Soldier of Rome: The Legionary: A Novel of the Twentieth Legion During the Campaigns of Germanicus Caesar

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Soldier of Rome: The Legionary: A Novel of the Twentieth Legion During the Campaigns of Germanicus Caesar (The Artorian Chronicles #1)

by James Mace (Goodreads Author)

3.71 · rating details · 21 ratings · 9 reviews

"Rome's Vengeance"

In the year A.D. 9, three Roman Legions under Quintilius Varus were betrayed by the Germanic war chief, Arminius, and then destroyed in the forest known as Teutoburger Wald. Six years later, Rome is finally ready to unleash Her vengeance on the barbarians. The Emperor Tiberius has sent Germanicus Caesar, his adopted son, into Germania with an ar

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Paperback, 312 pages

Published November 17th 2006 by iUniverse

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Nov 15, 2011

Heavensent1 rated it

Soldier of Rome: The Legionary is Book One of The Artorian Chronicles.

In A.D. 9, three Roman Legions under the leadership of Quintilius Varus were almost annihilated by the treacherous Germanic War Chief, Arminius. The Legions were being rallied to go take care of some Barbarian upheavals and while marching through Teutoburger Wald, the betrayal of Arminius is released and almost all of the men are destroyed.

However, a few of them managed to fight their way to freedom while...moreSoldier of Rome: The Legionary is Book One of The Artorian Chronicles.

In A.D. 9, three Roman Legions under the leadership of Quintilius Varus were almost annihilated by the treacherous Germanic War Chief, Arminius. The Legions were being rallied to go take care of some Barbarian upheavals and while marching through Teutoburger Wald, the betrayal of Arminius is released and almost all of the men are destroyed.

However, a few of them managed to fight their way to freedom while watching and hearing the fighting of their comrades and the murders of their families as they desparately try to overcome the dangerous surroundings in which they were lead. Feeling shame and degradation, the few remaining survivors return to their keep and are surprised to be welcomed with open arms and asked to return to their places of honour amongst the Legionnaires.

Six years later, the whole of Rome is ready for its revenge on the Teutoburger Wald massacre, and none more so than Artorius, who was nine at the time his brother, Metellus was killed during the raid. Artorius has vowed from that day that he would do all that he could to be the best Legionnaire there is in order to exact the punishment the Germanic warriors and their families deserve.

With skill and strength, Artorius continues to prove his worth and exact his revenge, rising amongst his comrades thru the ranks. His skill on the battlefield cannot be matched and his focus is true, oftentimes his guilt racks him for the suffering he has caused; he reminds himself of the atrocities the Germans had done to his own kind and his vigor is renewed.

I would give this a three and a half stars out of five. I thought it was decently written however, there seemed to lack something, in which I am unable to pinpoint, but something was lacking in the descriptions of the battles, which were too short in some instances, and the interaction with the characters.

I enjoyed Artorius and most of the Legionnaires, it was very interesting to read what life could have been like for those who have made war their life. The training involved seemed intense and vigorous and the nights cold and lonely. The reason to exact revenge was believable and you could feel for some of the warriors as they reminisced about that day in history.

I thought Tiberius and Germanicus were well written and they added a flavourful appeal to the story, giving us a look at all sides of the Roman campaigns, from the Ceasar down to the lowliest military rank. I enjoyed the descriptions of the military ranks and the author was kind enough to include a glossary of terms, for those who need to be refreshed as to each of the attributes found within the Roman Legions. As well, we are given historical time lines in order to either further research what you have read or to keep track of where the story is compared to our own history of the times.

I would recommend this to anyone who loves a good military read from an ancient band of warriors who have amassed themselves in our mainstream, reminding us of the valour and bravery of the men of old. There are many graphic battle scenes so it is not for the weak of heart, the swearing involved is of modern terms and bothered me a little, not that I was there to know, but I don't think they used the terms of today back in A.D. 15. I would've liked to have seen the true expletives that they would have used instead of today's modern slang. I believe that James Mace has a decent backbone in which to continue with this series and I look forward to reading more!(less)

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Aug 07, 2011

Sensitivemuse rated it

· review of another edition

Before I go further into reviewing this book, I am going to say, it’s a “guys” book. No fancy schmancy romantic war ideas, no going back to a tear stained love interest who was waiting for him to come back home or silly sappy love drama to make you cringe, etc etc you get the hint. This is full on brutal war descriptions, with the emphasis on brotherhood and fighting together against all odds.

The author did a really good job with his homework in making this book as historically accur...moreBefore I go further into reviewing this book, I am going to say, it’s a “guys” book. No fancy schmancy romantic war ideas, no going back to a tear stained love interest who was waiting for him to come back home or silly sappy love drama to make you cringe, etc etc you get the hint. This is full on brutal war descriptions, with the emphasis on brotherhood and fighting together against all odds.

The author did a really good job with his homework in making this book as historically accurate as possible, even providing footnotes, and where he got them from. I liked the amount of historical detail put into this book so every little moment was easily pictured, and descriptions of Roman military tactics, their weapons, and how they fought was well written. The plot was simple, and although it has been done before, it still served as a good basic story to introduce Artorius to the reader.

His development as a soldier was well done, although one could only assume the worst as it seemed that Artorius just got more angrier throughout the novel. The other characters in the book served as just supporting cast, although I wish there was more to them - although some had distinct personalities (Valens with his women, Magnus and his Northern ancestry) I wish there was just more development with them as I wanted to know more about these other characters too. It is a brutal book, battle scenes are written with extreme detail and the amount of violence is high. Although realistic because war is never something to be taken lightly, the sheer brutality of it described in this book may deter the readers from reading this.

The only other criticism I could see, is some readers might thing the testosterone level in this book really reaches its’ limits. It might be a turn off for some, I didn’t mind as it did seem obvious this book does cater to the male demographic. (Let’s just say, Artorius turns out to be a very very frustrated man, har har).

I thought it was very well done, and I want to keep reading the rest of this series. I’d like to know what happens next! I greatly recommend this to others who are fond of military history, or who love a good book about Ancient Rome.(less)

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Oct 09, 2011

Valentina rated it

It’s not often you find a book about Roman soldiers that is not a textbook. It seems like a hard subject to move over into fiction, but this book was handled relatively well.
The story revolves Artorius, a young man who trains to become a legionary in the army. There are a lot of interesting details about Roman life, mainly about military training, which would be interesting for lovers of history. The quantity of fight scenes are well-executed, with the right amount of tension affecting the...more

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Aug 17, 2011

Laura Ashlee rated it

Shelves: 2011

Review posted 8/11/2011 at Owl Tell You About It.

Rich in history with a narrative style. I was amazed by how authentic it felt. Mace definitely did his research. He turned a historical event into an epic story by adding fictional details and weaving extra devices in the plot: characters to relate to, a quest for vengeance and justice, appropriately descriptive writing.

Artorius is a great character. He has a lot of spirit and fierce loyalty for those he loves (as long as t...moreReview posted 8/11/2011 at Owl Tell You About It.

Rich in history with a narrative style. I was amazed by how authentic it felt. Mace definitely did his research. He turned a historical event into an epic story by adding fictional details and weaving extra devices in the plot: characters to relate to, a quest for vengeance and justice, appropriately descriptive writing.

Artorius is a great character. He has a lot of spirit and fierce loyalty for those he loves (as long as they're loyal to him). After the initial re-telling of the battle of the Teutoburger Forest, the book follows Artorius through training with a detail that only a soldier could understand. I can only imagine that Mace's military background is helpful in recounting the vigorous training one goes though to become a soldier. And even then, I imagine it was much worse for Roman soldiers than it is for the U.S. military today. The book gives great insight into military life. It interesting to think about what might have remained the same in military training and what the Romans might have done.

The book progresses through their journey and into the battle itself, laying out military strategy. Again, things only a soldier could really understand. Mace does a terrific job of using those elements to create a great narrative. It was interesting to watch Artorios grow from a boy into a man, and his brothers in the Legion were really good addition to the story. Mace wrote them well.

There are some little extras at the beginning of the book that are very helpful: a cast list of characters, explanations of ranks in the Roman military, and blood lines and family trees. It's all pretty necessary to keep things straight. Since we don't use Latin names anymore, it can be a little confusing. The cast list is particularly helpful.

It's not exactly something I would choose for myself while out book shopping, but I didn't have any difficulty getting into it. I like historical stuff, and I spent a semester of college reading nothing but combat narratives for an English class, so I like reading about war now and then. If you're into historical fiction or combat narratives, you should try this one out. It's well-written and full of great characters, but remains grounded in Roman history.

Prude Filter: This book contains profanity, brutal violence, sexual content, and references to rape. I think it's more of an adult book, but I could see a mature teen doing well with it, too.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book from the author. I did not receive any payment in exchange for this review nor was I obligated to write a positive one. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. (less)

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Aug 27, 2011

Pepca rated it

The main quality of this book is in its historical accuracy fictionalised into a well-told story. James Mace combines his military expertise with historical facts to present an evidently thoroughly researched subject in an appealing way.

Soldier of Rome: The Legionary is a book about Roman defeat and retaliation in Teutoburger forest, but most of all it is a presentation of what the author calls the Roman war machine – a Roman legion as a whole and a legionary as an individual – the k...moreThe main quality of this book is in its historical accuracy fictionalised into a well-told story. James Mace combines his military expertise with historical facts to present an evidently thoroughly researched subject in an appealing way.

