What do you think?
Rate this book
City of Victory #1
The Fort
From bestselling historian Adrian Goldsworthy, a profoundly authentic, action-packed adventure set on Rome's Danubian frontier.
AD 105: DACIA
The Dacian kingdom and Rome are at peace, but no one thinks that it will last. Sent to command an isolated fort beyond the Danube, centurion Flavius Ferox can sense that war is coming, but also knows that enemies may be closer to home.
Many of the Brigantes under his command are former rebels and convicts, as likely to kill him as obey an order. And then there is Hadrian, the emperor's cousin, and a man with plans of his own.
"An instant classic of the genre." HARRY SIDEBOTTOM
"An authentic, enjoyable read." THE TIMES
AD 105: DACIA
The Dacian kingdom and Rome are at peace, but no one thinks that it will last. Sent to command an isolated fort beyond the Danube, centurion Flavius Ferox can sense that war is coming, but also knows that enemies may be closer to home.
Many of the Brigantes under his command are former rebels and convicts, as likely to kill him as obey an order. And then there is Hadrian, the emperor's cousin, and a man with plans of his own.
"An instant classic of the genre." HARRY SIDEBOTTOM
"An authentic, enjoyable read." THE TIMES
400 pages, Hardcover
First published June 10, 2021
479 people are currently reading
1482 people want to read
About the author
Adrian Goldsworthy
44 books1,539 followersAdrian Goldsworthy, born in 1969, is the author of numerous acclaimed books, including biographies of Julius Caesar and Augustus. He lectures widely and consults on historical documentaries for the History Channel, National Geographic, and the BBC. He lives in the UK.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
January 19, 2022
Great historical fiction
A very effective novel of war, adventure, danger, politics and romance. Many of the characters from Mr. Goldsworthy's Vindolanda trilogy are featured and are, in fact, main characters. In this adventure they are in and around Dacia instead of Roman Britain.
I did not care for the ending even though it sets up a sequel. As Goldsworthy points out in the history recounted at the end of the novel, Hadrian was effective but not a very nice man. Maybe Centurian Flavius Ferox will get a measure of justice and revenge in the sequel.
A very effective novel of war, adventure, danger, politics and romance. Many of the characters from Mr. Goldsworthy's Vindolanda trilogy are featured and are, in fact, main characters. In this adventure they are in and around Dacia instead of Roman Britain.
I did not care for the ending even though it sets up a sequel. As Goldsworthy points out in the history recounted at the end of the novel, Hadrian was effective but not a very nice man. Maybe Centurian Flavius Ferox will get a measure of justice and revenge in the sequel.
May 15, 2025
The start of a new trilogy of historical novels from Adrian Goldsworthy, featuring his lead character Flavius Ferox, a Briton who has become a Roman citizen and a centurion with the legions. I listened to the audio version which was “included” with my Audible subscription. I had previously read the 3 books in the “Vindolanda” series, based around the same character.
I don’t read a lot of books in series form. I tend to forget many of the characters in between reading the novels. You needn’t necessarily have read the “Vindolanda” series before starting this, but it does provide some background and context.
With these novels, the time and place settings tend to call to me. The previous series was set in Britannia, but in this book Ferox has been posted to the province of Dacia, to the titular fort, which looks as if it might be right in the path of a revolt against Roman rule. Goldsworthy is good with re-imagining the world of 2,000 years ago, and with creating a background atmosphere that feels authentic. His own knowledge of the Roman Army helps here, as he is an accepted expert in that field. Something that maybe slightly jars with authenticity is that he has a couple of female characters in the “battle babe” category, who combine kick-ass fighting skills with physical allure. It’s not that I’m dismissing the idea of female leaders/warriors in Roman times – after all, we all know of the famous Boudicca – but the idea of the fierce female warrior who also has film star looks seemed to move the story a bit closer to the fantasy genre. Anyway, it’s all just a bit of fun.
I say “fun”, but descriptions of hand to hand fighting are frequent, and there is a fair amount of “blood and entrails”. That may not be to everyone’s taste.
In the novel Ferox also gets a new legion commander, no less than Publius Aelius Hadrianus, a relative of the emperor Trajan. The reader knows that this is the future emperor Hadrian. I quite enjoyed the chapters in which Hadrian appeared.
The overall story is lively enough, and I liked the ending that the author delivered.
Goldsworthy has said that we shouldn’t try to over-interpret these novels. They are intended as escapist entertainment (nothing wrong with that). The rating is within the genre.
I don’t read a lot of books in series form. I tend to forget many of the characters in between reading the novels. You needn’t necessarily have read the “Vindolanda” series before starting this, but it does provide some background and context.
With these novels, the time and place settings tend to call to me. The previous series was set in Britannia, but in this book Ferox has been posted to the province of Dacia, to the titular fort, which looks as if it might be right in the path of a revolt against Roman rule. Goldsworthy is good with re-imagining the world of 2,000 years ago, and with creating a background atmosphere that feels authentic. His own knowledge of the Roman Army helps here, as he is an accepted expert in that field. Something that maybe slightly jars with authenticity is that he has a couple of female characters in the “battle babe” category, who combine kick-ass fighting skills with physical allure. It’s not that I’m dismissing the idea of female leaders/warriors in Roman times – after all, we all know of the famous Boudicca – but the idea of the fierce female warrior who also has film star looks seemed to move the story a bit closer to the fantasy genre. Anyway, it’s all just a bit of fun.
I say “fun”, but descriptions of hand to hand fighting are frequent, and there is a fair amount of “blood and entrails”. That may not be to everyone’s taste.
In the novel Ferox also gets a new legion commander, no less than Publius Aelius Hadrianus, a relative of the emperor Trajan. The reader knows that this is the future emperor Hadrian. I quite enjoyed the chapters in which Hadrian appeared.
The overall story is lively enough, and I liked the ending that the author delivered.
Goldsworthy has said that we shouldn’t try to over-interpret these novels. They are intended as escapist entertainment (nothing wrong with that). The rating is within the genre.
June 8, 2021
4.5 stars
Flavius Ferox is in trouble. If you've met him before (in Goldsworthy's Vindolanda series), you'll know that Ferox is always in trouble. In fact, he's such a magnet for shitty situations, that were I somehow to be transported back to this period, I'd sure as hell make sure I remained in whatever part of the Roman Empire that was the furthest distance from wherever he is. Not only is this book no exception from the Ferox danger rule, it's the bloodiest exemplar of it to date.
It is BRUTAL. Focusing the action on an isolated fort in a contested region of Dacia gives the book a close, claustrophobic feel. There's no escape from here. The Fort must be held. It's a stressful situation even before you find out that he's trapped inside with a number of people who want him dead with a greater intensity than those on the outside. See what I mean about him? The build up to action is initially slow... and then doesn't stop until the walls are painted in blood and most people are dead. THEN it finishes with a boot to the face. To say that Goldsworthy has upped him game with this is to undersell it. The action goes harder, the dialogue is funnier, the political machinations are more dangerous. Everything is so much more precarious. It's all on the line here and you can feel it.
There's no telling how bad it's going to get, but I can't wait to find out. What I do know is that whatever happens in the future, Ferox will be in trouble. Omnes ad stercus....
