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Warrior of Rome #1
Fire in the East
'WAR IS HELL . . . '
The year is AD 255 - the Roman Imperium is stretched to breaking point, its authority and might challenged along every border. The greatest threat lies in Persia to the east, where the massing forces of the Sassanid Empire loom with fiery menace. There the isolated Roman citadel of Arete awaits inevitable invasion.
One man is sent to marshal the defences and shore up crumbling walls. A man whose name itself means war: a man called Ballista. Alone, Ballista is called to muster the forces, and the courage to stand first and to stand hard, against the greatest enemy ever to confront the Imperium.
This is part one of WARRIOR OF ROME: an epic of empire, of heroes, of treachery, of courage, and most of all, a story of brutal, bloody warfare.
The year is AD 255 - the Roman Imperium is stretched to breaking point, its authority and might challenged along every border. The greatest threat lies in Persia to the east, where the massing forces of the Sassanid Empire loom with fiery menace. There the isolated Roman citadel of Arete awaits inevitable invasion.
One man is sent to marshal the defences and shore up crumbling walls. A man whose name itself means war: a man called Ballista. Alone, Ballista is called to muster the forces, and the courage to stand first and to stand hard, against the greatest enemy ever to confront the Imperium.
This is part one of WARRIOR OF ROME: an epic of empire, of heroes, of treachery, of courage, and most of all, a story of brutal, bloody warfare.
432 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2008
209 people are currently reading
4296 people want to read
About the author
Harry Sidebottom
43 books527 followersHarry Sidebottom is Lecturer in Ancient History at Merton College, Oxford, and part-time lecturer in Classics and Ancient History at the University of Warwick. He has written for and contributed to many publications, including Classical Review, Journal of Roman Studies, and War and Society in the Roman World.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 215 reviews
January 18, 2023
Otoño del año 255 d. C.
Marco Clodio Ballista, impetuoso oficial romano, viaja hasta Arete, a orillas del Éufrates, para defender la ciudad del acoso de los sasánidas persas, pero mientras prepara las defensas de la ciudad, descubre que hay espías entre sus hombres de mayor confianza.
Todo resulta violento y apasionado en los confines del Imperio, incluso los sentimientos que la exótica belleza de Bathshiva despierta en Ballista
El inicio de la interesante historia de Marco Clodius Ballista, comandante romano que es enviado a la frontera con el agresivo Imperio sasánida persa.
Debe mantener las cosas estables en el este mientras se ocupan de los problemas a lo largo del Rin y el Danubio. Si muere en el proceso, bueno, como alemán, es prescindible
Puntuación:⭐️⭐️, 5
A la banda, considerando la fama que tiene este autor, les dejo aquí esta humilde opinión pasada y tratada por hacha.
Si lo leéis, insensatos, estaré muy atento. Conmigo no ha funcionado.
El libro comienza lento. Demasiado lento. Y me tuve que esforzar, bastante, por sumergirme en la historia.
Un tedioso comienzo, el resultado fue prepararme una buena, llena y cargada taza de café frente al desafío, pasando las páginas, y mientras leía afilaba el hacha, poniendo, como ponía el bueno de Sauron (Señor de los anillos), toda mí ira, rabia y decepción en ella. Pensando que harían los buenos de Escalofríos y Nuevededos en mi lugar.
Lo sé, a la hora de sacar el hacha tengo ídolos muy buenos..
Este autor es muy reconocido, pero aquí no me ha convencido. Dedica demasiado tiempo en el viaje de Roma a la lejana ciudad de Arete. Me pareció pasarse. Me aburrí. Muchísimo. Y eso es algo muy difícil de lograr, mi enhorabuena.
Es más agradable ver ovejas pastar, sentado, y pasas mejor el tiempo, a tus cosas ..que leer ese puñetero viaje.. Resistí a abandonarlo..
Pero la tragedia y caída al olvido de este libro, ya no recuerdo ni el título, no termina ahí. Me falló otro aspecto más importante.
Los personajes fueron un poco secos y no llamaron mí interés. Fue como leer por encima, algo frío, faltando la chispa, la vida en mi imaginación y las ganas de hacerlo pudiendo vivir la historia que se transmite y ser testigo de la misma.
La narración no sé si es de sus primeros libros pero me pareció algo tediosa y repetitiva, y se dedica muy poco tiempo al protagonista. Mismo a conocerlo, o su desarrollo. Cuando esto ocurre ya fue muy tarde para que captase mi atención e interés..
¿Dije ya que es muy repetitivo en no pocas cosas y momentos?
No ha funcionado comigo. La historia es muy interesante. Pero si me fallan los personajes y se me hace demasiado largo su comienzo y en cosas que, como lector, no me llevan ni aportan nada..
Con el extra curioso que me falta esa chispa a la hora de sumergirte y vivir la historia.
El resultado, es el que es..🪓
Leeré otros de este autor en un futuro, este no me ha gustado, ni ha hecho "click" en ningún momento.
Tengo otro en la recámara y será mi última oportunidad a este autor..✍️
Marco Clodio Ballista, impetuoso oficial romano, viaja hasta Arete, a orillas del Éufrates, para defender la ciudad del acoso de los sasánidas persas, pero mientras prepara las defensas de la ciudad, descubre que hay espías entre sus hombres de mayor confianza.
Todo resulta violento y apasionado en los confines del Imperio, incluso los sentimientos que la exótica belleza de Bathshiva despierta en Ballista
El inicio de la interesante historia de Marco Clodius Ballista, comandante romano que es enviado a la frontera con el agresivo Imperio sasánida persa.
Debe mantener las cosas estables en el este mientras se ocupan de los problemas a lo largo del Rin y el Danubio. Si muere en el proceso, bueno, como alemán, es prescindible
Puntuación:⭐️⭐️, 5
A la banda, considerando la fama que tiene este autor, les dejo aquí esta humilde opinión pasada y tratada por hacha.
Si lo leéis, insensatos, estaré muy atento. Conmigo no ha funcionado.
El libro comienza lento. Demasiado lento. Y me tuve que esforzar, bastante, por sumergirme en la historia.
Un tedioso comienzo, el resultado fue prepararme una buena, llena y cargada taza de café frente al desafío, pasando las páginas, y mientras leía afilaba el hacha, poniendo, como ponía el bueno de Sauron (Señor de los anillos), toda mí ira, rabia y decepción en ella. Pensando que harían los buenos de Escalofríos y Nuevededos en mi lugar.
Lo sé, a la hora de sacar el hacha tengo ídolos muy buenos..
Este autor es muy reconocido, pero aquí no me ha convencido. Dedica demasiado tiempo en el viaje de Roma a la lejana ciudad de Arete. Me pareció pasarse. Me aburrí. Muchísimo. Y eso es algo muy difícil de lograr, mi enhorabuena.
Es más agradable ver ovejas pastar, sentado, y pasas mejor el tiempo, a tus cosas ..que leer ese puñetero viaje.. Resistí a abandonarlo..
Pero la tragedia y caída al olvido de este libro, ya no recuerdo ni el título, no termina ahí. Me falló otro aspecto más importante.
Los personajes fueron un poco secos y no llamaron mí interés. Fue como leer por encima, algo frío, faltando la chispa, la vida en mi imaginación y las ganas de hacerlo pudiendo vivir la historia que se transmite y ser testigo de la misma.
La narración no sé si es de sus primeros libros pero me pareció algo tediosa y repetitiva, y se dedica muy poco tiempo al protagonista. Mismo a conocerlo, o su desarrollo. Cuando esto ocurre ya fue muy tarde para que captase mi atención e interés..
¿Dije ya que es muy repetitivo en no pocas cosas y momentos?
No ha funcionado comigo. La historia es muy interesante. Pero si me fallan los personajes y se me hace demasiado largo su comienzo y en cosas que, como lector, no me llevan ni aportan nada..
Con el extra curioso que me falta esa chispa a la hora de sumergirte y vivir la historia.
El resultado, es el que es..🪓
Leeré otros de este autor en un futuro, este no me ha gustado, ni ha hecho "click" en ningún momento.
Tengo otro en la recámara y será mi última oportunidad a este autor..✍️
January 14, 2022
Read this book in 2010, and its the 1st volume of the amazing "Warrior of Rome" series, featuring Ballista.
The historical details concerning this book has been very well researched and explained by the author, which you can find in the historical afterword and a glossary at the end of the book.
At the beginning of the book you'll notice two well-drawn maps, one of the Ballista's voyage of towards to East, and one of the city of Arete, a place that will play a major part in this great tale.
The book starts off with a prologue which is set in the year AD 238, and the assassination of Emperor Maximinus Thrax and the hand of our main protagonist Ballista and some others.
The main story begins in AD 255, and Emperor Valerian in power in the East, with his son Gallienus appointed as joint Emperor in the West, and the Roman Empire under threat again from the might of Persia.
The forces of Sassanid Empire are massing along its border ready to invade Roman territory, with the isolated citadel of Arete there first target.
One man is sent to defend this citadel of Arête and that's Ballista, and he must somehow seem to build up this Roman stronghold in an effort to stop the Persian hordes in invading.
Together with all the forces he can muster, Ballista, his name means war, must somehow confront and try to defeat the greatest and fiercest enemy the Imperium has seen within their own territory.
What is to follow is a tremendous Roman historical adventure, in which Ballista and his men will do heroics to uphold and try to secure this stronghold for the Empire and stop the Persians from gaining this place, and all this is brought to us by the author in his own formidable and knowledgeable fashion.
Highly recommended, for this is a fantastic begin to this splendid series, and that's why I like to call this first episode: "A Brilliant Warrior Of Rome Start"!
The historical details concerning this book has been very well researched and explained by the author, which you can find in the historical afterword and a glossary at the end of the book.
At the beginning of the book you'll notice two well-drawn maps, one of the Ballista's voyage of towards to East, and one of the city of Arete, a place that will play a major part in this great tale.
The book starts off with a prologue which is set in the year AD 238, and the assassination of Emperor Maximinus Thrax and the hand of our main protagonist Ballista and some others.
The main story begins in AD 255, and Emperor Valerian in power in the East, with his son Gallienus appointed as joint Emperor in the West, and the Roman Empire under threat again from the might of Persia.
The forces of Sassanid Empire are massing along its border ready to invade Roman territory, with the isolated citadel of Arete there first target.
One man is sent to defend this citadel of Arête and that's Ballista, and he must somehow seem to build up this Roman stronghold in an effort to stop the Persian hordes in invading.
Together with all the forces he can muster, Ballista, his name means war, must somehow confront and try to defeat the greatest and fiercest enemy the Imperium has seen within their own territory.
What is to follow is a tremendous Roman historical adventure, in which Ballista and his men will do heroics to uphold and try to secure this stronghold for the Empire and stop the Persians from gaining this place, and all this is brought to us by the author in his own formidable and knowledgeable fashion.
Highly recommended, for this is a fantastic begin to this splendid series, and that's why I like to call this first episode: "A Brilliant Warrior Of Rome Start"!
May 5, 2014
Fire in the East is the story of Marcus Clodius Ballista, a Roman commander who is sent to the frontier with the aggressive Sassanid Persan Empire. He is to hold things together in the East while the Emperors deal with troubles along the Rhine and the Danube. If he dies in the process, well, too bad. As a German, he is expendable.
The book starts slow. Super duper slow. I struggled to get invested in the story. Far too much time is spent on the journey from Rome to the distant town of Arete. And the characters are dry and uninteresting. I felt as if I was reading about things that happened a long time ago rather than experiencing them. At times I found myself wondering why I was even reading the darn book! That's not a good sign.
Fortunately, the book warms up. When the Persians show up with their massive army and the siege of Arete actually begins, I was hooked. For several long months - most of a year - Ballista and his small band of legionnaires hold off 50,000 determined Persians. There are ferocious battles at the wall. There are artillery duels. There is treachery. There are desperate last stands. And throughout it, I found myself (at last) really pulling for the beleaguered German. The Roman nobles treat him with contempt (he's a Barbarian) but he faithfully exercises his duties as a Roman (which is more than can be said for some of the nobles).
I also learned a lot. In part I read historical fiction partly to learn about points in history that were less familiar to me. And this book illuminated a period that was dark for me. Most Roman stories seem to involve the period from Ceasar to Augustus to Claudius. The Empire is young and vigorous. It is growing, expanding. This book takes place much later in the Empire's life. The Empire, while still strong, is troubled. Franks, Goths and other peoples threaten the borders. Worse threat yet, in the East, are the Sassanids. Civilized, organized and fueled by the righteous power of Zoroastrianism, the Persians seek to push into Asia Minor. It was neat to read about this period. It offered me a fresh perspective.
All said and done, it started out as a II star book and ends as a IV star book, so I'll split the difference. III stars out of V.
The book starts slow. Super duper slow. I struggled to get invested in the story. Far too much time is spent on the journey from Rome to the distant town of Arete. And the characters are dry and uninteresting. I felt as if I was reading about things that happened a long time ago rather than experiencing them. At times I found myself wondering why I was even reading the darn book! That's not a good sign.
Fortunately, the book warms up. When the Persians show up with their massive army and the siege of Arete actually begins, I was hooked. For several long months - most of a year - Ballista and his small band of legionnaires hold off 50,000 determined Persians. There are ferocious battles at the wall. There are artillery duels. There is treachery. There are desperate last stands. And throughout it, I found myself (at last) really pulling for the beleaguered German. The Roman nobles treat him with contempt (he's a Barbarian) but he faithfully exercises his duties as a Roman (which is more than can be said for some of the nobles).
I also learned a lot. In part I read historical fiction partly to learn about points in history that were less familiar to me. And this book illuminated a period that was dark for me. Most Roman stories seem to involve the period from Ceasar to Augustus to Claudius. The Empire is young and vigorous. It is growing, expanding. This book takes place much later in the Empire's life. The Empire, while still strong, is troubled. Franks, Goths and other peoples threaten the borders. Worse threat yet, in the East, are the Sassanids. Civilized, organized and fueled by the righteous power of Zoroastrianism, the Persians seek to push into Asia Minor. It was neat to read about this period. It offered me a fresh perspective.
All said and done, it started out as a II star book and ends as a IV star book, so I'll split the difference. III stars out of V.
October 24, 2023
I came to this from the author's excellent Throne of the Caesars series. As a first book in this series, a lot of it was introduction to the characters, time and place, although we've met Ballista before. Years have passed since the death of Maximinus Thrax and Aquileia; this story places us in the reign of Valerian, years later. Ballista strikes me as an "outsider" who struggles to fit in, much as the characters of Gillian Bradshaw. Sadly, his barbarian origin leads others to underestimate him. Perusing the list of characters and recognizing some names from Throne of the Caesars, I wondered: are these the same people, but a few years on? Not much originality in the cover: the same ubiquitous Roman soldier. Can't any publisher come up with something more creative and striking for Roman military novels????
I've seen other people's reviews and many complaints about how slowly the book begins, with many details of excruciating [to them] detail. Sometimes I enjoy a slow-burner--pun, based on the title :) -- with all the asides and tidbits of details. I didn't read the novel for the siege only, but enjoyed the journey to get to Arete and of course the final siege and conflagration. Arete lay very close to the Roman/Persian border. Ballista has been given orders by the emperor to prepare defenses and finally to defend the city from the Sassanid Persians. He can ask for extra troops from other cities and levy citizens. The emperor promises to send reinforcements. There were many exciting incidents: a storm at sea, fight with Gothic pirates, then various skirmishes, extramural missions and the final siege and its aftermath. Someone is a traitor. Near the end Ballista muses: Is [the outcome] my fault? Did I concentrate so much on the Sassanid siege works that I did not pay enough attention to the possibility of treachery? ... would clues have been there? Would I have seen them?
The first time through I read it solely for the adventure but when I reread I concentrated more on some of the loose ends, motivations I feel the author didn't explain. Who killed Scribonius Mucianus and why? One culprit or two? What was the blackmail surrounding Turpio, which he didn't explain and Ballista never pushed? Who sabotaged the armory? What was Acilius Glabrio's motivation in giving the perfume for Ballista's bath since the two hated each other? I feel there were genuine but subtle clues, also red herrings. I do have my suspicions, but....
I felt like the city of Arete was a thinly-disguised Dura-Europos: http://dura-europos.com/
put into a fictional context. In the author's notes, he states he DID base his fictional city on it. I felt like this novel was several cuts above any Roman potboilers flooding the market, due to the construction of the story and the author's impeccable historicity. This novel joins my list of Quality Roman fiction. The Ballista name was silly, but there WAS a historical Ballista. I'm eager to follow his character development.
Most highly recommended.
I've seen other people's reviews and many complaints about how slowly the book begins, with many details of excruciating [to them] detail. Sometimes I enjoy a slow-burner--pun, based on the title :) -- with all the asides and tidbits of details. I didn't read the novel for the siege only, but enjoyed the journey to get to Arete and of course the final siege and conflagration. Arete lay very close to the Roman/Persian border. Ballista has been given orders by the emperor to prepare defenses and finally to defend the city from the Sassanid Persians. He can ask for extra troops from other cities and levy citizens. The emperor promises to send reinforcements. There were many exciting incidents: a storm at sea, fight with Gothic pirates, then various skirmishes, extramural missions and the final siege and its aftermath. Someone is a traitor. Near the end Ballista muses: Is [the outcome] my fault? Did I concentrate so much on the Sassanid siege works that I did not pay enough attention to the possibility of treachery? ... would clues have been there? Would I have seen them?
The first time through I read it solely for the adventure but when I reread I concentrated more on some of the loose ends, motivations I feel the author didn't explain. Who killed Scribonius Mucianus and why? One culprit or two? What was the blackmail surrounding Turpio, which he didn't explain and Ballista never pushed? Who sabotaged the armory? What was Acilius Glabrio's motivation in giving the perfume for Ballista's bath since the two hated each other? I feel there were genuine but subtle clues, also red herrings. I do have my suspicions, but....
I felt like the city of Arete was a thinly-disguised Dura-Europos: http://dura-europos.com/
put into a fictional context. In the author's notes, he states he DID base his fictional city on it. I felt like this novel was several cuts above any Roman potboilers flooding the market, due to the construction of the story and the author's impeccable historicity. This novel joins my list of Quality Roman fiction. The Ballista name was silly, but there WAS a historical Ballista. I'm eager to follow his character development.
Most highly recommended.
April 20, 2012
Sometimes it seems that the supermarket shelves are groaning under the weight of historical novels set during the 'Glory that was Rome'. Sadly many of them are unreadable tosh (yes, Ben Kane, I mean you!). However, Harry Sidebottom is a different proposition altogether.
A teacher of classical history at Oxford, Sidebottom knows his stuff, but, more to the point, he can also write. The man knows how to construct a pacey, exciting story and keep it moving.
Fire in the East is volume one of the Warrior of Rome series, set around AD256, which follows the adventures of Marcus Clodius Ballista, a Germanic diplomatic hostage, who has been granted Roman Citizenship and has served in the Roman Army, rising through the ranks to the point where, at the start of the novel, he has been given command of the defence of the City of Arete, on the eastern fringe of the Empire, as the Sassanid hoardes under the King of Kings, Shapur, threaten to capture it and drive Rome from Aasia Minor. Ballista is a complex character and Sidebottom explains his motivations and anxieties well as he deals with shoddy and resentful troops and arrogant, aristocratic officers.
There is intrigue aplenty, as the Emporer's spies keep an eye on Ballista and somewhere a traitor threatens to undermine the defence of the city. Sidebottom stocks the story with a large cast of characters and there is humour here as well as exciting action set-pieces as the siege of the city gets underway. The author never flinches from showing us the harsh sacrifices a supreme commander must make in order to achieve the task he has been set. The reveal at the end is well handled and overall this is a great read, based on sound knowledge of the era and a true love of the subject matter.
The next volume beckons. Recommended.
A teacher of classical history at Oxford, Sidebottom knows his stuff, but, more to the point, he can also write. The man knows how to construct a pacey, exciting story and keep it moving.
Fire in the East is volume one of the Warrior of Rome series, set around AD256, which follows the adventures of Marcus Clodius Ballista, a Germanic diplomatic hostage, who has been granted Roman Citizenship and has served in the Roman Army, rising through the ranks to the point where, at the start of the novel, he has been given command of the defence of the City of Arete, on the eastern fringe of the Empire, as the Sassanid hoardes under the King of Kings, Shapur, threaten to capture it and drive Rome from Aasia Minor. Ballista is a complex character and Sidebottom explains his motivations and anxieties well as he deals with shoddy and resentful troops and arrogant, aristocratic officers.
There is intrigue aplenty, as the Emporer's spies keep an eye on Ballista and somewhere a traitor threatens to undermine the defence of the city. Sidebottom stocks the story with a large cast of characters and there is humour here as well as exciting action set-pieces as the siege of the city gets underway. The author never flinches from showing us the harsh sacrifices a supreme commander must make in order to achieve the task he has been set. The reveal at the end is well handled and overall this is a great read, based on sound knowledge of the era and a true love of the subject matter.
The next volume beckons. Recommended.
August 4, 2013
This is an enjoyable tale once it gets going. I'm a big fan of the later, less-than-invincible Roman Empire, and this is set in just that era, with Dux Ballista being sent with a weak straggle of poorly-trained legionaries and auxilliaries to defend a sand-swept city far to the east against the might of the Sassanid army. The whole siege/bunker mentality really gets you onside with the protagonists.
Harry Sidebottom has gone to extreme lengths to ensure that the minutae of life in this time period are described to a tee, embellishing Ballista's time in Arete vividly. This is something of a double-edged sword; I do feel that a good historical novel should balance historical detail with exposition and action. In FitE, the historical detail was rich and informative but detrimental to the flow of the story at times.
Pacing was another thing that took a star off for me. I was looking forward to the clash between the Sassanids and the Romans, but it took a long time to come (over two thirds of the book) and this slackened the tension. Also, there were possibly a handful too many characters, but in saying that, the author handily provided a character glossary at the back - it's just that sometimes it interrupted the flow of the story when you had to work out who was doing what.
I'll be trying the next in the series, as I feel there is a lot more depth to be mined from the character of Ballista, especially the dark nightmare that haunts him - I love that side of a character!
Harry Sidebottom has gone to extreme lengths to ensure that the minutae of life in this time period are described to a tee, embellishing Ballista's time in Arete vividly. This is something of a double-edged sword; I do feel that a good historical novel should balance historical detail with exposition and action. In FitE, the historical detail was rich and informative but detrimental to the flow of the story at times.
Pacing was another thing that took a star off for me. I was looking forward to the clash between the Sassanids and the Romans, but it took a long time to come (over two thirds of the book) and this slackened the tension. Also, there were possibly a handful too many characters, but in saying that, the author handily provided a character glossary at the back - it's just that sometimes it interrupted the flow of the story when you had to work out who was doing what.
I'll be trying the next in the series, as I feel there is a lot more depth to be mined from the character of Ballista, especially the dark nightmare that haunts him - I love that side of a character!
May 28, 2021
3.5 stars. This is a reread. First read it I. 2019 and gave it 3 solid stars. This time I bumped it up by a halv a stars. Set in 255 bc in ancient Rome empire. I've read a few book revolving around ancient Rome and while this was entertaining and a decent enjoyment while reading it. It's not one of the better ones out there but I'm glad I've reread it again but don't think I'll continue on with the series. Maybe I will of i can find the ebook.
April 22, 2018
Wow! This was all action from page one and yet somehow managed to keep building and delivering more. There are a lot of 'Roman' terms used which adds an extra authenticity and although the author does a good job of explaining what these mean I found it got a little overwhelming and confusing at times, particular when it came to the military terms. However, this shouldn't be enough to prevent anyone from reading the book. If you have even the smallest interest in Roman history I couldn't recommend this book enough. I have already started the next book in the series.
July 4, 2022
Es hat eine Weile gedauert, bis die Geschichte Fahrt aufgenommen hat, aber dann liest es sich sehr angenehm.
Schöne Charakterzeichnungen auch für die kleineren Nebencharaktere. Ballista hat mir auf Anhieb sehr gut gefallen.
Die sich möglicherweise anbahnende Liebesgeschichte, braucht es, in meinen Augen, wie immer, nicht.
Schöne Charakterzeichnungen auch für die kleineren Nebencharaktere. Ballista hat mir auf Anhieb sehr gut gefallen.
Die sich möglicherweise anbahnende Liebesgeschichte, braucht es, in meinen Augen, wie immer, nicht.
July 6, 2012
There were two things wrong with this book in my opinion as I review it, yet I gave it 4 stars? Well, the first thing was that the pacing was slow. Slow. Slow.
It took me a good deal of time to get into it, and the siege (Not a spoiler, you know that Ballista, our hero, is taking his command to prepare the city of Arete for a siege. Yet that is foretelling, and that is the second troublesome problem with the book. (Now there be spoilers ahead...)
Here we have a doomed city. They are outnumbered 20 to 1, if not more. And even Sun Tzu says have 10 times the number of your opponents if you are sieging them. Here despite those numbers we place our hero and his comrades in the center of it all. Well we know that at Rorke's Drift a superior trained force can survive such numbers. Yet the Persians and the Zulus are not quite the same level of disadvantage against the Romans as the Zulus against the British.
Yet they somehow win! Yes, that's right the Roman's survive, and the action in the later half of the book, as the noose tightens is well worth the trouble. But, foretelling as I mentioned is terrible. When Ballista says double the guard after the victory and the subplot about a traitor not having been resolved, the writing is on the walls and in the book. They are going to be betrayed somehow and the Persians are going to take them.
Perhaps this is the device Sidebottom has come up with to get us to the next book, but as Jack said to Hook, "Bad Form!" I as a reader feel betrayed (That is why no five stars, that and the slow start) I read the book to the end, got all happy that we survived and then the thousands of people saved, the hundreds of Romans who survived, all wiped out for a plot device. A twist that even in foretelling, should have been taken care of. We doubled the guard! The alarm should have been given!
Yet only enough for Ballista and a handful to escape.
A set up for Ballista to realize that he was a pawn to the Co-Emperors need for legions elsewhere in the empire. Yet still, the empire would have more resources to help, and then, they did win. If they were going to be pawned out this way, they did not need to survive the worst of the siege to do so. (And if it has a great deal of political, and Roman intrigue, we needed more of that instead of being introduced to a few spies at the beginning and then the realization of the protagonist at the end.)
Get past the slow and boring beginning, enjoy all the action of the second half, and hope that Sidebottom can build a better book in the rest of the series.
It took me a good deal of time to get into it, and the siege (Not a spoiler, you know that Ballista, our hero, is taking his command to prepare the city of Arete for a siege. Yet that is foretelling, and that is the second troublesome problem with the book. (Now there be spoilers ahead...)
Here we have a doomed city. They are outnumbered 20 to 1, if not more. And even Sun Tzu says have 10 times the number of your opponents if you are sieging them. Here despite those numbers we place our hero and his comrades in the center of it all. Well we know that at Rorke's Drift a superior trained force can survive such numbers. Yet the Persians and the Zulus are not quite the same level of disadvantage against the Romans as the Zulus against the British.
Yet they somehow win! Yes, that's right the Roman's survive, and the action in the later half of the book, as the noose tightens is well worth the trouble. But, foretelling as I mentioned is terrible. When Ballista says double the guard after the victory and the subplot about a traitor not having been resolved, the writing is on the walls and in the book. They are going to be betrayed somehow and the Persians are going to take them.
Perhaps this is the device Sidebottom has come up with to get us to the next book, but as Jack said to Hook, "Bad Form!" I as a reader feel betrayed (That is why no five stars, that and the slow start) I read the book to the end, got all happy that we survived and then the thousands of people saved, the hundreds of Romans who survived, all wiped out for a plot device. A twist that even in foretelling, should have been taken care of. We doubled the guard! The alarm should have been given!
Yet only enough for Ballista and a handful to escape.
A set up for Ballista to realize that he was a pawn to the Co-Emperors need for legions elsewhere in the empire. Yet still, the empire would have more resources to help, and then, they did win. If they were going to be pawned out this way, they did not need to survive the worst of the siege to do so. (And if it has a great deal of political, and Roman intrigue, we needed more of that instead of being introduced to a few spies at the beginning and then the realization of the protagonist at the end.)
Get past the slow and boring beginning, enjoy all the action of the second half, and hope that Sidebottom can build a better book in the rest of the series.
April 10, 2022
Loved this series! Great characters with an interesting plot twist at the end. Ballista is an excellent protagonist with courage and intelligence.
August 19, 2021
This is by far my favorite author. Harry Sidebottom really puts you into the shoes of the ancient world of those times. His attention to detail really allows your imagination to go through it as if you were there. The main Character Ballista and his team is by far the most in-depth bond and relationship of characterization I have come across.
His fiction books are well researched giving you a correct timeline of events and what those areas and countries where at those times.
The brutality of that period is also explained in such a way that it feels like you are in the battle. You can almost smell the things he describes in those moments of death and battle.
I literally came here to review the first book as I have actually read the whole series. Its phenomenal and worth every word and cent of money can buy.
Thank you Mr Sidebottom for hours of entertainment.
His fiction books are well researched giving you a correct timeline of events and what those areas and countries where at those times.
The brutality of that period is also explained in such a way that it feels like you are in the battle. You can almost smell the things he describes in those moments of death and battle.
I literally came here to review the first book as I have actually read the whole series. Its phenomenal and worth every word and cent of money can buy.
Thank you Mr Sidebottom for hours of entertainment.
February 6, 2018
I read a Sidebottom, Warrior of Rome Series, book, "Lion of the Sun", a few years ago and enjoyed it immensely. It's #3 in the Warrior of Rome Series. This novel is the first in the series.
Ballista is a Germanic Angle of the Suebi Tribes, son of a tribal chief, held as a Roman hostage as a child. He becomes a noted warrior and is dispatched as Dux Ripae by the co-emperors Valerian and Gallienus to protect the citadel city of Arete, on the Eastern edge of the Empire, from a Persian Sassanid invasion.
He survives the long trip there and discovers that his task is even more difficult than he imagined as the client Kings in the region will not give him any troops. As a result, he and his 1200 soldiers face a massed army of 40 or 50,000 Sassanids. Much of the early part of the book covers his dangerous trip to this outpost on the Euphrates River and the efforts to make the city as impregnable as possible. The last half details the siege and the fighting to keep the Sassanids at bay.
Sidebottom does a very good job of describing the details of the fighting, almost up to the standards of Bernard Cornwell. His character development is done very well, also. The problems of maintaining an Empire that is disintegrating is implied as this is the third century AD and the Roman military machine is no longer invincible.
I enjoyed this volume as much as I did "Lion of the Sun" and plan to read the rest of the series.
Ballista is a Germanic Angle of the Suebi Tribes, son of a tribal chief, held as a Roman hostage as a child. He becomes a noted warrior and is dispatched as Dux Ripae by the co-emperors Valerian and Gallienus to protect the citadel city of Arete, on the Eastern edge of the Empire, from a Persian Sassanid invasion.
He survives the long trip there and discovers that his task is even more difficult than he imagined as the client Kings in the region will not give him any troops. As a result, he and his 1200 soldiers face a massed army of 40 or 50,000 Sassanids. Much of the early part of the book covers his dangerous trip to this outpost on the Euphrates River and the efforts to make the city as impregnable as possible. The last half details the siege and the fighting to keep the Sassanids at bay.
Sidebottom does a very good job of describing the details of the fighting, almost up to the standards of Bernard Cornwell. His character development is done very well, also. The problems of maintaining an Empire that is disintegrating is implied as this is the third century AD and the Roman military machine is no longer invincible.
I enjoyed this volume as much as I did "Lion of the Sun" and plan to read the rest of the series.
July 15, 2016
I bought the novel, wanting to learn a bit about ancient Rome, and given that Mr Sidebottom is a professor for ancient history, and the high star rating I did expect a sensational read...
To say my expectations were not met would be an understatement. That Sidebottom is an academician and no story teller is evident from the get go, that his editor didn't demand a significant rewrite speaks either of his own pull or said editor's lack of interest. I'm a fickler for style and substance, and for the record, the substance is there. Sadly, the style is that of a bored teenager. The narrative gets bogged down by tedious and repetitive sentence structures, with very little time actually given to fleshing out the protagonist. The moment he actually devotes time to Ballista, the protagonist, it actually has hints of potential, which sadly get buried in sudden shifts of perspective and prose that falls flat.
I know my expectations are high, I want to enjoy the books I read, and this one is the last novel I actually finished that lost my interest after the first chapter.
To say my expectations were not met would be an understatement. That Sidebottom is an academician and no story teller is evident from the get go, that his editor didn't demand a significant rewrite speaks either of his own pull or said editor's lack of interest. I'm a fickler for style and substance, and for the record, the substance is there. Sadly, the style is that of a bored teenager. The narrative gets bogged down by tedious and repetitive sentence structures, with very little time actually given to fleshing out the protagonist. The moment he actually devotes time to Ballista, the protagonist, it actually has hints of potential, which sadly get buried in sudden shifts of perspective and prose that falls flat.
I know my expectations are high, I want to enjoy the books I read, and this one is the last novel I actually finished that lost my interest after the first chapter.
May 1, 2019
It is a good novel. It show’s Roman warfare in brilliant detail and is a good insight into that part of the Roman world. The story is good as well it’s not the most amazing story in the world, but it’s still kept me interested and has a mystery, through the story and leaves with another mystery at the end.
March 4, 2020
What a great book. This is my third of the authors books but I note they are all the first in a series. So I need to crack on and read more. The character of Ballista was a fascinating one of a ‘barbarian’ now a Roman. Book proceeds at a pace and the battle scenes are well written. Excellent read
August 2, 2021
Nice and rather enjoyable, but very unevenly written historical novel. For a debut novel, though, from a professional historian, it is more on the good side of things and the level of historical accuracy is high. There are indeed changes, reasonably explained in the appendix, and some of them are evident - like the fact that the city of Arete and its siege are based on the real city of Dura-Europos, destroyed after a Sassanid siege - while some other are expected to be elaborated in the subsequent novels.
N.B. Actually raising to four stars. Not only because of the accuracy, but also because of the sheer bravery of writing a series of novels for the third century crisis, the assumed low point of the Roman Empire, also a period with extremely low and unreliable sources to draw upon from. And finally, because after a brief look over the next installments, the series looks promising.
N.B. Actually raising to four stars. Not only because of the accuracy, but also because of the sheer bravery of writing a series of novels for the third century crisis, the assumed low point of the Roman Empire, also a period with extremely low and unreliable sources to draw upon from. And finally, because after a brief look over the next installments, the series looks promising.
September 23, 2014
I am left with a distinct feeling of ambivalence about this book. I have neither praise nor censure to bestow upon it. Which could be it's main issue in my eyes, it did not induce any emotion from me. Not to love or hate, not to recommend or malign it.
I did find a great quote because of it though. From the Roman senator and historian, Tacitus; from his book, The Agricola: When I reflect on the causes of the war, and the circumstances of our situation, I feel a strong persuasion that our united efforts on the present day will prove the beginning of universal liberty to Britain. For we are all undebased by slavery; and there is no land behind us, nor does even the sea afford a refuge, whilst the Roman fleet hovers around. Thus the use of arms, which is at all times honorable to the brave, now offers the only safety even to cowards. In all the battles which have yet been fought, with various success, against the Romans, our countrymen may be deemed to have reposed their final hopes and resources in us: for we, the noblest sons of Britain, and therefore stationed in its last recesses, far from the view of servile shores, have preserved even our eyes unpolluted by the contact of subjection. We, at the furthest limits both of land and liberty, have been defended to this day by the remoteness of our situation and of our fame. The extremity of Britain is now disclosed; and whatever is unknown becomes an object of magnitude. But there is no nation beyond us; nothing but waves and rocks, and the still more hostile Romans, whose arrogance we cannot escape by obsequiousness and submission. These plunderers of the world, after exhausting the land by their devastations, are rifling the ocean: stimulated by avarice, if their enemy be rich; by ambition, if poor; unsatiated by the East and by the West: the only people who behold wealth and indigence with equal avidity. To ravage, to slaughter, to usurp under false titles, they call empire; and where they make a desert, they call it peace.
-The Oxford Translation Revised
I did find a great quote because of it though. From the Roman senator and historian, Tacitus; from his book, The Agricola: When I reflect on the causes of the war, and the circumstances of our situation, I feel a strong persuasion that our united efforts on the present day will prove the beginning of universal liberty to Britain. For we are all undebased by slavery; and there is no land behind us, nor does even the sea afford a refuge, whilst the Roman fleet hovers around. Thus the use of arms, which is at all times honorable to the brave, now offers the only safety even to cowards. In all the battles which have yet been fought, with various success, against the Romans, our countrymen may be deemed to have reposed their final hopes and resources in us: for we, the noblest sons of Britain, and therefore stationed in its last recesses, far from the view of servile shores, have preserved even our eyes unpolluted by the contact of subjection. We, at the furthest limits both of land and liberty, have been defended to this day by the remoteness of our situation and of our fame. The extremity of Britain is now disclosed; and whatever is unknown becomes an object of magnitude. But there is no nation beyond us; nothing but waves and rocks, and the still more hostile Romans, whose arrogance we cannot escape by obsequiousness and submission. These plunderers of the world, after exhausting the land by their devastations, are rifling the ocean: stimulated by avarice, if their enemy be rich; by ambition, if poor; unsatiated by the East and by the West: the only people who behold wealth and indigence with equal avidity. To ravage, to slaughter, to usurp under false titles, they call empire; and where they make a desert, they call it peace.
-The Oxford Translation Revised
July 8, 2014
Harry Sidebottom is a fellow in ancient history at Oxford. His expertise shines though this book of historical fiction. The book is set for the most part during the Sassanid siege of Dura Europos (thinly disguised as the City of Arête. In the third century AD, the Roman Empire was in turmoil as civil war tears Italy apart and emperor follows emperor in rapid succession. The protagonist is Marcus Clodius Ballistra, a barbarian prince. In 255 AD the Persian Sassanid Empire attacks Rome’s eastern territories, Ballistra, now a Roman citizen, is appointed to post as dux Ripae. In charge of the defenses along the banks of the rivers Tigris and Euphrates all land between, he is empowered to hold the lands of the Empire.
The novel is a master class in ancient warfare. The information appears to be historically correct and the story is skillfully constructed. The characters are well defined and realistic and illuminate the different nationalities and passions prevalent in the empire at the time. The siege of Dura Europos was one of the greatest sieges in history. I read this as an audio book download from Audible. The book was narrated by Stefan Rudnicki.
The novel is a master class in ancient warfare. The information appears to be historically correct and the story is skillfully constructed. The characters are well defined and realistic and illuminate the different nationalities and passions prevalent in the empire at the time. The siege of Dura Europos was one of the greatest sieges in history. I read this as an audio book download from Audible. The book was narrated by Stefan Rudnicki.
April 5, 2013
This is definately more of a slow burner than other Roman period novels I've read so far.
There's none of the instant magnetism of Conn Iggulden or the earthy empathy & humanity of Ben Kane. It was this that initially led me to think that I'd be overall disappointed with this book, but as I've progressed further into the deep recesses of it, the more I've realised I'm starting to lap up the pages.
I guess the nature of the situation - protagonist heads to far-flung city to defend it against impending attack - is probably most to blame for this slow-burning approach which when you realise that, you can forgive such a slow start.
At times it does read somewhat more like how you'd imagine a history documentary to run, complete with explanations of terminology, though with the level of detail it goes into it ends up adding to the appeal gradually.
A good addition is the inclusion of a glossary for both characters (both fictional and factual), their roles and geographical places.
There's none of the instant magnetism of Conn Iggulden or the earthy empathy & humanity of Ben Kane. It was this that initially led me to think that I'd be overall disappointed with this book, but as I've progressed further into the deep recesses of it, the more I've realised I'm starting to lap up the pages.
I guess the nature of the situation - protagonist heads to far-flung city to defend it against impending attack - is probably most to blame for this slow-burning approach which when you realise that, you can forgive such a slow start.
At times it does read somewhat more like how you'd imagine a history documentary to run, complete with explanations of terminology, though with the level of detail it goes into it ends up adding to the appeal gradually.
A good addition is the inclusion of a glossary for both characters (both fictional and factual), their roles and geographical places.
September 2, 2015
Review to come.
November 27, 2021
This book is a beginning of a reading virus that will continue. Excellent, thrilling, unbelievable masterpiece from ancient Rome.
October 23, 2009
Warrior of Rome: Fire in the East, the first book in a new series by Oxford scholar Dr Harry Sidebottom, is an unwieldy beast – just as unwieldy as the elephants ridden by the Persian army in this novel. It’s a cliché to say it, but this really is a book of two halves, and the first is by far the worst. It’s a slowly-plotted travelogue exploring ideas and ideologies present in the late Roman Empire, as we follow the unlikely-named Ballista and his men as they take a small force to the Persian city of Arete and there attempt to hold it against the Persian army.
Sidebottom’s academic position adds a little to the book but also takes away a great deal from its impact. You can guarantee that realism will be top notch, and that the research gone into the book will all be 100% correct – after all, this is a guy who lives and breathes the era. However, Sidebottom’s unwavering insistence on throwing overwhelming detail about the era into his story is what ultimately makes it a chore to read. The first half is full of this excruciating detail, as if the author can’t resist throwing in every little snippet whether it’s relevant or otherwise. Hence the inclusion of a Greek slave in an otherwise Roman story, just so Sidebottom can delve into Greek mythology and religion.
Readers are advised to stick it out, because things DO change. My favourite type of historical novel is the siege story; Sharpe’s Fortress and Dawn of Empire are two books I fondly recall and, in the end, Warrior of Rome: Fire in the East joins their ranks. Yes, this book becomes a great read, if not downright fantastic in places. The latter half of the story is one massive siege scenario as our heroes defend their little town from the massed ranks of the enemies. Every kind of tactic of the period is used, along with small-scale action that throws you into the thick of it. Sidebottom doesn’t shy away from the violence inherent in the era either, so expect strong violence and scenes of repulsive torture along the way.
By the time I reached the last fifty pages, I couldn’t put this down; the excitement and danger build to a riveting level. Why, oh why, couldn’t Sidebottom have reached his stride sooner? It matters not. You can safely discount the journey to the town and the preparation once the action kicks in. Ballista is a thinly-sketched barbarian hero, but he has solid support from Maximus (closely modelled on Russell Crowe in Gladiator) and some finely heroic characters like the Roman soldier Antigonus, who wouldn’t be out of place in a David Gemmell story.
So, this is a book that starts out badly but regains everything come the thrilling climax. I’d consider reading it again someday, now that I know I can safely skip the extraneous detail without losing anything of the story.
Sidebottom’s academic position adds a little to the book but also takes away a great deal from its impact. You can guarantee that realism will be top notch, and that the research gone into the book will all be 100% correct – after all, this is a guy who lives and breathes the era. However, Sidebottom’s unwavering insistence on throwing overwhelming detail about the era into his story is what ultimately makes it a chore to read. The first half is full of this excruciating detail, as if the author can’t resist throwing in every little snippet whether it’s relevant or otherwise. Hence the inclusion of a Greek slave in an otherwise Roman story, just so Sidebottom can delve into Greek mythology and religion.
Readers are advised to stick it out, because things DO change. My favourite type of historical novel is the siege story; Sharpe’s Fortress and Dawn of Empire are two books I fondly recall and, in the end, Warrior of Rome: Fire in the East joins their ranks. Yes, this book becomes a great read, if not downright fantastic in places. The latter half of the story is one massive siege scenario as our heroes defend their little town from the massed ranks of the enemies. Every kind of tactic of the period is used, along with small-scale action that throws you into the thick of it. Sidebottom doesn’t shy away from the violence inherent in the era either, so expect strong violence and scenes of repulsive torture along the way.
By the time I reached the last fifty pages, I couldn’t put this down; the excitement and danger build to a riveting level. Why, oh why, couldn’t Sidebottom have reached his stride sooner? It matters not. You can safely discount the journey to the town and the preparation once the action kicks in. Ballista is a thinly-sketched barbarian hero, but he has solid support from Maximus (closely modelled on Russell Crowe in Gladiator) and some finely heroic characters like the Roman soldier Antigonus, who wouldn’t be out of place in a David Gemmell story.
So, this is a book that starts out badly but regains everything come the thrilling climax. I’d consider reading it again someday, now that I know I can safely skip the extraneous detail without losing anything of the story.
November 23, 2017
When a respected Oxford ancient historian writes historical fiction, you should expect a novel that delivers in terms of actual historic information, accurate descriptions and in general, a convincing historical novel. And in that aspect, Harry Sidebottom really delivers.
It is 300 A.D. and the Roman Empire is in turmoil as civil war tears Italy apart and emperor follows emperor in rapid succession. In the novel, the main character is Roman turned Germanic, Ballista, who has risen in the Roman army and is highly accepted in the social hierarchie, but never able to shake off his barbarian roots. He is sent to the east by the emperor, in order to halt the Sassanid offensive. His orders are to hold the city of Arete at all costs and stop the Sassanids in its tracks.
The novel is a master class in ancient warfare and siege tactics. A good amount of time is spent on vividly describing the daily life in the city of Arete, the preparations for the siege. When the attacks come, the story really develops into a description that gives a good account of the ancient warfare with stone throwing artillery, hot fluids being poured from the city walls, mining operations and building up ramps to storm the city. The Sassanids storm the city multiple times and every time Ballista manages to defeat them, against terrible odds.
The story switches from the main character to various sub characters, each with its own motives. In the city there are various traitors active and even within their own ranks some spies are sending reports back to the emperor.
I took a gamble with this book - I more or less snatched this book from the library shelf but in the end was pleasantly suprised. This book is part of a series of 6 books, and I certainly will continue to the second volume as soon as possible.
It is 300 A.D. and the Roman Empire is in turmoil as civil war tears Italy apart and emperor follows emperor in rapid succession. In the novel, the main character is Roman turned Germanic, Ballista, who has risen in the Roman army and is highly accepted in the social hierarchie, but never able to shake off his barbarian roots. He is sent to the east by the emperor, in order to halt the Sassanid offensive. His orders are to hold the city of Arete at all costs and stop the Sassanids in its tracks.
The novel is a master class in ancient warfare and siege tactics. A good amount of time is spent on vividly describing the daily life in the city of Arete, the preparations for the siege. When the attacks come, the story really develops into a description that gives a good account of the ancient warfare with stone throwing artillery, hot fluids being poured from the city walls, mining operations and building up ramps to storm the city. The Sassanids storm the city multiple times and every time Ballista manages to defeat them, against terrible odds.
The story switches from the main character to various sub characters, each with its own motives. In the city there are various traitors active and even within their own ranks some spies are sending reports back to the emperor.
I took a gamble with this book - I more or less snatched this book from the library shelf but in the end was pleasantly suprised. This book is part of a series of 6 books, and I certainly will continue to the second volume as soon as possible.
August 4, 2017
The best Warrior of Rome novel is undoubtedly the first one. It focuses on the siege of a fictional Mesopotamian city called Arete (meaning virtue or excellence, haha) and based on Dura-Europos in Syria. It conveys very well the feel of the third century AD and the cultural milieu and attitudes of the time. It is in fact, being written by a respected Classicist, one of the most accurate books of its kind. As a big fan of the period, where world-changing events were happening as the empire shifted from a slightly concealed autocracy to a proud and open one that was no longer the undisputed master of all it surveyed, I was very pleased to see such an in-depth take on it. Since we don't have the sources to answer many questions about the culture and personalities of the third century crisis the only way this can be done is through fiction. I've long felt that this is a period ripe for exploration, and this certainly confirms my beliefs.
It also works well as a straight adventure novel, with plenty of action and excitement in dangerous situations. Characterization is strong here. It varies from the perpetual outsider Ballista (a Saxon hostage turned Roman general) to his equally foreign bodyguards and more traditional Roman allies. Anyone searching for an exciting sword and sandals story with a heavy dose of realism would be well advised to seek this book out.
It also works well as a straight adventure novel, with plenty of action and excitement in dangerous situations. Characterization is strong here. It varies from the perpetual outsider Ballista (a Saxon hostage turned Roman general) to his equally foreign bodyguards and more traditional Roman allies. Anyone searching for an exciting sword and sandals story with a heavy dose of realism would be well advised to seek this book out.
July 31, 2014
rating: 3/5
The first half was slow. Oh so very slow. I get that it was a set-up for the rest of the novel (series?) and came along with all the cultural explanations of the vastly culturally diverse Roman empire of the period. But still, damn, I was bored.
It also took me a long time to actually come to care about the characters. I was slow to warm up to Ballista, Maximus, Demitrios, Mamura, and others.
However, half-way through the book, the siege occurred, action started to pick up, and, once the cultural info dumps were over, the characters started to shine through. I started to care about them and the outcome of the siege.
I will read the sequel eventually, now that I've come to know the characters and like them, I hope the sequel will pick up at the pace it left off with and a new story rivaling the second half of this one.
The first half was slow. Oh so very slow. I get that it was a set-up for the rest of the novel (series?) and came along with all the cultural explanations of the vastly culturally diverse Roman empire of the period. But still, damn, I was bored.
It also took me a long time to actually come to care about the characters. I was slow to warm up to Ballista, Maximus, Demitrios, Mamura, and others.
However, half-way through the book, the siege occurred, action started to pick up, and, once the cultural info dumps were over, the characters started to shine through. I started to care about them and the outcome of the siege.
I will read the sequel eventually, now that I've come to know the characters and like them, I hope the sequel will pick up at the pace it left off with and a new story rivaling the second half of this one.
April 14, 2021
When you take an excellent scholar who is schooled in the period being dealt with, add an interesting creative bent, add in his skill as a writer, you get, in this case, Harry Sidebottom. This was a terrific read, and the amount of factual information that he incorporates into his fiction is wonderfully presented. It was a fast-paced, well-plotted, enjoyable read.
May 25, 2025
just as good as the first time I read it.
May 30, 2014
Well-written, fast-paced, action-packed and enjoyable with interesting characters. I will read more from this writer.
July 25, 2021
This is the book that first got me into reading and writing Historical Roman Fiction. I went on to read the whole Harry Sidebottom Series and always eagerly await any of his new books. Best wishes, Andrew Boyce, Roman Fiction Author.
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