Soldier of Rome: The Legionary is a book about Roman defeat and retaliation in Teutoburger forest, but most of all it is a presentation of what the author calls the Roman war machine – a Roman legion as a whole and a legionary as an individual – the key element for the supremacy of the ancient Rome in the then known world.

The life of the legionaries, from training to everyday life during peace, war, and festivities is presented in details, as we follow the story of Artorius from his boyhood to becoming an accomplished member of a legion.

I have mixed feelings about Artorius as a character. He is a complex character in the true sense of the word, making the reader hate him, love him, admire him, despise him, and sympathise with him. The loss of his older brother in Teutoburger Wald and consequential death of their mother when he was a young boy affects Artorius with grave sadness which develops into a burning vindictiveness. He grows up with one goal only – to join the legion and avenge his brother.

However, his growing-up starts anew when he begins the training of a legionary. Soon he learns that any accomplishment depends not only on his abilities but primarily on working together with his colleagues. I see a Roman legion, as presented in this book, as a perfect example of a society bringing together the importance of an individual and of a community. Great accomplishments and progress of the civilization are possible only when people can thrive as individuals while they contribute their effort to the joint goals of the community.

Artorius soon learns to put the common goals first in order to achieve his own goal. His blind vindictiveness is contrasted by a necessity to follow orders and by empathy for the innocent people. A conflict between ethics and executing orders is raised in this book, too, but as in life it has no conclusive solution. Nevertheless, James Mace puts it very well: “The army is only as noble and honourable as the men who serve in it.”

Another great discrepancy in this book is between the attitude of the legionaries towards their wives, mothers, and daughters and the women of their enemies, and prostitutes. I find Artorius’s behaviour towards his ex-lover Camilla, although she is not a likable character, especially disturbing and intolerable.

James Mace does not spare the reader with violence and atrocities of warfare. The cruelties from both sides are equally represented, as well as the viewpoints upon the same things from the Romans and the Germanic tribes, the common soldiers and their leaders.

There is a lot of specific terminology, which makes the book somewhat slow to read. The glossary the author includes at the beginning of the book is very helpful to clear some confusion while reading. Apart from this and a very few grammatical errors and typos, Soldier of Rome: The Legionary is a good book with quite a straightforward, but capturing plotline.

RECOMMENDATION: This book provides one of the best presentations of Roman military I have ever read. I recommend it to anyone interested in history of ancient Rome, especially in the structure and functioning of its legions, if you can bear graphic descriptions of violence.

3.5/5 stars(less)

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Jul 04, 2011

Freda mans rated it

Are you a fan of movies like The Ten Commandments, Cleopatra or Laurence of Arabia? If you answered yes, then you will probably enjoy this book.
For me, it was just like watching a movie on the Roman Empire, though there were many new characters to me, even though they are reality based.
Lots of action and edge-of-your-seat battles, that keep an avid reader interested.
My only gripe is the bland way it was written. The words came together to tell a story, but getting there was long a...more

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Jun 30, 2011

Britt, Book Habitue rated it

Shelves: virtual-book-tours

I hate gender stereotyping books, but this is really a guy's book. Didn't work for me.

Story needed tightening and overall better editing would have been a plus, but really it was the violence and brutality that killed it for me. (No pun intended there.)

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Jun 14, 2008

Liviu rated it

Shelves: mainstream

This is a self-published novel full of typos and written in a pedestrian style, but it captures perfectly the soldier life in the roman legions under Augustus as far as we know it from historical records. Add to that interesting characters, superb battle scenes and a very nuanced and most likely closer to truth portrait of Tiberius than in Robert Graves and the classical historians and the book gets five stars from me and I am in for the series as long as it keeps delivering similar novel...more

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Jul 23, 2008

Wullie Mcmartin rated it

ehm it was ok...

the action is good but the dialogue is a bit naff at points. enough to make me read the second book.

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Dec 29, 2011

Sterling Gate Books rated it

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About James Mace

James Mace is a historical novelist and screenplay writer. He has written four books so far in the series Soldier of Rome - The Artorian Chronicles, with the fifth expected out next year. In addition, he has written short novella based around the series, "Centurion Valens and the Empress of Death". He also co-wrote the critically acclaimed screenplay, "The Evil That Men Do".
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More about James Mace...

Books by James Mace

Soldier of Rome: The Sacrovir Revolt: A Novel of the Twentieth Legion During the Rebellion of Sacrovir and Florus

Centurion Valens and the Empress of Death

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“Only remember this: to seek justice is a good and noble thing, to seek revenge out of hatred is something that wiil devour your very soul.” — 2 people liked it

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Soldier of Rome: The Legionary: A Novel of the Twentieth Legion During the Campaigns of Germanicus Caesar (The Artorian Chronicles #1)

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