I knew this would be five stars in the first chapter. I don't even know how to describe how beautiful this book is. It's a cliche way to describe fiction, but I genuinely felt as if I was there.

The Mask of Apollo is the story of Nikeratos, an actor in fourth-century BCE Athens, who gets caught up in the politics of Dionysius-led Syracuse. It starts, though, with his childhood and youth as an actor. This is the kind of historical fiction that throws you in. You either have some background knowledge of the time period, or you're just along for the ride. I've read Euripides, and loved learning about the way those plays would have been put on. The book is named after one of Niko's theater masks, of the god Apollo, that he carries with him throughout his journeys, a good-luck charm and someone to ask advice from. 

Plato is a character, and Dionysius II himself, as well as Dion, the man who overthrew Dionysius to take over Syracuse. I did get a bit lost in the more political moments, but the writing and characterization was so strong that I didn't much mind.

I would recommend you at least have a basic knowledge of the Iliad and Greek gods/myths (to get the references), and if you might have to look up some political/war situations while reading, if you want to get every single thing. That said, don't be discouraged if you don't know anything about any of this! It's still worth reading.