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The Lost Ten
From the author of The Last Hour comes another fast-paced thriller, which follows Valens, an inexperienced officer in the Roman Army who finds himself in charge of a desperate rescue attempt deep behind enemy lines.
When Valens, a junior officer in the Roman Army, joins a crack squad of soldiers on a dangerous mission, little does he know what's in store for him. Tasked with rescuing the young Prince Sasan, who has been imprisoned in the impenetrable Castle of Silence, the troops set out across Mesopotamia and into the mountains south of the Caspian Sea. Deep in hostile territory, inexperienced Valens finds himself in charge. And as one by one his soldiers die or disappear, he begins to suspect that there is a traitor in their midst and that the rescue is fast becoming a suicide mission. Valens must marshal this disparate group of men and earn their respect before it's too late....
When Valens, a junior officer in the Roman Army, joins a crack squad of soldiers on a dangerous mission, little does he know what's in store for him. Tasked with rescuing the young Prince Sasan, who has been imprisoned in the impenetrable Castle of Silence, the troops set out across Mesopotamia and into the mountains south of the Caspian Sea. Deep in hostile territory, inexperienced Valens finds himself in charge. And as one by one his soldiers die or disappear, he begins to suspect that there is a traitor in their midst and that the rescue is fast becoming a suicide mission. Valens must marshal this disparate group of men and earn their respect before it's too late....
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First published April 18, 2019
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About the author
Harry Sidebottom
41 books521 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 68 reviews
July 6, 2019
This eventful thrilling standalone book by the scholar/author Harry Sidebottom is another one with a different concept in comparison to his great Roman series.
The reason I say this is because this book, as like it's predecessor, has changed from a full-blown Roman historical novel into a fast-paced and action-packed Roman historical thriller.
At the beginning of the book you'll be presented with a well-drawn map of the Roman Empire in AD 265, and it's around this year that this story is situated, during the reign of the Emperor Gallienus.
Storytelling is once again of a superb quality, simply because the author has the great ability to blend historical facts and fiction into a fascinating historical Roman tale, and this with very believable and lively characters, real or fictional, throughout, who come all vividly to life within this tale of bravery, treachery, survival and death.
This story is taking place during the years AD 264-265, and it's another rollercoaster of a ride, for our main character, Marcus Aelius Valens, will find himself in several dangerous situations and quite some deadly encounters throughout this Roman adventure.
The story starts with the expedition force of 10 men, selected by Murena, Head of the "Frumentarii" , Leader of Strangers, while the leader of this force is Gnaeus Claudius Severus, chosen by the Praetorian Prefect, Volusianus, and second in command is Marcus Aelius Valens, and this task-force is sent on a mission to liberate the ten-year-old Prince Sasan of Persia, out of the Castle of Silence, and not long into their travels their leader Severus is already deliberately killed.
What will follow is a very exciting and fascinating historical thriller, where Valens has to be very alert to all kinds of dangers and deaths/murders of fellow soldiers, due to treachery from within, and within this betrayal he has to lead his man in an almighty effort to rescue the boy, Sasan, from the Castle of Silence, and in this environment he must somehow seem to survive to explain his full story later on to Volusianus.
Very much recommended, for this is a marvellous historical tale, although I myself in all honesty prefer Mr Sidebottom's historical novels accompanied with his skilful and knowledgeable glossaries and historical notes, but for now to come back and judge this book I like to call it: "A Perfect Historical Roman Thriller"!
The reason I say this is because this book, as like it's predecessor, has changed from a full-blown Roman historical novel into a fast-paced and action-packed Roman historical thriller.
At the beginning of the book you'll be presented with a well-drawn map of the Roman Empire in AD 265, and it's around this year that this story is situated, during the reign of the Emperor Gallienus.
Storytelling is once again of a superb quality, simply because the author has the great ability to blend historical facts and fiction into a fascinating historical Roman tale, and this with very believable and lively characters, real or fictional, throughout, who come all vividly to life within this tale of bravery, treachery, survival and death.
This story is taking place during the years AD 264-265, and it's another rollercoaster of a ride, for our main character, Marcus Aelius Valens, will find himself in several dangerous situations and quite some deadly encounters throughout this Roman adventure.
The story starts with the expedition force of 10 men, selected by Murena, Head of the "Frumentarii" , Leader of Strangers, while the leader of this force is Gnaeus Claudius Severus, chosen by the Praetorian Prefect, Volusianus, and second in command is Marcus Aelius Valens, and this task-force is sent on a mission to liberate the ten-year-old Prince Sasan of Persia, out of the Castle of Silence, and not long into their travels their leader Severus is already deliberately killed.
What will follow is a very exciting and fascinating historical thriller, where Valens has to be very alert to all kinds of dangers and deaths/murders of fellow soldiers, due to treachery from within, and within this betrayal he has to lead his man in an almighty effort to rescue the boy, Sasan, from the Castle of Silence, and in this environment he must somehow seem to survive to explain his full story later on to Volusianus.
Very much recommended, for this is a marvellous historical tale, although I myself in all honesty prefer Mr Sidebottom's historical novels accompanied with his skilful and knowledgeable glossaries and historical notes, but for now to come back and judge this book I like to call it: "A Perfect Historical Roman Thriller"!
February 22, 2020
Whoa and wow. Historical fiction - at it's finest. I loved this book. A racy thriller set in about 260 AD. The historical side was easy to follow (I readily found what I needed to know on the internet. But how I wished I had realised - sooner than the end - that helpful information was at the back if the book): the writing style excellent: the characters and motivation were easy to discern; and it was an exciting story.
Unputdownable
Unputdownable
April 20, 2019
Bestselling author Harry Sidebottom is back with a fascinating and perilous standalone historical adventure set in third-century Rome. It follows a group of ragtag soldiers from the Roman Empire as they embark on an impossible mission which is fraught with danger from the very beginning. Crossing into many different countries where they encounter people from all walks of life, I was aware almost instantaneously after reading a few pages that Sidebottom knew his onions when it comes to the empire. It was a pleasure to read with a palpable sense of tension running throughout and a satisfying ending to boot.
All in all, this is an evocative, visceral and exciting story and not only that but you get a real history lesson in the process. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Zaffre for an ARC.
