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Field of Mars #1
Field of Mars: Episode I
Marcus Licinius Crassus's lust for gold and glory was legendary. What became of his army is myth.
In Crassus the tyrant, Rufinius the soldier, Appias the historian, Mena the hag and Lucia the Golden Whore, David Rollins brings to life a mystery that has plagued historians for centuries. The only constant in this world is Mars, the god of war, and who he will favour is anyone's guess.
Desperate to write himself into the pages of history, proconsul Marcus Licinius Crassus marched 40,000 Roman legionaries into the heart of the Parthian empire. More than 10,000 were never seen or heard from again.
In a story that spans empires and generations, this vanished army's fate is finally unveiled. From the streets of Rome to the deserts of ancient Iran, around the globe into the heart of an empire vaster than anything Rome ever imagined, a young Alexandrian soldier is borne on the tides of the age of empires from soldier of Rome to slave of Babylon to commander of armies.
Perfect for fans of Robert Harris and Conn Iggulden, this sweeping historical thriller takes the reader on an epic journey across ancient empires and into the unknown stories of myth and legend.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
147 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 13, 2015
2 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
About the author
David Rollins
21 books86 followersHiya, I'm a fiction author and I live in Sydney, Australia. I guess my best-known work is the series featuring Vin Cooper, a special agent in the United States Air Force OSI.
I have published eleven novels, which most recently includes the seventh novel in the Cooper series, the highly controversial KINGDOM COME.
I've recently discovered the joys of Substack. Come and take a look at davidrollins@substack.com where I'm also serializing BLOOD & EMPIRE, the sequel to FIELD OF MARS.
I have published eleven novels, which most recently includes the seventh novel in the Cooper series, the highly controversial KINGDOM COME.
I've recently discovered the joys of Substack. Come and take a look at davidrollins@substack.com where I'm also serializing BLOOD & EMPIRE, the sequel to FIELD OF MARS.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 10, 2015
Aside from the cheesy cover an the inexplicable (outside of obvious financial gains) serial format, this is actually a credible and interesting historical novel dealing with a lesser known battle, one Roman Army uncharacteristically lost, despite being superior in numbers. Nothing beats a good bow, apparently. Rollins does an excellent job of recreating a world long gone with terrific historical details and munitiae, his characters are strong and distinct and the action sequences are vivid and brutal. Thing is I don't particularly like war fiction, reading about a battle (not matter how well rendered) is still a literary equivalent of an action flick. And yet, despite personal preferences, this was a pretty good read. It entertains the readers and leaves one wondering what happens next, so as far as serials go...success. Fans of military fiction and ancient history should find much to enjoy within these pages.
August 15, 2015
I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Field of Mars is the first in a series of novels focused on Marcus Licinius Crassus' (that guy with all the money) attempted invasion of Parthia. I must point out I know little about Crassus outside of the stories surrounding his quest for money and mentor status to one Julius Caesar. This novel tells the story of what happened when Crassus unsuccessfully tried to conquer Parthia, a story which today remains a bit of a mystery to historians.
It was a bloody book to say the least. The battle scenes were well written and full of wonderful gore (if you're into that kind of thing). The language was crude. Descriptions of men scratching their bums and the continual swearing are just a few examples. I didn't mind the crude language or the gore but it mixed funny with the over all tone of the book. I can't quite put my finger on it but there was just something about this book that didn't come together for me. It might have had something to do with the lack of character development. There was so much back and forth between the various perspectives that the reader was never really given an opportunity to get to know any of the main characters.
That all being said, I am more than likely going to pick up the next novel which deals with the aftermath of Carrhae.
Field of Mars is the first in a series of novels focused on Marcus Licinius Crassus' (that guy with all the money) attempted invasion of Parthia. I must point out I know little about Crassus outside of the stories surrounding his quest for money and mentor status to one Julius Caesar. This novel tells the story of what happened when Crassus unsuccessfully tried to conquer Parthia, a story which today remains a bit of a mystery to historians.
It was a bloody book to say the least. The battle scenes were well written and full of wonderful gore (if you're into that kind of thing). The language was crude. Descriptions of men scratching their bums and the continual swearing are just a few examples. I didn't mind the crude language or the gore but it mixed funny with the over all tone of the book. I can't quite put my finger on it but there was just something about this book that didn't come together for me. It might have had something to do with the lack of character development. There was so much back and forth between the various perspectives that the reader was never really given an opportunity to get to know any of the main characters.
That all being said, I am more than likely going to pick up the next novel which deals with the aftermath of Carrhae.
August 12, 2015
My review is of a pre-publication copy provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Field of Mars: Episode 1 marks a definite change of subject matter, genre and medium for David Rollins.
Hitherto known best for his enjoyable series of Vin Cooper military thrillers, starting with The Death Trust and running up to 2013’s Stand Off, Field of Mars is Rollin's first stab at historical fiction (if you exclude The Zero Option, which mixes contemporary action with fictional flashbacks to the real life shooting down of Korean Flight 007 in 1983). It’s also the first time he's attempted something other than a thriller and quite definitely his first work to be published in episodic novellas.
By choosing historical fiction for his change in genre, Rollins is diving into an already crowded arena. Even more so by choosing ancient Rome as the setting for his story, a time period that has already been colonised by numerous writers, including Robert Harris, Simon Scarrow, Ben Kane, M.C Scott and Anthony Riches to name just a few. The question is; does he do enough to distinguish Field of Mars from the very extensive herd of similarly themed works on the market.
Unfortunately the simple answer is no, he doesn’t. Field of Mars is a decent attempt at writing an entertaining account of Marcus Crassus’ disastrous invasion of Parthia in 54 B.C. It combines a decent amount of military action with a smattering of political skulduggery, a soupcon of sex and some reasonable character development without smothering the story with too much factual minutiae about the life in ancient Rome or the daily routines of Roman legionaries, as some attempts at the genre can be prone to do.
There isn’t however, anything particularly original about Field of Mars in terms of approach or subject matter that really makes it stand out from other literary adventures set in ancient Rome. Detailed descriptions of mass battles involving the Roman Legions have been done numerous times by the likes of Scarrow and Riches, to equal effect, and likewise tales of Legionaires battling to survive against the odds. It would also be very hard to better Robert Harris when it comes to writing about political machinations in Ancient Rome, which form a very minor element of Field of Mars. Even the central story of Crassus’ invasion of Parthia has previously been tackled in detail by several writers, including Ben Kane in his Forgotten Legion series (although I’m not a fan of that trilogy), leaving it feeling overly familiar and robbing it of much in the way of suspense.
In its defence however, this is only Episode 1 of Field of Mars, and could therefore be seen as merely a prologue that establishes the story and central characters who the reader will follow through the subsequent episodes. The predictability of the plot should therefore not necessarily be held against David Rollins until it becomes possible to see where he takes it. Likewise, it’s possible that, with Rome itself left behind and the known facts regarding the fate of Crassus and his legion all but exhausted, Rollins may also be able to use the two remaining episodes to create a historical adventure that branches off in new, unfamiliar directions and offers something new to the genre. Based on this first episode I’m not going to hold my breath on that front, but as a fan of the author and as Episode 1 slipped down quite easily I am prepared to give Episode 2 a shot.
Although why Rollins or his publishers chose to release Field of Mars in episodic form isn’t really clear. Episode 1 doesn’t feel like it demands to be read as a standalone novella; it just seems like the first third of a longer novel. I’m also curious over the comparatively extended release schedule for the three Episodes. Having recently read John Scalzi’s ‘The End of All Things’ that was published in four episodes on a weekly basis, I found the short gap between episodes maintained a sense of anticipation and kept the story fresh in my mind. By contrast I fear that the two week gap between each Episode of Field of Mars being released may leave readers waiting too long having finished an episode and result in their attention being grabbed by competing works in the interim.
Not that I will be diverted. Despite my misgivings over Episode 1 I am interested to see where life takes Centurion Rufinius next, and I have enough faith in David Rollins to be confident that it will be an entertaining story. Then again, I have read all bar one of his previous novels. Whether Episode 1 offers enough that is new and fresh to persuade someone unfamiliar with his work to tackle the Episodes that follow is something I am less confident of.
Field of Mars: Episode 1 marks a definite change of subject matter, genre and medium for David Rollins.
Hitherto known best for his enjoyable series of Vin Cooper military thrillers, starting with The Death Trust and running up to 2013’s Stand Off, Field of Mars is Rollin's first stab at historical fiction (if you exclude The Zero Option, which mixes contemporary action with fictional flashbacks to the real life shooting down of Korean Flight 007 in 1983). It’s also the first time he's attempted something other than a thriller and quite definitely his first work to be published in episodic novellas.
By choosing historical fiction for his change in genre, Rollins is diving into an already crowded arena. Even more so by choosing ancient Rome as the setting for his story, a time period that has already been colonised by numerous writers, including Robert Harris, Simon Scarrow, Ben Kane, M.C Scott and Anthony Riches to name just a few. The question is; does he do enough to distinguish Field of Mars from the very extensive herd of similarly themed works on the market.
Unfortunately the simple answer is no, he doesn’t. Field of Mars is a decent attempt at writing an entertaining account of Marcus Crassus’ disastrous invasion of Parthia in 54 B.C. It combines a decent amount of military action with a smattering of political skulduggery, a soupcon of sex and some reasonable character development without smothering the story with too much factual minutiae about the life in ancient Rome or the daily routines of Roman legionaries, as some attempts at the genre can be prone to do.
There isn’t however, anything particularly original about Field of Mars in terms of approach or subject matter that really makes it stand out from other literary adventures set in ancient Rome. Detailed descriptions of mass battles involving the Roman Legions have been done numerous times by the likes of Scarrow and Riches, to equal effect, and likewise tales of Legionaires battling to survive against the odds. It would also be very hard to better Robert Harris when it comes to writing about political machinations in Ancient Rome, which form a very minor element of Field of Mars. Even the central story of Crassus’ invasion of Parthia has previously been tackled in detail by several writers, including Ben Kane in his Forgotten Legion series (although I’m not a fan of that trilogy), leaving it feeling overly familiar and robbing it of much in the way of suspense.
In its defence however, this is only Episode 1 of Field of Mars, and could therefore be seen as merely a prologue that establishes the story and central characters who the reader will follow through the subsequent episodes. The predictability of the plot should therefore not necessarily be held against David Rollins until it becomes possible to see where he takes it. Likewise, it’s possible that, with Rome itself left behind and the known facts regarding the fate of Crassus and his legion all but exhausted, Rollins may also be able to use the two remaining episodes to create a historical adventure that branches off in new, unfamiliar directions and offers something new to the genre. Based on this first episode I’m not going to hold my breath on that front, but as a fan of the author and as Episode 1 slipped down quite easily I am prepared to give Episode 2 a shot.
Although why Rollins or his publishers chose to release Field of Mars in episodic form isn’t really clear. Episode 1 doesn’t feel like it demands to be read as a standalone novella; it just seems like the first third of a longer novel. I’m also curious over the comparatively extended release schedule for the three Episodes. Having recently read John Scalzi’s ‘The End of All Things’ that was published in four episodes on a weekly basis, I found the short gap between episodes maintained a sense of anticipation and kept the story fresh in my mind. By contrast I fear that the two week gap between each Episode of Field of Mars being released may leave readers waiting too long having finished an episode and result in their attention being grabbed by competing works in the interim.
Not that I will be diverted. Despite my misgivings over Episode 1 I am interested to see where life takes Centurion Rufinius next, and I have enough faith in David Rollins to be confident that it will be an entertaining story. Then again, I have read all bar one of his previous novels. Whether Episode 1 offers enough that is new and fresh to persuade someone unfamiliar with his work to tackle the Episodes that follow is something I am less confident of.
September 4, 2015
Field of Mars: Episode 1
David Rollins
Momentum books
Published August 13 2015
I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley for a fair review.
I was very pleasantly surprised by this book, it was everything I hoped it might be. I read a fair amount of Roman history as well as Roman historical fiction but very little is actually known or written about Crassus’s invasion of Parthia and particularly his defeat at Carrhae. David Rollin’s has set out to remedy this in his planned series of books covering this period of history, of which this is the first.
The page length of the book is a bit of an oddity. Novella’s tend to be around 100 (on my kindle) pages long. Normal novels around 350-400. This one comes in at about 170. So longer than a normal novella, but about half the size of a normal novel.
This first book covers the Roman period around 53-54BC, 10 years before the assassination of Julius Caesar and a coupe of years before the first Triumvirate of Caesar, Pompey and Crassus. The motivations for Crassus to invade Parthia were perfectly clear - having amassed a huge fortune in land speculation and dodgy business practices, what was left to achieve for Rome’s richest man? Rather than be overshadowed by the military accomplishments of his fellow Triumvir’s Pompey and Caesar, Crassus needed a military victory and triumph of his own to be put on an equal footing in terms of gravitas or imperium.
Without official consent of the senate, Proconsul Crassus, Governor of Syria marched his army of around 40,000 legionaries through the deserts of mesopotamia to utter annihilation by Surena a General of the Persian army fielding a numerically far inferior force just outside Carrhae, a small town in modern day Turkey.
Rollins truly breathes life into this fascinating period of history. The story is told for the most part through the eyes of Appius, a historian employed by Crassus to be the recorder of his momentus victory. In reality the narrative switches between first and third person through the constantly changing perspectives of the central and main characters.
I read a lot of historical fiction and one of the keys to writing this genre successfully is to breath both believability and atmosphere into both narrative and dialogue. You have to believe in the characters and you have to believe you’re there standing right next to them as the action unfolds. For the most part Rollins pulls this off really well. His characters are believable, they’re well drawn, well described and and the dialogue entirely consistent with the time period in question. There has to be a certain degree of anachronism to make dialogue understandable to modern readers but that shouldn’t come as a sacrifice to the period it’s set in. It’s a delicate balance and Rollins gets the balance spot on.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters are well drawn and believable. The time period atmospherically portrayed, the story line well thought out and moves along as a decent pace. There’s sex, violence aplenty with a soupçon of skullduggery and political intrigue all set in Roman times. What’s not to like?
My only real criticism of this book is the front cover. It’s a bit naive and could be so much better.
I’m really looking forward to reading the next instalment. Highly recommended to all historical fiction fans, particularly those interested in the Roman era.
4/5.
David Rollins
Momentum books
Published August 13 2015
I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley for a fair review.
I was very pleasantly surprised by this book, it was everything I hoped it might be. I read a fair amount of Roman history as well as Roman historical fiction but very little is actually known or written about Crassus’s invasion of Parthia and particularly his defeat at Carrhae. David Rollin’s has set out to remedy this in his planned series of books covering this period of history, of which this is the first.
The page length of the book is a bit of an oddity. Novella’s tend to be around 100 (on my kindle) pages long. Normal novels around 350-400. This one comes in at about 170. So longer than a normal novella, but about half the size of a normal novel.
This first book covers the Roman period around 53-54BC, 10 years before the assassination of Julius Caesar and a coupe of years before the first Triumvirate of Caesar, Pompey and Crassus. The motivations for Crassus to invade Parthia were perfectly clear - having amassed a huge fortune in land speculation and dodgy business practices, what was left to achieve for Rome’s richest man? Rather than be overshadowed by the military accomplishments of his fellow Triumvir’s Pompey and Caesar, Crassus needed a military victory and triumph of his own to be put on an equal footing in terms of gravitas or imperium.
Without official consent of the senate, Proconsul Crassus, Governor of Syria marched his army of around 40,000 legionaries through the deserts of mesopotamia to utter annihilation by Surena a General of the Persian army fielding a numerically far inferior force just outside Carrhae, a small town in modern day Turkey.
Rollins truly breathes life into this fascinating period of history. The story is told for the most part through the eyes of Appius, a historian employed by Crassus to be the recorder of his momentus victory. In reality the narrative switches between first and third person through the constantly changing perspectives of the central and main characters.
I read a lot of historical fiction and one of the keys to writing this genre successfully is to breath both believability and atmosphere into both narrative and dialogue. You have to believe in the characters and you have to believe you’re there standing right next to them as the action unfolds. For the most part Rollins pulls this off really well. His characters are believable, they’re well drawn, well described and and the dialogue entirely consistent with the time period in question. There has to be a certain degree of anachronism to make dialogue understandable to modern readers but that shouldn’t come as a sacrifice to the period it’s set in. It’s a delicate balance and Rollins gets the balance spot on.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters are well drawn and believable. The time period atmospherically portrayed, the story line well thought out and moves along as a decent pace. There’s sex, violence aplenty with a soupçon of skullduggery and political intrigue all set in Roman times. What’s not to like?
My only real criticism of this book is the front cover. It’s a bit naive and could be so much better.
I’m really looking forward to reading the next instalment. Highly recommended to all historical fiction fans, particularly those interested in the Roman era.
4/5.
August 15, 2015
I would like to thank Momentum Books for providing me with an ARC of this book via Netgalley for an open and honest review.
Okay, I’m going to start with the positives as I feel this book does deserve some, despite my rating.
This is a very detailed story. It does capture the imagination and paint a clear and precise picture for the reader. It is well written and I do give big thumbs up to Mr Rollins for that.
Sadly, I didn’t like the story that much. The introduction done in first person nearly put me off even finishing the book. But I read other people’s reviews about how that was just the first part of the book so I gave it more time and found it readable once it switched to third person.
Being a fan of historical fiction set in Rome (Roma actually), I have some idea of life there and the usual goings on. And so to find a mildly graphical sex scene in just the introductory pages… as this is meant to be an historical fiction and not an historical romance, I was disappointed in the need to try and draw the reader in with sex. Oh, don’t call me a prude! There is a genre and place for it and it really wasn’t needed here and really just cheapened the book for me. It felt like it was trying to get the reader interested in the story by suggesting there was more ‘naughty bits’ to come. A good writer – and I have said Mr Rollins comes across as a good writer – shouldn’t have to use such tactics to draw the reader in. It was one of the main things that put me off wanting to read more.
Saying that, I also couldn’t see – despite the information given as to why – how it could be the historian telling the whole story. How did he know about Rufinius? He was up with Crassus the whole time. And where was he at the end of the book? How can he still be telling the tale when he’s not even mentioned after the final fight?
I know this book is the first in a series and the answers to these questions may become obvious in the later stories, but for now it’s not gelling with me at all. I found it just added to the first part of the book being a waste of time and just used to draw in the type of reader hoping to cop an eyeful of sex later on.
As I have said, it is a well written book; I did like parts of it, mostly when dealing with the Legionary, but not enough to encourage me to seek more information on Rufinius in the next book in the series.
Would I recommend this book to others? Maybe. I really don’t know. Being a fan of historical fiction set in ancient Rome, I may mention it in passing to anyone after something of that era to read… but then again I might not. Though I would mention David Rollins as a good author and suggest people seeking an interesting Australian author look him up.
Would I buy this book for myself? Sadly no. I might read the next in the series if I was to come across it in the library, but I’d not go out of my way to find it. I might just stick to the likes of Steven Saylor when I next need my ancient Roma historical fiction fix.
So in summary, it’s a well written book and I’m pretty sure there are people out there who will really enjoy it, I just wasn’t one of them. The fault is in the reader and book not gelling, not in the book itself.
Okay, I’m going to start with the positives as I feel this book does deserve some, despite my rating.
This is a very detailed story. It does capture the imagination and paint a clear and precise picture for the reader. It is well written and I do give big thumbs up to Mr Rollins for that.
Sadly, I didn’t like the story that much. The introduction done in first person nearly put me off even finishing the book. But I read other people’s reviews about how that was just the first part of the book so I gave it more time and found it readable once it switched to third person.
Being a fan of historical fiction set in Rome (Roma actually), I have some idea of life there and the usual goings on. And so to find a mildly graphical sex scene in just the introductory pages… as this is meant to be an historical fiction and not an historical romance, I was disappointed in the need to try and draw the reader in with sex. Oh, don’t call me a prude! There is a genre and place for it and it really wasn’t needed here and really just cheapened the book for me. It felt like it was trying to get the reader interested in the story by suggesting there was more ‘naughty bits’ to come. A good writer – and I have said Mr Rollins comes across as a good writer – shouldn’t have to use such tactics to draw the reader in. It was one of the main things that put me off wanting to read more.
Saying that, I also couldn’t see – despite the information given as to why – how it could be the historian telling the whole story. How did he know about Rufinius? He was up with Crassus the whole time. And where was he at the end of the book? How can he still be telling the tale when he’s not even mentioned after the final fight?
I know this book is the first in a series and the answers to these questions may become obvious in the later stories, but for now it’s not gelling with me at all. I found it just added to the first part of the book being a waste of time and just used to draw in the type of reader hoping to cop an eyeful of sex later on.
As I have said, it is a well written book; I did like parts of it, mostly when dealing with the Legionary, but not enough to encourage me to seek more information on Rufinius in the next book in the series.
Would I recommend this book to others? Maybe. I really don’t know. Being a fan of historical fiction set in ancient Rome, I may mention it in passing to anyone after something of that era to read… but then again I might not. Though I would mention David Rollins as a good author and suggest people seeking an interesting Australian author look him up.
Would I buy this book for myself? Sadly no. I might read the next in the series if I was to come across it in the library, but I’d not go out of my way to find it. I might just stick to the likes of Steven Saylor when I next need my ancient Roma historical fiction fix.
So in summary, it’s a well written book and I’m pretty sure there are people out there who will really enjoy it, I just wasn’t one of them. The fault is in the reader and book not gelling, not in the book itself.
August 13, 2015
I do enjoy David's book but I found this one very hard to get into. If you are a history buff you would know more about the story. There is tons of blood and gore as two different empires go head to head.
Rome needs to win the war against Parthia and if that means losing men by the hundreds then so be it.
The Parthians have won the war but Rome won't back down even if it means losing all it soldiers. The remaining men know that death awaits them but if they could escape from the Parthians they might be able to get away and get more men.
The Roman leader will pass the boundaries and he will pay the price for his actions. Who will take his place can the men ever get away or will Rome fall?
I got confused in the beginning as the book started with an historian and then he seems to have been pushed into the background. What I liked about the book is the descriptions of the men & their surroundings and there were times that I actually felt sorry for them. There is bad language that made me smile as it made the characters more believable. I am not sure if I will read the next one in the series but if you enjoy this one you will need to see what happens with both sides. I was lucky enough to get a ARC copy in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley.
Rome needs to win the war against Parthia and if that means losing men by the hundreds then so be it.
The Parthians have won the war but Rome won't back down even if it means losing all it soldiers. The remaining men know that death awaits them but if they could escape from the Parthians they might be able to get away and get more men.
The Roman leader will pass the boundaries and he will pay the price for his actions. Who will take his place can the men ever get away or will Rome fall?
I got confused in the beginning as the book started with an historian and then he seems to have been pushed into the background. What I liked about the book is the descriptions of the men & their surroundings and there were times that I actually felt sorry for them. There is bad language that made me smile as it made the characters more believable. I am not sure if I will read the next one in the series but if you enjoy this one you will need to see what happens with both sides. I was lucky enough to get a ARC copy in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley.
August 25, 2015
It was interesting to get a look into the past of ancient Romans and their thought process. This is a story of Marcus Licinius Crassus and his greed and self-importance. He wants to be known throughout history as Julius Caesar is known. He is a wealthy man, but no wars to his name. Marcus wants to create a war with a neighboring country and have his story told through Appius, a historian. He tells the story as though he is a fly on the wall. The downside to that (if you can call it that) is that any part of the story that concerns Rufinius the soldier, you will have to take at face value... as Appius was not present in that given moment.
It was storytelling at its best! There were lies, betrayal, blood, gore... I think what was interesting is that while there are all these other characters, it feels like this series is really about Rufinius. The writing was great. I felt like I was a fly on the wall (next to Appius) as the Roman proconsul tries to figure out strategy and what it would feel like to conquer. I can't wait until the next installment.
It was storytelling at its best! There were lies, betrayal, blood, gore... I think what was interesting is that while there are all these other characters, it feels like this series is really about Rufinius. The writing was great. I felt like I was a fly on the wall (next to Appius) as the Roman proconsul tries to figure out strategy and what it would feel like to conquer. I can't wait until the next installment.
dnf
July 14, 2015I'm not rating this book because I did not finish it.
Because this is historical fiction I thought I was gonna at least like this book but I didn't, unfortunately. I guess something about the writing bugged me but I can't quite put my finger on it. And I really did try to read it but I just couldn't get through it. I usually don't have any problems with historical fiction so maybe it just wasn't the right time for me to be reading this one. So I think I might get back to it later.
For now it's a DNF.
Because this is historical fiction I thought I was gonna at least like this book but I didn't, unfortunately. I guess something about the writing bugged me but I can't quite put my finger on it. And I really did try to read it but I just couldn't get through it. I usually don't have any problems with historical fiction so maybe it just wasn't the right time for me to be reading this one. So I think I might get back to it later.
For now it's a DNF.
February 7, 2016
about the author:
David Rollins is a fiction author who lives in Sydney, Australia, and is best known for his series featuring Vin Cooper, a special agent in the United States Air Force OSI.
Rollins has published ten novels, which most recently includes Field or Mars, a detour into the world of a Roman legion lost in the mists of time and legend.
book synopsis:
Marcus Licinius Crassus's lust for gold and glory was legendary. What became of his army is myth.
In Crassus the tyrant, Rufinius the soldier, Appius the historian, Mena the hag and Lucia the Golden Whore, David Rollins brings to life a mystery that has plagued historians for centuries. The only constant in this world is Mars, the god of war, and who he will favour is anyone's guess.
Desperate to write himself into the pages of history, proconsul Marcus Licinius Crassus marched 40,000 Roman legionaries into the heart of the Parthian empire. More than 10,000 were never seen or heard from again.
In a story that spans empires and generations, this vanished army's fate is finally unveiled. From the streets of Rome to the deserts of ancient Iran, around the globe into the heart of an empire vaster than anything Rome ever imagined, a young Alexandrian soldier is borne on the tides of the age of empires from soldier of Rome to slave of Babylon to commander of armies.
Perfect for fans of Robert Harris and Conn Iggulden, this sweeping historical thriller takes the reader on an epic journey across ancient empires and into the unknown stories of myth and legend
My rating : 2 stars
Challenges I used this for:
The Life of a Book Addict
Reading Group Challenge 2016
12 plus 4 alternatives
What did I think of it: this is the first time I've ever reading any thing by this author , and I was hoping to actually like or even love this series because its historical fiction about the Roman legionaries , but I just didn't end up liking it at all, I just couldn't get in to it at all such a let down.
David Rollins is a fiction author who lives in Sydney, Australia, and is best known for his series featuring Vin Cooper, a special agent in the United States Air Force OSI.
Rollins has published ten novels, which most recently includes Field or Mars, a detour into the world of a Roman legion lost in the mists of time and legend.
book synopsis:
Marcus Licinius Crassus's lust for gold and glory was legendary. What became of his army is myth.
In Crassus the tyrant, Rufinius the soldier, Appius the historian, Mena the hag and Lucia the Golden Whore, David Rollins brings to life a mystery that has plagued historians for centuries. The only constant in this world is Mars, the god of war, and who he will favour is anyone's guess.
Desperate to write himself into the pages of history, proconsul Marcus Licinius Crassus marched 40,000 Roman legionaries into the heart of the Parthian empire. More than 10,000 were never seen or heard from again.
In a story that spans empires and generations, this vanished army's fate is finally unveiled. From the streets of Rome to the deserts of ancient Iran, around the globe into the heart of an empire vaster than anything Rome ever imagined, a young Alexandrian soldier is borne on the tides of the age of empires from soldier of Rome to slave of Babylon to commander of armies.
Perfect for fans of Robert Harris and Conn Iggulden, this sweeping historical thriller takes the reader on an epic journey across ancient empires and into the unknown stories of myth and legend
My rating : 2 stars
Challenges I used this for:
The Life of a Book Addict
Reading Group Challenge 2016
12 plus 4 alternatives
What did I think of it: this is the first time I've ever reading any thing by this author , and I was hoping to actually like or even love this series because its historical fiction about the Roman legionaries , but I just didn't end up liking it at all, I just couldn't get in to it at all such a let down.
September 21, 2015
*This was an ARC from Netgalley given in exchange for an honest review*
I honestly thought this book was something else, a totally different genre, so reading the beginning shocked me a little. I'm thinking it was the cover that made me think I was dealing with an entirely different book. However, since I also (thankfully!) like historical novels, once I got my brain wrapped around the fact that this was NOT the book I thought it was, everything turned out pretty well in spite of it.
The story is fast paced and detailed. It is very action oriented and yes, as others have mentioned, gory. I was particularly impressed by the absolute military ineptitude shown by Crassus, the man doing the invading. It was spectacular the scale of failure he led his soldiers into.
I gave it a lower rating because the multiple names of everyone made it difficult to keep characters straight and sometimes to even tell who was doing what. Also, the multiple uses of Latin nouns also made it a little hard to follow. Other than those two negatives, it was an intelligent and good book.
I honestly thought this book was something else, a totally different genre, so reading the beginning shocked me a little. I'm thinking it was the cover that made me think I was dealing with an entirely different book. However, since I also (thankfully!) like historical novels, once I got my brain wrapped around the fact that this was NOT the book I thought it was, everything turned out pretty well in spite of it.
The story is fast paced and detailed. It is very action oriented and yes, as others have mentioned, gory. I was particularly impressed by the absolute military ineptitude shown by Crassus, the man doing the invading. It was spectacular the scale of failure he led his soldiers into.
I gave it a lower rating because the multiple names of everyone made it difficult to keep characters straight and sometimes to even tell who was doing what. Also, the multiple uses of Latin nouns also made it a little hard to follow. Other than those two negatives, it was an intelligent and good book.
September 13, 2015
One of the things that puts me off reading novels of ancient Rome is the huge use of Latin words as if they are part of the reader's everyday language. It annoys me enough to not want to read them. But this book is different in that regard as the translated meaning of words, usually nouns, is frequently used as if reminding those unfamiliar with the words what they mean. It makes for a less frustrating read.
This novella is the first of a three part story that I generally enjoyed. It covers the battle that resulted with the death of Marcus Licinius Crassus, one of the riches men in the world at the time. It's enjoyable but reads very much like a history lesson, but than as the book explains, the story is written from the point of view of a historian employed by Crassus to record his legacy. Of course things don't go according to plan. It will be interesting to read what happens next.
Perhaps it might have been better to wait until all three stories were released as one book.
This novella is the first of a three part story that I generally enjoyed. It covers the battle that resulted with the death of Marcus Licinius Crassus, one of the riches men in the world at the time. It's enjoyable but reads very much like a history lesson, but than as the book explains, the story is written from the point of view of a historian employed by Crassus to record his legacy. Of course things don't go according to plan. It will be interesting to read what happens next.
Perhaps it might have been better to wait until all three stories were released as one book.
March 9, 2016
I received this as an arc from net galley in exchange for an honest review.
Marcus Liciinius Crassus's lust for gold and glory was legendary what became of his army is myth.
Good read.
I liked the story and the characters.
This is not my usual read.
But I liked the story and the ending surprised me.
Serena ' s surprised me I didn't like him.
I liked the ending and what a ending.
Can't wait for episode 2.
Highly recommended.
Definitely worth more than 5 *.
Marcus Liciinius Crassus's lust for gold and glory was legendary what became of his army is myth.
Good read.
I liked the story and the characters.
This is not my usual read.
But I liked the story and the ending surprised me.
Serena ' s surprised me I didn't like him.
I liked the ending and what a ending.
Can't wait for episode 2.
Highly recommended.
Definitely worth more than 5 *.
February 21, 2016
A very strong start to a historical epic
For a full review, please go to http://www.examiner.com/review/field-... or http://areviewerdarkly.blogspot.com/2... and follow me on Twitter @josenher
For a full review, please go to http://www.examiner.com/review/field-... or http://areviewerdarkly.blogspot.com/2... and follow me on Twitter @josenher
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews