Arrows of Fury

Empire #2

by Anthony Riches

The thrilling sequel to  Wounds of Honour  continues this action-packed series set in Roman Britain—fascinatingly authentic stories about the army from the point of view of the Roman soldier  The Battle of the Lost Eagle saved Hadrian's Wall, but the new Roman governor of Britannia must stamp out the rebellion of the northern tribes or risk losing the province. Rampaging south with sword and flame under the command of their murderous chieftain Calgus, they have stretched his forces to the limit. For Marcus—now simply Centurion Corvus of the 1st Tungrian cohort—the campaign has become doubly dangerous. As reinforcements flood into Britannia he is surrounded by new officers with no reason to protect him from the emperor's henchmen. Death could result from a careless word as easily as from an enemy spear. Worse, one of them is close on his heels—while Marcus is training two centuries of Syrian archers to survive a barbarian charge and then take the fight back to their enemy, the new prefect of the 2nd Tungrians has discovered his secret. Only a miracle can save Marcus and the men who protect him from disgrace and death.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Roman, War, Audiobook, Military Fiction

352 pages, Paperback

First published May 27, 2010

About the author

Anthony Riches began his lifelong interest in war and soldiers when he first heard his father's stories about World War II. This led to a degree in Military Studies at Manchester University. He began writing the story that would become Wounds of Honour after a visit to Housesteads in 1996. He lives in Hertfordshire with his wife and three children.

Reviews

[Ming Wei · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story highlights the multiple dangers for soldiers within the Roman Army, the consistent dangers of the enemy, plus the consistent dangers within the Roman Army itself, speaking the wrong words can get you into allot of trouble, you would think in a time of war, every soldier etc would stand together in one common cause, this book higlights the back stabbing and devious nature embedded deep into the Roman Army's foundsation and structure. A very good, well detailed, well thoughtout story line, based at the edge of the Roman Empires reach across its Empire realm. Really enjoyed it, very much, no editorial errors. The write developes some good characters throughout the book.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great sequel!!

It's decidedly more violent, and it has a more serious tone, than Wounds of Honour. There is quite a bit of action, too, in this one as compared to the first book, and the battle between the river and the wall was particularly well written. Marcus' Assyrian archers were a great addition to the cohort, although they didn't appear as if they'd survive in the auxiliaries!

One thing that was quite the bummer: the death of Antenoch. He had really grown on me.

The characterization is still excellent, and I have come to genuinely care about these characters. I have already purchased the third book.

[Terrible Reviewer · Rating 3 out of 5]

"This series speeds past Conn Iggulden - well researched with ninja-style action (I never said that part was a good thing)"

A while ago I watched the second series of Spartacus. You know the one that seems to like a lot of blood, short on story, big on cock jokes? I got past that due to the passable action and brilliant Andy Whitfield. By the second season there was a new lead Spartcus, the action had gone from being half decent to ninja-style jumping around, with a lot more shouting and slow-mo grunting. This brings me to my point (finally) - Centurion Corvus, also known as 'Two Knives' for his fighting style (he uses two swords - one spartha and one gladius). Now, here is the problem. As a Centurion it's hard to believe he would set a standard beyond the well known Roman generalised operating procedure, regardless how good he was. His First Spear would have his guts-for-garters. Running off from the ranks and fighting Rambo style just isn't cutting it for me. Having said that, it's a work of fiction, so I need to give it some leeway. The problem was it just reminded of that first episode of season two that I mentioned - which I switched off after twenty minutes.

Anyway, so the second book in Anthony Riches Empire series is set once again at the northern frontier where the Legions garrison Hadrian's Walls. Calgus, a Briton chieftain, is once again forming the fractured clans into a warband, new alliances are formed where he then threatens the outnumbered Romans once again. Centurion Corvus is still trying to hide his identity from those loyal to Emperor Commodus - not very successfully given his heroics with the 1st Tungarian Auxiliaries.

A new Prefect has been appointed to both the 1st and 2nd Tungarians. Prefect Furious (Prefect of the 2nd) is onto the scent of Corvus real identity. Unfortunately for me, Furious reminded me of Tribune Perennis from Wounds of Honour. I really didn't see much difference between the characters. Another problem was incidences that were occuring mirrored Wounds of Honour almost to the letter. The fact that Centurion Corvus stumbled upon Calgus's warband while on patrol with the Eighth Century happened exactly the same as the first book, almost in the same location, which to me, was disappointing.

What does make Arrows of Fury standout is the use of Hamian archers. Instead of those big old Germanian Tungarians, Frontinius, Dubnus and Corvus are lumped with one hundred and sixty replacements of questionable ability when it comes to standing up to those 'blue-nose bastards'. What they lack in close quarter ability, the Hamians make up for with their bows. I found Qaidar (the leader of the Hamians) to be a really interesting character, given the standard Roman and Briton persona - that being 'get-the-fuck-stuck-in' mentality, it gave some balance to the meatheads, so to speak. Marto is another new character, without spoiling the story, he finds himself fighting along with Corvus and Dubnus. A slightly flawed individual to say the least, his is a 'I messed up, but I'll put it right' story.

