Well-written and perfect in period detail, this is storytelling and history rolled into one seamless and rivetting whole. Schedule a weekend to read it at one stretch; you won't want to put it down.

An emotionally powerful vision of Alexander the Great from boyhood up to the beginning of his conquests. Not for the faint of heart, In the Company of Friends depicts the harsh realities of life in the kingdom of Makedon during the decay of the ancient Greek city-states: a time when slavery was an accepted norm, death a constant companion, and even small children lived at risk from poison, kidnapping, and assassination. Told mainly from the viewpoint of Hephaestion, Alexander's lifelong love, this is the raw and brutal story of a warrior prince coming of age in an environment as dangerous as any Mafia family. Wood draws us into a world where sex, love, and friendship are the foundations of both power and deadly rivalry, where truth is rare and and personal relationships are essential not only to success, but survival.

There have been many historical fictions written of Alexander-Argent Wood's is truly an Alexander 'historical' fiction. Not only among the best, but in my opinion, this first book of the trilogy is the best. It is clear the author is familiar with the histories, extant fragments and ancient texts that comprise the Alexander corpus.

As I love history, I was looking forward to reading a novel based on true historical events. 'In the Company of Friends' by Argent Wood did not disappoint me: the blending of fiction and real events is skillfully done.