A familiar story told from a different viewpoint (that ought to be a distinct genre of works). Very well written, and an interesting narrative idea in itself well executed. We certainly come to a different understand of what war means from behind the scenes.

Particulaltly like the way she mixes in modern cultural elements (eg the drinking songs, and soldiers banter) to provide cross-cultural reference points for the reader - of course the greek army in camp after a victory is like a bunch of rubgy or football players cellebrating a victory.