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War on Rome #1
Arminius, Bane of Eagles
Adrian Cole is one of the most talented and prolific writers working in the field of fantasy adventure fiction today. This fall DMR Books will unveil the first installment of his most ambitious project to date, the War on Rome trilogy. Set in an alternative Romano-Celtic Europe, Arminius, Bane of Eagles opens with the murder of young Claudius, 14 year old brother of Germanicus, during the last years of the reign of Augustus Caesar, ruler of the vast Roman Empire.
In this world, Arminius, the Germanic tribal leader and destroyer of three entire Roman legions in the Teutoburger forest, and Germanicus, ambitious Roman conqueror and potential heir to the Empire, avoid assassination attempts and set out on a course that will eventually see them clash in a war that will shake the foundations of their world.
Arminius, Bane of Eagles will be released in September 2022. It will appear not just in trade paperback and digital editions, but hardcover as well—a first for DMR Books! The cover artwork was created by Brian LeBlanc.
DMR will publish the following volumes in the trilogy, Germanicus, Lord of Eagles and Boudica, the Savage Queen, in the near future.
In this world, Arminius, the Germanic tribal leader and destroyer of three entire Roman legions in the Teutoburger forest, and Germanicus, ambitious Roman conqueror and potential heir to the Empire, avoid assassination attempts and set out on a course that will eventually see them clash in a war that will shake the foundations of their world.
Arminius, Bane of Eagles will be released in September 2022. It will appear not just in trade paperback and digital editions, but hardcover as well—a first for DMR Books! The cover artwork was created by Brian LeBlanc.
DMR will publish the following volumes in the trilogy, Germanicus, Lord of Eagles and Boudica, the Savage Queen, in the near future.
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First published September 3, 2022
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42 people want to read
About the author
Adrian Cole
268 books31 followersAdrian Cole was born in Plymouth, Devonshire in 1949. He is currently the Director of College Resources in a large secondary school in Bideford, where he now lives with his wife, Judy, son Sam, and daughter Katia. He remains best known for his Dream Lords trilogy as well as his young adult novels, Moorstones and The Sleep of Giants.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 1, 2022
“The dreaming land is waking, the bear shakes off his winter’s torpor. Let patience rule you and let the way be cautious and slow. A day will open to you when you will know your course as surely as the sun crosses the sky.”
From the east comes an invader promising much but requiring much more in return. Few welcome the Romans whole-heartedly. Many only provide lip service. Singly the tribes cannot stand against Rome. Some accept the yoke in return for self-rule. Turning friends into enemies, and dividing families. One leader of men capitulates sending both of his sons to Rome to train as soldiers. The eldest son is given a secret mission by his father: learn all you can from Rome--especially her weaknesses.
Sigimund becomes Arminius, a Roman citizen. He rises like cream in the armed forces. He is exceedingly gifted in the art of war and languages. To all outward appearances Arminius has become an exemplary Roman convert, but within he waits for the day to bring Rome to her knees and free his people.
"Rome has cost me my father and mother, Rome has poisoned my brother, Rome has taken away my wife and son. Rome has poured its bitter brew of anger into me. The witch asked me how far I would go to serve Donar. I will answer her. I will show Rome the far shores of my retribution."
Instantly engaging. A first-rate tale. Ample amounts of blood and thunder. Many of the scenes are cinematic in scope and delivery. I could totally see this as television series. Cole does not get bogged down in the minutiae of the period. The story unfolds quickly keeping the reader engaged. A must read for fans of sword & sorcery! I dare say an instant classic. If you read nothing else from DMR Books this year, let it be this book!
From the east comes an invader promising much but requiring much more in return. Few welcome the Romans whole-heartedly. Many only provide lip service. Singly the tribes cannot stand against Rome. Some accept the yoke in return for self-rule. Turning friends into enemies, and dividing families. One leader of men capitulates sending both of his sons to Rome to train as soldiers. The eldest son is given a secret mission by his father: learn all you can from Rome--especially her weaknesses.
Sigimund becomes Arminius, a Roman citizen. He rises like cream in the armed forces. He is exceedingly gifted in the art of war and languages. To all outward appearances Arminius has become an exemplary Roman convert, but within he waits for the day to bring Rome to her knees and free his people.
"Rome has cost me my father and mother, Rome has poisoned my brother, Rome has taken away my wife and son. Rome has poured its bitter brew of anger into me. The witch asked me how far I would go to serve Donar. I will answer her. I will show Rome the far shores of my retribution."
Instantly engaging. A first-rate tale. Ample amounts of blood and thunder. Many of the scenes are cinematic in scope and delivery. I could totally see this as television series. Cole does not get bogged down in the minutiae of the period. The story unfolds quickly keeping the reader engaged. A must read for fans of sword & sorcery! I dare say an instant classic. If you read nothing else from DMR Books this year, let it be this book!
September 4, 2022
The only reason I gave this book a 5 star was there was no higher rating. It was beautifully written filled with historical detail and a growing sorcery that made it come alive. The novels characters were created with passion and honor that made the reader understand their actions. The action line consisting of realistic battles and nail biting intrigue enough for 2 books. I believe fantasy fans will love this book and readers of historical novels will find the writing to be of the caliber of the best historical authors. The story was more then something to read it was to dream of a past that wasn't but should of been. Lastly I believe this trilogy will become a classic for years to come. I was lucky enough to receive a early copy and have excitedly waiting to leave a review.
September 6, 2022
Arminus: Bane of Eagles by Adrian Cole is the first in a trilogy. Mr. Cole takes the legend of the real life Arminus and blends it with elements of subtle sorcery. His take is an epic alternative historical adventure that will satisfy history buffs, sword & sorcery enthusiasts and perhaps even fans of epic fantasy. Even if none of those genres are your bag, but you are a fan of rip-roaring adventure with fantastic battle scenes, then this book is for you.
It is a fast-paced adventure yarn with betrayals, dark subtle sorcery (some of which is chilling). It is a yarn about honor and revenge. It is well written. Best yet: there are two more books coming that I look forward to.
Adrian Cole is not a new author. He is known mostly for his Dream Lords trilogy and has a good list of works published. I became aware of him in the past two years through various sword & sorcery magazines and publications. He first hit my radar because he took up the mantle of writing the further adventures of Henry Kuttner’s “Elak” series. Over the past two years, I have encountered Mr. Cole in various anthologies and magazines dedicated to the resurgence of sword & sorcery as a genre. His name has become a benchmark for me. If I see him in the table of contents, then I know Magazine X or Anthology Y has The Stuff.
What is The Stuff? In short, sword and sorcery or whatever one wishes to call it. There is a debate there, and some do not even want a genre label, or they wish for a new genre label; I do not enter into those debates. I do know what I like. S&S might be hard to define, but when it journeys from the end of your fork to your taste buds and you slowly sample the ingredients, you know if it has The Stuff. Some ingredients might be added too heavy, or missing, but overall, it either does or does not have The Stuff. Arminus: Bane of Eagles has The Stuff.
Allow me to climb up on my soap-box: if, like me, just a few short years ago you were browsing the shelves, real or virtual, and wishing upon a midnight star to discover a trove of tales in the vein of sword & sorcery writers of the day (name drop: Robert E. Howard, Fritz Leiber, Michael Moorcock, C.L. Moore), then rejoice! DMR books delivers The Stuff!
That is great news; however, if the fans of the genre wish to see the number of NEW quality selections continue to multiply upon the shelves, then you must do three things:
1. Purchase books such as this
2. Read them
3. Spread the word and let others know (this last one is uber-important)
I capitalized NEW for a good reason. I too enjoy reading and re-reading my Howard, Leiber, Moore, amongst many other classics; however, I hunger to see the genre stay alive and grow. My contribution is I do those three things I wrote of, and good news, they are a reward onto themselves. To ensure that publishes like DMR and magazines continue to grant a steady diet of The Stuff, they need your support.
In summary: if you enjoy alternative fiction in the vein of sword & sorcery then buy this book, read this book, tell others how great it is.
It is a fast-paced adventure yarn with betrayals, dark subtle sorcery (some of which is chilling). It is a yarn about honor and revenge. It is well written. Best yet: there are two more books coming that I look forward to.
Adrian Cole is not a new author. He is known mostly for his Dream Lords trilogy and has a good list of works published. I became aware of him in the past two years through various sword & sorcery magazines and publications. He first hit my radar because he took up the mantle of writing the further adventures of Henry Kuttner’s “Elak” series. Over the past two years, I have encountered Mr. Cole in various anthologies and magazines dedicated to the resurgence of sword & sorcery as a genre. His name has become a benchmark for me. If I see him in the table of contents, then I know Magazine X or Anthology Y has The Stuff.
What is The Stuff? In short, sword and sorcery or whatever one wishes to call it. There is a debate there, and some do not even want a genre label, or they wish for a new genre label; I do not enter into those debates. I do know what I like. S&S might be hard to define, but when it journeys from the end of your fork to your taste buds and you slowly sample the ingredients, you know if it has The Stuff. Some ingredients might be added too heavy, or missing, but overall, it either does or does not have The Stuff. Arminus: Bane of Eagles has The Stuff.
Allow me to climb up on my soap-box: if, like me, just a few short years ago you were browsing the shelves, real or virtual, and wishing upon a midnight star to discover a trove of tales in the vein of sword & sorcery writers of the day (name drop: Robert E. Howard, Fritz Leiber, Michael Moorcock, C.L. Moore), then rejoice! DMR books delivers The Stuff!
That is great news; however, if the fans of the genre wish to see the number of NEW quality selections continue to multiply upon the shelves, then you must do three things:
1. Purchase books such as this
2. Read them
3. Spread the word and let others know (this last one is uber-important)
I capitalized NEW for a good reason. I too enjoy reading and re-reading my Howard, Leiber, Moore, amongst many other classics; however, I hunger to see the genre stay alive and grow. My contribution is I do those three things I wrote of, and good news, they are a reward onto themselves. To ensure that publishes like DMR and magazines continue to grant a steady diet of The Stuff, they need your support.
In summary: if you enjoy alternative fiction in the vein of sword & sorcery then buy this book, read this book, tell others how great it is.
August 30, 2022
Review of ;
WAR ON ROME: BOOK ONE
ARMINIUS, BANE OF EAGLES
By Adrian Cole
Arminius, Bane of Eagles is alternative historical adventure, with some fantastical elements added to make it Historical Sword and Sorcery. It is very closely based on the historical Arminius, who led a coalition of Germanic tribes against Rome in autumn of 9 A.D. and handed them one of the most devastating defeats in the history of the Roman Empire by destroying three entire Legions. That in itself would make an epic tale, but by bending history and reshaping it into something a little bit different, Cole makes this tale so much more.
We get to see Arminius from a different perspective, see how he grows and changes from a young man, son of a Germanic chief allied with Rome, who soon learns the ways of Rome by serving in the Roman army. Arminius detests the way Rome controls the tribes of Germania, and he secretly begins to bring the unorganized tribes together to rise up against the Empire.
All of this is historical fact, but with the changes introduced by the author, and the subtle addition of fantasy and magic, it becomes a different, fantastic adventure yarn. Legend and Myth come alive, the Gods seem real, and may even have an influence on events.
One of my favourite aspects of this book are the blood and thunder scenes; the many battles and skirmishes described by Mr. Cole are are truly excellent. There is no shortage of swords, axes and spears applied in liberal doses of bloody, bone crunching combat sequences. Oh, there is plenty of political subterfuge and underhanded maneuvering going on, but for me it’s all about the thunder and roar of bloody combat.
All in all, a fantastic novel for fantasy readers or fans of historical adventure. Oh, and that final line at the end of the book? Nicely played Mr. Cole!
WAR ON ROME: BOOK ONE
ARMINIUS, BANE OF EAGLES
By Adrian Cole
Arminius, Bane of Eagles is alternative historical adventure, with some fantastical elements added to make it Historical Sword and Sorcery. It is very closely based on the historical Arminius, who led a coalition of Germanic tribes against Rome in autumn of 9 A.D. and handed them one of the most devastating defeats in the history of the Roman Empire by destroying three entire Legions. That in itself would make an epic tale, but by bending history and reshaping it into something a little bit different, Cole makes this tale so much more.
We get to see Arminius from a different perspective, see how he grows and changes from a young man, son of a Germanic chief allied with Rome, who soon learns the ways of Rome by serving in the Roman army. Arminius detests the way Rome controls the tribes of Germania, and he secretly begins to bring the unorganized tribes together to rise up against the Empire.
All of this is historical fact, but with the changes introduced by the author, and the subtle addition of fantasy and magic, it becomes a different, fantastic adventure yarn. Legend and Myth come alive, the Gods seem real, and may even have an influence on events.
One of my favourite aspects of this book are the blood and thunder scenes; the many battles and skirmishes described by Mr. Cole are are truly excellent. There is no shortage of swords, axes and spears applied in liberal doses of bloody, bone crunching combat sequences. Oh, there is plenty of political subterfuge and underhanded maneuvering going on, but for me it’s all about the thunder and roar of bloody combat.
All in all, a fantastic novel for fantasy readers or fans of historical adventure. Oh, and that final line at the end of the book? Nicely played Mr. Cole!
November 3, 2025
Sigimund is a Cerusci barbarian, collectively called(by Rome) Germania with the different tribes of the land. He joins the ranks of Roman legion to learn their ways, and tear them down from within. But his taking to their history and culture shows that he sees why his people are barbarians compared to Rome. He must wonder if his role of murderous warrior is what Rome trained him for, or what he inherited from his own people, and Rome's absorption of Germanic gods shows their cleverness, as well as their lack of true faith. His own inner struggle is not shown with his unmatched prowess nor his advancement among the elite, but within his flustered thoughts at a grown woman exciting his every nerve. Been there. Live there. In a land like Teutoburg Forest, where there are more spirits than men, more superstition than even the pantheons of Rome, the souls of man and woman enflame the cosmos more than the status of emperors. "But this is war against an uncompromising enemy. There was no darkness and light." Sigimund is a man that becomes larger than life, and among a prideful people, there is no room for a god, among a conquering empire, there is no room for a hero.
Adrian's epic is enthralling through and through. Under scrutiny, you could say that there are no moral characters due to actions they take but you would be hard-pressed not to cheer for a specific man and woman who even slaughter the children of their enemies' followers. There is much darkness at play, but it's not so black-and-white as to pinpoint what is evil and what is righteous. Rome is both, the Cherusci are both. When the people under Sigimund experience his powers, they see he has tapped into darkness beyond but when Sigimund calls upon his god, we see a man sacrifice much with no apparent darkness in his heart. Honestly, both sides of the conflict seem to be extremes of each other from different worlds, with characters to relate to from within.
Adrian's epic is enthralling through and through. Under scrutiny, you could say that there are no moral characters due to actions they take but you would be hard-pressed not to cheer for a specific man and woman who even slaughter the children of their enemies' followers. There is much darkness at play, but it's not so black-and-white as to pinpoint what is evil and what is righteous. Rome is both, the Cherusci are both. When the people under Sigimund experience his powers, they see he has tapped into darkness beyond but when Sigimund calls upon his god, we see a man sacrifice much with no apparent darkness in his heart. Honestly, both sides of the conflict seem to be extremes of each other from different worlds, with characters to relate to from within.
December 2, 2022
This was really phenomenal. One of the best books DMR has published. It’s a complex mixture, one part historical fiction, albeit alternative history, one part sword and sorcery and a final part comprised of epic fantasy. It’s phenomenally written. The prologue has incredible vibes and atmosphere that just hooks you. This smoky flavor carries forward into much of the Germanic country side and the overarching story as the more fantastical elements slowly build in the background. Much of the first half of the book reminds me of Dune with all the political maneuvering, battles, and inner monologues. The story is dark and brutal without being trite and grimdark. You get a real sense of savagery to the ancient world but you also get heroism.
It’s not without its flaws. Do to the span of years the book covers a few moments in the 3rd act felt a bit like a montage. The final act had a few contrived moments but none of this takes away from how phenomenal this novel is. It would make a heck of a movie. It has enough in it to draw in disparate tastes. If you like sword and sorcery, you’ll like this, if you like historical fiction, you’ll like this, if you like epic fantasy and the political machinations of kingdoms at war, you’ll like this.
Just a great book. Looking forward to part 2 & 3!!!
It’s not without its flaws. Do to the span of years the book covers a few moments in the 3rd act felt a bit like a montage. The final act had a few contrived moments but none of this takes away from how phenomenal this novel is. It would make a heck of a movie. It has enough in it to draw in disparate tastes. If you like sword and sorcery, you’ll like this, if you like historical fiction, you’ll like this, if you like epic fantasy and the political machinations of kingdoms at war, you’ll like this.
Just a great book. Looking forward to part 2 & 3!!!
June 19, 2025
This was an excellent alternate history novel with plenty of action, intrigue, treachery, battles, sorcery, etc. I really enjoyed the development of Arminius as the protagonist. Cole wove a tapestry of historical people and events into an alternate, almost sword and sorcery setting of Germania and, in the end, Britania. Excellent! Highly Recommend.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews