Publication Date: September 29, 2014 (Kindle), November 10, 2014 (Print)
Publisher: Endeavour Press (Kindle), Createspace (Print)
Formats: eBook, Print
Pages: 370
Series: The Spoils of Olympus
Genre: Historical Fiction/Military Fiction
322 B.C. The Macedonian Empire is on the verge of civil war following the sudden death of Alexander the Great.
As a boy, Andrikos watched as Alexander’s army marched through his homeland of Greek Ionia after defeating the Persians at the Granicus River on their way to the total conquest of the Persian Empire. Soon he will be embroiled in their world, forced to flee his old life due to an unintentional crime.
Thrust into the army, Andrikos struggles to cope with the brutal yet necessary training which his superiors put him through to prepare for the coming wars of succession as Alexander’s surviving generals seek to divide and conquer the spoils of Olympus.
But Andrikos is not destined to be a nameless soldier; by chance he is chosen for a clandestine mission – and is immersed in a world of intrigue, violence and brotherhood.
The path that lies ahead of Andrikos requires him to shed his immaturity and take on the responsibilities and emotions of a man beyond his years as he struggles to save Alexander’s legacy from those who wish to usurp it.
The Spoils of Olympus: By the Sword is a historical epic which follows the advancements of one soldier from boy to man set during a time of global conflict.
Praise for The Spoils of Olympus
“Kachel does a wonderful job portraying the development of Andrikos from awkward, immature youth to confident and skilled operative.” (Kirkus Reviews)
“5 stars out of 5. All day long.” (Ancient & Medieval Mayhem)
Buy the Book
About the Author
I am a Long Island, NY native and current resident of Northern Virginia. While attending the University of Maryland- College Park, the events of September 11, 2001 inspired me to join the U.S. Army ROTC program and volunteer for three tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan upon my commissioning into the Army Reserves in 2003. I hold three Master’s degrees and work in the defense industry.
The Spoils of Olympus has been a 2 1/2 year project that began in a Marriott hotel room in San Antonio, Texas while attending pre deployment training for a tour in Afghanistan in late 2011. The wars of succession immediately following the death of Alexander the Great have always fascinated me despite being overshadowed in the history books by the life and times of Alexander himself. Many great novels have been written about ancient Greece and Alexander but few fictional works have explored this forgotten era in western civilization where Alexander’s generals, who were once allies, battled each other for control of the largest empire on earth.
By the Sword is the first novel in The Spoils of Olympus series and introduces us to the story’s protagonist, Andrikos. The book follows him from an adolescence of criminality and capriciousness to his forced enlistment in the wars of succession; taking him from the battlefields of Asia Minor to the Achaemenid palaces of the Persian Empire. It is my hope readers will enjoy the story while learning about this important time in history.
For more information please visit Christian Kachel’s website. You can also find him on Facebook.
Interview with Christian Kachel
Today I am very excited to be interviewing Christian Kachel, author of’ ‘Spoils of Olympus: By the Sword’!
TR: Hi Christian, welcome to The Teddy Rose Reviews Plus, please tell us a little about yourself and background.
CK: I am a U.S. Army vet and active member of the Reserves. I live in Virginia with my wife and two small children. While this is my first foray into fictional writing, my writing skills have been honed through writing countless academic and professional papers and as well as official reports over the past 15 years.
TR: There have been many books about ancient Greece and Alexander the Great, how does your book differ?
CK: There are many great works of fiction out there on ancient Greece and Alexander the Great and I have read several of them. What I’ve noticed is a strong focus on the life and times of Alexander but very few works devoted to the wars of succession immediately following his death (Christian Cameron and Mary Renault aside). This time period has fascinated me since I first studied it because of the sheer enormity of action conducted by his surviving generals on a truly global scale- from Afghanistan to Italy. This struggle eventually settled in a tacit peace between three Kingdoms, ending in the eventual Roman dominance of his former Mediterranean holdings- culminating with the marriage between Julius Caesar and Cleopatra (the great-granddaughter 12 generations down the line from Alexander’s general Ptolemy).
Another differentiator is the inclusion of espionage/spy plot lines between warring secret societies fighting over Alexander’s heirs and his legacy.
TR: If Alexander the Great were to come back to life in 2015, what do you think he would say about the state the U.S. is currently in? (I know this is a broad topic, so focus on whatever you like.)
CK: Being a military man first and foremost, I think he would be overawed by the technological capabilities of armies today and what they are capable of. I also think Alexander would be a little upset with the state of masculinity in the 21st century in America. Alexander was a man of action who made his own fortunes and would not take kindly to young men living in their parents’ basement into their late 20s and early 30s. Alexander had conquered most of the known world before the age of 30.
TR: I know that there is a lot of research that goes into writing historical fiction. Approximately how much time do you take to research a book versus, actually writing the book?
CK: I started writing the book with a fairly good base of knowledge of the era. I then decided the beginning and end dates of the story to establish my ‘right and left limits.’ Next I sketched out the plot line as it followed along the historical dates on a white board and referred to primary and contemporary sources to fill in knowledge gaps as I went along. So to answer your question- I jumped in with years of experience reading about this era and referred back to source material as needed while writing. So I would estimate 2/3 of time writing the story, 1/3 time researching.
TR: Are there any authors who you have found inspiration from for your writing?
CK: In the historical fiction genre there are three books which I hold above all others: Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield; I, Claudius by Robert Graves; and A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. Pressfield’s epic novel about the infamous 300 Spartans sets all standards on writing about Greek military training and battles. Grave’s masterpiece flawlessly integrates the entirety of Roman life into his story- giving the reader an incredible sense of immersion into his story with deep and fascinating characters. Dickens’ famous work of historical fiction displays a true mastery of English writing.
TR: Describe the room you are sitting in as though it was a scene in ‘Spoils of Olympus’.
CK: The living room was decorated in a traditional style that emanated a warmth rarely seen in the homes of 30-somethings these days. Playing on the authentic Persian rug, purchased through Craigslist, is my infant daughter- whose attention is divided between staring at me and crinkling a piece of printer paper. My son is watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse while sitting at his little wooden desk in the corner. I steal a few moments to write on my laptop between the familiar sounds of Disney and laughter.
TR: Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule today Christian!
Thanks to Amy Bruno of HFVBT and author, Christian Kachel, I am giving away one print copy of Spoils of Olympus: By the Sword by Christian Kachel. This giveaway is open to the U.S. only and ends on March 18, 2015. Please use Rafflecopter to enter.
The Spoils of Olympus: By the Sword Blog Tour Schedule
Monday, March 2
Spotlight & Giveaway at Passages to the Past
Wednesday, March 4
Interview & Giveaway at Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus More
Friday, March 6
Review at With Her Nose Stuck in a Book
Guest Post at What Is That Book About
Monday, March 9
Review at Flashlight Commentary
Spotlight at CelticLady’s Reviews
Tuesday, March 10
Interview at Flashlight Commentary
Spotlight at Historical Fiction Obsession
Wednesday, March 11
Review at Back Porchervations
Thursday, March 12
Review at bookramblings
Review at The Mad Reviewer
Friday, March 13
Interview & Giveaway at Let Them Read Books
It’s not hard to be fascinated by the Macedonians. This look at their later period should be really interesting. Thanks
the time period’s interesting
I like the time period, the history, and reading about the Civil War that he is fighting. Thanks for having the giveaway.
This historical is fascinating and the era.
As a self-respecting historical fiction aficionado, I have a shameful dearth of reading experience in novels set in ancient times. There is no good reason for this; I wish to rectify the situation. Thanks, Teddy. Cheers, Kara S
This one is now on my TBR list.
Even the cover screams “POWERFUL”.