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Almost a year has passed since the great barbarian army of the Senones crossed the Apeninnus and crushed the Etruscan forces outside Clusium. Determined to avenge the death of Crixos at the hands of the Roman general Numerius, the savage warriors of the barbarian leader Brennus recross the mountains and bear down on the city as Solemis and the Horsetail clan ravage Latium.
Confident in the might of their arms, the citizens of the great city gather on the Field of Mars to cheer their army as it marches to drive away the threat. But the battle does not follow its expected course. Overwhelmed by the ferocity and tenacious brutality of the Gaulish warriors the army of Rome is routed, and the Fabii and their fellow citizens face the judgement of Nemesis as the mournful howl of barbarian war horns approach.
Other gods also scheme, and the druid Catumanda begins to understand that her journey may have a terrible conclusion...
Confident in the might of their arms, the citizens of the great city gather on the Field of Mars to cheer their army as it marches to drive away the threat. But the battle does not follow its expected course. Overwhelmed by the ferocity and tenacious brutality of the Gaulish warriors the army of Rome is routed, and the Fabii and their fellow citizens face the judgement of Nemesis as the mournful howl of barbarian war horns approach.
Other gods also scheme, and the druid Catumanda begins to understand that her journey may have a terrible conclusion...
- GenresHistorical Fiction
313 pages, ebook
First published March 12, 2015
16 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 2, 2017
What a good story
This was the first tale I have read that recounted the early history of Rome, prior to the republican and imperial stages. It just showed how close the history of western civilisation came to being totally rewritten. Without the Romans to guide us we might have succumbed to Eastern domination, in the shape of Persian and Turkish armies. I'm sure the Celts would have been no use whatsoever against those civilisations.
This was the first tale I have read that recounted the early history of Rome, prior to the republican and imperial stages. It just showed how close the history of western civilisation came to being totally rewritten. Without the Romans to guide us we might have succumbed to Eastern domination, in the shape of Persian and Turkish armies. I'm sure the Celts would have been no use whatsoever against those civilisations.
February 20, 2017
A bond that destroyed Rome
The journey has ended and against all odds, the Senones have settled on the north of the Italic peninsula led by their war chieftain Brennus. As the Romans have interfered on their battle with the Etrustans by slaying a Senonean leader, Brennus will have to punish the rising Republic for the offense and strike hard on them to both get revenge and secure the new lands where they have settled. By using Solemis and the Horsetails as his spear-point, Brennus will place his name on History and thanks to him Rome will never be the same.
After all her adventures in Albion, Catumanda will reach the mainland accomplishing an important mission for all Celtic religion and paving the way for the old gods' way never to be forgotten. As she fulfills her mission, she will be reunited with her blood genos once again as it was foretold, but in the most unlikely situation.
*****COMMENTARY MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*****
Book II of the Conqueror of Rome series is a step forward on the story that we read on Book I. It places the story some months before it, following the Senones on their summer campaign to exact revenge and respect on the Roman neighbours. Brennus leadership will take his forces to the very gates of Rome and beyond. He will rely on Solemis as his vanguard to scout the foreign land and be the one to draw the attention of the Romans meanwhile the main Senones Army cross the land.
Solemis character is expanded and to the much liking of myself, get a more pivotal role inside the story. He was appointed as the Horsetails leader and he will start to feel both pressure and enjoyment of this responsibility on the beginning of the Novel. As he is very capable of that, he will succeed and get an honor place on Brennus war council. He is also more mature, but keeping the charm that he had previously.
By being close to his champion and blood genos, Albiomaros (or Acco for the genos) Solemis will ride and use his clever mind to overcome obstacles and battle tactics. Thanks to him the gates of Rome will be open for Brennus to capture the city and carve his name on History.
The Fabii brothers would try to stop the 'barbarian' advance without having much success but their account was very entertained and easy to follow. I felt some confusion, as they took a more protagonical role (by Numerius account), I wanted them to succeed.
Catumanda travels gave another taste to the plot, as she struggled to get on with her mission but on the same vein that we read on previous book. No much improving on this.
For the total features of the plot the book deserves 4 star rating being a great book to read and reread as well. The plot is consistent and there is an improvement on the characters, as I felt more connected with all of them (more with Solemis, Albiomaros, Catumanda and Numerius). The setting was very good as in any of C.R. May books.
I will put aside the ending, it deserves better than 4 stars. Five stars will be perfect. The setting is the following: a day with Senones retreating, our main characters captured and Roman reclaiming his city back from the ashes and rubble. This is perfect for tragedy and further revenge that will be done by Solemis Jr. As we read the epilogue, we are witness to the very full scale of title: Nemesis.
Masterpiece!
The author note proves to be useful as always and gives insight to a lot of topics, even the name of Portugal! You will be wiser if you won't skip it.
Bottom line: great book. It makes a wonderful (and sad, but rewarding) conclusion to the series as it covers an obscure period where Rome was rising and have to endure his first fall. We are used to get more knowledge about the latter Republic and Imperium periods (there are lot of novels set on the Imperium!), so this novel will fill in before some big action happens, such as the Punic Wars and Carthage rise. This novel aims to show us what was Rome to be like on that period, and the way that the Senones made their name feared on that time. The repercussions will last until Julius Caesar will put Vercingétorix in chains and humiliated him (and all the Gauls) on Eternal City, but that's another story.
The journey has ended and against all odds, the Senones have settled on the north of the Italic peninsula led by their war chieftain Brennus. As the Romans have interfered on their battle with the Etrustans by slaying a Senonean leader, Brennus will have to punish the rising Republic for the offense and strike hard on them to both get revenge and secure the new lands where they have settled. By using Solemis and the Horsetails as his spear-point, Brennus will place his name on History and thanks to him Rome will never be the same.
After all her adventures in Albion, Catumanda will reach the mainland accomplishing an important mission for all Celtic religion and paving the way for the old gods' way never to be forgotten. As she fulfills her mission, she will be reunited with her blood genos once again as it was foretold, but in the most unlikely situation.
*****COMMENTARY MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*****
Book II of the Conqueror of Rome series is a step forward on the story that we read on Book I. It places the story some months before it, following the Senones on their summer campaign to exact revenge and respect on the Roman neighbours. Brennus leadership will take his forces to the very gates of Rome and beyond. He will rely on Solemis as his vanguard to scout the foreign land and be the one to draw the attention of the Romans meanwhile the main Senones Army cross the land.
Solemis character is expanded and to the much liking of myself, get a more pivotal role inside the story. He was appointed as the Horsetails leader and he will start to feel both pressure and enjoyment of this responsibility on the beginning of the Novel. As he is very capable of that, he will succeed and get an honor place on Brennus war council. He is also more mature, but keeping the charm that he had previously.
By being close to his champion and blood genos, Albiomaros (or Acco for the genos) Solemis will ride and use his clever mind to overcome obstacles and battle tactics. Thanks to him the gates of Rome will be open for Brennus to capture the city and carve his name on History.
The Fabii brothers would try to stop the 'barbarian' advance without having much success but their account was very entertained and easy to follow. I felt some confusion, as they took a more protagonical role (by Numerius account), I wanted them to succeed.
Catumanda travels gave another taste to the plot, as she struggled to get on with her mission but on the same vein that we read on previous book. No much improving on this.
For the total features of the plot the book deserves 4 star rating being a great book to read and reread as well. The plot is consistent and there is an improvement on the characters, as I felt more connected with all of them (more with Solemis, Albiomaros, Catumanda and Numerius). The setting was very good as in any of C.R. May books.
I will put aside the ending, it deserves better than 4 stars. Five stars will be perfect. The setting is the following: a day with Senones retreating, our main characters captured and Roman reclaiming his city back from the ashes and rubble. This is perfect for tragedy and further revenge that will be done by Solemis Jr. As we read the epilogue, we are witness to the very full scale of title: Nemesis.
Masterpiece!
The author note proves to be useful as always and gives insight to a lot of topics, even the name of Portugal! You will be wiser if you won't skip it.
Bottom line: great book. It makes a wonderful (and sad, but rewarding) conclusion to the series as it covers an obscure period where Rome was rising and have to endure his first fall. We are used to get more knowledge about the latter Republic and Imperium periods (there are lot of novels set on the Imperium!), so this novel will fill in before some big action happens, such as the Punic Wars and Carthage rise. This novel aims to show us what was Rome to be like on that period, and the way that the Senones made their name feared on that time. The repercussions will last until Julius Caesar will put Vercingétorix in chains and humiliated him (and all the Gauls) on Eternal City, but that's another story.
January 22, 2020
This second book in the Conqueror of Rome series concludes the adventures of the Senones by sacking Rome. Although these events are shrouded in a thick layer of legend and roman-biased history, Cliff May did a good job once again by trying to find each character his deserved place in this story. For me though, the druid's story didn't make much sense after all, the main characters were not fully developed and the plot pretty straightforward. More like a 3.5 stars
May 25, 2022
An excellent read.
A good easy entertaining read. A different perspective, as seen from the ‘barbarian’s’ viewpoint, or spear point. The brief description of the reorganisation of the Roman army, as almost last thoughts, was a wonderful piece of writing.
A good easy entertaining read. A different perspective, as seen from the ‘barbarian’s’ viewpoint, or spear point. The brief description of the reorganisation of the Roman army, as almost last thoughts, was a wonderful piece of writing.
August 19, 2017
Good book,did not know this happened for real
April 28, 2016
actually 4.3 stars...full review on the way...
Most of the Roman historical fiction that I have read dates from the Late Republic on through the ascendancy of the Eastern Empire so it was a nice change of pace to read this series that takes place before Rome became Rome. In Nemesis,the Gaulish tribe the Senones complete their conquest of Rome and sack the city. The author presents the reader with the opposing mindsets of the combatants; the warrior ethos of the Senones versus the more disciplined Romans. Also evident is the well researched descriptions of both Senone culture and the ways of the Roman Patrician class. Intermingled with the historical event is the continuing story of the three childhood friends, Solemis, Albiomaros and the Druid Catumanda; a story that follows the fate that binds them together. That thread is but one of the sub-plots running through the tale and that makes for many possibilities and surprises which I enjoyed but will not reveal. The Conqueror of Rome series is the first I've read by this author and I am looking forward to moving onto his other works Just as Brennus got the Roman's attention, so to has C.R. May gotten mine. 4.3 stars
Most of the Roman historical fiction that I have read dates from the Late Republic on through the ascendancy of the Eastern Empire so it was a nice change of pace to read this series that takes place before Rome became Rome. In Nemesis,the Gaulish tribe the Senones complete their conquest of Rome and sack the city. The author presents the reader with the opposing mindsets of the combatants; the warrior ethos of the Senones versus the more disciplined Romans. Also evident is the well researched descriptions of both Senone culture and the ways of the Roman Patrician class. Intermingled with the historical event is the continuing story of the three childhood friends, Solemis, Albiomaros and the Druid Catumanda; a story that follows the fate that binds them together. That thread is but one of the sub-plots running through the tale and that makes for many possibilities and surprises which I enjoyed but will not reveal. The Conqueror of Rome series is the first I've read by this author and I am looking forward to moving onto his other works Just as Brennus got the Roman's attention, so to has C.R. May gotten mine. 4.3 stars
September 26, 2015
Not as good as the first but still worth reading.
Still preferred the druids story more than the actual war elements.
Still preferred the druids story more than the actual war elements.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews