“The Fire of Ares” is an action-packed book that will make you want to read more. I read “The Fire of Ares” by Michael Ford last year when I was looking for a new book to read for AR. I love this book because it shows you what Spartan life was like.

In ancient Sparta where the Helot slaves toil in the fields, 12-year-old Lysander works in the fields double what he is told to do to help his sick mother. When Lysander discovers his noble heritage, his loyalties are caught between his Helot friends, whom he grew up with, and the Spartans, whom he trains with in the Agoge.

My favorite part of the book was when Lysander won the wrestling match because it is when most of the action starts between the Helot slaves and the Spartans. I wish the author could have told a little more about Lysander’s father when Lysander meets his grandfather while trying to work for himself and his sick mother. The part I don’t like is when Lysander’s amulet is stolen and he has to try to find it while training in the Agoge, because in that part, the story line switches back and forth between his training, barrack life, his mother and the amulet, and it makes it confusing to follow.

The most action occurs at the very beginning, when Lysander gets beat up and when the Helot slaves revolt. All in all, this is a really good book to read if you are interested in stories like this. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves action and adventure books. I would give this book four out of five Cardinal heads.