The leader of a band of marauding barbarians, Thutmose-sin is a warrior gifted by the gods with extraordinary perception and cunning. To survive, h...
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reviews
Nov 08, 2011
Ambre
rated it: 
I guess I am the only one who got about 100 pages in and realized that he was romanticizing the rape of a child. If the book was historically accurate, it would have been different - but the fantasy of the slave woman who just needs a man with the right moves to find her hidden sexual desires is 100% Penthouse Forum. Making her 14 was just gratuitous.
The fact that so few people were horrified should not surprise me. I wish I could bleach the image from my brain.
Beyond More...
The fact that so few people were horrified should not surprise me. I wish I could bleach the image from my brain.
Beyond More...
Jul 30, 2011
Apolla
rated it: 
Hmm. A book I would never read unless I was stuck in a remote Irish cottage with no television and dodgy internet with the only other choices left by previous holidaymakers being Jeffrey Archer, some Jack Higgins, one PD James and some stuff in German.
And yet... I didn't hate it. Certainly, I finished it and found myself almost gripped.
On the other hand, it is numbingly repetitive in many ways, and so many things are explained to the n-th degree that I started wondering if pe More...
And yet... I didn't hate it. Certainly, I finished it and found myself almost gripped.
On the other hand, it is numbingly repetitive in many ways, and so many things are explained to the n-th degree that I started wondering if pe More...
Mar 27, 2011
Craig
rated it: 
By 3160 BC, the hunter/gatherers had transformed into farmers and villagers. Production of large amounts of food enabled these agrarians to multiply at a faster pace than the nomadic tribes. Yet the farmer/villager culture was not based on warfare and thus were easily conquered by the warring tribes who romed the regions, destroying the villages, expropriating the food and carrying away the hapless farmers as slaves. That is, until one village Orak (located north of Sumeria on the Tigris rive
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May 31, 2011
Gordon
rated it: 
The thing I loved about this book is that is both Epic in scale but also highly detailed.
The author paints a vivid scene of despair and hopelessness, with the 'dirt-eaters' (the early farmers of bronze age mesopotamia) who live in rudimentary settlements, accepting their role as sword-fodder for the warbands who still roam the country hunting for food and pillaging for treasure.
I felt engaged really quickly with the protagonist, Eskkar, as he struggled against his own demons and ag More...
The author paints a vivid scene of despair and hopelessness, with the 'dirt-eaters' (the early farmers of bronze age mesopotamia) who live in rudimentary settlements, accepting their role as sword-fodder for the warbands who still roam the country hunting for food and pillaging for treasure.
I felt engaged really quickly with the protagonist, Eskkar, as he struggled against his own demons and ag More...
Feb 05, 2009
Steve
rated it:
Dawn of Empire takes place on the Tigris during the Bronze Age after people have started living in villages. A barbarian who was lucky enough to survive his family being wiped out after his father offended the leader years later is a soldier in a large village on the Tigris. The barbarian's former clan is on the move and in several months time will be at the village to rape, murder, enslave, and burn.
The captain of the guard skedaddled and our hero is asked by one of the 5 village rulers i More...
The captain of the guard skedaddled and our hero is asked by one of the 5 village rulers i More...
Dec 05, 2008
Graham
rated it:
I read DAWN OF EMPIRE just when I was getting into historical novels and boy, am I glad I did! It's an absolutely fantastic tale, based thousands of years ago and detailing the clash between barbarianism and society.
At its heart, DAWN OF EMPIRE is a stunning Boy's Own adventure. Siege stories have always been a favourite of mine, and this one does everything right: the action is very well drawn, characters larger than life, the story fast paced with lots of twists and turns. The nove More...
At its heart, DAWN OF EMPIRE is a stunning Boy's Own adventure. Siege stories have always been a favourite of mine, and this one does everything right: the action is very well drawn, characters larger than life, the story fast paced with lots of twists and turns. The nove More...
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Mar 14, 2010
Ben
rated it: 
Thanks owed to What's the Name of That Book??? for finding this book based on my poor memory of what it was about when I read it the first time years ago.
Dawn of Empire delivers on its promise of an action-filled battle for survival against barbarians from the steppes. The strategy that goes into designing defences for Orak, from its crucial wall to the ditch in front and the archers behind, is impressive. Also impressive is the inherent conflict in the ideologies of the steppes pe More...
Dawn of Empire delivers on its promise of an action-filled battle for survival against barbarians from the steppes. The strategy that goes into designing defences for Orak, from its crucial wall to the ditch in front and the archers behind, is impressive. Also impressive is the inherent conflict in the ideologies of the steppes pe More...
Oct 25, 2009
Jerome
rated it:
I seriously doubt how closely it fits with a realistic vision of ancient history. I know I'm not an expert on ancient history, but there are too many things in the book that seem to be ahead of their time from how I understand what life must have been like in 3000BC (bronze being so commonly used for everything, Eskkar inventing much of castle warfare for the next 4000+ years over a period of 6 months,...). Whatever the case, as I was reading the book, I did not feel part of another time period
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Dec 13, 2011
Sandy
rated it:
I like ancient history and enjoyed this conjecture on how walled cities first developed in Mesopotamia (which is a Greek word, not Sumerian, Akkadian or Babylonian. Oh well) Lots of warfare, slashing, stabbing, etc... some torture (yuck) and somewhat clumsy sex scenes. In general, I liked being given a picture of what life may have been like at a critical point in the development of modern civilization.
Dec 04, 2009
Jessi
rated it:
I FINALLY finished this book. The positive points is the fun of getting into the mentality of the ancient way of life before cities were able to survive. How a broken arm on the battlefield can be a death sentence, the role of women and men, and the structure of different classes of people (from roaming clans to farming clans). The negative, there is WAY TOO much talking in the book. First the characters talk about what they're going to talk about, then they talk about it, then they talk abo
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Sep 12, 2011
Karla
rated it:
I always say that Historical fiction writers are the best around, because it takes a lot of investigation and search to be able to get the story in the right timeline with the right details, as not to change the trail in history. But Barone did an excelent job.
Although this type of book isn't my type, and to be honest, i didn't like it much, it was amazingly written. He did a great job!!
Although this type of book isn't my type, and to be honest, i didn't like it much, it was amazingly written. He did a great job!!
May 15, 2010
Liviu
rated it:
A little bit unexpectedly I liked this one - the story of Eskkar who rises from a "renegade barbarian mercenary" to the one hope of his adopted settled people against his former steppes tribe and of Trella a young slave of noble origins who teaches Esskar how to lead in peace and not only in war. Exquisite world building and great characters
Aug 18, 2011
Jessica
rated it:
I enjoyed this book, and actually found myself slightly emotionally involved toward the end. If you enjoy historical fiction, this era (ancient Mesopotamia) isn't covered much, so this was a very interesting read, to see how things might have developed in those lands in 3000 BC....I personally enjoyed it. Maybe a few too many battles for me, and as a girl, it's hard to get into those sometimes, but I liked it.
Oct 30, 2011
Dennis
rated it:
I was intrigued by this book and inspired me to learn more about the beginnings of human civilization and city fortresses; historical fiction that this book was built on.
Jul 27, 2010
Martin
rated it:
Bought this book by coincidence in the bookstore, I am glad I did as I really enjoyed the book. Normally I read a lot of science fiction and space books, so it was nice to read something more down to earth.
May 30, 2009
Ross
rated it:
Book about the first walled city in Mesopotamia. Not bad but I couldn't get attached to any of the characters.
Jul 29, 2011
Nicole
rated it:
I thought it was kind of horrible. Very cheesy dialogue, very stereotypical characters. Entertaining enough.
Feb 17, 2010
Anna
rated it:
Meh. I stopped reading somewhere after page 50. The main characters were flat and uninteresting. Barone's writing was so-so. I stopped caring.
Aug 08, 2008
Steve
rated it:
In my quest to continue further and further back into history, I found this entertaining fictional series of true historical figure Sargon of Akkad and the beginning of the Akkadian Empire, which reigned in Sumeria and Mesopotania (modern day Irag)for many centuries beginning around 3000 BC. Interesting thus far for its coverage of how the first walled settlements began to change us from hunters and gatherers to farmers and townspeople.
Sep 22, 2008
Sue
rated it:
I was absolutely entranced by this book. It is written as historical fiction, the beginning of civilized communities, at about 3200 B.C.E. in the area of Mesopotamia. Fascinating look into lives of common folk, farmers, city dwellers, nobles, slaves. Riviting action throughout. Wonderful cast of characters. I highly reccomend this book.
Dec 30, 2010
Angie
rated it:
I picked this book up from the discount table so I didn't really expect much. I was pleasantly surprised! It was a bit long, but gave great examples of leadership and planning while telling about a historical event. It also showed how people who are determined can change things.
Jun 30, 2008
Devin
rated it:
Well written historical novel on an interesting subject: Creation of the first walled city. The story flows so quickly I couldn't put it down. An unexpected plus is the author's great insight into the qualities necessary for leadership. Worth reading for that alone.
Dec 23, 2011
John
rated it:
Great book! First historical fiction I've read in a while that I really enjoyed. Can't wait to read the sequel -
Feb 01, 2008
Jeffrey
rated it:
I liked this book a lot. This is a good story set in a period of history not usually written about. I was hoping for the history in the book to be a little less vague, but it was interesting.
Oct 28, 2007
James
rated it:
A bit repetitive and stalled for a few chapters. Simple setting demonstrating elements of different cultures. Looking forward to seeing where he takes it in the sequel Empire Rising.
Apr 22, 2009
Cynthia
rated it:
Didn't like this book very much. Author had a very stiff style of writing, I felt the characters were cardboard-like. He did seem to have done his research. Not for me.
Apr 30, 2011
Dee
rated it:
I just reread this book because there is now a 3rd one out. I really liked it. It is a historical war novel, but with a story unlike any I have read before.
