Plot and Themes

•In the beginning of the book, we are introduced to Xeones (aka Xeo), a Spartan squire who was captured by the Persian King and is forced to tell his story from the Spartan side of The Battle of Thermopylae.

•The plot of this novel is following Xeo as his story develops and truly learning what it's like to be a Spartan warrior.

•There were many major plot twists. It was very surprising when Alexandros and Leonidas died because they played such a major role in the story. The most surprising event was when Xeo died and they were forced to continue on with his unfinished story.

•There are many major themes that play key roles in this novel.

-When Xeo's village is destroyed, he feels hopeless and lonely. These feelings continue throughout the book because Xeo knows that he will never be able to have someone who he can relate too, or someone that isn't placed higher than him.

-Another major theme is the Spartan warriors commitment, loyalty and courage when it comes to protecting the rest of their community. This is shown through Alexandros when he describes what a man's courage is defined as, "Man's courage, to give his life for his country, is great but unextraordinary. Is it not intrinsic to the nature of the male, beasts as well as men, to fight and to contend? It's what we were born to do, it's in our blood. Watch any boy. Before he can even speak, he reaches, impelled instinct, for the staff and the sword," (Pressfield 234).