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Caradoc #1
The Eagles Shadow
One man stands against the might of the Roman Empire. His name is Caradoc.
In Rome a new Emperor, Claudius, accedes the throne. But he is politically weak, enemies who would take his place circle and plot. If he is to survive Claudius needs a triumph, one that marks him as a leader of men.
Claudius’s eye turns to the mysterious isle of Britannia, home of the supernatural Druids and brutal, wild-eyed warriors, reputed to fight naked. The place not even Julius Caesar could conquer.
AD43 and a massive invasion force, commanded by Aulus Plautius, lands on a tiny corner of Britannia. Caradoc, King of the country’s most powerful tribe, assembles an army to throw his enemy back over the water and into Gaul.
But divisions are rife and there are those who are secretly working with the Romans for their own benefit. The very future of the country is at risk and only one man can safeguard it…
Praise for Keith Nixon’s Work
A hugely enjoyable debut novel from Keith Nixon.'
Ian Ayris, author of Abide With Me
'Moves faster than a speeding bullet. Can't wait for more from Keith Nixon.'
Tony Black, author of The Last Tiger
Cool, creative and downright crude, THE FIX will get your heart pumping.'
Gerard Brennan, author of FIREPROOF
'Sharply observed, fast paced. Hard as a knuckleduster.'
Richard Godwin, author of Apostle Rising
'A blast from first page to the last, this high-octane debut takes aim at the corporate world and is fast, furious and a lot of fun. If there’s a knack to writing dark comedy, Nixon surely has it.'
Nick Quantrill, author of The Late Greats
'The Fix is a gritty, multi-layered novel which features a glorious mix of characters - all with that great human quality of being flawed and unique. Nixon's writing is what really makes this stand out. A fast-paced and quite excellent debut novel. '
Luca Veste, author of Dead Gone
In Rome a new Emperor, Claudius, accedes the throne. But he is politically weak, enemies who would take his place circle and plot. If he is to survive Claudius needs a triumph, one that marks him as a leader of men.
Claudius’s eye turns to the mysterious isle of Britannia, home of the supernatural Druids and brutal, wild-eyed warriors, reputed to fight naked. The place not even Julius Caesar could conquer.
AD43 and a massive invasion force, commanded by Aulus Plautius, lands on a tiny corner of Britannia. Caradoc, King of the country’s most powerful tribe, assembles an army to throw his enemy back over the water and into Gaul.
But divisions are rife and there are those who are secretly working with the Romans for their own benefit. The very future of the country is at risk and only one man can safeguard it…
Praise for Keith Nixon’s Work
A hugely enjoyable debut novel from Keith Nixon.'
Ian Ayris, author of Abide With Me
'Moves faster than a speeding bullet. Can't wait for more from Keith Nixon.'
Tony Black, author of The Last Tiger
Cool, creative and downright crude, THE FIX will get your heart pumping.'
Gerard Brennan, author of FIREPROOF
'Sharply observed, fast paced. Hard as a knuckleduster.'
Richard Godwin, author of Apostle Rising
'A blast from first page to the last, this high-octane debut takes aim at the corporate world and is fast, furious and a lot of fun. If there’s a knack to writing dark comedy, Nixon surely has it.'
Nick Quantrill, author of The Late Greats
'The Fix is a gritty, multi-layered novel which features a glorious mix of characters - all with that great human quality of being flawed and unique. Nixon's writing is what really makes this stand out. A fast-paced and quite excellent debut novel. '
Luca Veste, author of Dead Gone
- GenresHistorical
299 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 9, 2014
44 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
About the author
Keith Nixon
36 books175 followersBestselling author Keith Nixon lives in Cheshire, England and works in a high tech industry. Novels include the Solomon Gray, Konstantin, Harry Vaughan and Caradoc series.
Sign up to a regular newsletter for information on upcoming books, offers etc. at http://www.keithnixon.co.uk/stay-up-t...
He can be found on Twitter (@knntom) and Facebook or his website www.keithnixon.co.uk.
Praise for Keith Nixon’s Work
‘A stunning book and a new series that has become a must read. ’
-M.W. Craven, author of the Washington Poe series
‘Keith Nixon does for Margate what Peter James did for Brighton … As dark and brooding as the wind-lashed shores of the North Sea, and with its disturbing echoes of the Elm Guest House scandal and suggestions of deep-seated institutional corruption, Dig Two Graves is a superb addition to the rich Brit Crime scene. ’
Tim Baker, CWA shortlisted author of Fever City and City Without Stars
‘Deeply emotional, a dark rollercoaster ride. ’
Ed James, author of bestselling DI Fenchurch series
‘A compelling murder mystery with a multilayered and engaging new hero. Great read. ’
Mason Cross, author of the Carter Blake thriller series
‘A damaged detective, haunted by a tragic past, a young son missing or dead, a man on a quest for redemption. Detective Sergeant Solomon Gray is a fine creation and Dig Two Graves an intriguing, nourish mystery. Keith Nixon is a sparkling crime fiction talent. ’
Howard Linskey, author of the David Blake crime series
‘A dark, uncompromising tale of loss, murder, and revenge. Glorious noir, which takes the police procedural elements and gives them new life. I can't wait to read the next step in Solomon Gray's journey for answers ... ’
Luca Veste, author of the Murphy and Rossi series
‘One hell of a writer.’
Ken Bruen, Author of The Jack Taylor series
‘Nixon writes hard-hitting fiction, with a dash of humour, a cast of great characters, and a dollop of violence. Konstantin is a fantastic creation.’
Luca Veste, author of The Murphy and Rossi series and The Bonekeeper
‘Reads like the UK’s answer to Carl Hiassen. Criminally underrated.’
MW Craven, author of The Washington Poe series
‘Lean, mean and gritty, with writing as sharp as a razor cut. Keith Nixon serves up a ‘Konstantin Kocktail’, with equal parts Vodka to Vodka, that'll hit you just where it's needed.’
Matt Hilton, Author of the Joe Hunter thrillers
‘I have to liken reading this novel to being a smoker - it leaves a dirty taste in your mouth but you JUST CAN'T STOP.’ Lisa Hall, author of Between You and Me, Tell Me No Lies, The Party
‘If you told me that Konstantin put the K in KGB, I wouldn't even argue. This character is a badass of the highest calibre.’
Gerard Brennan, author of Undercover
‘Feels like Snatch meets a steampunk Sherlock Holmes. Nixon continues the story of Russian-born Konstantin, anti-hero for the modern age. Like Marlowe before him, Konstantin has a penchant for finding trouble and an unflinching sense of morality to get him out of it.’
Joe Clifford, author of The Jay Porter series
‘Hardboiled action and sharp, gritty humour. Highly recommended.’
Paul D. Brazill, author of Guns Of Brixton and A Case Of Noir
‘Gritty and glorious, dirty and dynamic, fast and furious. My kind of book.’
Col’s Criminal Library
‘A superior action-thriller, layered with flashbacks, intriguing characters and tendon-snapping sequences of graphic violence.’
Murder, Mayhem and More
‘A fast-paced and witty tale.’
Big Al’s Books and Pals
‘With his unique style of writing, the author grabs the reader’s attention and makes for an entertaining read.’
By The Letter Book Reviews
‘Tight, punchy with a distinct voice.’
Crimesquad
‘The ability to get his readers onside, rooting for his messed-up characters as they battle against the
Sign up to a regular newsletter for information on upcoming books, offers etc. at http://www.keithnixon.co.uk/stay-up-t...
He can be found on Twitter (@knntom) and Facebook or his website www.keithnixon.co.uk.
Praise for Keith Nixon’s Work
‘A stunning book and a new series that has become a must read. ’
-M.W. Craven, author of the Washington Poe series
‘Keith Nixon does for Margate what Peter James did for Brighton … As dark and brooding as the wind-lashed shores of the North Sea, and with its disturbing echoes of the Elm Guest House scandal and suggestions of deep-seated institutional corruption, Dig Two Graves is a superb addition to the rich Brit Crime scene. ’
Tim Baker, CWA shortlisted author of Fever City and City Without Stars
‘Deeply emotional, a dark rollercoaster ride. ’
Ed James, author of bestselling DI Fenchurch series
‘A compelling murder mystery with a multilayered and engaging new hero. Great read. ’
Mason Cross, author of the Carter Blake thriller series
‘A damaged detective, haunted by a tragic past, a young son missing or dead, a man on a quest for redemption. Detective Sergeant Solomon Gray is a fine creation and Dig Two Graves an intriguing, nourish mystery. Keith Nixon is a sparkling crime fiction talent. ’
Howard Linskey, author of the David Blake crime series
‘A dark, uncompromising tale of loss, murder, and revenge. Glorious noir, which takes the police procedural elements and gives them new life. I can't wait to read the next step in Solomon Gray's journey for answers ... ’
Luca Veste, author of the Murphy and Rossi series
‘One hell of a writer.’
Ken Bruen, Author of The Jack Taylor series
‘Nixon writes hard-hitting fiction, with a dash of humour, a cast of great characters, and a dollop of violence. Konstantin is a fantastic creation.’
Luca Veste, author of The Murphy and Rossi series and The Bonekeeper
‘Reads like the UK’s answer to Carl Hiassen. Criminally underrated.’
MW Craven, author of The Washington Poe series
‘Lean, mean and gritty, with writing as sharp as a razor cut. Keith Nixon serves up a ‘Konstantin Kocktail’, with equal parts Vodka to Vodka, that'll hit you just where it's needed.’
Matt Hilton, Author of the Joe Hunter thrillers
‘I have to liken reading this novel to being a smoker - it leaves a dirty taste in your mouth but you JUST CAN'T STOP.’ Lisa Hall, author of Between You and Me, Tell Me No Lies, The Party
‘If you told me that Konstantin put the K in KGB, I wouldn't even argue. This character is a badass of the highest calibre.’
Gerard Brennan, author of Undercover
‘Feels like Snatch meets a steampunk Sherlock Holmes. Nixon continues the story of Russian-born Konstantin, anti-hero for the modern age. Like Marlowe before him, Konstantin has a penchant for finding trouble and an unflinching sense of morality to get him out of it.’
Joe Clifford, author of The Jay Porter series
‘Hardboiled action and sharp, gritty humour. Highly recommended.’
Paul D. Brazill, author of Guns Of Brixton and A Case Of Noir
‘Gritty and glorious, dirty and dynamic, fast and furious. My kind of book.’
Col’s Criminal Library
‘A superior action-thriller, layered with flashbacks, intriguing characters and tendon-snapping sequences of graphic violence.’
Murder, Mayhem and More
‘A fast-paced and witty tale.’
Big Al’s Books and Pals
‘With his unique style of writing, the author grabs the reader’s attention and makes for an entertaining read.’
By The Letter Book Reviews
‘Tight, punchy with a distinct voice.’
Crimesquad
‘The ability to get his readers onside, rooting for his messed-up characters as they battle against the
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 29, 2015
It is good to see a novel with the backdrop of the AD43 invasion from the viewpoint of the native Britons, and Keith Nixon makes a decent fist of setting out the disparate pieces of groundwork that made the Roman bridgehead possible. The tribal in-fighting, family in-fighting, as well as intertribal feuding, all played their part, as did direct betrayal for short-sighted personal gain. However, it became a novel of much more depth when the viewpoint of the Roman contingent began to be threaded through the story, bringing with it their own personal stories, motivations and political machinations.
The author is superb at conveying battle scenes, from single combat to hit and run skirmishes, to the horror and confusion of being caught in the middle of a flexing battle-line melee. I did feel as if I were there, and I couldn’t stop reading. An excellent introduction to a series.
The author is superb at conveying battle scenes, from single combat to hit and run skirmishes, to the horror and confusion of being caught in the middle of a flexing battle-line melee. I did feel as if I were there, and I couldn’t stop reading. An excellent introduction to a series.
September 7, 2014
When I read historical fiction I find much of what I get out of it is a greater sense of the true history through the viewpoints of the characters. It becomes more real when experienced through the eyes of someone who was there than it could ever be from reading text books and whatever part of the history teacher’s drone penetrated my thick skull and stuck through the decades since.
I quickly realized that my knowledge of British history from the time this story takes place (first century AD) was a blank slate. Maybe we never covered that in history class except as it related to the rise and fall of the Roman Empire (definitely covered), or possibly I’d purged it to make room in my limited memory for more music trivia. This gave me a chance to learn, or at least refresh, that gap.
At the time the area that is now Britain was controlled by numerous tribes, not the unified country it is today. Cooperation between tribes was critical if they were to resist the invading Romans who were looking to expand their empire. It’s a compelling story with political infighting, war strategy, and family dynamics, all playing a part in the tale. I want to use the cliché “age old story,” because what stood out for me is how human nature hasn’t evolved, with self-interest driving all decisions, people playing both sides of a conflict, and the struggle for power played out in much the same way as it would today.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
I quickly realized that my knowledge of British history from the time this story takes place (first century AD) was a blank slate. Maybe we never covered that in history class except as it related to the rise and fall of the Roman Empire (definitely covered), or possibly I’d purged it to make room in my limited memory for more music trivia. This gave me a chance to learn, or at least refresh, that gap.
At the time the area that is now Britain was controlled by numerous tribes, not the unified country it is today. Cooperation between tribes was critical if they were to resist the invading Romans who were looking to expand their empire. It’s a compelling story with political infighting, war strategy, and family dynamics, all playing a part in the tale. I want to use the cliché “age old story,” because what stood out for me is how human nature hasn’t evolved, with self-interest driving all decisions, people playing both sides of a conflict, and the struggle for power played out in much the same way as it would today.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
October 28, 2014
I was not sure about this book at first but soon warmed to it. I think I was concerned that where as the Roman account of the invasion of Britain was well documented, the Celtic side was not. However, this is a ripping yarn and I shall certainly read the next in the series. The book is fast moving but has a great sense of authenticity.
September 13, 2014
This is from the review by PM Harrison.
Keith Nixon is author of the crime fiction novels The Fix and The Konstantin Novella series, both of which achieved excellent reviews. With The Eagle’s Shadow, Nixon has taken to the historical fiction genre, but is his writing here as well accomplished as his writing in the crime genre?
The Eagle’s Shadows tells of Claudius, the new Roman emperor who is politically weak and in desperate need of triumph. He’s fixed his eyes on Britannia, the home of druids and warriors, the place not even Caesar himself could conquer.
If there’s one key to historical fiction it’s finding the right balance between accurate writing and entertaining writing. CJ Samson, for instance, writes exceptional historical fiction that is both historically believable and highly entertaining. Sadly, I’m no historical expert, so I’m not in a position to judge how historically accurate aspects of this book are; but the book certainly is believable, and seemingly educational too.
I felt like I’d travelled back to my A-Level history class (US readers: A-Levels are the exams us Brits take at age 18). At the time in which the story is set, Britain isn’t the unified and fecking awesome country it is today. It’s packed full of disparate tribes that must be united if they are to overcome the threat of the Romans; and that’s largely the basis for the drama in Nixon’s book.
It’s a gripping story with a fantastic plot, full of family dynamics, war and political intrigue. What’s best about it is the fact that the story is still relevant today; it tells certain truths about humanity that are highly relevant today.
I did find some of the writing to be a little cliché when it comes to descriptions. There are throwaways like “His attention peaked” (which should likely be “his attention was piqued”). And there are times when I would like to see more personality injected into the descriptions. But I am also aware of the fact that I am a notoriously picky sod. So, I’m not going to berate Nixon too much on account of this minor points.
Running at around 95,000 words (approximately), The Eagle’s Shadow is noticeably tighter than the average historical fiction (which average around 110K). It shows, too. The plot is tight and keeps the pages turning, without the reader getting bogged down in too much superfluous detail. Much historical fiction involves itself with research and details unessential to the story, which can drown the plot in too much history. Not so with Nixon, who makes sure to keep his story front and centre.
Overall, Nixon has presented a well crafted story with an engaging plot, and though I did find some of the descriptive work a little uninspiring, I still found this to be an entertaining read.
Overall: 4 out of 5.
Keith Nixon is author of the crime fiction novels The Fix and The Konstantin Novella series, both of which achieved excellent reviews. With The Eagle’s Shadow, Nixon has taken to the historical fiction genre, but is his writing here as well accomplished as his writing in the crime genre?
The Eagle’s Shadows tells of Claudius, the new Roman emperor who is politically weak and in desperate need of triumph. He’s fixed his eyes on Britannia, the home of druids and warriors, the place not even Caesar himself could conquer.
If there’s one key to historical fiction it’s finding the right balance between accurate writing and entertaining writing. CJ Samson, for instance, writes exceptional historical fiction that is both historically believable and highly entertaining. Sadly, I’m no historical expert, so I’m not in a position to judge how historically accurate aspects of this book are; but the book certainly is believable, and seemingly educational too.
I felt like I’d travelled back to my A-Level history class (US readers: A-Levels are the exams us Brits take at age 18). At the time in which the story is set, Britain isn’t the unified and fecking awesome country it is today. It’s packed full of disparate tribes that must be united if they are to overcome the threat of the Romans; and that’s largely the basis for the drama in Nixon’s book.
It’s a gripping story with a fantastic plot, full of family dynamics, war and political intrigue. What’s best about it is the fact that the story is still relevant today; it tells certain truths about humanity that are highly relevant today.
I did find some of the writing to be a little cliché when it comes to descriptions. There are throwaways like “His attention peaked” (which should likely be “his attention was piqued”). And there are times when I would like to see more personality injected into the descriptions. But I am also aware of the fact that I am a notoriously picky sod. So, I’m not going to berate Nixon too much on account of this minor points.
Running at around 95,000 words (approximately), The Eagle’s Shadow is noticeably tighter than the average historical fiction (which average around 110K). It shows, too. The plot is tight and keeps the pages turning, without the reader getting bogged down in too much superfluous detail. Much historical fiction involves itself with research and details unessential to the story, which can drown the plot in too much history. Not so with Nixon, who makes sure to keep his story front and centre.
Overall, Nixon has presented a well crafted story with an engaging plot, and though I did find some of the descriptive work a little uninspiring, I still found this to be an entertaining read.
Overall: 4 out of 5.
July 25, 2015
This book is a fast paced, epic war story and boy did I enjoy it.
First of there is a lot of information in this book but Keith very handily added a section at the beginning of the book to explain the names used within the book since place names have changed over the years along with rivers etc. This was not only useful so I could set the scene but it was also very interesting information
We find ourselves thrust into time when Rome was planning to invade Britain and the author decided to tell his tale from both the Roman and the Britons view point. This gave a great feel to the book and broke up the action perfectly so you kept reading without even noticing the time pass.
Keith has picked a very interesting subject for the book and built on this story with the characters. There are a few I liked a lot.. Fionn & Etain stood out for me. The action with Fionn had me hooked!
There are a large number of characters in this book; Because of this some don’t get a chance to develop. Once you read the book you can totally understand why though as there so much going on in the book it would be too much to squeeze in and also the story is so strong and violent it’s inevitable some of these characters will die
The author goes into some great detail describing the warfare tactics and clearly has researched well.
I felt the story easily pulled me in and I even found myself shouting in my head “Move, Move” when it came to clashes between the two armies.
One of the most interesting parts of this book for me was the relationships between the tribes in Britain at the time. I won’t spoil the book for you but these relationships coupled with the unified force of the Romans made for an epic tale
From reading the authors historical notes he gives a great insight into some of the characters and the time period and it’s definitely peaked my interest and made me want to read up on this time period.
I’m very pleased to see there is a follow up book and I’m looking forward to reading/reviewing that soon
Conclusion… Do I think this book is worth the 99p asking price currently on Amazon? Hell yes!
If you enjoy tales involving warfare, blood, guts, tension, betrayal then you will certainly like this book
First of there is a lot of information in this book but Keith very handily added a section at the beginning of the book to explain the names used within the book since place names have changed over the years along with rivers etc. This was not only useful so I could set the scene but it was also very interesting information
We find ourselves thrust into time when Rome was planning to invade Britain and the author decided to tell his tale from both the Roman and the Britons view point. This gave a great feel to the book and broke up the action perfectly so you kept reading without even noticing the time pass.
Keith has picked a very interesting subject for the book and built on this story with the characters. There are a few I liked a lot.. Fionn & Etain stood out for me. The action with Fionn had me hooked!
There are a large number of characters in this book; Because of this some don’t get a chance to develop. Once you read the book you can totally understand why though as there so much going on in the book it would be too much to squeeze in and also the story is so strong and violent it’s inevitable some of these characters will die
The author goes into some great detail describing the warfare tactics and clearly has researched well.
I felt the story easily pulled me in and I even found myself shouting in my head “Move, Move” when it came to clashes between the two armies.
One of the most interesting parts of this book for me was the relationships between the tribes in Britain at the time. I won’t spoil the book for you but these relationships coupled with the unified force of the Romans made for an epic tale
From reading the authors historical notes he gives a great insight into some of the characters and the time period and it’s definitely peaked my interest and made me want to read up on this time period.
I’m very pleased to see there is a follow up book and I’m looking forward to reading/reviewing that soon
Conclusion… Do I think this book is worth the 99p asking price currently on Amazon? Hell yes!
If you enjoy tales involving warfare, blood, guts, tension, betrayal then you will certainly like this book
July 15, 2014
Not many writers are brave enough to step outside of their comfort zone when they’ve performed so solidly in one genre already. Fewer still do so as successfully as Keith Nixon has with The Eagle’s Shadow. Keith’s main attributes as a writer, punchy dialogue, keen humour and the ability to so consistently develop a compelling narrative, transfer magnificently to this very different piece from the author of The Fix.
Creating a cast of compelling characters and plucking and pulling at elements of their lives and destinies, Keith gives us a master-class in multi-layered storytelling and exceptional characterisation; no mean feat. Considering that he’s crafted this magnificently engaging story in a historical setting so long gone and mostly forgotten, the coherence and pace of the novel is incredibly skilful and clearly the result of some very hard earned knowledge in the research of the times and places.
Keith has used the setting effectively and effortlessly to put his characters through the wringer and propel them on a very modern-feeling journey but The Eagle’s Shadow is the perfect blend of historical accuracy and modern pace and succeeds in completely immersing the reader in ancient times.
With The Eagle’s Shadow, Keith Nixon shows us why he’s amongst the very best of a new breed of British authors who refuse to play by the old rules and instead prolifically produce engaging, quality works that excite, entertain and challenge the reader. I can’t recommend this novel highly enough.
Creating a cast of compelling characters and plucking and pulling at elements of their lives and destinies, Keith gives us a master-class in multi-layered storytelling and exceptional characterisation; no mean feat. Considering that he’s crafted this magnificently engaging story in a historical setting so long gone and mostly forgotten, the coherence and pace of the novel is incredibly skilful and clearly the result of some very hard earned knowledge in the research of the times and places.
Keith has used the setting effectively and effortlessly to put his characters through the wringer and propel them on a very modern-feeling journey but The Eagle’s Shadow is the perfect blend of historical accuracy and modern pace and succeeds in completely immersing the reader in ancient times.
With The Eagle’s Shadow, Keith Nixon shows us why he’s amongst the very best of a new breed of British authors who refuse to play by the old rules and instead prolifically produce engaging, quality works that excite, entertain and challenge the reader. I can’t recommend this novel highly enough.
January 3, 2015
I don't read historical fiction, let me make that clear from the off. It's like museums, for me. I know all that old business exists, I'm not interested in knowing any more than that. I do read Keith Nixon, however. I find the minimalist writing style of his crime books fascinating and extremely skillful. So when I was presented with the knowledge that he'd ventured out of what I was used to, I was intrigued to say the least, and more than a little impressed with the result.
It's a very well researched and delivered delve into an unrecognisable Britain, filled to the brim with peasants and lords, savages and druids, all battling for prominence in a country threatened by an impending attack by a Roman leader with something to prove. For me, as a virgin to the genre, I found it to be extremely well written, with all the back stabbing, ladder climbing (I don't recall anybody climbing any actual ladders, I'm talking about the ladder of power) and violence that you could ask for. Highly recommended.
It's a very well researched and delivered delve into an unrecognisable Britain, filled to the brim with peasants and lords, savages and druids, all battling for prominence in a country threatened by an impending attack by a Roman leader with something to prove. For me, as a virgin to the genre, I found it to be extremely well written, with all the back stabbing, ladder climbing (I don't recall anybody climbing any actual ladders, I'm talking about the ladder of power) and violence that you could ask for. Highly recommended.
April 22, 2015
This has some of the hardest-rocking battle scenes you could want (circa 1st century A.D.). I used to play the game "Sid Meier's Civilization" a lot, and "The Eagle's Shadow" has similarities, mainly the clashing tribes and the ancient weaponry. But there's really a good deal more depth to the story. Keith Nixon clearly did a vast amount of research into an area of which I knew next to nothing: Britain in that time. Yet it's not dry at all; it translates into a roistering story of infighting and politicking and drinking and wenching and a whole lot more. Sometimes characters can be introduced abruptly, and it is hard to keep track of the place names and tribes. All in all, though, if you liked the classic "I, Claudius" books by Robert Graves, you're likely to enjoy this too. I know I'll be picking up the sequel.
November 5, 2014
The Roman invasion of Britain is a favorite interest of mine, so when I saw this on Big Al's Books and Pals I downloaded it right away. This story, the first in a series, is well researched and nicely paced. The sights, sounds, and smells of the battlefields are vividly portrayed. As the author notes, there's not much to go on in the historical record, but he waded in nevertheless and I think did a wonderful job of showing what it must have been like from the perspective of both the Romans and the various tribes of Britain. My only "gripe" about this book is that it could have used, and I mean *really* used, a good editor. Otherwise, I would have gone to five stars. (I hope the next books in the series will receive an editor's attention. I look forward to reading them, edited or not!)
July 30, 2015
Good read on Rome's second invasion of Britain
The book goes behind the scenes showing the different aims of the British command. The betrayals and the actions of loyal Britain's to contain the damage done by traitors. The story documents the landing and difficulties of making and keeping the bridgehead. Worth reading for anyone interested in early British history.
The book goes behind the scenes showing the different aims of the British command. The betrayals and the actions of loyal Britain's to contain the damage done by traitors. The story documents the landing and difficulties of making and keeping the bridgehead. Worth reading for anyone interested in early British history.
April 22, 2019
As I have a general distaste for historical fiction, I approached The Eagle's Shadow with some trepidation. I needn't have worried. What I've learnt is that any genre can be fascinating in the hands of a master author. Mr Nixon sweeps us up and carries us along in a tale of detail and depth, sprinkled with nuance and emotion. I am so grateful there is a second book for me, as I couldn't bear for it to end. If you love your books bursting with intrigue, detail, great characters and divine dialogue, then The Eagle's Shadow is the book for you. No need to think about genre, it's brilliant in its own right.
June 12, 2018
Great start to an interesting series, liked the opposing perspectives from Roman and British characters. Clearly heavily researched too...
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews