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Legionary #1
Legionary
The Roman Empire is crumbling, and a shadow looms in the east…
376 The Goths amass at the edges of the Eastern Roman Empire, armed and with madness in their eyes. Emperor Valens frantically mobilises his legions to contain this unexpected tide. Little does he know of the far greater, darker threat that drove the tribes like the Huns.
The legions need every new recruit they can find, anyone to hold a spear. Pavo - slave and orphan - is not just anyone. Thrust into the border legions, cast into the front line, he must become a man, or he will die, and the empire will fall with him.Epic Roman fiction, brimming with adventure, battles, blood and gore.A perfect novel for fans of Bernard Cornwell's Last Kingdom series, Conn Iggulden's Emperor series, Simon Scarrow's Macro and Cato saga or Ben Kane's Forgotten Legion series.
376 The Goths amass at the edges of the Eastern Roman Empire, armed and with madness in their eyes. Emperor Valens frantically mobilises his legions to contain this unexpected tide. Little does he know of the far greater, darker threat that drove the tribes like the Huns.
The legions need every new recruit they can find, anyone to hold a spear. Pavo - slave and orphan - is not just anyone. Thrust into the border legions, cast into the front line, he must become a man, or he will die, and the empire will fall with him.Epic Roman fiction, brimming with adventure, battles, blood and gore.A perfect novel for fans of Bernard Cornwell's Last Kingdom series, Conn Iggulden's Emperor series, Simon Scarrow's Macro and Cato saga or Ben Kane's Forgotten Legion series.
437 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 16, 2011
658 people are currently reading
1480 people want to read
About the author
Gordon Doherty
41 books291 followersI'm a Scottish writer, addicted to reading and writing historical fiction.
My love of history was first kindled by visits to the misty Roman ruins of Britain and the sun-baked antiquities of Turkey and Greece. My expeditions since have taken me all over the world and back and forth through time (metaphorically, at least), allowing me to write tales of the later Roman Empire, Byzantium, Classical Greece and even the distant Bronze Age.
All of my novels are available from good online stores in paperback and eBook format.
Happy reading!
My website: www.gordondoherty.co.uk
My Twitter: @GordonDoherty
My Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GordonDohert...
My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCybC...
My love of history was first kindled by visits to the misty Roman ruins of Britain and the sun-baked antiquities of Turkey and Greece. My expeditions since have taken me all over the world and back and forth through time (metaphorically, at least), allowing me to write tales of the later Roman Empire, Byzantium, Classical Greece and even the distant Bronze Age.
All of my novels are available from good online stores in paperback and eBook format.
Happy reading!
My website: www.gordondoherty.co.uk
My Twitter: @GordonDoherty
My Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GordonDohert...
My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCybC...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
November 19, 2014
3.75 Stars
This was an enjoyable historical adventure set in a fascinating and often neglected period. Two interesting main characters were supported by a likeable cast of supporting players that kept the plot moving in between the frequent battle scenes.
In the year 376 AD the once invincible Roman Empire is struggling for its very survival. With hopelessly over-stretched borders and seemingly never ending hordes of barbarians waiting to sweep down upon the empire only the courage and skill of a few brave soldiers holds the line. Into this maelstrom is thrust young Pavo. The son of a soldier, he was sold into slavery after his father disappeared. When his cruel owner sends Pavo to join the border legions he does so confident in the belief that he won’t survive and with schemes and wars planned of vast, deadly ambition he may well be right.
I enjoyed the setting in this one. Recently there have been a bunch of military oriented historical fiction series’ set during Pax Romana at the height of the empires power and glory. This setting was interesting as we see the empire about 150 years after the crisis of the third century, after years of civil war, inflation and the growing power of barbarians has greatly weakened the empire. I would have liked to have seen these changes explored in more depth but that’s probably too much to ask in a light hearted military adventure.
The 2 main characters; Pavo and Gallus were both pretty cool. Pavo is a pretty typical hero for the genre. A boy of mysterious parentage who has lived a life filled with hard work leaves his home for adventure. I enjoyed Pavo’s development as he struggles to become a real soldier while trying to survive brutal training, a bounty on his heads and barbarians that could swoop down at any minute (barbarians love to swoop). While not particularly original Pavo was likeable and interesting enough to keep the story moving forward in between the battle scenes. I found Gallus to be an even more interesting character. Haunted by a tragedy in his past Gallus dedicates himself obsessively to the legion. Feared by friends and enemies alike for his cold, ferocious countenance he nevertheless cares about the people under his command. The rest of the cast were made up of pretty familiar character types. Pavo’s witty best mate, his fiery love interest and his grizzled mentor as well as a number of tough, experienced soldiers who surround Gallus. While these characters were pretty straightforward they were also written with a lot of warmth and wit.
The battle scenes in this one are as frequent as they are brutal. For the most part these scenes are intense and gripping, made all the more so by the Doherty’s willingness to kill off likeable and important characters. However at times I felt that Doherty went over-board to show how bloody and brutal fighting was. Almost every engagement, even minor skirmishes, involved huge casualties (early on about half a century of heavily armoured legionaries are wiped out by an arrow barrage, something that pretty much never happened). I also felt that the author made the command and control of battles feel too clean. Commanders order formation of thousands of men to form and manoeuvre in the space of seconds and personally supervise arrow fire. In ancient times this was impossible, even for the legendary discipline and organisation of the legions wouldn’t allow for this sort of micro-management (don’t get me started on the part at the end where ). I was disappointed partly at the inaccuracy but mostly at how it would have been really interesting to see a more realistic portrayal of the chaos and desperation at every level on an ancient battle field.
This was an enjoyable read and what it lacked in complexity and subtly it made up for with a cool setting, likeable characters and intense battle scenes. I’m definitely looking forward to continuing this series.
This was an enjoyable historical adventure set in a fascinating and often neglected period. Two interesting main characters were supported by a likeable cast of supporting players that kept the plot moving in between the frequent battle scenes.
In the year 376 AD the once invincible Roman Empire is struggling for its very survival. With hopelessly over-stretched borders and seemingly never ending hordes of barbarians waiting to sweep down upon the empire only the courage and skill of a few brave soldiers holds the line. Into this maelstrom is thrust young Pavo. The son of a soldier, he was sold into slavery after his father disappeared. When his cruel owner sends Pavo to join the border legions he does so confident in the belief that he won’t survive and with schemes and wars planned of vast, deadly ambition he may well be right.
I enjoyed the setting in this one. Recently there have been a bunch of military oriented historical fiction series’ set during Pax Romana at the height of the empires power and glory. This setting was interesting as we see the empire about 150 years after the crisis of the third century, after years of civil war, inflation and the growing power of barbarians has greatly weakened the empire. I would have liked to have seen these changes explored in more depth but that’s probably too much to ask in a light hearted military adventure.
The 2 main characters; Pavo and Gallus were both pretty cool. Pavo is a pretty typical hero for the genre. A boy of mysterious parentage who has lived a life filled with hard work leaves his home for adventure. I enjoyed Pavo’s development as he struggles to become a real soldier while trying to survive brutal training, a bounty on his heads and barbarians that could swoop down at any minute (barbarians love to swoop). While not particularly original Pavo was likeable and interesting enough to keep the story moving forward in between the battle scenes. I found Gallus to be an even more interesting character. Haunted by a tragedy in his past Gallus dedicates himself obsessively to the legion. Feared by friends and enemies alike for his cold, ferocious countenance he nevertheless cares about the people under his command. The rest of the cast were made up of pretty familiar character types. Pavo’s witty best mate, his fiery love interest and his grizzled mentor as well as a number of tough, experienced soldiers who surround Gallus. While these characters were pretty straightforward they were also written with a lot of warmth and wit.
The battle scenes in this one are as frequent as they are brutal. For the most part these scenes are intense and gripping, made all the more so by the Doherty’s willingness to kill off likeable and important characters. However at times I felt that Doherty went over-board to show how bloody and brutal fighting was. Almost every engagement, even minor skirmishes, involved huge casualties (early on about half a century of heavily armoured legionaries are wiped out by an arrow barrage, something that pretty much never happened). I also felt that the author made the command and control of battles feel too clean. Commanders order formation of thousands of men to form and manoeuvre in the space of seconds and personally supervise arrow fire. In ancient times this was impossible, even for the legendary discipline and organisation of the legions wouldn’t allow for this sort of micro-management (don’t get me started on the part at the end where ). I was disappointed partly at the inaccuracy but mostly at how it would have been really interesting to see a more realistic portrayal of the chaos and desperation at every level on an ancient battle field.
This was an enjoyable read and what it lacked in complexity and subtly it made up for with a cool setting, likeable characters and intense battle scenes. I’m definitely looking forward to continuing this series.
April 7, 2015
This is a real page turner, a thoroughly enjoyable and gripping historical novel describing the struggles of the Eastern Roman Empire during the period of the Emperor Valens (who became co-Augustus together with his brother Valentinian in AD 364, and who then assumed the senior Augustus role in AD 375, over his nephew Gratian in the west, at the death of his brother).
This novel is therefore set in a fascinating period often neglected by many writers of popular historical novels, who tend to focus primarily on the late Republic and early Principate era.
And this is quite refreshing: I am a bit tired of coming across novels about Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, Augustus and the likes.
We are dealing in particular with the period immediately preceding the defeat at the infamous Battle of Hadrianopolis (9 August AD 378, disastrous battle when Valens himself perished in the battle). This event used to be considered a watershed in the Late Empire history. While the criticality of this battle has been significantly revised by some modern historians, it still represents a significant shift in the nature of the relationship of the Roman Empire with the barbarian tribes pressing on its borders.
The main story is in the year 376, when significant pressure is being exerted on the borders of the Roman Empire, in particular by the various Goth tribes, which are themselves being pressured by the advancing Huns. And, to compound this external pressure, conspiracies against the Emperor do not fail to periodically come to light.
The main character, Pavo, plays an increasingly critical role in helping the Empire deal with some of these internal and external threats.
OK, let me now shift focus and summarize instead the main features of this novel.
On the positive side:
- the plot is complex and very well-constructed, with twists and cliffhangers. Yes there are a couple of events and characters requiring some suspension of disbelief, but overall the plot is consistent, credible, fast paced and a real page turner
- the settings (in particular the Bosporus region) are beautifully described, and quite evocative
- some of the battles (especially the final confrontation with the Huns) are epic and memorable. Moreover, the author does not fall into the common mistake of considering the Late Roman army just a shadow of the High Empire army: mainstream historians agree that the fighting capabilities of the Late Roman army were generally on a par with the army of the High Empire period.
- this book successfully achieves an almost optimal compromise between historical accuracy on one side, and the necessity for the author, on the other side, to develop a gripping story which would be appealing to a relatively wide audience. Moreover, this book has a very helpful introductory part with a glossary of Latin terms, a description of the structure of the typical Late Roman Legion, some notes about the religious aspects of the empire, etc. This is very helpful, especially considering that the Late Roman army differed significantly to the typical High Empire army.
- some characters (in particular the Centurion Brutus, but also Centurion Gallus and Optio Flex) are very well defined and quite memorable. Unfortunately the main character is occasionally a bit too cheesy for my tastes, but he is overall credible enough
- the writing style and the overall story clearly reflect the passion of the author for history in general, and late Roman history in particular, and also his knowledge and competence. The author has clearly done his research thoroughly and, because of this, the reader gets strong insights into this fascinating historical period, while being entertained
On the not-so-positive side:
- as also commented by another reviewer, the author makes the control of battles just a bit too easy and clean. Ancient battles were a very messy and confusing affair, and even for the legendary discipline and organization of the legions it was very difficult for commanders to achieve the type of almost immediate control of the stance and formation of thousands of men that is implied by the author. In particular, once the real battle started, the actual control was more decentralized down to century level.
- some of the characters (like the Bishop Evagrius) are a bit too black and white and they lack in complexity, and therefore they lack in credibility – the author could have developed them in a much more nuanced manner
- there are a couple of terms that sort of annoyed me, like “runt” and “bugger”, and sometimes the dialogs verge a bit too much on the modern colloquial lingo side for my personal tastes.
But it must be said that the positive aspects way outweigh the few negatives.
Overall, this is a very, very enjoyable read, highly recommended to anybody interested in Late Roman history. It is one of the best historical novels I have read for quite some time.
I would consider it a 4.5 star book, but I am giving it a 5 star rating as I think that a young, enthusiastic and competent writer of Late Roman history, who clearly has a passion for history and who has done serious research into the historical background of his novel, should be rewarded and encouraged.
I loved this book, which is the first of a series, and I am now starting with the second one straight away... it seems a very promising series.
July 28, 2012
This novel is set in the Eastern Roman Empire at a time of grave crisis. It is a marvellous evocation of an empire which has been sadly neglected in the west. I felt transported to the embattled empire, seeing the sights, smelling the stench and hearing the clamour as if I were really there.
The novel drives forward at great pace. It takes the young hero from the fetid and threatening streets of Constantinople to the marches of empire and beyond. The writing is intense and vividly portrays the harshness and terror of life in a frontier army.
The main characters are interesting and realistic although the one question I have concerns the motives of young Pavo's arch-enemy. I was left wondering why he had acted in the way that he did, the only slight judder in an otherwise very well plotted novel. Maybe this will become clearer in subsequent novels.
I loved the politics in this book, both small scale amongst the soldiers in the camp, and large scale in the machinations of the imperial court and upper reaches of the church. There is much good and evil here and not always where you look to find it.
There were many memorable characters and I felt real sorrow when some of them met grisly ends. The battle scenes were realistic and bloody without any gratuitous violence. If you harbour any doubts about how terrible war could be when only blades and spears were used this novel will give you a terrible answer.
A marvellous debut and I look forward to reading more of this author's work.
The novel drives forward at great pace. It takes the young hero from the fetid and threatening streets of Constantinople to the marches of empire and beyond. The writing is intense and vividly portrays the harshness and terror of life in a frontier army.
The main characters are interesting and realistic although the one question I have concerns the motives of young Pavo's arch-enemy. I was left wondering why he had acted in the way that he did, the only slight judder in an otherwise very well plotted novel. Maybe this will become clearer in subsequent novels.
I loved the politics in this book, both small scale amongst the soldiers in the camp, and large scale in the machinations of the imperial court and upper reaches of the church. There is much good and evil here and not always where you look to find it.
There were many memorable characters and I felt real sorrow when some of them met grisly ends. The battle scenes were realistic and bloody without any gratuitous violence. If you harbour any doubts about how terrible war could be when only blades and spears were used this novel will give you a terrible answer.
A marvellous debut and I look forward to reading more of this author's work.
May 30, 2014
What had intrigued me at this book is the backdrop against which is written, the reign of Emperor Valens and his struggle to subdue the imminent threats from the Far East – the boarders are crumbling. For myself, it was a period and place of uncharted territory that longed to be discovered. Newness. Additionally, I have been of late in a dire mood, lost in a monotony which I had to break – Britain, Gaul, Germania… enough! And what better way than changing the milieu a bit, trade Rome for Constantinople for a chance; leave the flourishing period of the Empire behind and glimpse into its collapse. Therefore, my mind was set to read Legionary and I had plunged “naked” with head held high against all barbarians, after all Rōma Pia Fidelis.
I’m always going to be a sucker for neatly usage of Latin words wherever and whenever possible since from my point of view it brings the atmosphere closer to reality, giving you a feeling of authenticity and reverie. Even the most insignificant word like “Ave” makes my blood rushing through my veins. For me this additional “vocabulary” is a plus. Continuing with these technicalities, in my opinion, every historical fiction should possess maps, military diagrams, appendix, glossary and so on and so forth; in order for the reader to be able to imagine and better understand the world where the action takes place. The separate Legion, Religion pages, together with the diagrams have provided useful insight and great background to begin with – I had no idea that so many changes occurred in the late Empire’s legions.
And the prize for the most annoying thing goes to... the number of CHAPTERS. Oh dearie… dozens! They keep coming… a grand total of 80! Very distracting leaving me in a sorry plight one time too often.Let the spice flow! But, I guess it will be fixed with an editing sooner or later. Now, since I’m talking about the chapters I will complain about the kindle version whose one fault is that it does not allow me to switch between them back and forth. Odd! Not sure if it is my Kindle’s fault or the mobi is not well formatted, but what I definitely know is that it would have been so much easier to skim through the book in time of need. The other two installments have the same problem too. Ugly!
I have read similar works in the past few years – the slave/gladiator/ fugitive which becomes a successful legionary, the same character stereotype(s); all written by authors from the new wave. The common ground is their tendency towards modernism in language, along with an abundant usage of slang, violent and bloody battle scenes. Gore! Mr. Doherty does avid depictions and portrayals of all engagements, respectively characters. Surprisingly, I do not remember rapes or torture scenes, such demeanor is being avoided in favor of swift killings – death in battle mostly. I do not shy away from this sort of novels unless the violence, verbal and physical, is exaggerated. And Legionary is soft-core by comparison. One slang vexed me like hell: bugger/buggers. It has stuck into my mind, like an annoying wasp looking for a soft spot to stick its needle. Shoo! You little bugger! Shoo!
Legionary aka the story of the “Immortals” is a bildungsroman type of novel, portraying the elevation of Numerius Vitellius Pavo from slavery to freeman, recruit and battle toughen legionary. A road paved with hardships, mystery and most incredulous events. The book keeps a fast pace with battle after battle, legionary camaraderie, shrewd villains - every eel hopes to become a whale, and more last minute escapes from death than you could count. It has been taken a bit too far, I mean I like being on the edge but when it happens so often the story drops into a mundane stage. Pavo and his band are like Frank Selak always miraculously surviving, the luckiest unlucky lot around.
Character wise. Pavo is a bit too cheesy, climbing the ladder faster than light speed. A slave whose life events in a matter of months, turn him into a veteran of the legions. The span of his development was too short and it just does not feel true. Sometimes he goes out of his depths with wise remarks, clever thinking and seconds later turns back into a simple legionary – an inconsistency in his evolution. His best friend’s name is Sura or unofficial king of Adrianopole, a rather funny character whose bragging never reaches the rock bottom, while at the same time embraces the role of eternal protector, guardian. Primus Pilus Gallus , a portrait of the perfect leader: observant, thoughtful and always in full control of his wits. One perspicacious bastard that seeks discipline to the letter. Quadratus , a quick-tempered big Gaul that has taken farting to the level of mastery; and the list can continue. All In all, I believe that the author did a great job with the characterization of most characters despite the feeling that maybe there were a bit too many for my liking.
If you are seeking a fast paced story, entertaining and engaging then this will suit you fine. Just turn a blind eye to all the author’s slips and it will definitely prove to be a great adventure. A book that thrives thanks to its avid depictions of battles and never-ending action. And are those facts that make it a page-turner. I have definitely learnt a lot due to having read it since the historical insight is commendable as well, a fact which has encouraged me to further research the period. The Immortals return in the second installment, so stay tuned. I recommend it to all historical fiction readers.
Similar books in style, my recommendation: Anthony Riches' and Ben Kane' books.
I’m always going to be a sucker for neatly usage of Latin words wherever and whenever possible since from my point of view it brings the atmosphere closer to reality, giving you a feeling of authenticity and reverie. Even the most insignificant word like “Ave” makes my blood rushing through my veins. For me this additional “vocabulary” is a plus. Continuing with these technicalities, in my opinion, every historical fiction should possess maps, military diagrams, appendix, glossary and so on and so forth; in order for the reader to be able to imagine and better understand the world where the action takes place. The separate Legion, Religion pages, together with the diagrams have provided useful insight and great background to begin with – I had no idea that so many changes occurred in the late Empire’s legions.
And the prize for the most annoying thing goes to... the number of CHAPTERS. Oh dearie… dozens! They keep coming… a grand total of 80! Very distracting leaving me in a sorry plight one time too often.Let the spice flow! But, I guess it will be fixed with an editing sooner or later. Now, since I’m talking about the chapters I will complain about the kindle version whose one fault is that it does not allow me to switch between them back and forth. Odd! Not sure if it is my Kindle’s fault or the mobi is not well formatted, but what I definitely know is that it would have been so much easier to skim through the book in time of need. The other two installments have the same problem too. Ugly!
I have read similar works in the past few years – the slave/gladiator/ fugitive which becomes a successful legionary, the same character stereotype(s); all written by authors from the new wave. The common ground is their tendency towards modernism in language, along with an abundant usage of slang, violent and bloody battle scenes. Gore! Mr. Doherty does avid depictions and portrayals of all engagements, respectively characters. Surprisingly, I do not remember rapes or torture scenes, such demeanor is being avoided in favor of swift killings – death in battle mostly. I do not shy away from this sort of novels unless the violence, verbal and physical, is exaggerated. And Legionary is soft-core by comparison. One slang vexed me like hell: bugger/buggers. It has stuck into my mind, like an annoying wasp looking for a soft spot to stick its needle. Shoo! You little bugger! Shoo!
Legionary aka the story of the “Immortals” is a bildungsroman type of novel, portraying the elevation of Numerius Vitellius Pavo from slavery to freeman, recruit and battle toughen legionary. A road paved with hardships, mystery and most incredulous events. The book keeps a fast pace with battle after battle, legionary camaraderie, shrewd villains - every eel hopes to become a whale, and more last minute escapes from death than you could count. It has been taken a bit too far, I mean I like being on the edge but when it happens so often the story drops into a mundane stage. Pavo and his band are like Frank Selak always miraculously surviving, the luckiest unlucky lot around.
Character wise. Pavo is a bit too cheesy, climbing the ladder faster than light speed. A slave whose life events in a matter of months, turn him into a veteran of the legions. The span of his development was too short and it just does not feel true. Sometimes he goes out of his depths with wise remarks, clever thinking and seconds later turns back into a simple legionary – an inconsistency in his evolution. His best friend’s name is Sura or unofficial king of Adrianopole, a rather funny character whose bragging never reaches the rock bottom, while at the same time embraces the role of eternal protector, guardian. Primus Pilus Gallus , a portrait of the perfect leader: observant, thoughtful and always in full control of his wits. One perspicacious bastard that seeks discipline to the letter. Quadratus , a quick-tempered big Gaul that has taken farting to the level of mastery; and the list can continue. All In all, I believe that the author did a great job with the characterization of most characters despite the feeling that maybe there were a bit too many for my liking.
If you are seeking a fast paced story, entertaining and engaging then this will suit you fine. Just turn a blind eye to all the author’s slips and it will definitely prove to be a great adventure. A book that thrives thanks to its avid depictions of battles and never-ending action. And are those facts that make it a page-turner. I have definitely learnt a lot due to having read it since the historical insight is commendable as well, a fact which has encouraged me to further research the period. The Immortals return in the second installment, so stay tuned. I recommend it to all historical fiction readers.
Similar books in style, my recommendation: Anthony Riches' and Ben Kane' books.
April 3, 2019
Partito male, sviluppatosi meglio, sul finale di nuovo si è perso, ridiventando noiosetto e prevedibile. È un mezzo bailamme, in molte parti si avverte un po' di carenza di idee nuove e poca credibilità (ad esempio nel modo di rivolgersi di Pavone ai ranghi superiori, e capitano molte cose quasi per magia in situazioni rocambolesche), nonostante per scriverlo siano state indubbiamente fatte molte ricerche e storicamente la trama sia accurata. Già dall'inizio si capisce dove l'autore voglia andare a parare col protagonista, e questo toglie un po' di gusto alla lettura. D'altro canto però mi è piaciuto che finalmente qualcuno abbia deciso di ambientare una saga nel tardo impero romano, e non nell'epoca classica e fiorente che interessa ai più. A parte questo, per me si salvano giusto l'idea e il fatto che non è scritto male... Spero che i prossimi della saga si sviluppino meglio.
May 1, 2012
I have no hesitation in recommending this to lovers of Roman military fiction, and indeed anyone else who enjoys a great tale. The book actually interested me a lot more than I expected, particularly due to the setting. I am a fan of Roman history and have a good grounding in the subject, but mostly in the late Republic and Principate era. This book is set during the dusk of traditional Rome, in the late 4th century, with the Emperor Valens, Comitatensis troops, bishops, Goths, Constantinople and the Black Sea region. I recently became interested in this era after visiting Istanbul and 'Legionary' just expanded on that, dragging me in.
The plot is complex and extremely well-constructed, far more neatly than I realised at first, with twists and cliffhangers. The settings are beautifully described and leave the reader with a well-presented view. The characters are believable, interesting and appropriately sympathetic or loatheful.
The plot is complex and extremely well-constructed, far more neatly than I realised at first, with twists and cliffhangers. The settings are beautifully described and leave the reader with a well-presented view. The characters are believable, interesting and appropriately sympathetic or loatheful.
July 22, 2013
The Roman world in 376 AD is not one in which I have spent a lot of time. In my let’s say ignorance, I have paid most of my attention to the era from Marius to around the time of Vespasian. The Eastern Roman Empire was largely unexplored territory for me. I have since seen the error of my ways thanks in part to Gordon Doherty’s Legionary. This is a story that brings that period to life with all of its glory and its encroaching demise. There is a plot, a very involved one, to supplant the current Emperor Valens. A prominent Senator, Tarquitius, and the Christian Bishop, Evagrius have conspired together and separately with each seeing himself as the next Emperor. The tools of this power struggle are Rome’s enemies from across the Danubius River, firstly the Goths and secondly the Huns. The Border Legions of the empire are called upon to save Constantinople from the ravages of these fierce adversaries only to find that they too have been the victim of the nefarious goings on.
The main protagonist, a likeable and resourceful youth, Pavo is thrust into the maelstrom as a new recruit in the Border Legion, the XI Claudia. The constant fear of attack by other recruits with whom he has had dealings with in the past and the normal brutality of life as a legionary brings out a resiliency and determination to survive. His one big drawback is his uncanny ability to spear himself in his own foot, a tendency guaranteed to make his life even tougher. This in depth character portrayal is typical of the author’s treatment of the main characters in Legionary. Gallus the Centurion of the XI Claudia, Spurious an enemy turned friend from the streets of Constantinople are just two more examples of the author giving us a glimpse of what makes these characters tick.
The action sequences are excitingly written, from the whirring lassos of the horseback Huns to the sounds and fury of a battle at sea. Mr. Doherty makes good use of the technology available at that time. The gladius and pila have been replaced by spatha and plumbata as the main weapons of a Roman legion but the effectiveness has not changed. Carnage is the watch word when opposite forces clash; whether it is Hun versus Goth or Goth versus Roman or Hun versus Roman and Goth. It was a confusing time for all concerned except for perhaps The Huns who only had one thing in mind, annihilation of both the Goths and Romans.
The story ends, or rather it doesn't as the way is paved for more intrigue and mayhem. Pavo and the other survivors are not finished yet and that my friends is a good thing because it means more for us to read.
The main protagonist, a likeable and resourceful youth, Pavo is thrust into the maelstrom as a new recruit in the Border Legion, the XI Claudia. The constant fear of attack by other recruits with whom he has had dealings with in the past and the normal brutality of life as a legionary brings out a resiliency and determination to survive. His one big drawback is his uncanny ability to spear himself in his own foot, a tendency guaranteed to make his life even tougher. This in depth character portrayal is typical of the author’s treatment of the main characters in Legionary. Gallus the Centurion of the XI Claudia, Spurious an enemy turned friend from the streets of Constantinople are just two more examples of the author giving us a glimpse of what makes these characters tick.
The action sequences are excitingly written, from the whirring lassos of the horseback Huns to the sounds and fury of a battle at sea. Mr. Doherty makes good use of the technology available at that time. The gladius and pila have been replaced by spatha and plumbata as the main weapons of a Roman legion but the effectiveness has not changed. Carnage is the watch word when opposite forces clash; whether it is Hun versus Goth or Goth versus Roman or Hun versus Roman and Goth. It was a confusing time for all concerned except for perhaps The Huns who only had one thing in mind, annihilation of both the Goths and Romans.
The story ends, or rather it doesn't as the way is paved for more intrigue and mayhem. Pavo and the other survivors are not finished yet and that my friends is a good thing because it means more for us to read.
June 14, 2011
The Roman Empire is crumbling, and a shadow looms in the east…
376 AD: the Eastern Roman Empire is alone against the tide of barbarians swelling on her borders. Emperor Valens juggles the paltry border defences to stave off invasion from the Goths north of the Danube. Meanwhile, in Constantinople, a pact between faith and politics spawns a lethal plot that will bring the dark and massive hordes from the east crashing down on these struggling borders.
The fates conspire to see Numerius Vitellius Pavo, enslaved as a boy after the death of his legionary father, thrust into the limitanei, the border legions, just before they are sent to recapture the long-lost eastern Kingdom of Bosporus. He is cast into the jaws of this plot, so twisted that the survival of the entire Roman world hangs in the balance…
376 AD: the Eastern Roman Empire is alone against the tide of barbarians swelling on her borders. Emperor Valens juggles the paltry border defences to stave off invasion from the Goths north of the Danube. Meanwhile, in Constantinople, a pact between faith and politics spawns a lethal plot that will bring the dark and massive hordes from the east crashing down on these struggling borders.
The fates conspire to see Numerius Vitellius Pavo, enslaved as a boy after the death of his legionary father, thrust into the limitanei, the border legions, just before they are sent to recapture the long-lost eastern Kingdom of Bosporus. He is cast into the jaws of this plot, so twisted that the survival of the entire Roman world hangs in the balance…
February 17, 2016
It often felt like a screenplay for an action movie, lots of stunts and YA characters, dialogue and humor. It may be a good adventure story, but I was expecting something better, given that the author obviously researched the topic (as proven by the excellent historical notes on the period and the imperial Roman army structure).
August 14, 2011
When I first purchased this ebook,I have to confess that I was a little apprehensive.
As a huge fan of Conn Iggulden, Simon Scarrow and David Gemmell, I was initially doubtful that this little known writer would be able to produce the goods.
I'm pleased to say, I couldn't have been more wrong!
'Legionary' is a fantastic story of heroism and deceit; love and camaraderie. It is well written with lavish detail of both characters and scene setting. It has gory battle scenes and enough cliff-hangers for you to want to keep on reading 'just one more chapter'. I found myself totally engrossed and just couldn't put it down!
