A historical epic inspired by the ancient world's Battle of Marathon and the Last Stand at Thermopylae follows the unlikely Greek victory against Darius the Great's invading Persian army 10 years before Athens succumbed to factionalism and betrayal.

Pericles returns home more than a hero: he's the leader of Athens, the empire's beacon of light. But even during times of peace, the threat of Sparta--Athens's legendary rival--looms large on the horizon. When a sudden catastrophe brings Sparta to its knees, Pericles sees a golden opportunity to forever shift the balance of power in his city's favor. For sometimes, the only way to win lasting peace is to wage war. Sparta may be weak, but their power...