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Marius' Mules #11
Tides of War
It is 48 BC and Caesar is master of Rome, but Pompey is at large in the huge recruiting grounds of the east with a core of powerful officers, nominally representing the senate in absentia. As the general deals with matters in the city his army gathers at the coast, waiting to cross the sea and fight that worst of all civil war. This will be no easy campaign for Caesar and his officers. Fronto and Galronus, both preparing to join the campaign, know that they will face appalling odds right from the outset, for Pompey's immense navy controls the seas, and the force he has gathered in the east will dwarf that of Caesar, commanded by shrewd officers like the great Scipio and the turncoat Labienus. From the bitter Adriatic Sea to the mountains and valleys of the Balkans, Fronto and his men strive to stop Pompey and bring the war to an end, heading for a conflict the likes of which none have ever seen. Hades awaits the legions of Rome on the plains of Pharsalus.
428 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 26, 2018
210 people are currently reading
124 people want to read
About the author
S.J.A. Turney
93 books495 followersSimon lives with his wife and children and a menagerie of animals in rural North Yorkshire, where he sits in an office, wired on coffee and digestive biscuits, and attempts to spin engrossing tales out of strands of imagination while his children drive toys across his desk and two dogs howl as they try to share a brain cell.
A born and bred Yorkshireman with a love of country, history and architecture, Simon spends most of his rare free time travelling around ancient sites, writing, researching the ancient world and reading voraciously.
Following an arcane and eclectic career path that wound through everything from sheep to Microsoft networks and from paint to car sales, Simon wrote Marius’ Mules and, with help and support, made a success of it. Now, with in excess of 20 novels under his belt, Simon writes full time and is represented by MMB Creative literary agents.
Simon writes Roman military novels in the form of the bestselling Marius’ Mules series based on Julius Caesar’s campaigns, Roman thrillers in the Praetorian series, set during the troubled reign of Commodus, medieval adventures in the Ottoman Cycle, following a young Greek thief around the 15th century world, and a series of Historical Fantasy novels with a Roman flavour, called the Tales of the Empire.
Simon can be found on Twitter as @SJATurney and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SJATurney/ as well as on his website http://www.sjaturney.co.uk
A born and bred Yorkshireman with a love of country, history and architecture, Simon spends most of his rare free time travelling around ancient sites, writing, researching the ancient world and reading voraciously.
Following an arcane and eclectic career path that wound through everything from sheep to Microsoft networks and from paint to car sales, Simon wrote Marius’ Mules and, with help and support, made a success of it. Now, with in excess of 20 novels under his belt, Simon writes full time and is represented by MMB Creative literary agents.
Simon writes Roman military novels in the form of the bestselling Marius’ Mules series based on Julius Caesar’s campaigns, Roman thrillers in the Praetorian series, set during the troubled reign of Commodus, medieval adventures in the Ottoman Cycle, following a young Greek thief around the 15th century world, and a series of Historical Fantasy novels with a Roman flavour, called the Tales of the Empire.
Simon can be found on Twitter as @SJATurney and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SJATurney/ as well as on his website http://www.sjaturney.co.uk
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
June 7, 2021
Excellent novel of the Roman Civil Wars
Unlike the portrayals in many movies and tv programs, there was nothing inevitable about Caesar's victory over Pompey. It was a hard fought campaign with Caesar's main disadvantages being badly outnumbered and facing a great general. Pompey had the.numbers but his army was largely inexperienced and he did not have clear control over his army. So numbers against experience. Full control by Caesar vs. Pompey leading a committee.
In this volume Mr Turney uses Caesar's writing as usual but turns to several other historical sources as well. He apologizes for the cliffhanger ending which has the meeting of Caesar and Cleopatra pretty well ending this book. More to come in volume 12. Well done. Looking forward to volume 12.
Unlike the portrayals in many movies and tv programs, there was nothing inevitable about Caesar's victory over Pompey. It was a hard fought campaign with Caesar's main disadvantages being badly outnumbered and facing a great general. Pompey had the.numbers but his army was largely inexperienced and he did not have clear control over his army. So numbers against experience. Full control by Caesar vs. Pompey leading a committee.
In this volume Mr Turney uses Caesar's writing as usual but turns to several other historical sources as well. He apologizes for the cliffhanger ending which has the meeting of Caesar and Cleopatra pretty well ending this book. More to come in volume 12. Well done. Looking forward to volume 12.
August 14, 2018
The author has done it again. Tides of War had my attention fully riveted from the start. This is book eleven in one of the more fascinating, entertaining, educating and creative series I have come across, and it has not diminished one iota; indeed it just gets better. When I start reading the newest episode of Marius Mules, I feel as though I am getting together with old friends, though even after so many adventures together, they still find ways to surprise me. I guess that's a testament to the author's creative ability in that he continually tweaks his characters as they grow older, a little more bone weary, but still forces to be reckoned with. This part of the Caesarian saga is the great chase across the sea to Dyrrachium and beyond, as the Gaius Julius Caesar/Pompey Magnus battle for supremacy comes to a head (literally). :-) I know that I am repeating myself, after all this is the 8th Marius Mules I have reviewed, but I will say it anyway; to wit, Mr. Turney is a master in describing where the action is taking place, and writes a hell of a battle scene. The most impressive feat, I think, is no matter that the historical events portrayed in Tides of War are well known, the author presents them in a manner that is fresh, detailed, and integrated with his own creative touch. Yes, my peeps and fellow travelers, I will have to repeat another phrase I have used before: 5 stars
September 13, 2022
A good way to learn history.
With an ongoing series numbering 11 volumes, more than half I’ve already read-there are bound to be some good, some less so, but so far, none that has not been worth listening to. Turney knows his history and writes entertainingly addictive prose. This is not one of the best of the series, but it is good enough.
The quality of this series is well known and secure, like any brand name, from The Golden Arches to Rolex, you know that you’ll get what’s expected and it will be good.
While our favourite legate Fronto is here, he is by no means the main protagonist of this book, nor is Caesar, or any of the other lively characters who inhabit this book, the narrative is.
Quality narration, as usual.
With an ongoing series numbering 11 volumes, more than half I’ve already read-there are bound to be some good, some less so, but so far, none that has not been worth listening to. Turney knows his history and writes entertainingly addictive prose. This is not one of the best of the series, but it is good enough.
The quality of this series is well known and secure, like any brand name, from The Golden Arches to Rolex, you know that you’ll get what’s expected and it will be good.
While our favourite legate Fronto is here, he is by no means the main protagonist of this book, nor is Caesar, or any of the other lively characters who inhabit this book, the narrative is.
Quality narration, as usual.
February 24, 2019
When an author of historical fiction chooses to place his characters close to famous events, there are advantages and disadvantages. On the plus side, the structure is already there. Some basic facts, leaving the author to hang his or her tale around. There is also the plus that each historical period has its fans; place your tale in ancient Rome, and you have a keen potential readership. But there are downsides as well. The principal one is that the more well known the historic events, the more difficult it is to say anything new.
The Marius Mules series from Simon Turney has been excellent. Telling the story of Marcus Falerius Fronto, a career general - and sometime wine importer. His story is largely interwoven with that of Julius Caesar, although Fronto has never been a slavish follower of the great man. The earlier books have had plenty of scope to allow the focus to be firmly on Fronto, his family and friends. Caesar's time in Gaul allowed the author to send the general off on many adventures - both real and fictional.
It has been a great series. Fronto is an interesting character. Very believable as a Roman general, but his background is mixed, at best, so he is seen as an outsider by the elite. Caesar himself uses him as a bit of a fixer, sending him on some difficult missions, where his maverick nature tends to get the job done.
Now that the series is getting towards its climax, the aforementioned problem is creeping in. This book is set during the civil war, focussing on the conflict in the east between Caesar and Pompey, leading to the siege of Dyrachium and the battle of Pharsalus. The details of these events are well-documented, and fitting Fronto into them in any meaningful way is increasingly difficult. He is recalled from retirement, along with Galronus, and joins Caesar. We meet old friends, and old enemies; sometimes in the same person - this is a civil war, after all.
Simon Turney tells a good story, as always. Fronto tends to save the day, as always. But with the outcome of events so well known, it can become a little pedestrian. You no longer read eagerly to find out what happens, because you already know. You read only to find out how Fronto is involved, and its not quite the same.
The Marius Mules series from Simon Turney has been excellent. Telling the story of Marcus Falerius Fronto, a career general - and sometime wine importer. His story is largely interwoven with that of Julius Caesar, although Fronto has never been a slavish follower of the great man. The earlier books have had plenty of scope to allow the focus to be firmly on Fronto, his family and friends. Caesar's time in Gaul allowed the author to send the general off on many adventures - both real and fictional.
It has been a great series. Fronto is an interesting character. Very believable as a Roman general, but his background is mixed, at best, so he is seen as an outsider by the elite. Caesar himself uses him as a bit of a fixer, sending him on some difficult missions, where his maverick nature tends to get the job done.
Now that the series is getting towards its climax, the aforementioned problem is creeping in. This book is set during the civil war, focussing on the conflict in the east between Caesar and Pompey, leading to the siege of Dyrachium and the battle of Pharsalus. The details of these events are well-documented, and fitting Fronto into them in any meaningful way is increasingly difficult. He is recalled from retirement, along with Galronus, and joins Caesar. We meet old friends, and old enemies; sometimes in the same person - this is a civil war, after all.
Simon Turney tells a good story, as always. Fronto tends to save the day, as always. But with the outcome of events so well known, it can become a little pedestrian. You no longer read eagerly to find out what happens, because you already know. You read only to find out how Fronto is involved, and its not quite the same.
February 6, 2023
I listened to the audiobook, published by W. F. Howes Audio (ISBN 9781004076567) in 2022. Well-narrated by Malk Turney, as usual.
Ever since watching the BBC production of the TV series, Rome, I`ve wondered about how Caesar and Pompey conducted themselves in Greece. Much was hinted at yet glossed over by the TV production. This book reduces the mystery somewhat. It is based mostly on Caesar`s campaign diaries, along with other material from Plutarch and Appian (sp?).
I expected this account to end with the decisive battle at Pharsalus. I was surprised to listen on to hear of Caesar`s landing in Egypt, the beginning of the battle between the Caesarian forces with those of Ptolemy`s Egyptian forces generaled by Achillas, and the smuggling of Cleopatra into the palace as Caesar attempted to mediate between Cleopatra and her brother/husband/king Ptolemy XIII. In a separate historical note at the end, Turney explains that he ended this book at this point because Caesar`s account of the civil war ends here with a note that what followed was the Alexandrian War. Unlike the previous Marius` Mules books, this one ends on a cliffhanger. Again, the details are somewhat mysterious and complex and were also largely glossed over by the TV series Rome.
The lack of a 5-star rating is not due to Turney`s writing but to the somewhat inconclusive, error-prone, and sometimes farcical posturings of the two armies of Caesar and Pompey as they jockeyed for advantage. I suspect that even Turney`s masterful story-telling talents were somewhat stymied and unable to convey a muddled situation any more clearly than he did. Even Turney said the events surrounding Dyrrachium in the early stages of the war between Caesar and Pompey in Greece were a jumbled mess. Sometimes the source material cannot be dressed up much. All the same, this book was entertaining and well worth the time that was taken to listen to it.
I`m really looking forward to the next book in this series. This part of the historical story is also vague, and I hope Turney can bring his usual talents to clarify what must have been a complex time.
Ever since watching the BBC production of the TV series, Rome, I`ve wondered about how Caesar and Pompey conducted themselves in Greece. Much was hinted at yet glossed over by the TV production. This book reduces the mystery somewhat. It is based mostly on Caesar`s campaign diaries, along with other material from Plutarch and Appian (sp?).
I expected this account to end with the decisive battle at Pharsalus. I was surprised to listen on to hear of Caesar`s landing in Egypt, the beginning of the battle between the Caesarian forces with those of Ptolemy`s Egyptian forces generaled by Achillas, and the smuggling of Cleopatra into the palace as Caesar attempted to mediate between Cleopatra and her brother/husband/king Ptolemy XIII. In a separate historical note at the end, Turney explains that he ended this book at this point because Caesar`s account of the civil war ends here with a note that what followed was the Alexandrian War. Unlike the previous Marius` Mules books, this one ends on a cliffhanger. Again, the details are somewhat mysterious and complex and were also largely glossed over by the TV series Rome.
The lack of a 5-star rating is not due to Turney`s writing but to the somewhat inconclusive, error-prone, and sometimes farcical posturings of the two armies of Caesar and Pompey as they jockeyed for advantage. I suspect that even Turney`s masterful story-telling talents were somewhat stymied and unable to convey a muddled situation any more clearly than he did. Even Turney said the events surrounding Dyrrachium in the early stages of the war between Caesar and Pompey in Greece were a jumbled mess. Sometimes the source material cannot be dressed up much. All the same, this book was entertaining and well worth the time that was taken to listen to it.
I`m really looking forward to the next book in this series. This part of the historical story is also vague, and I hope Turney can bring his usual talents to clarify what must have been a complex time.
June 23, 2019
Another great episode in this excellent series
Turney is an excellent wordsmith. He brings to life the conditions the men of the legions had to endure during the disastrous civil wars that enveloped the Roman Empire during the last year's of Caesar's life. This book deals with the events leading up to the battle of Pharselus and beyond ending up in Egypt with Caesar's unusual introduction to Cleopatra.
Turney is an excellent wordsmith. He brings to life the conditions the men of the legions had to endure during the disastrous civil wars that enveloped the Roman Empire during the last year's of Caesar's life. This book deals with the events leading up to the battle of Pharselus and beyond ending up in Egypt with Caesar's unusual introduction to Cleopatra.
September 5, 2018
Once again a wonderfully written novel! I could just sit and read these type of books everyday I just wish that I didn't have to wait for the next story. I thank you for spellbinding these books doo well!
One thing, just don't stop writing these stories. While I wait for book 12 , I must find another writer who can spin a story as well as you!
One thing, just don't stop writing these stories. While I wait for book 12 , I must find another writer who can spin a story as well as you!
August 24, 2019
Having read at least one of S.J.A. Turneys' books, this current one kept me up late at night reading just one more chapter...The authors' prose puts you right there in the thick of the fighting and intrigue that was the life of Caesar. An extremely well crafted blend of actual historical events and dramatic licence.
April 1, 2024
Number eleven in this series and where others would be flagging by now these just get better. Tides of War is an action packed thrilling page turner and difficult to put down. By. now we know the characters ( Fronto as grumpy. and brilliant as ever ) but new ones being introduced keeps the story fresh and with the fabulous battle scenes this is truly a riviting book. As with the rest of the series this is highly recommended. Can't wait to start number twelve.
August 5, 2018
Another great yarn
Once again Turkey tells us a great storyline. Most will know the story,but new characters emerge .There are many twists and turns,a few of his compatriots survived. Roll on number 12
Once again Turkey tells us a great storyline. Most will know the story,but new characters emerge .There are many twists and turns,a few of his compatriots survived. Roll on number 12
August 7, 2018
Simply superb
A return to form with this latest edition of Marius' Mules. Started it at about 2 in the afternoon and finished it at 1:15ish while doing the usual chores of a parent on a bank holiday Monday. Absolute page turner.
A return to form with this latest edition of Marius' Mules. Started it at about 2 in the afternoon and finished it at 1:15ish while doing the usual chores of a parent on a bank holiday Monday. Absolute page turner.
April 25, 2019
Great stuff, as usual
I like how true it stays to Caesar’s diaries, with just enough artistic license... and, just as importantly, stays clear of the way over the top, far-fetched action sequences of some similar novels.
I like how true it stays to Caesar’s diaries, with just enough artistic license... and, just as importantly, stays clear of the way over the top, far-fetched action sequences of some similar novels.
July 13, 2021
Another thriller
Brilliant account of a fascinating passage in history. As ever the degree of research into places and players involved in these epic times has been painstakingly carried out.Excellent.
Brilliant account of a fascinating passage in history. As ever the degree of research into places and players involved in these epic times has been painstakingly carried out.Excellent.
November 17, 2025
Tides of War
Again this story continues to grow with Front and Ceaser in the intrigue up to their necks, now in Egypt with Cleopatra and her brother having knives in each others necks no good can come from it.
Again this story continues to grow with Front and Ceaser in the intrigue up to their necks, now in Egypt with Cleopatra and her brother having knives in each others necks no good can come from it.
September 23, 2018
The best book of the year for me so far - really enjoyed it. What a great story SJA Turney has developed through the XI books so far. Superb
November 14, 2018
Satisfying
Fine writing expertly blending history and, by now, beloved characters. I find these books hypnotic and always am disappointed that we must wait fir the next!
Fine writing expertly blending history and, by now, beloved characters. I find these books hypnotic and always am disappointed that we must wait fir the next!
January 1, 2019
Always a fun read
Did what it promised always a fun read and looking guard to the next one. Happy new year front and sja
Did what it promised always a fun read and looking guard to the next one. Happy new year front and sja
February 11, 2019
A fascinating account of one of Caesar’s campaigns and of the politics of the day. Grapgic descriptions of combat and planners ng of military strategy.
February 27, 2019
Another great tale by a master story teller
For anyone interested in Roman history SJA Turney blends fact and a little fiction to bring that era to life. The MM series is a classic.
For anyone interested in Roman history SJA Turney blends fact and a little fiction to bring that era to life. The MM series is a classic.
October 15, 2019
Another good offering by S J A Turney
October 16, 2021
Amazing, as usual
This 11th volume in the Marius' Mules series did not disappoint. The writing style is engaging and addictive. A real page turner.
This 11th volume in the Marius' Mules series did not disappoint. The writing style is engaging and addictive. A real page turner.
May 12, 2022
Absolutely amazing series, had to switch over from audiable to kindle as I couldn't wait for them to be added. So many good characters but Fronto's wit and humour has me in bits .
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews