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Raven and the Eagle #1
Legion
‘Brutal, audacious, and fast paced.’
Anthony Riches, author of the Empire series.
AD6: The greatest army assembled in a generation.
Battle, plunder, and glory await.
But not for Legionary Corvus. He and half of his legion have been left behind to garrison the province of Pannonia; a wild place where the mountains are as deadly as any foe.
Corvus despairs as he watches his closest friend Marcus march to war, not knowing that his own eager thirst for battle is about to be quenched; a huge rebel army has revolted against The Empire, and Corvus and his few comrades are all that stand against them.
‘Blood and guts, but also a clever exploration of the moral ambiguity of war and loyalty to a flag.’
Mail on Sunday.
‘Historical fiction written by a real war veteran who knows all there is to know about blood and bonding in battle.’ Weekend Sport.
Legion is the eagerly anticipated prequel to Blood Forest (Ambush) and Siege.
Anthony Riches, author of the Empire series.
AD6: The greatest army assembled in a generation.
Battle, plunder, and glory await.
But not for Legionary Corvus. He and half of his legion have been left behind to garrison the province of Pannonia; a wild place where the mountains are as deadly as any foe.
Corvus despairs as he watches his closest friend Marcus march to war, not knowing that his own eager thirst for battle is about to be quenched; a huge rebel army has revolted against The Empire, and Corvus and his few comrades are all that stand against them.
‘Blood and guts, but also a clever exploration of the moral ambiguity of war and loyalty to a flag.’
Mail on Sunday.
‘Historical fiction written by a real war veteran who knows all there is to know about blood and bonding in battle.’ Weekend Sport.
Legion is the eagerly anticipated prequel to Blood Forest (Ambush) and Siege.
332 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 20, 2019
61 people are currently reading
149 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
June 23, 2021
This very engaging historical prequel is about the adventures of a legionary called, Corvus, who's actions we will also later witness in Blood Forest (later named, Ambush) and Siege.
Before I will get to this book I like to mention that at the end of the book you'll notice an Author's Note, where the historical details concerning this terrific tale are wonderfully explained by the author (f.e for simplicity's sake there's already a Dalmatia and Pannonia, but that will happen for certain a little later, while still now its Illyricum).
Story-telling is of a superb quality, for you can feel that the man has been an infantry soldier himself, all characters, whether real historical or great fictional, come vividly to life in this tale, while also the hostile atmosphere between Rome and its frontiers, like here with Dalmatia and Pannonia, is very well described in this amazing historical adventure.
The book starts off with a prologue situated in AD 1 in Pannonia, when our main protagonist, legionary Corvus, is witnessing the maiming of his section commander, Brutus, and the death of fellow young legionary, Fano, after retaliating actions against Pannonian brigands, and these actions will shape the warrior/fighter Corvus's conscience towards war and its consequences that will come years later.
The main story is situated around AD 6, and we find Corvus, and his comrades, Priscus, Varo, Octavius, in a frontier garrison facing Pannonia with the Eighth Legion, when all of a sudden one half of the Legion, 6th until 10th, is called up by General Tiberius to fight the Marcomanni and its King Marabodus, with in their midst Corvus's youth-friend, Marcus, while the other half, the 1st until 5th, with Corvus and his comrades needs to stay at the garrison as a frontier force against the surrounding barbarians.
While Marcus is following General Tiberius to confront the Marcomanni, Corvus, Priscus, Varo, Octavius and many others at the garrison are facing a revolt from various deserting Roman auxiliary troops, mostly consisting with people from Pannonia and Dalmatia, and so our friends are facing total war against an enemy from within instead of without.
What is also to come is an action-packed historical adventure, in which Corvus will lose his friends/comrades heroically in battle and in ambush, and also for Corvus the cold hard truth what happened in his hometown of Iader (now Zadar) years ago, and the fate and brutal murder of the slave-girl and Corvus's love, Beatha, daughter of his tutor, Cynbel, at the hands of his life-long friend, Marcus, and this deadly betrayal will mark the end of their friendship, the end of making war for Rome and it leaders, and against all what Rome stands for.
Highly recommended, for this is the first wonderful story about Corvus in which we're heading towards the books Blood Forest (now Ambush) and Siege, and as such I want to call this episode: "A Most Impressive Corvus Prequel"!
Before I will get to this book I like to mention that at the end of the book you'll notice an Author's Note, where the historical details concerning this terrific tale are wonderfully explained by the author (f.e for simplicity's sake there's already a Dalmatia and Pannonia, but that will happen for certain a little later, while still now its Illyricum).
Story-telling is of a superb quality, for you can feel that the man has been an infantry soldier himself, all characters, whether real historical or great fictional, come vividly to life in this tale, while also the hostile atmosphere between Rome and its frontiers, like here with Dalmatia and Pannonia, is very well described in this amazing historical adventure.
The book starts off with a prologue situated in AD 1 in Pannonia, when our main protagonist, legionary Corvus, is witnessing the maiming of his section commander, Brutus, and the death of fellow young legionary, Fano, after retaliating actions against Pannonian brigands, and these actions will shape the warrior/fighter Corvus's conscience towards war and its consequences that will come years later.
The main story is situated around AD 6, and we find Corvus, and his comrades, Priscus, Varo, Octavius, in a frontier garrison facing Pannonia with the Eighth Legion, when all of a sudden one half of the Legion, 6th until 10th, is called up by General Tiberius to fight the Marcomanni and its King Marabodus, with in their midst Corvus's youth-friend, Marcus, while the other half, the 1st until 5th, with Corvus and his comrades needs to stay at the garrison as a frontier force against the surrounding barbarians.
While Marcus is following General Tiberius to confront the Marcomanni, Corvus, Priscus, Varo, Octavius and many others at the garrison are facing a revolt from various deserting Roman auxiliary troops, mostly consisting with people from Pannonia and Dalmatia, and so our friends are facing total war against an enemy from within instead of without.
What is also to come is an action-packed historical adventure, in which Corvus will lose his friends/comrades heroically in battle and in ambush, and also for Corvus the cold hard truth what happened in his hometown of Iader (now Zadar) years ago, and the fate and brutal murder of the slave-girl and Corvus's love, Beatha, daughter of his tutor, Cynbel, at the hands of his life-long friend, Marcus, and this deadly betrayal will mark the end of their friendship, the end of making war for Rome and it leaders, and against all what Rome stands for.
Highly recommended, for this is the first wonderful story about Corvus in which we're heading towards the books Blood Forest (now Ambush) and Siege, and as such I want to call this episode: "A Most Impressive Corvus Prequel"!
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April 7, 2022I think I'm throwing in the towel early. The character is a Sulky Sam with a bad attitude. He's extremely emo. Also, the story itself isn't doing a thing for me.
Since I only read 28% of this, and I read that much very begrudgingly, I'm not going to rate it. Maybe it gets better further in but I don't care enough to find out.
Since I only read 28% of this, and I read that much very begrudgingly, I'm not going to rate it. Maybe it gets better further in but I don't care enough to find out.
July 17, 2023
This is literally South Parks take on Russel Crowe fighting round the world but Roman and taking itself seriously
November 3, 2023
This is a decent read.
Jones does gritty realism and doesn't shy away from the brutality of war. He writes action pretty well as well and it's an easy and quick read.
All that said I feel it's hard to argue that it deserves above 3 stars. In fact I reckon a solid 2.5 is as good as it really deserves. He writes action fairly well but there's very limited character development, and his writing style, description etc. is not that immersive. You compare it to the greats in the field like Conn Iggulden and Bernard Cornwell and you see how far short he falls in this area, as well as not being quite as sharp as them with action or his writing being quite as engaging. Maybe it's the first person narrative that doesn't help on this front. It's not bad - and I've read a couple of weak historical fiction novels of late - which is a plus that he avoids falling into this camp.
But I'm not sure that it's really got too many positives, compared to an absence of negatives. It's not that gripping, there's not that much suspense, it's hard to get invested in the characters. It's also somewhat repetitive, which whilst factually accurate, doesn't make for so great a read. It's not that there's no effort made in this; the main character is slowly worn down by war, and his backstory slowly revealed - efforts clearly are made - they're just not that engaging.
Still it's not a basic bland Roman soldiers book, and in an overcrowded field it is far from the worst. It's a decent read but it wouldn't be the first in this genre I'd go to.
Jones does gritty realism and doesn't shy away from the brutality of war. He writes action pretty well as well and it's an easy and quick read.
All that said I feel it's hard to argue that it deserves above 3 stars. In fact I reckon a solid 2.5 is as good as it really deserves. He writes action fairly well but there's very limited character development, and his writing style, description etc. is not that immersive. You compare it to the greats in the field like Conn Iggulden and Bernard Cornwell and you see how far short he falls in this area, as well as not being quite as sharp as them with action or his writing being quite as engaging. Maybe it's the first person narrative that doesn't help on this front. It's not bad - and I've read a couple of weak historical fiction novels of late - which is a plus that he avoids falling into this camp.
But I'm not sure that it's really got too many positives, compared to an absence of negatives. It's not that gripping, there's not that much suspense, it's hard to get invested in the characters. It's also somewhat repetitive, which whilst factually accurate, doesn't make for so great a read. It's not that there's no effort made in this; the main character is slowly worn down by war, and his backstory slowly revealed - efforts clearly are made - they're just not that engaging.
Still it's not a basic bland Roman soldiers book, and in an overcrowded field it is far from the worst. It's a decent read but it wouldn't be the first in this genre I'd go to.
September 5, 2021
I am never tired of fiction set in Ancient Rome. This is the story of an infantryman in the Eighth Legion in the time of Tiberius. He has run away from home on the Dalmatian coast and made his life as a Roman soldier. The author was an infantryman in the British army, serving in Iraq and Afghanistan and then as a private mercenary to protect ships from Somali pirates. That lived experience brings the authenticity of the relationships among the soldiers - with a mix of reasons for fighting, fear, honour, glory, a job - all subsumed in the blood and dirt of war. There are so many themes in this work. We learn that our infantryman is a berserker in battle and yet deplores the approach of killing the weak in the sweep of the battles. One common thread is that the common soldier does not choose his side, he is sent by his leaders to battle. As Corvus loses friend after friend to the punishing internecine civil rebellion, he starts to understand more of the war and politics of war. I am now hooked and planning to read book 2, Traitor, to follow the adventures of the bearer of the Roman eagle.
August 9, 2021
Really really good read.
It is pretty unusual to find a’historic’ novel that is pertinent to today.
In the Raven and the Eagle we see altruistic young men torn apart by a war they barely understand. The novel takes you on a violent journey to discover what no young man should discover. The novel shows us that thinking young men can be scarred by many many things and this scarring may take many forms.
The author has done an amazing job of taking an amazingly tragic piece of history (fictional) and put a modern twist to it and this twist deserves to be there.
Plenty of action, plenty of emotion and a storyline that leads perfectly to the next chapter / volume.
Great read.
It is pretty unusual to find a’historic’ novel that is pertinent to today.
In the Raven and the Eagle we see altruistic young men torn apart by a war they barely understand. The novel takes you on a violent journey to discover what no young man should discover. The novel shows us that thinking young men can be scarred by many many things and this scarring may take many forms.
The author has done an amazing job of taking an amazingly tragic piece of history (fictional) and put a modern twist to it and this twist deserves to be there.
Plenty of action, plenty of emotion and a storyline that leads perfectly to the next chapter / volume.
Great read.
April 15, 2022
An interesting historical fiction that doesn’t show the Roman Empire or Legion as being amazing and wonderful.
This book takes a grittier view with the Legion seeking revenge on the rebels and committing acts of atrocities as a result. This book should come with a trigger warning as it includes depictions of rape and murder.
The main character isn’t super likeable. He is running from his past and is angry. He has only seen combat once in his years at the Legion and as result picks fights with everyone. Once the battle starts he quickly begins to realise perhaps it isn’t what he thought it would be and that perhaps a line got crossed. He struggles with wanting to support Rome and it’s ideals, as well as his friends but can’t reconcile the violent acts they are committing in the name of war.
I don’t think I will continue the series but found the book interesting for writing about a less glorified version of the Legions and Rome.
This book takes a grittier view with the Legion seeking revenge on the rebels and committing acts of atrocities as a result. This book should come with a trigger warning as it includes depictions of rape and murder.
The main character isn’t super likeable. He is running from his past and is angry. He has only seen combat once in his years at the Legion and as result picks fights with everyone. Once the battle starts he quickly begins to realise perhaps it isn’t what he thought it would be and that perhaps a line got crossed. He struggles with wanting to support Rome and it’s ideals, as well as his friends but can’t reconcile the violent acts they are committing in the name of war.
I don’t think I will continue the series but found the book interesting for writing about a less glorified version of the Legions and Rome.
April 16, 2023
Honestly, while I love history, historical fiction is not always my go to. That all changed when I picked up Geraint Jones Raven and the Eagle trilogy. I just could not put it down. I loved the storyline and how the author made the thoughts, actions and motivations of Roman soldiers accessible to the modern reader. I wish I could say that I was turned off by so much violence, but Jones’ descriptions of each and every battle, from the weather to the sounds, smells, and sights were everything I hoped to find in a book, and then some. It was gruesome and vicious, yet beautifully so. I look forward to reading the rest.
February 10, 2022
An exciting story that promises much.. and delivers!
I loved this story and like all historical fiction it is fiction. Yet there was a visceral truth in the descriptions that took me there, to the mountains and the battles. I found this book by accident but I'm so pleased and I look forward to reading more of this series! Don't stop I love it if makes me feel like I'm there and part of it.
I loved this story and like all historical fiction it is fiction. Yet there was a visceral truth in the descriptions that took me there, to the mountains and the battles. I found this book by accident but I'm so pleased and I look forward to reading more of this series! Don't stop I love it if makes me feel like I'm there and part of it.
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December 16, 2020Finally a book that has been able to get into the mind of a troubled soldier, in the worst of situations and show how he forges on through mental turmoil. Jones' ability to tell a tale of such a soldier, hero, villain all wrapped into one is spectacular. It opens a readers eye's to "walk a mile in my shoes".
November 22, 2021
Different
Maybe not as much blood and guts as other novels of this genre. Or maybe there is and it's Geraint Jones's style of writing that makes it seem more palatable. Notwithstanding this I enjoyed this tale with enough historical background to make it believable. The inner story of the two main characters relationship dovetailed nicely into the overall work.
Maybe not as much blood and guts as other novels of this genre. Or maybe there is and it's Geraint Jones's style of writing that makes it seem more palatable. Notwithstanding this I enjoyed this tale with enough historical background to make it believable. The inner story of the two main characters relationship dovetailed nicely into the overall work.
August 29, 2023
A legionary, who is a not a born citizen, begins to question war and Rome when the people of his birth rebel against The Empire
A very readable historical fiction tale with an interesting main protagonist. I’ve read better, hence four stars not five, but as this is book one of three I have a feeling the series may improve
A very readable historical fiction tale with an interesting main protagonist. I’ve read better, hence four stars not five, but as this is book one of three I have a feeling the series may improve
January 29, 2024
Loved this book. The author writes short, punchy sentences, which keeps the pace high and the plot moving along nicely. After 2 or 3 chapters setting the scene, the book is virtually non-stop brutal, bloody fight scenes, which are so well written and plotted, that I could visualise it in my mind. Can't wait for book 2 to arrive now.
January 8, 2021
My first Geraint Jones book, but it won't be my last
Excellent story. Well written. Good insight into ancient Roman war care and uprisings.I am Looking forward to the next installments.
Excellent story. Well written. Good insight into ancient Roman war care and uprisings.I am Looking forward to the next installments.
December 19, 2021
Loved it!
Great raw emotion, brotherhood, battles, deception, and purpose. Fast paced, well-written. I can’t wait to read the next one! Thrilled to find another awesome Ancient Rome writer.
Great raw emotion, brotherhood, battles, deception, and purpose. Fast paced, well-written. I can’t wait to read the next one! Thrilled to find another awesome Ancient Rome writer.
April 28, 2022
Enjoyed this
Cracking action at a breakneck pace. Good dialogue and not too many characters to muddy a direct narrative. I sometimes feel guilty for not reading The life of Ok and it's ilk but man this is so much more enjoyable.
Cracking action at a breakneck pace. Good dialogue and not too many characters to muddy a direct narrative. I sometimes feel guilty for not reading The life of Ok and it's ilk but man this is so much more enjoyable.
May 17, 2020
Epic exciting tragic
Well written soldier's view of conflict. Real characters and enough historical ambience to set the scene. A soldier should not die amongst strangers
Well written soldier's view of conflict. Real characters and enough historical ambience to set the scene. A soldier should not die amongst strangers
May 22, 2020
This was a great backstory on our friend Felix and he became who he was in Blood Forest. Great! Great! Ending/Beginning.
May 30, 2020
3rd
Another well written historical novel fast paced usually takes me a good few weeks to read a book hardly put this down
Another well written historical novel fast paced usually takes me a good few weeks to read a book hardly put this down
July 19, 2021
Good, if slightly overlong for a fairly slight prequel, and feels a little like an Afghanistan PTSD exercise
August 11, 2021
Fantastic first book in the series.
October 1, 2021
I’ll thought it interesting . It is in first person . The guy is an asshole . Plus the battle scene are short . Not my cup of tea 🍵
November 10, 2023
gripping story.
Nice pace of action. Interesting subject matter. Realistic battle scenes and description of military brotherhood. Good read. Looking forward to the next book.
Nice pace of action. Interesting subject matter. Realistic battle scenes and description of military brotherhood. Good read. Looking forward to the next book.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews