The bloody, brutal, brilliant new novel of men at war from the master of the genre. From the pen of Steven Pressfield, author of The Sunday Times Bestseller Gates of Fire comes a captivating, gripping and atmospheric novel of military might and war. "Awesome...this is an extraordinary work - an instant classic." -- DAVID GEMMELL "Gripping, moving and literate...rarely does an author manage to recreate a moment in history with such mastery, authority and psychological insight." -- NELSON DEMILLE "No one writes better historical fiction than Steven Pressfield" -- VINCE FLYNN "This book doesn't 'grab you from the first page'; it slowly envelops you in silken claws until you realise that this story owns you" -- ***** Reader review "Powerful and insightful" -- ***** Reader review "Absolutely brilliant" -- ***** Reader review ******************************************************** WHAT LENGTHS WILL THEY GO TO TO ACHIEVE VICTORY? 330 BC- Alexander The Great launches his bloody and brutal campaign in the Afghan Kingdoms... Among the ranks of Macedonian infantry is Matthias. The youngest of three brothers, he is eager to prove himself, but as he joins the front-line, he comes to realise that warfare has changed. The Macedonians face a new kind of enemy, and must learn to fight a new kind of war. Experiencing fear, euphoria, horror and shame, Matthias and his comrades undergo a rite of passage as they, soldiers of a Western force whose code is secular and humanist, confront a proud Eastern warrior people who possess a fervent willingness to die for their cause. Just to survive, Alexander's men must shake off the trappings of 'civilization' and adopt the same unorthodox and barbaric tactics as their foe - but is that a price worth paying?