Author's conception of the Battle of Marathon and what led up to it, through the eyes of a youth, Mandrocles of Samos, who had saved the life of Miltiades and called the "Luck Bringer" from then on by him. After Mandrocles's father catches him in an indiscretion, while Miltiades is visiting, the father gives Mandrocles over to Miltiades to shape him up. Then follows adventures: life on shipboard amongst Miltiades's crew; various battles; life in Athens and introduction to its fleshpots; then culminating in the Battle of Marathon. We see why Miltiades feels the Persians will come from the sea that way and he guesses the fight will be there. Aided by several hundred Plataeans and a pre-Peloponnesian War Brasidas, a violent battle is fought by the Athenians.

Fast-paced, with likeable characters. For most of the novel I felt it rated 3 stars, and only the climactic battle, consisting of only a few pages, rated 4 stars. I loved the cover: stylized Corinthian helmets with that of Mandrocles set apart in orange. ( )