas's childhood will influence the rest of his life.
Outstanding were his phouxir or fox-time [part of the curriculum--period of time he was given a small knife and told to survive on his own in the wild] and, due to his own [he admits it] stupidity, kidnapping but fortuitous rescue. As an eirene, a young man on the verge of becoming a citizen, he supervises a group of teenage boys; this is his first taste of leadership.
This novel is most highly recommended. I have the other two sequels in hand to read.
March 27, 2017
Excellent book, I hardly ever read anything fiction historical or otherwise but this book is EXCELLENT!
April 1, 2014
The death of Leonidas is legendary. His last days have inspired great works of art and popular enthusiasm. The stand of "the 300" at Thermopylae has been harnessed to a hundred modern causes pitting East against West, and Leonidas with his 300 Spartans have come to symbolize what is good and noble in war: self-sacrifice for the sake of one's country and family. But who was Leonidas? And what was he before he became the incarnation of Freedom fighting Tyranny?
Herodotus gives us some tantalizing tidbits -- the story of his father's forced second marriage, the tensions between his elder brothers, the precociousness of his wife. But he is silent on many other key points, from the date of Leonidas' birth to his role in Sparta prior to becoming king later in life. Only one thing about his early life do we know for certain: because he was not the heir apparent to the Agiad throne in his youth,he would have been subjected to the full Sparta agoge. Knowing that, knowing how he ended, and building ont he fascinating insights into his personality provided by the few sayings attributed him, I have created a young Leonidas.
Nothing in this novel contradicts known facts about Leonidas, but the novel is quite candidly fiction.
Herodotus gives us some tantalizing tidbits -- the story of his father's forced second marriage, the tensions between his elder brothers, the precociousness of his wife. But he is silent on many other key points, from the date of Leonidas' birth to his role in Sparta prior to becoming king later in life. Only one thing about his early life do we know for certain: because he was not the heir apparent to the Agiad throne in his youth,he would have been subjected to the full Sparta agoge. Knowing that, knowing how he ended, and building ont he fascinating insights into his personality provided by the few sayings attributed him, I have created a young Leonidas.
Nothing in this novel contradicts known facts about Leonidas, but the novel is quite candidly fiction.
May 3, 2017
This book has received a Discovering Diamonds Review:
" the author knows her subject very well, so for readers who prefer historical detail over imaginative fiction this is ideal."
Helen Hollick
founder #DDRevs
" the author knows her subject very well, so for readers who prefer historical detail over imaginative fiction this is ideal."
Helen Hollick
founder #DDRevs
July 7, 2014
While I enjoyed reading “Leonidas of Sparta: A Boy of the Agoge” by author Helena P. Schrader, I’m going to be honest and admit that it wasn’t quite what I was expecting. I thought I was going to be reading a fictional story about the legendary Leonidas. I did count on historical facts being woven throughout the book but I figured they would only be used to provide that “realistic” feel. What I got was a book that seemed to focus on education, culture, laws and the Spartan way of life. Leonidas was present, but at times he seemed almost an afterthought… Superfluous as his mother would say…
When I finished, and being slightly dissatisfied, I decided to look at this book from a different point of view. “Leonidas of Sparta: A Boy of the Agoge” is the first book in a trilogy about Leonidas. Hmmm… Maybe the author really intended to focus more on Leonidas’s surroundings as a child rather than Leonidas himself. After all, one can hypothesize that ultimately Leonidas’s childhood is what shaped him into the man he became.
Unfortunately I wasn’t completely thrilled with the writing style either. While I did find “Leonidas of Sparta: A Boy of the Agoge” to be a decent book I definitely was not sitting on the edge of my seat as I read it. It flowed like a non-fiction book. It seemed to be mainly facts and figures with hardly any suspense, drama or humor. Every now and again there was a glimmer of something but then it vanished almost as quickly as it had appeared. At this point I remembered reading that Schrader had previously published four non-fiction books. I realized that this would help explain the writing style.
As far as a rating, I give “Leonidas of Sparta: A Boy of the Agoge” three stars. It is a solid book and I would classify it as an interesting read. Schrader does have a good writing style – it’s just a bit on the dry side. She is also descriptive but, because of her writing style, her words tend to come across as if they belong in a college textbook or...the “Journal of Ancient Spartan and Greek History.”
I am however looking forward to reading the final two books in this series. My only hope is that Leonidas plays a more exciting and interesting role in them…
(Reviewed in association with Rebecca's Reads).
When I finished, and being slightly dissatisfied, I decided to look at this book from a different point of view. “Leonidas of Sparta: A Boy of the Agoge” is the first book in a trilogy about Leonidas. Hmmm… Maybe the author really intended to focus more on Leonidas’s surroundings as a child rather than Leonidas himself. After all, one can hypothesize that ultimately Leonidas’s childhood is what shaped him into the man he became.
Unfortunately I wasn’t completely thrilled with the writing style either. While I did find “Leonidas of Sparta: A Boy of the Agoge” to be a decent book I definitely was not sitting on the edge of my seat as I read it. It flowed like a non-fiction book. It seemed to be mainly facts and figures with hardly any suspense, drama or humor. Every now and again there was a glimmer of something but then it vanished almost as quickly as it had appeared. At this point I remembered reading that Schrader had previously published four non-fiction books. I realized that this would help explain the writing style.
As far as a rating, I give “Leonidas of Sparta: A Boy of the Agoge” three stars. It is a solid book and I would classify it as an interesting read. Schrader does have a good writing style – it’s just a bit on the dry side. She is also descriptive but, because of her writing style, her words tend to come across as if they belong in a college textbook or...the “Journal of Ancient Spartan and Greek History.”
I am however looking forward to reading the final two books in this series. My only hope is that Leonidas plays a more exciting and interesting role in them…
(Reviewed in association with Rebecca's Reads).
April 25, 2013
I really enjoyed this book in more ways than one. The story was compelling and interesting, the characters were multidimensional and believable,the pace was exciting, and the history lessons and finally the truth about the real Sparta abundant!
The author does a wonderful job creating the character of young Leonidas and following him as he develops into a young man is very entertaining. I highly recommend this to those who enjoy historical fiction with real historical information of the highest quality. I will be ordering the rest of the series shortly.
*The only improvement that I felt was needed, was in the description of the topography. It is obvious that the author knows the area very well and can describe it in minute details. However, for someone who has never been there a map would have been very helpful. With so many names of areas and rivers and mountains, my mind couldn't envision it all-but of course that could be my own personal shortcoming.
The author does a wonderful job creating the character of young Leonidas and following him as he develops into a young man is very entertaining. I highly recommend this to those who enjoy historical fiction with real historical information of the highest quality. I will be ordering the rest of the series shortly.
*The only improvement that I felt was needed, was in the description of the topography. It is obvious that the author knows the area very well and can describe it in minute details. However, for someone who has never been there a map would have been very helpful. With so many names of areas and rivers and mountains, my mind couldn't envision it all-but of course that could be my own personal shortcoming.
October 14, 2013
i really enjoyed this book. going through the years of leonidas going through the agoge was really cool the author made me feel like i was there
April 10, 2013
Fantastic - couldn't put it down!
March 18, 2020
Finally
Finally a historical fiction worth its name! Helena Schraders lets her in depth knowledge of the ancient world provide the foundation in this tale about Leonidas of Sparta, captivating the reader without falling into the 300 fetish a la Gates of Fire. I’ve been waiting for something like this for a long time and am looking forward to book 2 A peerless Peer.
Finally a historical fiction worth its name! Helena Schraders lets her in depth knowledge of the ancient world provide the foundation in this tale about Leonidas of Sparta, captivating the reader without falling into the 300 fetish a la Gates of Fire. I’ve been waiting for something like this for a long time and am looking forward to book 2 A peerless Peer.
August 18, 2022
Really interesting to begin with, learnt alot about what sparta would of been like and how life would of been. I think there was too much detail in parts that didn’t add much to the story and it sort of stopped its flow in my opinion.
I think many would like this book but I guess I wanted something different.
I think many would like this book but I guess I wanted something different.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 11, 2019
I still haven't found anyone who writes like Mary Renault and maybe that's too high an expectation. This reads a bit on the dry side, but still is very good and I'm moving on to the next book in the trilogy.
May 28, 2019
Great historical fiction. I couldn't put it down.
November 20, 2024
Really fun historical novel on Leonidas. The author gives a different perspective of Spartan life. I enjoyed this trilogy.
December 5, 2017
Just about the Best Novel about Ancient Sparta
Most novels about ancient Sparta are about how brutish they were. There is a perception that Sparta was nothing more than a society of mindless warriors. This novel breaks the model and shows that archaic Spartan society was vibrant. Don't get me wrong, the author does show how brutal the agoge (the Spartan public education system) could be. We have a story about the early years of the future King Leonidas. Leonidas had to go through the agoge because he wasn't the crown prince. Young Leonidas has just started the agoge. You see his life long friendships form. These friendships become particularly important in later novels. We get to find out what resilient boy he is. The novel is fast paced. It's full if political intrigue and action. I enjoyed this book so much, I couldn't put it down. I highly recommend it.
Most novels about ancient Sparta are about how brutish they were. There is a perception that Sparta was nothing more than a society of mindless warriors. This novel breaks the model and shows that archaic Spartan society was vibrant. Don't get me wrong, the author does show how brutal the agoge (the Spartan public education system) could be. We have a story about the early years of the future King Leonidas. Leonidas had to go through the agoge because he wasn't the crown prince. Young Leonidas has just started the agoge. You see his life long friendships form. These friendships become particularly important in later novels. We get to find out what resilient boy he is. The novel is fast paced. It's full if political intrigue and action. I enjoyed this book so much, I couldn't put it down. I highly recommend it.
March 7, 2016
I recommend this book. The first hundred pages were not good reading. Some words and phrases were equivalent to saying 'okey dokey' or 'hi gal' to the queen of England. The final two hundred pages were redeeming.
The storyline was about Leonidas and his two friends in the Agoge from ages seven to twenty-one. I compared our present day military schools to the Agoge. These boys were trouble coming down the road, but they redeemed themselves in the end by one method or another. Over the course of Leonidas' life in the Agoge, I could see Leonidas growing mentally and physically. I wish I did not know what would become of him in the future.
Thank you, Ms. Schrader, for a good read.
The storyline was about Leonidas and his two friends in the Agoge from ages seven to twenty-one. I compared our present day military schools to the Agoge. These boys were trouble coming down the road, but they redeemed themselves in the end by one method or another. Over the course of Leonidas' life in the Agoge, I could see Leonidas growing mentally and physically. I wish I did not know what would become of him in the future.
Thank you, Ms. Schrader, for a good read.
January 26, 2016
This was an amazing and insightful read. It's fascinating to follow Leonidas's growth, his struggles and concerns and see him more as a boy, a human being, than a legend. The author made an excellent work of both creating a engaging fiction while teaching the reader a lot of interesting facts and cultural peculiarities of the Spartan culture. 5/5!
April 10, 2016
detail rich without a text-book or teachy-feel.
I enjoyed the treatment of equestrian details, but also the consideration for different generations & genders as in the author's other books I've read.
I enjoyed the treatment of equestrian details, but also the consideration for different generations & genders as in the author's other books I've read.
September 17, 2014
A fabulous, richly detailed story backed by solid historical research. I loved it!
maybe
October 13, 2014Wait for some authentic ratings to come in.
May 27, 2015
Excellent reas
Less of a novel and more of a historical work. Excellently written. Looking forward to the next two books in the series.
Less of a novel and more of a historical work. Excellently written. Looking forward to the next two books in the series.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews