Warrior Trilogy

In 431 BC, ancient Greece experienced its own "Pearl Harbor"-a treacherous sneak attack that would mark the start of the bloody war between the democracy of Athens and the tyranny of Sparta. Caught between these superpowers, the independent city-state of Plataea became the arena where their battle for control of all of Greece would begin. In Plataea, the young Greek warrior Nikias dreams of glory in the Olympic games as he trains for the pankration-the no-holds-barred ultimate fighting of the era-until an act of violence in defense of his beloved threatens to send him into exile. But before his trial can take place, a traitor opens the city gates to a surprise attack force. Suddenly trapped inside their own fortress, the Plataeans are fighting for their lives. As Nikias seeks to discover the identity of the man who betrayed the city, he makes a daring escape, gathers an army, and leads this ragtag band into a suicidal battle at the gates of the citadel-a battle that will decide the fates of his family, his friends, and the woman he loves. In the vein of Bernard Cornwell, Conn Iggulden, and Steven Pressfield, Sons of Zeus marks the beginning of a richly detailed new action-adventure series. "Noble Smith gobsmacked us with Sons of Zeus! It takes an author with real talent to engross us in a story. It takes even more talent for an author to convince us we're completely in his world. The guy knows his subject! But forget the meticulous research. Open the first page, sit back with your favorite beverage, and let Smith work his magic. Terrific action, with a wickedly brilliant plot, visceral combat, and nail-biting treachery, even the love story in Sons of Zeus is going to have you on the edge of your seat. In the end you'll be as delighted as we were to discover a skyrocketing new talent in historical fiction, and wanting more."

The Peloponnesian War has begun. An army of merciless Spartan invaders have arrived at the gates of Plataea, bent on obliterating the city and its inhabitants. Plataea's oldest allies, the Athenians, are spread too thin in their own campaigns to send help. Cut off and alone, the Plataeans dig in behind their high walls for the coming siege, while the ruthless Spartans gather outside. On a rugged mountain road, a young Plataean warrior named Nikias rides to Athens on an urgent quest. He carries with him a bag of ill-gotten gold, hoping to raise an army of mercenaries to help defend his city from the coming Spartan assault. But in the sprawling stronghold of Athens, Nikias encounters perils that prove to be more dangerous than those he has faced on the battlefield. Noble Smith's Spartans at the Gates is a thrilling action-adventure novel set during the war between the great powers of ancient Greece. Title Info. Pt I. One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine Ten Eleven Twelve Thirteen Fourteen Fifteen Sixteen Seventeen eighteen Nineteen Pt II. One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine Ten Eleven Twelve Pt III. One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine Ten Eleven Twelve Thirteen Fourteen Fifteen Sixteen Seventeen Eighteen Nineteen Epilogue "I loved this book. The writing is as tight as a phalanx, the action as bloody and satisfying as a well-cooked steak, and the characters are beautifully drawn and utterly convincing. Noble Smith brings the gory political struggles of fifth-century Greece vividly to life in a way that I haven't seen since the novels of Mary Renault. A superb historical novel by a master storyteller." "Crammed with twists and turns, Spartans at the Gates is a high-adrenaline tale of battle and intrigue, honor and treachery, that once underway never lets up its pace. Throughout the novel Smith's passion for his subject shines through, and the struggles against the odds of his young heroes, Nikias and Kolax, are told with verve and a keen eye for the detail of life in ancient Greece."