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Prince of Death: An Arminius Novel
Very few people in this world are as equally loved as they are hated.
Taken from his Germanic tribal home by Roman soldiers under the order of Caesar Augustus, ten-year-old noble prince, Arminius was trained with only one purpose—to become a ruthless military leader within the greatest empire of the ancient world.
Embracing the enticing world of Roma with its vast culture, arts, politics, and beautiful women, Arminius’ loyalty appeared to be sound. Educated in the School of Princes and trained to fight, lead, and conquer, he became a cavalry leader at eighteen, fought in the Pannonian Wars on the Balkan Peninsula, and proved his military worth as the Roman leaders expanded their global conquests.
That is, until…
Arminius returned to Germania under General Quinctilius Varus and witnessed the conditions in which the Romans left his beloved childhood home and people.
The Roman Empire’s drive to extend its control deep into the Barbarian territory is then strategically denied by the least likely person Rome would have ever believed could do such a traitorous, brutal act.
Honoring his Roman leaders by day and unifying the Germanic tribes at night, Arminius led an ambush that would forever change the face of the Roman Military. This historical fiction account about the once-loved son of Rome, and enemy-turned-savior of Germania, Arminius, is written by the multi-award-winning author, of the Berlin Butterfly Series, another historical fiction story set in her family’s ancestral home of Germany.
Taken from his Germanic tribal home by Roman soldiers under the order of Caesar Augustus, ten-year-old noble prince, Arminius was trained with only one purpose—to become a ruthless military leader within the greatest empire of the ancient world.
Embracing the enticing world of Roma with its vast culture, arts, politics, and beautiful women, Arminius’ loyalty appeared to be sound. Educated in the School of Princes and trained to fight, lead, and conquer, he became a cavalry leader at eighteen, fought in the Pannonian Wars on the Balkan Peninsula, and proved his military worth as the Roman leaders expanded their global conquests.
That is, until…
Arminius returned to Germania under General Quinctilius Varus and witnessed the conditions in which the Romans left his beloved childhood home and people.
The Roman Empire’s drive to extend its control deep into the Barbarian territory is then strategically denied by the least likely person Rome would have ever believed could do such a traitorous, brutal act.
Honoring his Roman leaders by day and unifying the Germanic tribes at night, Arminius led an ambush that would forever change the face of the Roman Military. This historical fiction account about the once-loved son of Rome, and enemy-turned-savior of Germania, Arminius, is written by the multi-award-winning author, of the Berlin Butterfly Series, another historical fiction story set in her family’s ancestral home of Germany.
248 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 9, 2024
About the author
Leah Moyes
31 books199 followersLeah Moyes is a wife and a mother, a former teacher and coach with a background in Anthropology and History. Between writing and archaeological digs, the world is her playground.
She loves popcorn and seafood (though not together) and is slowly checking off her very long bucket list.
She loves popcorn and seafood (though not together) and is slowly checking off her very long bucket list.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 16, 2025
Arminius’s story is so compelling that I always love a new take on it, and Leah Moyes’s book definitely delivers that!
In ‘Prince of Death,’ the reader is treated to more of Arminius’s life in Rome before returning to his tribal home. We get to see his training, explore his relationship with his younger brother, Flavus, see him bond with his future enemy Germanicus, and establish a fierce connection to his German cavalry. His heartbreaks in Rome are punctuated with the harsh realities of Roman life. It all serves to underpin his later disillusionment while carrying out horrific violence in Pannonia.
His return to Germania, his sweet reunion with Thusnelda, and his vanquishing of his nemesis, Cato, all create a satisfying ending to the story. The reader follows Arminius on his quest to unite the German tribes and covertly plot his betrayal. We see enough of Segestes to understand why he would try to foil Arminius’s plan. And the scene with Varus at the end was note perfect.
Arminius’s story is dark but triumphant. He stands as a firm reminder of the limits of Roman rule. And this book lets you see the human behind the Teutoberg forest disaster. A fantastic read - I highly recommend it!
In ‘Prince of Death,’ the reader is treated to more of Arminius’s life in Rome before returning to his tribal home. We get to see his training, explore his relationship with his younger brother, Flavus, see him bond with his future enemy Germanicus, and establish a fierce connection to his German cavalry. His heartbreaks in Rome are punctuated with the harsh realities of Roman life. It all serves to underpin his later disillusionment while carrying out horrific violence in Pannonia.
His return to Germania, his sweet reunion with Thusnelda, and his vanquishing of his nemesis, Cato, all create a satisfying ending to the story. The reader follows Arminius on his quest to unite the German tribes and covertly plot his betrayal. We see enough of Segestes to understand why he would try to foil Arminius’s plan. And the scene with Varus at the end was note perfect.
Arminius’s story is dark but triumphant. He stands as a firm reminder of the limits of Roman rule. And this book lets you see the human behind the Teutoberg forest disaster. A fantastic read - I highly recommend it!
May 13, 2024
Ahhh, Leah Moyes does it again! I truly enjoy how this author takes little known stories, does all the research for us and presents us with a well-written narrative of history. This time, the story is of the son of a Germanic tribal chief, Arminius. He is raised in Rome and leads a cavalry for the greatest military in the world...until he doesn't. Which is where the tale makes an abrupt twist. The story is based on a real historical figure and his destructive ties to Rome and Caesar Augustus. This is another great novel by Moyes and I highly recommend!
April 22, 2024
Great novel about a lesser-known piece of German history
I'm so glad Leah Moyes has made this historical event accessible to the fiction reader. It is well-researched and composed with obvious passion for the subject matter.
I'm so glad Leah Moyes has made this historical event accessible to the fiction reader. It is well-researched and composed with obvious passion for the subject matter.
July 23, 2024
great book
I love these sort of books. That is fictional accounts of true stories. This book is very imaginative and does a great job of transporting you to the world which it inhabits.
I love these sort of books. That is fictional accounts of true stories. This book is very imaginative and does a great job of transporting you to the world which it inhabits.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews