Category Archives: Historical Fiction

The Cross and the Curse (Bernicia Chronicles Book 2) by Matthew Harffy – Review

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Title – The Cross and the Curse (Bernicia Chronicles Book 2)
Author – Matthew Harffy
Genre –  Historical Fiction
Length –  397 Pages
Publication – January 2016
My Rating – 5/5 Stars

Synopsis

BRITAIN 634 A.D.
Before The Battle of Hastings.
Before Alfred fought the Danes.
Even before England.

Warlords battled across Britain to become the first King of the English.

When Beobrand’s valour brings about a stunning victory against the native Waelisc, the King of Northumbria rewards him with riches and land. Beobrand wishes for nothing more than to settle on his new estate with his bride. But he soon finds himself beset with enemies old and new. He even fears that the power of a curse has him in its grip, as he begins to lose all he holds dear.

With treachery and death surrounding him, Beobrand confronts his foes with cold iron and bitter fury. On his quest for revenge and redemption, he grudgingly accepts the mantle of lord, leading his men into the darkest of nights and the bloodiest of battles.

The Cross and the Curse is the second novel of the Bernicia Chronicles.

Review

If you’ve read my review of The Serpent Sword you will know I’m a fan of Matthew already, I was blown away by his debut novel. If you want to remind yourself of the review click here

This is by far the best sequel I’ve read to date, the brutal theme from The Serpent Sword continues and we see our hero Beobrand faced with even more trouble and strife.

I felt for Beobrand, my heart was in my mouth a lot while reading this book. Harffy has no trouble at all kicking a man while he’s down and it made for an excellent read but at times it was heart wrenching.

Harffy does a brilliant job developing the characters we know from the first book while also introducing new characters to the reader. We see Beobrand’s relationship with Sunniva grow and we also see his friendship with Acennan tested at times. All these troubles just make the story feel real. Life isn’t easy and the path our hero is on is clearly has a lot of hurdles for him to jump through.

I thought Beobrand as a character developed well throughout the first book but Harffy manages to bring more depth to him in this novel with the underlying struggle he has with regards to his father and the furiousness he knows lies within himself. The past really does haunt him..and I’m not talking about his father.. I won’t say too much on this.. you need to read it 🙂

Throughout the book I could feel there was something different about it compared to the first book which I couldn’t put my finger on but looking back I feel it’s Beobrand.. he feels much more grown up in this book, the undertone is darker. In the first book I felt most of his troubles were external when in this book in feels internal, like he’s fighting himself. He’s become a very complex and enjoyable character for me.. or maybe I’m reading too much in to things ha ha

One character I was glad to see back was Coenred and in this book he too has his own problems to deal with but you can see he has more strength in him now, a bit of Beobrand seems to have rubbed off on him.

There are other characters I really enjoyed during this book namely, Wybert, Corman & Anhaga. To tell you why would ruin it.. please I implore you.. read it.. you won’t be disappointed.

Harffy did a really good job of making the surroundings come to life, the way he described places made it easy to imagine. The balance between detail and story were spot on for me and the tale that plays out knocked me for six and I was left furiously swiping my kindle screen for more.

In conclusion this book is well worth buying, it’s full of detail and character, love and sorrow, life and death. Harffy clearly knows what a reader wants and gives it to them and he’s paved the way for book 3 which I can’t wait to get my hands on

Pre-order is available now at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com!!

A Year of Ravens: a novel of Boudica’s Rebellion – Review

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Title – A Year of Ravens: a novel of Boudica’s Rebellion
Authors – E. Knight, Ruth Downie, Stephanie Dray, Russell Whitfield, SJA Turney , Kate Quinn, Vicky Alvear Shecter, Ben Kane (Foreword)
Genre – Historical Fiction
Length – 483 Pages
Publication – 17th Nov 2015
My Rating – 5/5 Stars

Synopsis

Britannia: land of mist and magic clinging to the western edge of the Roman Empire. A red-haired queen named Boudica led her people in a desperate rebellion against the might of Rome, an epic struggle destined to consume heroes and cowards, young and old, Roman and Briton . . . and these are their stories.

A calculating queen foresees the fires of rebellion in a king’s death. 

A neglected slave girl seizes her own courage as Boudica calls for war. 

An idealistic tribune finds manhood in a brutal baptism of blood and slaughter. 

A death-haunted Druid challenges the gods themselves to ensure victory for his people. 

