Petros' War is set in Athens during the Nazi Occupation. Zei has succeeded in shifting the emphasis of her novels away from historical events themselves and towards the way in which people reacted to such events. Thus, characters are the main focus of the novel, and the setting is just a backdrop to the development of the characters and their reactions to the events at hand.

For example, important events of the war and the Resistance are described and commented upon parenthetically throughout the novel. Collectively, however, these episodes shape and create the realistic atmosphere of the novel.

Many realistic and authentic details of the time are described throughout the novel—some mentioned in passing, others with more emphasis. Most collectively influence and affect the lives of the young protagonist and his entourage. Examples of these discrete, yet distinct details include young women and foreign soldiers living...