The series Apollo's Men is centered around pederasty and the strongly homocentric culture of 5th century BC Greece, when women were sidelined in most of the city-states. Sparta was an exception. Spartan women were trained to be matches for their men, to be athletic and educated. "Because only Spartan women give birth to real men."
In Homeric fashion, the gods and all their lesser brethren are real. Apollo walks the world Alexios, Galen, Lykos, Theron, and Andreas inhabit. He is not a benevolent omniscient deity. He is more a personification of his attributes as the Lord of Light (notice that is not the sun god, Helios), healing, music and the arts, and of course prophecy. He has a darker side as do all the Greek gods, having all the personality flaws that men, ie humans, do.
Alexios' Fate is the first book in the Apollo's Men series. This is where we meet Alexios and Galen. Alexios is the heir to the city-state of Dicaea. Galen was purchased as a birthday gift a decade before when Alexios has still an eight-year-old boy. Together they learn more about themselves and each other in the face their own mortality.
496 BC, Apollo's Men #1.5, continues Alexios and Galen's saga. This story gives us our first look inside Galen's heart and mind, exploring his feeling for Alexios, his new status as a recently freed slave, and his antipathy toward his lover's mentor. As well as giving a better view of slavery, class status/distinctions, and the homocentric nature of portions of the ancient Greek world.
Taming Theron, Apollo's Men #2, is the story of Andreas, a Spartan helot, who finds that food is the way to a man's heart. He sets off to "seduce" a young elite Spartan warrior, but may have bitten off more than he can chew. Taming Theron is off with my second beta reader. When he comes back, I will address any changes/suggestions she makes and get it ready for submission.
In the meanwhile, I've started
A Spartan Love, Apollo's Men #3. This tale continues the story started in Taming Theron. Theron fears that his relationship with Andreas has been compromised, placing Andreas' life at risk. He has to make some life-changing decisions, and fast.
Apollo's Men #4 is still unfortunately without a title. The rough draft is approximately 3/4 finished. But when I realized that Taming Theron and A Spartan Love preceded it chronologically, I put it on hold and started with the other works.
Apollo's Men #5 adds another couple to the mix, but I think I'll wait a little longer before revealing who they are. I've got to have something to surprise you with.
