Clay Legionary

Clay Warrior Stories #1

by J. Clifton Slater

A gladius is a short sword

A prodigy is a talented youth

Put them together and people die

Welcome to 271 B.C.



This is not the full-time professional Legion of Imperial Rome. This is the levied Legion of the mid-Republic and it is messy.



If you like readable Roman adventure and 3rd Century military historical fiction, you will love the Clay Warrior Stories series.



Going further than historical fiction, the Clay Warrior Stories are adventure books designed to make you want to strap on a shield, draw a gladius, and join a Legion battle line.



Set in the years before and during the 1st Punic War, the series follows the exploits of a young, hot-headed swordsman. From a lad on his father's farm, to a Legion training camp, to the Capital of the Republic, Alerio Sisera learns that sharp steel and quick reflexes are not always a Legionary's best assets.



Clay Legionary is the 1st book in the Clay Warrior Stories series.



I write military adventure both future and ancient

Other books by J. Clifton Slater



Clay Warrior Stories

#1 Clay Legionary

#2 Spilled Blood

#3 Bloody Water

#4 Reluctant Siege

#5 Brutal Diplomacy

#6 Fortune Reigns

#7 Fatal Obligation

#8 Infinite Courage

#9 Deceptive Valor

#10 Neptune's Fury

#11 Unjust Sacrifice

#12 Muted Implications

#13 Death Caller

#14 Rome’s Tribune

#15 Deranged Sovereignty#16 Uncertain Honor#17 Tribune's Oath#18 Savage Birthright#19 Abject Authority

Terror & Talons

#1 Hawk of the Sorcerer Queen

#2 Magic and the Rage of Intent



Call Sign Warlock

#1 Op File Revenge

#2 Op File Treason

#3 Op File Sanction



Galactic Council Realm

#1 On Station

#2 On Duty

#3 On Guard

#4 On Point

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction

291 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 24, 2017

About the author

Thank you for reading my author's profile.
I write Military Adventure both Future and Ancient.

In early 2015 I sat down and began On Station. The Galactic Council Realm series is now four books long.

My wife and I have three rescue dogs. Our home is a dog house. Luckily, they are small dogs. This doesn't explain why the Galactic Council Realm has Space Cats. It's still a mystery to my dogs.

Another subject I am passionate about is history.
While researching ancient Rome, I looked for books set before Rome became an Empire. They are few. Further study led me to the Roman Republic which lasted over 200 years.

Clay Warrior Stories takes place before the first Punic War in a world where making steel and clay bricks were the height of technology. There are 19 book in the Clay Warrior Stories. Welcome to 264 B.C.

A Legion Archer is a series set during the 2nd Punic war. The books follow Cornelius Scipio who would become Rome's greatest general and Jace Kasia, an archer, who saves him. Welcome to 218 B.C.

I am a United States Marine Corps veteran. My father was career Air Force, so I am also a service brat. I have lived in numerous states and a fair share of foreign countries. This influences my writing in creating diverse characters and locations.

To follow my progress sign up for my monthly Author Report at www.JCliftonSlater.com

Thank you for reviewing my Author Page.

I wish you faith, courage and enthusiasm. Now, go have a perfect day.

J. Clifton Slater

Reviews

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The son of a Roman soldier is a swordsman prodigy, and finds himself in the legion after a barroom brawl. He goes through training, joins the Raiders, and gets in trouble with a village of assassins.

I can't say it's particularly realistic, but it is pretty entertaining.

[Brian Kitchen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like writers who can tell a great story and that is what J.Clifton Slater does. I'd read all of his Galactic Council Realm series and so knew before I'd started the book that I was in for a good read and wasn't disappointed. Clay Legionary, the first book in J.Clifton Slater's Clay Warrior series, is a fast paced, action adventure set in 271 B.C. in the Roman Republic. The book tells the tale of Alerio Sisera, a young farm boy who finds he has a talent for sword play and becomes an expert swordsman. Circumstances (I won't give the plot away) see him having to join the Legions and soon he is posted far away from his home. J.Clifton Slater may not be a historian, but I felt he captured the essence of a Legionary's life and I dare say many serving soldiers will well recognize some of the situations that Alerio is faced with. A great story and I look forward to reading the next in the series and following Alerio's adventures once more.

[Joe Goins · Rating 1 out of 5]

The most poorly book I have ever read.

The author spent little or no effort to develop the prisoner's or secondary characters. The author has absolutely no knowledge of ancient Rome, Legion organization or of combat in general. Even high school students are aware that the Roman Legions never tolerated rebels. At the first sign of rebellion they would have entered the city, executed all of the men, taken the women and children to be sold as slaves and leveled the city so that no two stones stood upon each other.

The book is silly, boring and a complete waste of time.

[Richard Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book

This book introduces us to a very unique young man. A man above all as an expert in weapons of every kind. He joins the Legion and here his story begins.......

[Shane Findlay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not much Roman history in these pages. Regardless, fun fast read.

[John Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lively romp across ancient Rome!

This book, although quite entertaining, showed an appalling lack of accuracy when describing Roman military hierarchy. Modern terms such as "private", "lance corporal", "corporal" and "sergeant" were banded around alongside the correct Roman terminology . At least the soldiers were correctly described as "legionaries" rather than "legionaires" , as I've encountered in other books. The action was certainly entertaining if a little theatrical. A real mixed bag of a story.

[Truls Ljungström · Rating 1 out of 5]

Detta är inte en historisk roman. Det är amerikansk militär fanfiction med svärd. I den andra romansviten författaren har skrivit är användandet av amerikanska smeknamn på grekiska karaktärer irriterande- men det finns tillräckligt mycket historia detaljer för att ignorera det som en marknadsföringsaffektion. I denna bok har författaren uppenbarligen inte ens öppnat en skolbok om Romarriket. Organisationen är fel, truppslagen är fel, valutan är fel, marsch-metoden är fel, det finns inget sådant som åsnor och publikaner och veles är plötsligt lätta skyttar snarare än fattiga tonåringar. Det är helt enkelt bland det sämsta jag har läst i genren.

[Diarmuid O'Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun book with serious flaws

This is a pretty fun action fantasy book. The fights are convincing and amusing. The prose is clear and adequately descriptive. Other reviews complain about the structure, but the novel follows a basic hero's journey plot line pretty closely.

The author claims that this is historical fiction, but it very much isn't. Its a fantasy novel all the way. The author seems to have found a few Roman terms and sprinkled them into a modern US marine core analog. it can be quite distracting. Even when you get used to it, some new modern anachorism is used and pulls you out of the story.

The biggest issue is that the main character is a Mary Sue/Gary Stu. Its not the worst example of one I have ever encountered, but its still enough to kill any narrative tension. Everything the main character does is perfect and correcct and everyone that meets him immediately is awed by him unless they're evil. Every good idea springs from him or involves him. This is really just the story of Perfect Guy dominating everything, and it can be pretty dull.

There are some editing mistakes and it needs better editing, but it isn't anything serious.

Overall, this is a fun book if you're looking for ridiculous cartoonish action where a superhero type character effortlessly dominates a Roman themed setting. Its also a quick and easy read. If thats not what you're looking for then this isn't the book for you.

[David Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clay Legionary

I love this series! This will be my second time through and it still holds my interest. Sissera is a pre empire Rambo. I enjoy the style of writing, the banter,and humor. There is plenty of action and enough history to keep it plausible. Pre Empire Rome had to be something akin to the old west,and Allerio was a Paladin with honor ,and a gladeus in each hand instead of pistols.

[Jim Guldner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simplistic, but a good read

Decent story, enough Latin or Italian cussing to liven the story, a tale of growing up.
Enjoyable and likable main character, good-hearted. Seemingly innocent yet still worldly. A good interpretation of Republican Rome, but interesting that everyone spoke the same language. I wonder how they did that.

[Donald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roman Legionary Action Action

Great storyline but poor historical research what with weapons not invented, devices not in th technology at the time combined with tactics not used by Roman legions makes for interesting but not authentic subject matter. Good character development plus good action make this an interesting. I plane to read the entire series!

[Elinor Salter Glenn Salter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story and fight scenes, but oh the modern Americanisms!

The premise is good and likely able hero, with some good research. But oh the Americanisms, and use of modern American military ranks mixed with old Roman is just wrong and palls after a while. If I worry a western you would expect US spelling, not olde English and speech patterns. Shame some good bits here.

[Jimmy Duncan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

Great action, good characters, marvelous plot and story line. I kinda wonder if someone can teach himself to use both hands at the same time? If you start young enough, maybe . I'm looking forward to the next one.

[Andy Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great introduction, excited to continue the series!

Good introduction to the series, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Good storyline and execution of it, looking forward to reading more in the series.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh, kind of a fun read despite its flaws. Sometimes the grammar and spelling threw me off. It was a little annoying that Alerio did everything right all the time. Also, it seemed a little more US military than Roman legion, except it used Roman terminology.

[Marek Stawiarski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

I have enjoyed reading this book. The story line is somewhat naive, perhaps addressed the younger audience, but the author kept pace and interest.
Will read the second book.

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Going to enjoy this series

Love a good story and this is a great one! Characters developed fully and plusable story line. I am writing this under my wife's account, no relation to the author as far as I know.. Bob Slater bobdaman22000 at yahoo if any questions

[Starlo · Rating 1 out of 5]

Abysmal fare. Not sure who the fans of this series might be but there are far, far better series on Roman history than this. Prefaced by “I am not a historian” and that became abundantly clear within a few pages. Forced myself to finish it and definitely will not be returning to this series.

[Strum · Rating 2 out of 5]

Shallow character development.

[Jay Puranik · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! Raw, emotion you can relate to and technically defined action sequences with gladiators! Happy to know this is a long series!

[Shane. Heddens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clay legionary

Fast moving plot. Great character. Good details on training with weapons and good background. Look forward to reading more on this series.

[Derren Dunworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book

[Johnathan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not good. Few place names, mixing ancient and modern terms for military stuff. Like Squad instead of cohort, but then they use century. Saying NCO’s really kills the mood.

[Martin Robbins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Great lead icharacter, storyline and fast paced. I can't wait to read the following books in the series. Just what I wanted to find

[Darin Perkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book reads more like a comic book than a historical novel, author either doesn’t know a lot about the Roman Republic Legions or just wanted to skim over it and produce action.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

- Not bad, more like older juvenile fiction. Shows promise.

[Sko Buffs · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book started out great! Kind of dragged with the story about the knives. I was sure I would do more in the series, now might look at another similar Roman times book.

[Ruth · Rating 1 out of 5]

13 The introduction to the book was just awful. The wrong tone was set at the outset and I didn’t enjoy the book at all and I couldn’t finish it.

[Phil Polich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good historical fiction

I enjoy this authors lot. I would suggest that infuture works he spends a little more content on locations where the action is taking place.

[Tim Fletcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice character building.
Good scene writing.
Written mainly from main characters view.
No stupid cliff hanger at the end of the book.
The book is a nice comfortable read.
The formating of the writing could use some work.