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Long War #1
Killer of Men
Arimnestos is a farm boy when war breaks out between the citizens of his native Plataea and and their overbearing neighbours, Thebes. Standing in the battle line - the wall of bronze - for the first time, alongside his father and brother, he shares in a famous and unlikely victory. But after being knocked unconscious in the melee, he awakes not a hero, but a slave. Betrayed by his jealous and cowardly cousin, the freedom he fought for has now vanished, and he becomes the property of a rich citizen of Ephesus. So begins an epic journey from slavery that takes the young Arimnestos through a world poised on the brink of an epic confrontation, as the emerging civilization of the Greeks starts to flex its muscles against the established empire of the Persians. As he tries to make his fortune and revenge himself on the man who disinherited him, Arimnestos discovers that he has a talent that pays well in this new, violent world, for like his hero, Achilles, he is 'a killer of men'.
432 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
313 people are currently reading
5984 people want to read
About the author
Christian Cameron
81 books1,099 followersAka 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 200 reviews
September 18, 2017
Since I'm starting second book I decided to polish a bit review for the first book.
I was planing on writing about this book for long time but I simply can't way to properly share fascination with this book so this review might be edited when I find a way do this book justice.
After finishing Red knight I wanted to see authors other work and this book caught my eye right away.
Killer of men is historical fiction but I can't help being reminded of fantasy book, most of all grimdark and military fantasy. We got gifted protagonist in his coming of age story who grows to be flawed (anti)hero.
Book is set during the first Greco-Persian war and follows events that precede it as well as war itself.Story is seen through eyes of Arimnestos of Plataea (who actually existed and is consider to be one of the sources for Herodotus) in retrospective tells it to his daughter and her companions.This is his personal story and we see events, culture, with all good, bad and ugly parts, and historical figures as he perceives them.We learn a lot about culture, customs and technology of that time. Cameron he obviously knows lot about that stuff which also shows in Traitor son cycle but unlike many authors he doesn't feel urge to shower you with info dumps, instead he weaves them organically into his story.
If I have to nitpick I would say maybe choice do this story in first person retrospective is kind of questionable or could have been done better.Other than that everything is great. Characters are complex, dialogues are well written, combat is superbly well done, both individual combat and large scale warfare, and book is set in one very fascinating period during big clash of cultures.
Overall a great book and I would recommend it those interested in this period as well as fans of military fiction.
I was planing on writing about this book for long time but I simply can't way to properly share fascination with this book so this review might be edited when I find a way do this book justice.
After finishing Red knight I wanted to see authors other work and this book caught my eye right away.
Killer of men is historical fiction but I can't help being reminded of fantasy book, most of all grimdark and military fantasy. We got gifted protagonist in his coming of age story who grows to be flawed (anti)hero.
Book is set during the first Greco-Persian war and follows events that precede it as well as war itself.Story is seen through eyes of Arimnestos of Plataea (who actually existed and is consider to be one of the sources for Herodotus) in retrospective tells it to his daughter and her companions.This is his personal story and we see events, culture, with all good, bad and ugly parts, and historical figures as he perceives them.We learn a lot about culture, customs and technology of that time. Cameron he obviously knows lot about that stuff which also shows in Traitor son cycle but unlike many authors he doesn't feel urge to shower you with info dumps, instead he weaves them organically into his story.
If I have to nitpick I would say maybe choice do this story in first person retrospective is kind of questionable or could have been done better.Other than that everything is great. Characters are complex, dialogues are well written, combat is superbly well done, both individual combat and large scale warfare, and book is set in one very fascinating period during big clash of cultures.
Overall a great book and I would recommend it those interested in this period as well as fans of military fiction.
August 24, 2024
My brother and I now have a booktube called The Brothers Gwynne. Check it out! The Brothers Gwynne
*Re-read - not many people can write a flawed main character with a hubristic but attentive voice like Cameron*
The best book I've had the pleasure of reading all year.
*Re-read - not many people can write a flawed main character with a hubristic but attentive voice like Cameron*
The best book I've had the pleasure of reading all year.
March 9, 2017
From the way it started, I didn't think I'd enjoy it but it ended up being a really good story.
So the whole book is this father telling his daughter about his life as she writes it down. At first, I thought, "No way is this going to be interesting," but very quickly it drew me in and had me hooked. Even though there are a couple of places where the story loses a bit of momentum they didn't last long. The main character, Arimnestos, is tremendously interesting. Growing from a small boy to a young adult and going through things that would break most normal people.
The only drawback for me personally was all the historical names. I found myself getting some of the characters with similar names mixed up. Other readers may not have this issue.
The plot, well there really isn't one, other than Arimnestos' life. Don't get me wrong that doesn't mean the story is boring, far from it. It just follows his life as he starts life as a boy growing up on a farm. His father also works as a metalsmith which both Arimnestos and his brother begin to learn. But soon war breaks out and Arimnestos joins with his father and brother and stands in the battle lines to fight. At only twelve it's hard to believe he is even asked to join the battle. How history has changed what we ask our children to do!
That's how the entire book is. Battle after battle. Arimnestos growing and learning, becoming better at killing. Hence the title of the book.
I am very much looking forward to the second book in the series!
August 10, 2015
To begin at the beginning… How many series have you read where you pick up the first book to find an iron-hard, three-dimensional, experienced and world-weary hero awaiting you? They are, barring the anti-hero, the best characters to both read and write. But how often do you get to see that hero created?
That is what Killer of Men is. In terms of superhero movies, this is a great hero’s ‘origin story’. It is the very creation of a hero. Or possibly not quite a hero. After all, an instinctive killer, drawn to war like iron filings to a magnet is not by definition the same as a hero.
Moreover, the book is set during one of the greatest clashes of culture in the history of the world: Greece vs. Persia. But again, in the same way as the novel is the story of the origin of the hero, it is also the story of the origin of that war (it is called the Long War saga for a reason. This was a loooooong war.) And that means that Killer of Men takes place during the Ionian revolt at the very beginning of the great Greek/Persian war.
So what of the actual story?
Arimnestos is an ordinary boy. He is the son of a talented blacksmith who has also had the honour and duty of standing as a hoplite in the line of battle for his small city-state of Plataea. As his city is inevitably dragged into the world stage via a perhaps unwise allegiance with the upcoming demos of Athens, Arimnestos begins a journey of his own. In sickening blurb terms, one might say: from zero to hero.
Sent from his family to study with a retired warrior, Arimnestos learns the skills of the soldier and the hunter, but despite that, not yet the ‘killer of men’ for which the book is named. As the wheel of time turns and he grows to young manhood, the Plataean finds himself in battle against the greatest warriors of his age, the Spartans, on the Athenian flank. Following the battle and a betrayal by one of his own, Arimnestos finds himself alone, with a dead father and brother and sold into slavery.
But here his journey really begins. As a slave (and companion to a young noble) in Ephesus, Arimnestos learns from one of the greatest philosophers of the ancient world, improves his battle skills and is introduced on a very personal level to the Persian people and their leaders.
Well, I won’t spoil the story. But Arimnestos has been a blacksmith’s son, a soldier, and then a slave. He will also be a ship’s navarch, a sportsman, a war-hero, an avenger, and so much more as he succumbs to fate and becomes the killer of men that is his destiny. But throughout the whole tale of his growth to manhood, there is always the background thread that Arimnestos was betrayed, disinherited and sold as a slave. And we know from early in the book that this situation will have to be resolved before the end.
Well that’s the book and the plot and the hero. As for the style? Is anyone not familiar yet with Christian Cameron’s fluid and absorbing work? He writes masterpieces or nothing at all.
In technical terms, while my own knowledge of the world of ancient Greece is much scanter than my knowledge of Rome, I have yet to trip him up with any fact, and he has taught me so much through his writing. He knows his subject thoroughly. He is conversant to an undreamed of extent. Moreover, Cameron is both a reenactor and a military veteran, both of which lend a huge level of authenticity to his scenes of strife. And I mean to a level that few civilians could ever hope to touch.
Cameron is, for me, a composite of all I like in my ancient novels. He can write the stink, terror and chaos of battle as well as Ben Kane, the cameraderie and humour like Tony Riches, the depth of character and inrigue like Douglas Jacskon and the sheer emotion like Manda Scott. As such, he is capable of producing work that speaks to readers of all forms of historical fiction, to every facet of a reader’s soul.
Killer of Men is the saga of a young man driven to the edge of reason and finding in his darkest hour the clarity of the born warrior. It is a tale of growth and of finding oneself, and of revenge and heroism. It is everything you could want in historical fiction.
I cannot recommend the Long War series highly enough.
That is what Killer of Men is. In terms of superhero movies, this is a great hero’s ‘origin story’. It is the very creation of a hero. Or possibly not quite a hero. After all, an instinctive killer, drawn to war like iron filings to a magnet is not by definition the same as a hero.
Moreover, the book is set during one of the greatest clashes of culture in the history of the world: Greece vs. Persia. But again, in the same way as the novel is the story of the origin of the hero, it is also the story of the origin of that war (it is called the Long War saga for a reason. This was a loooooong war.) And that means that Killer of Men takes place during the Ionian revolt at the very beginning of the great Greek/Persian war.
So what of the actual story?
Arimnestos is an ordinary boy. He is the son of a talented blacksmith who has also had the honour and duty of standing as a hoplite in the line of battle for his small city-state of Plataea. As his city is inevitably dragged into the world stage via a perhaps unwise allegiance with the upcoming demos of Athens, Arimnestos begins a journey of his own. In sickening blurb terms, one might say: from zero to hero.
Sent from his family to study with a retired warrior, Arimnestos learns the skills of the soldier and the hunter, but despite that, not yet the ‘killer of men’ for which the book is named. As the wheel of time turns and he grows to young manhood, the Plataean finds himself in battle against the greatest warriors of his age, the Spartans, on the Athenian flank. Following the battle and a betrayal by one of his own, Arimnestos finds himself alone, with a dead father and brother and sold into slavery.
But here his journey really begins. As a slave (and companion to a young noble) in Ephesus, Arimnestos learns from one of the greatest philosophers of the ancient world, improves his battle skills and is introduced on a very personal level to the Persian people and their leaders.
Well, I won’t spoil the story. But Arimnestos has been a blacksmith’s son, a soldier, and then a slave. He will also be a ship’s navarch, a sportsman, a war-hero, an avenger, and so much more as he succumbs to fate and becomes the killer of men that is his destiny. But throughout the whole tale of his growth to manhood, there is always the background thread that Arimnestos was betrayed, disinherited and sold as a slave. And we know from early in the book that this situation will have to be resolved before the end.
Well that’s the book and the plot and the hero. As for the style? Is anyone not familiar yet with Christian Cameron’s fluid and absorbing work? He writes masterpieces or nothing at all.
In technical terms, while my own knowledge of the world of ancient Greece is much scanter than my knowledge of Rome, I have yet to trip him up with any fact, and he has taught me so much through his writing. He knows his subject thoroughly. He is conversant to an undreamed of extent. Moreover, Cameron is both a reenactor and a military veteran, both of which lend a huge level of authenticity to his scenes of strife. And I mean to a level that few civilians could ever hope to touch.
Cameron is, for me, a composite of all I like in my ancient novels. He can write the stink, terror and chaos of battle as well as Ben Kane, the cameraderie and humour like Tony Riches, the depth of character and inrigue like Douglas Jacskon and the sheer emotion like Manda Scott. As such, he is capable of producing work that speaks to readers of all forms of historical fiction, to every facet of a reader’s soul.
Killer of Men is the saga of a young man driven to the edge of reason and finding in his darkest hour the clarity of the born warrior. It is a tale of growth and of finding oneself, and of revenge and heroism. It is everything you could want in historical fiction.
I cannot recommend the Long War series highly enough.
March 18, 2013
A great read. Loved the balance between character, pace and plot, with a complete sense of place. It read somewhere in between Bernard Cornwell and David Gemmell.
Loved it.
Loved it.
April 25, 2021
7,5/10
Me es complicado hacer la reseña sobre esta lectura, ya que me ha gustado en general, tiene buen ritmo, hay mucha acción y siempre pasa algo durante toda la trama, algo que es de mi agrado y que me entretiene, pero a pesar de lo comentado la sensación general es que no me ha aportado nada nuevo que no haya leído decenas de veces.
La trama cumple casi todos los estereotipos de este estilo de novelas, niño pequeño que cae en desgracia y que poco a poco va creciendo haciendo frente a toda clase de dificultades, hasta que alcanza la madurez en la que demuestra sus dotes con las armas y se gana una fama de gran guerrero. Hasta alcanzar este punto, el protagonista deberá de pasar por un sinfín de aventuras y desventuras que le marcarán un futuro que bordeará el desastre con la gloria.
Esta ambientada en el inicio de las guerras médicas y me ha gustado que se centre, al menos esta primera novela, en las ciudades Jónicas, cuya sublevación inició este periodo histórico tan conocido.
Resumiendo, novela histórica entretenida, con una ambientación bastante interesante, centrada en un momento histórico que da mucho juego a la hora de hilvanar una historia y con un protagonista que cumple bien, aunque creo que le falta algo más de personalidad propia. Recomendable si te gustan tanto las novelas históricas con mucha acción y elementos militares, como la temática Helena.
Ahora no creo, pero en el futuro me gustaría continuar con la saga.
Me es complicado hacer la reseña sobre esta lectura, ya que me ha gustado en general, tiene buen ritmo, hay mucha acción y siempre pasa algo durante toda la trama, algo que es de mi agrado y que me entretiene, pero a pesar de lo comentado la sensación general es que no me ha aportado nada nuevo que no haya leído decenas de veces.
La trama cumple casi todos los estereotipos de este estilo de novelas, niño pequeño que cae en desgracia y que poco a poco va creciendo haciendo frente a toda clase de dificultades, hasta que alcanza la madurez en la que demuestra sus dotes con las armas y se gana una fama de gran guerrero. Hasta alcanzar este punto, el protagonista deberá de pasar por un sinfín de aventuras y desventuras que le marcarán un futuro que bordeará el desastre con la gloria.
Esta ambientada en el inicio de las guerras médicas y me ha gustado que se centre, al menos esta primera novela, en las ciudades Jónicas, cuya sublevación inició este periodo histórico tan conocido.
Resumiendo, novela histórica entretenida, con una ambientación bastante interesante, centrada en un momento histórico que da mucho juego a la hora de hilvanar una historia y con un protagonista que cumple bien, aunque creo que le falta algo más de personalidad propia. Recomendable si te gustan tanto las novelas históricas con mucha acción y elementos militares, como la temática Helena.
Ahora no creo, pero en el futuro me gustaría continuar con la saga.
July 22, 2012
I have heard a ton of praise for Christian Cameron and had high hopes when I started to read "Killer of Men", my first novel by this ex-military aviator and intelligence officer.
Too bad it pretty much sucks. And it sucks in very particular way, it could have been kick-ass awesome "Men in Miniskirts" -novel with a lot bloody action and both land and sea battles. But the author does his damnest to irritate the hell out of you while reading this otherwise pretty cool story about a young farmer who becomes a slave and then flawed hero. In the novel the protagonist tells his story as an old man to, I guess, his daughter and son, and while telling the tale, he does:
1. Ask for more wine.
2. Make a lame comment about sex to make a young lady blush.
3. State that he is a Killer of Men.
Over and over, and then some more. And not only in the beginning or end of chapter, but everywhere! Cameron thanks his editors in his afterword, and one has to wonder, for what? Not doing their jobs?
Too bad it pretty much sucks. And it sucks in very particular way, it could have been kick-ass awesome "Men in Miniskirts" -novel with a lot bloody action and both land and sea battles. But the author does his damnest to irritate the hell out of you while reading this otherwise pretty cool story about a young farmer who becomes a slave and then flawed hero. In the novel the protagonist tells his story as an old man to, I guess, his daughter and son, and while telling the tale, he does:
1. Ask for more wine.
2. Make a lame comment about sex to make a young lady blush.
3. State that he is a Killer of Men.
Over and over, and then some more. And not only in the beginning or end of chapter, but everywhere! Cameron thanks his editors in his afterword, and one has to wonder, for what? Not doing their jobs?
May 17, 2016
One of the best books I've read lately, highly recommended!!!
October 2, 2012
Another excellent novel from the author after the 3 Tyrant books which i enjoyed all; a first person narration from Arimnestos of Plataea as told to his young daughter and companions, in the hero's old age when he seems to be a noble of some sort in Thrace
It covers his young years, training under an old soldier and killer of men himself and later his begging soldiering in the week of 3 battles when the Athenians and the Plateans face 3 enemy armies and defeat all
However young Arimnestos is wounded and cowardly betrayed and sold into slavery to Ephesus where by chance he is taken by rich merchant and poet Hyponnax as companion to his son Archilagos
Here he grows to manhood in a sort of luxury slavery but the conflict with Persia is looming on the horizon...
Superb world building and a very convincing narrator's voice this is as good as anything I've read by the author. For some reason though the book stops just short of blowing me away as other historical fiction did and I cannot figure why - maybe the author' style is a bit dry, maybe there is a bit too much soap in the relationships in Hyponnax household which will reverberate to the future, but I think the novel is missing something to make it a top-top one of mine.
I am in for the duration of the series of course and I really liked it and highly recommend it
Updated FBC rv here:
http://fantasybookcritic.blogspot.com...
It covers his young years, training under an old soldier and killer of men himself and later his begging soldiering in the week of 3 battles when the Athenians and the Plateans face 3 enemy armies and defeat all
However young Arimnestos is wounded and cowardly betrayed and sold into slavery to Ephesus where by chance he is taken by rich merchant and poet Hyponnax as companion to his son Archilagos
Here he grows to manhood in a sort of luxury slavery but the conflict with Persia is looming on the horizon...
Superb world building and a very convincing narrator's voice this is as good as anything I've read by the author. For some reason though the book stops just short of blowing me away as other historical fiction did and I cannot figure why - maybe the author' style is a bit dry, maybe there is a bit too much soap in the relationships in Hyponnax household which will reverberate to the future, but I think the novel is missing something to make it a top-top one of mine.
I am in for the duration of the series of course and I really liked it and highly recommend it
Updated FBC rv here:
http://fantasybookcritic.blogspot.com...
December 28, 2014
The Style is that of an old storyteller - in this case the hero, who interjects every so oft into the story.
His story starts as a boy in Plataea, his father being a renowned Bronze Smith where after a period of scene setting of a peaceable life as a farmboy they encounter Miltiados & war soon looms as they ally with the Athenians.
There is plenty more to tell but wont spoil for you & will leave it to say that Spartans, phalanx warfare, slavery & servitude, Persians (Medes empire), Phonicians, naval battles, sea voyages on the Great Green, olympic style games, duels, politics, land battles et al are involved in atale which sees our hero go from young boy to manhood.
It really is a good strong story, well told & plenny to like about it & for me a solid 4.5 rating.
His story starts as a boy in Plataea, his father being a renowned Bronze Smith where after a period of scene setting of a peaceable life as a farmboy they encounter Miltiados & war soon looms as they ally with the Athenians.
There is plenty more to tell but wont spoil for you & will leave it to say that Spartans, phalanx warfare, slavery & servitude, Persians (Medes empire), Phonicians, naval battles, sea voyages on the Great Green, olympic style games, duels, politics, land battles et al are involved in atale which sees our hero go from young boy to manhood.
It really is a good strong story, well told & plenny to like about it & for me a solid 4.5 rating.
March 25, 2024
Perfect. Again.
3rd read: Reading is challenging when you are suffering a brain tumour. Books like this make more than worthwhile. Can’t praise this masterpiece/series enough. 5⭐️
3rd read: Reading is challenging when you are suffering a brain tumour. Books like this make more than worthwhile. Can’t praise this masterpiece/series enough. 5⭐️
December 29, 2018
This fantastic book by Christian Cameron is the 1st volume of the "Killer of Men" series.
As this has been my very first encounter with this author I have to admit that I'm truly fascinated now, simply because his way of writing is absolutely tremendous about the ancient history of the Greeks, the wars between the Greek states themselves as well as their struggles and brutal battles against their ferocious enemy, the Persians.
The book has a lot of historical details, an expansive glossary, an informative piece of note with names and personages as well as interesting maps.
The story itself is about a man called Arimnestos, who's from Plataea, when war breaks out against their strong neighbours, Thebes, and while they achieve an unexpected victory against Thebes, he's betrayed by his cousin, and so he finds himself now a slave of a citizen of Ephesus, a city under the rule of the Persian king.
When Arimnestos begins his perilous journey to freedom he finds himself in a world where an epic confrontation is on the cards between the Greeks and the Persians.
While this is happening Arimnestos finds out that he has a special talent, and that that talent will pay well in this world of violence and death, and so he will turn into and become a "Killer of Men", and thus finds his place in a world full of war and death, democracy and tyranny, and freedom or slavery.
Highly recommended, because this book is a tremendous tale about the ancient Greeks, and for me this story has been a "Captivating Killer Opener"!
As this has been my very first encounter with this author I have to admit that I'm truly fascinated now, simply because his way of writing is absolutely tremendous about the ancient history of the Greeks, the wars between the Greek states themselves as well as their struggles and brutal battles against their ferocious enemy, the Persians.
The book has a lot of historical details, an expansive glossary, an informative piece of note with names and personages as well as interesting maps.
The story itself is about a man called Arimnestos, who's from Plataea, when war breaks out against their strong neighbours, Thebes, and while they achieve an unexpected victory against Thebes, he's betrayed by his cousin, and so he finds himself now a slave of a citizen of Ephesus, a city under the rule of the Persian king.
When Arimnestos begins his perilous journey to freedom he finds himself in a world where an epic confrontation is on the cards between the Greeks and the Persians.
While this is happening Arimnestos finds out that he has a special talent, and that that talent will pay well in this world of violence and death, and so he will turn into and become a "Killer of Men", and thus finds his place in a world full of war and death, democracy and tyranny, and freedom or slavery.
Highly recommended, because this book is a tremendous tale about the ancient Greeks, and for me this story has been a "Captivating Killer Opener"!
July 17, 2012
On paper this looked like the kind of book I would eat up. Ancient setting, battles, swords and sandals type historical fiction. Yet, I couldn't finish it. In truth I barely started it having only reached page 120 (plus a flick through the next 100 pages to see if it improved).
I'm not going to hold anything against this book. It is written okay, but the author's 'storyteller' style was not compatible with me. I simply couldn't connect and it was disorienting.
I'm not going to hold anything against this book. It is written okay, but the author's 'storyteller' style was not compatible with me. I simply couldn't connect and it was disorienting.
May 26, 2024
3.5*
June 8, 2023
This is just the second book I have read by this author and I cannot imagine why it took me so long to find this one. Excellent story telling of life in ancient Greece featuring a likable and heroic figure who aims to avenge the death of his father. Long, detailed warfare tactics.
Bargain price of 99 cents on Amazon at this time!
Bargain price of 99 cents on Amazon at this time!
December 6, 2015
Probably the best historical-fiction novel I have ever read. I've loved how Cameron managed to create interesting female characters, with powerful agendas, even in that male dominated era. This should be a lesson for an important part of the epic-fantasy writers that uses the realism of the past as a stupid excuse to write atrocious acts and poor developed female characters.
August 29, 2019
I really like his other series better which prevented me from enjoying this book for the first 85%. The last 15% (after a long pause) was really good. Hoping to continue the series sometime soonish!
December 6, 2016
This is the sixth book I have read by Christian and I am happy to report it didn't disappoint.
As with God of War and The Traitor Son Cycle I was impressed with how vividly his worlds come off the page. For me, there is no one who writes a battle quite like this man, but I am equally impressed with how committed I am to his main characters through their early development.
Arimnestos has many qualities ordinary people would not consider good, or even likable, but through Cameron's engaging story telling I found that I cared deeply for the outcomes of Arimnestos' various tribulations. For me a main character can be good, bad or anywhere between so long as that they have the stuff to keep me hooked, and is in some way remarkable, but not perfect, indeed they should be flawed. I mean, do you know anyone who could claim to be perfect? I feel Arimnestos ticked all those boxes.
The book isn't that big but is packed full of exciting content, the like of which I haven't seen since the late and great David Gemmell.
I very much look forward to reading the remainder of the series, four of which books currently sit on my shelf.
Great read.
As with God of War and The Traitor Son Cycle I was impressed with how vividly his worlds come off the page. For me, there is no one who writes a battle quite like this man, but I am equally impressed with how committed I am to his main characters through their early development.
Arimnestos has many qualities ordinary people would not consider good, or even likable, but through Cameron's engaging story telling I found that I cared deeply for the outcomes of Arimnestos' various tribulations. For me a main character can be good, bad or anywhere between so long as that they have the stuff to keep me hooked, and is in some way remarkable, but not perfect, indeed they should be flawed. I mean, do you know anyone who could claim to be perfect? I feel Arimnestos ticked all those boxes.
The book isn't that big but is packed full of exciting content, the like of which I haven't seen since the late and great David Gemmell.
I very much look forward to reading the remainder of the series, four of which books currently sit on my shelf.
Great read.
November 4, 2022
"No one really, deep down, wants to be Achilles. What we all want is to live, and to be brave enough to tell our story"
What an amazing read, I deeply enjoyed reading about god-like Arimnestos and I'm shocked that I hadn't learned about him before. The details, descriptions, battles, and conversations in this book were so well done that I could imagine myself on the sea during the battles or the raids.
I can't wait to continue learning more about this time in history and to see how my now favourite hero continues his journey.
And with so many amazing quotes and references to the Iliad and Oddysey, I wanted to mark them all!
"Perhaps, if things had gone otherwise, we might have been lovers, because he was Patroclus in every way that mattered, and perhaps I was Achilles"
What an amazing read, I deeply enjoyed reading about god-like Arimnestos and I'm shocked that I hadn't learned about him before. The details, descriptions, battles, and conversations in this book were so well done that I could imagine myself on the sea during the battles or the raids.
I can't wait to continue learning more about this time in history and to see how my now favourite hero continues his journey.
And with so many amazing quotes and references to the Iliad and Oddysey, I wanted to mark them all!
"Perhaps, if things had gone otherwise, we might have been lovers, because he was Patroclus in every way that mattered, and perhaps I was Achilles"
April 8, 2014
I’d had ‘Killer of Men’ on my ‘to read’ shelf for quite some time. I like historical fiction, I’d say at a rough guess it constitutes between 10% and 20% of my total reading. When the genre is at its best in such books as Falls the Shadow, Shakespeare's Rebel (see my review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) or Gates of Fire: An Epic Novel of the Battle of Thermopylae to name a few, it transports the reader to a different time and a totally different existence than modern day. ‘Killer of Men’ is, in my opinion, in this top echelon.
Like the aforementioned ‘Gates of Fire’ this book deals with the Greek-Persian struggle. The story follows a young man called Arimnestos from Plataea who falls in battle amongst the Greek states where his town is supporting Athens. He finds himself sold into slavery to a Greek aristocrat, Hipponax, in the Persian controlled city of Ephesus in Ionia. Arimnestos had formerly received some combat training from a warrior-hermit and his ability leads his new owner to appoint him as companion to his son, Archilogos. Together Arimnestos and his charge become more and more proficient in arms and the closest of friends.
The story is told in the first person with Arimnestos as an old man recounting the tale of his life to his daughter and her friends. Two observations by the older Arimnestos are particularly noteworthy. The first is that although he was a slave and yearned to be a free man, his life was very comfortable with a minimum of hardship; his owners treated him very well. The other is that, the Ionian Greeks while nominally under Persian rule, had great autonomy and the Persian influence is benign. Consequently Ephesus and the other cities were better off than a lot of the Greek cities in Greece which are run self-servingly by a ruling elite.
Arimnestos falls for the daughter of Hipponax, Briseis, and after an act to avenge her honour Arimnestos has to flee Ephesus. Hipponax grants him his freedom before he flees. The Ionian Greeks rise up in rebellion against Persia and the freed Arimnestos finds himself battling on their side in the war. Through a cruel misunderstanding he incurs the enduring enmity of his friend Archilogos.
I won’t spoil the story anymore, I’ll just say a few of the things which stood out. The characterisation of the self-centred Greek aristocrats is very well done, they are happy to go to war and sacrifice the lives of their men for what are pretty much vain or selfish reasons. The frustration the Persian Satrap has with the chaffing of the Ionian Greeks under Persian rule is clear, he cannot understand why they would prefer the petty rule of Athens and her allies to the ‘light touch’ rule of the Persian King. The battle scenes are incredibly well-drawn, as are the single combat pieces. Like C. C. Humphreys with Elizabethan weaponry, Cameron is knowledgeable and has had training with the weapons of the ancient Greeks and this shines through. Finally, Arimnestos as an older man telling the story has accepted that he is a rarity, a natural killer. In keeping with his life and experiences, he is not tormented by this awareness but accepts it as a part of his makeup.
‘Killer of Men’ is first of a series of books about Arimnestos and I intend to read the rest, as well as looking for other series by Cameron.
Like the aforementioned ‘Gates of Fire’ this book deals with the Greek-Persian struggle. The story follows a young man called Arimnestos from Plataea who falls in battle amongst the Greek states where his town is supporting Athens. He finds himself sold into slavery to a Greek aristocrat, Hipponax, in the Persian controlled city of Ephesus in Ionia. Arimnestos had formerly received some combat training from a warrior-hermit and his ability leads his new owner to appoint him as companion to his son, Archilogos. Together Arimnestos and his charge become more and more proficient in arms and the closest of friends.
The story is told in the first person with Arimnestos as an old man recounting the tale of his life to his daughter and her friends. Two observations by the older Arimnestos are particularly noteworthy. The first is that although he was a slave and yearned to be a free man, his life was very comfortable with a minimum of hardship; his owners treated him very well. The other is that, the Ionian Greeks while nominally under Persian rule, had great autonomy and the Persian influence is benign. Consequently Ephesus and the other cities were better off than a lot of the Greek cities in Greece which are run self-servingly by a ruling elite.
Arimnestos falls for the daughter of Hipponax, Briseis, and after an act to avenge her honour Arimnestos has to flee Ephesus. Hipponax grants him his freedom before he flees. The Ionian Greeks rise up in rebellion against Persia and the freed Arimnestos finds himself battling on their side in the war. Through a cruel misunderstanding he incurs the enduring enmity of his friend Archilogos.
I won’t spoil the story anymore, I’ll just say a few of the things which stood out. The characterisation of the self-centred Greek aristocrats is very well done, they are happy to go to war and sacrifice the lives of their men for what are pretty much vain or selfish reasons. The frustration the Persian Satrap has with the chaffing of the Ionian Greeks under Persian rule is clear, he cannot understand why they would prefer the petty rule of Athens and her allies to the ‘light touch’ rule of the Persian King. The battle scenes are incredibly well-drawn, as are the single combat pieces. Like C. C. Humphreys with Elizabethan weaponry, Cameron is knowledgeable and has had training with the weapons of the ancient Greeks and this shines through. Finally, Arimnestos as an older man telling the story has accepted that he is a rarity, a natural killer. In keeping with his life and experiences, he is not tormented by this awareness but accepts it as a part of his makeup.
‘Killer of Men’ is first of a series of books about Arimnestos and I intend to read the rest, as well as looking for other series by Cameron.
June 23, 2013
http://abitterdraft.blogspot.com/2013...
Killer of Men is the first in Christian Cameron's The Long War series, which outlines the conflict between the Greeks and the Persians around the 5th century BC. Killer of Men is centered primarily around the Ionian Revolt, and it makes for a great story.
The story is told in the first person, though it's one where the protagonist narrates from old age. There seems to be an influx of novels that do this and it can be very hit or miss as to whether they turn out well. Some, like Pat Rothfuss's Kingkiller series, are narrated in the same way, but the narrator, Kvothe in this case, begins his tale and it essentially turns into a normal first person perspective until a new chapter where the Chronicler has run out of ink or some such thing and the novel returns to the present. In Killer of Men, Arimnestos of Plataea is the narrator, telling his story to his thugater, or daughter, and a group of her friends. Arimnestos interrupts himself in his telling many times each chapter, primarily to ask for wine or to comment on his daughter's blushing, and this annoyed me a little because it broke up the narration. The further in the novel I progressed, the more the style grew on me. Some stories are better told through a direct first person rather than a narration, and I think I really would have enjoyed this more if it weren't a narration. Despite this, Killer of Men only got better as the story moved along.
We see Arimnestos develop from a young farm boy into a brutal killer of men, and from the moment he was betrayed and sold into slavery his development is kickstarted. Killers of men, as Cameron describes them, are very similar to David Gemmell's baresarks from his novel Legend - as soon as they have the scent of blood, they're a completely different person - and we see this in Arimnestos's often brutal recollections as well as how it affected him then and especially in the present. Throughout his time as a slave, he sees the stark contrast between his home of Plataea and Ionia. Cameron is adept at his worldbuilding, painting a superb picture of ancient Greece.
Quick pacing - even in the parts that seem like they would be dull, great worldbuilding, and strong characters made Killer of Men a thoroughly entertaining read for me and should do the same for anyone even remotely interested in ancient Greece. Marathon: Freedom or Death is the second in the series, and as it was one of the most important battles of the era, I am very eager to read it and other works by Christian Cameron.
Killer of Men is the first in Christian Cameron's The Long War series, which outlines the conflict between the Greeks and the Persians around the 5th century BC. Killer of Men is centered primarily around the Ionian Revolt, and it makes for a great story.
The story is told in the first person, though it's one where the protagonist narrates from old age. There seems to be an influx of novels that do this and it can be very hit or miss as to whether they turn out well. Some, like Pat Rothfuss's Kingkiller series, are narrated in the same way, but the narrator, Kvothe in this case, begins his tale and it essentially turns into a normal first person perspective until a new chapter where the Chronicler has run out of ink or some such thing and the novel returns to the present. In Killer of Men, Arimnestos of Plataea is the narrator, telling his story to his thugater, or daughter, and a group of her friends. Arimnestos interrupts himself in his telling many times each chapter, primarily to ask for wine or to comment on his daughter's blushing, and this annoyed me a little because it broke up the narration. The further in the novel I progressed, the more the style grew on me. Some stories are better told through a direct first person rather than a narration, and I think I really would have enjoyed this more if it weren't a narration. Despite this, Killer of Men only got better as the story moved along.
We see Arimnestos develop from a young farm boy into a brutal killer of men, and from the moment he was betrayed and sold into slavery his development is kickstarted. Killers of men, as Cameron describes them, are very similar to David Gemmell's baresarks from his novel Legend - as soon as they have the scent of blood, they're a completely different person - and we see this in Arimnestos's often brutal recollections as well as how it affected him then and especially in the present. Throughout his time as a slave, he sees the stark contrast between his home of Plataea and Ionia. Cameron is adept at his worldbuilding, painting a superb picture of ancient Greece.
Quick pacing - even in the parts that seem like they would be dull, great worldbuilding, and strong characters made Killer of Men a thoroughly entertaining read for me and should do the same for anyone even remotely interested in ancient Greece. Marathon: Freedom or Death is the second in the series, and as it was one of the most important battles of the era, I am very eager to read it and other works by Christian Cameron.
March 9, 2021
Killer of Men is a solid piece of historical fiction about the Greco-Persian Wars, specifically the Ionian Revolt.
Christian Cameron is clearly a skilled writer on a purely technical level, which helps lends the novel a sense of historical realism. The novel is an excellent history lesson. It even has a glossary of terms!
On the other hand, he doesn’t have the evocative or emotional prose of writers like Cornwell or Kristian, so scenes can feel a little dry, rushed, awkwardly staged, or emotionally forced. The characters for the most part are very one dimensional. As a result, I didn’t actually feel anything while reading this, and it wasn’t as immersive as I’d have hoped.
Arimnestos is our titular Killer of Men and I don’t know what I think of him yet. He’s definitely interesting, and feels real in that complex hypocritical way that real people are. This is a story about what kind of person and mindset it takes to be a killer in the vein of Achilles or Hektor, and not just a normal soldier, so he’s not always very likeable.
The novel is all written in retrospective first person, where the main character is an old man telling the story to his daughter and her friends. It’s a common framing device, but it never settles into a groove here. Arimnestos constantly interrupts his own story to teach his daughter a lesson, ask for more wine, or call out a girl for blushing while he was describing an intimate sex scene. It took me more than half the novel to get used to it, and I’d honestly prefer the story were just told more traditionally.
3.5/5 realistically. Definitely not on par with other recent 4 star reads. It’s good but I wouldn’t really recommend unless you specifically wanted Ancient Greek historical fiction.
Christian Cameron is clearly a skilled writer on a purely technical level, which helps lends the novel a sense of historical realism. The novel is an excellent history lesson. It even has a glossary of terms!
On the other hand, he doesn’t have the evocative or emotional prose of writers like Cornwell or Kristian, so scenes can feel a little dry, rushed, awkwardly staged, or emotionally forced. The characters for the most part are very one dimensional. As a result, I didn’t actually feel anything while reading this, and it wasn’t as immersive as I’d have hoped.
Arimnestos is our titular Killer of Men and I don’t know what I think of him yet. He’s definitely interesting, and feels real in that complex hypocritical way that real people are. This is a story about what kind of person and mindset it takes to be a killer in the vein of Achilles or Hektor, and not just a normal soldier, so he’s not always very likeable.
The novel is all written in retrospective first person, where the main character is an old man telling the story to his daughter and her friends. It’s a common framing device, but it never settles into a groove here. Arimnestos constantly interrupts his own story to teach his daughter a lesson, ask for more wine, or call out a girl for blushing while he was describing an intimate sex scene. It took me more than half the novel to get used to it, and I’d honestly prefer the story were just told more traditionally.
3.5/5 realistically. Definitely not on par with other recent 4 star reads. It’s good but I wouldn’t really recommend unless you specifically wanted Ancient Greek historical fiction.
December 2, 2015
I put off too long starting The Long War series by Christian Cameron. Killer of Men is the first installment of the epic story of East vs West, pitting the Greek city-states against the might of the Persian King of Kings. That is the backdrop to this thoroughly entertaining tale of one man's journey from his home in Plataea becoming a feared warrior, a killer of men. The author deftly constructs the world of Miltiades of Athens and Darius the Persian; the descriptions of everyday life, the detail in the battle scenes, the scope of heroism and betrayal displayed by well written characters - besides the protagonist, I especially enjoyed the portrayals of Briseis, a woman who will scheme with the best of them and of the philosopher Heraclitus (a personal aside - one of my favorite philosophical aphorisms comes from Heraclitus, the one about not being able to step into the same river twice). All of those elements propel Arimnestos from a lowly farm existence to his eventual status as a hero. As far as the war is concerned, this volume is an excellent stage setter for the next book, Marathon and I will not put off reading that one. 5 stars for Killer of Men.
May 2, 2021
Battles, battles, battles...and some sex. Then some more battles. Sensational tale of a young Greek from childhood until his twenties and a long quest for revenge having been betrayed and handed over as a slave. Totally captivating and lots of combat sequences. Just a great adventure novel.
April 9, 2014
Another great Christian Cameron book, will definitely read the next in the series as well as his other HF series!
July 8, 2023
Ohhhh!! This was a delightful surprise. I will definitely read everything that Christian Cameron writes!
I really love this book.
I really love this book.
December 22, 2012
Last month I had myself a real hankering for some historical fiction so after looking at the Toronto Public Library's website and I came across Killer of Men by Christian Cameron and thought why not? I love books written during this time period and it wasn't too long of a novel either.
So, despite having a multitude of other novels that had to be read first I couldn't resist the appeal of this book for long and I ended up starting it the same day I brought it home. Right away I was drawn into Arminestos' story and the way it was told. The book was told by Arminestos when he was an old man retelling the story of his life to his daughter as well as some of her companions for me the way it was told lent itself to the overall success of the story. I haven't come across this style of story telling very often and when I do it can be either hit or miss. However, with Killer of Men the author was bang on in the way he used this writing technique.
Arminestos tells the story of his life from the time he was a small child to when he was a young man in his twenties and all the good, bad, happy, sad and extremely rough times in between. From being raised by a drunken mother, a distant father to that of being a slave after battle where he was sold out by his thieving and conniving cousin to the time he comes home to his roots after his aching heart can no longer resist the call of home.
This was the first book I've read by the author and I was really impressed with it. I loved the way the story was told, the characters were wonderful and Arminestos is one of those hero's that makes you want to invest your time and energy into reading about even after the first book is finished. What I think really made the novel though was the history. The author has a degree in history and was in the United States Navy and you can tell his experience in both fields came in handy while he wrote this book and that Killer of Men is a book written with a lot of passion and love for history which I as a history lover can really appreciate. The skill in which he was able to depict ancient life and depict such an arduous and bloody war was impressive.
The overall plot of the novel was great. There was murder, history, war, espionage, intrigue a little sex and some foul language in the book and it all came together in excellently written piece of historical fiction. I loved the blood and gore in the book and the tone in which Arminestos told his story to his daughter was wonderful.
In conclusion the book was a wonderful read. While the way the story is told may not be for everyone I highly recommend this book to all those with a love for ancient history, historical fiction and don't mind a book with a lot of killing to go along with a rich historical tapestry. I'm so glad that I gave this author a try and I can't wait to read the next book in this series told by Arminestos written by Christian Cameron in the new year.
So, despite having a multitude of other novels that had to be read first I couldn't resist the appeal of this book for long and I ended up starting it the same day I brought it home. Right away I was drawn into Arminestos' story and the way it was told. The book was told by Arminestos when he was an old man retelling the story of his life to his daughter as well as some of her companions for me the way it was told lent itself to the overall success of the story. I haven't come across this style of story telling very often and when I do it can be either hit or miss. However, with Killer of Men the author was bang on in the way he used this writing technique.
Arminestos tells the story of his life from the time he was a small child to when he was a young man in his twenties and all the good, bad, happy, sad and extremely rough times in between. From being raised by a drunken mother, a distant father to that of being a slave after battle where he was sold out by his thieving and conniving cousin to the time he comes home to his roots after his aching heart can no longer resist the call of home.
This was the first book I've read by the author and I was really impressed with it. I loved the way the story was told, the characters were wonderful and Arminestos is one of those hero's that makes you want to invest your time and energy into reading about even after the first book is finished. What I think really made the novel though was the history. The author has a degree in history and was in the United States Navy and you can tell his experience in both fields came in handy while he wrote this book and that Killer of Men is a book written with a lot of passion and love for history which I as a history lover can really appreciate. The skill in which he was able to depict ancient life and depict such an arduous and bloody war was impressive.
The overall plot of the novel was great. There was murder, history, war, espionage, intrigue a little sex and some foul language in the book and it all came together in excellently written piece of historical fiction. I loved the blood and gore in the book and the tone in which Arminestos told his story to his daughter was wonderful.
In conclusion the book was a wonderful read. While the way the story is told may not be for everyone I highly recommend this book to all those with a love for ancient history, historical fiction and don't mind a book with a lot of killing to go along with a rich historical tapestry. I'm so glad that I gave this author a try and I can't wait to read the next book in this series told by Arminestos written by Christian Cameron in the new year.
May 7, 2012
This review is from: Killer of Men (Hardcover)
When i started this book i was a little taken aback with the style, it was not what i had come to expect from Chris, that's not to say it was bad, it was just different, it was enough of a change to give me slight pause to think has the man lost it? should he have stuck with a winning formula like the tyrant series?
None of this should make you stop reading, because as you carry on reading you suddenly find your self being pulled into the world or Arimnestos.
Day one of reading this book and before i knew it it was 3 am and i really didn't want to put the book down. By the time i finished the book i had gone through a roller-coaster of emotions alongside my friend Arimnestos, i had lost sleep every night and been left reconsidering quite a few of his actions, what would i do it that situation? am i a good enough man to stand along side him, could i have stood in the storm of Bronze?
This book is a truly brilliant piece of writing, not only is it a great escape from real life it is also a great exploration of the human soul and a sometimes deadlier, some times more civilised more enlightenment time .
The other big authors of the genre will have to work damn hard this year to stop this being my book of the year.
So the challenge has been made Mr's Scarrow, Iggulden and Co can you beat this?
For you the readers...this is a must buy, If Christian does make it to the UK i will do my very best to secure Signed copies, but buy a copy of this book you cannot miss this book.
9/10 (always leave room for improvement no matter how good it is..LOL)
(Parm)
When i started this book i was a little taken aback with the style, it was not what i had come to expect from Chris, that's not to say it was bad, it was just different, it was enough of a change to give me slight pause to think has the man lost it? should he have stuck with a winning formula like the tyrant series?
None of this should make you stop reading, because as you carry on reading you suddenly find your self being pulled into the world or Arimnestos.
Day one of reading this book and before i knew it it was 3 am and i really didn't want to put the book down. By the time i finished the book i had gone through a roller-coaster of emotions alongside my friend Arimnestos, i had lost sleep every night and been left reconsidering quite a few of his actions, what would i do it that situation? am i a good enough man to stand along side him, could i have stood in the storm of Bronze?
This book is a truly brilliant piece of writing, not only is it a great escape from real life it is also a great exploration of the human soul and a sometimes deadlier, some times more civilised more enlightenment time .
The other big authors of the genre will have to work damn hard this year to stop this being my book of the year.
So the challenge has been made Mr's Scarrow, Iggulden and Co can you beat this?
For you the readers...this is a must buy, If Christian does make it to the UK i will do my very best to secure Signed copies, but buy a copy of this book you cannot miss this book.
9/10 (always leave room for improvement no matter how good it is..LOL)
(Parm)
January 3, 2013
I love stories with an ancient setting, and I know quite a lot about the period...
The setting was interesting and the plot was fairly well thought out.
Having said that... I didn't like this book.
Perhaps it was just the "review" edition that I was given, but I found the grammar uneven - too many slips into modern language, which I suppose was more for the readers benefit rather than actual errors. Some of the Greek terms were applied incorrectly and kept throwing me out of the story - I didn't mind how complicated and technical it got in places, I like that.
The other thing that ruined this book for me, was the determination of characters to avoid expletives, and then less than a chapter later, expletives literally jump off the page. Odd that.
It's still worth a try if you're interested in the period.
The setting was interesting and the plot was fairly well thought out.
Having said that... I didn't like this book.
Perhaps it was just the "review" edition that I was given, but I found the grammar uneven - too many slips into modern language, which I suppose was more for the readers benefit rather than actual errors. Some of the Greek terms were applied incorrectly and kept throwing me out of the story - I didn't mind how complicated and technical it got in places, I like that.
The other thing that ruined this book for me, was the determination of characters to avoid expletives, and then less than a chapter later, expletives literally jump off the page. Odd that.
It's still worth a try if you're interested in the period.
June 16, 2018
I was a big fan of Cameron's before I started this so I already knew I would like it, it's nice that he didn't disappoint me. The classical Greek world is not a period I know much about but this novel sure felt authentic and brought it to life in a very Sharpe-meets-the-Illiad type of way.
In spite of the immersive atmosphere and the vivid battle scenes I soured on it about halfway through, however. Arimnestos became such a cunt after a while that I almost lost interest in going on, I felt as if the author had lost all sense of moderation and just ran wild, but when I reached the final chapter it became clear that this was all deliberate after all, and the payoff was extremely satisfying.
Also the afterword by the author was very neat.
In spite of the immersive atmosphere and the vivid battle scenes I soured on it about halfway through, however. Arimnestos became such a cunt after a while that I almost lost interest in going on, I felt as if the author had lost all sense of moderation and just ran wild, but when I reached the final chapter it became clear that this was all deliberate after all, and the payoff was extremely satisfying.
Also the afterword by the author was very neat.
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