YMMV / Gates of Fire

• Fandom Rivalry:
  • With 300. Back in the early 2000', there were chances that this book would be adapted into a movie. However, the producers changed their minds and choose the comic instead. Obviously, fans of the book were not pleased.
  • With Nicola Nicastro's "The Isle of Stone", due to their differences. Gates of Fire glorifies The Spartan Way, while The Isle Of Stone presents it at the worst way possibly.
  • With Valerio's Spartan, due to their… similarities (?!) With both being historically accurate, both presenting the Spartan culture and both taking place at the exact same period, it was inevitable that a rivalry would sparkle. Then again, you will find some people who like both of these works (although they prefer Gates of Fire more).
• Hype Backlash: With many praising it as the King of Historical Fiction books, it's bound to have some who found it overrated.
• Iron Woobie: Alexandros, of all of the characters. He is completely despised by his teacher, Polynikes (to be honest, all the Spartan boys have it rough, but Alexandros gets the worst), said teacher punched his nose so hard, that it never managed to heal, despite all the medical and surgical treatment he underwent, he suffered from severe cases of asthma after that injury, but he still tried to do his best and be a good warrior, no matter the obstacles he faced.
• Narm Charm: Dioneke's line: "The opposite of fear is… love". Cheesy as hell? Yes! Still manages to be kinda heartwarming on its own? Absolutely!

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