All in all, this is an evocative, visceral and exciting story and not only that but you get a real history lesson in the process. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Zaffre for an ARC.
April 20, 2019
I love books that try new things. And historical fiction generally tends to be pretty conservative and uninterested in new ideas. You have to search pretty hard to find a work that doesn’t focus on high politics, tame murder mysteries, or heroic military memoirs. But look at this description: a group of soldiers are sent on a suicidal commando raid to rescue the young nephew of a corrupt Middle Eastern despot from a high security prison in the desert. Sound like a modern thriller? Nope! it’s all set in 265 AD in Rome and Persia! And it’s good. Really good.
As a commando thriller it works very well. There are, as might be imagined, a string of difficulties that our gang must overcome on their way to the Castle of Silence (a wonderful concept lovingly cribbed from Procopius where to even speak of the prisoners held there means death) but each one is unique enough that it doesn’t seem repetitive. Bandit raids, dust storms, hidden traitors, unfriendly villagers… And unlike in The Last Hour the nature of the plot gives us a sense of progression as they move through Mesopotamia towards northern Iran and the Castle. And the descriptions of the regions they pass through are wonderfully atmospheric, although Hyrcania sounds more desolate and gloomy than I hope it deserves.
I really enjoyed the characters too. It took a while, but they do grow on you. It’s set during the same time period as the Warrior of Rome novels (265 AD) but despite an early mention Ballista doesn’t make an appearance (apparently he’s in Gaul leading an army for Gallienus, which should prove interesting). Instead, the lead is a new character called Valens, a young soldier with dead parents syndrome who unexpectedly ends up in charge of the desperate band and has to learn how to be a leader as he goes along. The dead parents thing is actually remarkably subtly played. It’s usually a cudgel in literature, but here it’s mostly an explanation for why an otherwise capable officer was judged a sot and unreliable enough to put on a mission their boss wants to fail. And the mentions of it get less and less frequent as we go on as he *gasp!* begins to get over it!
His men are all seasoned frumentarii, a unit whose role as a Gestapo-like secret police I’ve always found overblown (I even wrote an article on it), and they are unsurprisingly not very impressed with the new sprout they’re saddled with. But they grow on you as well. From Iudex, who seems to come from a different world and can be guaranteed to make every conversation awkwardly (but cheerfully!) mad to Narses the Persian (cheerful but a bit guilty about fighting his own people) to Hairan the Hatran (who loves whoring) to Clemens (who hates Easterners and by inference must come from farthest Spain) to Zabda the Palmyrene thief, every character is unique and memorable. Also, there’s a traitor among them who’s been suborned to ensure the mission fails! So that’s fun. And the identity of the traitor is teased out gradually and effectively (although I find it a bit cheap that, unless I missed it somehow, one crucial bit of evidence is obscured when he has no reason to hide it except that it might clue those of us reading his POV in).
The mission works well because it’s easy to root for these guys to succeed. Poor little Sassan is a noble boy and in no way deserving of imprisonment or death by slow torture. And it’s good that we want these guys to succeed because frankly the whole rescue mission doesn’t make a lot of sense. If you’re trying to start a war with Persia you hardly need to waste your time sneaking soldiers to the other side of their empire (plus if you’re relying on Heruli help to get out via the northern border why not just sneak in that way?). And nabbing a potential rival to the throne is hardly so certain to demand a response as they pretend, as he admits at the end. The Romans were accustomed to welcoming pretenders and even giving them positions of high rank while they awaited their opportunity (Shapur’s great-grandson Hormisdas being one such example), though I can’t think of any examples where they actually bothered to snatch one. But if I’m honest, it’s no more absurd than the sort of stories you see in contemporary thrillers.
The final chapter really surprised me. Suffice it to say, a standalone novel can provide a much more satisfying conclusion than one that has to always keep the next book in mind. As a book about people on the rise it’s also a lot more optimistic than Ballista’s tragedy-always-looming ones.
I’ve read all of Sidebottom’s previous books and I have to say this is probably my favorite. He always has a strong military focus with interesting facts and observations thrown in, but occasionally these digressions have derailed the plot and even the best of his straight action/adventures (Fire in the East) had pacing issues. But this book is d*mn near flawless. Every time I got bored of one area or topic we moved onto the next. And that one proved just as interesting. Plus, this book is set mainly in Persia and Persia is one of my favorite underexplored settings. In fact, I know of a grand total of two set in the Sassanid world and they’re a duology (Rav Hisda’s Daughter) set among the Jewish population of Babylonia. And that’s it.
Even if you’re not massively interested in Roman history, the book is works checking out just as a thriller. Don’t go in expecting a humanistic ‘saving noble civilization from cruel barbarism’ type of story (Agent of Rome may be more your type of thing) but a gritty and realistic adventure with an unusual setting.
As a commando thriller it works very well. There are, as might be imagined, a string of difficulties that our gang must overcome on their way to the Castle of Silence (a wonderful concept lovingly cribbed from Procopius where to even speak of the prisoners held there means death) but each one is unique enough that it doesn’t seem repetitive. Bandit raids, dust storms, hidden traitors, unfriendly villagers… And unlike in The Last Hour the nature of the plot gives us a sense of progression as they move through Mesopotamia towards northern Iran and the Castle. And the descriptions of the regions they pass through are wonderfully atmospheric, although Hyrcania sounds more desolate and gloomy than I hope it deserves.
I really enjoyed the characters too. It took a while, but they do grow on you. It’s set during the same time period as the Warrior of Rome novels (265 AD) but despite an early mention Ballista doesn’t make an appearance (apparently he’s in Gaul leading an army for Gallienus, which should prove interesting). Instead, the lead is a new character called Valens, a young soldier with dead parents syndrome who unexpectedly ends up in charge of the desperate band and has to learn how to be a leader as he goes along. The dead parents thing is actually remarkably subtly played. It’s usually a cudgel in literature, but here it’s mostly an explanation for why an otherwise capable officer was judged a sot and unreliable enough to put on a mission their boss wants to fail. And the mentions of it get less and less frequent as we go on as he *gasp!* begins to get over it!
His men are all seasoned frumentarii, a unit whose role as a Gestapo-like secret police I’ve always found overblown (I even wrote an article on it), and they are unsurprisingly not very impressed with the new sprout they’re saddled with. But they grow on you as well. From Iudex, who seems to come from a different world and can be guaranteed to make every conversation awkwardly (but cheerfully!) mad to Narses the Persian (cheerful but a bit guilty about fighting his own people) to Hairan the Hatran (who loves whoring) to Clemens (who hates Easterners and by inference must come from farthest Spain) to Zabda the Palmyrene thief, every character is unique and memorable. Also, there’s a traitor among them who’s been suborned to ensure the mission fails! So that’s fun. And the identity of the traitor is teased out gradually and effectively (although I find it a bit cheap that, unless I missed it somehow, one crucial bit of evidence is obscured when he has no reason to hide it except that it might clue those of us reading his POV in).
The mission works well because it’s easy to root for these guys to succeed. Poor little Sassan is a noble boy and in no way deserving of imprisonment or death by slow torture. And it’s good that we want these guys to succeed because frankly the whole rescue mission doesn’t make a lot of sense. If you’re trying to start a war with Persia you hardly need to waste your time sneaking soldiers to the other side of their empire (plus if you’re relying on Heruli help to get out via the northern border why not just sneak in that way?). And nabbing a potential rival to the throne is hardly so certain to demand a response as they pretend, as he admits at the end. The Romans were accustomed to welcoming pretenders and even giving them positions of high rank while they awaited their opportunity (Shapur’s great-grandson Hormisdas being one such example), though I can’t think of any examples where they actually bothered to snatch one. But if I’m honest, it’s no more absurd than the sort of stories you see in contemporary thrillers.
The final chapter really surprised me. Suffice it to say, a standalone novel can provide a much more satisfying conclusion than one that has to always keep the next book in mind. As a book about people on the rise it’s also a lot more optimistic than Ballista’s tragedy-always-looming ones.
I’ve read all of Sidebottom’s previous books and I have to say this is probably my favorite. He always has a strong military focus with interesting facts and observations thrown in, but occasionally these digressions have derailed the plot and even the best of his straight action/adventures (Fire in the East) had pacing issues. But this book is d*mn near flawless. Every time I got bored of one area or topic we moved onto the next. And that one proved just as interesting. Plus, this book is set mainly in Persia and Persia is one of my favorite underexplored settings. In fact, I know of a grand total of two set in the Sassanid world and they’re a duology (Rav Hisda’s Daughter) set among the Jewish population of Babylonia. And that’s it.
Even if you’re not massively interested in Roman history, the book is works checking out just as a thriller. Don’t go in expecting a humanistic ‘saving noble civilization from cruel barbarism’ type of story (Agent of Rome may be more your type of thing) but a gritty and realistic adventure with an unusual setting.
December 8, 2019
Firstly, a huge thank you to Zaffre and Compulsive Readers for having me on this blog tour.
I have a confession, agreeing to this tour scared me. I have never read a historical fiction book, nevermind one heavily entrenched within the military genre. However, I've loved Greek and Roman history for as long as I can remember. I studied it in college and have been independently researching whenever I can. I took a gamble. A gamble that paid off tenfold.
I loved The Lost Ten*. It felt so visceral...literally, at times, some of the battle scenes were pretty graphic! Which I loved as well. It follows ten men sent on a secret mission to free a Persian Prince held captive by his own people in an attempt to provoke a war. However, there is a traitor amongst their midst. Someone is trying to sabotage the mission. Think Greek Cluedo but it was more like Satrap Julius in the desert with a sword than colonel mustard with the candlestick.
The book moved with great pace despite the vast lands covered. The passage of time was conveyed very well by how the men changed both physically and mentally. Each character had a distinct background, beliefs and mannerisms making them easy to identify. What an eclectic band of soldiers. I truly felt that each character could have been a figure from our history they felt so fully formed. The tension never truly dissipated and even increased with every glass of wine and sharp word. Usually, about another's religion or heritage. I particularly felt for Valens. A young man with a sorry origin story forced onto a mission he really didn't want.
A phenomenal story with amazing battle scenes and even the odd tender moment or two...just for a little bit though, then it's back to the killing.
www.a-novel-idea.co.uk
I have a confession, agreeing to this tour scared me. I have never read a historical fiction book, nevermind one heavily entrenched within the military genre. However, I've loved Greek and Roman history for as long as I can remember. I studied it in college and have been independently researching whenever I can. I took a gamble. A gamble that paid off tenfold.
I loved The Lost Ten*. It felt so visceral...literally, at times, some of the battle scenes were pretty graphic! Which I loved as well. It follows ten men sent on a secret mission to free a Persian Prince held captive by his own people in an attempt to provoke a war. However, there is a traitor amongst their midst. Someone is trying to sabotage the mission. Think Greek Cluedo but it was more like Satrap Julius in the desert with a sword than colonel mustard with the candlestick.
The book moved with great pace despite the vast lands covered. The passage of time was conveyed very well by how the men changed both physically and mentally. Each character had a distinct background, beliefs and mannerisms making them easy to identify. What an eclectic band of soldiers. I truly felt that each character could have been a figure from our history they felt so fully formed. The tension never truly dissipated and even increased with every glass of wine and sharp word. Usually, about another's religion or heritage. I particularly felt for Valens. A young man with a sorry origin story forced onto a mission he really didn't want.
A phenomenal story with amazing battle scenes and even the odd tender moment or two...just for a little bit though, then it's back to the killing.
www.a-novel-idea.co.uk
September 23, 2024
Sidebottom's books do not seem to be available in the US after his first seven or eight. The library stopped shelving them, and when I buy a used copy online, it comes with a sticker saying 'Two for 8 pounds.' Hello, US readers: Sidebottom is fabulous. As a historian focused on the Roman empire, we are so lucky that Sidebottom wants to and has the skill to create riveting fiction set in this period. Here, ten highly skilled Roman soldiers are sent on a secret mission to rescue a Persian prince from a fortress deep in Persian territory. Intrigue, battles, and the vivid Roman landscape: Senators and Plebes and Emperors make this stand-alone as wonderful as his 'Warrior of Rome' series.
April 23, 2019
Harry Sidebottom's Roman novels are always a treat and this standalone Roman thriller is excellent. It reads a little like a modern SAS rescue mission thriller, which I think is the intention, and it's effectively done. I particularly enjoyed the setting close to the Caspian Sea. The novel doesn't feature the author's most famous hero, Ballista, but it is set at the same time and he does get the occasional welcome mention. Review to follow shortly on For Winter Nights.
May 5, 2019
Probably intentional on the author's part but this escapist "guys' novel" read like a modern testosterone-fueled military thriller but set in 3d century Rome, Persia, and the steppe country. A small band of Special Forces, er, in this context, frumentarii, sets out to rescue a young Persian prince from an impregnable fortress/prison. There is a traitor among the ten misfits of different backgrounds, each hand-picked and highly skilled in secret warfare techniques. One, a Persian in nationality, speaks the language and was once stationed at the fortress/prison. The fifth columnist, blackmailed by the Head of the frumentarii, sows dissension among his brethren and tries to destroy the mission however he can. He brings about the deaths of some of the members of the group. Due to the violent death of their leader early on, the second-in-command, the inexperienced Roman army junior officer, Valens, takes over. How will he bear the burden of command and its responsibility?
Every cliché of espionage-thriller novels was used except the setting. In spite of that, the novel read enjoyably, smoothly, and quickly. There was a note of suspense and mystery--who was the traitor? Excitement ran through nearly every page. With the introduction of a female character, I cringed at the thought of a possible love interest, but there was none [I applaud the author for avoiding this banality]. She served her purpose, then was written out of the story. The greeting: "Hail and great joy" irritated me every time I read it. Was the author was trying to get across the idea Greek was being spoken at those times?
Recommended.
Every cliché of espionage-thriller novels was used except the setting. In spite of that, the novel read enjoyably, smoothly, and quickly. There was a note of suspense and mystery--who was the traitor? Excitement ran through nearly every page. With the introduction of a female character, I cringed at the thought of a possible love interest, but there was none [I applaud the author for avoiding this banality]. She served her purpose, then was written out of the story. The greeting: "Hail and great joy" irritated me every time I read it. Was the author was trying to get across the idea Greek was being spoken at those times?
Recommended.
December 3, 2021
When I started reading this book I had 'readers fatigue' after reading way to many books one after the other, so I wasn't enjoying it at the start... BUT after a 2 month break from reading I picked it back up, continued where I left off and absolutely loved it. What an adventure and amazing story, had me completely hooked for the rest of the book.
January 8, 2022
I am glad I have discovered Harry Sidebottom's books. The problem is finding them at book stores new and used in the United States. This one I found online at Blue Vase, my local online location a few miles from house. I guess I will need to search online and pay more for postage and handling to buy more. This book does have the offer to join the Harry Sidebottom Reader's Club and a
Facebook location. I wil do one or both in a few minutes. This was another good book by Mr. Sidebottom plus is a stand alone which I wanted. I am thankful that Mr. Sidebottom and a few other authors, mostly UK authors, write novels and stories about the ancient Romans. I have studied and taught about that civilization to junior high and high school students. Books by Harry Sidebottom, Ruth Downie, Robert Saylor, Ben Kane, Lindsay Davis, etc. make the Roman's really come alive.
Facebook location. I wil do one or both in a few minutes. This was another good book by Mr. Sidebottom plus is a stand alone which I wanted. I am thankful that Mr. Sidebottom and a few other authors, mostly UK authors, write novels and stories about the ancient Romans. I have studied and taught about that civilization to junior high and high school students. Books by Harry Sidebottom, Ruth Downie, Robert Saylor, Ben Kane, Lindsay Davis, etc. make the Roman's really come alive.
May 26, 2022
Slightly different from your normal Romanesque stories of soldiers battling for politicians and the Empire, this tells of a band of specialist soldiers sent on a mission to rescue the very young Prince Sasan, the son of a Persian King. He is being held captive in the impregnable ‘Castle Of Silence’ in the mountains east of the Caspian Sea.
Their mission is fraught with many dangers and enemies but also and unknown to them, they have a traitor in their midst. When their leader is killed it falls on the second in command, the least experienced of them all, Valens, to reluctantly take charge.
I found this quite an entertaining read. Set in AD265 it read more like a modern day thriller, a very enjoyable novel. It is the first time that I have read Harry Sidebottom, he has an easy to read writing style and I think that I will be definitely reading more. Because I thought the ending just petered out a bit I give a mark of 4/5.
Their mission is fraught with many dangers and enemies but also and unknown to them, they have a traitor in their midst. When their leader is killed it falls on the second in command, the least experienced of them all, Valens, to reluctantly take charge.
I found this quite an entertaining read. Set in AD265 it read more like a modern day thriller, a very enjoyable novel. It is the first time that I have read Harry Sidebottom, he has an easy to read writing style and I think that I will be definitely reading more. Because I thought the ending just petered out a bit I give a mark of 4/5.
July 1, 2019
Harry Sidebottom again wears his scholarship lightly as he plays with different genres for his novels set in the late Roman world. Whilst some scholars belabour the historical knowledge they have Harry Sidebottom concentrates on writing a good novel, with the authenticity of the background and setting being almost incidental, but always very credible. In this novel, with a whole new set of characters just for this tale (presumably), he does 'behind the lines ops', with the isolated soldiers penetrating the Sassanid empire on a seemingly hopeless mission. As always the story rattles along and is well written and satisfying, another triumph, and highly recommended.
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February 22, 2022A group of 10 "Roman" soldiers gathered for a suicide rescue mission across vast lands, empires and fiefdom. The objective of rescuing Prince Sasan of Persia will likely spark a war between Rome and Persia. But first, we have to deal with the secret war within Rome for some are for the rescue and some against. Then we read of the open and acerbic clashes within the team of 10 - for each one is from a different corner of the vast lands of different cultures, religions, and have longstanding feuds between their ethnic groups. One of the 10 is a spy tasked and threatened to ensure that the mission fails.
Action packed novel with vignettes of Greek philosophy and Eastern wisdom ; plus a big dose of man-hood oaths and blood drenched courage. The historical fiction perhaps also tells the story that the merchants and traders of those days could have been the forgotten men of courage and fortitude as they brave bandits, brutal weather of long journeys and the bribery expected from strongmen guarding the routes.
Action packed novel with vignettes of Greek philosophy and Eastern wisdom ; plus a big dose of man-hood oaths and blood drenched courage. The historical fiction perhaps also tells the story that the merchants and traders of those days could have been the forgotten men of courage and fortitude as they brave bandits, brutal weather of long journeys and the bribery expected from strongmen guarding the routes.
April 23, 2019
Having been a fan of Harry Sidebottom since Fire in the East , the first of the Ballista series , I make no apology for repeating my praise of his storytelling, for once again with The Lost Ten he has produced a storming Roman adventure with excellent detail and research of the period . Valens is a junior officer who is appointed as second in command to a detail that is tasked with rescuing the young Prince Sasan , who has been imprison in the impenetrable Castle of Silence, which is deep in hostile territory. The death of the officer in charge , leaves the inexperience Valens in charge of a disparate group of men . One by one his men die or disappear ,he begins to suspect there is a traitor in their midst and the rescue is fast becoming a suicide mission . A page turner that had me reading into the early hours of the morning, The Lost Ten is Harry Sidebottom at his excellence best.
May 14, 2020
Another great read from Harry Sidebottom.
This is the latest in the 3rd Century novels set in and around the reigns of Valerian & Gallienus. I suppose if you are a fan you can describe it as the "Ballista period"
Ballista is left to one side for this one, instead we follow an inexperienced young Tribune and a hotch potch of soldiers on a suicide mission deep within Sassanid Persia.
Sidebottom cites the works of McLean &Buchan as inspiration yet there is an undeniable sense of the Dirty Dozen as well.
The character Iudex for example had me imagining Tele Savalas' loathsome "Maggot" in many ways.
The story itself is entirely at the usual high level of political intrigue, well described action scenes and fascinating l, well rounded characters.
The narrative flows superbly and you always know that you are dealing with lightly worn learning which informs and entertains.
This is the latest in the 3rd Century novels set in and around the reigns of Valerian & Gallienus. I suppose if you are a fan you can describe it as the "Ballista period"
Ballista is left to one side for this one, instead we follow an inexperienced young Tribune and a hotch potch of soldiers on a suicide mission deep within Sassanid Persia.
Sidebottom cites the works of McLean &Buchan as inspiration yet there is an undeniable sense of the Dirty Dozen as well.
The character Iudex for example had me imagining Tele Savalas' loathsome "Maggot" in many ways.
The story itself is entirely at the usual high level of political intrigue, well described action scenes and fascinating l, well rounded characters.
The narrative flows superbly and you always know that you are dealing with lightly worn learning which informs and entertains.
December 5, 2021
Excellent adventure story
September 16, 2021
In a brief afterword Harry Sidebottom explains how this book is an attempt to recreate the excitement and suspense of the classic thrillers that he read in his youth - John Buchan and Alastair McLean as well as the more recent 'Bravo Two Zero' by Andy McNab.
This book works at greater pace than his earlier works and does have many of the ingredients of the authors he references - a tiny force of men sent on a impossible mission to face overwhelming odds... you get the idea... I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is still shot through with the scholarship that Harry brings to all his novels, but plot and pace play a much more prominent role than the scholar's need to explain the intricacies of Roman life that are a feature elsewhere in his work.
Roman fiction is a pretty crowded field with a number of very good writers working within in it. Anthony Riches, Simon Scarrow, Adrian Goldsworthy and Lindsay Davis are particular favourites of mine. Each has carved a distinctive niche for themselves within the genre and I feel that with this novel Harry is moving away from his particular niche into a more crowded space.
That said, this novel is thoroughly enjoyable - a small force of Roman soldiers is sent on a mission many, many miles behind enemy lines to rescue to a prince held captive in the wonderfully named Castle of Silence. I thoroughly recommend it!
This book works at greater pace than his earlier works and does have many of the ingredients of the authors he references - a tiny force of men sent on a impossible mission to face overwhelming odds... you get the idea... I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is still shot through with the scholarship that Harry brings to all his novels, but plot and pace play a much more prominent role than the scholar's need to explain the intricacies of Roman life that are a feature elsewhere in his work.
Roman fiction is a pretty crowded field with a number of very good writers working within in it. Anthony Riches, Simon Scarrow, Adrian Goldsworthy and Lindsay Davis are particular favourites of mine. Each has carved a distinctive niche for themselves within the genre and I feel that with this novel Harry is moving away from his particular niche into a more crowded space.
That said, this novel is thoroughly enjoyable - a small force of Roman soldiers is sent on a mission many, many miles behind enemy lines to rescue to a prince held captive in the wonderfully named Castle of Silence. I thoroughly recommend it!
January 28, 2020
Saving Prince Sasan
So, Harry Sidebottom now turns his authorial skills to a standard thriller plot: the small group of crack soldiers sent behind enemy lines to free and bring back a prisoner in an impregnable fortress. Add a traitor in their midst, an attempt to scupper the operation from the start, a rooky commander, a motley, diverse team of skilled but flawed men and you have many of the tropes, or should I say typikoi, of the genre. In addition there are teasing references to the author’s other hero, Ballista, and the question of what has happened to him. The story is implausible, yes, but exciting and enjoyable. I think it most unlikely that any such hit squad nowadays, would take time off from their mission to rescue a random lady they have never seen, let alone met, from her dastardly captors. But it all adds to the fun.
A good reason to read Sidebottom’s Roman novels is to enjoy the scholarly learning he demonstrates throughout: Roman senators who use quotations from Virgil to disguise their treasonous plots, the elongated skulls of the Heruli warriors of the Caspian Sea, the offended dignity of the Persian king of kings. But be careful: Harry knows, even if one of his characters does not, that when Odysseus visits the Underworld, it is the ghost of his mother, not his father, that he meets there.
So, Harry Sidebottom now turns his authorial skills to a standard thriller plot: the small group of crack soldiers sent behind enemy lines to free and bring back a prisoner in an impregnable fortress. Add a traitor in their midst, an attempt to scupper the operation from the start, a rooky commander, a motley, diverse team of skilled but flawed men and you have many of the tropes, or should I say typikoi, of the genre. In addition there are teasing references to the author’s other hero, Ballista, and the question of what has happened to him. The story is implausible, yes, but exciting and enjoyable. I think it most unlikely that any such hit squad nowadays, would take time off from their mission to rescue a random lady they have never seen, let alone met, from her dastardly captors. But it all adds to the fun.
A good reason to read Sidebottom’s Roman novels is to enjoy the scholarly learning he demonstrates throughout: Roman senators who use quotations from Virgil to disguise their treasonous plots, the elongated skulls of the Heruli warriors of the Caspian Sea, the offended dignity of the Persian king of kings. But be careful: Harry knows, even if one of his characters does not, that when Odysseus visits the Underworld, it is the ghost of his mother, not his father, that he meets there.
August 9, 2019
Rating of 4.5.
One of my favourite authors, Harry Sidebottom, returns with another excellent piece of Roman historical fiction, The Lost Ten.
Rome, 265 AD. Junior Roman officer Marcus Aelius Valens is instructed to join a small squad of soldiers on a daring raid into Persia. Their objective is to infiltrate the country and make their way to the dreaded Castle of Silence, an impregnable prison high up in the mountains. Once there, they are to free young Prince Sasan, the King of Persia’s disgraced nephew, and bring him back to Rome.
Journeying to the Roman border, Valens joins up with an eclectic group of soldiers recruited from the frumentarii, Rome’s infamous secret agents. An outsider amongst these hard-bitten soldiers, Valens suddenly finds himself in command when an ambush kills their commanding officer. Aware of the consequences of abandoning their mission, Valens leads his troops onwards to Persia.
However, the closer they get to the Castle of Silence, the more misfortune seems to befall the small unit. As his soldiers die one at a time, Valens begins to believe that there is a traitor among them who does not wish for their mission to succeed. Can Valens unmask the saboteur before it is too late, or will the squad die trying to achieve their impossible mission?
View the full review at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2019/08/09/...
For more great reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
One of my favourite authors, Harry Sidebottom, returns with another excellent piece of Roman historical fiction, The Lost Ten.
Rome, 265 AD. Junior Roman officer Marcus Aelius Valens is instructed to join a small squad of soldiers on a daring raid into Persia. Their objective is to infiltrate the country and make their way to the dreaded Castle of Silence, an impregnable prison high up in the mountains. Once there, they are to free young Prince Sasan, the King of Persia’s disgraced nephew, and bring him back to Rome.
Journeying to the Roman border, Valens joins up with an eclectic group of soldiers recruited from the frumentarii, Rome’s infamous secret agents. An outsider amongst these hard-bitten soldiers, Valens suddenly finds himself in command when an ambush kills their commanding officer. Aware of the consequences of abandoning their mission, Valens leads his troops onwards to Persia.
However, the closer they get to the Castle of Silence, the more misfortune seems to befall the small unit. As his soldiers die one at a time, Valens begins to believe that there is a traitor among them who does not wish for their mission to succeed. Can Valens unmask the saboteur before it is too late, or will the squad die trying to achieve their impossible mission?
View the full review at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2019/08/09/...
For more great reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
September 24, 2019
No Ballista in this one apart from a few toss away mentions. Lots of sword play and mention of Classical Greek poetry. There were a few times where I thought that the plot existed only to be able to throw in a few facts about the period that the author is so clearly passionate about. This passion does translate well into the story but it’s normally done a tad more circumspectly. This doesn’t distract from this being an enjoyable read though and the sword fights, battles, and camaraderie scenes are deftly written. I finished the book thinking that there was a lot more cruelty described in the book (I’m thinking of one particular scene concerning a comrade in arms) which is,sadly, probably more historically accurate than I care to think about. Highly recommended to the normal crew. 'Of all the dusty eastern towns through which Valens had passed on his long journey, Zeugma was the most depressing. Of course he was prejudiced. '
August 27, 2019
As in his most recent novel The Last Hour, Harry Sidebottom adapts the modern thriller to a historical setting in The Lost Ten.
A group of Roman soldiers are sent on a rescue mission into dangerous territory behind enemy lines. The added tension comes from a traitor within the group who has been charged with wrecking the mission and ensuring that no-one returns.
Sidebottom uses the thriller model well, combining it with his excellent knowledge of the Roman world to create an exciting novel full of tension and drama as the ten struggle to achieve their mission and return to Rome.
My one criticism is that there could have been more made of the child character, Prince Sasan and his elderly companion, Barbados, once they have been rescued from the Castle of Silence.
This is easily a 5+ read and promises to be a fruitful style for Sidebottom as his next novel seems to suggest we have a historical novel involving a serial killer to be found.
A group of Roman soldiers are sent on a rescue mission into dangerous territory behind enemy lines. The added tension comes from a traitor within the group who has been charged with wrecking the mission and ensuring that no-one returns.
Sidebottom uses the thriller model well, combining it with his excellent knowledge of the Roman world to create an exciting novel full of tension and drama as the ten struggle to achieve their mission and return to Rome.
My one criticism is that there could have been more made of the child character, Prince Sasan and his elderly companion, Barbados, once they have been rescued from the Castle of Silence.
This is easily a 5+ read and promises to be a fruitful style for Sidebottom as his next novel seems to suggest we have a historical novel involving a serial killer to be found.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 17, 2019
A really entertaining thriller
It’s a bit difficult to comment because I don’t want to give the game away but I’ll try. It’s a finely tuned story that takes you to Mesopotamia describing in detail the lands the characters travel through and the different cultures they encounter. I particularly enjoyed the interplay between the main characters and their ‘growth’ through the book. I also particularly liked how normal (and thus believable) the main character is. Harry has captured the essence of what it must have been like to go beyond the empire on a difficult mission. A mix of high politics, subterfuge and sheer doggedness to get the job done! Well done thoroughly enjoyed it and I certainly recommend it!
It’s a bit difficult to comment because I don’t want to give the game away but I’ll try. It’s a finely tuned story that takes you to Mesopotamia describing in detail the lands the characters travel through and the different cultures they encounter. I particularly enjoyed the interplay between the main characters and their ‘growth’ through the book. I also particularly liked how normal (and thus believable) the main character is. Harry has captured the essence of what it must have been like to go beyond the empire on a difficult mission. A mix of high politics, subterfuge and sheer doggedness to get the job done! Well done thoroughly enjoyed it and I certainly recommend it!
October 7, 2019
An easy enjoyable read
I like the Roman novels and when linked to historical events I enjoy them even more. This book was easy enough to read and I enjoyed the characters. The ending could have been a bit more and ended a bit too soon for my liking, but there one goes.
I like the Roman novels and when linked to historical events I enjoy them even more. This book was easy enough to read and I enjoyed the characters. The ending could have been a bit more and ended a bit too soon for my liking, but there one goes.
May 28, 2022
Excellent, dynamic, tense and marvelous as authors other books. Story picks up pieces from his other books, and puts them together to a new adventure with yet unknown heroes.
Great book, I enjoyed it much. Thank you Harry for these escapes to Ancient Rome.
Great book, I enjoyed it much. Thank you Harry for these escapes to Ancient Rome.
November 1, 2019
If there's one thing that this Ginger Book Geek likes it's discovering new authors. As well as being a book geek, I am also a huge history nerd too. So imagine my excitement when I read the synopsis for 'The Lost Ten'. I realised that this book ticked both of my nerdish boxes. I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'The Lost Ten' but more about that in a bit.
'The Lost Ten' marks a departure from the my usual reading material. Granted I am a book nerd and a history geek but I have never actually read any books set during the era of the Roman Empire. Fiction set during the Roman Empire was more Dad Ginger Book Geek's sort of read. However, they do say that a change is as good as a rest and that you should step out of your comfort zone. I settled down and began to read the book. Well, I am so glad that I did decide to read 'The Lost Ten' because I absolutely loved it much to my surprise. I say surprise because I wasn't sure I would enjoy the different era.
It didn't take me long at all to get into 'The Lost Ten'. In fact by the time I got to the end of the first page, I just knew that I would find it extremely difficult to put the book to one side for any reason and for very long. I completely immersed myself in the story from the start and reading 'The Lost Ten' soon became addictive. I would pick the book up only intending to fill in a spare five minutes and read a couple of chapters. However, the five minutes soon stretched into more like fifty minutes and rather more than a couple of chapters were read. Oops. I didn't manage to binge read it in one day but it took just a couple of days to read it from front to back, which is pretty good going for me. When I got to the end of the book I was disappointed but only because I had enjoyed the author's writing style, the characters and the storylines so much that I just wished the book had been longer.
'The Lost Ten' is extremely well written. The author draws you into the story from the start and once he has your attention, he will not let it go. He uses such graphic and realistic descriptions that I really did feel as though I had literally been picked up and transported back to the era of the Roman Empire with all the sights, sounds, fashions and brutality of that particular time period. I was so convinced by the story that I felt as though I was a character in the book myself.
Reading 'The Lost Ten' felt like being on an at times scary and very unpredictable rollercoaster ride with lots of twists and turns along the way. I almost had to read through my fingers at times because I feared what was going to happen or what was awaiting me over the page. I am a bit of a scaredy cat like that. 'The Lost Ten' was one of those reads that is guaranteed to get your heart rate rising, your blood pressure soaring and the adrenaline flowing.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'The Lost Ten' and I would definitely recommend it to other readers. Given that I enjoyed reading this book so much, I can 100% guarantee that I will be reading more of Harry's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
'The Lost Ten' marks a departure from the my usual reading material. Granted I am a book nerd and a history geek but I have never actually read any books set during the era of the Roman Empire. Fiction set during the Roman Empire was more Dad Ginger Book Geek's sort of read. However, they do say that a change is as good as a rest and that you should step out of your comfort zone. I settled down and began to read the book. Well, I am so glad that I did decide to read 'The Lost Ten' because I absolutely loved it much to my surprise. I say surprise because I wasn't sure I would enjoy the different era.
It didn't take me long at all to get into 'The Lost Ten'. In fact by the time I got to the end of the first page, I just knew that I would find it extremely difficult to put the book to one side for any reason and for very long. I completely immersed myself in the story from the start and reading 'The Lost Ten' soon became addictive. I would pick the book up only intending to fill in a spare five minutes and read a couple of chapters. However, the five minutes soon stretched into more like fifty minutes and rather more than a couple of chapters were read. Oops. I didn't manage to binge read it in one day but it took just a couple of days to read it from front to back, which is pretty good going for me. When I got to the end of the book I was disappointed but only because I had enjoyed the author's writing style, the characters and the storylines so much that I just wished the book had been longer.
'The Lost Ten' is extremely well written. The author draws you into the story from the start and once he has your attention, he will not let it go. He uses such graphic and realistic descriptions that I really did feel as though I had literally been picked up and transported back to the era of the Roman Empire with all the sights, sounds, fashions and brutality of that particular time period. I was so convinced by the story that I felt as though I was a character in the book myself.
Reading 'The Lost Ten' felt like being on an at times scary and very unpredictable rollercoaster ride with lots of twists and turns along the way. I almost had to read through my fingers at times because I feared what was going to happen or what was awaiting me over the page. I am a bit of a scaredy cat like that. 'The Lost Ten' was one of those reads that is guaranteed to get your heart rate rising, your blood pressure soaring and the adrenaline flowing.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'The Lost Ten' and I would definitely recommend it to other readers. Given that I enjoyed reading this book so much, I can 100% guarantee that I will be reading more of Harry's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
May 24, 2019
We've moved on from our good friend Ballista and on to Valens - whether our hero has gone for good or not remains to be seen, but the new is resourceful, young and a worthy successor! I do love the way Sidebottom weaves a story, tying the knots at the end like a sewing mastermind and giving us a tale to delight on a cloudy day (cloudy or sunny, it doesn't matter, he writes an incredibly interesting yarn!)
His style of writing suits all ages and never fails to take the reader on an adventure that's worth it's name! Sometimes, granted, there are places the writing reads a bit like a list, as the sentences are all the same length, but the reader often finds this only lasts a paragraph, usually less, and I'm not sure many readers would even notice, I notice because I see the mistake sometimes in my own writing efforts, and at uni that was a creative writing thing that was pointed out. Sidebottom doesn't fall into the trap often, probably a few times in the book, but there has to be a negative, something to improve on, there's no such thing as perfect! I really would recommend this to anyone interested in fantasy or historical fiction as genre's, or others who just like a good journey, search and rescue! I've always loved Sidebottom's writing, 'The Caspian Gates' is on the bookcase opposite me, among the likes of Iggulden and a few Gemmel and on the shelf above them 'I, Claudius' sits, so I can assure anyone that I rate this author among the best, have been enjoying his writing for years, probably since the first book, and would hope any other reader would do as well! Do give this a go if you've never read Sidebottom, discover one of the best author's in his genre!
His style of writing suits all ages and never fails to take the reader on an adventure that's worth it's name! Sometimes, granted, there are places the writing reads a bit like a list, as the sentences are all the same length, but the reader often finds this only lasts a paragraph, usually less, and I'm not sure many readers would even notice, I notice because I see the mistake sometimes in my own writing efforts, and at uni that was a creative writing thing that was pointed out. Sidebottom doesn't fall into the trap often, probably a few times in the book, but there has to be a negative, something to improve on, there's no such thing as perfect! I really would recommend this to anyone interested in fantasy or historical fiction as genre's, or others who just like a good journey, search and rescue! I've always loved Sidebottom's writing, 'The Caspian Gates' is on the bookcase opposite me, among the likes of Iggulden and a few Gemmel and on the shelf above them 'I, Claudius' sits, so I can assure anyone that I rate this author among the best, have been enjoying his writing for years, probably since the first book, and would hope any other reader would do as well! Do give this a go if you've never read Sidebottom, discover one of the best author's in his genre!
May 21, 2019
Another departure by Harry Sidebottom from his Warrior of Rome Series. Yet still set in the same time period and some characters appear in name only. So the roman history that Harry creates is still familiar, which is no bad thing. With intrigues and double crosses.
So now on to the book itself. The story is in essence a throwback/homage to the classic novels of Alastair Maclean. Namely, Where Eagles Dare. A small group of elite soldiers, led by an inexperienced officer. Are charged to rescue a prisoner from a remote castle deep in enemy territory. Is there a traitor in the group? Is there more to the mission than first appears and is it as simple as a rescue mission? As the group travels across miles desert. Things unravel at a fast pace. And the writer manages to drag you, the reader along for the ride.And that's before the rescue can be attempted. The finish is usual in that it is all tied up and while I say unlikely to be a sequel or the start of a new Series with Valens and his men never say never.
So now on to the book itself. The story is in essence a throwback/homage to the classic novels of Alastair Maclean. Namely, Where Eagles Dare. A small group of elite soldiers, led by an inexperienced officer. Are charged to rescue a prisoner from a remote castle deep in enemy territory. Is there a traitor in the group? Is there more to the mission than first appears and is it as simple as a rescue mission? As the group travels across miles desert. Things unravel at a fast pace. And the writer manages to drag you, the reader along for the ride.And that's before the rescue can be attempted. The finish is usual in that it is all tied up and while I say unlikely to be a sequel or the start of a new Series with Valens and his men never say never.
May 30, 2019
Cracking story
This was a really great read from Harry Sidebottom. Another great story from a less documented period of Ancient Rome as a crack team of misfits join together to enact a rescue as part of a plot set up in Rome.
The characters were really well realised and the motivations were believable. The action was well judged and exciting. And there was enough mystery to propel the story along.
One of the great gifts of the author is to be able to provide a lot of detail about the peoples, places, and religions of the ancient world without slowing the pace of the story.
I look forward to Harry Sidebottom’s next novel.
This was a really great read from Harry Sidebottom. Another great story from a less documented period of Ancient Rome as a crack team of misfits join together to enact a rescue as part of a plot set up in Rome.
The characters were really well realised and the motivations were believable. The action was well judged and exciting. And there was enough mystery to propel the story along.
One of the great gifts of the author is to be able to provide a lot of detail about the peoples, places, and religions of the ancient world without slowing the pace of the story.
I look forward to Harry Sidebottom’s next novel.
October 28, 2019
This is one really cracking read with a very modern feel situation set in the very distant past. I have over the last 18 months being venturing into novels about Roman times but also love my thrillers. I am delighted to say that the author, Dr Harry Sidebottom has combined both superbly, giving a real feel for the Roman period in the 3rd century with the added heroes of the day made up of a super team of ten specialised commander type rescue squad.
The mission is to rescue ten-year-old Prince Sasan of Persia that is being held a prisoner in the Castle of Silence. Now, this isn't a drop in and get out fast mission, there aren't any helicopters or speed boats. The journey takes the ten men over many countries, meeting hostile and friendly people, extreme weather conditions and traitors among themselves that begins in AD 264 to 265.
The multi-cultural band of men all carry their own inner baggage that makes them who they are. Once I got my head around who was who I settled quickly into the story. I loved the surprising heroes that took root and matured in the story. This is an exciting read full of action with a solid storyline, memorable characters and a brilliant conclusion. I would love to read more books like this.
Many thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book, which I have also bought for my kindle.
The mission is to rescue ten-year-old Prince Sasan of Persia that is being held a prisoner in the Castle of Silence. Now, this isn't a drop in and get out fast mission, there aren't any helicopters or speed boats. The journey takes the ten men over many countries, meeting hostile and friendly people, extreme weather conditions and traitors among themselves that begins in AD 264 to 265.
The multi-cultural band of men all carry their own inner baggage that makes them who they are. Once I got my head around who was who I settled quickly into the story. I loved the surprising heroes that took root and matured in the story. This is an exciting read full of action with a solid storyline, memorable characters and a brilliant conclusion. I would love to read more books like this.
Many thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book, which I have also bought for my kindle.
July 26, 2019
I admire Harry's experimentation with genre in his last couple of books. The last hour was fantastic, it reminded me of a fast paced Matthew Reilly novel which I've never experienced in an ancient history context. The lost ten reminded me of a heart of darkness story, where the characters are tasked with a near suicidal mission beyond the realms of the familiar, with a good dose of treachery thrown in the mix. As usual, Harry captures the feel of the period like no one else does. Keen for the next book!
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