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Imperial Assassin #4
Emperor's Spear
On the Empire's Northern border trouble is stirring. For decades the barbarians have been at the gates. Now, facing threats from within as well as outside, the Emperor is provoking war. When his friend Atius goes missing in Germania, Imperial Assassin Silus is sent into the heart of the battle-torn region. Plunged into a deadly intrigue and a brutal conflict, can Silus find out who is betraying Rome? Or will the legions start falling, one by bloody one? One of the standout new voices in historical fiction, bestseller Alex Gough is on riveting form in this brilliant novel, perfect for readers of Ben Kane and Conn Iggulden.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
308 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 14, 2021
69 people are currently reading
170 people want to read
About the author
Alex Gough
36 books111 followers Avid reader of multiple genres, including thriller, sci-fi and fantasy, but particularly interested in historical fiction. Author of Roman historical fiction, and owner of the romanfiction.com blog.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
September 16, 2021
BLURB
On the Empire's Northern border trouble is stirring. For decades the barbarians have been at the gates. Now, facing threats from within as well as outside, the Emperor is provoking war.
When his friend Atius goes missing in Germania, Imperial Assassin Silus is sent into the heart of the battle-torn region.
Plunged into a deadly intrigue and a brutal conflict, can Silus find out who is betraying Rome? Or will the legions start falling, one by bloody one?
REVIEW
Ulterior motives in the guise of friendship and alliance is the crux of the problem Silus faces in this drama filled episode. A compelling page turner that finds the bonds of trust, loyalty, and friendship strained to their limits. It is an exciting tale pitting the legacy hunting Caracalla against any and all barbarians, and he'll do anything to come out victorious, and that has Silus and Atius at odds with each other, let alone at odds with Rome's motives.
On the Empire's Northern border trouble is stirring. For decades the barbarians have been at the gates. Now, facing threats from within as well as outside, the Emperor is provoking war.
When his friend Atius goes missing in Germania, Imperial Assassin Silus is sent into the heart of the battle-torn region.
Plunged into a deadly intrigue and a brutal conflict, can Silus find out who is betraying Rome? Or will the legions start falling, one by bloody one?
REVIEW
Ulterior motives in the guise of friendship and alliance is the crux of the problem Silus faces in this drama filled episode. A compelling page turner that finds the bonds of trust, loyalty, and friendship strained to their limits. It is an exciting tale pitting the legacy hunting Caracalla against any and all barbarians, and he'll do anything to come out victorious, and that has Silus and Atius at odds with each other, let alone at odds with Rome's motives.
July 28, 2025
Silus and Atius struggle with moral quandaries
Silus has won a kind of reprieve from active duty as an Arcanus. He's enjoying down time on the small Italian island of Lipari with his ward Tituria. Atius spent some time with him there, but got bored and went back to work. Atius was sent into Germania Magna (Greater Germany) on a secret, delicate, diplomatic mission, which ran into trouble. Oclatinius, boss of the Arcani, shows up on Lipari to convince Silus to track Atius down.
So, that happens. It's a good story. It is not the first time Silus has had to make difficult moral decisions. But the stakes are higher in Emperor's Spear than in previous novels in the Imperial Assassin. series. This is the first time it really felt to me as if doing the Right Thing touched on Silus's essential self.
Good story.
Blog review.
Silus has won a kind of reprieve from active duty as an Arcanus. He's enjoying down time on the small Italian island of Lipari with his ward Tituria. Atius spent some time with him there, but got bored and went back to work. Atius was sent into Germania Magna (Greater Germany) on a secret, delicate, diplomatic mission, which ran into trouble. Oclatinius, boss of the Arcani, shows up on Lipari to convince Silus to track Atius down.
So, that happens. It's a good story. It is not the first time Silus has had to make difficult moral decisions. But the stakes are higher in Emperor's Spear than in previous novels in the Imperial Assassin. series. This is the first time it really felt to me as if doing the Right Thing touched on Silus's essential self.
Good story.
Blog review.
June 16, 2021
Lies!!!?
Enjoyed the read alot. Non stop action an fast pace. You get to hear the story from two different friends. What they go through for each other. The Emperor turns the tables on the German tribes.an one young man hates him for it.
Enjoyed the read alot. Non stop action an fast pace. You get to hear the story from two different friends. What they go through for each other. The Emperor turns the tables on the German tribes.an one young man hates him for it.
March 2, 2025
It’s official. I’ve decided to purchase the physical copies to add to my library. 5⭐️
March 17, 2021
Bro this series has so much potential but once again we are reading about small storylines in a much bigger picture. This book is about such a small part of a much bigger conflict but we hear 5 percent about real conflict and 95 percent of this little mission to save his friend. I would love to see more higher politics and more battlefield action then little missions of little importance in some cases. Great series and it has a ton of potential. We still have lots of things to look forward to as the main character still doesn't have a wife and there is still much to go on about in cases of new power struggles to come. I am deeply offended by so much worship of false gods. It deeply saddens me the main character would dare pray to a sun god. I understand sun worship was part of this period but the author plays a dangerous game with such. And mentions about 7 false gods but doesn't even mention God himself with no religious string attached. He even has a follower of Christ, but no followers of the God the creator. Dont get involved with jesus for he is a lie there is a son of God but it is not jesus. just know there is a single power who is God who you can only understand through you heart.
February 11, 2021
Emperor’s Spear is the fourth novel in the Imperial Assassin series, following the adventures of Silus and his friend Atius, both working as Arcani, the secret service of the Emperor Caracalla.
Atius has been sent on a secret mission into Germania, but it is feared he he has been captured. Silus is sent to rescue him. Their adventures take place in the context of a plan by Caracalla to destroy the power of the Allemani, a confederation of German tribes.
Gough writes well about the period and his obvious historical knowledge underpins his writing and storytelling. He has created a group of interesting characters and has set them moral dilemmas that make them consider their position and place in society, with the friendship between Silus and Atius a central aspect of the novels. It seems there will be further adventures for the Arcani and I look forward to the next in the series.
One thing .... I feel the books could provide the modern equivalent of the Roman place names in the story. Most books in this genre have a list of ancient places with their modern names to give the reader a clearer sense of where events are taking place.
Atius has been sent on a secret mission into Germania, but it is feared he he has been captured. Silus is sent to rescue him. Their adventures take place in the context of a plan by Caracalla to destroy the power of the Allemani, a confederation of German tribes.
Gough writes well about the period and his obvious historical knowledge underpins his writing and storytelling. He has created a group of interesting characters and has set them moral dilemmas that make them consider their position and place in society, with the friendship between Silus and Atius a central aspect of the novels. It seems there will be further adventures for the Arcani and I look forward to the next in the series.
One thing .... I feel the books could provide the modern equivalent of the Roman place names in the story. Most books in this genre have a list of ancient places with their modern names to give the reader a clearer sense of where events are taking place.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 29, 2021
This entire series should have been 5 stars, but read on........
After reading the entire series I think I learned a lot more about Roman Armies, their commanders and the common foot soldier than I had known before.
These were well written and flowed from one book to the other. However, you could read one book as a stand-alone and not be lost.
They were a little bit on the gory side at times, but the author told it as it should be told. These are facts.
In the Emperor's Spear, ODO the guide, German and Romanized stood out to be the real hero of the book, but a tragic ending.
Nope, not going to go any further. Read the book and enjoy.
PS. The typos were horrid, the flipping of the names same person but in one sentence one name the next sentence same person different name. This in a way spoiled it for me, since I am very aware of the screwups. Author needs better advance readers and beta readers to catch these.
After reading the entire series I think I learned a lot more about Roman Armies, their commanders and the common foot soldier than I had known before.
These were well written and flowed from one book to the other. However, you could read one book as a stand-alone and not be lost.
They were a little bit on the gory side at times, but the author told it as it should be told. These are facts.
In the Emperor's Spear, ODO the guide, German and Romanized stood out to be the real hero of the book, but a tragic ending.
Nope, not going to go any further. Read the book and enjoy.
PS. The typos were horrid, the flipping of the names same person but in one sentence one name the next sentence same person different name. This in a way spoiled it for me, since I am very aware of the screwups. Author needs better advance readers and beta readers to catch these.
January 20, 2021
Couldn't put it down.
Another cracking read. Silus and Arius have become 2 of my favourite characters. The sort of close friends you can only make in the army. This series just keeps getting better and being based on real historical events, opens your eyes to the violence of the times.
Unfortunately I now have to wait for the next one.
Another cracking read. Silus and Arius have become 2 of my favourite characters. The sort of close friends you can only make in the army. This series just keeps getting better and being based on real historical events, opens your eyes to the violence of the times.
Unfortunately I now have to wait for the next one.
July 16, 2022
A secret mission and it's consequences.
Silas is called away from a visit to Liparia to take on a rescue mission deep in Germania. His friend Atius leading a diplomatic party has been captured. Silas has the help of an Alammani guide Odo to rescue him. What happens will deeply affect Silas and change him forever. Easy five star read.
Silas is called away from a visit to Liparia to take on a rescue mission deep in Germania. His friend Atius leading a diplomatic party has been captured. Silas has the help of an Alammani guide Odo to rescue him. What happens will deeply affect Silas and change him forever. Easy five star read.
September 15, 2022
Un bel libro. L’autore dopo lo scivolone del libro precedente è tornato ai suoi standard. Ho trovato molto bello il rapporto di amicizia tra Silus e Atius messa a dura prova dagli eventi e dal senso del dovere.
February 6, 2021
Historical fiction at its best. Go for it, get the book and immerse yourself in the times of when the Roman Empire was flexing it's muscle in Caracalla’s German campaign. Absolute thriller of a book.
April 13, 2021
Brilliant as usual. I enjoyed every minute of it. Plenty of action and an insight into Germanic and its tribes. Looking forward to next book in series.
May 4, 2021
Four great books
I enjoyed the four books in this series. I don’t think there is a follow up to this one but I will look out for it just in case. Great story line and adventure.
I enjoyed the four books in this series. I don’t think there is a follow up to this one but I will look out for it just in case. Great story line and adventure.
May 9, 2021
Good read bit if sad ending. Good chunk of fighting
May 30, 2021
Great book
The occasional proof reading error doesn’t detract from an easy to read book with an excellent story line. I’m looking forward to the fifth book in this series
The occasional proof reading error doesn’t detract from an easy to read book with an excellent story line. I’m looking forward to the fifth book in this series
September 27, 2021
Greatly enjoyed
Enjoyable read throughout. Difficult to put down in some places till you get to part of an outcome. Well written.
Enjoyable read throughout. Difficult to put down in some places till you get to part of an outcome. Well written.
October 14, 2021
Typical
Just another book in the series. Nothing original. If,, you liked the previous books, you will like this one. Very forgettable characters.
Just another book in the series. Nothing original. If,, you liked the previous books, you will like this one. Very forgettable characters.
September 21, 2022
Yet another book you are unable to put down.
Just could not put this book down. The Romans were so ruthless. Even to their own people. What will become of the two comrades?
Just could not put this book down. The Romans were so ruthless. Even to their own people. What will become of the two comrades?
January 25, 2023
Hooked from start to finish
July 23, 2025
Non stop action from the first page to the last, superb.
January 26, 2022
I do kike Alex's stye of writing. His story lines are thoughtful and well researched and uses actual Roman places names and specialist words, thus developing my own knowledge. This story like the others in the series was an exceptional read, well paced and easy to pick up where I left off. I look forward to reading other titles by Mr Gough.
May 7, 2024
Not the best book in this series, but overall enjoyable.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews