D. J. Belt

An Amazons' Moon: a Tale of Syri, Athenian Mariner D. J. Belt

It is 470 BC. Syri is a loner, a vagabond Athenian mariner and poet who has inherited a fast ship and able crew upon the death of his former captain. Through ability and serendipity, he attracts the attention of Athens' elite who enlist him in a dangerous, uncertain expedition: the mission to negotiate a defense treaty with the fearsome Amazon nation against the hated Persians. At first mercenary, his motives turn intensely personal as he repeatedly leads his comrades through brutal battles with pirates, a superior Persian army and the wild, unpredictable nature of Poseidon's seas. In the midst of combat arises deep bonds of friendship with a fiery Amazon princess and her female lover and the passion found in the dark eyes and enchanting flutes of a mystic Egyptian woman. As his journey continues, it may convince him that safe harbor is not to be found in stone and mortar alone. An Amazons' Moon is exciting historic fiction embedded in the richest details of daily life about the Mediterranean 2,500 years ago. It takes the reader on a thrilling ride through intrigue, adventures at sea, combat and romance while visiting the worlds of ancient Greece and the Amazons. The colorful characters, historic details, bawdy humor and good storytelling bring Syri and his companions to life in this first of a series of adventures.