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Pirata #1
Pirata: The Black Flag
The enthralling first ebook novella in the brand new Roman pirate series by Sunday Times bestselling authors Simon Scarrow and T. J. Andrews. It is AD 25. The Roman Empire stretches from Hispania in the west to Armenia in the east, Merchantmen roam the seas, transporting people, livestock and all manner of goods. And where there are merchant ships, there will be pirates ...On a blustery night in the rough port of Piraeus, Captain Clemestes staggers drunkenly through the dark streets as he heads for his ship, Selene. When he becomes aware of the sinister figures following him, he fears the worst, for life is cheap in this den of thieves and cutthroats. Then a man bursts from the shadows and by brute force drives the attackers away. Clemestes is astounded to find that he has been saved not by a powerful soldier, or a fellow sailor, but by a half-starved youth, compelled to come to the aid of a stranger, in the face of impossible odds.The youth is Telemachus, an orphan with a story that is both commonplace and tragic. When the kind-hearted Clemestes suggests he joins Selene's crew, Telemachus sees no reason to refuse. But little does he know of the dangers of his new world. There's no running away once a ship is at sea - and when a pirate fleet appears on the horizon, Telemachus's troubles have just begun ...Episode one in the PIRATA ebook novella series.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
80 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 24, 2019
191 people are currently reading
229 people want to read
About the author
Simon Scarrow
167 books2,187 followersSimon Scarrow is a UK-based author, born in Nigeria, and now living in Norfolk. He completed a master's degree at the University of East Anglia, and, after working at the Inland Revenue, went into teaching as a lecturer at City College, Norwich.
He is best known for his "Eagle" series. This is Roman empire military fiction, starting with the second invasion of Britain, and continuing with subsequent adventures in every corner of the empire. The stories are told through the eyes of two centurions, Macro and Cato. To date there are eighteen books in the series.
Scarrow has also written a series of four novels on the Napoleonic wars, focusing on the lives of Wellington and Napoleon.
He is best known for his "Eagle" series. This is Roman empire military fiction, starting with the second invasion of Britain, and continuing with subsequent adventures in every corner of the empire. The stories are told through the eyes of two centurions, Macro and Cato. To date there are eighteen books in the series.
Scarrow has also written a series of four novels on the Napoleonic wars, focusing on the lives of Wellington and Napoleon.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
October 20, 2020
as much as i enjoyed the story..i just couldn't get my head around the 16 year old street kid becoming a pirate captain and getting the other captains to follow him in just a few months. just a bit too unreal. maybe a trilogy following his life and rise through the ranks would've suited better and made this a whole lot better. And the mention of his brother every other sentence was way too much...we got the gist of that pretty quickly so there was no need to fill in gaps with his brothers story.
this story just reeked of a 16 year okd boy in his bedroom writting out his fantasy.
this story just reeked of a 16 year okd boy in his bedroom writting out his fantasy.
September 9, 2019
Actual rating: 4.00
August 10, 2024
Best book I've read so far
March 7, 2021
A good read if you can suspend your disbelief. Good to see the other side of the 'Roman experience' as being an equally tough life. Written for an adolescent market which isn't a bad thing. The five e-novellas as a single book makes it a bit repetitive but see point one.
February 12, 2019
Wit no rum?
A new hero of Ancient Roman times for us to follow. This Time a young Greek orphan rescued from the streets because he helped a sea captain. Offered a job at sea he takes it...he has a mission to save his brother from slavery. So far so good. Plenty of violent bloodsoaked violence, especially when we come up against prowling pirates. So far so good. Pity the youngster is not very likeable. He is bold enough but strangely not when it mattered near the beginning of the story. Okay, a plot device...we have to get to his future career as a pirate. And the captain we first met undergoes a strange character change to move story along. Didn't buy that. If we keep reading maybe our hero will become more sympathetic and we will care what happens to him...well, since this is part of a series his survival is guaranteed until his creators get bored with him. Exciting enough and the details of Roman life are always fascinating, but Telemachus is no Cato. Still I'll give the next instalment a go. Perhaps our lanky Greek will win me over. Still, a good read. Simon Scarrow never disappoints.
A new hero of Ancient Roman times for us to follow. This Time a young Greek orphan rescued from the streets because he helped a sea captain. Offered a job at sea he takes it...he has a mission to save his brother from slavery. So far so good. Plenty of violent bloodsoaked violence, especially when we come up against prowling pirates. So far so good. Pity the youngster is not very likeable. He is bold enough but strangely not when it mattered near the beginning of the story. Okay, a plot device...we have to get to his future career as a pirate. And the captain we first met undergoes a strange character change to move story along. Didn't buy that. If we keep reading maybe our hero will become more sympathetic and we will care what happens to him...well, since this is part of a series his survival is guaranteed until his creators get bored with him. Exciting enough and the details of Roman life are always fascinating, but Telemachus is no Cato. Still I'll give the next instalment a go. Perhaps our lanky Greek will win me over. Still, a good read. Simon Scarrow never disappoints.
February 3, 2024
( Format : Audiobook )
"All hands, prepare to repeal borders."
As a big fan of Simon Scarrow, I enjoyed this introduction to a new series, this one set in AD25. A young street man takes to the sea hoping to earn enough money to rescue his brother from slavery. But being a sailor is not an easy choice with not only the sea to contend with, but also the threat of pirates.
Interesting, especially given that few tales of Roman times take place on the oceans. And well performed, also, by the mellow voiced Jonathan Keeble who gives individual voices to each of the protagonists, although he does over inductions his excitement at some of the more adventurous passages for my.liking.
However, this is too short at a little over two hours, more a prequel taster than a full book, and the next instalment is scarcely any longer: not value for money, sadly.
"All hands, prepare to repeal borders."
As a big fan of Simon Scarrow, I enjoyed this introduction to a new series, this one set in AD25. A young street man takes to the sea hoping to earn enough money to rescue his brother from slavery. But being a sailor is not an easy choice with not only the sea to contend with, but also the threat of pirates.
Interesting, especially given that few tales of Roman times take place on the oceans. And well performed, also, by the mellow voiced Jonathan Keeble who gives individual voices to each of the protagonists, although he does over inductions his excitement at some of the more adventurous passages for my.liking.
However, this is too short at a little over two hours, more a prequel taster than a full book, and the next instalment is scarcely any longer: not value for money, sadly.
December 11, 2024
The first of 5 books of Pirata. Just eighty pages. 16 year old ragamuffin, Telemachus saves a man's life as three thieves try to rob and kill him. As a reward, the man, Captain Clemestes offers him a place on his ship. Telemachus accepts hoping to save enough money to buy his brother out of slavery.
Because of a drunk, the ship loses its cargo in a bad storm and is forced to take on another cargo in pirate ridden seas. They escape the pirates but are later attacked and captured by them and the crew including Telemachus are forced to join them or die.
All five short books have been incorporated into one long novel.
Because of a drunk, the ship loses its cargo in a bad storm and is forced to take on another cargo in pirate ridden seas. They escape the pirates but are later attacked and captured by them and the crew including Telemachus are forced to join them or die.
All five short books have been incorporated into one long novel.
April 4, 2022
Easy and quick read
If you have a little bit of leisure time and want to read a small story which will be filled with action, violence, and most importantly Pirates, just pick this novella up and have a good time
and dont forget to have a cup of coffee and cookies
I can predict the destiny of Telemachus just by reading the 1st novella of the series (in fact anyone will be able to foresee it) [i will be really dumbstruck if that prediction failed], still what I am eager to know is how that destiny comes true.
If you have a little bit of leisure time and want to read a small story which will be filled with action, violence, and most importantly Pirates, just pick this novella up and have a good time
and dont forget to have a cup of coffee and cookies
I can predict the destiny of Telemachus just by reading the 1st novella of the series (in fact anyone will be able to foresee it) [i will be really dumbstruck if that prediction failed], still what I am eager to know is how that destiny comes true.
February 5, 2019
Good start, although not as engaging as some of the other books... yet. I suspect it would be better if I waited for a few of novellas in this series to come out first before reading. However, as always Simon Scarrow's books show a lot of promise and potential. Great action sequences even in a short book. It's mostly setting up the scenes for the actual "Pirate" part of the story. Can't wait for the next few ones to come out.
January 15, 2021
Musela jsem se usmát, když jsem si uvědomila jak je to od série s Catonem a Macronem rozdílné. Doufáte, že ti dva jako římští vojáci z toho vyváznou, a tady se modlíte, aby se Telemachovi nic nestalo. A že měl namále několikrát. Zpočátku se mi zdálo, že kdo nikdy necvičil a neucil se bojovat, že mi to takhle snad nemůže jít, pak jsem si řekla, že nebojobal s někým, kdo by se bojem živil, což byl důkaz na konci, kdy se utkal s Canidem. Takže kolem a kolem, jsem byla spokojená.
April 16, 2019
I've always enjoyed Simon Scarrow books but Novella' s annoy me . you're just settling into an other adventure story., ready for an evening of skullduggery and deceipt with an unlikely hero. when bam! story over... buy the next one.. I should have learned by now and wait till a few novello' s are printed before settling down to enjoy a decent nights reading.
March 6, 2019
Worth the $1.99
It's a quick read, but a constantly moving story. There's plenty of detail for the reader to imagine what sights and sounds, and as always Scarrow does battle scenes as well as any I've read.
On to #2 in the series!
It's a quick read, but a constantly moving story. There's plenty of detail for the reader to imagine what sights and sounds, and as always Scarrow does battle scenes as well as any I've read.
On to #2 in the series!
July 2, 2019
Simon Scarrow can write a good historical yarn, sit back and immerse yourself in his books. However.... this series is a con, it could have been one book - I finished the first couple in one evening and then realised the cost of the series. Not worth it sorry Simon.
September 26, 2019
Rip off
Just think paying for a couple of chapters is as mercenary as the pirates. Hadn't realised when I bought it. Has making of a good story but not going to bother in view of cost to complete
Just think paying for a couple of chapters is as mercenary as the pirates. Hadn't realised when I bought it. Has making of a good story but not going to bother in view of cost to complete
September 5, 2022
There are 5 short books in this series. Although each book is a very quick read the story is full of adventure and for once the Romans got what was coming to them. Interesting about pirates at that time in history.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2019
Predictable but entertaining
Scarrow never lets you down and following his early short stories they serve as a tempter for his other works. Good holiday read though
Scarrow never lets you down and following his early short stories they serve as a tempter for his other works. Good holiday read though
April 9, 2019
Short Read
The story line was good but the length of the read was short it's as if it is being serialized. Never the less it was short but a good read.
The story line was good but the length of the read was short it's as if it is being serialized. Never the less it was short but a good read.
May 16, 2019
Pirate's in the Roman age.
Yayyyyy!!!!! Action galore....fighting.......ships......what more could anyone want. Simon Scarrow has done it again. I have almost all of his books.
Yayyyyy!!!!! Action galore....fighting.......ships......what more could anyone want. Simon Scarrow has done it again. I have almost all of his books.
May 20, 2019
Disappointed!!
Not up to Mr Scarrow’s usual standard. Apart from the smattering of F-words, you would think it is a book for adolescents. Also, it isn’t a full length novel.
Not up to Mr Scarrow’s usual standard. Apart from the smattering of F-words, you would think it is a book for adolescents. Also, it isn’t a full length novel.
September 3, 2020
Superb swashbuckling adventure, absolutely loved it.
March 2, 2021
A short story at most
It is not a book, it's a tidbit of a book. Very two dimensional and predictable, no plot just events tied together hap hazzard.
It is not a book, it's a tidbit of a book. Very two dimensional and predictable, no plot just events tied together hap hazzard.
August 10, 2021
Great Book
Great read
Well written
Good strong characters
Action & Adventure
Great descriptive action
Couldn't put it down
Excellent book
5 Stars, loved it
Great read
Well written
Good strong characters
Action & Adventure
Great descriptive action
Couldn't put it down
Excellent book
5 Stars, loved it
November 28, 2021
This story is action from start to finish. The characters, well most of them, were likeable and the pace the story was good.
May 27, 2023
Great read, next instalment please
Loved the story, pace and what comes next. Scarrow is the master and in the same style as his Eagle series.
Loved the story, pace and what comes next. Scarrow is the master and in the same style as his Eagle series.
January 1, 2024
An excellent premise and a fun story but not well written
September 27, 2025
2,5. Entretenido pero muy muy flojo, con personajes planos y una trama poco desarrollada que te deja indiferente. La reseña está referida a la novela completa.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews