What do you think?
Rate this book
Spartacus #2
Rebelión (Espartaco 2)
Marcha hacia la libertad… o hacia la batalla más sangrienta.
Un poderoso ejército de esclavos, encabezado por Espartaco, ha arrasado con cuanto ha hallado a su paso, consiguiendo dispersar a las legiones de Roma. Ahora, Espartaco marcha hacia los Alpes y la libertad. Pero las nubes de tormenta empiezan a asomar en el horizonte. Craso, el hombre más rico de Roma, ha reunido un ejército formidable para luchar contra Espartaco, quien ahora oye murmullos de rebelión en el seno de sus propias tropas.
Al borde de la gloria, Espartaco debe tomar una decisión crucial: seguir su camino hacia la libertad o hacer frente al poder de Roma e intentar acabar con su dominio para siempre.
Un poderoso ejército de esclavos, encabezado por Espartaco, ha arrasado con cuanto ha hallado a su paso, consiguiendo dispersar a las legiones de Roma. Ahora, Espartaco marcha hacia los Alpes y la libertad. Pero las nubes de tormenta empiezan a asomar en el horizonte. Craso, el hombre más rico de Roma, ha reunido un ejército formidable para luchar contra Espartaco, quien ahora oye murmullos de rebelión en el seno de sus propias tropas.
Al borde de la gloria, Espartaco debe tomar una decisión crucial: seguir su camino hacia la libertad o hacer frente al poder de Roma e intentar acabar con su dominio para siempre.
554 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 16, 2012
93 people are currently reading
1692 people want to read
About the author
Ben Kane
49 books1,106 followersBen Kane is a bestselling Roman author and former veterinarian. He was born in Kenya and grew up in Ireland (where his parents are from). He has traveled widely and is a lifelong student of military history in general, and Roman history in particular. He lives in North Somerset, England, with his family.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
June 10, 2020
7,5/10
Al igual que el anterior, este es un libro que calificaría más de aventuras que histórico. La trama se centra en las andanzas de Espartaco una vez ya ha conseguido darse a conocer y derrotar a todos los ejércitos romanos que le han hecho frente. Debido a la falta de datos históricos sobre nuestro protagonista, Ben Kane elabora su propia trama a la que añade ciertos personajes y datos verídicos. El conjunto es entretenido y engancha, pero se nota que le falta trasfondo y más profundidad al worldbuilding, como si no se quisiera que el contexto histórico rivalizara con Espartaco.
En cualquier caso, es una lectura bastante recomendable, con mucha acción, muy buen ritmo narrativo y buenos personajes.
Al igual que el anterior, este es un libro que calificaría más de aventuras que histórico. La trama se centra en las andanzas de Espartaco una vez ya ha conseguido darse a conocer y derrotar a todos los ejércitos romanos que le han hecho frente. Debido a la falta de datos históricos sobre nuestro protagonista, Ben Kane elabora su propia trama a la que añade ciertos personajes y datos verídicos. El conjunto es entretenido y engancha, pero se nota que le falta trasfondo y más profundidad al worldbuilding, como si no se quisiera que el contexto histórico rivalizara con Espartaco.
En cualquier caso, es una lectura bastante recomendable, con mucha acción, muy buen ritmo narrativo y buenos personajes.
November 23, 2021
Read this book in 2012, and its the 2nd and final volume of the spectacular Spartacus mini-series.
In this book that will end in the year 71 BC, we see Spartacus and his army of slaves and rebels marching victorious all over the Roman Republic.
After having defeated three praetors, two consuls, and one proconsul, Spartacus and his army are heading towards the Alps and freedom.
Arriving at the Alps, storm clouds are gathering, and during this time of indecision, several groups will mutiny from this army of slaves, and one of these is the Gaul Crixus who will defect to Gaul, and taking all his men from Gaul with him, and so diminishing Spartacus's army of rebels.
Within the rebel slave army of Spartacus dissent is brewing, especially when it becomes known that Crassus, the richest man in Rome, is raising a most formidable army himself to protect Rome and take the fight and war to Spartacus.
Spartacus will have to make an ultimate decision on what to do, and when he does, instead of crossing the Alps and freedom, he will take on Crassus in an attempt to destroy Rome's stranglehold on power, once and for all.
What is to follow is a last stand by Spartacus against the forces erected by Crassus, and in this bloody conflict not only Rome's future will be decided, but most importantly it will tell the legendary Spartacus's heroic end and the consequences that will ensue for his fellow slave fighters all the way to Rome.
Highly recommended, for this is a spectacular finish of this amazing mini-series, and that's why I like to call this final episode: "A Superb Spartacus Conclusion"!
In this book that will end in the year 71 BC, we see Spartacus and his army of slaves and rebels marching victorious all over the Roman Republic.
After having defeated three praetors, two consuls, and one proconsul, Spartacus and his army are heading towards the Alps and freedom.
Arriving at the Alps, storm clouds are gathering, and during this time of indecision, several groups will mutiny from this army of slaves, and one of these is the Gaul Crixus who will defect to Gaul, and taking all his men from Gaul with him, and so diminishing Spartacus's army of rebels.
Within the rebel slave army of Spartacus dissent is brewing, especially when it becomes known that Crassus, the richest man in Rome, is raising a most formidable army himself to protect Rome and take the fight and war to Spartacus.
Spartacus will have to make an ultimate decision on what to do, and when he does, instead of crossing the Alps and freedom, he will take on Crassus in an attempt to destroy Rome's stranglehold on power, once and for all.
What is to follow is a last stand by Spartacus against the forces erected by Crassus, and in this bloody conflict not only Rome's future will be decided, but most importantly it will tell the legendary Spartacus's heroic end and the consequences that will ensue for his fellow slave fighters all the way to Rome.
Highly recommended, for this is a spectacular finish of this amazing mini-series, and that's why I like to call this final episode: "A Superb Spartacus Conclusion"!
April 4, 2018
Es una novela histórica realmente brillante, me ha gustado incluso más que la primera parte, y eso que me maravilló. La forma de escribir de Ben Kane es excelente, es una lectura muy ligera que da la impresión de que sea fácil, pero a la vez es extremadamente detallista, real y cruda, es algo sobresaliente. Los personajes son brutales, sobre todo Espartaco, es un personaje con muchísimos matices, muy realista y profundo, Carbo, Craso y Ariadne también me han encantado. Aventuras, acción, sangre, historia, para todos los que os gusten este tipo de cosas no deberíais perderos esta duología. El remate que hace el autor comparando su novela con los hechos históricos es algo precioso. Me encantaría volver a leer a este escritor.
March 5, 2019
"Not for the first time, Spartacus compared the Republic to the Hydra. Each of that creature's multiple heads breathed poisonous fumes, and if one was cut off, two grew in its place. IT was like that with every damn legion that his men had destroyed. Yet the Hydra had not been invincible: only one of its heads had been immortal. Its end had come when the hero Hercules had cauterized the stumps of each head he'd chopped off, preventing them from regrowing and allowing him to find the head he really needed to remove. What was Rome's invincible head? Spartacus wondered. And how could he sever it?"
So to me and I'm sure to so many people THAT is the big question? Well, here's what I found online of Rome's weaknesses and after seeing a list of things and a site summarizing it here's what it said....
"It is almost a boring answer, but Rome more destroyed itself through internal problems than it was outright conquered. Their enemies merely noticed and took advantage, as a system can only persist if the people are dedicated to it. Apathy is the real weakness in the fall of many an empire."
So in other words, these slave revolts were pointless really and I wouldn't be surprised as great a warrior and brilliant minded man Spartacus was, that he in real life had had this question running through his mind as well, or something along those thoughts. I know I would. And as much as I LOVE LOVE LOOOOOOOVE this story in general, these two books were pretty good. However I've NEVER read these kinds of Roman historical fiction and never piqued my interest that much. The only reason I did want to read these two in this set was because of the Spartacus story and with so little information about his true past, his real name and knowing that the infamous name he had was given to him and it's recorded that it was assumed that he did die even though his body was never found on the field. So to have a pretty good way of him not being found after the final battle with Marcus Crassus was epic I'll give it that.
I felt the last third of this book was dragging on and there were a few scenes and action moments that I felt were unnecessary and could've gone without. For instance, Spartacus and a young Roman teenage boy--WHOM Spartacus had taken under his wing and protection since the days of the Ludus before the breakout--to Rome just to see what Marcus Crassus was up to with his legions. And Spartacus of course had to pose as this young Roman's slave. While there they met a young girl who knew the streets and had ended up helping them navigate the city streets. But when their luck ran out, and the girl knowing who they were wanted to go with them to their camp. Spartacus told her that he needed ears and eyes in Rome and found use for her but all of a sudden much later on in the book she disappeared. I know it was most likely to not get her talking or saying anything about them etc, but I felt like that whole moment and the young Roman girl helping them seriously could've gone without in this book and it felt like a fill-in and to make the book more exciting.
This one though wasn't my favorite looking back compared to book 1 and not that it was boring or that I wanted to DNF it or anything, it just took me a bit longer to finish than I expected and wanted to.
So overall, I'm giving this a 3 star only because of 3 things:
1- I honestly didn't like the last chapter and it was as if it was written "how do I end this book/story?" and it was too bland for me and rushed too quickly. Especially the last few pages.
