Masinissa: Ally of Carthage

Masinissa #1

by Rob Edmunds

Masinissa: Ally of Carthage is the first part of the story of the experiences of the Numidian Prince and later King Masinissa during the Second Punic War between Rome and Carthage. Masinissa’s involvement in the war was substantial, even pivotal, and he is still revered today across North Africa as the founding father of the Amazigh/Berber people.

The story begins in 213 BC in Carthage, which has been Masinissa’s home for several years. He has fallen in love with Sophonisba, the beautiful daughter of one of the most senior Carthaginian generals. The two make promises to one another before Masinissa embarks west to enter the war as the commander of a substantial cavalry division.

In terms of the wider world, Rome and Carthage – the most powerful nations of the time – have been at war for five years, ever since Hannibal crossed the Alpine passes and inflicted catastrophic and crippling defeats on the Roman armies at the battles of Trebia, Lake Trasimene and, most devastatingly, at Cannae, where an army of nearly 90,000 Romans was completely destroyed.

The main theatres of war at this moment are the Roman siege of the Greek city of Syracuse in Sicily – which is being innovatively and belligerently defended, not least by the philosopher and scientist Archimedes – and the war in Iberia, which Masinissa is about to join with his Numidian forces.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction

216 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 17, 2020

About the author

I'm an author with two recently published novels about the Numidian King Masinissa and the Carthaginian aristocrat Sophonisba.
Both are quite significant figures from history whose lives have been depicted by many artists and writers over the centuries. For instance, Sophonisba has had 15 operas and 2 ballets made about her life and she was the central character in the very first epic movie, Cabiria, which played to audiences worldwide in 1914.
Masinissa is still revered today across North Africa as the founding father of the Amazigh/Berber people. His decision to abandon Carthage and instead ally with Rome during the Second Punic War could be considered one of the most significant moments in history. Following the defeat of Carthage, he became the first ruler of a unified Numidia and during his long reign of 54 years he turned his kingdom into the breadbasket of Rome.

Reviews

[Colin Baldwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing like a love story, tunics, swords and javelins, war horses and elephants, camaraderie and fighting the Romans to give readers a good lesson in ancient history. Rob Edmunds obviously has a passion for this era. He knows his stuff and his research has allowed him to set known events and characters into a good story.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written by: Rob Edmunds
Narrated by: Paul Metcalfe
Series: Masinissa, Book 1
Length: 7 hrs and 39 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Language: English

Recensione – Masinissa - Ally of Carthage

The Lies We Tell Ourselves


My interest in this audiobook began with listening to the sample excerpt of the audio which has been made available via Audible.
It’s a lovely introduction to the story, beautifully written and narrated, and it made me really intrigued to learn more.

“My love, so much of our story has been lived in our dreams. We must yearn a while longer.”

I was very glad that I decided to listen to the rest of it. The history has clearly been thoroughly researched and the story is exceptionally well told. The feelings, doubts, and reflections of the main character, who must be regarded as one of the most important lesser-known figures from history are described in wonderful detail and depth, giving the listener the impression of a very nuanced and complex character.

“Liberating cherished religious icons and Roman slaves had become more familiar experiences than punting across a tranquil sea with an awestruck novitiate. It put him in a good place…..
… Succumbing to such an idle whim was, at that moment, hard to resist. He had not felt so at ease for a long time. He looked across to the other canoes, and he could see the same torpor resting on his comrades. Such moments are rare for us, he thought, and more precious than wine, women, or gold.
He picked up the stylus and regarded its simplicity and design as it shot light randomly at him as he turned it. He wondered, is it only in moments of tranquillity that our senses and minds allow us to be mesmerised by such trivial shows of nature? To be spellbound by beauty and life should not be a gift so easily stolen back by the gods from their children.
Surrounded by such ease, Masinissa’s mood shifted suddenly out of his control, and his thoughts turned to the horrors behind and ahead of him. He tried to resist and remain in the moment of comfortable lassitude, but he could not. His thoughts turned dark against the azure waters and cerulean sky, and his mind began to dwell impotently on the abruptness of life and death, and the faces of the dead as they changed from being the faces of the living. He had seen that moment many times by then, and he could always recognise the moment when life left its host. When the soul departed, it took away something the living could detect if not understand. He had come to understand that, in all their tragic and brutal ways, dying, killing, and surviving were all forms of spiritual emptying. He only could really comprehend the latter two, but the deaths of others always snatched something out of him, even those with whom he had only ever exchanged the occasional ribald comment or barked order. You could never prepare for loss, even on a battlefield when it was such a strong possibility. There was no time to pause in such moments, and afterwards the sense of sudden loss, whilst dissipated a little with exhaustion and shocked senses, hung on like a cauterised stump looking for the useful portion of the limb that had been hacked off.
So many times, he had enjoyed relaxing times with friends and compatriots, who were full of life and care, only to see their remains the following day, lying like sacks to be disposed of. The enemy dead were even more dehumanised. The vultures of any victorious army cared little for the heaps of flesh they had robbed of existence, and then of dignity and possessions.”
Pag 42-43

There are introductory scenes with his friend, his father his lover Sophonisba, his feelings for and attitude towards each are well described, often in very emotional and poignant ways.

“It’s a sad thing that our love must be counted in minutes, and that it can’t stretch out and be easy. It’s like we have to fill our flask or jug of love in a rush, and not be at our ease, like this, all the time.” She smirked a little at the accidental humour of the expression and repeated, “Jug of love!” in a more jocular tone. “You know I can give you tangible things. I can cut my hair. I can give you these robes or a scarf, but you will still have to imagine me. It’s a little puzzle piece that has to represent me. It might be a little fanciful, but here’s another. I give you my heart. In my mind, that’s what I’ve just done. You covered my heart. If you hold out your hand and open it, imagine my heart there. Clutch it tighter then and you’re squeezing me. I’m there. I’m there, OK? Wherever you are, I’m there. Be comforted by these memories, by these devotions, and by these moments. Try to let me into your being, like a shaman or a priest may summon a spirit or a deity.”
“I will,” Masinissa replied. “I’ve done it already. I’ve practised it. I go into myself and find you, and it does help me. It really does. The life I live is more dreamlike anyway these days. Traveling, training, seeing people disappear suddenly, and being on the precipice of death: it all works to dislodge your anchors. It’s all uprooted. The hardest thing is giving up control of your dreams; not in the sense of my imagination, I mean, but my hopes. Your plans, my plans, and our plans, they’re just hopes, not realities waiting to happen or be made. They’re a rung lower on the ladder than that. For the people who stay – the politicians and the tradespeople – tomorrow is more of a certainty. For me, tomorrow may never come. I have to live with being a man in his prime who may not see another day. You can’t dwell on it too much, though. All we know of the future is that there will be stars at night and sun in the day.”

The action and battle scenes are detailed and thrilling and will appeal to those people whose interests lie more towards action than emotion. The novel is a fabulous blend of the two. It ends in quite an exciting manner with strong hints of what lies ahead in the sequel. There are references to famous individuals and notable deities, notably the Carthaginian General Hannibal Barca and the Greek, Roman, and Punic god Hercules, here described in his slightly altered Phoenician form.

“During one such action against the Roman-occupied fortress of Xativa, a small band led by Masinissa had infiltrated the fortress and retrieved one of the sacred cups of Melqart (Hercules) which had been hidden there. The recovery of the cup is regarded as a significant boost for the morale of the Carthaginian forces, who revere Melqart as one of the senior Phoenician gods. It is also considered to be an appeasement of the god, which may help solicit some form of celestial intervention to reverse the Carthaginian’s current battlefield predicament. Masinissa is presently taking a small contingent of his most loyal troops to the temple dedicated to Melqart which is located close to the city of Gades to return the cup to its proper religious location”.

