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Athenian #2
Protector: A Novel of Ancient Greece
The latest epic in this bestselling author’s Athenian series of novels takes the reader on a vivid adventure where Themistocles will risk everything—his honor, his friendships, even his life—to protect his country.
The Battle of Salamis: Persian King Xerxes stands over the smoking ruins of Athens, an army of slaves at his back. Come to destroy, once and for all, everything that the city stands for, he stares pitilessly at the hopelessly outnumbered Greeks.
Veteran soldier Themistocles cannot push the Persians back by force on land, and so he so does so by stealth, at sea. Over three long days, the greatest naval battle of the ancient world will unfold, a bloody war between the democracy of Athens and the tyranny of Persia.
The Battle of Plataea: Less than a year later, the Persian return to reconquer the Greeks. Tens of thousands of soldiers on both sides ready themselves for war. For the Spartans, Plataea is chance to avenge their defeat at Thermopylae.
For the people of Athens, threatened on all sides, nothing less than the survival of democracy is at stake. And once again Themistocles, the hero of Salamis, will risk everything—his honor, his friendships, even his life—to protect his country.
The Battle of Salamis: Persian King Xerxes stands over the smoking ruins of Athens, an army of slaves at his back. Come to destroy, once and for all, everything that the city stands for, he stares pitilessly at the hopelessly outnumbered Greeks.
Veteran soldier Themistocles cannot push the Persians back by force on land, and so he so does so by stealth, at sea. Over three long days, the greatest naval battle of the ancient world will unfold, a bloody war between the democracy of Athens and the tyranny of Persia.
The Battle of Plataea: Less than a year later, the Persian return to reconquer the Greeks. Tens of thousands of soldiers on both sides ready themselves for war. For the Spartans, Plataea is chance to avenge their defeat at Thermopylae.
For the people of Athens, threatened on all sides, nothing less than the survival of democracy is at stake. And once again Themistocles, the hero of Salamis, will risk everything—his honor, his friendships, even his life—to protect his country.
432 pages, Hardcover
First published May 13, 2021
388 people are currently reading
2020 people want to read
About the author
Conn Iggulden
145 books6,049 followersAlso publishes under author name C.F. Iggulden.
I was born in the normal way in 1971, and vaguely remember half-pennies and sixpences. I have written for as long as I can remember: poetry, short stories and novels. It’s what I always wanted to do and read English at London University with writing in mind. I taught English for seven years and was Head of English at St. Gregory’s RC High School in London by the end of that period. I have enormous respect for those who still labour at the chalk-face. In truth, I can’t find it in me to miss the grind of paperwork and initiatives. I do miss the camaraderie of the smokers’ room, as well as the lessons where their faces lit up as they understood what I was wittering on about.
My mother is Irish and from an early age she told me history as an exciting series of stories – with dates. My great-grandfather was a Seannachie, so I suppose story-telling is in the genes somewhere. My father flew in Bomber Command in WWII, then taught maths and science. Perhaps crucially, he also loved poetry and cracking good tales. Though it seems a dated idea now, I began teaching when boys were told only girls were good at English, despite the great names that must spring to mind after that statement. My father loved working with wood and equations, but he also recited ‘Vitai Lampada’ with a gleam in his eye and that matters, frankly.
I’ve always loved historical fiction as a genre and cut my teeth on Hornblower and Tai-Pan, Flashman, Sharpe and Jack Aubrey. I still remember the sheer joy of reading my first Patrick O’Brian book and discovering there were nineteen more in the series. I love just about anything by David Gemmell, or Peter F. Hamilton or Wilbur Smith. I suppose the one thing that links all those is the love of a good tale.
That’s about it for the moment. If you’d like to get in touch with me leave a comment in the forum or you can tweet me @Conn_Iggulden. I’ll leave it there for the moment. If you’ve read my books, you know an awful lot about the way I think already. There’s no point overdoing it.
Conn Iggulden
I was born in the normal way in 1971, and vaguely remember half-pennies and sixpences. I have written for as long as I can remember: poetry, short stories and novels. It’s what I always wanted to do and read English at London University with writing in mind. I taught English for seven years and was Head of English at St. Gregory’s RC High School in London by the end of that period. I have enormous respect for those who still labour at the chalk-face. In truth, I can’t find it in me to miss the grind of paperwork and initiatives. I do miss the camaraderie of the smokers’ room, as well as the lessons where their faces lit up as they understood what I was wittering on about.
My mother is Irish and from an early age she told me history as an exciting series of stories – with dates. My great-grandfather was a Seannachie, so I suppose story-telling is in the genes somewhere. My father flew in Bomber Command in WWII, then taught maths and science. Perhaps crucially, he also loved poetry and cracking good tales. Though it seems a dated idea now, I began teaching when boys were told only girls were good at English, despite the great names that must spring to mind after that statement. My father loved working with wood and equations, but he also recited ‘Vitai Lampada’ with a gleam in his eye and that matters, frankly.
I’ve always loved historical fiction as a genre and cut my teeth on Hornblower and Tai-Pan, Flashman, Sharpe and Jack Aubrey. I still remember the sheer joy of reading my first Patrick O’Brian book and discovering there were nineteen more in the series. I love just about anything by David Gemmell, or Peter F. Hamilton or Wilbur Smith. I suppose the one thing that links all those is the love of a good tale.
That’s about it for the moment. If you’d like to get in touch with me leave a comment in the forum or you can tweet me @Conn_Iggulden. I’ll leave it there for the moment. If you’ve read my books, you know an awful lot about the way I think already. There’s no point overdoing it.
Conn Iggulden
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 229 reviews
July 14, 2022
I now have a YouTube channel that I run with my brother, called 'The Brothers Gwynne'. Check it out - The Brothers Gwynne
Well, I did not plan to read this for quite a while, at least until I quashed some other books that I need to read soon. But, The Gates of Athens had different plans. It was just too good. Too good to not read the sequel as soon as I could. It was one of my favourite reads of 2021, so of course I had to dive into the sequel.
Protector launches us straight into the thick of it, right where the previous instalment left us at. There is chaos, disaster and the fate of a nation rests on the events of the few opening days. The great Persian army has beaten those at Thermopylae, and travelled all the way to Athens. So, as the Greek fleet fights the Persians, and the land forces also battle each other, the heavily outnumbered Greeks must do everything possible to gain the small chance they have of surviving. It is a dramatic true tale, about the strength of being together, and how belief and purpose can change the world.
“Xanthippus went right to the deck’s edge, dropping to one knee. They bowed their heads in return, and in that moment, he was free. Free to hunt.”
We follow the same characters, plus a few isolated chapters from some different perspectives, and the figures are built upon even more, and we see them push aside their differences in order to quell the danger, showing that even though you may not like some of them, they will put the need of the people above their own wishes. At least, most will…
Overall, I preferred The Gates of Athens, but Protector is still one of the best books of the genre that I have read, and one of my favourite reads of 2021. I thought that it was truly fantastic. It has its full range of emotion, from shock to satisfaction to joy to tragedy. There was so much Conn Iggulden had to fit in this story, and he did it so, so well. Another brilliant Ancient Greek tale.
5/5 STARS
Well, I did not plan to read this for quite a while, at least until I quashed some other books that I need to read soon. But, The Gates of Athens had different plans. It was just too good. Too good to not read the sequel as soon as I could. It was one of my favourite reads of 2021, so of course I had to dive into the sequel.
Protector launches us straight into the thick of it, right where the previous instalment left us at. There is chaos, disaster and the fate of a nation rests on the events of the few opening days. The great Persian army has beaten those at Thermopylae, and travelled all the way to Athens. So, as the Greek fleet fights the Persians, and the land forces also battle each other, the heavily outnumbered Greeks must do everything possible to gain the small chance they have of surviving. It is a dramatic true tale, about the strength of being together, and how belief and purpose can change the world.
“Xanthippus went right to the deck’s edge, dropping to one knee. They bowed their heads in return, and in that moment, he was free. Free to hunt.”
We follow the same characters, plus a few isolated chapters from some different perspectives, and the figures are built upon even more, and we see them push aside their differences in order to quell the danger, showing that even though you may not like some of them, they will put the need of the people above their own wishes. At least, most will…
Overall, I preferred The Gates of Athens, but Protector is still one of the best books of the genre that I have read, and one of my favourite reads of 2021. I thought that it was truly fantastic. It has its full range of emotion, from shock to satisfaction to joy to tragedy. There was so much Conn Iggulden had to fit in this story, and he did it so, so well. Another brilliant Ancient Greek tale.
5/5 STARS
February 24, 2022
Quite long and unnecessarily so as interest wanes to the end. 2 of 10 stars
October 29, 2025
3.5 stars
Original English title: Protector
short review for busy readers:
Book 2 in the saga of the Greco-Persian war of 490-480 BC. Vividly rendered, but with a lot of flaws in the history and whitewashed af.
in detail:
Once again, we get into the hot and heavy of historically important battles, but we also get to see a lot of the infighting and competition between the different Greek city states. The politics in this volume interested me, as did the vastly different government styles and philosophies between the different cities.
Those came across very clearly in the narrative.
Unfortunately, Iggulden whitewashes a lot, basing almost everything on Herodotus' accounts, which have been proven to not be terribly accurate and heavily anti-Persian.
Herodotus was interested in creating heroes, and that's exactly what these two novels read like: hero worship. Iggulden glosses over the horrible treatment of the Helots and other enslaved peoples, as well as relegating anyone who wasn't a free-born male Athenian to the shadows, making sure the plot stays an all elite male affair.
I also have to, once again, point out that the one female character of any importance is a walking pile of stereotypes coated with a thin veneer of modern "strong woman" paint. I'm not sure why she's included, except perhaps to pre-counter accusations of having an entirely male cast.
Engagingly written, but rather questionable as to its educational value.
Buddy read with the incomparable Sportyrod. Thanks Rod!
Original English title: Protector
short review for busy readers:
Book 2 in the saga of the Greco-Persian war of 490-480 BC. Vividly rendered, but with a lot of flaws in the history and whitewashed af.
in detail:
Once again, we get into the hot and heavy of historically important battles, but we also get to see a lot of the infighting and competition between the different Greek city states. The politics in this volume interested me, as did the vastly different government styles and philosophies between the different cities.
Those came across very clearly in the narrative.
Unfortunately, Iggulden whitewashes a lot, basing almost everything on Herodotus' accounts, which have been proven to not be terribly accurate and heavily anti-Persian.
Herodotus was interested in creating heroes, and that's exactly what these two novels read like: hero worship. Iggulden glosses over the horrible treatment of the Helots and other enslaved peoples, as well as relegating anyone who wasn't a free-born male Athenian to the shadows, making sure the plot stays an all elite male affair.
I also have to, once again, point out that the one female character of any importance is a walking pile of stereotypes coated with a thin veneer of modern "strong woman" paint. I'm not sure why she's included, except perhaps to pre-counter accusations of having an entirely male cast.
Engagingly written, but rather questionable as to its educational value.
Buddy read with the incomparable Sportyrod. Thanks Rod!
April 5, 2021
Picking up where The Gates of Athens left off, Protector launches the reader right back into the thick of war. The situation is desperate. The people of Athens have fled from the advancing Persian army- the woman and children evacuated to safety, men conscripted to the fleet. Now, their city burns. But the Athenians are down, not out. Their navy remains strong and there’s hope that Sparta might, finally, come out from behind its wall. Only working together can the Greeks hope to stand against the overwhelming numbers of the Persian forces. Anything other than a definitive victory will mean utter destruction. What happens next will change the world as they know it…
Of course, we know the outcome, but Iggulden works effectively to create a sense of impeding doom, the possibility that everything might go fatally wrong. It’s easy to forget the terrifying uncertainty people faced at the time and that’s what the author does so well here, both in the politicking and in the heat of battle. As in The Gates of Athens, the battles at sea and on land are brutal. Before, it was Marathon, Thermopylae, and Artemisium, now we have Salamis and Plataea. While it was the naval clashes at Artemisium that amazed in the last book, here that award goes to the land battle at Plataea. It is stunning. The action is cinematic, the fighting intense and bloody. The perspective switches between Aristides and Mardonius, allowing the reader to feel the ratcheting tension as each side wins or loses each engagement. Then comes the moment when the Spartans join the fight… the power of it is enough to stop your breath. The Persians had already seen what 300 Spartans and their allies could do, imagine what they felt seeing 10,000 more…
For all the excitement of the action scenes, Protector struggles to provide the same emotional impact as the first book. The problem is twofold. The first is the small amount of time we get to spend with any of the characters. The nature of the story means that it is necessary to use multiple perspectives, but there’s also a good deal of head hopping, which makes it harder to connect to any of the characters. This was somewhat of an issue in book 1, but the focus on Themistocles and Xanthippus in particular allowed the reader to feel like they really understood them, even if neither was an easy man to like. For the most part, Protector relies heavily on the emotional links built up in the first book, but it does little to reinforce them. This feeds in to the second problem. To get in all the important moments means jumping around a fair amount. Without the impactful characterisation, the narrative feels bitty, especially when it comes to wrapping up certain stories at the end. The history means that having an entirely satisfying ending was unlikely, yet finding out what happens to the main characters is anti-climactic at best. This book had bled out all my care for them and that was more disappointing than anything else.
Iggulden isn’t ending the story here. While he doesn’t talk about what’s coming in the next book, there’s a section in the Historical note at the end where the author refuses to name his favourite source for the period… I wonder if that might be Thucydides? If so, we can expect the next novel to take us into the Peloponnesian War. Or perhaps the period between the Greco-Persian Wars and the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War. If that’s the aim, then I’m all for it. While the incursions by Darius and Xerxes have received plenty of page and screen time, neither the adventures of the Delian League nor the complicated and lengthy conflict between Athens and Sparta (and their various allies/satellites) have received as much attention. I, for one, am interested in seeing how Iggulden plans to take that on. It would provide the opportunity to see how things turn out for Cimon and Pericles too. For now, we’ll just have to wait and see.
ARC via Netgalley
Of course, we know the outcome, but Iggulden works effectively to create a sense of impeding doom, the possibility that everything might go fatally wrong. It’s easy to forget the terrifying uncertainty people faced at the time and that’s what the author does so well here, both in the politicking and in the heat of battle. As in The Gates of Athens, the battles at sea and on land are brutal. Before, it was Marathon, Thermopylae, and Artemisium, now we have Salamis and Plataea. While it was the naval clashes at Artemisium that amazed in the last book, here that award goes to the land battle at Plataea. It is stunning. The action is cinematic, the fighting intense and bloody. The perspective switches between Aristides and Mardonius, allowing the reader to feel the ratcheting tension as each side wins or loses each engagement. Then comes the moment when the Spartans join the fight… the power of it is enough to stop your breath. The Persians had already seen what 300 Spartans and their allies could do, imagine what they felt seeing 10,000 more…
For all the excitement of the action scenes, Protector struggles to provide the same emotional impact as the first book. The problem is twofold. The first is the small amount of time we get to spend with any of the characters. The nature of the story means that it is necessary to use multiple perspectives, but there’s also a good deal of head hopping, which makes it harder to connect to any of the characters. This was somewhat of an issue in book 1, but the focus on Themistocles and Xanthippus in particular allowed the reader to feel like they really understood them, even if neither was an easy man to like. For the most part, Protector relies heavily on the emotional links built up in the first book, but it does little to reinforce them. This feeds in to the second problem. To get in all the important moments means jumping around a fair amount. Without the impactful characterisation, the narrative feels bitty, especially when it comes to wrapping up certain stories at the end. The history means that having an entirely satisfying ending was unlikely, yet finding out what happens to the main characters is anti-climactic at best. This book had bled out all my care for them and that was more disappointing than anything else.
Iggulden isn’t ending the story here. While he doesn’t talk about what’s coming in the next book, there’s a section in the Historical note at the end where the author refuses to name his favourite source for the period… I wonder if that might be Thucydides? If so, we can expect the next novel to take us into the Peloponnesian War. Or perhaps the period between the Greco-Persian Wars and the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War. If that’s the aim, then I’m all for it. While the incursions by Darius and Xerxes have received plenty of page and screen time, neither the adventures of the Delian League nor the complicated and lengthy conflict between Athens and Sparta (and their various allies/satellites) have received as much attention. I, for one, am interested in seeing how Iggulden plans to take that on. It would provide the opportunity to see how things turn out for Cimon and Pericles too. For now, we’ll just have to wait and see.
ARC via Netgalley
September 24, 2021
This fantastic Greek adventure is the 2nd volume of the excellent "Athenian" series, from the formidable author, Conn Iggulden.
At the beginning of the book you'll find a well drawn map of the Battle of Salamis in 480 BC, and a list of Military terms, Locations, Characters, Additional words and the Ten Tribes of Athens.
At the back of the book you'll encounter a very well documented Historical Note, where the historical details are superbly explained, and on the inside at the end of the book you'll find a drawing about the Battle of Plataea in 479 BC.
Storytelling is once again of a top-notch quality, all characters, real historical and great fictional, come splendidly to life within this Ancient Greek story, while the dark atmosphere of Athens as well as the Greek/Persian conflict come superbly off the pages.
The book is divided into 4 parts, and each part starts with a short phrase, the first two from Homer's 'The Iliad", and the final two from the Greek playwright, Aeschylus, and the main story is about the invasion of the City-States of Greece by King Xerxes of Persia, by land and sea, resulting in the twofold sacking and burning of Athens, before and after the famous Battle of Salamis in 480 BC, which will end with the withdrawal of King Xerxes but leaving a grand army behind in Greece, and this army will be lead by his overall commander, General Mardonius, and this General Mardonius will be totally defeated at the Battle of Plataea in 479 BC by the Greeks, who have as their leader the Spartan Pausanias and with the Athenian Aristides "The Just" as a brave second alongside him.
In this book we follow for the main part the resourceful leader of Athens of that time being, Themistocles, the one with his cunning and dare will be victorious against the Persians at salamis, where at first he'll be celebrated as a hero but later on will be treated as an outcast, with close associates by the name of, Xanthippus, Aristides and Cimon also important during this Battle, also in attendance are Agariste, wife of Xanthippus, and their children, Ariphron, Eleni, and a young man to remember, Pericles, while Epikleos is always by Xanthippus's side as a faithful friend.
What will follow is a terrific novel where events leading to and eventually ending with this war between Athens and Persia are wonderfully written with great dialogue and human interaction, but where big brutal battle actions are somewhat less pictured, but in my opinion this series is at least an equal in comaprison with Christian Cameron's "The Long War" series, featuring Arimnestos of Plataea, and thus for me this author has his own interpretation and compelling fashion in telling his great tale.
Highly recommended, for this is a magnificent addition that brings Ancient Athens very much alive with its politics and war, and that's why I want to call this superb tale: "An Amazing Victorious Greek Sequel"!
At the beginning of the book you'll find a well drawn map of the Battle of Salamis in 480 BC, and a list of Military terms, Locations, Characters, Additional words and the Ten Tribes of Athens.
At the back of the book you'll encounter a very well documented Historical Note, where the historical details are superbly explained, and on the inside at the end of the book you'll find a drawing about the Battle of Plataea in 479 BC.
Storytelling is once again of a top-notch quality, all characters, real historical and great fictional, come splendidly to life within this Ancient Greek story, while the dark atmosphere of Athens as well as the Greek/Persian conflict come superbly off the pages.
The book is divided into 4 parts, and each part starts with a short phrase, the first two from Homer's 'The Iliad", and the final two from the Greek playwright, Aeschylus, and the main story is about the invasion of the City-States of Greece by King Xerxes of Persia, by land and sea, resulting in the twofold sacking and burning of Athens, before and after the famous Battle of Salamis in 480 BC, which will end with the withdrawal of King Xerxes but leaving a grand army behind in Greece, and this army will be lead by his overall commander, General Mardonius, and this General Mardonius will be totally defeated at the Battle of Plataea in 479 BC by the Greeks, who have as their leader the Spartan Pausanias and with the Athenian Aristides "The Just" as a brave second alongside him.
In this book we follow for the main part the resourceful leader of Athens of that time being, Themistocles, the one with his cunning and dare will be victorious against the Persians at salamis, where at first he'll be celebrated as a hero but later on will be treated as an outcast, with close associates by the name of, Xanthippus, Aristides and Cimon also important during this Battle, also in attendance are Agariste, wife of Xanthippus, and their children, Ariphron, Eleni, and a young man to remember, Pericles, while Epikleos is always by Xanthippus's side as a faithful friend.
What will follow is a terrific novel where events leading to and eventually ending with this war between Athens and Persia are wonderfully written with great dialogue and human interaction, but where big brutal battle actions are somewhat less pictured, but in my opinion this series is at least an equal in comaprison with Christian Cameron's "The Long War" series, featuring Arimnestos of Plataea, and thus for me this author has his own interpretation and compelling fashion in telling his great tale.
Highly recommended, for this is a magnificent addition that brings Ancient Athens very much alive with its politics and war, and that's why I want to call this superb tale: "An Amazing Victorious Greek Sequel"!
July 22, 2024
Read the first book in the series - The Gates of Athens- on recent Madeira holiday. A good find in the apartment library. Knowing it would take years to find this in a charity shop I ordered on Amazon. Managed to pluck from postman’s hands before my wife saw it.
The first book was superb. This one was just as good. Following on from the first sacking of Athens this takes us through the sea battles of Salamis and the land battle at Plataea. The battle scenes are visceral in impact. The sad picture of the Spartan slaves throwing themselves against the Persians to at least rid themselves of servitude was profound.
The treatment of Themosticles (ostracised) who appears to have saved Athens a number of times by the fickle masses is a bit rich. But hey ho.
Again I found myself reading Wikipedia links and recognising the flourishes Iggulden adds to the story before his Afterword.
Whilst reading many Roman novels I now need to find more Greek ones.
If you want a more informative review please read Clemens who yet again has read before me😢
October 31, 2025
Ancient Greece versus Persia, round two. Both forces have suffered a loss of face yet one has one more fight left in them and the other has no choice. Pyromaniacs of the day would have been happy as cities burned. The navies and armies worked together for the ultimate prize.,
Whilst Persia was one large empire, the Greeks consisted of city states that shifted alliances. Much of Athens’ plight depended on the strength and commitment of others. For Persia, King Xerxes needed to have the right commander.
I most enjoyed the introduction of Alexander of Macedon. He played an interesting part.
Themistocles, my favourite character (Athenian) spent his time being his worst self. There was little to like about him. Aristades, the boring one, took over and became the interesting one.
This was a buddy read with Berengaria, and a fun one at that. Also an LBC read (long books challenge).
There was some whitewashing of history here apparently. With less records of Persia’s account, the Greek story played the hero. This has prompted me to look into more books on Ancient Persia.
Whilst Persia was one large empire, the Greeks consisted of city states that shifted alliances. Much of Athens’ plight depended on the strength and commitment of others. For Persia, King Xerxes needed to have the right commander.
I most enjoyed the introduction of Alexander of Macedon. He played an interesting part.
Themistocles, my favourite character (Athenian) spent his time being his worst self. There was little to like about him. Aristades, the boring one, took over and became the interesting one.
This was a buddy read with Berengaria, and a fun one at that. Also an LBC read (long books challenge).
There was some whitewashing of history here apparently. With less records of Persia’s account, the Greek story played the hero. This has prompted me to look into more books on Ancient Persia.
August 26, 2022
I loved the first book, Gates of Athens - maybe because it covered the Battle of Thermopylae, which may be my favorite in history. Protector was still great, but it didn't capture my interest to the same level.
This novel follows Themistocles, who was responsible for the ruse that led to victory over the Persian fleet at Salamis - another amazing historical battle, retold here surprisingly briefly sans all the excitement. Themistocles was an interesting character, if this version is any indication: a man as scorned by his own people, in spite of delivering victory after victory, as his ego outsizes Athens. I found myself smiling at him in one situation and rolling my eyes in the next.
Trust me, Protector is only "dull" compared to Gates of Athens; it still beats the pants off most books out there. Worth the read for sure.
This novel follows Themistocles, who was responsible for the ruse that led to victory over the Persian fleet at Salamis - another amazing historical battle, retold here surprisingly briefly sans all the excitement. Themistocles was an interesting character, if this version is any indication: a man as scorned by his own people, in spite of delivering victory after victory, as his ego outsizes Athens. I found myself smiling at him in one situation and rolling my eyes in the next.
Trust me, Protector is only "dull" compared to Gates of Athens; it still beats the pants off most books out there. Worth the read for sure.
March 29, 2021
4.5 stars. Protector starts where The Gates of Athens ends. The Athenians have evacuated to Salamis and are watching their city being torched by Persian troops. Offshore, the sea battle rages, the Greeks greatly outnumbered by the Persian fleet. How can the Athenians possibly survive this onslaught?
Conn Iggulden has the gift of making ancient history come alive - from the battles of Salamis, Plataea and Mycale, ultimately battles to save the Western world from becoming part of the already massive Persian Empire, to the politics of Athens and Sparta. The main characters’ names are legendary - Themistocles, Xanthippus, Cimon, Kings Alexander of Macedon and Xerxes of Persia. This is quality historical fiction, well researched, brought to life, and with an excellent end note by the author which adds further detail.
There were times that my interest dipped but mostly I found this is a gripping, exciting book. So nearly 5 stars. With thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Michael Joseph UK for a review copy.
Conn Iggulden has the gift of making ancient history come alive - from the battles of Salamis, Plataea and Mycale, ultimately battles to save the Western world from becoming part of the already massive Persian Empire, to the politics of Athens and Sparta. The main characters’ names are legendary - Themistocles, Xanthippus, Cimon, Kings Alexander of Macedon and Xerxes of Persia. This is quality historical fiction, well researched, brought to life, and with an excellent end note by the author which adds further detail.
There were times that my interest dipped but mostly I found this is a gripping, exciting book. So nearly 5 stars. With thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Michael Joseph UK for a review copy.
May 27, 2025
Amazing! Conn Iggulden does it again. It’s like being a fly on the wall in Greece!
April 30, 2021
Grit, intrigue, venal villains, honourable heroes and cataclysmic battles to save Greece and the future of democracy. Having conquered Ancient Rome, Mongolian hordes and the Wars of the Roses, with PROTECTOR Conn Iggulden does what he does best and turns the battle of Plataea into a triumph of historical fiction.
May 13, 2021
I was sent an advance copy of this novel by the publishers, Penguin/Random House and I was very happy to accept it as Iggulden was one of the writers who got me into this historical fiction stuff with his Emperor series. I enjoyed those immensely but must admit I’ve not read anything else by him as the periods he was covering didn’t really interest me. That is, until now. Protector is actually book two in his Athenian series and I really would have liked to start with the first, The Gates of Athens, but I simply don’t have time to read much fiction these days.
You will all know who Conn Iggulden is since he’s one of the biggest names in histfic alongside the likes of Mr Cornwell and Simon Scarrow and, when you start reading Protector it hits you pretty quickly just WHY he’s held in such high regard. The writing is excellent, with many sentences popping out at you and catching the attention because they’re so well crafted. The same goes for the little snippets of historical detail that tell you a) the author really researched this period and b) he has the ability to effortlessly slide these into the text without it ever feeling like a dry history lesson. Rather, you feel enriched by his knowledge. Well, I did anyway. I love that kind of thing.
Similarly, we learn just how difficult it was, logistically, to keep a massive army on the move every day. One chapter starts with a description of the incredible amount of water needed to quench the thirst of thousands upon thousands of men and horses and it really does drive home the monumental task facing the leaders of the Persian army, or any other huge army. “Like trying to fill a bucket with a hole in it,” is the line used to sum it up I believe and it’s really interesting for the author to take the focus away from the more obvious aspects of war – battles! – for a moment, to make the whole thing seem more realistic and less about heroism and simple skill with a blade.
That’s just one section, though, so don’t worry, there’s lots of fighting and killing to whet your thirst for violence! The sea battles at the start are very well described as are the fights we see on land later on. There’s a duel near the end which I really enjoyed as it ends a little differently than I expected but all the fight scenes are visceral and exciting.
The tale told here is massive in scope – you’re looking at armies numbering in hundreds of thousands! That’s quite a difference to many historical novels, especially my own which usually have warbands of a few hundred or even just a dozen. I think the author has made a choice in writing this book to make the whole thing feel BIG – there’s very little dialogue and we flit between characters without ever really seeing them as normal people. We’re TOLD about them, but there’s not many scenes of basic human interaction like men sitting drinking together, sharing jokes and songs, couples being intimate or the like. I can’t be sure, obviously, but I think Iggulden must have decided to avoid scenes like that – avoided making the people too minutely detailed – because he wanted to focus on the greater overall picture. These events were momentous and we do get a vivid sense of how incredibly powerful these nations were. Sparta’s incredible fighting prowess, Persia’s sheer numbers and ambition, and Greek cunning and resilience.
One issue I had with all this, however, is the fact there’s just so much prose. I like reading dialogue (unless we’re talking about an HP Lovecraft story) and I felt Protector could have used more. I missed a sense of camaraderie between the characters and it’s a very long book to have so much unbroken text. I mean, I’ve just opened the book at random to look and chapter 28 has no dialogue at all. Like I say, I believe this must have been a decision the author took on purpose and I think it certainly works in terms of imparting a sense of the enormous scale of this conflict – this novel is about PEOPLES rather than PEOPLE – but I think it took me longer to finish the book as a result.
With that gripe out of the way, I have to say I enjoyed Protector, it is truly epic, and I expect fans of the aforementioned Scarrow and Cornwell will too, especially if this historical period interests them. Might be best to start with the first book in the series though!
You will all know who Conn Iggulden is since he’s one of the biggest names in histfic alongside the likes of Mr Cornwell and Simon Scarrow and, when you start reading Protector it hits you pretty quickly just WHY he’s held in such high regard. The writing is excellent, with many sentences popping out at you and catching the attention because they’re so well crafted. The same goes for the little snippets of historical detail that tell you a) the author really researched this period and b) he has the ability to effortlessly slide these into the text without it ever feeling like a dry history lesson. Rather, you feel enriched by his knowledge. Well, I did anyway. I love that kind of thing.
Similarly, we learn just how difficult it was, logistically, to keep a massive army on the move every day. One chapter starts with a description of the incredible amount of water needed to quench the thirst of thousands upon thousands of men and horses and it really does drive home the monumental task facing the leaders of the Persian army, or any other huge army. “Like trying to fill a bucket with a hole in it,” is the line used to sum it up I believe and it’s really interesting for the author to take the focus away from the more obvious aspects of war – battles! – for a moment, to make the whole thing seem more realistic and less about heroism and simple skill with a blade.
That’s just one section, though, so don’t worry, there’s lots of fighting and killing to whet your thirst for violence! The sea battles at the start are very well described as are the fights we see on land later on. There’s a duel near the end which I really enjoyed as it ends a little differently than I expected but all the fight scenes are visceral and exciting.
The tale told here is massive in scope – you’re looking at armies numbering in hundreds of thousands! That’s quite a difference to many historical novels, especially my own which usually have warbands of a few hundred or even just a dozen. I think the author has made a choice in writing this book to make the whole thing feel BIG – there’s very little dialogue and we flit between characters without ever really seeing them as normal people. We’re TOLD about them, but there’s not many scenes of basic human interaction like men sitting drinking together, sharing jokes and songs, couples being intimate or the like. I can’t be sure, obviously, but I think Iggulden must have decided to avoid scenes like that – avoided making the people too minutely detailed – because he wanted to focus on the greater overall picture. These events were momentous and we do get a vivid sense of how incredibly powerful these nations were. Sparta’s incredible fighting prowess, Persia’s sheer numbers and ambition, and Greek cunning and resilience.
One issue I had with all this, however, is the fact there’s just so much prose. I like reading dialogue (unless we’re talking about an HP Lovecraft story) and I felt Protector could have used more. I missed a sense of camaraderie between the characters and it’s a very long book to have so much unbroken text. I mean, I’ve just opened the book at random to look and chapter 28 has no dialogue at all. Like I say, I believe this must have been a decision the author took on purpose and I think it certainly works in terms of imparting a sense of the enormous scale of this conflict – this novel is about PEOPLES rather than PEOPLE – but I think it took me longer to finish the book as a result.
With that gripe out of the way, I have to say I enjoyed Protector, it is truly epic, and I expect fans of the aforementioned Scarrow and Cornwell will too, especially if this historical period interests them. Might be best to start with the first book in the series though!
May 14, 2021
Protector is the second instalment in the epic historical fiction series known as Athenian and is every bit the bloody battleground and violent hubbub as further wars rage on. It takes you on a vivid adventure where Themistocles will risk everything--his honour, his friendships, even his life--to protect his country. The Battle of Salamis: Persian King Xerxes stands over the smoking ruins of Athens, an army of slaves at his back. Come to destroy, once and for all, everything that the city stands for, he stares pitilessly at the hopelessly outnumbered Greeks. Veteran soldier Themistocles cannot push the Persians back by force on land, and so he does so by stealth, at sea. Over three long days, the greatest naval battle of the ancient world will unfold, a bloody war between the democracy of Athens and the tyranny of Persia. The Battle of Plataea: Less than a year later, the Persians return to reconquer the Greeks. Tens of thousands of soldiers on both sides ready themselves for war. For the Spartans, Plataea is a chance to avenge their defeat at Thermopylae. For the people of Athens, threatened on all sides, nothing less than the survival of democracy is at stake.
And once again Themistocles, the hero of Salamis, will risk it all to protect the country he knows as home. This is a compulsive, enthralling and exciting read from the moment you turn the first page, and I don't believe anyone does historical fact meets fiction quite like Mr Conn Iggulden does. Iggulden is a phenomenal writer. His historical fiction is outstanding. It doesn’t matter what period of history he writes about, he brings it to life and makes the events and people of the past real, exciting and vital. The novel is framed by well-known and familiar battles, but they are given fresh treatment here because he takes his sweet time to make us really care about these people while also making us fascinated by their society and culture. The research not only for the gruesome battle sequences but also the everyday lives of average citizens is depicted magnificently and with great care, detail and articulation; nothing is neglected. A vivid, absorbing and profoundly immersive story and one that entertains for its entirety. So well-executed that I believe Iggulden could trick a history-phobic person into reading and loving it. I cannot recommend this highly enough.
And once again Themistocles, the hero of Salamis, will risk it all to protect the country he knows as home. This is a compulsive, enthralling and exciting read from the moment you turn the first page, and I don't believe anyone does historical fact meets fiction quite like Mr Conn Iggulden does. Iggulden is a phenomenal writer. His historical fiction is outstanding. It doesn’t matter what period of history he writes about, he brings it to life and makes the events and people of the past real, exciting and vital. The novel is framed by well-known and familiar battles, but they are given fresh treatment here because he takes his sweet time to make us really care about these people while also making us fascinated by their society and culture. The research not only for the gruesome battle sequences but also the everyday lives of average citizens is depicted magnificently and with great care, detail and articulation; nothing is neglected. A vivid, absorbing and profoundly immersive story and one that entertains for its entirety. So well-executed that I believe Iggulden could trick a history-phobic person into reading and loving it. I cannot recommend this highly enough.
May 1, 2023
What an ending!
July 24, 2021
‘The king of Persia looked across the heart of Athens.’
Xerxes, Themistocles, Xanthippus, Aristides, Pausanias … names I remember from studying ancient Greek history last century. Names that Mr Iggulden brings to life in this novel, the second in his Athenian series. While I have not yet read the first book in this series (I missed it, somehow) it is possible to read this as a standalone.
Set during the second Persian invasion of Greece, this novel deals with the battles of Salamis (480 BCE) and Plataea (479 BCE). As the novel opens, the situation is desperate. The Athenians have fled: women and children have been evacuated; able-bodied men are serving on the fleet. Athens burns. The Persian force is huge. How can the Greeks win against such overwhelming odds?
Through the perspectives of different characters, primarily Themistocles and Xanthippus, Mr Iggulden takes us into the battles. The battle at Plataea captured and held my attention: we alternate between Aristides and Mardonius, from one side to the other, as the advantage shifts between the opposing armies. And after the battle? Mr Iggulden takes us further.
And now I need to read the first book, while waiting for a third.
‘The war was over, but it had taken their youth and all that was good.’
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Xerxes, Themistocles, Xanthippus, Aristides, Pausanias … names I remember from studying ancient Greek history last century. Names that Mr Iggulden brings to life in this novel, the second in his Athenian series. While I have not yet read the first book in this series (I missed it, somehow) it is possible to read this as a standalone.
Set during the second Persian invasion of Greece, this novel deals with the battles of Salamis (480 BCE) and Plataea (479 BCE). As the novel opens, the situation is desperate. The Athenians have fled: women and children have been evacuated; able-bodied men are serving on the fleet. Athens burns. The Persian force is huge. How can the Greeks win against such overwhelming odds?
Through the perspectives of different characters, primarily Themistocles and Xanthippus, Mr Iggulden takes us into the battles. The battle at Plataea captured and held my attention: we alternate between Aristides and Mardonius, from one side to the other, as the advantage shifts between the opposing armies. And after the battle? Mr Iggulden takes us further.
And now I need to read the first book, while waiting for a third.
‘The war was over, but it had taken their youth and all that was good.’
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
April 21, 2022
I’m extremely disappointed in his lack of female characters. Why in the world would he not represent General Artemisia, a fascinating historical character if ever there was one.
This book was not as compelling as the first.
This book was not as compelling as the first.
May 7, 2021
I didn´t read the first in the Athenian series, but they can be read as stand-alones, if you know a little about the Greco-Persian Wars. This one deals with the battles of Salamis and Palataea. Our characters are Aristides and Mardonius, Themistocles and Xanthippus, Cimon and Xerxes.
It´s definitely well researched and well written, but the description of the batlles can drag, especially if you´re not a fan. There are moments of emotion and political parts though, and you see the cruelty of war and its aftermaths.
I also liked the historical explanations Iggulden gives in the end note.
Thanks for the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
It´s definitely well researched and well written, but the description of the batlles can drag, especially if you´re not a fan. There are moments of emotion and political parts though, and you see the cruelty of war and its aftermaths.
I also liked the historical explanations Iggulden gives in the end note.
Thanks for the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 13, 2021
Conn Iggulden is a master of bringing history to life.
This book is fantastic. I can't wait for the next in the Athenian series to come out.
This book in one word: Epic!
This book is fantastic. I can't wait for the next in the Athenian series to come out.
This book in one word: Epic!
January 14, 2022
This is Historical Fiction. This book shed more light on the timeline and the characters/people of the Greco-Persian wars covered in The Gates of Athens. I think I liked the first book slightly more than this one, but I absolutely loved Xanthippus in this one. His different roles as father, husband, friend and leader were big highlights for me.
I have certain expectations when reading this author and great writing is one of them. This book did not disappoint. I look forward to book #3. So 4 stars.
I have certain expectations when reading this author and great writing is one of them. This book did not disappoint. I look forward to book #3. So 4 stars.
March 14, 2022
Exceptionnel ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
July 2, 2025
The ''Greek series'' of Iggulden's works goes on, as this novel continues from where the previous book, ''The Gates of Athens'', left off. This time, the focus is on the major battles of Salamis and the coast of Platea, while diving more into the psychological and moral aspects of the main characters from three different worlds, Athens, Sparta and Persia, as well as dealing with the consequences of war and it's aftermath. There are a lot of historical details implemented in this book that derive form Herodotus and his work ''Histories'', but Iggulden uses some liberty to expand the setting and makes the reader feel like (s)he's living the history alongside historical figures. For me, the most impactful moment is when the famous Themistocles faces the trial in the final chapters. That's the part of history I wasn't aware of, even if it's the man who played an immeasurable role in this war, but it also represents the flaws of a rigid system and makes us question how should the world manage itself, when facing challenges under different circumstances. But this is neither a one sided story, nor the clash between good and evil, as, through some earlier actions and especially if you've read the last book, you can see how devious he can be. Overall, I've enjoyed both in this book and the entire series so far, and I'm looking forward to next year, when I'm gonna venture into a post war period with ''The Golden Age'' series, consisting of ''Lion'' and ''Empire'' novels.
April 27, 2023
Conn Iggulden's The Protector is good historical fiction. I enjoyed it a great deal, and I learned a lot about the Peloponnesian wars between Persia and Greece. However, the plot moved a little slowly. As with the first book in the series, the historical note was probably the best part.
June 13, 2021
A must read author for me, I always learn a lot even though much of these books is fiction. Fiction based on facts which are always explained at the end of the book. Iggulden gives the facts/ what is known and his basis for his take on history.
Those Spartans are a mean red fighting machine for sure! I really enjoy the characterisations and I'm never quite sure which character I like best as with real people there is good and bad in each.
Totally fascinating for me - I want more.
Those Spartans are a mean red fighting machine for sure! I really enjoy the characterisations and I'm never quite sure which character I like best as with real people there is good and bad in each.
Totally fascinating for me - I want more.
September 10, 2023
Fortsatt mycket intressant, speciellt nu när det handlar om, för mig, lite mer okända slag och händelser.
May 28, 2021
A Conn Iggulden novel is always something to celebrate. This second Athenian novel continues this fascinating retelling of the Persian invasions of Athens in the 5th century BC, a time when the whole population of Athens was evacuated more than once and the city burned to the ground (more than once). The Greeks fought back and there are some spectacular battles in Protector, on the sea (pure brilliance from Iggulden here) at Salamis and on land at Plataea. There are similarities to The Gates of Athens, almost a repetition, with the same characters - Athenian heroes - squabbling amongst themselves while uniting against mighty Xerxes, using cunning against this vast Persian army. But Pericles, who I suspect is the main figure of this series, is now becoming a man and warrior, promising much for book 3 of this excellent series. Review to follow shortly on For Winter Nights.
March 14, 2021
Book 2 in the Athenian series.
We catch up with Thermistocles and Xanthippus, as the armies of Xerxes - the young Persian King - burn Athens to the ground.
Conn Iggulden is the master when it comes to historical fiction, with lots of vivid, atmospheric, gritty scenes, you'll believe you're on the battlefield fighting for your life.
If you love historical fiction with a dollop of fact, then I highly recommend this.
Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for the ARC.
We catch up with Thermistocles and Xanthippus, as the armies of Xerxes - the young Persian King - burn Athens to the ground.
Conn Iggulden is the master when it comes to historical fiction, with lots of vivid, atmospheric, gritty scenes, you'll believe you're on the battlefield fighting for your life.
If you love historical fiction with a dollop of fact, then I highly recommend this.
Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for the ARC.
February 9, 2022
This second book in the ancient Greece series takes us through the great naval Battle of Salamis, two burnings and sackings of Athens by the Persians. The Battle of Plataea where the Spartan, Athenian, and other Greece forces beat the Persian army 10 times their size. You get to see these battles and recoveries thru the eyes of Athenian leaders like Themistocles, Aristides, Cimon, Xanthippus, and his two sons Ariphon and Pericles. War and death are experienced by both military and civilian populations. One final note about the book. It talks about how the Athenian democracy system has its ups and downs. Here's one of the best quotes about this idea I found in the book: "We are all flawed, Pericles. We are all...small men. Yet when enough of us stand up, to praise or condemn, we have as much chance of being right as any other code (referring to Athenian democracy) It does not make us right-anything of man is always imperfect. But it is still the better choice, always. Trust the people, Pericles." If you enjoyed Gates of Athen, Conn's first book about ancient Greece, I know you will enjoy this one too. I look forward to his third book in the series as well.
January 20, 2023
Nothing like his older books which were absolutely amazing....this one being boring and a repetitive narrative....his last few have been lacking any real excitement....I certainly won't be reading the next one.
June 17, 2021
What to say? I've enjoyed Conn Iggulden's writing since his first book was released about 20 years ago. I still have that book in perfect condition, plus all those since. A great collection of great writing fictionalizing the Romans, the Plantagenets, Genghis Khan, & now the Greeks (with a dip in fantasy in between all that, which I feel was amazing!)
With the football, it's hard to read at all on a diet of 3 games a day (come on, it's the beautiful game, no way would I NOT watch lol!), so enjoying a book is paramount as it means I'll give it attention. This book is one worthy of that full attention - plenty of action, relatable characters and emotions, double dealings & betrayals, all those things that make humans who we are. Iggulden catches all this, & his superlative writing takes you back to the sights, smells, sounds of the Greeks and War, the Persian hoards & the victory of the underdog. I hope that wasn't a spoiler, it's the ultimate story of the underdog winning, we should all know that much.
A 4* easily read and fully enjoyed!
With the football, it's hard to read at all on a diet of 3 games a day (come on, it's the beautiful game, no way would I NOT watch lol!), so enjoying a book is paramount as it means I'll give it attention. This book is one worthy of that full attention - plenty of action, relatable characters and emotions, double dealings & betrayals, all those things that make humans who we are. Iggulden catches all this, & his superlative writing takes you back to the sights, smells, sounds of the Greeks and War, the Persian hoards & the victory of the underdog. I hope that wasn't a spoiler, it's the ultimate story of the underdog winning, we should all know that much.
A 4* easily read and fully enjoyed!
May 3, 2021
Iggulden doesn't just describe the ancient world, he takes you there.
The second installment in his Athenian series is just as gripping as the first. From the salt spray and the sea battles of Salamis, to the blood and dust in the middle of the phalanx as the Greeks fight to preserve the western world, this is historical fiction at its very finest.
Conn takes famous names from the ancient past and brings them back to life, their flaws and their triumphs laid bare upon the page, he has a unique ability to make them feel real. You understand their motivations, feel their frustrations and sense their doubt.
Having previously read Christian Cameron's Arimnestos series covering the same ground, I was a bit indifferent when I first picked up Gates of Athens, wondering if I would enjoy journeying a road I had already walked. But the two books in the series so far have been fantastic, and I can't wait for the next one.
The second installment in his Athenian series is just as gripping as the first. From the salt spray and the sea battles of Salamis, to the blood and dust in the middle of the phalanx as the Greeks fight to preserve the western world, this is historical fiction at its very finest.
Conn takes famous names from the ancient past and brings them back to life, their flaws and their triumphs laid bare upon the page, he has a unique ability to make them feel real. You understand their motivations, feel their frustrations and sense their doubt.
Having previously read Christian Cameron's Arimnestos series covering the same ground, I was a bit indifferent when I first picked up Gates of Athens, wondering if I would enjoy journeying a road I had already walked. But the two books in the series so far have been fantastic, and I can't wait for the next one.
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