ARC via Netgalley
Flavius Ferox is in trouble. If you've met him before (in Goldsworthy's Vindolanda series), you'll know that Ferox is always in trouble. In fact, he's such a magnet for shitty situations, that were I somehow to be transported back to this period, I'd sure as hell make sure I remained in whatever part of the Roman Empire that was the furthest distance from wherever he is. Not only is this book no exception from the Ferox danger rule, it's the bloodiest exemplar of it to date.
It is BRUTAL. Focusing the action on an isolated fort in a contested region of Dacia gives the book a close, claustrophobic feel. There's no escape from here. The Fort must be held. It's a stressful situation even before you find out that he's trapped inside with a number of people who want him dead with a greater intensity than those on the outside. See what I mean about him? The build up to action is initially slow... and then doesn't stop until the walls are painted in blood and most people are dead. THEN it finishes with a boot to the face. To say that Goldsworthy has upped him game with this is to undersell it. The action goes harder, the dialogue is funnier, the political machinations are more dangerous. Everything is so much more precarious. It's all on the line here and you can feel it.
There's no telling how bad it's going to get, but I can't wait to find out. What I do know is that whatever happens in the future, Ferox will be in trouble. Omnes ad stercus....
ARC via Netgalley
March 7, 2022
Another very fun Roman adventure with our truculent badass, Flavius Ferox, only now we're in Dacia, present-day Romania. I think he's an even bigger badass here than in the previous trilogy, which is not required reading to enjoy this one.
His wife/Queen is a particularly stellar character in this book wielding power and loyalty as a warrior Queen should. And the local warrior PoV was also fantastic.
There are plenty of nefarious maneuverings going on in the background to keep us occupied but Ferox and his sixth sense keep us alive to the end. And of course plenty of battle and Roman strategy.
I can't wait for the next one and am even considering rereading the previous trilogy, starting with Vindolanda.
His wife/Queen is a particularly stellar character in this book wielding power and loyalty as a warrior Queen should. And the local warrior PoV was also fantastic.
There are plenty of nefarious maneuverings going on in the background to keep us occupied but Ferox and his sixth sense keep us alive to the end. And of course plenty of battle and Roman strategy.
I can't wait for the next one and am even considering rereading the previous trilogy, starting with Vindolanda.
July 15, 2024
Another great book about Flavius Ferox and chums back in AD105. This is technically the start of a second trilogy but it does pick up more or less where the last book in the Vindolanda trilogy left off.
Again, there's much political chicanery, lots of action, some romance and all meticulously researched by an author who is a historian first. I eagerly await the release of the next book in the series. Sadly, I think it might be a while as this one has only just been released...
Again, there's much political chicanery, lots of action, some romance and all meticulously researched by an author who is a historian first. I eagerly await the release of the next book in the series. Sadly, I think it might be a while as this one has only just been released...
Want to read
June 27, 2021To hear a short pitch of The Fort by Adrian Goldsworthy himself, where he talks about previous releases and about the premise of this new release, you can click on a link here - The Brothers Gwynne
June 14, 2021
Hadrian to Ferox: "You are a hard man to kill, and you have the knack of winning against the odds."
Although The Fort is the first in a new series, it features Flavius Ferox as well as some of the other characters from the Vindolanda series. For example, Ferox’s friend Vindex and some of Ferox’s household staff. It appears to follow on directly from events in the final book in the Vindolanda trilogy, Brigantia. However, for the benefit of readers (like me) who haven’t read Brigantia, or indeed those who haven’t read any of the Vindolanda trilogy, the author provides subtle details about key events and characters from the earlier books.
Ferox’s current posting is to a remote fort on the border with Dacia (part of what is now Romania) during a period of uneasy and, in all likelihood, short-lived peace between that nation and the Roman Empire. He’s accompanied by a force of fierce Brigantes (Celtic Britons from the north of England) some of whom have vowed to kill him in revenge for an act of that they view as murder.
Like Ferox, the reader may wonder just why ‘this ragbag of rebels, bandits, deserters and rival tribesman’ has been sent to Piroboridava. In fact, as Ferox admits himself, he’s a bit of a ragbag, ‘a good Silurian boy turned Roman centurion’. But, ever practical, he sets about getting the rather rundown garrison into shape in order to have a better chance of defending a Dacian attack should it come, as his gut tells him is likely. This also serves to provide a focus for the disparate group of six hundred soldiers he finds himself responsible for and a way of dispelling the boredom that might otherwise bubble over into violence.
The story switches briefly to Rome where the reader is introduced to the Emperor Trajan’s cousin, the senator Hadrian who has recently been appointed legatus of the Minervia legion, some of whose soldiers have been deployed to Piroboridava. I knew very little about Hadrian before reading this book apart from the fact he later became emperor himself and built a famous wall in the north of England. The author gives a little nod to this by including a scene in which Hadrian shows a keen interest in the process of building design and construction. The Hadrian the reader is presented with here is intelligent, wily and ambitious although with a private life that leaves him open to manipulation by others.
Talking of private lives, the book was enlivened for me by the arrival at the fort of the feisty Claudia Enica, Queen of the Brigantes, and two young warriors, Bran and Miruna. All three have been trained in warfare by a woman known as ‘the Mother’. She trained them well as it turns out. From time to time a third point of view takes over, that of a young warrior, Brasus, placed in command of an advance guard of the Dacian army. His narrative is infused with the rituals associated with his tribe’s religious customs, giving it a mythical quality.
I confess the multiplicity of storylines left me rather confused to begin with but gradually things became clearer especially once many of the characters find themselves gathered together. Not so much Casablanca‘s ‘Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world she walks into mine’ as ‘Of all the forts in all the Empire they ride up to the gates of mine’!
The book contains the sort of authentic detail – of weaponry, Roman army procedures, social and religious customs – you would expect from a historian of the author’s reputation. There is also an extensive glossary for those of us who can’t tell our gladius from our spatha. My fabulous hardcover edition also included a map of the region and a plan of the Piroboridava fort. As the author explains in his fascinating historical note at the end of the book, the fort’s location is fictional but is based on a Roman garrison of the same name situated closer to the mouth of the Danube.
For those who like plenty of full-on action in their historical fiction, there are only skirmishes to begin with. However, stick with it because there are scenes later in the book that will definitely not disappoint. The book’s final few chapters see some story lines resolved but others carefully set up as ‘to be continued’ plot lines to whet the appetite for subsequent books in the series. Consider my appetite well and truly whetted!
Although The Fort is the first in a new series, it features Flavius Ferox as well as some of the other characters from the Vindolanda series. For example, Ferox’s friend Vindex and some of Ferox’s household staff. It appears to follow on directly from events in the final book in the Vindolanda trilogy, Brigantia. However, for the benefit of readers (like me) who haven’t read Brigantia, or indeed those who haven’t read any of the Vindolanda trilogy, the author provides subtle details about key events and characters from the earlier books.
Ferox’s current posting is to a remote fort on the border with Dacia (part of what is now Romania) during a period of uneasy and, in all likelihood, short-lived peace between that nation and the Roman Empire. He’s accompanied by a force of fierce Brigantes (Celtic Britons from the north of England) some of whom have vowed to kill him in revenge for an act of that they view as murder.
Like Ferox, the reader may wonder just why ‘this ragbag of rebels, bandits, deserters and rival tribesman’ has been sent to Piroboridava. In fact, as Ferox admits himself, he’s a bit of a ragbag, ‘a good Silurian boy turned Roman centurion’. But, ever practical, he sets about getting the rather rundown garrison into shape in order to have a better chance of defending a Dacian attack should it come, as his gut tells him is likely. This also serves to provide a focus for the disparate group of six hundred soldiers he finds himself responsible for and a way of dispelling the boredom that might otherwise bubble over into violence.
The story switches briefly to Rome where the reader is introduced to the Emperor Trajan’s cousin, the senator Hadrian who has recently been appointed legatus of the Minervia legion, some of whose soldiers have been deployed to Piroboridava. I knew very little about Hadrian before reading this book apart from the fact he later became emperor himself and built a famous wall in the north of England. The author gives a little nod to this by including a scene in which Hadrian shows a keen interest in the process of building design and construction. The Hadrian the reader is presented with here is intelligent, wily and ambitious although with a private life that leaves him open to manipulation by others.
Talking of private lives, the book was enlivened for me by the arrival at the fort of the feisty Claudia Enica, Queen of the Brigantes, and two young warriors, Bran and Miruna. All three have been trained in warfare by a woman known as ‘the Mother’. She trained them well as it turns out. From time to time a third point of view takes over, that of a young warrior, Brasus, placed in command of an advance guard of the Dacian army. His narrative is infused with the rituals associated with his tribe’s religious customs, giving it a mythical quality.
I confess the multiplicity of storylines left me rather confused to begin with but gradually things became clearer especially once many of the characters find themselves gathered together. Not so much Casablanca‘s ‘Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world she walks into mine’ as ‘Of all the forts in all the Empire they ride up to the gates of mine’!
The book contains the sort of authentic detail – of weaponry, Roman army procedures, social and religious customs – you would expect from a historian of the author’s reputation. There is also an extensive glossary for those of us who can’t tell our gladius from our spatha. My fabulous hardcover edition also included a map of the region and a plan of the Piroboridava fort. As the author explains in his fascinating historical note at the end of the book, the fort’s location is fictional but is based on a Roman garrison of the same name situated closer to the mouth of the Danube.
For those who like plenty of full-on action in their historical fiction, there are only skirmishes to begin with. However, stick with it because there are scenes later in the book that will definitely not disappoint. The book’s final few chapters see some story lines resolved but others carefully set up as ‘to be continued’ plot lines to whet the appetite for subsequent books in the series. Consider my appetite well and truly whetted!
June 19, 2021
Sometimes you just pick up a book and fall into another time. The Fort by Adrian Goldsworthy is one such book. The time, the characters, the narrative. Everything just seems to slot into place. The characterization skills are terrifically utilized and the plot was swift-moving and often balancing on a knife-edge. I am a huge fan of historical fiction and I genuinely believe that I would be hard placed to see a better example of it than, The Fort.
Flavius Ferox is a character that instantly called to me. He’s vivid, he’s alive and passionate. His character arc and internal monologue cast me into a time where brutality is the norm, look around you – it’s there. You hear the clang of shields, the roar of pain, and the destruction lying all around.
The Fort is the start of a new series but it features some of the characters from the Vindolanda series. If you are like me and haven’t read the previous series then rest assured the author has your back. There are hints and subtle hints left for you to pick up the missing information.
“You are a hard man to kill, and you have the knack of winning against the odds.”
Centurion Ferox and his right-hand man, Vindex are posted out to a Fort at the border of Dacia (modern time, Romania.) It’s their job to hold The Fort there, there is short-lived peace in that are between its inhabitants and the Roman Empire. His force is backed up by fierce Brigantes (Britons.) They are brutal and nothing is going to stop them from getting their pound of flesh and more than a drop of blood. They hunger for it. They are exactly the right type of soldier to have backing you up in a bloody war.
The action in The Fort is extreme and bloody. It is everything it needs to be. It’s fast-paced and gave me a birds-eye view of Roman rule. Conquer, destroy and civilize. Ferox always seems to be right in the middle of trouble, in fact, trouble always seems to follow him. Matters only made worse by a super ambitious Hadrian and trying to control the Brigantes under his control. It seems like a merry band of murderers, rebels, and convicts. He has just about as much trouble controlling the Dacians as he does his own Brigantes. He also isn’t aware that The Emperor’s cousin is on his way with extremely ambitious plans of his own.
Goldsworthy creates a vivid and brutal landscape in The Fort. Viscerally captivating. He makes us rethink history.
Flavius Ferox is a character that instantly called to me. He’s vivid, he’s alive and passionate. His character arc and internal monologue cast me into a time where brutality is the norm, look around you – it’s there. You hear the clang of shields, the roar of pain, and the destruction lying all around.
The Fort is the start of a new series but it features some of the characters from the Vindolanda series. If you are like me and haven’t read the previous series then rest assured the author has your back. There are hints and subtle hints left for you to pick up the missing information.
“You are a hard man to kill, and you have the knack of winning against the odds.”
Centurion Ferox and his right-hand man, Vindex are posted out to a Fort at the border of Dacia (modern time, Romania.) It’s their job to hold The Fort there, there is short-lived peace in that are between its inhabitants and the Roman Empire. His force is backed up by fierce Brigantes (Britons.) They are brutal and nothing is going to stop them from getting their pound of flesh and more than a drop of blood. They hunger for it. They are exactly the right type of soldier to have backing you up in a bloody war.
The action in The Fort is extreme and bloody. It is everything it needs to be. It’s fast-paced and gave me a birds-eye view of Roman rule. Conquer, destroy and civilize. Ferox always seems to be right in the middle of trouble, in fact, trouble always seems to follow him. Matters only made worse by a super ambitious Hadrian and trying to control the Brigantes under his control. It seems like a merry band of murderers, rebels, and convicts. He has just about as much trouble controlling the Dacians as he does his own Brigantes. He also isn’t aware that The Emperor’s cousin is on his way with extremely ambitious plans of his own.
Goldsworthy creates a vivid and brutal landscape in The Fort. Viscerally captivating. He makes us rethink history.
November 26, 2021
Just one word!!
DACIA!!!
Yes, the events in this books take place, mostly, there. And for me it was another motive in plus to like this novel.
But, rest assured, Overall the book has tension, a lot of action and fights and also some small political intrigues.
It was also interesting to see what some historical authors think about that period and place so for me it was an entertaining novel.
I liked it!
DACIA!!!
Yes, the events in this books take place, mostly, there. And for me it was another motive in plus to like this novel.
But, rest assured, Overall the book has tension, a lot of action and fights and also some small political intrigues.
It was also interesting to see what some historical authors think about that period and place so for me it was an entertaining novel.
I liked it!
October 2, 2021
Last of my Goldsworthy fiction for a bit. Back to more serious fiction.
April 7, 2021
Flavius Ferox Defends a Fort
This is the first in a new series featuring the cast of the same author’s Vindolanda series. Centurion Flavius Ferox and his pal Vindex and a force of fierce Brigantes are posted to a remote fort in the hills on the border of Dacia, modern Romania. Trajan has defeated the Dacians in the first war, but there is an uneasy peace and clever men suspect war will or should soon be renewed. Among such men is the emperor’s young nephew, the tribune Hadrian.
It takes a while to get going, this first instalment, and it stretches credulity rather, that most of the major characters of the Vindolanda series fetch up together in this remote fort. But as Roman army siege novels go, this one is very good. It’s a gritty, violent tale, especially in its second half, much less coy than the same author’s Vindolanda books. There is an interesting portrayal of the young Hadrian, quite different from what one might expect of a man often described as one of the ‘good emperors’ of Rome. Some of the tale is told from the point of view of a young Dacian warrior and when he is on stage, the narrative approaches Homeric in tone. There are loose ends, which might be reconciled in later sequels, and at times in the early part of the novel it is quite difficult to follow what is going on. Perhaps all this will be solved in due course. In short, this is a solid opening to an intriguing new pathway for the hero, Flavius Ferox.
This is the first in a new series featuring the cast of the same author’s Vindolanda series. Centurion Flavius Ferox and his pal Vindex and a force of fierce Brigantes are posted to a remote fort in the hills on the border of Dacia, modern Romania. Trajan has defeated the Dacians in the first war, but there is an uneasy peace and clever men suspect war will or should soon be renewed. Among such men is the emperor’s young nephew, the tribune Hadrian.
It takes a while to get going, this first instalment, and it stretches credulity rather, that most of the major characters of the Vindolanda series fetch up together in this remote fort. But as Roman army siege novels go, this one is very good. It’s a gritty, violent tale, especially in its second half, much less coy than the same author’s Vindolanda books. There is an interesting portrayal of the young Hadrian, quite different from what one might expect of a man often described as one of the ‘good emperors’ of Rome. Some of the tale is told from the point of view of a young Dacian warrior and when he is on stage, the narrative approaches Homeric in tone. There are loose ends, which might be reconciled in later sequels, and at times in the early part of the novel it is quite difficult to follow what is going on. Perhaps all this will be solved in due course. In short, this is a solid opening to an intriguing new pathway for the hero, Flavius Ferox.
September 22, 2021
Roman centurion Flavius Ferox defends a fort on the Roman Danube frontier with enemies both within and without the walls at the beginning of the Second Roman-Dacian War (105-106 AD). First book of the second story arc City of Victory in Goldsworthy’s Flavius Ferox Roman historical fiction series.
Roman’s vs. Dacians: Dacian wielding a curved falx sword in center
My dead pixels copy was a moderate 344-pages with a 2021 UK copyright. This book includes: maps, a Historical Note and a Glossary. I highly recommend reading the Historical Note before closing the covers for the last time.
Adrian Goldsworthy is a British historian and author of both fiction and non-fiction. He has written more than ten novels in several series. That includes his Flavius Ferox series starting with the Vindolanda trilogy set in 1st Century Roman Britain. The last book of his I read was Brigantia (Vindolanda #3) (my review).
This was the first book in the author’s second Flavius Ferox series story arc City of Victory trilogy. Reading the last book (Brigantia) of the previous Vindolanda trilogy is strongly recommended to make this book understandable.
This is the fourth book in the historically accurate, Roman-era, Sword 'n Sandal historical fiction by an accredited historian. I have a keen interest in Roman history. The books in Goldsworthy’s Ferox series build-in some of the more recent information from the literature and Roman-era, archeological record than previous fiction I’ve read. In addition to the mundane issues of Roman life, it also includes: a detective mystery; sword wielding, Celtic, warrior women femme fatales; the pre-Christian era supernatural; and the Roman clash of swords, spears and shields.
This story was set several years after Brigantia. The series’ protagonist Flavius Ferox is married to the British/Roman tribal queen Claudia Enica and has a family. Along with a contingent of unreliable Briton legionary auxiliaries he’s transferred from Britain to command a fort on the restive Danube frontier with the barbarian kingdom of Dacia. There he becomes: involved in the machinations of the future emperor Hadrian , the threat of his Briton tribal soldiery who hate him, and a Dacian army ready to boil across the border. A siege ensues. By its end, the long-term plot lines for the series’ second trilogy are set-up.
Prose was good, but only a small improvement over the previous books. The author’s Oxford education shows in the precision of his writing. It’s very precise with almost perfect form and punctuation. A larger number of POVs were used in this book than previous books. Switching between them was good, but one fewer would have been better. My thought being POV switches consume pages. With only 350-pages in this book, plotlines get starved when there are too many.
The author heavily leveraged the characters from the Vindolandia trilogy. Ferox remains the nominal protagonist. Vindex, Ferox’s native Briton, ‘rough cut’, wingman, as well as Philo his Jewish servant boy appeared. Although, their parts were small in this story. Philo is now a freeman and married. Sulpicia Lepidina, Ferox’s former lover and her politically ambitious husband Flavius Cerialis travel from Britain to the Dacian hot-spot to complicate the story. Ferox’s wife, the British, warrior woman and Brigantian queen, Claudia Enica leaves the children at home in Britain and joins her husband. The series adds the future emperor, Hadrian as the Manipulative Bastard. He is likely the long-term antagonist. The immediate antagonist was Brasus, the Dacian chieftain and the fort's besieger.
Note there was a surfeit of violence in this story. It was: physical, edged-weapon, and projectile weapons (mostly arrows). The story also included violence against women. The violence was also rather graphic. I found myself getting fatigued by the bloodletting.
Also, the naughty bits were more fleshed-out than in previous books. While not explicit, they were not fade to black as in previous books of the series.
This book was more a Sword ‘n Shield story than other books series. Aside from a many minor skirmishes there was a full-bore ancient siege. From my reading of ancient siege warfare it was accurate. In addition to this large, many phased engagement, there were a lot of small skirmishes involving swordplay, lethal archery and spear-work. From a military history aspect, Goldsworthy does a good job with his descriptions, using pieces from the literature and modern, speculation on how it likely occurred.
Not much is known about Dacian religious practices, but the author extrapolates from the surviving literature and the better documented Celtic rites. In the story, the Dacian, Briton, and Roman gods intervene on both sides with a fair bit of magic being credited for events.
As in previous books, Ferox had several related murders on his mind (as well as murderous barbarians pounding on his command’s gates). However, the murder mysteries were not the most important of plot lines. In the end it was the usual suspects who were found responsible, although the author did not resort to his typical The Reveal at the story's end.
World building was as authentic as the earlier books in the series. Goldsworthy’s attention to historical detail has always been the strong point of this series. A continued failing I find in the series’ books was the author under-emphasizes that life was 'Nasty, brutish and short' in ancient times. Too often daily life on the Roman-side in these books appears to be a toga wearing-version of 17th Century England. The “barbarian” side would have been worse. However, the author did make a good stab at the squalor that would result by besieging army not practicing good hygiene. Moving the venue of the story from Britain to what is now modern Romania switched things up. The archeological record for that part of the world is not as complete as it is in the UK. The reader was not provided with the series’ almost, obligatory, ancient, Briton geography lesson. I felt it harder to relate to the story with the unfamiliar Southern Carpathian territory.
A failing I see in this series that continues, is that the characters only partially act like ancients. Having read a lot of non-fiction on Roman history, I’ve come to agree that ancient men and women were quite different from modern men and women. In many cases we don’t know how they thought, because it wasn’t written down. For example, there are Roman artifacts that archeologists have no idea of what their purpose was. Goldsworthy’s characters are recognizable as moderns with an ancient veneer.
Finally, the Historical Note at the end of the book cannot be ignored. If you consider yourself an amateur Roman historian, this is a must read. Here Goldsworthy describes how he wove the historical record into the story. I found this to be the single most important chapter of the book. It showed how ‘the writer writes’.
This book only added a little more to my trove of background on 1st Century Roman history, which the series specializes in. It moves the series’ obligatory, Roman, political conspiracies, murders and warfare from Britain to the Continent. Frankly, I didn’t like the way the first of the series’ story arcs ended, and I’m not happy how this one was beginning. I was expecting a clean start. (I was actually expecting this arc to be a prequel to the Vindolandia trilogy.) This story leveraged too many of the the characters and too much backstory of the Vindolanda trilogy. As it is, the second trilogy is shaping-up to be all the plotline baggage of those first three books brought forward to a new locale with now Hadrian pulling Ferox’s strings. I also would have preferred less edged-weapon combat and the outright killing-off of legacy characters. So, history-wise this introduced a lot more of Roman military history to the reader, a bit more of ‘Life in Roman Times’, and a bit of Roman political history. Story-wise, it packed along the long-term plotlines from the previous trilogy, but with the substitution of the antagonist (the series’ original was killed). I shall see?
Roman’s vs. Dacians: Dacian wielding a curved falx sword in center
My dead pixels copy was a moderate 344-pages with a 2021 UK copyright. This book includes: maps, a Historical Note and a Glossary. I highly recommend reading the Historical Note before closing the covers for the last time.
Adrian Goldsworthy is a British historian and author of both fiction and non-fiction. He has written more than ten novels in several series. That includes his Flavius Ferox series starting with the Vindolanda trilogy set in 1st Century Roman Britain. The last book of his I read was Brigantia (Vindolanda #3) (my review).
This was the first book in the author’s second Flavius Ferox series story arc City of Victory trilogy. Reading the last book (Brigantia) of the previous Vindolanda trilogy is strongly recommended to make this book understandable.
This is the fourth book in the historically accurate, Roman-era, Sword 'n Sandal historical fiction by an accredited historian. I have a keen interest in Roman history. The books in Goldsworthy’s Ferox series build-in some of the more recent information from the literature and Roman-era, archeological record than previous fiction I’ve read. In addition to the mundane issues of Roman life, it also includes: a detective mystery; sword wielding, Celtic, warrior women femme fatales; the pre-Christian era supernatural; and the Roman clash of swords, spears and shields.
This story was set several years after Brigantia. The series’ protagonist Flavius Ferox is married to the British/Roman tribal queen Claudia Enica and has a family. Along with a contingent of unreliable Briton legionary auxiliaries he’s transferred from Britain to command a fort on the restive Danube frontier with the barbarian kingdom of Dacia. There he becomes: involved in the machinations of the future emperor Hadrian , the threat of his Briton tribal soldiery who hate him, and a Dacian army ready to boil across the border. A siege ensues. By its end, the long-term plot lines for the series’ second trilogy are set-up.
Prose was good, but only a small improvement over the previous books. The author’s Oxford education shows in the precision of his writing. It’s very precise with almost perfect form and punctuation. A larger number of POVs were used in this book than previous books. Switching between them was good, but one fewer would have been better. My thought being POV switches consume pages. With only 350-pages in this book, plotlines get starved when there are too many.
The author heavily leveraged the characters from the Vindolandia trilogy. Ferox remains the nominal protagonist. Vindex, Ferox’s native Briton, ‘rough cut’, wingman, as well as Philo his Jewish servant boy appeared. Although, their parts were small in this story. Philo is now a freeman and married. Sulpicia Lepidina, Ferox’s former lover and her politically ambitious husband Flavius Cerialis travel from Britain to the Dacian hot-spot to complicate the story. Ferox’s wife, the British, warrior woman and Brigantian queen, Claudia Enica leaves the children at home in Britain and joins her husband. The series adds the future emperor, Hadrian as the Manipulative Bastard. He is likely the long-term antagonist. The immediate antagonist was Brasus, the Dacian chieftain and the fort's besieger.
Note there was a surfeit of violence in this story. It was: physical, edged-weapon, and projectile weapons (mostly arrows). The story also included violence against women. The violence was also rather graphic. I found myself getting fatigued by the bloodletting.
Also, the naughty bits were more fleshed-out than in previous books. While not explicit, they were not fade to black as in previous books of the series.
This book was more a Sword ‘n Shield story than other books series. Aside from a many minor skirmishes there was a full-bore ancient siege. From my reading of ancient siege warfare it was accurate. In addition to this large, many phased engagement, there were a lot of small skirmishes involving swordplay, lethal archery and spear-work. From a military history aspect, Goldsworthy does a good job with his descriptions, using pieces from the literature and modern, speculation on how it likely occurred.
Not much is known about Dacian religious practices, but the author extrapolates from the surviving literature and the better documented Celtic rites. In the story, the Dacian, Briton, and Roman gods intervene on both sides with a fair bit of magic being credited for events.
As in previous books, Ferox had several related murders on his mind (as well as murderous barbarians pounding on his command’s gates). However, the murder mysteries were not the most important of plot lines. In the end it was the usual suspects who were found responsible, although the author did not resort to his typical The Reveal at the story's end.
World building was as authentic as the earlier books in the series. Goldsworthy’s attention to historical detail has always been the strong point of this series. A continued failing I find in the series’ books was the author under-emphasizes that life was 'Nasty, brutish and short' in ancient times. Too often daily life on the Roman-side in these books appears to be a toga wearing-version of 17th Century England. The “barbarian” side would have been worse. However, the author did make a good stab at the squalor that would result by besieging army not practicing good hygiene. Moving the venue of the story from Britain to what is now modern Romania switched things up. The archeological record for that part of the world is not as complete as it is in the UK. The reader was not provided with the series’ almost, obligatory, ancient, Briton geography lesson. I felt it harder to relate to the story with the unfamiliar Southern Carpathian territory.
A failing I see in this series that continues, is that the characters only partially act like ancients. Having read a lot of non-fiction on Roman history, I’ve come to agree that ancient men and women were quite different from modern men and women. In many cases we don’t know how they thought, because it wasn’t written down. For example, there are Roman artifacts that archeologists have no idea of what their purpose was. Goldsworthy’s characters are recognizable as moderns with an ancient veneer.
Finally, the Historical Note at the end of the book cannot be ignored. If you consider yourself an amateur Roman historian, this is a must read. Here Goldsworthy describes how he wove the historical record into the story. I found this to be the single most important chapter of the book. It showed how ‘the writer writes’.
This book only added a little more to my trove of background on 1st Century Roman history, which the series specializes in. It moves the series’ obligatory, Roman, political conspiracies, murders and warfare from Britain to the Continent. Frankly, I didn’t like the way the first of the series’ story arcs ended, and I’m not happy how this one was beginning. I was expecting a clean start. (I was actually expecting this arc to be a prequel to the Vindolandia trilogy.) This story leveraged too many of the the characters and too much backstory of the Vindolanda trilogy. As it is, the second trilogy is shaping-up to be all the plotline baggage of those first three books brought forward to a new locale with now Hadrian pulling Ferox’s strings. I also would have preferred less edged-weapon combat and the outright killing-off of legacy characters. So, history-wise this introduced a lot more of Roman military history to the reader, a bit more of ‘Life in Roman Times’, and a bit of Roman political history. Story-wise, it packed along the long-term plotlines from the previous trilogy, but with the substitution of the antagonist (the series’ original was killed). I shall see?
July 22, 2021
BLURB
From bestselling historian Adrian Goldsworthy, a profoundly authentic, action-packed adventure set on Rome's Danubian frontier.
AD 105: DACIA
The Dacian kingdom and Rome are at peace, but no one thinks that it will last. Sent to command an isolated fort beyond the Danube, centurion Flavius Ferox can sense that war is coming, but also knows that enemies may be closer to home.
Many of the Brigantes under his command are former rebels and convicts, as likely to kill him as obey an order. And then there is Hadrian, the emperor's cousin, and a man with plans of his own.
"An instant classic of the genre." HARRY SIDEBOTTOM
"An authentic, enjoyable read." THE TIMES
REVIEW
I have read a lot of Roman era historical-fiction, and I follow the works of a plethora of authors who write in that genre. So, I'm not exactly looking for 'new' authors as my 'to be read' pile is already overloaded with books written by those authors I already follow. However, because I have garnered some little notice in the blogosphere with my book reviews, I occasionally get unsolicited requests for read & reviews. Such was the case for The Fort. I was intrigued by the subject matter, and when I saw that one of my go to Roman authors stated this about The Fort, "An instant classic of the genre." , then I was convinced to do the deed. Turns out it was a good decision as The Fort is one of those books that pulls the reader in, daring them to not turn the next page. A superbly detailed account full of the historical events plumped up with some wonderful fiction. The characters are true to form, the action relentless, and a narrative that is punctuated with snappy dialogue. While the main protagonist is Flavius Ferox, to me the star of the show is his wife, a Brigantine Queen. I fell under her spell early on, kind of like Brassus (you'll understand when you read the book). Now I hate spoilers, so I'll be vague - the ending caught me a little by surprise - though it does pave the way for more tales of the Trajan/Hadrian era, and that my fellow Roman readers means I have another author to follow. 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
From bestselling historian Adrian Goldsworthy, a profoundly authentic, action-packed adventure set on Rome's Danubian frontier.
AD 105: DACIA
The Dacian kingdom and Rome are at peace, but no one thinks that it will last. Sent to command an isolated fort beyond the Danube, centurion Flavius Ferox can sense that war is coming, but also knows that enemies may be closer to home.
Many of the Brigantes under his command are former rebels and convicts, as likely to kill him as obey an order. And then there is Hadrian, the emperor's cousin, and a man with plans of his own.
"An instant classic of the genre." HARRY SIDEBOTTOM
"An authentic, enjoyable read." THE TIMES
REVIEW
I have read a lot of Roman era historical-fiction, and I follow the works of a plethora of authors who write in that genre. So, I'm not exactly looking for 'new' authors as my 'to be read' pile is already overloaded with books written by those authors I already follow. However, because I have garnered some little notice in the blogosphere with my book reviews, I occasionally get unsolicited requests for read & reviews. Such was the case for The Fort. I was intrigued by the subject matter, and when I saw that one of my go to Roman authors stated this about The Fort, "An instant classic of the genre." , then I was convinced to do the deed. Turns out it was a good decision as The Fort is one of those books that pulls the reader in, daring them to not turn the next page. A superbly detailed account full of the historical events plumped up with some wonderful fiction. The characters are true to form, the action relentless, and a narrative that is punctuated with snappy dialogue. While the main protagonist is Flavius Ferox, to me the star of the show is his wife, a Brigantine Queen. I fell under her spell early on, kind of like Brassus (you'll understand when you read the book). Now I hate spoilers, so I'll be vague - the ending caught me a little by surprise - though it does pave the way for more tales of the Trajan/Hadrian era, and that my fellow Roman readers means I have another author to follow. 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
April 15, 2022
"Hadrian was not simply a praetor, but the great-nephew of the emperor."
I'm putting this on pause, i don't know if this make sense.
Considering I'm halfway through the read, but I feel like I was not 100% enjoying it because I'm confused half of the time.
It's probably because I have yet to read Vindolanda's trilogy.
Even though it was set a few years after that last book of the series, most of the characters and history heavily depended on that series.
I thought the confusion will go away after time but it didn't.
I enjoyed the plotline, the writing style and the action.
Some scenes of fighting got quite repetitive.
Maybe I'll come back if I enjoy Vindolanda's trilogy enough.
I'm putting this on pause, i don't know if this make sense.
Considering I'm halfway through the read, but I feel like I was not 100% enjoying it because I'm confused half of the time.
It's probably because I have yet to read Vindolanda's trilogy.
Even though it was set a few years after that last book of the series, most of the characters and history heavily depended on that series.
I thought the confusion will go away after time but it didn't.
I enjoyed the plotline, the writing style and the action.
Some scenes of fighting got quite repetitive.
Maybe I'll come back if I enjoy Vindolanda's trilogy enough.
July 4, 2021
3.5* great battles and the authors knowledge on the romans is crazy in depth. I didnt finish off the previous trilogy so maybe I was missing some of the character development.
June 20, 2021
Love to read good historical fictions and from the first chapter fell in love with The Fort
by Adrian Goldsworthy. A bloody and all out action packed story set under the Roman rule, the book delivers in all areas of intrigue, war, politics, history,fiction, characters. The book has very well described the times of the Roman and the 'barbarians' along the Danubian frontier with a good mix of actual historical figures. This book is one for all those history buffs. Recommended read.
by Adrian Goldsworthy. A bloody and all out action packed story set under the Roman rule, the book delivers in all areas of intrigue, war, politics, history,fiction, characters. The book has very well described the times of the Roman and the 'barbarians' along the Danubian frontier with a good mix of actual historical figures. This book is one for all those history buffs. Recommended read.
February 7, 2022
obviously i'm in the minority here, but i lost focus SO many times while listening to this. there were so many moving parts (characters, place names, ancient roman terminology, etc.) that i'm thinking maybe the audiobook wasn't the way to go. the battle scenes were good though.
October 10, 2022
Fantastic read from start to finish
March 25, 2021
Falvius Ferox returns, this time in charge of a fort on the Dacian frontier as the 2nd Dacian War looms, with Decebalus ready to break the treaty. An ambitious Hadrian complicates matters while the besieged Romans, many of them Brigantes with their reasons for killing Ferox, do their best to inventively resist repeated assaults. The action is well-described as is the detail of the fort, Roman customs, politics and army life. The Dacians are not quite as well-realised but obviously there are far fewer sources for them as the author notes. Some personalities, particularly the wise-cracking sidekick, Vindex, and the somewhat unrealistic female characters detract a little from an involving and entertaining read. I prefer the author's excellent non-fiction but it is good to read historical fiction with an authoritative background.
(Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a review copy)
(Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a review copy)
April 22, 2023
Gritty, realistic historical fiction rich in action is usually very much my thing, but I just couldn't really get into this one. It's billed as the first book in a series, but apparantly one really ought to have read the preceding trilogy to make heads or tails of what's going on? If prior knowledge of the characters etc. is expected, that would certainly explain why I felt that I couldn't really get a grasp of any of them and in consequence didn't particularly care about their fates.
June 30, 2021
The author did an excellent job of blending fact and fiction. It was a pleasure to read.
April 12, 2022
Exciting new adventures of Flavius Ferox and the first volume of a new trilogy. He is in charge of a frontier fort near the Danube and will become involved in defending it in Trajan's second Dacian War with his small force against Dacians [in modern Romania, more or less]. It strained my credulity how the author shoehorned in Sulpicia Lepidina [of birthday letter fame in the Vindolanda tablets] from the first trilogy. The other carry-overs I had no problem with. The future emperor Hadrian is legate of the I Minervina, and he meets inspecting various detachments of his legion, one of which is at Ferox's fort. He is presented as manipulative, ruthless, as well as cunning and bad-tempered, which the author informs us in his Notes, was his personality. We know him from his interest in architecture and engineering, and of course Hadrian's Wall and as one of the "good" emperors.
A nice touch was telling the story, not only from the Roman side, but also from the Dacian side, through the actions of one of its warriors, Brasus. The novel started slowly and built up to the threefold assault on the fort and Ferox's final meeting with Hadrian, who has his own ideas about events.
A nice touch was telling the story, not only from the Roman side, but also from the Dacian side, through the actions of one of its warriors, Brasus. The novel started slowly and built up to the threefold assault on the fort and Ferox's final meeting with Hadrian, who has his own ideas about events.
November 30, 2022
4.5 Stars.
Adrian Goldsworthy is a world renowned historian of ancient Rome. He brings his vast knowledge of Rome to his historical fiction works. As a result, "The Fort" is not only a thrilling read, but also historically grounded.
"The Fort" follows Flavius Ferox to his new assignment in Dacia. War is on the horizon and Ferox is tasked with defending the fort and stopping the Dacians from reaching (and crossing) the Danube. Goldsworthy draws the reader into Ferox's world and immerses us in his valiant efforts to save the fort. We are thrust into their increasingly desperate measures and are faced with loss, betrayal, and courage. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and am looking forward to the next one in the series.
It is not necessary to have read the "Vindolanda" series first, but doing so will enrich a reader's experience. Those interested in ancient Roman history and the legions will find even greater depths of enjoyment in the tale, but anyone interested in men and women overcoming overwhelming odds with intelligence, grace, and strength will love the book, too.
Adrian Goldsworthy is a world renowned historian of ancient Rome. He brings his vast knowledge of Rome to his historical fiction works. As a result, "The Fort" is not only a thrilling read, but also historically grounded.
"The Fort" follows Flavius Ferox to his new assignment in Dacia. War is on the horizon and Ferox is tasked with defending the fort and stopping the Dacians from reaching (and crossing) the Danube. Goldsworthy draws the reader into Ferox's world and immerses us in his valiant efforts to save the fort. We are thrust into their increasingly desperate measures and are faced with loss, betrayal, and courage. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and am looking forward to the next one in the series.
It is not necessary to have read the "Vindolanda" series first, but doing so will enrich a reader's experience. Those interested in ancient Roman history and the legions will find even greater depths of enjoyment in the tale, but anyone interested in men and women overcoming overwhelming odds with intelligence, grace, and strength will love the book, too.
February 18, 2022
Murder, duplicity, heroism, battles, bloodshed, a warrior queen, barbarians, plotting and scheming - all essential ingredients of a good Roman novel, and found in abundance here - and before the enemy is even encountered!
At its heart this is a simple tale - a modest Roman force defending an inadequate fort deep in enemy territory against an overwhelmingly strong opponent. However, there are multiple subplots of scheming, plotting and political planning which make the story so intriguing. This is another really good novel by Adrian Goldsworthy and I look forward to many more.
At its heart this is a simple tale - a modest Roman force defending an inadequate fort deep in enemy territory against an overwhelmingly strong opponent. However, there are multiple subplots of scheming, plotting and political planning which make the story so intriguing. This is another really good novel by Adrian Goldsworthy and I look forward to many more.
June 6, 2023
3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ rounded up. So much about this book was good.. really good. The storyline was interesting and portrayed well the periods in war between fights, how they escalate and more. The preparation and day to day and duplicity are done especially well. However, I would have liked to see more character development.
The main character was known to me through other books by this author. If I hadn’t known of him before, it would be even more difficult to follow. As far as other characters, I didn’t feel much one way or the other for anyone else. The story felt a bit disconnected. Overall it was good but missed the mark for me as it was difficult to stay connected with the story.
The main character was known to me through other books by this author. If I hadn’t known of him before, it would be even more difficult to follow. As far as other characters, I didn’t feel much one way or the other for anyone else. The story felt a bit disconnected. Overall it was good but missed the mark for me as it was difficult to stay connected with the story.
June 3, 2024
Novela entretenida que describe la situación de un fuerte romano limítrofe, en el siglo II, y de las situaciones que deben vivir quienes se encuentran en este fuerte. Ameno relato de ficción histórica
March 26, 2024
Quickly becoming one of my favourite authors. Great story. Can’t wait to continue the series.
July 25, 2021
How Romans fought “Bavarian’s”
This is Roman history brought to life. Adrian Goldsworthy is the preeminent British Roman historian and author of the definitive book on the Roman army. He takes real events to life by using fiction to show how their army fought and died. I couldn’t put it down until I finished it.
This is Roman history brought to life. Adrian Goldsworthy is the preeminent British Roman historian and author of the definitive book on the Roman army. He takes real events to life by using fiction to show how their army fought and died. I couldn’t put it down until I finished it.
July 3, 2021
Centurion Flavius Ferox is sent to an isolated fort beyond the Danube. From the moment he arrives he has a bad feeling about things. Many of the veteran soldiers are being recalled now Ferox has arrived, and the men he has brought with him are a ragtag bunch to say the least. Some even want to kill him!
Ferox is the main focus of the tale and I loved the man. He’s the kind of solider you know will make it through..but by the skin of his teeth.. it’s not going to be an easy ride for him. His relationship with his wife also gave extra depth to the man as we see a different side to him and this leads to some very humorous moments which I loved reading.
Hadrian was another fun character.. he’s very astute and ambitious, he’s not above using men’s lives to get what he wants.
Brasus is another character who stands out, he may be one of the enemy, his task to break into the fort and slaughter..but I feel he ends up being one of the most likable characters, there’s air of respect around him.
For me it’s all about the siege..it plays a big part in the tale but is paced so perfectly you are never bored. If anything you just feel the frustration Ferox must have felt, powerless, stuck and searching for an idea to get them out of this mess!
The approach of switching perspectives helped keep the storying flowing nicely too. The testing of the siege weapons is a particular favourite of mine and there was some wonderful detail added on what methods the defenders used to repel the attackers which really had the imagination firing. If you are a fan of siege craft you’ll enjoy this one for sure!
What I really enjoyed was the relationships, the character development and the fact the author held no love for anyone, with more than one meeting their end in a gruesome way which gave it the gritty realness of war.
The author showed a real talent being able to balance the plot with historic detail, it was perfectly mixed so the flow of the story was effortless and the chapter length just right. One night I even had to force myself to bed as it was after midnight and I had work in the morning but the story just sucks you in..its always “oh one more chapter”
Ferox is the main focus of the tale and I loved the man. He’s the kind of solider you know will make it through..but by the skin of his teeth.. it’s not going to be an easy ride for him. His relationship with his wife also gave extra depth to the man as we see a different side to him and this leads to some very humorous moments which I loved reading.
Hadrian was another fun character.. he’s very astute and ambitious, he’s not above using men’s lives to get what he wants.
Brasus is another character who stands out, he may be one of the enemy, his task to break into the fort and slaughter..but I feel he ends up being one of the most likable characters, there’s air of respect around him.
For me it’s all about the siege..it plays a big part in the tale but is paced so perfectly you are never bored. If anything you just feel the frustration Ferox must have felt, powerless, stuck and searching for an idea to get them out of this mess!
The approach of switching perspectives helped keep the storying flowing nicely too. The testing of the siege weapons is a particular favourite of mine and there was some wonderful detail added on what methods the defenders used to repel the attackers which really had the imagination firing. If you are a fan of siege craft you’ll enjoy this one for sure!
What I really enjoyed was the relationships, the character development and the fact the author held no love for anyone, with more than one meeting their end in a gruesome way which gave it the gritty realness of war.
The author showed a real talent being able to balance the plot with historic detail, it was perfectly mixed so the flow of the story was effortless and the chapter length just right. One night I even had to force myself to bed as it was after midnight and I had work in the morning but the story just sucks you in..its always “oh one more chapter”
June 15, 2021
Welcome to the Dacia in the year AD 105, somewhere around the region of what we know today as Romania and Moldova, where an uneasy peace lies between the people of the Dacian Kingdom and the Roman Empire, following the Dacian War between 101 and 102 AD. Although ostensibly under Roman Rule, after Emperor Trajan's defeat of King Decebalus, unrest is on the rise, driven by rebellion in the hearts of the native population, and it seems war may be on the horizon once more.
Our story begins with Centurion Flavious Ferox arriving at the isolated fort of Piroboridava on the Danube to take command in these unsettled times. His job is made all the more difficult by the fact that his enemies not only lie outside the fort's walls, but inside as well, because the Brigantes under his control - made up former rebels and convicts - are just as likely to want him dead too, rather than accept him as their commander. If this wasn't problem enough Hadrian, the Emperor Trajan's cousin, is also on his way to Dacia to set in motion ambitious plans of his own, and Ferox is going to be right at the centre of trouble when the conflict starts.
This is a gripping story that takes you right into the midst of the height of the Roman Empire. There is quite a lot going on here and it did take me a while to get my head around quite what was going on and who was who at first (a cast of characters would have been very helpful here), especially since the story runs back and forth between events in Rome, the fort under Ferox, and the frenzied plotting of the Dacian's, as the preparations for war get underway. However, before long, I found myself completely immersed in a story full of conflict; bloodshed; detailed descriptions of the locations, landscape, and buildings; and the art and technology of warfare, at this time. But, for me, it is the story of the people that is the most interesting and the way Goldsworthy uses his background as a historian to give a real insight into the nature of Empire; the rigid social structure, and the multitude of nationalities and cultures that make up the big picture.
Not only does Goldsworthy give us the more familiar picture of life within Rome itself, with its snobbery and constant power plays between Emperor and Senate, it is the part of the story in the outposts that really matters in this book - the make up of the armies that fight side by side; the people they live amongst; and the shifting nature of allegiances. Ferox's situation, and indeed his own background, show that the Roman army was composed of all sorts of men, drawn from across the empire, and sometimes made up of units whose link to Rome was not only tenuous, but more a matter of a choice between conscription or death. It's not just a question of rank and file soldiers; but also of nationality; religion; tribal affiliation; and their comrades in arms, who might sometimes also be female; and it's not therefore, surprising that this story is full of tension and divided loyalties both within the fort and outside.
I was so impressed by the way Goldsworthy manages to really bring history alive in this thrilling tale, full of compelling characters, and although he does admit to tinkering a little with the facts in one of the best Historical Note appendices I think I might ever have read, I learned a huge amount about this era and what life looked like in this corner of the Roman Empire. I thoroughly enjoyed this first part of the new City of Victory series and cannot wait for the next instalment to meet up with some of these fabulous characters once more.
Our story begins with Centurion Flavious Ferox arriving at the isolated fort of Piroboridava on the Danube to take command in these unsettled times. His job is made all the more difficult by the fact that his enemies not only lie outside the fort's walls, but inside as well, because the Brigantes under his control - made up former rebels and convicts - are just as likely to want him dead too, rather than accept him as their commander. If this wasn't problem enough Hadrian, the Emperor Trajan's cousin, is also on his way to Dacia to set in motion ambitious plans of his own, and Ferox is going to be right at the centre of trouble when the conflict starts.
This is a gripping story that takes you right into the midst of the height of the Roman Empire. There is quite a lot going on here and it did take me a while to get my head around quite what was going on and who was who at first (a cast of characters would have been very helpful here), especially since the story runs back and forth between events in Rome, the fort under Ferox, and the frenzied plotting of the Dacian's, as the preparations for war get underway. However, before long, I found myself completely immersed in a story full of conflict; bloodshed; detailed descriptions of the locations, landscape, and buildings; and the art and technology of warfare, at this time. But, for me, it is the story of the people that is the most interesting and the way Goldsworthy uses his background as a historian to give a real insight into the nature of Empire; the rigid social structure, and the multitude of nationalities and cultures that make up the big picture.
Not only does Goldsworthy give us the more familiar picture of life within Rome itself, with its snobbery and constant power plays between Emperor and Senate, it is the part of the story in the outposts that really matters in this book - the make up of the armies that fight side by side; the people they live amongst; and the shifting nature of allegiances. Ferox's situation, and indeed his own background, show that the Roman army was composed of all sorts of men, drawn from across the empire, and sometimes made up of units whose link to Rome was not only tenuous, but more a matter of a choice between conscription or death. It's not just a question of rank and file soldiers; but also of nationality; religion; tribal affiliation; and their comrades in arms, who might sometimes also be female; and it's not therefore, surprising that this story is full of tension and divided loyalties both within the fort and outside.
I was so impressed by the way Goldsworthy manages to really bring history alive in this thrilling tale, full of compelling characters, and although he does admit to tinkering a little with the facts in one of the best Historical Note appendices I think I might ever have read, I learned a huge amount about this era and what life looked like in this corner of the Roman Empire. I thoroughly enjoyed this first part of the new City of Victory series and cannot wait for the next instalment to meet up with some of these fabulous characters once more.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews