If you are familiar with Iggulden's work, it will not come as a surprise that this is incredibly well researched and written. This novel traces the events around the events of the attempt by Cyrus, brother to the Great King of Persia, to overthrow his reckless sibling. At the centre of the novel is Xenophon, a pupil of Socrates, who rallies Cyrus' greek army and leads them from a situation that seems all but impossible to come back from. This is a finely woven tale of trust, friendship, family and allegiance, and most of all humanity.

A great historical fiction novel, painting the world of the Persian Empire with deft strokes. With great characters and a plot that keeps moving, the book is filled with Iggulden's usual attention to detail and smooth prose that brings the past to life. Anyone who has enjoyed Iggulden's work in the past or who is looking for a good historical fiction book to read will do well to check it out!

This book was so unexpected. I loved the plot twists, which came so utterly out of the blue. It was the cunning writing of an author at the same level as G. Martain. The book has been well researched - you can't fault it - reading it transports you back in history to a foreign land. A brilliant read!

I love Conn Iggulden's books even though I usually mostly read the ones where I have more background, like Wars of the Roses and Dunstan, but this one was super interesting as well! I'm glad to have to have gotten the chance to read it.

I have read a few books by this author and I think this may be my favourite one…so far…

Spartans, Greeks, Persians, battles, and power struggles… it has the lot, and more. I know the basics of this period in history, around 400BC and going into this book I knew I would come away knowing a little more.

This author does such a wonderful job with bringing history alive with his words. The vivid imagery is easily conjured up from the pages as raging battles, strategy and formations are mixed with harsh marching conditions through deserts, mountains, and plains. Entwined within these is a story of family and power. The mix of historical fact is balanced so that all the information is given in an easily digestible way without being swamped.

The story starts with the wishes of the King, he effectively pits one brother against another upon his death. At the King’s death, Cyrus is only just able to avoid his own death and so forms an army to overthrow his older brother, the new King. Things do not go according to plan, outwitted and outmaneuvered the army is in disarray. A horse-master steps forward with suggestions that make sense and so he leads them on a perilous march.

This is a good sized read at 448 pages and within the few, I knew I was in for a treat as I was enjoying it so much. The flow if fabulous as I got taken into a world of intrigue, scheming and conniving to reach the ultimate goal…Power.

There is not a massive cast list, even though there are 1,000’s involved. It is the main players that are used and they soon became recognisable and familiar as the story was told.

The first part of the book is about control and power, the second is about the army trying to escape and return home. The sheer number of people involved is staggering, an army of thousands and the followers’ number just as much again. The logistics of feeding, moving, clothing this amount beggers belief. A march of 10,000… I just cannot express how mindblowing this is in my mind.

Journeying through rough terrain for hundreds of miles on foot, with little food, being attacked and chased is not for the weak. Choosing life and freedom over death features prominently. It definitely piqued my interest as further reading on the internet followed after finishing reading this book.

If you like Historical Fiction set early in history, that includes epic feats, that combines fact and fiction, then you really should read this one. It is detailed and very readable, with a brilliant flow to it. There is an interesting read in the Authors’ notes at the end, well worth a peruse. It is one I would definitely recommend.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this book, but I'm afraid it just wasn't for me! I have given it one star based on personal taste, this is not a reflection on the author or the book itself.

A young soldier far from his home, Athens battled against the king of kings, Artaxerxes of the Persian Empire. Xenophon led the survivors from Greece and Sparta against the legendary Persian army in 401 BC. At the beginning of his young life, the councillor ate dinner with the famous philosopher and tutor, Socrates. He lost his position in the Athenian council which was disbanded after the Spartans were overthrown. Xenophon and Socrates were accused of treason against Athens for supporting Sparta.

The King of Persia was the mightiest of all the kings, getting the throne from his late father, Darius II. Artaxerxes had 50 million of his subjects as his empire stretched from Northern India to Macedonia.

Artaxerxes’s young brother, Cyrus, rebelled against him to get his throne with the help of the Spartan army led by General Clearchus. He treated the Spartans as true men, not animals. Xenophon witnessed the fate of the important royal in the Battle of Cunaxa. Xenophon started to fix the tactical problem within his army.

There were some difficult journeys for the Greek soldiers with water and food scarcity. This was the great ancient battle story between the mighty Persia and Greece.

This latest book by Conn Iggluden has been very well researched the maps at the front of the book were of great assistance. The book was full of adventure and many betrayals about the Greek/Persian wars which keep the reader on their toes. Very much a book for those into Ancient History and can recommend it highly.

7/10

A tale in 3 parts based on a historical tale of a determined and stranded group of mercenaries trying to flea hostile lands after a rebellion goes south. I didn’t realise that it was based on truth and actually thought it was going to be a retelling of Thermopylae but this is a number of years after that so there was no Gerard Butler shouting “This is SPARTA!!!”

I quickly read the summary on goodreads to get up to speed and it gives away massive plot points throughout the book which makes the first part (over 50%) less tense as you know what will happen. The second part was more interesting as I didn’t know what was going to happen but never trust a Persian bearing gifts…wait, that doesn’t sound right. The last part is the tale of Xenophon doing his heroics and leading people home. If anything I felt this part was rushed especially near the end when it just sort of finished and hit a historical note. I thought the book could have been more focused on this aspect but I guess the author might not have wanted to tread on the classic story written by the man himself.

I like the authors books and am always keen to read them but this wasn’t one of my favourites of his but it was still an enjoyable read and glad I read it. Now, to hit the gym and get a red cape! Or just shove on 300 and pretend.

A great read. I love historically based story and Conn Iggulden always lives up to this love. The Falcon of Sparta is definitely my favourite of his so far.

When the great king Darius dies his eldest son Artaxerxes succeeds him to the throne of the great Persian empire. However when Artaxerxes tries to kill his brother Cyrus he makes an enemy. Cyrus is nominally the leader of the army and he amasses a great force in the West including thousands of Spartan and Greek mercenaries. When Artaxerxes cuts off Cyrus' funds Cyrus is stung to action and a decisive battle is fought. Cyrus is killed and the Greeks and Spartans are stranded, thousands of miles from home and facing death.
I have really enjoyed Iggulden's work in the past and, at times, this book was up there with the best. However after a lively start I found it very slow to progress and this put me off a little. The final half of the book was great, the journey back to Greek territory and clever tactics used were excellent. As ever this book was meticulously researched although the main primary source, the book by Xenophon, is probably biased.

Another great story from Conn Iggulden. Very descriptive writing which brings the story and the characters to life and makes the story so real. A period of ancient history brought together with all the ups and downs entailed in such an epic tale.

The story begins with the older brother Prince Artaxerxes being advised by his father, King Darius to kill his own brother once the crown passes from father to eldest son upon his death. Years later Prince Cyrus the youngest son is asked to return to the palace as his father is on his deathbed. He knows the crown will go to this brother, and does not seek to attain the crown for himself. However with his fathers words still ringing in Artaxerxes ears after all these years, he orders for his brother to be executed in the morning. Their mother intervenes and helps Cyrus leave. Cyrus then continues to command forces which are made up of greeks and legendary Spartans, drawing on crown money to pay for their services. Cyrus then decides to challenge his brother for the crown and sets off with his greek mercenaries and Spartans to face down his brother.

This book is actually split into two parts. The first deals with Cyrus, his betrayal by his brother, his need to seek revenge and the great battle between the two. However the synopsis I read indicates the story is all about Xenophon and how he protects and assists the Greeks in returning to their homeland once the battle has been lost. This is the second part of the story and equates really to only 31% of the story. This made me feel I'd been mis sold the story and I was expecting much more of Xenophon in the first part but he barely gets mentioned.

Apart from that, I thoroughly enjoyed the journey the Greeks made on behalf of Cyrus, how they were betrayed by the King once Cyrus was killed and the way they fought. The retreat was well written and the protection of the followers was excellent.

I received this book from netgalley in return for a honest review.

This is an epic tale of fact and fictional events that occurred back in 401 when Persian Kings ruled the empire from the Aagaen to North India.
When Cyrus, brother to the Great King of Persia, attempts to overthrow his reckless sibling, he employs a Greek mercenary army of 10,000 soldiers. When this army becomes stranded as a result of the unexpected death of Cyrus, and then witnesses the treacherous murder of its entire officer corps, the soldier and people are stranded miles from Greece and take a determined effort to travel back home whilst under attack.
It is in part a chronicle of war taken from Xenathon’s actual accounts, detailed with event and human encounters from Iggulden’s phenomenal imagination. From it I have an increased respect for the Spartans as well as those other soldiers that traversed hostile terrains, extreme mountainous temperatures and tests of personal strength and determination in the face of slow starvation, exhaustion and terror. The Persians perhaps didn’t get as much of the respect they probably also deserve – but for the book you do need to be on somebody’s side.
The writing and characterisation is compelling. Each of the few main characters is firmly embedded in the reader’s imagination. The thought processes behind personal and tactical decisions, the responsibility of such large armies is clearly conveyed. The dialogue is modest but effective, the imagery is indelible. There are great battles, of which the scale for me was hard to imagine given sheer numbers involved. Feeding such numbers, covering such large distances at pace struck me as a horrifying challenge in itself. Whilst I loved this take, it may also be hard for some readers to enjoy as it was more about the physical journey on a large scale than detailed characterisation development. Having said that I hated having to put the book down, so consider it to be another Iggulden awesome read for me.

The Game of Thrones in the ancient Persian Empire

A young soldier far from his home, Athens battled against the king of kings, Artaxerxes of the Persian Empire. Xenophon led the survivors from Greece and Sparta against the legendary Persian army in 401 BC. At the beginning of his young life, the councillor ate dinner with the famous philosopher and tutor, Socrates. He lost his position in the Athenian council which was disbanded after the Spartans were overthrown. Xenophon and Socrates were accused of treason against Athens for supporting Sparta.

The King of Persia was the mightiest of all the kings, getting the throne from his late father, Darius II. Artaxerxes had 50 million of his subjects as his empire stretched from Northern India to Macedonia.

Artaxerxes’s young brother, Cyrus, rebelled against him to get his throne with the help of the Spartan army led by General Clearchus. He treated the Spartans as true men, not animals. Xenophon witnessed the fate of the important royal in the Battle of Cunaxa. Xenophon started to fix the tactical problem within his army.

There were some difficult journeys for the Greek soldiers with water and food scarcity. This was the great ancient battle story between the mighty Persia and Greece.

Caesar 13

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin for a review copy.
Whilst I would not say this is Conn Iggulden's best book it certainly fulfills its task. Marching with the army felt very realistic and the coverage kept well within the scope of historical sources.
A great book to pull people into the world of ancient Greece and its wars . Well done.

Conn Iggulden has done it again! This is an excellent read. From my point of view it's all the better because I love history and this book is set in a time and place that I knew little about but now I feel I need to learn more. The way he tells of the feud between Cyrus and his brother made me really like Cyrus and really dislike his brother Artaxerxes! Xenophon's story is both captivating and compelling and Conn Iggulden has brought ancient history to life in a very readable way. Highly recommended.

Iggulden brings to life a marvellous true story of war and survival:
A fascinating, informative and gripping historical novel which relates the story of Prince Cyrus the Younger, a Persian who went into battle against his brother, supported by an army which included around 15,000 Greek mercenaries in 401 BC at the Battle of Cunaxa. Based on a very limited number of reliable ancient sources, Iggulden brings the story of Cyrus the Younger to life and does justice to the incredible story of the survival, under the leadership of Xenophon, of a large element of the Greek mercenaries Cyrus had taken into battle with him.
Cyrus was killed very early in the Battle of Cunaxa and the second half of the novel is devoted to the true story of how some 10,000 Greek soldiers and their entourage made their way back to Greece facing inhospitable weather, terrain and enemies as they retreated. The journey was over 1,000 miles and yet they succeeded.
Iggulden successfully portrays the ruthless military effectiveness of the Spartan soldiers who were the elite amongst Greek soldiers.
Xenophon, a student of Socrates, although lesser known than his other student Plato, is elected leader of the retreating Greek soldiers after a conspiracy following the Battle of Cunaxa which saw all the senior Greek Generals and Officers murdered at peace talks.
The novel makes the reader aware of the power that the Persian Empire once possessed. For far too long history taught in the West has focussed on Western European Classical History. This novel tries to extend that boundary and succeeds. The Persians were a mighty force long before Alexander the Great came along.
The novel contains pearls of wisdom to make the reader think: the Greeks invented Democracy but look where that got them. Endless discussions about the smallest matter and rarely reaching consensus. Meanwhile they seemed to lose sight of the bigger picture.
An historical tale well transformed into a highly readable novel which provides a better understanding of the Eastern powers and the trade routes which existed at the time.
Although "The Falcon of Sparta" is not in my opinion one of Iggulden's best novels, it is still a great read: head and shoulders above most historical fiction being published, and provides the reader with the scent and atmosphere of the era. An era too often overlooked.

A tale of treachery, intrigue, political manoeuvres and blood thirsty battle. For me this book is Conn Iggulden at his best.
The story itself will be well known to followers of ancient history, but I will try to avoid spoilers for those who are not so familiar.
The author creates characters of depth, believable, easy to engage with and understand. For me the writing style meant that the story flowed easily and was easy to engage with. This combined with just the right balance of action and suspense made this book quite hard to put down.

5-stars

Truly fabulous. I know very little about ancient Greece and Persian conflicts, but they were quite astounding and bloody. This book is Iggulden's fine re-telling of Xenophones "The Persian Expedition".

Iggulden notes:
<I>For the details I could not fit in here, I recommend The Persian Expedition, particularly to any reader interested in how the Greeks thought and acted. It deserves to have survived over two thousand years.</i> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/168487.The_Persian_Expedition">The Persian Expedition</a> by Xenophon

<i> As usual with my reviews, please first read the publisher’s blurb/summary of the book. Thank you.</i>

Beautiful prose again throughout from Iggulden. I had read several of his Caesar books 10-15 years ago and was impressed. He’s truly a master of prose and pacing.

This is an extraordinary living history, dramatised but based on Xenophones' actual witness of the events. 120,000 soldiers (12,000 extraordinary Spartans) march over 1,000 miles into the desert to fight, but many don't realise that the charismatic and strong leader, Cyrus, is really set to try to overthrow his brother, King Artaxerxes II, who tried to assassinate Cyrus earlier.

There is a completely (for me) surprising twist in the middle of the book, and then the whole direction of the book changes. Very well presented, and matching true history.

Truly a fabulous tale, superbly told by Iggulden.

Artaxerxes II of Persia
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Hoplites
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The March of the 10,000
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The Spartan sword, the Kopis
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Spartan helmet
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Cyrus and Xenophon
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