I could go on, Arrows of Fury really goes into the machinations of everyday life when serving with the Roman army. Eat you're porridge, clean the latrines and fucking stand up straight when I'm talking to you - kind of thing. Another interesting nugget in Anthony Riches writing is his focus of medical treatment within the Roman army.

In my previous review of Wounds of Honour I went into the whole, 'swearing in the ancient world rant'. As I said, it's there, there is evidence of swearing and insults within both Ancient Greek and Latin languages. It's also here in Anthony Riches books. It's a part of life and would have been then as well.

Soranus and Galen are two of the more well known physicians of the period, and Mr Riches isn't shy in sharing his knowledge when it comes to Galen's own works - given the fun he had dissecting bodies. Felicia, now 6th Legions physician (and Corvus's 'bit-on-the-side') is used to reveal this to the reader. Excellent stuff.

So why have I given Arrows of Fury three stars? Mainly because I found the first two hundred pages to alike to the first novel. It's not bad, it's just... a good read. Can't really say much more about it other than I've mentioned above. Oh, the death of a certain individual is funny at the end! Gives a new meaning to a 'red-hot-poker' haha.

[Clemens Schoonderwoert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book in 2013, and its the 2nd volume of the marvellous "Empire" series.

This tale is set in AD 181, and Marcus Valerius Aquila, but now known as Corvus because of dealing in the past, finds himself in and around Hadrian's Wall within his unit of the 1st Tungrian Cohort.

A new Roman Governor has come to stamp out the rebellion from the tribes of the North.

Coming down from the North with sword and flame is the Chieftain, Calgus, and his men in an attempt to wipe out the Romans from Hadrian's wall.

With the new Roman Governor come new reinforcements, and these reinforcements contain men who are sent to kill Corvus on the instruction of the mad Emperor Commodus.

Corvus's life is in real danger, not only from the hordes of the North with Calgus, but maybe even more so from the Prefect of the 2nd Tungrians, because this man has discovered Corvus's secret.

Marcus Valerius Aquila, or now Corvus, can only be saved by a miracle and with the help from the men who will always protect him from disgrace and death, and that will happen with courage, strength, fire and sword.

What is to follow is another magnificent Roman adventure set near Hadrian's Wall, and that is told by the author in his own authentic and brilliant fashion.

Highly recommended, for this is another superb addition to this amazing series, and that's why i like to call this episode: "A Fantastic Corvus Sequel"!

[Peter Leslie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is the second novel in a series of stories about characters in 2nd century Roman Britain. It mostly concerns the Roman military’s fight against tribes north of Hadrian’s wall. The first novel in the series was fun, not terribly well written but fun just the same until near the end when a couple of the characters use modern homophobic gay slurs to denigrate enemy tribesmen. I assumed this was a one off but the second volume, this book, did it so much I had to put it aside. I won’t be finishing it. I don’t need to see modern homophobia in a piece of historic fiction where it is not historically valid and serves no literary purpose. And I would appreciate a warning so I could avoid buying the book in the first place.

[Mars · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wenn man auf reine Kampfhandlungen und Action steht, vermag das Buch sehr zu unterhalten. Mir sind hier jedoch die Charaktere viel zu kurz gekommen. Marcus bester Freund Dubnus verkommt, sehr zu meinem Bedauern, zur absoluten Nebenfigur (wie auch sein "Mentor" Rufius). Charakterentwicklung bei Marcus und seinen Kameraden geht gegen Null. Die Liebesgeschichte zwischen Marcus und Clodia geht zum Kopfschütteln weiter. Nach ihrer ersten gemeinsamen Nacht sehen sie sich lange nicht, dann unterhalten sie sich für ein paar Minuten, sehen sich wieder ewig nicht und und dann, nach einer zweiten gemeinsamen Nacht, wollen sie heiraten. Diese Hochzeit findet völlig im off statt. Niemand gratuliert ihm, keiner teilt seine Gedanken dazu mit (außer ein paar Frotzeleien). Marcus Frau wird beinahe vergewaltigt und Marcus sagt nicht ein Wort zu ihr und auch später wird das Thema zwischen den beiden nicht wieder aufgegriffen. Die tiefen Kameradschaften und Freundschaften belaufen sich höchstens auf "Es tut gut Dich wiederzusehen, alter Freund", hier findet auch nicht wirklich eine Entwicklung statt. Marcus wahre Identität, die nach wie vor geheim gehalten werden muss, wird in meinen Augen viel zu gezwungen und gekünstelt immer wieder ins Gespräch gebracht. Der große sadistisch Gegenspieler, der zu Beginn groß eingeführt wird, verpufft ganz einfach gegen Ende des Buches. Auch in diesem Buch läuft bei Marcus einfach alles zu einfach und zu glatt.

[S.J.A. Turney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've waited until I finished the third book in this series before posting a review of any of them, and for a particular reason. Most of the historical series I've read consist of a new separate story with each book, often defined by a narrator's pause or some such device. Most series are different stories with different themes that build a series.

Wile clearly part of a series, Tony's first three Empire books are different. To me they follow on so closely and seamlessly that the series so far could easily be seen as one huge story spread over three books with appropriate pauses between releases. The stories are readable independently, for sure, but the best will be got from them by reading them one after the other. Quite simply, you can't read one book of this series without wanting to go on with the story. In order to get the best from the story, you need to read them all, and for the best possible results, I would suggest back-to-back.

A second thing that I would say that concerns each of Tony's works is what I consider his greatest strength as an author: The gritty military reality of his tale-telling. I have spent some time in my life, in a civilian situation but alongside men of military units, and there is something so authentic about Tony's characterisation that it felt truly familiar and real. You will find it hard to disbelieve anything about Tony's depiction of the legions, auxiliary troopers, the cavalry, their structure, style, attitude and actions. While no one can confirm exactly how soldiers then spoke and acted, it's hard to believe they were any different from the modern military and Tony has made these ancient soldiers understandable and relevant to the modern reader.

I feel that it is better for me to review the series as a whole, which I have given an appropriate 5 stars of 5, and then add a short section on the individual novel. I find it almost impossible to put down Tony's books and eagerly await the Leopard Sword to see what new direction the series might take.

Book Two

Arrows of fury follows up perfectly from Wounds of honour, and takes the action to a new level, concentrating more this time on the war that was the impetus and background of the first book, the Tribal leader who has become the great antagonist of the Empire series and the campaigns of great leaders (and occasionally of chinless idiots.)

Alongside this great military campaign, we experience the machinations of wicked and stupid men and best of all heroics from the most unexpected quarters. The Hamian unit that are the reason for the book's name simply blew me away and made me reassess the importance of missile troops in the Roman military. I have come to love Qadir as a character. Arrows of fury doesn't just follow on from Wounds of Honour, but builds on it, introducing wonderful new characters and elements.

[Doros Lesesofa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sehr gute Unterhaltung!
Ich mag den rasanten Schreibstil!

[Ron · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘I’ve lived with the prospect of an unjust death … for several months now. It’s hard to stay scared for that long.’

Intense second-century Roman war story. Excellent melding of history and plot. Almost non-stop fighting. Marcus is typical too-good-to-be-true hero. Graphic novel portrayal of most characters. Romans and Britons talk like modern English soldiers.

‘Let me guarantee you, it’s going to get worse. Today we march to war.’

Be warned. High level of violence, even discounting the language, rape, etc. Most of the carnage is described in slow motion, like a ninja action movie with sprays of blood and body parts. Odd that the otherwise welcome map does not include everywhere the story transpires.

‘They’ll shoot well enough, but the rest of the picture’s just one broken tile after another.’

Quibbles: The usual war story fantasies: almost non-stop combat but never run out of arrows, food, water, etc. (Henry V took millions of arrows to Agincourt.) Accuracy described is not possible with lowest-bidder arrows. Gathering spent arrows should have been practiced rather than proscribed. Horses and men heal overnight. ‘I would have expected a nought on the end of our side of that tally.’ Neither noughts nor powers of ten in Roman numbers.

‘[Redacted] and I? I seem to recall that all you did was wave your sword about while I had to throw myself around like a fortress whore on payday.’

Series overview: Hardcore historical fiction told with modern English military idioms and profanity. Second-century Roman empire provides rich background of war, intrigue, and unrest to propel too-good-to-be-true protagonist to adventure. Roman grunts spoke Latin, but not that learned in school. (The whole series loses one star for profanity and violence. You’ve been warned.) Compare to Ellis Peters’ Chronicles of Cadfael A Morbid Taste for Bones or Bernard Cornwell’s Sharp series. Though episodic, best read in order.

[Speesh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to, thanks (?) to an eye infection, ‘read’ this with Audible. And very glad I was too. What top notch entertainment it is! So good in fact, I’ve had it read to me twice inside a month - and enjoyed every single Roman minute of it.

We’re back in AD 182, in Roman Britain, in the Roman Legions, at the northern edge of the province of Britannia, in what I suppose could be called no man’s land, between Hadrian’s and the Antonine Wall(s). Not the ideal place to be if you’re a Tungrian Legionarry from Tungria, but most definitely the place to be if you’re a reader after entertainment, enjoyment and excitement. Why not the ideal place to be if you’re a Legionary? Mainly because the people who do want to be there, the thousands of blue-painted local tribes, don’t want you there. And are about to set about removing you. Forcibly. But at least the Tungrians have been there a while, they almost know what to expect and from where to expect it. What then the new arrivals from warmer climes, the detachment of archers (the dealers of those furious arrows?) from Syria - how must they be feeling, strangers in a decidedly strange land?

I would describe 'Arrows of Fury' as taking place very close to the action. It doesn’t mess about and try and cut away, back and forth trying to control a confusing multitude of story threads, in multiple locations and have characters speculating the whole time on what may or may not be happening and to whom, in those other locations. This takes you right to the heart of where the story - and action - is. The sights, the smells, the living and the dying. This is straight ahead storytelling. Drops you in it and gets on with it. However, being a story about Rome and Romans, tension and treachery are, inevitably, never that far from the surface. On either side of the Wall. The Romans may - or may not, depending on which of the Centurians you talk to - have a fugitive from Imperial justice, a traitor to some, amongst their number. Can he be found, can he be kept secret? The native tribes are trying to build up their strength to send the Romans packing, but are led by a man seemingly as intent on removing tribal leaders he sees as rivals, as he is the Romans. Perhaps the interesting difference with 'Arrows of Fury' (and presumably the others in the series I have, but have yet to read) is that the tension is actually created in the form of screaming multitudes of barbarians arriving out of the mist before you’ve had your breakfast. A much more ‘honest’ tension, I feel, than that created by multi-faceted power struggles in the Senate. Just me?

It’s a ‘strong' story. No doubt about that. Strong characters and - understandably (unless you’re one of the delicate ladies who lunch, of the various 'Historical Fiction’ groups on Goodreads who can’t understand) - strong language. Unless you’re gonna go to your grave deluding yourself that Historical Fiction is heaving bodices and essentially ‘Murder She Wrote’ set several hundred years ago, then you’re gonna understand one thing about this type of Historical Fiction. We (those of us reading this now) read in English. We want to read a book set in Roman times. They spoke Latin. We (unless we’re related to Harry Sidebottom) can’t understand Latin. So the people doing the walking the talking the fighting and the speaking, have to converse in English in the story we’re reading. 'Arrows of Fury’ wouldn’t sell many copies (outside of Oxford) if it was written in Latin. So what is happening, is Anthony is writing, in English, in the manner of the Romans. Consider it a kind of translation. Now, we’re dealing with soldiers here. Apart from the Officer, the Equine class I think were the top of the Roman heap, they aren’t going to be all that well educated. And anyway, let’s face it, when down to your last half dozen comrades, with your backs to the burning stockade, with several hundred half-naked, hairy, screaming for blood, painted blue warriors about six paces away, axes red with your friend’s blood about to come down on your head, an ‘oh dear me, we’re in trouble here’, just ain’t gonna cut it. Is it? It is if you read the really childishly naive comments irritating the fuck out of me in several discussions there, but not if we’re dealing with the Roman soldiers on the frontiers of the Empire in Northern Britain in AD 182 in Anthony Riches’ books. Deal with it.

Personally, I’m not gonna argue the toss about wether a Roman soldier would have exclaimed (the Latin equivalent of) ‘fuck me sideways’. I know I would have said that or its Latin equivalent) were I a Roman soldier faced with hoary hoards of blue-painted animals in human guise descending at a great pace upon me, so I’m cool.

'Arrows of Fury' is a gripping story (mostly around the throat) that builds on the previous book - 'Wounds of Honour’ - the first In Anthony Riches’ Empire series, pretty seamlessly. A down and dirty tale of life on the front line, life on the edge at the edge of the Roman Empire. We know the characters, we know the time and the location, we know they’re going to have to get out of tight spots, we just don’t know how. Still, we’re not alone in that… There are (so far) seven books in the Empire series and it would seem like Anthony Riches has hit on a reasonably simple formula. Tell it like it is. Or was.

[Beorn · Rating 3 out of 5]

An archetypal example of the middle part of a trilogy in that it is strong. solid mainbrace that keeps the series alive but with relatively little standout frills.
That's not to say that it's poorly written, far from it. It's a detailed, engaging and rip-roaring read. There are a few bug bears - such as Scaurus and Furius are referred to as Prefects until around midway through the book when it inexplicably refers to them as Tribunes, the next rank up, before then having them call each other prefect all within a few pages for no discernible reason - but those blemishes are very much in the minority overall.

The premise of the threat of Marcus' true identity being revealed isn't as ominous or foreboding as in the first book, especially when the main antagonists soon either meet sticky ends or just change their minds.
Bonus points for Furius' manner of departure!

Best read as part of a trilogy and not as a standalone book as the previous installment is better suited to that. The closing part of the trilogy (discounting the fourth book which isn't set in Britannia) should at least be big, bloody and with a bang!

[D.w. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whilst I think the hero of this series has too much invulnerability, much like a comic book superhero, the tale itself, with the background it is set in, is worthwhile, and reads fast. A way to pass the time without much thinking involved. That Riches could do better with his hero Marcus, the vendetta growing so greatly against him for no valid reason, (His father framed in Rome and all the family killed, Marcus is hiding in Britannia. At what point do those chasing him give up because he is costing them far too much to kill, and he doesn't know why he should be killed beyond a land deal or some such back in Rome.)

Marcus and his companions find themselves amidst another Barbarian Rebellion and dealing with it works rather well. They even get a commander who is the type of man that Marcus should turn into as the series continues.

In all, a quick, fun read set in the later part of the 2nd century.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book about the Roman on the run, sees Marcus off to collect replacement troops, only for them to be snatched from under his nose, by quite possibly the vilest villain in literature. Instead, Marcus takes 2 centuries of Syrian Archers, entirely unsuited to a Tungrian infantry cohort. Obviously, there's a battle, and... well, if I tell you how they got on, it'll spoil the plot.

If I'm being brutal in my review, there are a few turns off phrase which I found a little jarring in the historical context, however, and this is the important bit, it's a good plot, it's engaging and easy to read.

[Sean Loone · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well researched and written Roman Britain historical novel. A worthy follow up to the first book in the series with others now to come. However, I found the book focussed a little too much for me on battle after battle with the small band of Romans always beating the savage barbarians. After all it was their land! I wanted more of the back story to be brought to the front but we were only occasionally treated to this. So, if you enjoy well written books about the highly intelligent Romans slaughtering the savages of Britain again and again then this might just be the book for you.

[João Luís Ferreira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Acção empolgante do princípio ao fim.
Desenrolar do enredo muito cativante e que proporciona o despoletar de várias sensações.
Fantástico!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Book 2 of Anthony Riches' Empire series, we find our hero, Centurion Marcus Valerius Aquila, now known as Marcus Tribulus Corvus to deceive agents of the vengeful Roman emperor Commodus, heading to the coast to pick up a century of replacements from Gaul to fill in the ranks of the 2nd Tungrian cohort. The cohort suffered horrendous casualties in the climactic "Battle of the Lost Eagle" at the end of Book 1 and the rebellious Selgovae chieftain, Calgus, is still at large and forging new alliances to drive the Romans back to Hadrian's Wall and eventually off the island of Britain altogether.

Unbeknownst to Marcus, though, the newly appointed prefect of the 1st Tungrian cohort, a nasty piece of work transferred in from the continent, arrives at the resupply depot first, bribes the replacements officer, and makes off with the sturdy, well-trained Gauls. When Marcus arrives, the only replacements left are two centuries of Hamian archers originally from Roman Syria.
Historical note: "Cohors Prima Hamiorum Sagittaria", a unit of bowmen recruited from the city of Hama in the Orontes valley in northern Syria were one of only two whole regiments of archers known to have been stationed in Britain. Although the original contingent arrived in approximately 120 CE, subsequent units served in Britain until the end of the Roman occupation.

Although these men are some of the finest archers in the world, Marcus quickly sees they do not possess the solidly muscled bodies and brute strength needed to man a shield wall against the ferocious indigenous warriors his unit will face in the next confrontation. To make matters worse, the Hamians' armor is too light to withstand a spear thrust. So, Marcus sets out to get them properly equipped and begins to train them in the use of sword and shield once they return to their auxiliary headquarters in the fortress known in the book as Noisy Valley.

But Marcus needs months of physical training to bring his new men to the same level of strength of the other Tungrian infantrymen. The Hamians struggle under the weight of infantry mail shirts and kit and can barely complete a standard day's march let alone be ready to fight if attacked.
Just a few days later, though, word is received that Calgus has attacked and overrun one of the nearby forts known as White Strength with the help of the previously friendly Votadini tribe.

Historical note: The Votadini occupied what is now southeast Scotland and northeast England, extending south of the Firth of Forth and from the Stirling area down to the English River Tyne, including at its peak what are now the Falkirk, Lothian and Borders regions of eastern Scotland, and Northumberland in north east England. Between 138–162 CE the Votadini came under direct Roman military rule as occupants of the region between the Hadrian and Antonine Walls. Then when the Romans drew back to Hadrian's Wall the Votadini became a friendly buffer state, getting the rewards of alliance with Rome without being directly under its rule, until about 400 CE.

Calgus' raid is successful but his relationship with the Votadini is contentious so Calgus conspires with his cunning seer to rid himself of the troublesome tribe's war band.

Although ill-prepared, Marcus and his Hamians are dispatched to hunt down the Votadini and Marcus finds his unit's archery skills indispensable when he is ordered to assault an old but well-positioned hill fort.

But the ultimate test comes in the novel's climax when Marcus' troops must fight for their lives against the ferocious Venicones, another of Calgus' allies, who have trapped Marcus' century on the wrong side of a strong flowing river.

Historical note: The Venicones, a small but fiercesome people, inhabited the area between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth near the Roman fort of Horrea Classis on the eastern coast of modern-day Scotland. It is believed by modern scholars that their name meant "hunting hounds" or "kindred hounds." The Venicones were one of the few groups in northern Britain at the time that buried their dead in stone-lined graves and made ritual offerings of decorated metal objects, including massive bronze armlets, in local bogs and lakes. These armlets could weigh over 1.5 kg each and were worn one on each arm. Tacitus in his Agricola, chapter XI (c. 98 AD) described the Caledonian warriors as red haired and large limbed, which Tacitus considered features of Germanic origin.

Once again Anthony Riches has brilliantly recreated the precarious existence of the Roman auxiliaries stationed between the Hadrian and Antonine Walls in the late second century. He has populated the novel with vibrant characters and made this reader feel part of the brotherhood that bonds courageous men together in times of crisis. The battle scenes are visceral and not for the squeamish but I highly recommend this series and look forward to the next installments with great anticipation.

[Jacqui · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do not often go straight into a book 2 but having enjoyed Wounds of Honour, I could not resist. I am normally slightly wary as some second books are a bit of a let down, especially with a new author as they can struggle to continue, the growth of the characters and the story can stagnate, and there was no such problem with this book.
This is the description:

The Battle of the Lost Eagle saved Hadrian's Wall, but the new Roman governor of Britannia must stamp out the rebellion of the northern tribes or risk losing the province. Rampaging south with sword and flame under the command of their murderous chieftain Calgus, they have stretched his forces to the limit.
For Marcus - now simply Centurion Corvus of the 1st Tungrian cohort - the campaign has become doubly dangerous. As reinforcements flood into Britannia, new officers with no reason to protect him from the emperor’s henchmen surround him. Death could result from a careless word as easily as from an enemy spear.
Worse, one of them is close on his heels. While Marcus is training two centuries of Syrian archers to survive a barbarian charge and then take the fight back to their enemy, the new prefect of the 2nd Tungrians has discovered his secret. Only a miracle can save Marcus and the men who protect him from disgrace and death.

As with Wounds of Honour, this is an enjoyable read as you are carried along with the pace of story, there are excellent descriptions of the battles scenes and the general lives of the soldiers.
The author shows a great understanding of the role of both the ordinary men of the army and their officers and this contributes to the reader’s enjoyment of the book. With Marcus, you have a character that is both a natural fighter and someone whose men will follow him anywhere. His ability is believable and he makes a very good central character. In many books, the rest of the characters would be shallow figures that are only mentioned in passing, here though Marcus is clearly the hero; the others have a life of their own and have their own scenes so take the story forward, Rufius and Dubnus just to name two.

In this story Marcus is given a cohort of unwilling infantry- Syrian archers who are unused to the foot slog of the Roman soldiers, the sub plot of him turning these into a fighting unit is entertaining, with their abilities being laughed at by the other soldiers until the day when they start using their normal weapons of the bow and arrow to kill.
As in the first book, there is plenty of quite brutal action, with the description of the punishment of the soldier in the 2nd cohort being graphically described. There is less intrigue than in Wounds but there is enough sub plots still to keep anyone’s interest.

For anyone who likes Roman stories I would thoroughly recommend these books and definitely this author, he makes the storyline interesting and accurate without drowning the reader in cold facts and making it feel like a history lesson rather than a book of fiction, in fact I can hear book 3 calling me as I write this.

[Alfonso D'agostino · Rating 4 out of 5]

La premessa assolutamente necessaria è che non ho mai eccessivamente adorato 1) le saghe 2) la narrativa storica, in particolare se ambientata prima del Medioevo. Quindi non (ripeto: NON) ho grossi termini di paragone.

E’ semplicemente accaduto che mi sia lasciato sedurre da Anthony Riches e dal primo di romanzo di quella che ho poi scoperto essere una saga: mi è capitato sotto le pupille L’onore e la spada, e l’ho iniziato con quella scarsa aspettativa leggermente venata da un profumo di tanto-mi-romperà-le-palle-dopo-50-pagine.

Ovviamente è accaduto l’esatto contrario: in una settimana circa mi sono sparato non soltanto L’onore e la spada, ma anche La battaglia dell’Aquila perduta (secondo capitolo della saga) e Lunga vita all’imperatore (terzo romanzo con lo stesso protagonista). Amazon mi avvisa che non è finita qui ma c’è un limite anche al monomaniacale, quindi mi fermo qui (almeno fino alla prossima estate, per spiaggiarsi Riches mi è sembrato fenomenale).

Come sarà apparso chiaro dalla scorpacciata compulsiva di romanzi successivi, le avventure di Marco Valerio Aquila non mi sono affatto dispiaciute: scaraventato in Britannia dal padre – che annusava aria infelice per la sua famiglia patrizia dopo l’arrivo di Commodo imperatore – il giovane Aquila cresce come uomo e come ufficiale, garantendosi sul campo il rispetto dei suoi uomini prima e di tutta la linea gerarchica militare dopo. Confesso che è probabilmente la chiave del successo tra le mie mani: i romanzi di Riches propongono le legioni romane come un misto fra la Legione Straniera e un battaglione di Marines in missione alla liberazione dell’Europa. Gli scontri sono realistici, la differenza fra caduti romani e barbari sono simili a quelle fra USA e germanici nelle pellicole hollywoodiane (e ogni volta ti domandi perché ci abbiano messo qualche anno ad arrivare a Berlino…), gli aspetti psicologici sono indagati esclusivamente in funzione della trama (il commilitone traditore, il centurione assetato di potere e scalata gerarchica, e via dicendo).

Dalla biografia dell’autore e dall’elenco di studi e pubblicazioni consultate sorge il sospetto che la ricostruzione storica sia abbastanza accurata. Non ho gli strumenti per confermarlo e francamente interessa il giusto: Riches punta direttamente all’intrattenimento, il sospetto di poterlo interpretare come minimamente saggistico non ti sfiora neppure per un istante.

Tutto sommato, sorprendentemente leggibile.

http://capitolo23.com/2017/11/06/limp...

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

C2010: The perils and pitfalls remain in place for our young fugitive-from-justice. This second instalment was just as dashing, heroic and exciting as the first. The one Romano-British series that has spurred me on to actually arrange a visit to Hadrian’s Wall and Vindolanda. Stirring stuff indeed. My only teeny weensy note of criticism is that I am not particularly well versed in the military structure of the Roman Army and as there was no glossary I had to keep Wikipedia open just to make sure that I was reading the story the right way. Also, there was no Dramatis Personae so sometimes the similar names, reappearance of some characters and mention of events evoked a scurry of back paging to try and pinpoint the relevance etc. That being said, I loved the book. FWFTB: rebellion, rampaging, Syrian, secret, protect. FCN: Marcus Valerius Aquila (‘well built, with wide-set brown eyes above a strong nose and a broad jaw.”), Prefect Scaurus, Prefect Furius, First Spear Frontinius, Qadir.”And in the record of this cohort’s war to date, your man Corvus seems to have played a full part in just about everything that’s happened in the last six months. He must be quite the man with his colleagues, not to mention the troops.”

[Courtenay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another amazing book written by Anthony Riches. I finished Wounds of Honour a couple months ago and was looking forward to the continuation but wasn't exactly sold on the description. I didn't have to be concerned at all, this book was enthralling. Somehow the author manages to combine dry facts of Roman troops into an easy to read, fascinating book. Once I started this book, I just couldn't put it down. I absolutely cannot wait until I can get my hands on the third book. This book follows Marcus as he attempts to convert a double strength cohort of archers into an infantry cohort. The author makes Marcus a really believable hero that you cannot help rooting for and actually feel his emotions. When Dubnus was injured, it was almost like having my own friend grievously injured. Overall this was an awesome book and if you are remotely interested in Roman warfare fiction its definitely worth the read.

[Asterope · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad. Held my attention. There are a lot of battle scenes and action. I liked the addition of the Hamians and seeing how they fit into the unit. I even Googled them to learn a bit more about them, as they really were stationed in Britannia. The book isn't perfect though and some characters and plots did seem to drag. I wonder when the fugitive plot line will come to a head and be dealt with. It would have to be, since there are like 12 books in this series with Marcus still in them. I just hope it's sooner, than later. I assume the next book we'll get closure on the Calgus uprising...

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

While quite bloody during the battles, the plots move quickly and the new addition of archers saves the day. While weak and disgusting, the new evil commander gets what he deserves in the end. Fascinating details about the battles north of Hadrian's Wall.

[Oratus Albinus]

The story moves at a good pace and has plenty of action if that's what you're looking for. The characters are pretty good, though the supporting characters all seem to just blend in with each other. The various Legion Officers are all pretty much stock Roman Legionaries. Barring a couple exceptions, their names are really the only thing that differentiates one from another.
I've read many, many Roman historical fiction books. They usually fall into 1 of 2 categories; 1)dramas in the form of mysteries and political thrillers, or 2)action/adventure stories. The former tend to stick more closely to historical accuracy (at least to the extent of our current understanding of it). They almost always will have characters that existed. Many times the stories are essentially are a more in depth retelling of historical events, with the exception of the protagonist who many times are created for the story. Colleen Mccullough's "Masters of Rome," and Steven Sailor's "Roma Sub Rosa" book series are 2 popular examples (as well as being great books).
The other type are the more action orientated books that while taking place in the Ancient Roman world, can probably be easily rewritten to be used in most other historical eras and they would fundamentally be the same. Historical accuracy isn't nearly is important here because the focus is on the battles or adventures. You can go through whole book series without ever having a historical figure play a larger role than just being mentioned, and the narrative wouldn't suffer. With these it's more important to make the atmosphere feel authentic than it is getting the specifics right.
I've read the first 2 books of the series so far and they just don't have that authentic feel to them, and the further into the story i go, the less realistic it feels. I find it to have more of a fanfiction feel to it. Beyond the fact that i find it REALLY hard to believe that a person wanted by the Empire for a trumped up treason charges, of which saw his recruit having executed, would be given sanctuary in a provincial legion, where not only do all the officers know the truth but so do most of the soldiers. I just don't see so many people risking not only their own lives but the lives of their soldiers and any family members for no better reason than essentially "he's a good kid and a great soldier."
Usually in these stories the protagonist hold morals and values that are closer to our own than the rest of the characters in the era, you need to be able to sympathize with them. However in this book everyone is like that and it just rings false. One minute "Roman-dogs" are fighting "Barbarian savages," then the next day (this is literally true here) they're almost holding hands singing kumbaya and giving the cliche "we may be different but we're all the same on the inside," speech. This was the case a bit in the first book, but became overwhelming in the second. I can only imagine that it will probably be worse the more into the series you go.

Not everyone will have an issue with this and some may prefer it, which in that case there's really no reason to not read it because it's still a fun story.

[Michael Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marcus kämpft weiter in der Legion gegen die Stämme Britanniens. Als Verstärkung aus Germanien unterwegs ist sein Leben noch mehr in Gefahr. Den mit der Verstärkung kommen auch Männer aus Rom mit. Sie kommen im Auftrag des Kaisers und der hat Markus zum Tode verurteilt. ---- Wer Schlachten und blutige Kämpfe mag ist auch beim 2. Teil hier richtig. Die Geschichte wird super von Hans Jürgen Stockerl erzählt. Ich habe Teil 1 gelesen und Teil 2 jetzt gehört und werde die Serie jetzt beenden, Die Geschichte ist zwar super aber es geht hier ja hauptsächlich um das militärische und das ist auf Dauer nichts für mich.

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good read and an interesting continuation of the first book. While the first took me a while to finish (through no fault of it's own) I cruised though this one in less than a week. Solid story and ups the anty for the main character Marcus as he is forced to turn foreign archers into an effective force for the Tungrians. If you like Roman history and want to get a sense of what life was like in the Roman army on the move then you'll enjoy this series.

[Jared · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm heavily biased because I love Roman historical fiction, but this book was AWESOME. For the second book in the series I am very impressed by Anthony Riches' gritty writing style and grasp of hand-to-hand infantry combat. The only thing that I could see that would strengthen this novel would be to see a bit more character development, but overall this was a book I couldn't put down and I will absolutely be reading the rest of the series.

[Robert Hepple · Rating 4 out of 5]

Published in 2010, 'Arrows of Fury' is the second in the superb 'Empire' series of novels set in Roman Britain, featuring the adventurous life of characters in a Roman Legion stationed near Hadrian's Wall in the North of Britain. It has the usual ingredients of action, intrigue and some great barrack room humour. This is in danger of becoming something of a saturated market for adventure novels of late, but makes up for this by being exceptionally well done.

[Brian Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slower to get going compared to the first book Wounds of Honour, and otherwise it's more of the same.

Centurion Marcus Aquila has to keep his head down as another Roman comes over to Britain trying to track him down after his family are branded traitors by the emperor.
His higher-up friends who know his secret manage to keep him out of the way by sending him and his century off scouting around the countryside, where (as in book 1) he runs into all sorts of barbarians and kills them.

The second half gets more into the action and has some tense moments.

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Second of a series. Blood and violence in ancient Roman Britain, as a fugitive Roman noble battles the Empire's enemies—the barbarous riff-raff on the wrong side of Hadrian's Wall. An enjoyable read, but the novel does bog down in the endless descriptions of battle. I myself prefer a little more on the political wheeling and dealing, but there it is.

[Brian Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just a continuation of excellence from Anthony Riches. Again I could not put this book down and read in within a week and found myself on Amazon getting the next in the series.
I afore these books as they are incredibly engaging and captivating. The story unfolds and you can really connect with the character, dare I say this is better than any book I have read to date.