Germania

Veteran Of Rome #5

by William Kelso

Summer 105 AD. There has been no news from Marcus for over a year. On the Isle of Vectis, Marcus’s family are beginning to despair that he will ever return from his epic sea voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. At the Legionary Fortress of Deva Victrix, home of the Twentieth Legion, Marcus’s nineteen year old son, Fergus, a soldier, dreams of becoming like his grandfather, Corbulo; a hero of the Legion. And soon opportunity beckons. In faraway Dacia, war has broken out once more between proud Decebalus, King of the Dacians, and the Roman Empire. The Twentieth Legion, is ordered to send a vexillatio to the front, and dispatches Fergus’s company to the Danube. But with winter intervening to halt campaigning, Fergus finds himself posted to the Legionary fortress at Carnuntum, manning the Danube frontier and participating in an endless, brutal and savage fight for survival against Germanic war-bands who are raiding Roman land. In deepest winter, Fergus’s company is chosen to escort a Roman diplomatic mission, led by the Legate Hadrian. Journeying far beyond the Imperial borders and deep into Germania, the expedition heads for the sacred grove of the Vandals. And in the snowy, forested wilderness and bitter cold of the Sudeten mountains, Fergus will discover what it truly means to become a hero.

Genres: Historical Fiction

313 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 28, 2007

About the author

Hello, my name is William Kelso.

My stories are all about ancient Rome and Carthage, especially the early to mid-republic as this was the age of true Roman greatness. I have written 25 books so far with an aim of reaching a 100.

Reviews

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

From 2007 publishing date on verso t.p., this looks like an early effort; in fact, this was the author's first novel. The author has given us a workmanlike story but style is that of a beginner but with flashes of talent. I'd like to read a later effort to compare author's growth. I call this a "what-if" novel; the author has given us a scenario setting out what might have happened if the Romans had won the Battle of Teutoberg Forest.

A young man, Gaius, joins the staff of Governor Varus, who rules Germania Magna. He is tasked with bringing back the rebel guerrilla Arminius. He does meet Arminius but is unsuccessful in bringing back the Eagle of the 18th. Gaius also hopes to reunite with his long-lost brother, Marcus. There is much treachery involving a civilian merchant and a rogue centurion as well as the duplicitous Arminius. There is a climactic battle with Arminius' forces, in which the Romans are aided by another German tribe. Much later the author has produced a novel with the same title; this is a completely different novel. Not having read any subsequent novels yet I wondered if the Marcus in the later novels will be Gaius' nephew and if you could call this novel a sort-of prequel.

Proofing was poor; love interest was earnest but awkward. Some incidents seemed far-fetched and characters were all either completely good or dripping with evil. Varus was just feckless. I'm glad the author avoided the dominus/domine problem by the use of the word Sir. I appreciate the author's efforts; he certainly gave us a readable and riveting story.

[Jon Fiskvik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical very good. The scheme repeats a little from book to book in the series. This is not putting me off, I am no reading book 6 and can not stop. Kelso is competing with B. Cornwell. Good value for the money!

[Francis Mulhern · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another solid entry from Mr Kelso
This book has more to offer than the previous book and I really enjoyed the story with it's hint at land laws and controversies brought about by the change in emporers.
A good read.

[patricia j. maynard · Rating 1 out of 5]

Once again I have read your books, but I still think you are lying to your reader's but listing more page's than their acting are. You use the same filler of use less information to make your books appear longer than the story is. Shame on you!

Stop ripping off your reader's. Either charge less for your books or add two together and charge two bucks more.

[L. Barak · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have really enjoyed Keslo's many books. My only real negative criticism, however, is about his use of the comma. His random placement of the comma is very irritating. Oh yes, one other thing: to make something tight is "taut" not "taught".

[Steve Minnick · Rating 4 out of 5]

We are back in the thick of it!

The excitement, the action, the story of a family, all continue on Britain and Germania. The author has ramped up the excitement and action in a significant way!

For History lovers these stories are written for you!