2- I was STOKED and excited to see Gaius Julius Caesar show up a couple of times but was disappointed to not see him again or to have a moment with him and Crassus maybe talking of the future and becoming the Triumvirate with Pompey. Or to have him more in it with Crassus' moments every once in a while. Seeing Caesar participate and fight in this story would've been such a blast for me since I LOVE Caesar but it would also make sense if they infamously became a part of the Triumvirate along with Pompey. Gain each other's trust on the field. See and know how the other thinks. So with Julius Caesar he almost felt like was one that was put in the book just because and to throw in a familiar name.
3-
Okay so it's not THAT accurate and probably didn't happen, but I say come on man! This is well known in the Kirk Douglass SPARTACUS film and it's a classic and great scene Haha but I STILL would've liked to see a moment like this considering some of these characters and even the camp and army in this rendition.
One side note as I've mentioned in my review in the first book:
THIS BOOK IS NOT FOR EVERYONE! I REPEAT READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.
I only liked these because I'm a sucker for this particular story and Ancient Rome. It's very deep historical fiction and basically and Ancient Rome war book which again I never read and will probably only read these two. Who knows what the future will bring.
so to conclude this, I'm putting one of my favorite tactics he did in here to REALLY piss off part of the Roman legions who were watching from their walls....
"'Line them up in front of the ditch.'
Realizing their fate, the legionaries began to beg for their lives.
Spartacus' men ignored their pleas. Using their fists and the points of their swords, they drove the prisoners forward.
A sudden gust of wind moved the fog slightly, allowing the Romans to see their comrades. Roars of anguish rose up, but before the legionnaires could react further, the cloud settled again. Curses rained down on Spartacus and his men, but there was nothing that the defenders could do. Spartacus' lips peeled upward. As well as angering the men on the wall, the executions would drive shards of fear into their hearts. 'Kill them!'
The ground had already been soaked by the mules' blood. Now it was bathed anew. With savage dedication, Spartacus' men set about slaying the captives, who were wailing with fear. A few muttered prayers to their gods, and a couple spat curses over their shoulders at their executioners. It made no difference. With terrible soughing sounds, gladii sliced through the flesh in their backs to emerge, crimson-tipped, from their chests and bellies. A couple of thrusts were enough to inflict mortal wounds. Spartacus' men shoved their victims off their blades and set upon the last prisoners. The Romans toppled in twos and threes into the ditch, where they twitched and moaned as they bled out. It was over fast."
and THAT is how you write a great Roman war moment! And if you think that was gruesome.... hahaha..... you haven't read nothing. That's just a taste of a gory moment. But on the slaves and Spartacus' end and where this story was, it was truly brilliant!
So to me and I'm sure to so many people THAT is the big question? Well, here's what I found online of Rome's weaknesses and after seeing a list of things and a site summarizing it here's what it said....
"It is almost a boring answer, but Rome more destroyed itself through internal problems than it was outright conquered. Their enemies merely noticed and took advantage, as a system can only persist if the people are dedicated to it. Apathy is the real weakness in the fall of many an empire."
So in other words, these slave revolts were pointless really and I wouldn't be surprised as great a warrior and brilliant minded man Spartacus was, that he in real life had had this question running through his mind as well, or something along those thoughts. I know I would. And as much as I LOVE LOVE LOOOOOOOVE this story in general, these two books were pretty good. However I've NEVER read these kinds of Roman historical fiction and never piqued my interest that much. The only reason I did want to read these two in this set was because of the Spartacus story and with so little information about his true past, his real name and knowing that the infamous name he had was given to him and it's recorded that it was assumed that he did die even though his body was never found on the field. So to have a pretty good way of him not being found after the final battle with Marcus Crassus was epic I'll give it that.
I felt the last third of this book was dragging on and there were a few scenes and action moments that I felt were unnecessary and could've gone without. For instance, Spartacus and a young Roman teenage boy--WHOM Spartacus had taken under his wing and protection since the days of the Ludus before the breakout--to Rome just to see what Marcus Crassus was up to with his legions. And Spartacus of course had to pose as this young Roman's slave. While there they met a young girl who knew the streets and had ended up helping them navigate the city streets. But when their luck ran out, and the girl knowing who they were wanted to go with them to their camp. Spartacus told her that he needed ears and eyes in Rome and found use for her but all of a sudden much later on in the book she disappeared. I know it was most likely to not get her talking or saying anything about them etc, but I felt like that whole moment and the young Roman girl helping them seriously could've gone without in this book and it felt like a fill-in and to make the book more exciting.
This one though wasn't my favorite looking back compared to book 1 and not that it was boring or that I wanted to DNF it or anything, it just took me a bit longer to finish than I expected and wanted to.
So overall, I'm giving this a 3 star only because of 3 things:
1- I honestly didn't like the last chapter and it was as if it was written "how do I end this book/story?" and it was too bland for me and rushed too quickly. Especially the last few pages.
2- I was STOKED and excited to see Gaius Julius Caesar show up a couple of times but was disappointed to not see him again or to have a moment with him and Crassus maybe talking of the future and becoming the Triumvirate with Pompey. Or to have him more in it with Crassus' moments every once in a while. Seeing Caesar participate and fight in this story would've been such a blast for me since I LOVE Caesar but it would also make sense if they infamously became a part of the Triumvirate along with Pompey. Gain each other's trust on the field. See and know how the other thinks. So with Julius Caesar he almost felt like was one that was put in the book just because and to throw in a familiar name.
3-
Okay so it's not THAT accurate and probably didn't happen, but I say come on man! This is well known in the Kirk Douglass SPARTACUS film and it's a classic and great scene Haha but I STILL would've liked to see a moment like this considering some of these characters and even the camp and army in this rendition.
One side note as I've mentioned in my review in the first book:
THIS BOOK IS NOT FOR EVERYONE! I REPEAT READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.
I only liked these because I'm a sucker for this particular story and Ancient Rome. It's very deep historical fiction and basically and Ancient Rome war book which again I never read and will probably only read these two. Who knows what the future will bring.
so to conclude this, I'm putting one of my favorite tactics he did in here to REALLY piss off part of the Roman legions who were watching from their walls....
"'Line them up in front of the ditch.'
Realizing their fate, the legionaries began to beg for their lives.
Spartacus' men ignored their pleas. Using their fists and the points of their swords, they drove the prisoners forward.
A sudden gust of wind moved the fog slightly, allowing the Romans to see their comrades. Roars of anguish rose up, but before the legionnaires could react further, the cloud settled again. Curses rained down on Spartacus and his men, but there was nothing that the defenders could do. Spartacus' lips peeled upward. As well as angering the men on the wall, the executions would drive shards of fear into their hearts. 'Kill them!'
The ground had already been soaked by the mules' blood. Now it was bathed anew. With savage dedication, Spartacus' men set about slaying the captives, who were wailing with fear. A few muttered prayers to their gods, and a couple spat curses over their shoulders at their executioners. It made no difference. With terrible soughing sounds, gladii sliced through the flesh in their backs to emerge, crimson-tipped, from their chests and bellies. A couple of thrusts were enough to inflict mortal wounds. Spartacus' men shoved their victims off their blades and set upon the last prisoners. The Romans toppled in twos and threes into the ditch, where they twitched and moaned as they bled out. It was over fast."
and THAT is how you write a great Roman war moment! And if you think that was gruesome.... hahaha..... you haven't read nothing. That's just a taste of a gory moment. But on the slaves and Spartacus' end and where this story was, it was truly brilliant!
September 5, 2013
Find this and other reviews at: http://flashlightcommentary.blogspot....
I rarely find Ancient Roman fiction that falls in the grey. I mean I either fall completely in love with it or absolutely despise it. Funny thing is it really comes down to the author and whether or not they can make me believe their perception of the ancient world.
In picking up Spartacus: Rebellion, I knew I needed to hear the roar of battle in my mind, see the grit, sweat and blood of each warrior on the field, feel the desperation and conviction amid the violence and savagery of war. If I'd had any experience with Kane's work I would have known going in he would meet every one of these expectations, but as a first time reader, really, I had no idea what I was getting myself into.
Now, I don't want to give the impression that the book is all blood and gore as that would be an egregious misrepresentation. I needed those scenes to work, but I loved how Kane balanced them against the politics of it all. His incarnation of Spartacus is prone to human faults, acting in arrogant self-importance and in so doing, undermining his own authority. It is a very dynamic portrait of the gladiator which is quite an achievement when one considers how little Kane had to work with historically.
If anything, I wish I'd read the first installment before taking on the sequel. You can enjoy Spartacus: Rebellion as a stand alone, but I think I might have appreciated it more if I had a better grasp of the larger scope of Kane's story.
Still, Spartacus: Rebellion is a realistic and remarkably well-researched fiction by a truly gifted storyteller. A definite must-read for anyone interested in the gladiator or his achievements.
I rarely find Ancient Roman fiction that falls in the grey. I mean I either fall completely in love with it or absolutely despise it. Funny thing is it really comes down to the author and whether or not they can make me believe their perception of the ancient world.
In picking up Spartacus: Rebellion, I knew I needed to hear the roar of battle in my mind, see the grit, sweat and blood of each warrior on the field, feel the desperation and conviction amid the violence and savagery of war. If I'd had any experience with Kane's work I would have known going in he would meet every one of these expectations, but as a first time reader, really, I had no idea what I was getting myself into.
Now, I don't want to give the impression that the book is all blood and gore as that would be an egregious misrepresentation. I needed those scenes to work, but I loved how Kane balanced them against the politics of it all. His incarnation of Spartacus is prone to human faults, acting in arrogant self-importance and in so doing, undermining his own authority. It is a very dynamic portrait of the gladiator which is quite an achievement when one considers how little Kane had to work with historically.
If anything, I wish I'd read the first installment before taking on the sequel. You can enjoy Spartacus: Rebellion as a stand alone, but I think I might have appreciated it more if I had a better grasp of the larger scope of Kane's story.
Still, Spartacus: Rebellion is a realistic and remarkably well-researched fiction by a truly gifted storyteller. A definite must-read for anyone interested in the gladiator or his achievements.
September 27, 2020
A thrilling read that is hard to put away. I really enjoyed this series and look forward to read more from Ben Kane!
August 16, 2012
Spartacus: Rebellion is the sequel to Ben Kane's Spartacus: The Gladiator and picks up the story straight after the end of that book. It sees Spartacus's slave army divided. His biggest competitor for control of the army; Crixus the Gaul, has left with his fighters, leaving Spartacus severely crippled because much of his fighting force has been removed. To make things even worse, Crixus is beaten and killed in his first battle against the Romans, meaning that the Roman forces in Italy can now focus on removing and destroying Spartacus's men!
But, there is still a chance to escape Italy forever. As Ariadne's prophecy said, Spartacus should head East out of Italy and into his homeland of Thrace. However, getting his army to follow him will be tough! The men are content with pillaging Rome; after all it was the Romans who enslaved them, why should they not get some revenge? Also, under Spartacus's rule the slave army has never been defeated, who's to say they couldn't go on and beat every army sent against them or even sack Rome itself? These are the problems Spartacus faces with his men. Plus the other two clan leaders in the army Callus and Gannicus have plans of their own. Both want to remove Spartacus as the leader of the army; he is becoming too powerful and arrogant, leaving them out of important decisions, sending out spies without telling them and leading the battle without asking for their advice! It is time they took control of the army and marched on Rome themselves like their ancestors did. But they must wait for the right time to remove Spartacus, his wife and his loyal followers before they can usurp control.
Meanwhile, the Senate is in disarray! Every force sent to deal with Spartacus has been defeated! It is no longer just a slave rabble that is running around the countryside but a full scale Rebellion! One Senator, Crassus, feels like he is the man who can hunt down Spartacus and defeat him. After all, he is the richest man in Rome and can put any resource at his disposal, but this is not the reason why he thinks he can beat Spartacus, but because he knows him.
All those years ago in the Ludus of Capua, Crassus would never have expected the Gladiator who had won the death bout put on for him to be heard of again. Yes, the Thracian was spirited and a good fighter but his destiny was to die in the sands of a Colosseum! Not to become the leader of the biggest threat to Roman security since Hannibal! Crassus knows he has greatness in him and that he is not just a rich merchant but a leader of men. He knows that if he can outmanoeuvre and defeat Spartacus he will have achieved that greatness!
What will Spartacus do? With Crassus biting at his heels will he be able to persuade his soldiers to leave Italy forever and fight new wars in foreign lands? Or will he turn south, confront Crassus and come up with a new plan to escape Italy?
This was another great book from Ben Kane. Like Spartacus: The Gladiator it was filled with action, battles, love and betrayal. It was really fast paced; I read it in only a few days! But to be fair, I expect these sorts of things from Ben’s novels. What I found really surprising about this book and what I really liked about it was how Ben develops the two main characters, Spartacus and Carbo. In Spartacus: The Gladiator I always saw Spartacus as the unlikely hero that I love to read about in historical fiction. He was a slave, exiled from his Kingdom and training to become a Gladiator, the lowest of the low in Roman society. Yet, he had a brilliant tactical mind which managed to free him from the Ludus and which eventually made him the leader of the slave rebellion. Whereas in Spartacus: Rebellion, Kane evolves him into the general, a leader of men who puts his soldiers before his family and his friends. This sees Spartacus make decisions that he might not have made when he was in the Ludus. There are times when we see glimpses of the old Spartacus but mostly he is cold and hard. Which I thought was great because he would change as a person because of the pressures put on him in command.
On the other hand, in Spartacus: The Gladiator Carbo is the one who should have been a leader. He was from a wealthy Roman family and was young and arrogant. It should have been him leading a brigade of Cavalry in the Roman army and not some Gladiator fighting for his life! However when he enters the Ludus he is humbled and in Spartacus: Rebellion he becomes the follower, always looking to protect Spartacus and receive his praise. Again I think Kane did a great job evolving Carbo into this role.
So there you go, this was my sneak peak/ preview of Ben Kane’s Spartacus: Rebellion, I hope you enjoyed it! I would suggest this book to anyone who is a fan of Roman fictional writers such as Simon Scarrow, Conn Iggulden and Anthony Riches. Of course if you read Spartacus: The Gladiator and enjoyed it then you should definitely read this book!
For more great book reviews check out http://adam-p-reviews.blogspot.co.uk/
But, there is still a chance to escape Italy forever. As Ariadne's prophecy said, Spartacus should head East out of Italy and into his homeland of Thrace. However, getting his army to follow him will be tough! The men are content with pillaging Rome; after all it was the Romans who enslaved them, why should they not get some revenge? Also, under Spartacus's rule the slave army has never been defeated, who's to say they couldn't go on and beat every army sent against them or even sack Rome itself? These are the problems Spartacus faces with his men. Plus the other two clan leaders in the army Callus and Gannicus have plans of their own. Both want to remove Spartacus as the leader of the army; he is becoming too powerful and arrogant, leaving them out of important decisions, sending out spies without telling them and leading the battle without asking for their advice! It is time they took control of the army and marched on Rome themselves like their ancestors did. But they must wait for the right time to remove Spartacus, his wife and his loyal followers before they can usurp control.
Meanwhile, the Senate is in disarray! Every force sent to deal with Spartacus has been defeated! It is no longer just a slave rabble that is running around the countryside but a full scale Rebellion! One Senator, Crassus, feels like he is the man who can hunt down Spartacus and defeat him. After all, he is the richest man in Rome and can put any resource at his disposal, but this is not the reason why he thinks he can beat Spartacus, but because he knows him.
All those years ago in the Ludus of Capua, Crassus would never have expected the Gladiator who had won the death bout put on for him to be heard of again. Yes, the Thracian was spirited and a good fighter but his destiny was to die in the sands of a Colosseum! Not to become the leader of the biggest threat to Roman security since Hannibal! Crassus knows he has greatness in him and that he is not just a rich merchant but a leader of men. He knows that if he can outmanoeuvre and defeat Spartacus he will have achieved that greatness!
What will Spartacus do? With Crassus biting at his heels will he be able to persuade his soldiers to leave Italy forever and fight new wars in foreign lands? Or will he turn south, confront Crassus and come up with a new plan to escape Italy?
This was another great book from Ben Kane. Like Spartacus: The Gladiator it was filled with action, battles, love and betrayal. It was really fast paced; I read it in only a few days! But to be fair, I expect these sorts of things from Ben’s novels. What I found really surprising about this book and what I really liked about it was how Ben develops the two main characters, Spartacus and Carbo. In Spartacus: The Gladiator I always saw Spartacus as the unlikely hero that I love to read about in historical fiction. He was a slave, exiled from his Kingdom and training to become a Gladiator, the lowest of the low in Roman society. Yet, he had a brilliant tactical mind which managed to free him from the Ludus and which eventually made him the leader of the slave rebellion. Whereas in Spartacus: Rebellion, Kane evolves him into the general, a leader of men who puts his soldiers before his family and his friends. This sees Spartacus make decisions that he might not have made when he was in the Ludus. There are times when we see glimpses of the old Spartacus but mostly he is cold and hard. Which I thought was great because he would change as a person because of the pressures put on him in command.
On the other hand, in Spartacus: The Gladiator Carbo is the one who should have been a leader. He was from a wealthy Roman family and was young and arrogant. It should have been him leading a brigade of Cavalry in the Roman army and not some Gladiator fighting for his life! However when he enters the Ludus he is humbled and in Spartacus: Rebellion he becomes the follower, always looking to protect Spartacus and receive his praise. Again I think Kane did a great job evolving Carbo into this role.
So there you go, this was my sneak peak/ preview of Ben Kane’s Spartacus: Rebellion, I hope you enjoyed it! I would suggest this book to anyone who is a fan of Roman fictional writers such as Simon Scarrow, Conn Iggulden and Anthony Riches. Of course if you read Spartacus: The Gladiator and enjoyed it then you should definitely read this book!
For more great book reviews check out http://adam-p-reviews.blogspot.co.uk/
December 10, 2013
The second volume of Ben Kane's Spartacus series was a much, much better book. It was so much better that I wonder why we had to wade through the first book to get to the second. I get it; volume one is about setting the stage and introducing the characters and volume two is where the you-know-what hits the fan. Only I'm not sure.
The first book felt very rigid and formulaic to me. The struggle with historical fiction is that the ultimate outcome is never in doubt. Reading about Spartacus, the facts are all well known. Just from watching the movie with Kirk Douglas we know that he was a gladiator who led a failed slave rebellion against Rome. We know that he and his followers also wind up crucified along the Appian Way from Capua to Rome.
Where historical fiction is at its best is by telling you the hidden details that made that journey possible - unless the main characters did X then the Y of recorded history never would have happened. This was the failing of the first book. It felt as if I was at a theme-park riding the ride that had been prepared for me - one that I was already familiar with. Book one was a dry recounting of Spartacus' early, successful days. (Book one would have been more interesting focusing on his escape from the ludus, I think..... the untold story of how he and 70-some gladiators escaped).
The second book was more intriguing because this is where it all started to go wrong. And we're not exactly sure why it did all go wrong. It was a hundred little things that began to fail - not any single big event. Crassus (who finally comes into his own as a more fleshed out character) organizes a new Roman army to crush the slaves. The slaves make it to the Alps only to turn around again. The failed assassination attempt on Crassus. Spartacus tries to bargain with pirates to launch a failed invasion of Sicily. His Gaulish co-generals abandon him. His relationship with his wife suffers. The steady stream of run-away slaves dries up. This was much more fun. I was on the author's rails, but I was seeing new stuff. I didn't mind the ride at all. The whole thing felt much more natural and fluid to me.
For whatever reason I enjoyed this book much more so than it's first volume. A solid four stars. It would have been better if the author could have found a way to somehow consolidate the two books together, but that's okay.
The first book felt very rigid and formulaic to me. The struggle with historical fiction is that the ultimate outcome is never in doubt. Reading about Spartacus, the facts are all well known. Just from watching the movie with Kirk Douglas we know that he was a gladiator who led a failed slave rebellion against Rome. We know that he and his followers also wind up crucified along the Appian Way from Capua to Rome.
Where historical fiction is at its best is by telling you the hidden details that made that journey possible - unless the main characters did X then the Y of recorded history never would have happened. This was the failing of the first book. It felt as if I was at a theme-park riding the ride that had been prepared for me - one that I was already familiar with. Book one was a dry recounting of Spartacus' early, successful days. (Book one would have been more interesting focusing on his escape from the ludus, I think..... the untold story of how he and 70-some gladiators escaped).
The second book was more intriguing because this is where it all started to go wrong. And we're not exactly sure why it did all go wrong. It was a hundred little things that began to fail - not any single big event. Crassus (who finally comes into his own as a more fleshed out character) organizes a new Roman army to crush the slaves. The slaves make it to the Alps only to turn around again. The failed assassination attempt on Crassus. Spartacus tries to bargain with pirates to launch a failed invasion of Sicily. His Gaulish co-generals abandon him. His relationship with his wife suffers. The steady stream of run-away slaves dries up. This was much more fun. I was on the author's rails, but I was seeing new stuff. I didn't mind the ride at all. The whole thing felt much more natural and fluid to me.
For whatever reason I enjoyed this book much more so than it's first volume. A solid four stars. It would have been better if the author could have found a way to somehow consolidate the two books together, but that's okay.
July 2, 2013
Mr. Kane has concluded his Spartacus two book series with an excellent look at the final fate of the slave rebellion and how it got there. Mr. Kane stays true to what is known about Spartacus and his rebellion and gives us a plausible story at how it got to where it ended. This book picks up where the first volume ends, and while it can be read as a standalone, I personally would recommend reading both.
Mr. Kane’s Spartacus is not an unflawed hero. In this book we get a look at some of the conflicting motives for his actions – the desire to escape Rome, the unwillingness to leave his army, the desire for personal revenge. In many ways this is a more character driven novel than the first book. That said there are plenty of sword wielding battle scenes, though early in the book some of the main battles take place “off screen”. The final battle is well told, mainly through the view point of his close subordinates.
I thought the tension inside the slave army was well told. Even though Crixus, the main leader of the Gauls in the first book, has split off from Spartacus, he is still trying to keep a large number of Gauls and their leaders, Callus and Grannicus, in the army. The interplay between the three men is well done.
In addition to Spartacus, the author weaves the tale of one of his closest companions, Carbo, the Roman gladiator with a grudge against Crassus. One of my favorite scenes in the book is Spartacus and Carbo’s trip to Rome and the attempt to assassinate Crassus.
The author does not stint on the Roman point of view. This part of the story is mainly Crassus, the richest man in Rome and in his opinion just the person to solve the Spartacus problem. I enjoyed Mr. Kane’s take on the richest man in Rome, as he schemes, and plots to get command of the army. Julius Caesar shows up and plays a part in his plans. He does gain command of an army and uses it effectively, chasing down Spartacus’ army and ultimately destroying it.
This is a very entertaining read and Mr. Kane lives up to the standards he has set in his Lost Legion series and the first Spartacus book. I would give it 4.5 stars if Goodreads allowed it.
Mr. Kane’s Spartacus is not an unflawed hero. In this book we get a look at some of the conflicting motives for his actions – the desire to escape Rome, the unwillingness to leave his army, the desire for personal revenge. In many ways this is a more character driven novel than the first book. That said there are plenty of sword wielding battle scenes, though early in the book some of the main battles take place “off screen”. The final battle is well told, mainly through the view point of his close subordinates.
I thought the tension inside the slave army was well told. Even though Crixus, the main leader of the Gauls in the first book, has split off from Spartacus, he is still trying to keep a large number of Gauls and their leaders, Callus and Grannicus, in the army. The interplay between the three men is well done.
In addition to Spartacus, the author weaves the tale of one of his closest companions, Carbo, the Roman gladiator with a grudge against Crassus. One of my favorite scenes in the book is Spartacus and Carbo’s trip to Rome and the attempt to assassinate Crassus.
The author does not stint on the Roman point of view. This part of the story is mainly Crassus, the richest man in Rome and in his opinion just the person to solve the Spartacus problem. I enjoyed Mr. Kane’s take on the richest man in Rome, as he schemes, and plots to get command of the army. Julius Caesar shows up and plays a part in his plans. He does gain command of an army and uses it effectively, chasing down Spartacus’ army and ultimately destroying it.
This is a very entertaining read and Mr. Kane lives up to the standards he has set in his Lost Legion series and the first Spartacus book. I would give it 4.5 stars if Goodreads allowed it.
May 23, 2013
This is a worthy sequel to Spartacus: The Gladiator. I thoroughly enjoyed that first book in this series and it concludes as it must in Spartacus: Rebellion. Despite knowing exactly what would happen I found myself turning the pages hoping that it would turn out better for Spartacus and his band of slaves/warriors. Mr. Kane's writing had me so involved in their tale I had completely forgotten the history I knew - or perhaps having Spartacus brought to such vivid life made me want to stay alive.
This is, be warned, a book of war and war is never easy to wage or read. The Romans were not known for their erm, kindness to those they vanquished and Spartacus gave as good as the Romans that enslaved him. So be forewarned - there is a bit of blood, guts, gore and downright ick in this book but it is never exploitative or misplaced. War IS hell.
Mr. Kane uses what little history left to us about Spartacus and he leaves his reader with a fleshed out story of very real possibilities - he posits that Caesar might have been a mitigating factor in Spartacus's loss. After all Caesar was one of the greatest generals and tacticians to come out of that era. He provides educated suggestions as to the unanswered questions to some of Spartacus's more unexplained moves. All very plausible given the times and the actions of others. All making for a book that was very, very hard to put down.
I LOVE Roman history. It's second for me after the Tudor period and I've read any number of books taking place in this time period. Mr. Kane re-creates that world - violent as it may be - as well as any other author I have read. He is one of those authors who leave me having a hard time coming back into reality after having been living in the world he creates with his words. I thank him for that because I love nothing more than getting lost in a book.
This is, be warned, a book of war and war is never easy to wage or read. The Romans were not known for their erm, kindness to those they vanquished and Spartacus gave as good as the Romans that enslaved him. So be forewarned - there is a bit of blood, guts, gore and downright ick in this book but it is never exploitative or misplaced. War IS hell.
Mr. Kane uses what little history left to us about Spartacus and he leaves his reader with a fleshed out story of very real possibilities - he posits that Caesar might have been a mitigating factor in Spartacus's loss. After all Caesar was one of the greatest generals and tacticians to come out of that era. He provides educated suggestions as to the unanswered questions to some of Spartacus's more unexplained moves. All very plausible given the times and the actions of others. All making for a book that was very, very hard to put down.
I LOVE Roman history. It's second for me after the Tudor period and I've read any number of books taking place in this time period. Mr. Kane re-creates that world - violent as it may be - as well as any other author I have read. He is one of those authors who leave me having a hard time coming back into reality after having been living in the world he creates with his words. I thank him for that because I love nothing more than getting lost in a book.
January 9, 2018
After reading Ben Kane's first Spartacus novel, I couldn't read its follow up Rebellion fast enough. I think for most of it my heart was in my mouth. The fact that we all must know the final fate of Spartacus and his revolt doesn't make its depiction any less powerful and poignant. Spartacus is far more complicated here than I was expecting and not necessarily likeable. He's also not on his own - we learn much more about other familiar characters such as Ariadne and Carbo, plus the Romans building their forces against an enemy they regard as subhuman. Ben Kane's research is meticulous and he presents his knowledge at a pace and with a heart. This novel presents a terrific conclusion to the series and I can't recommend it enough.
November 28, 2016
Read as a work Bookgroup read. Not to my taste particularly but well written and great to read on the cross trainer . The battle scenes took minutes off my 10K !
Read
September 12, 2017 There were only a handful of men who put fear into the hearts of Rome at its peak. His name was Spartacus. Spartacus was a captured man from the city of Thrace that was chosen as a gladiator to fight other gladiators to the death purely to entertain the Roman public. Gladiators were trained by Roman owners who bought groups of men to fight in these events. They trained before they fought in a gladiatorial contest with wooden weapons to prevent injury. Spartacus proved as the best gladiator in Lentulus Batiatus’s camp. After defeating many gladiators thus making riches for Bariatus, Spartacus planned a rebellion with fellow gladiators. He led an attack, killed Batiatus and therefore escaped imprisonment with fellow gladiators.
The band of gladiators led by Spartacus attacked cities where they freed slaves. The slaves joined there rag time army. Rome sent its army after the Spartacus’s outlaws but was defeated 11 times. Finally, Crassus, the richest man in Rome, raised an army to pursue Spartacus.
Spartacus wanted his band of misfits to cross the Alps and disperse into freedom. However, they were confident after all their victories and felt Spartacus was blessed to win victory after victory. So Spartacus relented and led the legions of followers down to the boot of Italy. There he contacted Pirates and paid them to use their boats to sail to Sicily. In Sicily he felt he could get their grain for food plus free the huge slave population. Unfortunately, though the Pirates were caught by the Romans and therefore never showed up.
Crassus knew where Spartacus was so he dug a ditch across the whole of Italy in order to trap Spartacus and his army. Spartacus, however, was not only tough he was a genius as well. He figured out that a ridge along the ditches were his best way to escape. When he tried to break it at the ridge the Romans were ready and the bombarded the slaves and gladiators until Spartacus had to retreat. However, the next morning Spartacus tried again and surprised Romans therefore breaking through the Roman line and escaping the entrapment.
In his heart, he knew he was never going to beat the great Roman Army. Crassus had 8 legions plus Pompey the Great was returning to Rome after yet another round of sensational victories in the Third Mithridatic War and Hispania.
Spartacus’s plan was to get to Crassus and kill him. Once he was dead the Roman legions would be leaderless and degrade into confusion. This was the only chance he had to win this battle. In the brutal battle Spartacus reached Crassus but was speared numerous times by a group of Roman soldiers and finally killed. His body was taken by his men because the Romans never found it. Those of Spartacus’s s army, some 6000, who survived were crucified along the Appian Way leading into Rome itself.
Spartacus was dead but he lived on as an example of oppressed people not standing for their oppressed status.
The band of gladiators led by Spartacus attacked cities where they freed slaves. The slaves joined there rag time army. Rome sent its army after the Spartacus’s outlaws but was defeated 11 times. Finally, Crassus, the richest man in Rome, raised an army to pursue Spartacus.
Spartacus wanted his band of misfits to cross the Alps and disperse into freedom. However, they were confident after all their victories and felt Spartacus was blessed to win victory after victory. So Spartacus relented and led the legions of followers down to the boot of Italy. There he contacted Pirates and paid them to use their boats to sail to Sicily. In Sicily he felt he could get their grain for food plus free the huge slave population. Unfortunately, though the Pirates were caught by the Romans and therefore never showed up.
Crassus knew where Spartacus was so he dug a ditch across the whole of Italy in order to trap Spartacus and his army. Spartacus, however, was not only tough he was a genius as well. He figured out that a ridge along the ditches were his best way to escape. When he tried to break it at the ridge the Romans were ready and the bombarded the slaves and gladiators until Spartacus had to retreat. However, the next morning Spartacus tried again and surprised Romans therefore breaking through the Roman line and escaping the entrapment.
In his heart, he knew he was never going to beat the great Roman Army. Crassus had 8 legions plus Pompey the Great was returning to Rome after yet another round of sensational victories in the Third Mithridatic War and Hispania.
Spartacus’s plan was to get to Crassus and kill him. Once he was dead the Roman legions would be leaderless and degrade into confusion. This was the only chance he had to win this battle. In the brutal battle Spartacus reached Crassus but was speared numerous times by a group of Roman soldiers and finally killed. His body was taken by his men because the Romans never found it. Those of Spartacus’s s army, some 6000, who survived were crucified along the Appian Way leading into Rome itself.
Spartacus was dead but he lived on as an example of oppressed people not standing for their oppressed status.
February 24, 2023
This is historical fiction executed flawlessly. I thought that Spartacus: The Gladiator was a brilliant telling of the events of the infinitely courageous Thracian’s life and conquests, but this follow-up novel was even more exceptional than its predecessor. In Spartacus: Rebellion we see incredible character progression from Kane. The man himself, Spartacus, grows undeniably from one book to the next. In the first novel in this series, we are introduced to a rebel, family man, and tactical genius. In this offering he truly embraces his role as army general. He’s often forced to choose between his mission and his familial obligations and we see him side with the former. In addition, Carbo experiences a vast transformation in this story as he proves his undying loyalty to the man who gave him new direction in life.
It’s difficult to read this and not be in awe of the amount of research that went into this story. The gut-wrenching ending that anyone familiar with the backstory knew was coming didn’t make it any more pleasant to digest. Kane does an astounding job placing the reader in the same precarious positions the rebel army found themselves in during their final days. There’s an afterword that accompanies the book that really gives you perspective on just how passionate Kane was about delivering this content with as much integrity and accuracy as he could. He spent time touring Rome to walk the very same paths that many of these wonderfully intricate characters walked.
I’d love to continue to read more about the famous rebellion and its particulars, but I’m afraid I’ll never find a better adaptation that this. Ben Kane has made a fan of me and I look forward to reading his other works. I’ve rarely been so intrigued by historical fiction. This is absolutely a 5-star read. I’d recommend it to anyone and everyone. It’s a story that needs to be read and it carries a timeless message of perseverance and the ongoing battle for equality.
It’s difficult to read this and not be in awe of the amount of research that went into this story. The gut-wrenching ending that anyone familiar with the backstory knew was coming didn’t make it any more pleasant to digest. Kane does an astounding job placing the reader in the same precarious positions the rebel army found themselves in during their final days. There’s an afterword that accompanies the book that really gives you perspective on just how passionate Kane was about delivering this content with as much integrity and accuracy as he could. He spent time touring Rome to walk the very same paths that many of these wonderfully intricate characters walked.
I’d love to continue to read more about the famous rebellion and its particulars, but I’m afraid I’ll never find a better adaptation that this. Ben Kane has made a fan of me and I look forward to reading his other works. I’ve rarely been so intrigued by historical fiction. This is absolutely a 5-star read. I’d recommend it to anyone and everyone. It’s a story that needs to be read and it carries a timeless message of perseverance and the ongoing battle for equality.
March 24, 2021
Continuación de Espartaco, el Gladiador, éste es el segundo y último volumen de la historia de Espartaco. Una amena y bien documentada novela histórica, como ya comenté en la reseña del primer volumen, y que por ello no voy a repetir aquí.
A este segundo volumen le sería aplicable todo lo dicho sobre el primero, pero no sé si es cosa mía o me da la impresión de que en este caso le sobran algunas páginas. Me da la impresión de que el argumento tiene más “paja” que en el primer volumen, y aunque se sigue leyendo con agilidad y resulta agradable, no lo he visto tan interesante en general. Puede que sea cosa mía, consecuencia de cierto cansancio con la historia llegados a este punto, pero tiendo a pensar que se debe a esa decisión de última hora del autor de dividir en dos un texto que inicialmente había previsto para un solo volumen: me temo que una vez tomada esa decisión, había que meter relleno para justificar un segundo volumen con un número de páginas razonables, ya que la historia que quedaba por contar ya no daba para tanto. Tiendo a pensar que algo así ha sucedido.
Pese a todo, sigue siendo una lectura amena y ligera, a la vez que bien documentada, bastante recomendable. Y si has leído el primer volumen, no querrás quedarte sin saber qué le pasó finalmente a Espartaco y sus seguidores… incluso aunque ya lo sepas desde el principio.
A este segundo volumen le sería aplicable todo lo dicho sobre el primero, pero no sé si es cosa mía o me da la impresión de que en este caso le sobran algunas páginas. Me da la impresión de que el argumento tiene más “paja” que en el primer volumen, y aunque se sigue leyendo con agilidad y resulta agradable, no lo he visto tan interesante en general. Puede que sea cosa mía, consecuencia de cierto cansancio con la historia llegados a este punto, pero tiendo a pensar que se debe a esa decisión de última hora del autor de dividir en dos un texto que inicialmente había previsto para un solo volumen: me temo que una vez tomada esa decisión, había que meter relleno para justificar un segundo volumen con un número de páginas razonables, ya que la historia que quedaba por contar ya no daba para tanto. Tiendo a pensar que algo así ha sucedido.
Pese a todo, sigue siendo una lectura amena y ligera, a la vez que bien documentada, bastante recomendable. Y si has leído el primer volumen, no querrás quedarte sin saber qué le pasó finalmente a Espartaco y sus seguidores… incluso aunque ya lo sepas desde el principio.
May 13, 2022
There is an infectious enthusiasm with which Ben Kane writes his books. It’s like you’re there with the characters. His attention to historical detail is meticulous and his research second to none. This final instalment in the series continues where the previous instalment left off.
A shear pleasure to read especially if you enjoy historical fiction set in the Roman period. The battle scenes in particular are brutal and not an easy read but this only adds to the realism the book portrays.
Highly recommended but start with the first book in the two book series.
A shear pleasure to read especially if you enjoy historical fiction set in the Roman period. The battle scenes in particular are brutal and not an easy read but this only adds to the realism the book portrays.
Highly recommended but start with the first book in the two book series.
December 23, 2022
Grandiosa segunda y última parte de la historia de Espartaco contada según Ben Kane. Se nota la amplia documentación del autor no sólo sobre el tema de la guerra de Espartaco, sino de la Roma Antigua en general. Tiene una capacidad brutal de meterte en la vida tal y como era en el siglo I A.C. en la Antigua Roma, y es capaz también de meterte en los personajes que puedes sentir junto con ellos todo lo que ronda por su mente en esos momentos álgidos.
Altamente recomendable, entretenido, de lectura fluida y que, difícilmente, va a aburrir. Indispensable lectura para todos aquellos fanáticos de la Roma Antigua.
Altamente recomendable, entretenido, de lectura fluida y que, difícilmente, va a aburrir. Indispensable lectura para todos aquellos fanáticos de la Roma Antigua.
July 13, 2017
If I was a different kind of reader, I think I could happily just read historical novels if they were anywhere near as good as Ben Kane's Spartacus series. Both books give a totally immersive reading experience, through plot, style, historical detail and pure excitement. As it is I like too many types of book to stick to one genre, but to anyone who disregards this adventuresome type of historical novel, I would say at least give it a go, and maybe you'll discover something new.
Read
September 25, 2018Didn't finish. Could not get into it at all.
May 28, 2013
I wish this series would go on and on, but well that just would not be possible nor historically accurate right? (unless!!! you could go on with Carbo’s story!? please? pretty please?) now the previous book (Spartacus: Gladiator) had all the action and battle scenes. This one has battle scenes times two. EPIC battle scenes. Well written battle scenes that you feel like this should be played out as a movie just to see how it looks like.
The plot of the book is well done like the last one (I do recommend you read Spartacus: Gladiator before jumping into this one). There’s slightly less intrigue, way more action and fighting, and a lot more memorable quotes to read. I’d say the best part would be Carbo’s mission with Navio (love those two secondary characters not only did they provide some comic relief but seeing Carbo develop character wise was excellent to follow through in the book).
The last and final battle scene was definitely worth reading and I like how it was through Carbo’s perspective. I felt a bit cheated that Carbo didn’t get what he wanted in the end, but I suppose it’s to make it as historically accurate as possible. The author’s note in the end provided a lot of information and the glossary in the back as helps as well because there’s plenty of terminology that was new to me (I’m not well versed in Roman history).
I really wish this could go on in Carbo’s point of view, his story was going towards something with lots of potential and it sounded so interesting. Otherwise, the book was well worth the read. Definitely recommended for history buffs and Roman history lovers out there.
The plot of the book is well done like the last one (I do recommend you read Spartacus: Gladiator before jumping into this one). There’s slightly less intrigue, way more action and fighting, and a lot more memorable quotes to read. I’d say the best part would be Carbo’s mission with Navio (love those two secondary characters not only did they provide some comic relief but seeing Carbo develop character wise was excellent to follow through in the book).
The last and final battle scene was definitely worth reading and I like how it was through Carbo’s perspective. I felt a bit cheated that Carbo didn’t get what he wanted in the end, but I suppose it’s to make it as historically accurate as possible. The author’s note in the end provided a lot of information and the glossary in the back as helps as well because there’s plenty of terminology that was new to me (I’m not well versed in Roman history).
I really wish this could go on in Carbo’s point of view, his story was going towards something with lots of potential and it sounded so interesting. Otherwise, the book was well worth the read. Definitely recommended for history buffs and Roman history lovers out there.
May 25, 2013
I had just recently finished watching Spartacus on Starz when I picked up a copy of Spartacus: Rebellion to read. I have not read the first book but you don’t have to have read the first one to thoroughly enjoy this one.
I really was pleased to read this book because of having just finishing watching Spartacus. I was still craving my Spartacus fix. Mr. Kane satisfied it for me with this book. It is easy to see and experience Mr. Kane’s love for military history. He writes with such passion. I thought that he did a good job of portraying Spartacus’s last part of his life as he and his rebels fought against Marcus Crassus and Caesar.
If you are familiar with Spartacus then you are aware that there is blood and guts and foul language. This is just the way that things happened…war is ugly. This is what I liked about this book. Mr. Kane does not stray away from any of this which really makes this book feel realistic like I was there fighting along side Spartacus and his men.
I really was pleased to read this book because of having just finishing watching Spartacus. I was still craving my Spartacus fix. Mr. Kane satisfied it for me with this book. It is easy to see and experience Mr. Kane’s love for military history. He writes with such passion. I thought that he did a good job of portraying Spartacus’s last part of his life as he and his rebels fought against Marcus Crassus and Caesar.
If you are familiar with Spartacus then you are aware that there is blood and guts and foul language. This is just the way that things happened…war is ugly. This is what I liked about this book. Mr. Kane does not stray away from any of this which really makes this book feel realistic like I was there fighting along side Spartacus and his men.
May 25, 2020
This is the sequel to Ben Kane’s Spartacus: The Gladiator, which I read a few months ago. Although I’ve been reading Ben Kane for a few years, I avoided these two books because I’ve seen the Stanley Kubrick film umpteen times and I thought Spartacus was Kirk Douglas and Kirk Douglas was Spartacus. However, I was wrong, as Ben has created a new Spartacus, historically believable and very different from the Kirk Douglas character. We also have a Crassus who is not a Laurence Olivier clone, but is entirely Ben’s creation though based closely on what we know of the historical Crassus (a man with a vast amount of wealth and a private fire brigade). I won’t go into the plot. You may think you know the story, but Ben certainly doesn’t follow the film. Rather, he has created two very good novels out of the patchy accounts of the Spartacus rebellion that survive from antiquity. You may know how it all ends, but it is worth reading these novels for the journey rather than the destination.
As usual Ben creates a host of credible supporting characters, and the ones who need three dimensions generally get them). These include a partner for Spartacus, Ariadne, a priestess of Dionysus, and an assortment of Romans, Thracians, Gauls and Scythians. Ben’s meticulous research means he gets the facts right about a wide range of national/ethnic groups in terms of dress, weaponry, customs and religions. The fight scenes are terrifyingly good, but he doesn’t overdo the violence or the general concoction of ancient military stuff, such as drinking and whoring. In this novel we get some other aspects of ancient life, such as childbirth, animal sacrifice and marital harmony and disharmony. Great stuff!
As usual Ben creates a host of credible supporting characters, and the ones who need three dimensions generally get them). These include a partner for Spartacus, Ariadne, a priestess of Dionysus, and an assortment of Romans, Thracians, Gauls and Scythians. Ben’s meticulous research means he gets the facts right about a wide range of national/ethnic groups in terms of dress, weaponry, customs and religions. The fight scenes are terrifyingly good, but he doesn’t overdo the violence or the general concoction of ancient military stuff, such as drinking and whoring. In this novel we get some other aspects of ancient life, such as childbirth, animal sacrifice and marital harmony and disharmony. Great stuff!
September 22, 2012
No…. I’M Spartacus
I’ve waited until I finished the second book to review these two, since I read them back to back and a 2-part series is relatively rare. Given that, I will not be writing a separate review for each book. This review is for both Spartacus the Gladiator and Spartacus: Rebellion.
I’ve been a fan of Ben’s writing from the start. His Forgotten Legion series was groundbreaking in a number of ways and quite astounding as a debut. I was then fairly stunned by Hannibal, which I consider to be one of the finest pieces of ancient Historical fiction written. Despite the high quality of FL, Hannibal showed a new maturity in writing and more depth of character and soul.
So on to Spartacus. I won’t say, for the record, that this series is better than Ben’s Hannibal (and its future sequels.) It is as good as Hannibal, and that’s just dandy by me. I wouldn’t have wanted Ben’s style to change after Hannibal, as that book hit the spot just right for me. What I will say about these books is that there has been a slight change in conventions that I found refreshing and excellent (more of that shortly).
I won’t say much about the plot, to be honest. Anyone who follows any review I write knows that I don’t like to risk spoilers. But, that being said, the general tale of Spartacus is a matter of record that most people will have at least a basic knowledge of. So, bear in mind that you sort of know how this saga is going to end. I mean, there’s only a certain amount of license a writer can realistically get away with (and Ben Kane seems to be very sparing with artistic license anyway) and to have the books end with Spartacus riding off into the sunset would be a little hard to swallow.
