Ares' War , a dramatic reinterpretation of the Greek myths, tells the moving story of three pairs of lovers caught up in the tragic events of the Trojan War. It picks up where the first book in the series, Aprhrodite’s War , leaves off. Odysseus, back home in Ithaka, longs for nothing more than to live peacefully on his small island kingdom with his wife and new-born child. Illotos, Odysseus’ young ward, has exchanged his youthful dreams of glory for the beautiful Princess Demia. Together they have started a new life on Ithaka, far from the royal court and its intrigues. For a few idyllic months, Odysseus and Illotos enjoy peaceful, happy lives on their remote island home, but trouble is brewing in Mycenae, where Achilles is demanding that Greeks go to war with Troy to rescue Helen and restore Greek pride. In Troy, Paris and Helen find, not the happiness they seek, but anger and resentment. They are shunned by their peers and insulted in the streets by the common people. Helen is called the “Greek Whore,” and blamed for the oncoming war. Only Paris’ older brother, Hector, stands between them and disaster. When war begins, Odysseus must leave his wife and child, as must Illotos, whose wife is now pregnant. The two women are left alone to fight off the advances of Odysseus’ enemy Polybus, who covets Penelope, and his worthless son who lusts after Demia. The cost of outfitting an army to fight in Troy has almost bankrupted Odysseus, and Penelope must find a way to keep herself and Demia out of Polybus’ grasp. While Penelope and Demia struggle at home, Odysseus and Illotos find only pain and hardship on the beach outside the massive walls of Troy. The Greeks have brought a thousand ships to Troy, expecting a quick and easy victory, but after several disastrous battles, and the loss of their hero Achilles, they find themselves starving and without hope until Odysseus comes up with one final, desperate plan – a wooden horse.