Anyone interested in ancient Rome and Classical history should enjoy this novel, learn a lot of history, and be thoroughly entertained along the way! I’m really looking forward to listening to the following.

[Clemens Schoonderwoert · Rating 4 out of 5]

** Should Read as 4.5 Stars!**

This very delightful historical novel about the life and deeds of Masinissa is the 1st part of this series called, "Masinissa", unknown to me up until now, but it seems that he was certainly an important figure in the 2nd Punic War for the realisation of the future united Kingdom of Numidia, and so this tale has been also a wonderful history lesson for me, and I hope for you too.

Although this has been my very first experience with this author, I have to say that his storytelling is of a very good quality, the characters, whether real historical or likeable fictional, come splendidly to life within this tale , and the atmosphere and descriptions of Carthage and Iberia in 213 BC come wonderfully off the pages, but and that's my only minor point about this book that at some points it could have some more imaginary personal interactions between the ruling Carthaginians and the subservient King Gala of Massyli, father of Masinissa, and some more described battle scenes to make it a complete historical tale.

The first half of the book describes the relationship between Masinissa and his love Sophonisba, as well as his friendships and comradeship as a soldier very thoroughly, while the second part describes him as an able leader and fighter within the Carthaginian army of the Barcas.

The story begins in 213 BC, during the 2nd Punic War between Rome and Carthage, and Masinissa being in Carthage, representing with his father, King Gala, the people of the Numidian Kingdom of Massyli, and allied to Carthage, against their enemy King Syphax of the western Numidian Kingdom of Masaesyli, and they are allied to Rome.

By allying themselves to Carthage and banishing Syphax from Masaesyli, and he's in league with the Romans, they know the will have to fight their way to get there in the end.

Main theatres of war in this book are the Siege of the Greek City of Syracuse, Sicily, by the Romans and which is defended with the ingenuity by Archimedes, and the Carthaginian campaign throughout Iberia, with Hasdrubal Barca against the Scipio brothers.

What is to follow is a very engaging little novel, in which the 2nd Punic War comes very alive with its battles and the political intrigue, and where the relations between different factions, within and without, are made very clear, like Masinissa's role within the Carthaginian hierarchy, and all this combined make this book a very interesting read.

Very much recommended, for this is a very entertaining begin to this series, and I look very much forward to the next instalment, and that's why I like to call this first outing: "A Very Promising Masinissa Start"!

**A massive thank you to the author for my digital copy, sent to me without any obligations, even so my review of this book is unbiased and honest!**

[Daren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Provided in digital form by the author for the purpose of reviewing, this is the first published work of Rob Edmunds, and the first of two books in the Masinissa series.

Covering the Second Punic War (Romans Vs Carthaginians) from the perspective of Masinissa, Numidian prince allied to the Carthaginians, this reads as a deeply researched work of fiction, based strongly on the real events commencing in 213BC in Carthage, and then the Iberian peninsular (Spain), the relevant fields of war.

While Hannibal is the Carthaginian general with whom we are most familiar (him with the elephants in Italy), the event of the Alps crossing took place some 5 years prior to this storyline, and is referred to in context and adjacent action only.

Largely we follow Masinissa as he leaves his lover, daughter of a Carthaginian General, and leads the Numidian forces to war against the Romans. With a somewhat slow start the main character is introduced, and the political and military stage is set, making it possible to read this book without any prior knowledge of the conflict, although the many references to places and people who form the background of the conflict reach a point where they just wash over the reader (well, they did for me).

There is plenty of action on the battlefield, but it was also good that the author wasn't afraid to let the occasional battle be summed up after the fact, and not just make this a catalogue of action - given it's linear storyline (with just a few infills to keep the plot intact) it benefited from mixing up the constant battle scenes.

While it ended abruptly, I suspect that the second book will carry on quickly, but I can't help thinking that with no major resolution to the novel, it is really shaping up to be a single story across two books - at only a few pages over 200, it is by no means a long read. The writing is good, and I was very pleased to find no typos, which often plague self published works!

And so to stars - lacking a conclusion hurt the read for me, but I was also provided with the second book, which I am not reluctant to read. It was a unique viewpoint, the Numidian side, as opposed to the Carthaginian or Roman, so it picked up points for this.

3.5 stars, rounded up.

[Markus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Masinissa – Ally of Carthage
By Rob Edmunds

Rob Edmunds is a contemporary Goodreads author born in Swansea, Wales.
The present work is historical fiction set at the time of the Punic Wars between Rome and Carthage in the years of 223 BC and 241 AD.
Masinissa, the hero of the story is a Numidian Prince whose family is allied with the City of Carthage. He takes his cavalry warriors to join in the fight against the Roman Nation.
After setting up the historical context, the author aims his focuses first on the young prince’s personal life. The reader will enjoy his excitement in courting Sophinisba with whom he has found the great love of his life.
The following chapters provide some inside into his friendships, his character of strong physical and intellectual leadership, and his intense education in Greek and Latin classics and languages.
Masinissa gets his father's blessing and vital political information before proceeding to the battlefield.
Our author makes good mention of historical sites and contemporary Carthargan as well as Roman personalities of Masinissa’s time.
But then Rob Edmund prefers to return to the close focus of his hero. He introduces the officers surrounding the hero in protection advice and support. These men are the most adventurous, experienced, and tough soldiers you can imagine.
On the battlefield, Carthage and Masinissa’s forces make some first conquests and celebrate victories. The reader learns how battles ended at that time, with no prisoners taken. All and every enemy are slaughtered to the last one. Sensitive readers beware, we have some gory pictures presented.
Then the tables of fortunes of war turned and Roman forces gain the upper hand. We have our hero going into guerrilla fights which is the best he can do with his mostly cavalry soldiers.
Unexpectantly Masinissa met with Publius Cornelius Scipio in person at an exceptional prisoner’s exchange venue. He was lucky to recover his nephew Massiva, whom he had feared dead in Roman hands.
The release of Massiva had a price, however. A price that will change Masinissa’s life and future alliance which will be the theme of the second volume.
This work can be seen and recommended as well-written and pleasant entertainment literature more than a historical one.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

With reverence, and profound insights, Rob Edmunds explores the martial landscape during the Punic wars leading to Masinissa's defection to Rome. A fascinating portrait of a man and his times which will please those readers who seek original male voices. The first book ends shortly after Masinissa is approached by Scipio to join the Roman army. I enjoyed the research that has gone into this novel.

[John Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was quite an original story, a tale of the Second Punic War but one largely written from the Numidian rather than the Roman or Carthaginian perspective. The author has quite an elegant, even philosophical style, but the storytelling is first rate.

[John Wheatley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite often, on holiday around the Mediterranean, I have tried to picture in my mind's eye the ancient world, the tribes and kingdoms of North Africa and Iberia, the old cities, the movements of the Roman legions. Rob Edmunds' tale of Masinissa, a Numidian warrior-aristocrat, currently supporting Carthage in its struggles against Rome, shines a brilliant and colourful light on this world, bringing it vividly alive for the reader.
It is a novel built up from patient, detailed and highly convincing research - research lovingly undertaken - this is evident from the start.
The prose has a closely woven and supple feel leading to a carefully wrought developing narrative.
The characters are built up in layers of detailed observation and analysis into psychology and motivation.
The novel follows the course of a particular campaign and attention is given to military tactics, weaponry and manoevres, but it is far more than an account of a campaign. Rob Edmunds explores attitudes to war, the psychology of warriors, and brings out brilliantly the forces that shape and reshape history.
My favorite quote: Death is as tired as us tonight.
The novel is full of memorable insights such as this.

[Marc Reilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's probably a little inaccurate to refer to a book about events that took place more than two thousand years ago as fresh but it seems an appropriate term in this case. Rather than focussing on Hannibal and Rome during the Second Punic War, this novel instead focuses on the Numidians, North Africa and Iberia (modern Spain). The author is pretty accomplished and he allies excellent style with an evidently high degree of knowledge about the period.

[Helene M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this because of how well researched it was.

Rob’s has a unique , smooth writing style that is first-class . Extremely thought provoking .Looking forward to reading and learning more .

[Eva Laudrer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book a while ago, and it still resonates with me. Rob Edmunds writes beautifully and for me captures the history of Masinissa well. The research has been meticulously executed, and I have also learned new factors of this war.

[Michele Rice Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book written from the Numidian perspective that I've ever read. It was excellent! I loved the different perspective on history. Well done, Rob Edmunds!

I won this book in a goodreads giveaway.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoy historical fiction, so when the chance came to read "Masinissa: Ally of Carthage" I jumped at it. I struggled in the beginning as it felt more like a historical romance, but I stuck with it and wasn't entirely disappointed. The writing is very good, but I found the characters to be a little bit weak, and the plot felt hazy. I haven't been discouraged from reading the second book.

My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.

[Miltiadis Michalopoulos · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compelling novel based on Massinissa the king of Eastern Numidia during the Second Punic War. The plot is engaging and the reading absorbing. The battle descriptions are very realistic. The author has done his research. This is Part One of the two volume "Massinissa". A good reading.

[Noah Nguyen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was excited to get my hands on this from Rob directly. After reading 'Hannibal' by Ross Leckie, I was absolutely eager to sink my teeth into another historical fiction from the same era.

'Ally of Carthage' does a lot, most of which is described in the reviews below. As others have written, Rob's clearly meticulous research deserves a standing round of applause, and I certainly came out of this reading understanding more about the era than I had.

But what I loved most were Masinissa's reflections. The novel does a fantastic job of conveying a wonderfully sophisticated character. At times, Masinissa is a soldier, or a lover, or a prince. Here he is all of those things at once; there, he is none of them at all. Masinissa's ruminations and philosophizing provide a bittersweet and nuanced illustration of the human spirit at war, and Rob's writing gives this spirit beautiful color. I can't count how many times I found a beautifully rendered thought or image lingering in my mind.

If you have some time, do check this one out.

(MILD SPOILER BELOW)

One note I thought worth mentioning: The story opens with a very vivid accounting of Masinissa's relationship with Sophonisba, his Carthaginian love interest. Speaking as someone who, frankly, doesn't like love stories, I was relieved to see that this was not a love story. Rather, their love serves as a kind of anvil for Masinissa, against which the hammer (war, and everything concomitant with that) shapes, unshapes, and reshapes his character. That said, Masinissa periodically revisits his thoughts of Sophonisba, and a poignant callback at the end (combined with a brief Wikipedia search regarding their fate) left me absolutely hankering to read more about their love in the next book. This absolutely paid off!

[Anneliese Dahl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masinissa, is a historical Numidian prince from ~200 BC, brought to life by the author in such a captivating way. And the world at that time, and the life of soldiers at war, are similarly described with a rich array of characters, good and bad, from the perspective of the thoughtful and soulful Masinissa. It is a brutal world, and Masinissa can certainly be brutal when necessary, but you can see this world and his actions are not without consideration of greater things, including his very humanity. The book immerses you in this ancient time with rich details of the people, the culture, weapons, clothes and military strategy and introduces depth to some of the men that carry the names we know from the history books. Granted, of course, one can never truly know the thoughts of these historical figures, but the author brings a life to them that is quite compelling. The romance, alas, is limited to the beginning of the story ... but that gives you reason to read the sequel Masinissa: Ally of Rome to see more of the beautiful Sophonisba. Well worth reading and enjoying.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a big fan of historical fiction. This book didn’t disappoint and i look forward to reading the follow up.
I gave it 4 stars, not 5, based on a few spots where the story waned. Ultimately my sole criteria for a book’s rating is the level of enthusiasm/eagerness it generates to ‘see what happens next’. It mostly had me at that level save these few spots where the character building(for lack of a better description) went too long for my liking.
I enjoyed the story’s beginning, Masinissa and Sophonisba. While some may be turned off by it, I think the love story element added that human aspect to an otherwise great warrior’s journey to/in/from/between battle (From my own perspective, I would have liked to have seen some more of Sophonisba’s story added in). Regardless, Masinissa and the Punic war is certainly an interesting story on its own, and the book does a good job of telling it. The author obviously did his homework and knows his subject material well.

[Sara Cousins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of historical fiction, especially set in the ancient world, and this book and its follow up were highly recommended to me. I listened to the audiobook version and it is really enjoyable. The story is built wonderfully and the world and the characters within it seem very real indeed. There is a lot of emotion and depth to the depictions and the story goes far beyond a simple treatment of one of the major participants in the Second Punic War. Masinissa is portrayed as a man striving for meaning in the chaotic world he enters. The opening chapter which describes a romantic encounter between Masinissa and his lover Sophonisba is far from typical of the rest of the book but does reveal the literary skills of the author, which are considerable. The narrator is just as talented and I was completely immersed in the story which finishes with quite an adventurous scene with much still to be resolved. I'm really looking forward to following this story in its second instalment.

[Ben Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picking this book up, I was intrigued by the summary and the period and events wherein the events of the story are set. I’m familiar with the story of Hannibal and his elephants crossing the Alps but, I guess like most people, knew little else about the mighty showdown between the empires of Rome and Carthage. This novel certainly filled in a lot of the gaps and in a thoroughly entertaining, well plotted and elegantly written style. Masinissa is a great character and one whose complexities, emotional ranges and moral perspectives are expertly fleshed out. For me, these sorts of insights and explorations are quite rare in much historical fiction. There is plenty of action, loads of diverting historical background, but also a great deal of the main protagonist trying to figure out the chaos and confusions of love and war.

[Sappho · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absorbing and gripping story, set during the 2nd Punic Wars between Carthage and Rome, a less well-known period of history. At the outset of the story, the central character, Masinissa, is a Numidian prince, whose father is allied to Carthage. As well as a military leader and strategist, he is also an unusually thoughtful and reflective man with a deep love of philosophy and learning. The novel is slow to begin with, depicting Masinissa's life during more peaceful times but quickly gathers pace, as the action moves to the campaign battles on the Iberian peninsular. The book is well-researched with realistic scenes and also some memorable characters such as the brutal Nosejob. I really enjoyed the descriptions of the North African desert environment and felt I'd gained more insight the period and historical figures. Looking forward to reading the next instalment.

[Marc · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read, Rob was kind enough to send me a copy of both novels.

I’m sure the majority of people who pick up these books will be familiar with the well trodden and told story of Hannibal and the Punic wars. Here however we are given a different perspective of the conflict, told through the eyes of Masinissa, Numidian prince and vassal of Carthage.

It takes us through the early victories of Carthage, the subsequent turning of the tide and Masinissa’s disillusionment with his place in the conflict and the role of his people.

A really great read, well researched and a good alternative for those who wish to read about this conflict as it has a nice fresh perspective being told from neither the Roman or Hannibals point of view.

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rob Edmunds had his work set out for me with this book, because I have always detested Masinissa, the betrayer. Having always admired Hannibal Barcas and the Carthagenian state including the formidable numidian cavalry that was so integral to their military successes, the role of Masinissa in both the second and third punic wars always left a bad taste in my mouth. However Rob Edmunds, by making the numidian leader the protagonist; finally made me overcome my prejudices (to a degree) but has made me reevaluate to look at Masinissa as a figure of his own, not as what he was to Carthage.

Off course this is not a historical study but a work of fiction based on historical fact and as entertainment the book definitively does its job fine but I do wonder if people not invested in the punic wars would be as engaged by it as I was. He tries his best to contextualize but if your not up to speed on the historical context, you will have some difficulties. A second thing of note, language. Edmunds makes a point of refraining from the overly theatrical word usage often reserved for stories set in the classical age and prefers a more casual and slang infused wordplay. I'd say it works for most of the time but at some points it did start to get a bit tiresome. One final thing though, early on a character mentions that he's called the vitesse African by the gauls, the fast African. Now, gauls did not speak French,they spoke celtic languages so this to me was weird. Now you could argue, well isn't it weird that all the Romans, Numidians, Iberians and Carthaginians are speaking English? And yes but on the other hand why bother inputting French here to equate with the Gauls? It is a minor thing but it bothers me, fault me for that if you like.

Masinissa, ally of Carthage is a good story with some flaws to it, for those who love Carthage and or the punic wars but I am not sure it will convert any new lovers of the topic.

[Ken Norris · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’ve never heard of the second Punic War, then you have probably heard of Hannibal’s crossing the Alps with all those elephants. This novel (and it’s sequel) is a highly readable, well informed and moving account of one who played a decisive part in the ensuing events. The historical settings and the portrayal of the principal characters rings true, and it would be hard for anyone not well versed in the period to spot where fiction and fact meet. All in all a thoroughly satisfying, informative and thought provoking read.

[Richard Sterling · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is both hugely entertaining as well as quite educational about some aspects of ancient history, notably Roman and Numidian. The storytelling is excellent and varied. The writer is not afraid to change tone and direction and moments of romance are followed by sombre reflection and then full throttle action. It keeps you on your toes! The action scenes are very well drawn and the heroism and morality of Masinissa himself is conspicuous throughout. The final scene puts you very much in the mood for some more of this ancient prince's story.

[Dylan Oldfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first thing that occurred to me when I read the title of this book was the movie Spartacus. Masinissa seemed just as unusual and exotic an ancient name. After reading this first instalment, I think the comparison is a worthy one. Whilst Masinissa was a king and not the leader of a Roman slave revolt, the scale of his achievements and the drama of his life are, in this retelling anyway, equally as epically proportioned as that of the ancient revolutionary played so memorably by Kirk Douglas.

[Jana Prackova · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this historical novel. Actually, it’s a genre I’ve never read before, and I must say, I absolutely loved it. It was very engaging to follow Masinissa’s journey during the Second Punic War. I love the author's unique and detailed writing style and admire the amount of research that has been put into this book. It’s clearly a remarkable work, and a fascinating and thought-provoking read.

[Dillon S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally got around to reading this book and I really enjoyed it! I liked how much characterization Masinissa was given, it really paints a vivid description of what he might have been like. On top of that there was tons of good information in the book as well, so you'll definitely pick up some cool facts while reading. I'll probably check out the 2nd in this series at some point in the near future!

[Iwan Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historical fiction is a genre that is new to me. No words can do the genius of this story justice. Spellbinding, entertaining, and elegantly written. Rob Edmund's story about Masinissa, the Numidian prince, is addictive. Once you start, you can't stop. It is one of those books you have with you with every moment. While you eat, watch television, and watch TV. It is impossible to lay aside. Nothing could distract me while I was reading the story, except for my growling stomach. Enjoy!

[Tôpher Mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

Too finely written to be a conventional formula novel, this has the depth and detail to evade the normal conventions of the genre and surprise us with a richer, more satisfying fair. That this is a first novel is impressive and there’s a second available that I can’t wait to read. I like historical novels that elucidate areas most books and films avoid and help you fill the gaps in your knowledge. A splendid book that achieves this and keeps you reading.

[William Nicol · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting exposition of a relatively unknown aspect of the Punic Wars. At first I was surprised by the dialogue employed but on consideration thought 'Why not? I doubt I am alone in being unfamiliar with the dialects of Massyli around 200 BCE so if speech needs be translated why not employ a 21st Century idiom?