Guardian Review

Guardian review

Josh lacey reviews HALO by Zizou Corder

The novel has flaws: the plot is episodic and too reliant on a string of unlikely coincidences; characters are introduced, then forgotten and discarded; the ending is rushed. But these irritations are swept aside by the  energy of the writing and some great set pieces, the best being a wonderfully vivid description of the oracle at Delphi.

The book is crammed with a multitude of real and invented characters, and oozes geeky information about the ancient Greeks. (Some notes at the back even explain how to make a bow or bake baklava.)

It will undoubtedly inspire young readers to learn more about the period... JOSH LACEY