i can completely see how this book became the movie that it did. it's absolutely cinematic in scope, partially thru it's close following of the greek trope and it's matching of pacing to the source work, anabasis. i also really appreciated the way yurick did not shy from violence, while also highlighting just how young these "men" in the book were — between 14-16, most of them. it made the whole thing a bizarre breadth of cognitive dissonance: abhorent acts of violence (particularly against women) coupled with true childhood. it's a really good read actually and thank u to lin manuel miranda for indirectly pointing me to it!