Andartes: Set in the mid 1950s, Andartes (Guerrillas) is an absorbing glimpse into the fiercely fought EOKA struggle for the independence of Cyprus from British colonial rule: the drama all the more poignant given its basis in historical fact. It is vividly written, brutal, emotional, with a most touching story. This absorbing read follows Alexi's life from an early age of utter poverty where he befriends a Turkish Cypriot compatriot and both become inseparable. They grow into young lads and enjoy life at its fullest until one day their lives had changed forever. Alexis' pride and ideals lead him on a journey that results in his paying the ultimate price.

The New York based international magazine "ODYSSEY: The World of Greece" in their September / October 2008 issue has given Andartes its own review.

THE BOOK REVIEW: by Elena Polyzos.

There are few non-academic studies written in English about the Cypriot struggle for independence from British colonial rule in the mid -1950's. As a result, the story of this fiercely fought, bitter guerrilla war has been somewhat inaccessible, with Lawrence Durrell's Bitter Lemons of Cyprus, written over fifty years ago, being the classic account of those momentous events.

Andartes is a worthy addition to the literature on the subject, a dramatic novel based on historical fact. The author convincingly examines the root of the war, the formation of EOKA the Greek Cypriot guerrilla liberation organization, (hence the title, 'Andartes', or rebels) and the internecine struggle between the Greek and Turkish Cypriots. Although told from a Greek Cypriot point of view, Chrysafis does attempt to provide an objective and balanced account of the Greek, Turkish, and British involvement in the struggle and mostly succeeds.

Even so, it is the British who come off worst, a case of complacent and misguided colonial rule. The scenes of torture and executions portray the brutality of their authority and reveal the author's full contempt for their actions. These scenes are particularly poignant given that they describe events which took so soon after the World War II.

Andartes is also a novel of Greek-Turkish friendship and traces the relationship between a young Greek and a Turk, and how they are shaped by the violence of those years. The author concludes that violence begets violence, and in the end, nobody remains unaffected.

A satisfying emotional read with vivid and believable characters and a gripping story.