The Philosopher Kings

In Jo Walton's "The Philosopher Kings," twenty years after the founding of The Just City, the story follows Apollo—living secretly as Pythias—who grapples with grief and a desire for revenge. As he and his companions, including his daughter Arete and Renaissance humanist Marsilio Ficino, embark on a voyage into the ancient Eastern Mediterranean, they uncover truths that could alter their understanding of history, gods, and humanity. The novel explores themes of conflict, discovery, and the transformative power of knowledge amidst a divided world.