I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of this genre.
As a huge fan of Conn Iggulden, Simon Scarrow and David Gemmell, I was initially doubtful that this little known writer would be able to produce the goods.
I'm pleased to say, I couldn't have been more wrong!
'Legionary' is a fantastic story of heroism and deceit; love and camaraderie. It is well written with lavish detail of both characters and scene setting. It has gory battle scenes and enough cliff-hangers for you to want to keep on reading 'just one more chapter'. I found myself totally engrossed and just couldn't put it down!
I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of this genre.
May 7, 2012
Its not very often that you come across a debut novel this well constructed and written, let alone a self published one.
The plot is well rounded, plenty of cliff hangers and miss directions to keep the reader interested and turning the page.
There are plenty of battle/ fight scenes and they are not the weak gore fests that often flood the self publish world, they are constructed as if the author fought every swing of the sword in practise to make sure he knew it was possible and practical.
There are very few self published authors out there worth reading But SJ Turney and now Gordon Doherty are two you cant afford to miss, because they will not be around at this price for ever, i can see both being snapped up by agents and publishers very quickly.
well recommended
(Parm)
The plot is well rounded, plenty of cliff hangers and miss directions to keep the reader interested and turning the page.
There are plenty of battle/ fight scenes and they are not the weak gore fests that often flood the self publish world, they are constructed as if the author fought every swing of the sword in practise to make sure he knew it was possible and practical.
There are very few self published authors out there worth reading But SJ Turney and now Gordon Doherty are two you cant afford to miss, because they will not be around at this price for ever, i can see both being snapped up by agents and publishers very quickly.
well recommended
(Parm)
March 24, 2017
light, entertaining fare, March 24, 2017
Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Legionary (Legionary 1) (Kindle Edition)
Legionary is a fast paced, easy to read action adventure novel full of combat and intrigue. There are some jarring notes such as a slave trader who drops his h's. And I doubt that a Roman officer would really say, "‘Keep our cool. We need to understand where he’s coming from,’ Nerva whispered, then added with a tilt of the eyebrows, ‘even if what he really needs is a good chinning.’ Despite these oddities of speech and some unrealistic situations, the novel entertains. The descriptions of the inexorable advance of the attacking Hun hordes border on frightening.
Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Legionary (Legionary 1) (Kindle Edition)
Legionary is a fast paced, easy to read action adventure novel full of combat and intrigue. There are some jarring notes such as a slave trader who drops his h's. And I doubt that a Roman officer would really say, "‘Keep our cool. We need to understand where he’s coming from,’ Nerva whispered, then added with a tilt of the eyebrows, ‘even if what he really needs is a good chinning.’ Despite these oddities of speech and some unrealistic situations, the novel entertains. The descriptions of the inexorable advance of the attacking Hun hordes border on frightening.
November 29, 2017
Terrible pseudo-Fantasy that tries to pretend it's Roman. The lead character pulls off stunts that would have embarrassed an Assassin. People might enjoy it for its swashbuckling nature, but it feels so childishly simple without any awareness of this fact, that it lost all my interest at a quite early stage.
June 26, 2021
Gordon Doherty's Legionary series is a captivating read. Like any good writer of historical fiction he knows the history of his subject matter to write an entertaining story without resorting to too many artistic liberties. His characters are believable and well developed while the historiography is solid. Well worth reading.
July 19, 2015
Legionary by Gordon Doherty Numerius Vitellius Pavo is a slave and a witch’s curse protects him from permanent damage or death at the hands of his owner, a senator of Rome. Set in 376 AD, Christianity is on the rise and the Roman empire has crumbled a bit at the borders. Pavo finds himself freed only to join the border legions who face near-certain death.
Young Pavo was a likable chap, though a bit boring in a permanently beaten puppy kind of way. I never really grew attached to him, so this book probably had less impact on me than other readers who do become attached to Pavo. He has a buddy, Sura, who is always telling tall tales and they watch out for each other through out the story. It was a cute best buddy friendship. Once they join up as trainees, there’s all sorts of hazing the young recruits must endure.
I did enjoy the political intrigue going on behind the scenes, especially back in Rome. Emperor Valens has plenty to contend with between the rising Christian church, and Goths and Huns pushing against the Roman borders. These scenes made up perhaps a quarter of the book but I found them to be the most interesting.
The ladies are woefully under represented in this book. In fact, I do believe there are only two that get names, and one is a dead wife. The other, Felicia, is the love interest of Pavo. There’s a variety of other nameless bedwarmers, but sadly they don’t really add to the plot. I will say that the one sex scene was sweet and hot; nicely done!
Pavo is our hero of the story and he is at the crux of big things happening for the empire. And yet, I never really got that sense of big sweeping events hanging on a sword’s edge that I was hooping for. I am having a hard time putting my finger directly on it. The action scenes often came off as a bit flat to me, lacking drama or suspense. Maybe this is because I wasn’t particularly attached to Pavo.
I dived into this book truly expecting to love it. Ancient Roman historical fiction is one of my favorite niche genres. Plus the time of Emperor Valens and the rise of Christianity isn’t a section I have really studied, so I was looking forward to learning a bit as I enjoyed this fiction. I was surprised and saddened this book was only so-so for me.
I received this audiobook from the author (via the Audiobook BlastFacebook page) at no cost in exchange for an honest review.
The Narration: Simon Whistler did a pretty good job. He had a variety of accents as called for and had passable female voices for the few times a woman uttered a line. He does have the English accent (and since this is an English production that is quite proper) and for some words my American brain had to puzzle out what he said (such as the word ‘grimace’). Also, for the longest time I thought the main character’s name was Parvo instead of Pavo because I hear a soft R in the name when Whistler says it. Parvo is a nasty terminal dog disease here in the States, so that kept putting an image in my head every time I heard it.
Young Pavo was a likable chap, though a bit boring in a permanently beaten puppy kind of way. I never really grew attached to him, so this book probably had less impact on me than other readers who do become attached to Pavo. He has a buddy, Sura, who is always telling tall tales and they watch out for each other through out the story. It was a cute best buddy friendship. Once they join up as trainees, there’s all sorts of hazing the young recruits must endure.
I did enjoy the political intrigue going on behind the scenes, especially back in Rome. Emperor Valens has plenty to contend with between the rising Christian church, and Goths and Huns pushing against the Roman borders. These scenes made up perhaps a quarter of the book but I found them to be the most interesting.
The ladies are woefully under represented in this book. In fact, I do believe there are only two that get names, and one is a dead wife. The other, Felicia, is the love interest of Pavo. There’s a variety of other nameless bedwarmers, but sadly they don’t really add to the plot. I will say that the one sex scene was sweet and hot; nicely done!
Pavo is our hero of the story and he is at the crux of big things happening for the empire. And yet, I never really got that sense of big sweeping events hanging on a sword’s edge that I was hooping for. I am having a hard time putting my finger directly on it. The action scenes often came off as a bit flat to me, lacking drama or suspense. Maybe this is because I wasn’t particularly attached to Pavo.
I dived into this book truly expecting to love it. Ancient Roman historical fiction is one of my favorite niche genres. Plus the time of Emperor Valens and the rise of Christianity isn’t a section I have really studied, so I was looking forward to learning a bit as I enjoyed this fiction. I was surprised and saddened this book was only so-so for me.
I received this audiobook from the author (via the Audiobook BlastFacebook page) at no cost in exchange for an honest review.
The Narration: Simon Whistler did a pretty good job. He had a variety of accents as called for and had passable female voices for the few times a woman uttered a line. He does have the English accent (and since this is an English production that is quite proper) and for some words my American brain had to puzzle out what he said (such as the word ‘grimace’). Also, for the longest time I thought the main character’s name was Parvo instead of Pavo because I hear a soft R in the name when Whistler says it. Parvo is a nasty terminal dog disease here in the States, so that kept putting an image in my head every time I heard it.
October 11, 2013
Not being an e-reader 'yet', I took a chance and bought the paperback version of Legionary by Gordon Doherty. I say took a chance because self published books are an unknown quantity especially if you are going to buy a tangible book because they are more expensive than a the run of the mill paperback and in some cases you will pay the same or indeed more than you would for a hardback of an established author. Nevertheless I decided to give Legionary a go because of the subject matter and after reading SJA Turney's self published and very worthwhile Marius Mules, I knew that not all books of this nature are the devil.
So what did I think of Legionary? The book itself is 388 pages in length so its no small novel and is well written and I would guess edited in the same fashion, so the irritation that may have existed from poor spelling or grammar from a self published book (as I understand exists in some) wasn't there. The story revolves around the experiences of freedman Pavo who becomes 'the Legionary' at a very early age after gaining his freedom in AD 363, and joins the XI Claudio Legion in Rome's Eastern Empire based in Constantinople.
As the story develops the author really does enable the reader to 'live' through Pavo's eyes as he goes from recruit to experienced soldier and even before facing Rome's enemies in the forms of Goth's and Huns, has to survive and get through some quite brutal experiences which adds to the overall plot and remains with the reader and main character throughout. The novel easily allowed me to imagine where Pavo found himself with excellent descriptions of the environments, surroundings and characters. Gordon Doherty has created a book which made me want to know what happened next and I found myself disappointed when I had finished the story in a little less than three days.
So can Mr Doherty, a self published author write? In my humble opinion, yes he can and like Simon Turney he can write a well written and compelling novel that easily takes the reader to the place(s) where he has created for his characters. I think the sign of a good book is one that you don't want to put down and would read from cover to cover if your weary eyes let you, Legionary for me is one of those books and although my eyes got tired, I didn't about the story and so picked it up again the next day. I believe the sequel to Legionary is due out next year and I for one will be buying it.
So what did I think of Legionary? The book itself is 388 pages in length so its no small novel and is well written and I would guess edited in the same fashion, so the irritation that may have existed from poor spelling or grammar from a self published book (as I understand exists in some) wasn't there. The story revolves around the experiences of freedman Pavo who becomes 'the Legionary' at a very early age after gaining his freedom in AD 363, and joins the XI Claudio Legion in Rome's Eastern Empire based in Constantinople.
As the story develops the author really does enable the reader to 'live' through Pavo's eyes as he goes from recruit to experienced soldier and even before facing Rome's enemies in the forms of Goth's and Huns, has to survive and get through some quite brutal experiences which adds to the overall plot and remains with the reader and main character throughout. The novel easily allowed me to imagine where Pavo found himself with excellent descriptions of the environments, surroundings and characters. Gordon Doherty has created a book which made me want to know what happened next and I found myself disappointed when I had finished the story in a little less than three days.
So can Mr Doherty, a self published author write? In my humble opinion, yes he can and like Simon Turney he can write a well written and compelling novel that easily takes the reader to the place(s) where he has created for his characters. I think the sign of a good book is one that you don't want to put down and would read from cover to cover if your weary eyes let you, Legionary for me is one of those books and although my eyes got tired, I didn't about the story and so picked it up again the next day. I believe the sequel to Legionary is due out next year and I for one will be buying it.
November 13, 2011
First, the story alone nearly rates itself four stars, I was happy to follow along and cheer for our scrawny underdog of a hero. But there are a few "buts." I admire you for self- publishing, but PLEASE have someone proofread it next time, the typos are numerous and very distracting, plus, the continual (and I mean continual) erroneous use of the word "fug" was a personal affront (I love that word, but it refers to odorous, NOT a foggy head!) And last, the verb tenses, especially on "stood" and "sat" were all wrong. I felt at times like I was reading the poor-relation screen play of Gladiator. But seriously, a bit of polish on this story would bring it up to un-putdownable level. The exploits and pure chutzpah of Pavo, and that he kept on ticking with all those lickings, was both humorous and up lifting in a "feel good" kind of way. I have one request Mr. Doherty: when you write the sequel (and I really hope you do, I can't wait to see what Pavo & his buddy Sura do next) can you please send the manuscript to me for proof-reading before you print it? Thank you:)
July 11, 2013
I must admit I've been so busy recently that it's taken me a long time to finish this on my Kindle, but that's nothing to do with the quality of the writing - in fact, if it hadn't been a right good read I'd have given up ages ago!
I think, in places, it's obvious this is the author's first book - some of the writing is overdone a little and the sub-plot isn't quite fleshed out enough, but Doherty has an entertaining and engaging writing style - and young Pavo is a great character - so the reader finds themselves drawn into the story and carried along as it rattles by at a cracking pace.
As an introduction to a new series this is a corker, with only a young author's inexperience holding it back a little.
I expect the next in the series will be even better! For £1.99 this is a great value read.
I think, in places, it's obvious this is the author's first book - some of the writing is overdone a little and the sub-plot isn't quite fleshed out enough, but Doherty has an entertaining and engaging writing style - and young Pavo is a great character - so the reader finds themselves drawn into the story and carried along as it rattles by at a cracking pace.
As an introduction to a new series this is a corker, with only a young author's inexperience holding it back a little.
I expect the next in the series will be even better! For £1.99 this is a great value read.
February 15, 2012
Excellent read. With this not being my normal genre (more of a science fiction/fantasy dude), I wasn’t sure what to expect but a good story is a good story no matter what the genre. Not the side of Rome and the Roman Empire I was overly familiar with either so that was enjoyable in itself but the historical detail that accompanied the story was impressive. It is obvious Gordon has a great deal of background knowledge of the era in question.
Pavo is an excellent, colourful lead, well supported by a variety of diverse characters. The play between the political and religious elite and the commoners is well done and there are plenty of battle scenes for the hard core in us all.
I certainly highly recommend.
Pavo is an excellent, colourful lead, well supported by a variety of diverse characters. The play between the political and religious elite and the commoners is well done and there are plenty of battle scenes for the hard core in us all.
I certainly highly recommend.
March 31, 2017
I enjoyed this book.
I have always enjoyed historical fiction. I usually prefer books set in Europe starting with the Anglo-Saxons in the British Isles through the early years of the US. Also Italian history. This was my first set in Roman times featuring the army rather than the government and nobility. I learned more about the military. This was full of actions and interesting characters.
I have always enjoyed historical fiction. I usually prefer books set in Europe starting with the Anglo-Saxons in the British Isles through the early years of the US. Also Italian history. This was my first set in Roman times featuring the army rather than the government and nobility. I learned more about the military. This was full of actions and interesting characters.
February 29, 2012
In this fine novel, Gordon Doherty takes us under the skin of the Roman Empire in the 4th century. While the twists and turns of political expediency and skullduggery play out in Constantinople, we follow the trials and tribulations of our scrawny hero, Pavo, as he is drawn, along with his fellow legionaries, into bloody conflict on the Empire's crumbling borders. This is a story filled with action and packed with well-drawn characters. Doherty has clearly done his research thoroughly and we get strong insights into the historical period, as well as being highly entertained. I look forward to reading the sequel.
February 14, 2012
I really enjoyed this book. It is set in an era that I am not very familiar with as I tend to stick to books set in the Republic or the Princeipate so this was new ground for me. The author brings to life the fear and uncertainty of the late Roman world. As the glory and power of the legions wane they face their toughest test as hoards of barbarian horsemen push at the porous borders. The author also brings to life a great cast of characters.
They start as three different threads that tell their own stories but all come together at the final climactic battle. I highly recommend this book and look forward to the next installment.
They start as three different threads that tell their own stories but all come together at the final climactic battle. I highly recommend this book and look forward to the next installment.
April 22, 2014
Ok, good if you can get free or REALLY cheap.
ive read a ton of books in this genre and this one, and the other two on the series, dont rank up there with the good ones, just the opposite. Plenty of Roman names of articles, people places and things, but after a while they begin to detract from the book. I found the characters one dimensional and the plot not that interesting. (Yawn)
ive read a ton of books in this genre and this one, and the other two on the series, dont rank up there with the good ones, just the opposite. Plenty of Roman names of articles, people places and things, but after a while they begin to detract from the book. I found the characters one dimensional and the plot not that interesting. (Yawn)
May 6, 2016
My first Doherty. Not bad, not bad at all. I rip roaring yarn of life as a lowly legionary in the late Roman Empire. Details: killing, sculduggery, intrigue, duplicitous clerics, betrayal, and lots of killing. A tad sad, the decline and fall, but there you have it. I would have preferred myself, more attention to the big picture, the politics behind it all, but the novel looks at the life on the line.
September 7, 2012
Gordon Doherty has done a great job in creating this great book. The main character Pavo goes from scrape to scrape, but always pulls through. There are some wonderful bit parts as well; perverted senators and backstabbing clergymen all go to make this an excellent read.
If you love Roman history and great action books, this is the one for you.
If you love Roman history and great action books, this is the one for you.
September 11, 2011
Simply a great read, looking forward to the next book in the series.
June 6, 2013
A great book full of action,drama and revenge.
March 31, 2020
"You will be dead within the year, boy, I can guarantee it…"
376 AD. The once invincible Roman Empire is crumbling, and a shadow looms in the east. The Eastern Roman Empire is alone against the tide of the Goth's swelling on her borders. Emperor Valens juggles the paltry border defenses to stave off invasion from the Goths north of the Danube. Meanwhile, in Constantinople, Bishop Evagrius and Senator Tarquitius entered into a pact to dethrone Emperor Valens by bringing the dark and massive hordes of the Huns from the east to invade the capital, Constantinople. However, the fates conspire to see Numerius Vitellius Pavo, enslaved as a boy after the death of his legionary father, thrust into the limitanei, the border legions, just before they are sent to recapture the long-lost eastern Kingdom of Bosporus, to cast into the jaws of this plot, so twisted that the survival of the entire Roman world hangs in the balance...
"They will be waiting for you. Your cries for mercy will go unheard…"
Review:
⚔️The Cover with the XI Claudia marching for the battle is outstanding and the title legionary perfectly fits the story.
⚔️The book is set around the late 4th century when the mighty Roman Empire, being exerted on the eastern borders, in particular by the various Goth tribes which are themselves being pressured by the advancing Huns is struggling for its very survival. This setting is quite unique and refreshing for me since I've became tried of reading novels mainly based on the late Republic and early Principate era.
⚔️Gordon had done commendable research which is shown in his writing. He had crafted a gripping story with almost negligible compromises on historical accuracy. The historical note at the beginning of the book regarding the historical background of the Eastern Roman Empire, its religion, its legion, and the typical imperial army structure is very informative. The map and the glossary for Latin terms are also quite helpful.
⚔️Initially, the plot looks simple - a slave boy turn freedman, joins legionary and through the seer, luck rises to rank - but trust me, it is more than that. The plot is complex & immaculately crafted, with lots of twists, battle scenes and cliffhangers, which takes you to an epic adventure, from the court politics of Constantinople to the harsh life of a legionary, from the skirmishes of the dwindling eastern borders to the naval battles with the seafaring pirates in the Black Sea and lastly the struggle for the survival with the barbarians horde of the east, the Huns.
⚔️Gordon's writing style is crisp, intense and evocative. It's hard to believe it's his debut novel. His description of the settings, whether it is fetid and threatening streets of Constantinople or the beautiful geography of Bosporus region, or the perilous voyage in the Black Sea, or the harshness and terror of the life in a frontier army, is so vivid and realistic that it feels you are seeing and experiencing all these through your own eyes. However, I didn't like his usage of modern language and slangs like “runt” and “bugger” in the dialogs.
⚔️The battle scenes in this book are as frequent as they are bloody and brutal. The unique things about Gordon's battle scenes are his involvement of multiple characters that generate a lot of drama; his historical knowledge gives you a well-presented view of the battle and his to-the-point narration, doesn't make these scenes looks cynical and mundane. However, I felt the last confrontation with the Hun army is a bit stretchy.
⚔️The characters are believable, interesting and appropriately sympathetic or loathful. Pavo is a pretty typical hero of mysterious parentage who leaves his home for adventure. I enjoyed his development as he struggles to become a real soldier while trying to survive brutal training, a bounty on his heads and barbarians that could swoop down at any time. The other characters like Sura, Felicia, Gallus, Flex, Tarquitius, Valen, Evagrius, etc each one of them has their own unique character treats and distinct voice. Did I told you Balamar, the hun leader reminds me of Khal-Drago of GOT?
⚔️The conclusion of the first part of the legionary series is happily satisfactory. I liked how Gordon had at the end of the book drop some clues regarding the conflicts of the next book, which rises my eagerness to read the next book.
Overall it was an absorbing read for me which I thoroughly enjoyed. I’m definitely looking forward to continuing this series and highly recommend reading this book if you are interested in Roman historical novels.
My Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
376 AD. The once invincible Roman Empire is crumbling, and a shadow looms in the east. The Eastern Roman Empire is alone against the tide of the Goth's swelling on her borders. Emperor Valens juggles the paltry border defenses to stave off invasion from the Goths north of the Danube. Meanwhile, in Constantinople, Bishop Evagrius and Senator Tarquitius entered into a pact to dethrone Emperor Valens by bringing the dark and massive hordes of the Huns from the east to invade the capital, Constantinople. However, the fates conspire to see Numerius Vitellius Pavo, enslaved as a boy after the death of his legionary father, thrust into the limitanei, the border legions, just before they are sent to recapture the long-lost eastern Kingdom of Bosporus, to cast into the jaws of this plot, so twisted that the survival of the entire Roman world hangs in the balance...
"They will be waiting for you. Your cries for mercy will go unheard…"
Review:
⚔️The Cover with the XI Claudia marching for the battle is outstanding and the title legionary perfectly fits the story.
⚔️The book is set around the late 4th century when the mighty Roman Empire, being exerted on the eastern borders, in particular by the various Goth tribes which are themselves being pressured by the advancing Huns is struggling for its very survival. This setting is quite unique and refreshing for me since I've became tried of reading novels mainly based on the late Republic and early Principate era.
⚔️Gordon had done commendable research which is shown in his writing. He had crafted a gripping story with almost negligible compromises on historical accuracy. The historical note at the beginning of the book regarding the historical background of the Eastern Roman Empire, its religion, its legion, and the typical imperial army structure is very informative. The map and the glossary for Latin terms are also quite helpful.
⚔️Initially, the plot looks simple - a slave boy turn freedman, joins legionary and through the seer, luck rises to rank - but trust me, it is more than that. The plot is complex & immaculately crafted, with lots of twists, battle scenes and cliffhangers, which takes you to an epic adventure, from the court politics of Constantinople to the harsh life of a legionary, from the skirmishes of the dwindling eastern borders to the naval battles with the seafaring pirates in the Black Sea and lastly the struggle for the survival with the barbarians horde of the east, the Huns.
⚔️Gordon's writing style is crisp, intense and evocative. It's hard to believe it's his debut novel. His description of the settings, whether it is fetid and threatening streets of Constantinople or the beautiful geography of Bosporus region, or the perilous voyage in the Black Sea, or the harshness and terror of the life in a frontier army, is so vivid and realistic that it feels you are seeing and experiencing all these through your own eyes. However, I didn't like his usage of modern language and slangs like “runt” and “bugger” in the dialogs.
⚔️The battle scenes in this book are as frequent as they are bloody and brutal. The unique things about Gordon's battle scenes are his involvement of multiple characters that generate a lot of drama; his historical knowledge gives you a well-presented view of the battle and his to-the-point narration, doesn't make these scenes looks cynical and mundane. However, I felt the last confrontation with the Hun army is a bit stretchy.
⚔️The characters are believable, interesting and appropriately sympathetic or loathful. Pavo is a pretty typical hero of mysterious parentage who leaves his home for adventure. I enjoyed his development as he struggles to become a real soldier while trying to survive brutal training, a bounty on his heads and barbarians that could swoop down at any time. The other characters like Sura, Felicia, Gallus, Flex, Tarquitius, Valen, Evagrius, etc each one of them has their own unique character treats and distinct voice. Did I told you Balamar, the hun leader reminds me of Khal-Drago of GOT?
⚔️The conclusion of the first part of the legionary series is happily satisfactory. I liked how Gordon had at the end of the book drop some clues regarding the conflicts of the next book, which rises my eagerness to read the next book.
Overall it was an absorbing read for me which I thoroughly enjoyed. I’m definitely looking forward to continuing this series and highly recommend reading this book if you are interested in Roman historical novels.
My Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
April 25, 2021
A great book for a very niche group of readers who have a deep knowledge of Roman political and battle history. This story is not up to par with the tales spun by authors like Bernard Cornwell, Dudley Pope, Patrick O'Brien, or others who have made a name with historical fiction. If you are really into Roman history, and it is your chosen genre it would probably be a great read, but not for me. The history isn't enough to drive a story without meaningful characters, and I couldn't find any characters to enjoy in this novel.
This reads like a screen play adapted to a novel. The history is there in detail, but it doesn't make it a story worth telling. We don't drill down on much, instead we are given short scenes with different characters to show what is happening in the world. We aren't inside a character's head, but rather just seeing what they do in the world. It is a odd way to write a novel, and one which I'm not a fan of. It made the entire book seem quite shallow and without any true character importance.
My biggest problem with this novel is the lack of multidimensional characters. Everyone falls flat with no development for the first 60 chapters. Then when a character does change, it is sudden and we are just meant to accept the change without a build up to that change. The main character is always reacting and following the greater military mite, and he never steps outside of the times to show he is a lead role in a novel. Because of this he never comes across as more than the skinny slave boy he is shown as at the start.
There are so many different perspectives and scenes with a huge cast of characters, but not much information given about any of them. Normally we the reader would rely on inner dialog to understand a character, to sympathize with what they want and what their goals are. This is not given to us here, just forward progress which is not driven by the main character, but rather by the world they live in. Nearly everything that changes the plot is an external force which none of our characters can effect, and it makes for a drawn out unenjoyable read for me.
I was hoping for a solid historical fiction novel, and instead I got a historical text that just glosses everything that would be interesting. Why are we following these characters, why are they important to the plot? They aren't, and they don't have a special knowledge or set of skills that any other character could do in their place. It is a novel about what the times were like, not about a remarkable set of characters who happened to live in this time, and that isn't what I enjoy about historical fiction.
This reads like a screen play adapted to a novel. The history is there in detail, but it doesn't make it a story worth telling. We don't drill down on much, instead we are given short scenes with different characters to show what is happening in the world. We aren't inside a character's head, but rather just seeing what they do in the world. It is a odd way to write a novel, and one which I'm not a fan of. It made the entire book seem quite shallow and without any true character importance.
My biggest problem with this novel is the lack of multidimensional characters. Everyone falls flat with no development for the first 60 chapters. Then when a character does change, it is sudden and we are just meant to accept the change without a build up to that change. The main character is always reacting and following the greater military mite, and he never steps outside of the times to show he is a lead role in a novel. Because of this he never comes across as more than the skinny slave boy he is shown as at the start.
There are so many different perspectives and scenes with a huge cast of characters, but not much information given about any of them. Normally we the reader would rely on inner dialog to understand a character, to sympathize with what they want and what their goals are. This is not given to us here, just forward progress which is not driven by the main character, but rather by the world they live in. Nearly everything that changes the plot is an external force which none of our characters can effect, and it makes for a drawn out unenjoyable read for me.
I was hoping for a solid historical fiction novel, and instead I got a historical text that just glosses everything that would be interesting. Why are we following these characters, why are they important to the plot? They aren't, and they don't have a special knowledge or set of skills that any other character could do in their place. It is a novel about what the times were like, not about a remarkable set of characters who happened to live in this time, and that isn't what I enjoy about historical fiction.
November 6, 2021
Legionary is one of those reads that leaves you feeling content after finishing it. It has the promise of a sequel, since it's the first in a series. However, it's more than that. Doherty is a MASTER of plotting. He has interwoven multiple POV characters and their stories into a finely designed web of intrigue, vivid (and graphic) battle scenes, and personalities. And there's nothing I love more than an in-depth multiple POV story when it's done well.
This one is.
Pavo is a former slave, sent to join the XI Claudia legion, not suspecting that the next six months of his life will turn into his formative years in a really huge way. His former master, the corrupt Senator Tarquitius is in league with a rather nasty piece of work who happens to be a Bishop. Let's just say that the man isn't exactly a model Christian. Then there's the Emperor of the eastern Roman Empire at the time--Valens. Doherty depicted him so very well in the book, that I felt as though I could shake the man's hand after the book ended. But my favorite character had to have been the gritty centurion who held this entire tale together like super-glue. Actually, maybe I should refer to Gallus as "Superman", because his immense concern for his men, his honor, and diligence in both battle and everyday legionary life was a powerful testament as to how real Roman legions operated.
The entire story takes place in the late Roman Empire--a period not as familiar to me and shaded with much political upheaval within and without. Doherty treats his period with a father's care and the detail and world-building was most impressive, as was his brief but informative author's notes at the end.
Doherty's knack for plotting and overall story-telling is what kept hitting home for me and it hit the target. I was engulfed in his detail, the nuances of character and the way each man or woman was built. But I kept returning to the fact that it's Doherty's STORYTELLING expertise that made this book flow. Indeed, I foretell that Book #2 is in my future!
This one is.
Pavo is a former slave, sent to join the XI Claudia legion, not suspecting that the next six months of his life will turn into his formative years in a really huge way. His former master, the corrupt Senator Tarquitius is in league with a rather nasty piece of work who happens to be a Bishop. Let's just say that the man isn't exactly a model Christian. Then there's the Emperor of the eastern Roman Empire at the time--Valens. Doherty depicted him so very well in the book, that I felt as though I could shake the man's hand after the book ended. But my favorite character had to have been the gritty centurion who held this entire tale together like super-glue. Actually, maybe I should refer to Gallus as "Superman", because his immense concern for his men, his honor, and diligence in both battle and everyday legionary life was a powerful testament as to how real Roman legions operated.
The entire story takes place in the late Roman Empire--a period not as familiar to me and shaded with much political upheaval within and without. Doherty treats his period with a father's care and the detail and world-building was most impressive, as was his brief but informative author's notes at the end.
Doherty's knack for plotting and overall story-telling is what kept hitting home for me and it hit the target. I was engulfed in his detail, the nuances of character and the way each man or woman was built. But I kept returning to the fact that it's Doherty's STORYTELLING expertise that made this book flow. Indeed, I foretell that Book #2 is in my future!
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