Gladiator: Vengeance by Simon Scarrow

Gladiator #4

by Simon Scarrow

The fourth thrilling title in Simon Scarrow's epic, bestselling Gladiator series

Marcus may be free from the brutal training regime of the gladiators but he will not rest until he finds his mother.

With his old friends Festus and Lupus at his side, and a letter from Caesar instructing all who cross his path to help him, he begins his journey. He is going back to the lands where he lived as a slave boy: the remote farming estate of the savage Decimus.

Yet Ancient Greece is ruled by deceit and corruption. Many do not want to see Marcus succeed. Many more would rather see him dead. As the most powerful men in the country plot against him, is it finally over for the son of Spartacus?

Simon Scarrow will do for boy gladiators what J. K. Rowling did for boy wizards - Waterstones.com

The perfect introduction to Roman history and gladiators for young readers - great for fans of Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter.

Simon Scarrow was born in Africa and lived in a number of countries, including Hong Kong and the Bahamas before settling in Britain. He has always been interested in writing and his love of history began at school, in particular when he was being taught about the ancient world by his Latin and History teachers. Since then he has travelled with his wife and children across the world to Italy, Greece, Turkey, Jordan, Syria and Egypt to research his historical novels. Simon was an enthusiastic teacher for a number of years. He now writes full time, but does intend to return to teaching when he can find the time.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Fiction, Historical

Paperback

First published March 6, 2014

About the author

Simon Scarrow is a UK-based author, born in Nigeria, and now living in Norfolk. He completed a master's degree at the University of East Anglia, and, after working at the Inland Revenue, went into teaching as a lecturer at City College, Norwich.

He is best known for his "Eagle" series. This is Roman empire military fiction, starting with the second invasion of Britain, and continuing with subsequent adventures in every corner of the empire. The stories are told through the eyes of two centurions, Macro and Cato. To date there are eighteen books in the series.

Scarrow has also written a series of four novels on the Napoleonic wars, focusing on the lives of Wellington and Napoleon.

Reviews

[Kyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hate when I turn the page expecting another chapter only to find the end! I so wanted MORE!!!

Though book three was a bit of a disappointment, book four more than made up for it. Marcus, the main character of the book was very well done. Acting very much like a thirteen-year-old would. Rushing off and acting without thinking. Wanting results now and being unwilling to wait. Of course, all this gets him and his friends into trouble. This, the fourth and final (is it?) book in the series, is no exception. Marcus has earned his freedom and armed with a letter of authority from Caesar he is off to find his mother with his friend Lupus and Caesar's bodyguard and Marcus' teacher Festus as companions.

Just like the other books, the action starts as soon as you start reading and doesn't stop until you turn the last page. This volume was a definite page turner. I found myself looking for every opportunity I could to pick up my tablet and read another chapter or two. Of course, this usually ended up being more like five or six before school work or life forced me to put it down.

Although there is a definite build to a great climax there is definitely an opening for another book. I'd love to see it! It's a great series overall and I'd recommend it to anyone interested in gladiators and roman history. It would also be a great read for young male teens or tweens.

[Clemens Schoonderwoert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book in 2014, and its the 4th wonderful outing in this great "Gladiator" series.

In this tale Marcus will set out to find his kidnapped mother, and coming with him are his old friends Festus and Lupus.

With a letter from Caesar in his pocket instructing anyone who crosses Marcus's path to help him to find his mother.

Now going back to his boyhood as a slave he will enter the farming estate of the brutal Decimus.

This farm is in ancient Greece, corrupt and full of deceit, many do not want him succeed in his mission, but instead want him dead.

With the most powerful men plotting against him, will the Son of Spartacus or Marcus, survive this conspiracy and deal with these conspirators in his own lethal way.

What is to follow is a magnificent YA Roman story and that is brought to us by the author in a very understandable fashion for the YA reader.

Highly recommended, for this is another excellent YA Roman adventure to this great series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Glorious YA Roman Read"!

[Sumit · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Enslaved by Empire. He will rise a hero.."

Vengeance is the fourth and final thrilling title in Simon Scarrow's epic, bestselling Gladiator series. Last year I completed the first three books in the series and eagerly waiting for the final book. And now finally this year my waiting ended.

Marcus may be free from the brutal training regime of the gladiators but he will not rest until he finds his mother. With his friend Lupus, and former trainer Festus at his side, and a letter from Caesar instructing all who cross his path to help him, he begins his journey. He is going back to the lands where he lived as a slave boy: the remote farming estate of the savage Decimus. But Ancient Greece is ruled by deceit and corruption. Many do not want to see Marcus succeed. Many more would rather see him dead. As the most powerful men in the country plot against him, is it finally over for the son of Spartacus?


Review:

🗡the cover with the thirteen years old Marcus standing there with shield and sword, seeking vengeance and a Roman villa burning behind him, perfectly justify the title & the book.

🗡Marcus's character is immaculately fleshed out. His impatience, recklessness, and inner turmoil between finding his mother, and taking vengeance from Decimus are completely plausible.

🗡The narrative is absolutely engaging and filled with mind-blowing actions packed scenes right from the very beginning, however, the story felt kind of rushed through this final book.

🗡The climax was the perfect conclusion to a great series and left out a possibility for another book, however, I think the series ended too soon, I wanted to read more about Marcus's adventures.


It's a good book overall, but I expected more after reading the first three books. I'd recommend the series to anyone interested in gladiators and roman history.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Nathan L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a good book over all, but I expected more after reading the first three books. I thought book one was OK, book two was the best, then came book three which was also very good. But then I expected a better ending for the series. But instead I got just an OK book with elements I already read in the first three books.

[Lizza11 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leuke serie om te lezen. Grieken, Romeinen, gladiatoren en list en bedrog, dan kan het al niet fout gaan. Het is niet hoogstaand, het zijn tenslotte 'kinderboeken', maar desalniettemin spannend en gewoon leuk.

Leest zo weg dus aanrader als tussendoortje.

[Margareth8537 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can't be that bad when I am prepared to pay full whack for it.

[Oktawian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sięgając po serię "Gladiator", widząc wzmiankę, że bohater jest synem Spartakusa, spodziewałem się historii o buncie niewolników, potępiającej Rzym, Cezara i wszystko co z nim związane. Dostałem jednak cykl opowiadający o oddaniu, poświęceniu i upartym dążeniu do celu, o walce z niesprawiedliwością, o tym że więzy rodzinne i przyjaźń mogą być ważniejsze niż więzy krwi i każdy samodzielnie pisze własną historię, nie trzeba podążać wytyczoną nam ścieżką. Seria może i jest skierowana raczej do młodszych czytelników, ale, mimo tego że nie jestem w wieku grupy docelowej, doskonale się bawiłem przy czytaniu. Postacie naprawdę da się polubić i chociaż czasami Markus jest zbyt potężny i mądry jak na swój wiek, wciąż uważam go za dobrze wykreowanego bohatera. Zakończenie tej serii jest całkiem niezłe, chociaż zdecydowanie liczyłem na coś innego. Zdecydowanie sięgnę po kolejne książki tego autora, a serię Gladiator polecam zarówno młodszym jak i starszym czytelnikom szukającym czegoś w Rzymskim klimacie

[Rock Pirih · Rating 5 out of 5]

An epic conclusion to a great series (Gladiator), though I must admit that the series and the story ended too soon. I also got the feeling that the story was kind of rushed throught this final book, wherever in the first book it slowly progressed.
Anyway, I really liked the narrative a lot, which constantly made me seek for more i. e. when I told to myself "just one more chapter and I'll go to sleep" and I did went to bed, but a full hour later! The individual chapter cuts of right when things are getting very interesting and you don't get bored while reading.
So the adventures of the young boy Marcus, fighting as a gladiator from slavery in a quest to get his freedom and revenge, ends here in the fourth book of the series's.
Still, the series and the final book of it has a satisfying conclusion of a great, believable story, set in a time when Rome was the capital of "Europe"!

[Dennis Steussy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marcus, Festus, and Lupus are free and are now in Greece looking for Marcus's mother in this fourth and final book of the Gladiator series by Simon Scarrow. They are looking for Decimus, the man who killed Marcus's stepfather and sold both Marcus and his mother into slavery. Decimus is a tax collector for the Roman empire and has a big estate in Greece. The book tells of the many adventures the trio go through to finally free Marcus's mother and get revenge on Decimus including an event where the trio is sentenced to death in the arena in Athens. Marcus's dog, Cerberus plays a key role in saving them from death in the arena. So if you are looking for adventure and a good tale, this book will provide it for you. I highly recommend reading the whole series. I love the way Simon Scarrow ends this book and leaves open the opportunity to write more stories about the Son of Sparactus!

[Christina Rochester · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great young adult historical fiction read and something I would have loved as a child. I feel like this would have been a great series but most of all I'm glad Cerberus survived (I can't deal with dogs dying).

[Glenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story and series, but has it ended...

[Jesyan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tome that closes well this youth saga, although the end is a bit hasty. I had a great time and it's a saga I can only recommend.

[Merle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beste serie die k tot nu toe heb gelezen

[Ellen Joly · Rating 3 out of 5]

The end was dissapointing. Wanted another book after this one. This didn't feel like the end!

[Koen]

3.5*

[Esther · Rating 4 out of 5]

Het is een mooi verhaal waarin Marcus eindelijk zijn moeder kan bevrijden. Onderweg gebeurt er natuurlijk van alles en Marcus kan zijn afkomst niet meer verborgen houden. Maar een opstand starten zoals zijn vader, dat wil hij niet. Aan het eind van het boek moet Marcus dus nog steeds met zijn moeder en vrienden op de vlucht. Waarheen is niet helemaal duidelijk, zo ver mogelijk bij Rome vandaan in ieder geval. Dit geeft het gevoel dat de serie niet af is, het is een open eind. Ik vraag me dan ook af of er een deel vijf onderweg is

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third book and conclusion of a series for older children and young adults, set some 13 years after the third servile war (the Spartacus rebellion). Marcus remains on the trail of Decimus, the tax collector who illegally killed his father, seized his farm and sold him and his mother into slavery.

This is a gladiator story for children, and probably will appeal to them, as there is plenty of action and a few bloodthirsty bits that many would like.

For anyone who understands the laws and history of Rome, there are some preposterous elements to this story, but still it gives a nice flavour of life in the Roman empire for younger readers, and it is well enough researched, even if there is a fair dose of poetic license in here.

An exciting and enjoyable tale nonetheless.

[Matilda Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marcus is finally free of the gladiator school, but will not rest until he finds his mother who is being kept as a slave in one of the tax collector Decimus's slave estates. With the help of his friend (Caesar's scribe) Lupus and former trainer Festus, Marcus searches for his mother... But Marcus, Festus and Lupus are wanted for murder! Will Marcus, son of Spartacus, survive?

Simon Scarrow has excellent writing skills and I love the Gladiator series! I hope he has written a million books, so I will never ever run out of this amazing reading source!

[Kenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay so I loved this book so much!

But after finishing it I was desperate to find out if there would be a 5th book! After searching for awhile I found nothing!

So could anyone give me any info on any upcoming books? It would mean a lot!

Kenny!

[Jasmine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been a bit annoyed at these books because they are predictable as hell, but then I am 7 years+ over the targeted audience so...

[Nick Rijnsaard · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a great end too the series. Definetley the best book out of the four.

I give it a 7.3/10

[Daniel Doyle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Enjoyed the character building, but not so sure of the plot.

[Jan Peter van Kempen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a real pageturner: action-packed with an opening for another book. The series certainly wetted my appetite for the Eagle series and the Arena-series...

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very nicel