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Lions of Carthage: The Hannibalic Epic, Book 1
CARTHAGE IS DESTROYED.
The year is 146 BCE, and Rome has vanquished Carthage in the Third Punic War. With the goddess Tanit’s corpse smothering the ruins, Ares and Rome’s army leave behind a wasteland they call peace.
But they left lions in the den. Commanding the Punic gods' remaining arkon, the demigods Ajax Barca and Zosime must rally Carthage’s fractured survivors, rescue their enslaved kin, and banish a life-wilting curse before North Africa lays fallow.
Lions of The Hannibalic Epic is Homeric fantasy that fuses myth-inspired magic, divine war machines, and visceral action while exploring generational trauma and the ethics of warfare in the ancient Mediterranean.
The year is 146 BCE, and Rome has vanquished Carthage in the Third Punic War. With the goddess Tanit’s corpse smothering the ruins, Ares and Rome’s army leave behind a wasteland they call peace.
But they left lions in the den. Commanding the Punic gods' remaining arkon, the demigods Ajax Barca and Zosime must rally Carthage’s fractured survivors, rescue their enslaved kin, and banish a life-wilting curse before North Africa lays fallow.
Lions of The Hannibalic Epic is Homeric fantasy that fuses myth-inspired magic, divine war machines, and visceral action while exploring generational trauma and the ethics of warfare in the ancient Mediterranean.
1182 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2025
1 person is currently reading
7 people want to read
About the author
Sam Hale
3 booksInto cats, tats, and yoga mats, Sam is the author of "Lions of Carthage: The Hannibalic Epic". With degrees in Anthropology and Education, Sam crafts rigorously researched literature that’s as educational as it is entertaining.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
November 14, 2025
This book made my list of top Indie SFF books I read in 2025!
For the full list, please see the link below:
https://beforewegoblog.com/p-ls-top-i...
Full disclosure: Advanced Reading Copies (ARCs) of both Lions of Carthage Books 1 & 2 were provided to me by the author in exchange for honest reviews, which I have provided below.
If you are a history nerd, like me, and you love the Punic War period, you can't sleep on this exciting new series by Hale. With some of the most impeccable research behind it, mythology meets fact meets the fantastical, as an alternate 146 BCE with a semi-steam-punk vibe, blended with the heroic feel of classics such as the "Iliad", brings us gods, demi-gods, fabled warriors, slaves, war-machines, and epic battles scenes. It's set in the backdrop of the fall of Carthage at the hands of ancient Rome, and when the Numidians show up, things really go bonkers. Absolutely loved these tomes, which allow for complete immersion in the stunning world-building, while providing action sequences that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Link to my YouTube interview with the brilliant author, where I will expand on my thoughts about the books, will be added here to this review, in mid-November 2025, after I have the pleasure of chatting with Samuel Hale himself!
For the full list, please see the link below:
https://beforewegoblog.com/p-ls-top-i...
Full disclosure: Advanced Reading Copies (ARCs) of both Lions of Carthage Books 1 & 2 were provided to me by the author in exchange for honest reviews, which I have provided below.
If you are a history nerd, like me, and you love the Punic War period, you can't sleep on this exciting new series by Hale. With some of the most impeccable research behind it, mythology meets fact meets the fantastical, as an alternate 146 BCE with a semi-steam-punk vibe, blended with the heroic feel of classics such as the "Iliad", brings us gods, demi-gods, fabled warriors, slaves, war-machines, and epic battles scenes. It's set in the backdrop of the fall of Carthage at the hands of ancient Rome, and when the Numidians show up, things really go bonkers. Absolutely loved these tomes, which allow for complete immersion in the stunning world-building, while providing action sequences that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Link to my YouTube interview with the brilliant author, where I will expand on my thoughts about the books, will be added here to this review, in mid-November 2025, after I have the pleasure of chatting with Samuel Hale himself!
Displaying 1 of 1 review