A conflicted young warrior finds himself torn between loyalties to tribe and to Rome. 

An old champion struggles for everlasting glory in the final battle against the legions. 

A pair of fiery princesses fight to salvage the pieces of their mother’s dream as the ravens circle. 

A novel in seven parts, overlapping stories of warriors and peacemakers, queens and slaves, Romans and Britons who cross paths during Boudica’s epic rebellion. But who will survive to see the dawn of a new Britannia, and who will fall to feed the ravens?

Review

I was very lucky to receive an ARC of this book for review purposes.

This book follows the tale of Boudica and her rebellion against Rome and is split into 7 parts which are told by a different authors.

Each story is full of action and crammed full of emotion which you want but the best thing for me was that every story was told from a different characters perspective.

This is the first book I’ve read with this style of storytelling and I loved it, it’s what made it so enjoyable to read.

The way in which the tales are told add to the growth of the characters as throughout the book you see them through someone else’s eyes and I found myself liking people I originally didn’t.

There are some complex characters and relationships in this book and I particularly loved Sorcha & Andecarus. Each of these stood out for me. I also loved anything involving Duro.

In conclusion I felt everything worked well with this book, it was full of action, fast paced and a joy to read. I also felt having so many authors involved and the writing style of the book brought something to my eyes which was unique. I can see my book pile is going to grow after being introduced to some authors I’d previously not heard of.

It’s also made me want to look into some more stories about Boudica, she seems a very strong and complex character who I’ve not read much about. The one thing that really makes a good book for me is when the author leaves a spark with you.. leaves you wanting to find out more.. to read more. This book has certainly done that.

I feel quite privileged to have had the chance to read/review this before its release. This is a must read for anyone who enjoys the genre.

To find out more information head to Goodreads, Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com. Pre-order is available now!

Zeus of Ithome by T.E.Taylor – Review

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Title – Zeus of Ithome
Author – T. E. Taylor
Genre – Historical Fiction
Length – 316 Pages
Publication – Oct 2013
My Rating – 5/5 Stars

Synopsis

Three Hundred Years of Slavery. Greece, 373 BC. For three centuries, the Messenian people have been brutally subjugated by their Spartan neighbours and forced to work the land as helot slaves. Diocles, a seventeen-year-old helot, has known no other life but servitude.

After an encounter with Spartan assassins, he is forced to flee, leaving behind his family and his love, Elpis. On Mount Ithome, the ancient sanctuary of the Messenians, he meets Aristomenes, an old rebel who still remembers the proud history of their people and clings to a prophecy that they will one day win back their freedom. A forlorn hope, perhaps.

But elsewhere in Greece, there are others too who believe it is time that the power of Sparta was broken.

Review

Tim Taylor has decided it’s time to shed some light on the Spartans and how ruthless they were to their neighbours and I was hooked from the Preface at the start of the book, now that’s how you grab the reader’s attention!

The book focuses mainly on Diocles a slave who has never known freedom. From the synopsis you can gather he gets in to trouble and ends up on the run. After a chance meeting Aristomenes we see Diocles grow from a boy to a man and he goes through many events before returning home to lead a rebellion.

It’s a very interesting tale with a mix of historical figures and fictional characters. Tim seems very knowledgeable and the historical note at the end of the book adds to the story and helps you draw the line between fact and fiction.

There is an amazing amount of depth to Diocles which grows throughout the book. Yes I felt he grew up too fast but then again in that day an age I guess you would need to grow up fast or you’d end up dead.

I won’t spoil the events for you but I will say that everything worked for me. I felt for Diocles.. I wanted him to fight..save his people and Tim made the story come alive.

All in all this was a brilliant story waiting to be told. Combine this with Tim’s writing style and you have one engrossing read. I don’t often want to read books again but this one will be added to the list.

Any fan of historical fiction as a genre will love this and if like me you’re interested in the history this will excite the taste buds.

To find out more information head to Goodreads, Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

Friar Tuck and the Christmas Devil by Steven A. McKay – Review

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Title – Friar Tuck and the Christmas Devil
Author – Steven A. McKay
Genre –  Historical Fiction/Short Stories
Length –  70 Pages
Publication –  13th November 2015
My Rating – 5/5 Stars

Synopsis

Holly and ivy decorate the houses while voices are raised in song, but the Christmas cheer is tempered by terror this festive season, as demons haunt a small English village.

Strange thefts; cloven hoof-prints in the snow; a house burned to the ground.

Something evil stalks the icy streets of Brandesburton and former mercenary Tuck must find out what, before it’s too late.

As he sets out to solve the mystery the friar prays his faith will protect him. His faith AND his great quarterstaff, for he knows full well – the Devil makes no deals…

This brand new novella from the best-selling author of the Forest Lord series will delight and entertain historical fiction fans looking to escape the madness of Christmas shopping for a little while. Grab a mince pie, warm some mulled wine, and join Friar Tuck on this snowy adventure!

“…a heart warming tale, wrapping the deep meaning of Christmas in amongst

a clever little mystery…” Parmenion Book Reviews

Includes a foreword by Phil Rose, the legendary Friar Tuck from TV’s Robin of Sherwood.

Review

What a perfectly wonderful Christmas tale. I was very lucky to have the chance to read an advance copy and i can say for certain when this book is released you are in for a treat!

This tale focuses on one of my favourite characters Friar Tuck and some devilish events that have been occurring. As you can imaging the good Friar isn’t go to sit back and let things happen.

I never like to spoil a story by saying too much in my reviews but if you’ve read Steven’s previous books you won’t be disappointed. McKay manages give us a Christmas tale with his own style of writing infused within it so there’s a perfect mix of violence and kindness to warm the heart.

I highly recommend reading this during the festive period as it would fit in perfectly. My advice is grab a bottle of wine or a few beers and sit by the fire and read this from start to finish.

Personally it was good to see Steven writing about the Friar again and i hope we see a few more short tales coming from the author soon. So far both Novella’s McKay has wrote have been great and he’s managed to fit so much into so few pages that you are left wanting more but fulfilled at the same time.

Most certainly i will be reading this again on Christmas Eve once the kids are in bed, it’s a lovely story to get you in the mood for festive period

To pre-order head to Amazon

1066: What Fates Impose by G.K. Holloway – Review

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Title – 1066: What Fates Impose
Author – G.K. Holloway
Genre – Historical Fiction
Length – 448 Pages (Paperback)
Publication – Nov 2013
My Rating – 5/5 Stars

Synopsis

England is in crisis. King Edward has no heir and promises never to produce one. There are no obvious successors available to replace him, but quite a few claimants are eager to take the crown. While power struggles break out between the various factions at court, enemies abroad plot to make England their own. There are raids across the borders with Wales and Scotland. Harold Godwinson, Earl of Wessex, is seen by many as the one man who can bring stability to the kingdom. He has powerful friends and two women who love him, but he has enemies who will stop at nothing to gain power. As 1066 begins, England heads for an uncertain future. It seems even the heavens are against Harold. Intelligent and courageous, can Harold forge his own destiny – or does he have to bow to what fates impose?

Review

I’ll be honest with you this was an engrossing read from the start. I could have read it much faster if not for work commitments.. Every time I put the book down I couldn’t help but want to read just a little bit more.

The synopsis gives you more than enough detail to know what happens in the book but what you can’t gather from it is that the author clearly has a lot of historical knowledge which shines through.

It’s a fast paced tale so my only advice is if your historical knowledge of the era isn’t the strongest pay attention to the handy list of characters at the beginning of the book, without this addition from the author I would have been lost.

1066 is a well-known year for many, I myself learned a little when in school but what you don’t learn about is all of the little events that took place so events unfolded the way they did. This is what Glynn offers us and a fascinating tale unfolds to which the author gives great detail.

One of the main things I was unaware of was the very complex family relationships that were involved.

This book for me is  definitely a 5* book, yes maybe we could have had a bit more development of some of the characters but with this type of book and setting you know the author won’t be able to give everyone enough page time. Sometimes it was just hard to understand why these men fought so bravely for Harold when you didn’t see the emotional connections between them. Overall I think Glynn got this book spot on. Too much character development could have led to the underlying story not being given the page time it deserves

In conclusion is book is a very fascinating read full of historical knowledge that draws the reader in and I thank the author for bringing his work to my attention

To find out more information head to Goodreads, Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

The Bowes Inheritance by Pam Lecky – Review

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Title – The Bowes Inheritance
Author – Pam Lecky
Genre – Historical Fiction
Length – 318 Pages (Paperback)
Publication – July 2015
My Rating – 5/5 Stars

Synopsis

Historical Romance with a Dash of Rebellion

Dublin 1882: When determined but impoverished Louisa Campbell inherits a large estate in the north of England, from an uncle she didn’t even know existed, it appears to be the answer to her prayers. Her younger sister, Eleanor, is gravely ill, and believing that the country air will benefit her, they decide to take up residence at Bowes Farm, situated on the Cumberland coast.

However, they soon realise that all they have inherited is trouble. Their uncle had managed to alienate almost everyone in the area and worst of all, was suspected of being a Fenian activist. His reputation leaves Louisa and Eleanor battling to gain acceptance in polite society, especially with Nicholas Maxwell, their handsome neighbour and local magistrate. His father was cheated out of the farm during a card game fifteen years before and he is determined to get the property back.

Louisa unearths secrets from their family’s past that threaten their future while the spectre of their mysterious benefactor overshadows everything. When a Fenian bombing campaign comes close to home, Louisa finds herself a chief suspect and must fight to clear her name. She must dig deep to find the courage to solve the mysteries that Bowes Farm holds before their lives are destroyed. And most importantly of all, will she be able to finally trust and love the man who is surely her sworn enemy?

Review

This book tales the tale of Louisa Campbell who suddenly inherits an estate from her uncle who has recently died. Louisa decides to leave Dublin to set up at Bowes after falling in love with it when she visits.

Along the way she meets a love interest, Nicholas Maxwell. There’s no love lost at the beginning of the novel due to the way in which Louisa’s uncle came to own Bowes.

Pam has written a very intriguing & thrilling story with a bit of romance which kept me hooked right from the prologue.

I won’t spoil the story for anyone but there is love, deceit, tragedy & mystery thrown into this tale.

The characters developed well and the story just felt a perfect fit. Nothing in this book felt forced, the tale had a natural progression which made it one of the most interesting books I’ve had the pleasure to read.

I was worried that the story might have contained more romance that I usually like but this book had the prefect mix. I honestly can’t fault Pam’s storytelling and this being her debut novel I was also highly impressed it how well she engaged me with her writing.

If you enjoy historical fiction or historical romance this book would be perfect for you. The best thing about this tale in all honesty is how easily Pam has managed to write a mystery/thriller with a historical romance theme mixed in.. so much so that I can’t help but feel anyone would enjoy this book.. for me it’s a must read and i’ll definitely be looking out for Pam’s next book!

To find out more information head to Goodreads, Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

The Spider and the Stone: A Novel of Scotland’s Black Douglas by Glen Craney – Review

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Title – The Spider and the Stone: A Novel of Scotland’s Black Douglas
Author – Glen Craney
Genre – Historical Fiction
Length – 433 Pages
Publication – Oct 2013
My Rating – 5/5 Stars

Synopsis

As the 14th century dawns, the brutal Edward Longshanks of England schemes to steal
Scotland. But inspired by a headstrong lass, a frail, dark-skinned boy named James
Douglas defies three Plantagenet kings and champions the cause of his wavering friend, Robert Bruce, to lead the armies to the bloody field of Bannockburn. A thrilling epic of star-crossed love and heroic sacrifice set during the Scottish Wars of Independence.

Review

First off I must say Robert Bruce has to be one of my favourite historical figures. I’ve not read much on the subject of the Scottish Wars of Independence but the little I know has always fascinated me.

This book focuses on James Douglas otherwise known as Black Douglas. I won’t lie.. I knew nothing of the man. Everything I’ve read always focuses on either Robert Bruce or William
Wallace (who also makes an appearance in this book) so it was great to read a story focused on someone else

Glen has written this book starting from James and his boyhood years and admits filling in some of the gaps in Douglas’s life where we just don’t have any information to go on. I know some people don’t like when authors speculate but I believe this is where authors shine.. and Glen is no exception

One of the best parts throughout the books was the relationship between Isabelle MacDuff and
James, the author explains why he decided to write that a relationship between the two could have existed and it made for an excellent and plausible read, it gave real depth to the story

Throughout the book we see the stress James is put under, which threatens his relationship with both Isabelle and Robert. I can’t imagine what it would have been like but Glen manages to get across how hard it must have been at time for the people of Scotland.

I really liked how Glen managed to bring everything to life.. the period, the setting, the people. It brought home that although some of this book maybe fiction that the overall subject of Scotland versus England actually happened and has sowed the seed in me to read more on the subject.

I’d highly recommend this book, it has everything you could want, war, love, death, betrayal, patriotism and some awesome dogs (Cull & Chullan, I loved those mutts)

My only advice to the reader is to make sure you read the authors notes at the end of the book. I always think it’s important to distinguish fact from fiction. Personally I think what Glen added to this book just gave something extra to the tale that made it the gripping read it was and hopefully you’ll agree

To find out more head to Goodreads, Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

Odin’s Child: Book One of the Odd Tangle-Hair Saga By Bruce MacBain – Review

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Title – Odin’s Child: Book One of the Odd Tangle-Hair Saga (Odd Tangle-Hair Saga #1)
Author – Bruce MacBain
Genre – Historical Fiction
Length – 350 Pages
Publication – May 2015
My Rating – 4/5

Synopsis

An old grudge erupts into violence as Odd Tangle-Hair refuses to back down from the men he believes shamed his father and betrayed their heritage by turning away from the old gods in favor of the White Christ. But when the violence escalates and Odd’s family bears the brunt of it, he must leave his beloved Iceland behind and find his own way in the world. The golden age of Viking conquest is fading when he takes to the seas with his rag-tag crew, but they will voyage to primitive Lapland, war-torn Norway, the magic-drenched forests of Finland, and the borders of Russia, where Odd enlists in the retinue of a renegade prince. Odin’s Child is the first of three books in which Odd recounts his life.

Review

Okay so this book focuses on the life of Odd in 11th century Iceland. Odd’s father along with the rest of the family have falling out of favour with their neighbours during what I can imaging would be a very difficult time with people moving from one religion to another.

You can gather enough from the synopsis of the book to know that Odd gets in a bit of trouble and has to leave his home behind.

I won’t lie I felt a little lost in the first couple chapters. Maybe because I’m not used to reading a work of historical fiction in the first person.. Who knows? After that point the book did pick up pace considerably and I really started to enjoy it.

Odd decides to become a Viking and sale the high sea, make his fortune and return home to set things right.

As you can imagine things don’t always go to plan and we see Odd gather a crew and jump from one big event to another. So much is crammed in to the adventure it makes for a fascinating read although at times I just wanted Odd to calm down and stay put so I could take in everything that had just happened to him. We see him in battles and at one point imprisoned which for me was the best bit of the book as well as the most surreal.

The characters in this book made things really interesting. Glum was a particular favourite of mine.
As you can imagine with a story such as this people will die and I felt there was a great development of some of the friendships/relationships during these events.

It’s a great start to the series, Bruce has wrote a very engaging tale and I’d very much like to see how Odd’s adventure pans out.

To find out more head to Goodreads, Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

Strategos: Island in the Storm (Strategos #3) by Gordon Doherty – Review

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Title – Strategos: Island in the Storm (Strategos #3)
Author – Gordon Doherty
Genre –  Historical Fiction
Length –  402 Pages
Publication – July 2014
My Rating – 5/5 Stars

Synopsis

The storm is upon us, Haga. The answers you seek dance within its wrath . . .

1071 AD. Emperor Romanus Diogenes has rekindled the guttering flame of Byzantium. Yet in the eastern borderlands, two vital strongholds hang in the balance. Manzikert and Chliat must be won to secure the empire’s fragile frontiers and vanquish the would-be usurpers who covet the imperial throne. But Sultan Alp Arslan and his vast Seljuk armies look to those twin fortress-towns also, resolute on seizing them first.

Apion rides by the emperor’s side as they march east, marshalling Byzantium’s armies for the conflict that is to come. He knows only too well that the threat posed by the Sultan’s hordes is well-matched by malevolent forces within the Byzantine ranks. Thus, the road to war is a savage one, but one he cannot refuse. For at its end, Fate beckons, taunting him with a choice of two futures.

On the plains of Manzikert, one great power will rise and another will fall. On the plains of Manzikert, Apion will face the storm.

Review

So here we are.. Apion’s final journey..

Ok let’s stop right here, have you read the first two books in the series? If not check out my reviews of BOOK 1 and BOOK 2.

Now on the book 3!

After the battle that took place in book 2 we are left wondering what will become of the Haga after Nasir’s death.

Emperor Romanus sets out to secure his throne by securing his boarders from the Seljuks. After the build up to this point you know it’s going to be bloody!

Apion has a lot to deal with in this book, not only is he fighting a war while having some insight from the old crone who always seems to be with him but he’s also dealing with the fact Maria, the only good thing in his life left, is out there somewhere.

Nasir’s son plays a big part in this book too as he struggles to come to terms with the death of Nasir. I’ll admit Taylan wasn’t my favourite addition to this book, I struggled at times to like him.. mainly because I thought Nasir was brilliant.. in the end Taylan turned out to be a better addition to the series than I thought he would be.

Gordon manages to bring everything together in this book and we finally get to see an end in sight for the whole Apion/Maria story. Personally I loved how Gordon finished the story. I felt it was a fitting end.. although he had me saying “no no no no” a lot while a was reading.

So character development.. there’s loads. Gordon managed to give an ending to a lot of the characters though the chapters of this book and it’s not all happy endings.  You see a lot of friendships grow and even though a character like Psellos isn’t likable you get a wonderful depth to the person in this one. Not to give anything away but the whole situation with Psellos and the old crone which plays out is brilliant.

We see additions such as Kaspax which I loved along with Vilyam. Vilyam was the star of the book for me.. 🙂

There’s a lot of bloodshed in this book but Gordon again manages to help the reader visualise the battlefield with his impressive knowledge. It gives a great feel to the book as you could imagine the clashes that took place and how many men must have died.

Gordon also uses his knowledge to give even more insight when you read the historical note. He clearly knows his stuff and it pays off well. He makes the subject interesting which isn’t always easy to do.

This series has to be the best I’ve ever read. Credit where credits due, Gordon managed to get me emotionally connected with his characters. For me that is a sign of a truly great author.

I can’t imagine a better end for the series but it’s sad that I won’t be able to read about Apion again. When I get the time I’ll definitely have to read this series again.

I hope Gordon has more books planned..

Head to Goodreads, Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com to find out more

The Eagle’s Blood (Caradoc #2) by Keith Nixon – Review

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Title – The Eagle’s Blood (Caradoc #2)
Author – Keith Nixon
Genre – Historical Fiction
Length – 292 Pages
Publication – March 2015
My Rating – 5/5 Stars

Synopsis

The British army is shattered, defeat snatched from the jaws of victory by subterfuge and betrayal. Caradoc flees the battlefield, the crown heavy on his head and his heart set on retribution. He has to make hard decisions and tough compromises, but with the sovereignty of Britain at stake, personal pride sometimes has to take second place.

Emperor Claudius is determined to make as much political mileage as possible out of the Roman victory in an attempt to consolidate his own position. That doesn’t sit well with the Roman military, who have their own objectives and who will do whatever it takes to achieve them.

As the Romans consolidate their gains and begin to push west, Caradoc finds he has few friends left. He must turn to the Durotriges, a wild, hill fort dwelling tribe. But the Durotriges are riven by strife and petty squabbles.

Aulus Plautius, commander of the Roman army, brings his siege weapons to bear, can Caradoc resist the onslaught?

Review

Before I start have you read my review of The Eagle’s Shadow?? If not where have you been? Check it out here

Ok. So here we are trust back into the war between the British and Roman armies. During the first book we learn of a battle which turned out to be a major win for the Romans due to the divided loyalties of the British tribes at the time. This book continues on after book one and we are back we one of my favourite characters Fionn and the action is pretty much non-stop in this fast moving tale.

In the first book I really liked Caradoc but in this book you see a different side to the man. He becomes blinded by revenge and we see Fionn and his friends struggle to see eye to eye with his decisions. Fionn has his own demons in this book too.. I’m not saying too much as it would spoil it for you.

While Caradoc has his mind set firmly on revenge Fionn wants to hit back at the Romans so this book mainly focuses on the period where they are trying to gather support from the other tribes. Needless to say things do not go Fionn’s way.

Keith has written an excellent follow up book which he clearly researched well. I think it’s always hard to get the flow right between two books but the transition is seamless and it felt as if I’d never but the first book down. There were some great additions to the characters in this one which made the book feel fresh but you also had a lot of detail given to some of the characters from the first book which gave them more depth. I particularly enjoyed reading anything involving Anatolius.

One of the things I loved the most was the different point of views. You see the story play out from both the British and Roman stand point and it made for compelling reading

There’s only one downside to this book.. it had to end..I just wanted to turn the page and keep reading. It’s a true talent to keep a reader wanting more when it comes to a series of books but Keith managed to do this within the first few chapters and has hooked me in with his story telling so much already that I already have another non historical fiction piece of his in my review pile and I intend to read more of his work over the next few months

If you are a fan of the genre this series is a must!

Here’s hoping Keith writes Caradoc #3 soon!

To read more reviews or to purchase the book (which i know you’ll want to do) head to Goodreads, Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com