So prepare yourself. I spoke to Ben at the History In the Court event a few days ago and he wondered whether I’d cry at the end, given that apparently a lot of others had. Well, Ben, I have to admit to a few sneaky tears there, but to be honest there had been eye moistening for at least two chapters in anticipation…
One thing I find I have to say and it’s the only thing that could be construed as criticism, I suspect, is that in both books, I actually wished they were slightly longer, despite that they were long anyway! The reasoning behind this is that the time spent in the ludus at Capua has some of the most important plot buildup of the whole story, but I felt that I would have liked to see more of the non-plot-important gladiatorial contests during that time (some are reminisced about or alluded to that I’d have liked to have read directly.) It is possible, of course, that this is my own problem fuelled by having recently watched the Spartacus series and craving such fights – bear in mind that it’s almost impossible to read Spartacus without drawing certain comparisons if you’ve watched the series, but I’m confident these books will come out of the comparison favourably. Similarly, in the second book, a number of the smaller battles or skirmishes that are not critical are referenced only in reminiscence or conversation, and I kind of missed seeing them myself. Again, perhaps just my bloodthirsty tendencies showing through.
But on with reviewing: One thing that I particularly loved that was, if memory serves me correctly, a new convention in Ben’s writing, is the regular inclusion of an ‘inner dialogue’ for the major characters. At first I wasn’t sure how I felt about this, but as the books progressed, I decided I really liked it and loved the effect it had on conversation. Often two characters will converse, but their private thoughts have a secondary conversation above them. This really gives a boost to the understanding of the motives and desires of the characters.
Another big win for me was the character of Carbo. Clearly a fictional creation, Carbo is the Yin to Spartacus’s Yang in many ways and provides a counterpoint to the main star. I will say that he is in no way a sidekick or comedy relief. He is a strong protagonist in his own right, but helps to balance Spartacus. Well done for Carbo, Ben. Not only is he an important character, a plot foil, a companion and so much more, he is also the main chance the book has for any sort of positivity in the outcome.
Similarly, I loved Navio, and the portrayal of the young Caesar. On the Roman side, it is interesting to see Caesar and Crassus at this stage in their development, giving an insight into what creates the men who will exist and are portrayed in the Forgotten Legion.
Incidentally, as well as the sadness of the inevitable conclusion, there is one scene in the first book (a death scene) that I actually found worse. It was for me a harrowing read with all the soul-crushing skill of a Guy Gavriel Kay work. Fabulous in its awfulness.
In an echo of the plot construction of the Forgotten Legion, there is an overriding element of the mystical and the divine in this work which goes deeper than simply describing the attitudes of the people in the setting, but actually provides foretellings, insights, and even explanations as to the reasons for the events of the Third Servile War. One day I may well go back through these books and read them with a different mindset, going in to them with the idea that the whole string of events is somewhat defined and informed by prophecy and divine whim, rather than the straight historical viewpoint I attacked them with this time.
All in all, these two books create the deepest, most realistic and yet refreshingly different telling of the Spartacus rebellion yet. Forget Blood and Sand and Kirk Douglas. The characters here are authentic feeling and very much sympathetic, even on the Roman side. The fights and battles are up to the very high standard that fans of Ben Kane’s work will have come to expect. The undertones of divine influence are subtle and yet powerful. As always, Ben appears to have meticulously researched everything and the historical accuracy of the books is as strong as I can believe it could get. There is never a let up in the story’s pace or the action, and you will genuinely be as sad at the conclusion that you have no more to read as you are at the storyline itself.
It’s a win on many levels. It’s so sad that there’s nowhere to go and the series has to end there. There could always be the possibility of a prequel, of course, since sequels are unrealistic. But anyone who watches Ben on twitter will be able to heave a sigh of relief knowing that he’s working on the next Hannibal book now.
I’ve waited until I finished the second book to review these two, since I read them back to back and a 2-part series is relatively rare. Given that, I will not be writing a separate review for each book. This review is for both Spartacus the Gladiator and Spartacus: Rebellion.
I’ve been a fan of Ben’s writing from the start. His Forgotten Legion series was groundbreaking in a number of ways and quite astounding as a debut. I was then fairly stunned by Hannibal, which I consider to be one of the finest pieces of ancient Historical fiction written. Despite the high quality of FL, Hannibal showed a new maturity in writing and more depth of character and soul.
So on to Spartacus. I won’t say, for the record, that this series is better than Ben’s Hannibal (and its future sequels.) It is as good as Hannibal, and that’s just dandy by me. I wouldn’t have wanted Ben’s style to change after Hannibal, as that book hit the spot just right for me. What I will say about these books is that there has been a slight change in conventions that I found refreshing and excellent (more of that shortly).
I won’t say much about the plot, to be honest. Anyone who follows any review I write knows that I don’t like to risk spoilers. But, that being said, the general tale of Spartacus is a matter of record that most people will have at least a basic knowledge of. So, bear in mind that you sort of know how this saga is going to end. I mean, there’s only a certain amount of license a writer can realistically get away with (and Ben Kane seems to be very sparing with artistic license anyway) and to have the books end with Spartacus riding off into the sunset would be a little hard to swallow.
So prepare yourself. I spoke to Ben at the History In the Court event a few days ago and he wondered whether I’d cry at the end, given that apparently a lot of others had. Well, Ben, I have to admit to a few sneaky tears there, but to be honest there had been eye moistening for at least two chapters in anticipation…
One thing I find I have to say and it’s the only thing that could be construed as criticism, I suspect, is that in both books, I actually wished they were slightly longer, despite that they were long anyway! The reasoning behind this is that the time spent in the ludus at Capua has some of the most important plot buildup of the whole story, but I felt that I would have liked to see more of the non-plot-important gladiatorial contests during that time (some are reminisced about or alluded to that I’d have liked to have read directly.) It is possible, of course, that this is my own problem fuelled by having recently watched the Spartacus series and craving such fights – bear in mind that it’s almost impossible to read Spartacus without drawing certain comparisons if you’ve watched the series, but I’m confident these books will come out of the comparison favourably. Similarly, in the second book, a number of the smaller battles or skirmishes that are not critical are referenced only in reminiscence or conversation, and I kind of missed seeing them myself. Again, perhaps just my bloodthirsty tendencies showing through.
But on with reviewing: One thing that I particularly loved that was, if memory serves me correctly, a new convention in Ben’s writing, is the regular inclusion of an ‘inner dialogue’ for the major characters. At first I wasn’t sure how I felt about this, but as the books progressed, I decided I really liked it and loved the effect it had on conversation. Often two characters will converse, but their private thoughts have a secondary conversation above them. This really gives a boost to the understanding of the motives and desires of the characters.
Another big win for me was the character of Carbo. Clearly a fictional creation, Carbo is the Yin to Spartacus’s Yang in many ways and provides a counterpoint to the main star. I will say that he is in no way a sidekick or comedy relief. He is a strong protagonist in his own right, but helps to balance Spartacus. Well done for Carbo, Ben. Not only is he an important character, a plot foil, a companion and so much more, he is also the main chance the book has for any sort of positivity in the outcome.
Similarly, I loved Navio, and the portrayal of the young Caesar. On the Roman side, it is interesting to see Caesar and Crassus at this stage in their development, giving an insight into what creates the men who will exist and are portrayed in the Forgotten Legion.
Incidentally, as well as the sadness of the inevitable conclusion, there is one scene in the first book (a death scene) that I actually found worse. It was for me a harrowing read with all the soul-crushing skill of a Guy Gavriel Kay work. Fabulous in its awfulness.
In an echo of the plot construction of the Forgotten Legion, there is an overriding element of the mystical and the divine in this work which goes deeper than simply describing the attitudes of the people in the setting, but actually provides foretellings, insights, and even explanations as to the reasons for the events of the Third Servile War. One day I may well go back through these books and read them with a different mindset, going in to them with the idea that the whole string of events is somewhat defined and informed by prophecy and divine whim, rather than the straight historical viewpoint I attacked them with this time.
All in all, these two books create the deepest, most realistic and yet refreshingly different telling of the Spartacus rebellion yet. Forget Blood and Sand and Kirk Douglas. The characters here are authentic feeling and very much sympathetic, even on the Roman side. The fights and battles are up to the very high standard that fans of Ben Kane’s work will have come to expect. The undertones of divine influence are subtle and yet powerful. As always, Ben appears to have meticulously researched everything and the historical accuracy of the books is as strong as I can believe it could get. There is never a let up in the story’s pace or the action, and you will genuinely be as sad at the conclusion that you have no more to read as you are at the storyline itself.
It’s a win on many levels. It’s so sad that there’s nowhere to go and the series has to end there. There could always be the possibility of a prequel, of course, since sequels are unrealistic. But anyone who watches Ben on twitter will be able to heave a sigh of relief knowing that he’s working on the next Hannibal book now.
April 6, 2021
The second book kicked off immediately after the initial book, we learn of the increasing urgency to reach the Alps and the dire situations and internal politics this brings between the leaders of the slave army. This book sees the turning of tides for both the Roman Empire and Spartacus's army, the first several victories made the ex-slaves brave , are soon to be short lived as the tides of war begin to swing in Rome's favor, battles are harder, no element of surprise just full frontal bloody war. let the chase begin...
As i continued to read this knowing the ultimate end of Spartacus and his men thanks to the various films and tv shows I've seen. I began to dread it for him, knowing it would end in defeat and a parade of crosses for his men. However Spartacus and what he stood for would live on in legend !
The little known factual information on the once thought mythical figure that is Spartacus is all laid out in this series. Naturally drama and characters are added , but it really gives you a feel for what may have happened both in Rome and in the rebel army. The battles are intense and hard fought you can almost imagine being there in the thick of mud and blood.
all in all i really enjoyed both this book and the first one, its thrown me back in to some more historical reading after having some time away from that genre. To read about this legend was an absolute pleasure !
As i continued to read this knowing the ultimate end of Spartacus and his men thanks to the various films and tv shows I've seen. I began to dread it for him, knowing it would end in defeat and a parade of crosses for his men. However Spartacus and what he stood for would live on in legend !
The little known factual information on the once thought mythical figure that is Spartacus is all laid out in this series. Naturally drama and characters are added , but it really gives you a feel for what may have happened both in Rome and in the rebel army. The battles are intense and hard fought you can almost imagine being there in the thick of mud and blood.
all in all i really enjoyed both this book and the first one, its thrown me back in to some more historical reading after having some time away from that genre. To read about this legend was an absolute pleasure !
August 1, 2023
4.75⭐️
Jest to druga część dotycząca losów Spartakusa. Fabularnie książka zaczyna się zaraz po wydarzeniach końcowych pierwszej części.
⚠️TW: brutalne opisy starć, gw@ty, opis złożenia w ofierze bogom konia (ma miejsce pod koniec książki) ⚠️
Co to była za opowieść. Ben Kane jest dla mnie odkryciem tego roku! Jego styl pisania jak i zasługa tłumacza, spowodowały, że niesamowicie wciągnęłam się w tę historię. W poprzednim poście zapomniałam dodać, że rozdziały nie są pisane z jednej perspektywy. Wszystkie są pisane w trzeciej osobie, ale możemy zapoznać się z myślami nie tylko Spartakusa czy ludźmi po jego stronie, ale również z linia wroga - głównie Marka Licyniusza Krassusa. Jest więcej starć, jak i taktyki, a czyta się to świetnie! Wszystkie postaci są świetnie wykreowane. Czytając tę książkę myślisz, że wszystko wydarzyło się naprawdę, a gdy przeczytasz "Uwagi od autora", dowiesz się jakie zmiany zastosował autor.
Jedyne czego mi brakowało to mojego zaangażowania emocjonalnego, które miało miejsce w pierwszym tomie. Zakończenie było mocne, jednak liczyłam na mały motyw zemsty na pewnej osobie - ale historycznie nie było to możliwe. 😅
Jest to druga część dotycząca losów Spartakusa. Fabularnie książka zaczyna się zaraz po wydarzeniach końcowych pierwszej części.
⚠️TW: brutalne opisy starć, gw@ty, opis złożenia w ofierze bogom konia (ma miejsce pod koniec książki) ⚠️
Co to była za opowieść. Ben Kane jest dla mnie odkryciem tego roku! Jego styl pisania jak i zasługa tłumacza, spowodowały, że niesamowicie wciągnęłam się w tę historię. W poprzednim poście zapomniałam dodać, że rozdziały nie są pisane z jednej perspektywy. Wszystkie są pisane w trzeciej osobie, ale możemy zapoznać się z myślami nie tylko Spartakusa czy ludźmi po jego stronie, ale również z linia wroga - głównie Marka Licyniusza Krassusa. Jest więcej starć, jak i taktyki, a czyta się to świetnie! Wszystkie postaci są świetnie wykreowane. Czytając tę książkę myślisz, że wszystko wydarzyło się naprawdę, a gdy przeczytasz "Uwagi od autora", dowiesz się jakie zmiany zastosował autor.
Jedyne czego mi brakowało to mojego zaangażowania emocjonalnego, które miało miejsce w pierwszym tomie. Zakończenie było mocne, jednak liczyłam na mały motyw zemsty na pewnej osobie - ale historycznie nie było to możliwe. 😅
July 21, 2021
Até quando as estratégias (ou seriam estratagemas?) de Spartacus lhes garantirão vitórias? Carisma, habilidade, liderança: até seus inimigos reconhecem as qualidades desse ex-gladiador. Quando Roma é ferida em seu orgulho marcial, farão de tudo para esmagar qualquer rebelião... especialmente infiltrar espiões no exército inimigo. Mas, com um líder assim, nem de espiões será preciso, pois inveja existe desde os primórdios da humanidade. Finalmente, o cerco se fecha ao exército rebelde de Spartacus, que tenta fugir de 10 legiões a custos muito altos.
Um livro muito bom, claro, sendo ficção histórica.
Mas, infelizmente, nas primeiras páginas já temos problemas como "há... um ano atrás"; separação silábica dentro da linha de 'ab-rupto'; anacronismos como Hannibal x Aníbal ou Thurii x Turí; "quando o VER, ficará orgulhoso"; após 150 pgs. os demonstrativos ESTE/A já não mais importam aos revisores... Que tal "o por quê"? Cartagena não seria Cartago?? Hermes não seria Mercúrio para os Romanos? Que verbos peculiares "empUlhar", "arremeÇar"; e como conjugar "sobrepor-se"?
Um livro muito bom, claro, sendo ficção histórica.
Mas, infelizmente, nas primeiras páginas já temos problemas como "há... um ano atrás"; separação silábica dentro da linha de 'ab-rupto'; anacronismos como Hannibal x Aníbal ou Thurii x Turí; "quando o VER, ficará orgulhoso"; após 150 pgs. os demonstrativos ESTE/A já não mais importam aos revisores... Que tal "o por quê"? Cartagena não seria Cartago?? Hermes não seria Mercúrio para os Romanos? Que verbos peculiares "empUlhar", "arremeÇar"; e como conjugar "sobrepor-se"?
May 23, 2021
What an excellent way to end the story!
Ben Kane is fast becoming one of my favourite authors and this short series is another reason why. There are many things that aren't known about Spartacus; why he turned around before the alps, why he split with Crisis etc, but Ben Kane does a great job of explaining it with his own ideas in a brilliant story. The writing is superb and very well done, the story is true (as true as can be) and her even explains the parts he made up at the end so you don't get confused if researching. Brilliant.
The final fight seen was the best part and was explained in such detail i was immersed in it! Even though i knew the outcome i still didn't want it to happen! Even if you know the whole Spartacus legend it is still with taking this 2 book series. It's strange because in the Eagles of Rome series Ben Kane made you support the Romans. In Spartacus he makes you hate them, the sign of a great author.
Definitely worth a read
Ben Kane is fast becoming one of my favourite authors and this short series is another reason why. There are many things that aren't known about Spartacus; why he turned around before the alps, why he split with Crisis etc, but Ben Kane does a great job of explaining it with his own ideas in a brilliant story. The writing is superb and very well done, the story is true (as true as can be) and her even explains the parts he made up at the end so you don't get confused if researching. Brilliant.
The final fight seen was the best part and was explained in such detail i was immersed in it! Even though i knew the outcome i still didn't want it to happen! Even if you know the whole Spartacus legend it is still with taking this 2 book series. It's strange because in the Eagles of Rome series Ben Kane made you support the Romans. In Spartacus he makes you hate them, the sign of a great author.
Definitely worth a read
December 16, 2021
Me gustó bastante el libro. Insisto que no es lo mejor del autor. La saga de la Legión Olvidada me parece más lograda y Águilas de Guerra parece tener mejor desarrollados a los personajes. Aún así, creo que Ben Kane logró revitalizar un personaje super explotado como Espartaco haciéndolo interesante.
Es cierto que el saber el desenlace de los eventos le quita emoción, pero aún así por la narrativa que el autor estaba manejando llegué a dudar si sería fiel a la historia o crearía su propio final. Esto, si bien no es propio de la novela histórica, sirvió para hacer que disfrutara y me quedara enganchado al libro hasta el final.
Hay cosas que podría agregar, pero serían redundantes para con la reseña del libro anterior. Simplemente agregar que es un libro que se disfruta, y aún más que el primero. Es una lastima que algunos personajes no llegáramos a conocerlos o quedaran desdibujados, pero en líneas generales se trata de una lectura amena, interesante y atrapante.
Es cierto que el saber el desenlace de los eventos le quita emoción, pero aún así por la narrativa que el autor estaba manejando llegué a dudar si sería fiel a la historia o crearía su propio final. Esto, si bien no es propio de la novela histórica, sirvió para hacer que disfrutara y me quedara enganchado al libro hasta el final.
Hay cosas que podría agregar, pero serían redundantes para con la reseña del libro anterior. Simplemente agregar que es un libro que se disfruta, y aún más que el primero. Es una lastima que algunos personajes no llegáramos a conocerlos o quedaran desdibujados, pero en líneas generales se trata de una lectura amena, interesante y atrapante.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews