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Attila Trilogy #1
Attila: The Scourge of God
'The end of the world will come from the East'
A stunning historical novel - the first in an epic trilogy about the rise and fall of one of history's greatest villains.
The dawn of the 5th century AD, and the Roman Empire totters on the edge of the abyss. Already divided into two, the Imperium is looking dangerously vulnerable to her European rivals. The huge barbarian tribes of the Vandals and Visigoths sense that their time is upon them.
But, unbeknownst to all these great players, a new power is rising in the East. A strange nation of primitive horse-warriors has been striking terror on border peoples for fifty years. But few realise what is about to happen. For these so called 'Huns' now have a new leader. And his name is Attila - 'the Scourge of God'.
Thus begins a saga of warfare, lust and power which brought the whole of the Christian world to its knees - and ended in blood on the fields of France. It is a story of two men: Attila the Hun and Aetius the Roman. One who wanted to destroy the world, and one who fought one final battle to save it...
A stunning historical novel - the first in an epic trilogy about the rise and fall of one of history's greatest villains.
The dawn of the 5th century AD, and the Roman Empire totters on the edge of the abyss. Already divided into two, the Imperium is looking dangerously vulnerable to her European rivals. The huge barbarian tribes of the Vandals and Visigoths sense that their time is upon them.
But, unbeknownst to all these great players, a new power is rising in the East. A strange nation of primitive horse-warriors has been striking terror on border peoples for fifty years. But few realise what is about to happen. For these so called 'Huns' now have a new leader. And his name is Attila - 'the Scourge of God'.
Thus begins a saga of warfare, lust and power which brought the whole of the Christian world to its knees - and ended in blood on the fields of France. It is a story of two men: Attila the Hun and Aetius the Roman. One who wanted to destroy the world, and one who fought one final battle to save it...
480 pages, Paperback
First published May 3, 2007
55 people are currently reading
2158 people want to read
About the author
William Napier
50 books61 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
A pseudonym of Christopher Hart
Christopher Hart (born 1965) is an English novelist and journalist.
He was educated at Cheltenham College (expelled), Leicester University (dropped out), Oxford Polytechnic and Birkbeck College, London, where he completed a PhD on W.B.Yeats.
Under his original name he has written two contemporary novels, The Harvest and Rescue Me. Since 2001, he has written four historical novels under the pseudonym of William Napier, the last three a best-selling trilogy about Attila the Hun and the Fall of the Roman Empire.
As a journalist he has worked as Literary Editor of the Erotic Review (magazine folded) and Agony Aunt for Time Out (sacked.) He currently writes regularly for the Sunday Times, where he is lead theatre critic, and the Daily Mail.
A pseudonym of Christopher Hart
Christopher Hart (born 1965) is an English novelist and journalist.
He was educated at Cheltenham College (expelled), Leicester University (dropped out), Oxford Polytechnic and Birkbeck College, London, where he completed a PhD on W.B.Yeats.
Under his original name he has written two contemporary novels, The Harvest and Rescue Me. Since 2001, he has written four historical novels under the pseudonym of William Napier, the last three a best-selling trilogy about Attila the Hun and the Fall of the Roman Empire.
As a journalist he has worked as Literary Editor of the Erotic Review (magazine folded) and Agony Aunt for Time Out (sacked.) He currently writes regularly for the Sunday Times, where he is lead theatre critic, and the Daily Mail.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews
March 23, 2018
Rome C AD408 is laid out to us as an Empire on the edge of collapse, it’s allies the Huns alongside Roman forces under the command of General Stilicho defeat the barbarian hordes & Rome is saved (for now).
The players are thus introduced, one being a hostage, that of Attila as a boy in Rome alongside other barbarian leaders sons, his grandfather King Uldin (of the Huns) having just fought alongside the Romans. General Stilicho & his wife Serena are a coupla who feature in Attila’s life, somewhat surrogate parents to him in an otherwise hostile environment. The Emperor & Princess Galla are front & centre in Attila’s world too along with various others namely a servant & a soldier, all who have some way influenced a young Attila as we read of his early life at the hands of Rome. Other hostages, namely the Vandal Princes Gesaric & Beric become his protagonists, they appearing in a few scenes.
So what else happens.....?
The sack of Rome by Alaric of the Goths is covered in the period but only through the eyes of a travelling Roman soldier (lieutenant which is a rank I don’t recognise as being Roman tbh) & not really done in any detail... its jus mentioned which is an omission I think.
The character of Attila is well played & I warmed to him instantly, strong, wilful & mindful of his roots whilst in the belly of Rome, certainly not seduced by its trappings as other hostages appear to be. Always distrustful, listening & gathering intelligence all the while, making plans to escape, its all believable as part of the story. Its the only part of the story, at it’s ending, that I truly enjoyed.
Some parts contain mystical nonsense which don’t really fit in with the story but perhaps fit with the superstitious nature of the period, some are a little fantastical though. A Druid, shaman & witch all make appearances & have to say I mostly cringed when I read those excerpts, expecting unicorns or cave trolls to pop outta the mist at any moment.......
The part about the Huns was quite interesting & probably the only part where you felt immersed in the period & the people. The Romans could have been from any era especially the soldiering element.
As you can derive from the last statement I did expect a little more historical detail. As for its substance, in truth I found it a similar read to the Simon Scarrow Macro & Cato series (even the Centurion in it is called Marco!), not great depth or intrigue but good fun nevertheless...... not a read that takes itself to seriously. The author even nicks a coupla immortal lines from the film Zulu during a battle scene!
Quite a contrast throughout the book, sometimes the historical detail is there & the context is sound at others its a boys own adventure whilst in patches it’s puerile crassness. Bit of a mash-up I’m trying to say but for the most part it did hold my attention & i would give it 3.25 stars for an enjoyable enough romp, although not the historical content I had expected or was looking for, rounded down to a 3.
The players are thus introduced, one being a hostage, that of Attila as a boy in Rome alongside other barbarian leaders sons, his grandfather King Uldin (of the Huns) having just fought alongside the Romans. General Stilicho & his wife Serena are a coupla who feature in Attila’s life, somewhat surrogate parents to him in an otherwise hostile environment. The Emperor & Princess Galla are front & centre in Attila’s world too along with various others namely a servant & a soldier, all who have some way influenced a young Attila as we read of his early life at the hands of Rome. Other hostages, namely the Vandal Princes Gesaric & Beric become his protagonists, they appearing in a few scenes.
So what else happens.....?
The sack of Rome by Alaric of the Goths is covered in the period but only through the eyes of a travelling Roman soldier (lieutenant which is a rank I don’t recognise as being Roman tbh) & not really done in any detail... its jus mentioned which is an omission I think.
The character of Attila is well played & I warmed to him instantly, strong, wilful & mindful of his roots whilst in the belly of Rome, certainly not seduced by its trappings as other hostages appear to be. Always distrustful, listening & gathering intelligence all the while, making plans to escape, its all believable as part of the story. Its the only part of the story, at it’s ending, that I truly enjoyed.
Some parts contain mystical nonsense which don’t really fit in with the story but perhaps fit with the superstitious nature of the period, some are a little fantastical though. A Druid, shaman & witch all make appearances & have to say I mostly cringed when I read those excerpts, expecting unicorns or cave trolls to pop outta the mist at any moment.......
The part about the Huns was quite interesting & probably the only part where you felt immersed in the period & the people. The Romans could have been from any era especially the soldiering element.
As you can derive from the last statement I did expect a little more historical detail. As for its substance, in truth I found it a similar read to the Simon Scarrow Macro & Cato series (even the Centurion in it is called Marco!), not great depth or intrigue but good fun nevertheless...... not a read that takes itself to seriously. The author even nicks a coupla immortal lines from the film Zulu during a battle scene!
Quite a contrast throughout the book, sometimes the historical detail is there & the context is sound at others its a boys own adventure whilst in patches it’s puerile crassness. Bit of a mash-up I’m trying to say but for the most part it did hold my attention & i would give it 3.25 stars for an enjoyable enough romp, although not the historical content I had expected or was looking for, rounded down to a 3.
May 28, 2019
since i was a boy i was fascinated by Attila the Hun. amazing story about his rise from boyhood to bloody battles. there is enough history around to keep it not just gripping novel
August 19, 2020
Primera parte de una trilogía sobre Atila, rey de los hunos, centrada sobre todo en sus primeros años. Encontramos a Atila de niño viviendo en Roma como rehén para asegurar la alianza entre su tribu y el Imperio romano, que los convertía en tropas auxiliares para repeler las invasiones bárbaras - estamos a principio del siglo V y Roma ya vislumbra su final en el próximo horizonte.
Es interesante toda la descripción del modo de vida romano a través de los ojos del joven Atila y el contraste que representa con su mentalidad y sus costumbres. Vemos su evolución cuando finalmente logra reunirse con su tribu de la que había estado tanto tiempo separado.
Tengo que decir que es una buena novela histórica, pero a pesar de ser un tema que me apasiona, no ha llenado completamente mis expectativas. Quizá, al estar planificada como una trilogía, dilata excesivamente los años de juventud y en algún momento el tempo narrativo se hace lento.
En cualquier caso, una obra interesante sobre una época poco conocida.
Es interesante toda la descripción del modo de vida romano a través de los ojos del joven Atila y el contraste que representa con su mentalidad y sus costumbres. Vemos su evolución cuando finalmente logra reunirse con su tribu de la que había estado tanto tiempo separado.
Tengo que decir que es una buena novela histórica, pero a pesar de ser un tema que me apasiona, no ha llenado completamente mis expectativas. Quizá, al estar planificada como una trilogía, dilata excesivamente los años de juventud y en algún momento el tempo narrativo se hace lento.
En cualquier caso, una obra interesante sobre una época poco conocida.
February 7, 2013
Ambitious enough that I’m going on with the trilogy.
Yes, Attila is a fighting fourteen at the end of this. Or sixteen, I forget. In the beginning he was twelve and the Romans and the tall barbarians of Europe took him for seven or eight, because of his Hun stature. The Huns are very much Mongol-type here, their physical selves disturbing to the Romans; they hark back to the Altai Mountains and Lake Baikal, and he clearly goes with the theory that these were the ‘Huns’ the Chinese knew. He’s a novelist not a scholar, and he likes a wide canvas, and that suits his story.
Most of Rome’s defenders are ex-barbarians, of one tribe or another; again and again people say, ‘Who’s a real Roman nowadays? The barbarians are Rome.’ Attila is a precious hostage, a guarantee of peace, along with princes or chief’s sons from other peoples. Most of these foreign hostages Rome corrupts; for this is a corrupt and rotten Rome, and he lays on the decadence, which disgusts our young Attila, who pines for the simple life and freedom of the steppe.
The novel doesn’t follow only a teenage lad; we visit the lives of soldiers and defenders and see the crumbling of the edifice. There is Alaric to invade, while Attila’s still in short pants; the scope of the trilogy seems to be ‘the fall of Rome’, not just the life of Attila. I don’t call this first book background, or even context, I call it the big canvas.
On the Huns themselves, though. As of yet they are Rome’s allies, and Stilicho, one of the last heroes of old Rome, urges that they need never be enemies. Roman civilization has nothing to offer them, ‘they do not envy us’. Napier needs a trilogy, not only to survey the state of Rome but to have the Huns at this start-point, and end where they end. It might be a cautionary tale, in that the Romans mistreat them; we see enough inner disloyalty, Romans’ treachery to Romans or Rome’s cause, through this first book, and after Attila’s adventures here the Huns have a grievance.
As for Attila, if he comes across over-clever, he was very clever, he seems to have been a brain. What with the massive contempt he faces in Rome, for his person and his Mongoloid looks and for his people, a very physical type of prejudice, he seethes with hatred, but he always meets a kindness with a kindness. Loyalty is holy to him. They debate what sort of sense of honour barbarians have – frontier soldiers who know their barbarians – the Goths, for instance, have their unique code of behaviour in war. The Huns too have a different but a strong ethic.
When at last we go among the Huns, I was a trifle let down. Hunnish society has largely to be guesswork, and I didn’t care for a couple of his guesses. In the future novels, I hope he doesn’t give me too much of the subservient women and the men who may express no emotion but rage. A Hun ambassador wonders at the clout allowed to Galla Placida, a woman? If I were to piece together a Hun society from steppe cultures, and contrast to Rome, I’d have done that the other way round. I hope he lets me stay on the Huns’ side, where I am.
There were faults of execution, I felt. But the concept and the story – the width of story – interest me and I enjoyed most. I’d drop a hint that his study of Yeats comes out, but that’d put people off, and give you a false impression, because the writing isn’t what they call poetic or nothing. There is a verve to it; there’s amusement now and then; and he knows how to tell a concentrated short tragedy of a fight. Early on I was grimacing at cliches, but either that cleared up or I forgot to notice, caught up in the story.
Yes, Attila is a fighting fourteen at the end of this. Or sixteen, I forget. In the beginning he was twelve and the Romans and the tall barbarians of Europe took him for seven or eight, because of his Hun stature. The Huns are very much Mongol-type here, their physical selves disturbing to the Romans; they hark back to the Altai Mountains and Lake Baikal, and he clearly goes with the theory that these were the ‘Huns’ the Chinese knew. He’s a novelist not a scholar, and he likes a wide canvas, and that suits his story.
Most of Rome’s defenders are ex-barbarians, of one tribe or another; again and again people say, ‘Who’s a real Roman nowadays? The barbarians are Rome.’ Attila is a precious hostage, a guarantee of peace, along with princes or chief’s sons from other peoples. Most of these foreign hostages Rome corrupts; for this is a corrupt and rotten Rome, and he lays on the decadence, which disgusts our young Attila, who pines for the simple life and freedom of the steppe.
The novel doesn’t follow only a teenage lad; we visit the lives of soldiers and defenders and see the crumbling of the edifice. There is Alaric to invade, while Attila’s still in short pants; the scope of the trilogy seems to be ‘the fall of Rome’, not just the life of Attila. I don’t call this first book background, or even context, I call it the big canvas.
On the Huns themselves, though. As of yet they are Rome’s allies, and Stilicho, one of the last heroes of old Rome, urges that they need never be enemies. Roman civilization has nothing to offer them, ‘they do not envy us’. Napier needs a trilogy, not only to survey the state of Rome but to have the Huns at this start-point, and end where they end. It might be a cautionary tale, in that the Romans mistreat them; we see enough inner disloyalty, Romans’ treachery to Romans or Rome’s cause, through this first book, and after Attila’s adventures here the Huns have a grievance.
As for Attila, if he comes across over-clever, he was very clever, he seems to have been a brain. What with the massive contempt he faces in Rome, for his person and his Mongoloid looks and for his people, a very physical type of prejudice, he seethes with hatred, but he always meets a kindness with a kindness. Loyalty is holy to him. They debate what sort of sense of honour barbarians have – frontier soldiers who know their barbarians – the Goths, for instance, have their unique code of behaviour in war. The Huns too have a different but a strong ethic.
When at last we go among the Huns, I was a trifle let down. Hunnish society has largely to be guesswork, and I didn’t care for a couple of his guesses. In the future novels, I hope he doesn’t give me too much of the subservient women and the men who may express no emotion but rage. A Hun ambassador wonders at the clout allowed to Galla Placida, a woman? If I were to piece together a Hun society from steppe cultures, and contrast to Rome, I’d have done that the other way round. I hope he lets me stay on the Huns’ side, where I am.
There were faults of execution, I felt. But the concept and the story – the width of story – interest me and I enjoyed most. I’d drop a hint that his study of Yeats comes out, but that’d put people off, and give you a false impression, because the writing isn’t what they call poetic or nothing. There is a verve to it; there’s amusement now and then; and he knows how to tell a concentrated short tragedy of a fight. Early on I was grimacing at cliches, but either that cleared up or I forgot to notice, caught up in the story.
February 19, 2013
The first thing you should know if you are thinking about reading this book, or indeed purchasing it, is that it is not adult Attila. This is William Napier's interpretation of Attila's childhood. This book is about little Attila.
If you want Attila as a full force barbarian adult, uniting tribes and giving Romans the fright of their lives, then this is not the book for you. Book Two and Book Three are the books for you (or so I hear as I have only read this one, to date) and I would recommend you read this first book and accept it for what it is. The story of a child, a small, feisty, quiet, sullen, ferocious child. As he dwells with the Romans as a hostage and then later as a small, but not as small, feisty, quiet, sullen, ferocious teenager.
As for the story itself. As presented by the author William Napier? Well I went from impressed to not so impressed, to giving up.
The writing is how I usually like it. Rich in detail and description and colourful characters. Some to hate, some to like. Where I felt it fell down was with dialogue and the occasional scene that just tried too hard to be something powerful, but turned into something that failed to match the quality of other sections of the book. There was also a tendency for William Napier to play to his strengths, 'description', only he would go too far. Get carried away with himself and churn out some descriptions that were a little desperate or over the top.
The dialogue on occasion was modern. There was too much swearing, which does not help the reader slip from real life to the historical world portrayed in the story. It was not uncommon to find a character saying variations of the F word three or more times in one spurt of dialogue that may be only two short sentences long. I can tolerate the odd modern swear word in a historical fiction, but not so frequently that it feels like I am down the pub on a Friday night.
These scenes and dialogue that let the rest of the book down finally got to me and I ended up skim reading the final 100 pages or so of the book. I am told that in the section that I skim read there was actually some fantasy leaking in. Now, I am fine with fantasy elements such as supernatural if it can be rationally explained by the reader, but apparently this fantasy part was not rational or explainable. It was true fantasy. I wish authors would not do that to straight historical fiction. It loses a lot of readers and can ruin a story. Especially if it is in the last quarter of a book.
For all of these reasons - but mostly because I lost interest enough for me to not want me to go on - I nearly gave it 2 stars. Only I had to consider the fact that I was also in a rush to finish it. I was on a tight schedule. Perhaps if I had not been, I would not have skim read the final 100 pages and I would have continued to 'just' like it.
3 stars (out of 5) to me means that I like a book. I don't have to really like it, that could mean 'just' like it, and as far as Attila by William Napier is concerned, I did 'just' like it and maybe that is enough to want to continue to Book Two. I hope so. Only time will tell.
If you want Attila as a full force barbarian adult, uniting tribes and giving Romans the fright of their lives, then this is not the book for you. Book Two and Book Three are the books for you (or so I hear as I have only read this one, to date) and I would recommend you read this first book and accept it for what it is. The story of a child, a small, feisty, quiet, sullen, ferocious child. As he dwells with the Romans as a hostage and then later as a small, but not as small, feisty, quiet, sullen, ferocious teenager.
As for the story itself. As presented by the author William Napier? Well I went from impressed to not so impressed, to giving up.
The writing is how I usually like it. Rich in detail and description and colourful characters. Some to hate, some to like. Where I felt it fell down was with dialogue and the occasional scene that just tried too hard to be something powerful, but turned into something that failed to match the quality of other sections of the book. There was also a tendency for William Napier to play to his strengths, 'description', only he would go too far. Get carried away with himself and churn out some descriptions that were a little desperate or over the top.
The dialogue on occasion was modern. There was too much swearing, which does not help the reader slip from real life to the historical world portrayed in the story. It was not uncommon to find a character saying variations of the F word three or more times in one spurt of dialogue that may be only two short sentences long. I can tolerate the odd modern swear word in a historical fiction, but not so frequently that it feels like I am down the pub on a Friday night.
These scenes and dialogue that let the rest of the book down finally got to me and I ended up skim reading the final 100 pages or so of the book. I am told that in the section that I skim read there was actually some fantasy leaking in. Now, I am fine with fantasy elements such as supernatural if it can be rationally explained by the reader, but apparently this fantasy part was not rational or explainable. It was true fantasy. I wish authors would not do that to straight historical fiction. It loses a lot of readers and can ruin a story. Especially if it is in the last quarter of a book.
For all of these reasons - but mostly because I lost interest enough for me to not want me to go on - I nearly gave it 2 stars. Only I had to consider the fact that I was also in a rush to finish it. I was on a tight schedule. Perhaps if I had not been, I would not have skim read the final 100 pages and I would have continued to 'just' like it.
3 stars (out of 5) to me means that I like a book. I don't have to really like it, that could mean 'just' like it, and as far as Attila by William Napier is concerned, I did 'just' like it and maybe that is enough to want to continue to Book Two. I hope so. Only time will tell.
July 18, 2014
-La juventud del Azote de Dios.-
Género. Novela histórica.
Lo que nos cuenta. A finales del siglo V, cuando el Imperio Romano de Occidente ya ha caído, el anciano historiador Prisco de Panio vive en un monasterio napolitano mientras recuerda la gloria perdida de Roma y uno de sus últimos capítulos épicos, el que unió los destinos de Flavio Aecio y de Atila rodeados de guerra, conspiraciones, ambición, honor, muerte y poder. A comienzos del mismo siglo, Estilicón acaba con la amenaza del bárbaro Radagaiso y es testigo de lo letales que resultan sus nuevas tropas aliadas auxiliares, los Hunos, al mando de su rey Uldino cuyo nieto Atila es huésped en el palacio del emperador Honorio y es testigo del destino de Estilicón. Primer libro de la trilogía Atila.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
Género. Novela histórica.
Lo que nos cuenta. A finales del siglo V, cuando el Imperio Romano de Occidente ya ha caído, el anciano historiador Prisco de Panio vive en un monasterio napolitano mientras recuerda la gloria perdida de Roma y uno de sus últimos capítulos épicos, el que unió los destinos de Flavio Aecio y de Atila rodeados de guerra, conspiraciones, ambición, honor, muerte y poder. A comienzos del mismo siglo, Estilicón acaba con la amenaza del bárbaro Radagaiso y es testigo de lo letales que resultan sus nuevas tropas aliadas auxiliares, los Hunos, al mando de su rey Uldino cuyo nieto Atila es huésped en el palacio del emperador Honorio y es testigo del destino de Estilicón. Primer libro de la trilogía Atila.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
December 13, 2021
Read this book in 2007, and its the 1st volume of the "Attila" trilogy, from the author, William Napier.
This book starts in the year AD 408, and will tell about the rise of Attila from a humble Hun to a powerful and warlike Hun.
With Rome in the West on its last legs as a ruling power, it is threatened by Vandals and Visigoths alike.
In the East a new leader of men is rising, his name Attila, who wants to destroy the world, and against him will act the formidable Roman General Aetius, who wants to save the Roman Empire.
What is to follow is a very likeable tale about war, lust and power, while at the same time its a duel between two formidable men of war being, Attila and Aetius, and in this environment of destruction and death a story of survival and heroism will unfold right until the end.
Very much recommended, for this is a wonderful start to this great trilogy, and that's why I like to call this first episode: "A Very Enjoyable Attila Begin"!
This book starts in the year AD 408, and will tell about the rise of Attila from a humble Hun to a powerful and warlike Hun.
With Rome in the West on its last legs as a ruling power, it is threatened by Vandals and Visigoths alike.
In the East a new leader of men is rising, his name Attila, who wants to destroy the world, and against him will act the formidable Roman General Aetius, who wants to save the Roman Empire.
What is to follow is a very likeable tale about war, lust and power, while at the same time its a duel between two formidable men of war being, Attila and Aetius, and in this environment of destruction and death a story of survival and heroism will unfold right until the end.
Very much recommended, for this is a wonderful start to this great trilogy, and that's why I like to call this first episode: "A Very Enjoyable Attila Begin"!
July 18, 2014
-La juventud del Azote de Dios.-
Género. Novela histórica.
Lo que nos cuenta. A finales del siglo V, cuando el Imperio Romano de Occidente ya ha caído, el anciano historiador Prisco de Panio vive en un monasterio napolitano mientras recuerda la gloria perdida de Roma y uno de sus últimos capítulos épicos, el que unió los destinos de Flavio Aecio y de Atila rodeados de guerra, conspiraciones, ambición, honor, muerte y poder. A comienzos del mismo siglo, Estilicón acaba con la amenaza del bárbaro Radagaiso y es testigo de lo letales que resultan sus nuevas tropas aliadas auxiliares, los Hunos, al mando de su rey Uldino cuyo nieto Atila es huésped en el palacio del emperador Honorio y es testigo del destino de Estilicón. Primer libro de la trilogía Atila.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
Género. Novela histórica.
Lo que nos cuenta. A finales del siglo V, cuando el Imperio Romano de Occidente ya ha caído, el anciano historiador Prisco de Panio vive en un monasterio napolitano mientras recuerda la gloria perdida de Roma y uno de sus últimos capítulos épicos, el que unió los destinos de Flavio Aecio y de Atila rodeados de guerra, conspiraciones, ambición, honor, muerte y poder. A comienzos del mismo siglo, Estilicón acaba con la amenaza del bárbaro Radagaiso y es testigo de lo letales que resultan sus nuevas tropas aliadas auxiliares, los Hunos, al mando de su rey Uldino cuyo nieto Atila es huésped en el palacio del emperador Honorio y es testigo del destino de Estilicón. Primer libro de la trilogía Atila.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
June 12, 2022
Entertaining. I’d not read much about the Hun and so was a good introduction, albeit historical fiction. Looking forward to reading the next two in the series.
November 15, 2010
A decent beginning to a trilogy dealing with Attila the Hun, this first book deals with the making of the man as Attila spends his boyhood as a hostage in Rome, the treachery of whose inhabitants gives flame to his enmity and hasten his attempts to return to his people.
As a fictionalisation of Attila this does breathe life into the character, giving us a feel for him as a person rather than as a legendary historical figure, but fell down at times due to the use of language. I understand the reasoning behind having the characters speak in modern language, all the better for us to understand and identify with them, but it was at times a little jarring (I strongly doubt that Attila ever used the teenaged refrain 'whatever...' when dealing with anyone).
It was also a little disappointing not getting further on into Attila's story by the time the book ended, but as it's the first in a trilogy I suppose that was to be expected!
As a fictionalisation of Attila this does breathe life into the character, giving us a feel for him as a person rather than as a legendary historical figure, but fell down at times due to the use of language. I understand the reasoning behind having the characters speak in modern language, all the better for us to understand and identify with them, but it was at times a little jarring (I strongly doubt that Attila ever used the teenaged refrain 'whatever...' when dealing with anyone).
It was also a little disappointing not getting further on into Attila's story by the time the book ended, but as it's the first in a trilogy I suppose that was to be expected!
July 17, 2020
Me pareció una lectura promedio, pero el final ME INVITÓ A LEER LA CONTINUACIÓN.
July 17, 2012
There is an adage about when writing your story, start the action as close to the beginning as you can. I started this book months ago and put it down for a very long time. At least until I got an urge to clean out the copies I had for reviewing.
Napier does a disservice to his audience with this book. Some of the writing is good. But this, is just more of a slog than a story.
Some of the history seems off. And further, why do I care about Attila's life as a prisoner of the Romans? Attila is interesting as an adult who challenges and lead his barbarians in conquest.
Here we have conjecture and as such the only interesting writing, the only conflicted individual is the Lucius construct.
We do not see enough of Stilcho who was possibly the last Roman heroic general, or those who can hold their own at that level, the Emperors sister, the Emperor, or the other generals.
Instead we have a young boy whose growth we see to little of, and then the long flight to his own people we see too much of.
A tale which is not an adventure that perhaps we might like if we were young adults, but again something we endure through boredom to get to the other side.
If the rest of the trilogy is like this, better it had been one book to tell this tale. The 390 pages could have been shrunk well below half to tell this one.
Napier does a disservice to his audience with this book. Some of the writing is good. But this, is just more of a slog than a story.
Some of the history seems off. And further, why do I care about Attila's life as a prisoner of the Romans? Attila is interesting as an adult who challenges and lead his barbarians in conquest.
Here we have conjecture and as such the only interesting writing, the only conflicted individual is the Lucius construct.
We do not see enough of Stilcho who was possibly the last Roman heroic general, or those who can hold their own at that level, the Emperors sister, the Emperor, or the other generals.
Instead we have a young boy whose growth we see to little of, and then the long flight to his own people we see too much of.
A tale which is not an adventure that perhaps we might like if we were young adults, but again something we endure through boredom to get to the other side.
If the rest of the trilogy is like this, better it had been one book to tell this tale. The 390 pages could have been shrunk well below half to tell this one.
July 29, 2010
This is a well-written, engaging book. The scenes are vivid and the characters real. Nothing felt out of place or awkward and I'm intrigued with the narrator as well as the main characters. I highly recommend this title to those lovers of historical fiction and those who just like enjoyable and well-written works. This was truly well-crafted.
February 7, 2013
A really good read, a touch of fantasy. Great characters.
February 8, 2013
Finished it last night. Got a bit confused when the Lieutenant became part of the story but author wrapped it up well. Look forward to the next book!! Solid 4 stars!!
June 25, 2018
I have always loved Historical fiction, it's one of my favorite genres. And especially the Roman history has a special place in my curiosity ever since I visited Rome.
So this book was always intriguing to me. But what I loved most about it is the human side of the characters. How Attila was much more than a world-conquering barbarian. I also quite liked the stark difference that the author showed between the suave roman culture of the time and the stark naked barbaric Hunnish culture of the same era.
The intrigue of the sybilline verses and the sheer graphic details from the palaces of Rome to the steppes of Scythia, I quite enjoyed the book.
Rating: 4/5
So this book was always intriguing to me. But what I loved most about it is the human side of the characters. How Attila was much more than a world-conquering barbarian. I also quite liked the stark difference that the author showed between the suave roman culture of the time and the stark naked barbaric Hunnish culture of the same era.
The intrigue of the sybilline verses and the sheer graphic details from the palaces of Rome to the steppes of Scythia, I quite enjoyed the book.
Rating: 4/5
August 16, 2025
El libro presenta un recorrido histórico-narrativo sobre la figura de Atila, conocido como el azote de Dios, y su influencia en la caída del Imperio Romano. La narración combina hechos documentados con un estilo casi novelado, aunque a veces sentí que pierde fuerza por la densidad de detalles y la falta de un ritmo constante.
El autor logra transmitir la brutalidad de la época y la tensión cultural entre Oriente y Occidente, pero en ciertos pasajes se vuelve repetitivo y un poco pesado, especialmente cuando se detiene demasiado en descripciones secundarias. Aun así, es una lectura interesante.
En fin, cumple con dar una visión clara y bastante completa sobre el mito y la realidad detrás de Atila. Ya veremos el segundo libro.
El autor logra transmitir la brutalidad de la época y la tensión cultural entre Oriente y Occidente, pero en ciertos pasajes se vuelve repetitivo y un poco pesado, especialmente cuando se detiene demasiado en descripciones secundarias. Aun así, es una lectura interesante.
En fin, cumple con dar una visión clara y bastante completa sobre el mito y la realidad detrás de Atila. Ya veremos el segundo libro.
February 11, 2010
won this on first reads
Attila by William Napier
This book starts around the time that the Roman Empire is at it's peak. Following the story of the young hostage Attila the Hun. Hostages are kept in order to ensure that each side in a treaty is faithful to the terms agreed upon. Attila hates Rome. He wants nothing more than to escape these Christians and their education that they want to force on him. They believe him and his people to be barbarians, and they try their best to convert Attila to their enlightened ways. However, Attila is having none of it. Despite being shown how lavish and rich Rome can be, he still longs for his home of open fields and endless skys. Throughout the book you follow him as he escapes and starts the long journey to his people.
Without a doubt the best part of this book was the character Attila himself. He seemed to just be the symbol of strength. Even at the beginning of the book when he is still just a very young boy. Always he stood up to people that were probably more than half his size, and yet he still came out looking stronger than any that opposed him. He was arrogant and prideful, but that still gave him character and made me like him all the more for it.
I've never really read a book where Rome was depicted as it was in this one. Usually its shown to be a sort of glorious place where only gods lived . But in this book it was shown to be a place of filth and over-indulgence. I really liked that it wasn't something that I've read a million times before . And I really was able to get the sense of why Attila hated Rome so much.
Great book overall. I loved the characters, and I felt transported to that time.
Attila by William Napier
This book starts around the time that the Roman Empire is at it's peak. Following the story of the young hostage Attila the Hun. Hostages are kept in order to ensure that each side in a treaty is faithful to the terms agreed upon. Attila hates Rome. He wants nothing more than to escape these Christians and their education that they want to force on him. They believe him and his people to be barbarians, and they try their best to convert Attila to their enlightened ways. However, Attila is having none of it. Despite being shown how lavish and rich Rome can be, he still longs for his home of open fields and endless skys. Throughout the book you follow him as he escapes and starts the long journey to his people.
Without a doubt the best part of this book was the character Attila himself. He seemed to just be the symbol of strength. Even at the beginning of the book when he is still just a very young boy. Always he stood up to people that were probably more than half his size, and yet he still came out looking stronger than any that opposed him. He was arrogant and prideful, but that still gave him character and made me like him all the more for it.
I've never really read a book where Rome was depicted as it was in this one. Usually its shown to be a sort of glorious place where only gods lived . But in this book it was shown to be a place of filth and over-indulgence. I really liked that it wasn't something that I've read a million times before . And I really was able to get the sense of why Attila hated Rome so much.
Great book overall. I loved the characters, and I felt transported to that time.
August 17, 2014
A smooth practically velvetine telling of the tale of one of the Roman Empire's most colourful enemies, Attila the Hun.
Napier - pen name of Christopher Hart - lays down his tale with a slick yet deeply rich detailed manner which, for the first two-thirds of the book, leaves you coming back for more time and time again almost insatiably.
The one thing that lets the book down for me personally is that there's the rather unnecessary distraction of focusing on the backstory of fictitious and generally inconsequential (at least in the grand scheme of things) lieutenant Lucius.
Looking through some of the previous reviews of this book I feel I have to say that if you're looking down your nose at this book because of it's profanities - if you think profanities are a modern invention, you're either incredibly prudish or plain naive - or the readers own misconception that this, the opening salvo in a trilogy, was going to focus straight into adult Attila's actions.
As the saying goes, to know the man first you must know the boy.
This is a very good solid example of historical fiction though tapers off somewhat in the last third of the book. I was strongly enthusing about this book and loving every last page until the aforementioned tapering leaving you with the feeling that it was ending with a whimper rather than a bang.
Napier - pen name of Christopher Hart - lays down his tale with a slick yet deeply rich detailed manner which, for the first two-thirds of the book, leaves you coming back for more time and time again almost insatiably.
The one thing that lets the book down for me personally is that there's the rather unnecessary distraction of focusing on the backstory of fictitious and generally inconsequential (at least in the grand scheme of things) lieutenant Lucius.
Looking through some of the previous reviews of this book I feel I have to say that if you're looking down your nose at this book because of it's profanities - if you think profanities are a modern invention, you're either incredibly prudish or plain naive - or the readers own misconception that this, the opening salvo in a trilogy, was going to focus straight into adult Attila's actions.
As the saying goes, to know the man first you must know the boy.
This is a very good solid example of historical fiction though tapers off somewhat in the last third of the book. I was strongly enthusing about this book and loving every last page until the aforementioned tapering leaving you with the feeling that it was ending with a whimper rather than a bang.
June 3, 2018
The book contains around 130 thousand words and maybe till you have read half of them you don’t realise the unnecessary waste of time that is reading this nonsense. I would never classify the book as historical fiction because it just contains a handful of facts and customs of the time, you never get the grasp of how it was living at the time neither you learn history reading the book.
I’m sorry to admit that I just finished the book for the sake of reaching my year´s objective but I’ve been tempted plenty of times of throwing it away. I cannot understand why the author introduces inexplicable and impossible actions in the book. He uses some real events as conductors of the story, for example the swap of hostages between Rome and other tribes to guarantee peace, or the triumph celebration in Rome after a victory and the right organization of the army in the Roman empire. But at the same time he allot imposible qualities to people. A group of soldiers willing to die for the sake of a prisoner, or a Roman centurion ready to give up a battle after winning it just because he was sad of having lost so many soldiers. There are a lot of events in the story completely absurds.
Don’t lose your time with this book, learn to play sudoku, or take a walk with your dogs, forget Napier forever.
I’m sorry to admit that I just finished the book for the sake of reaching my year´s objective but I’ve been tempted plenty of times of throwing it away. I cannot understand why the author introduces inexplicable and impossible actions in the book. He uses some real events as conductors of the story, for example the swap of hostages between Rome and other tribes to guarantee peace, or the triumph celebration in Rome after a victory and the right organization of the army in the Roman empire. But at the same time he allot imposible qualities to people. A group of soldiers willing to die for the sake of a prisoner, or a Roman centurion ready to give up a battle after winning it just because he was sad of having lost so many soldiers. There are a lot of events in the story completely absurds.
Don’t lose your time with this book, learn to play sudoku, or take a walk with your dogs, forget Napier forever.
February 9, 2013
This was a very interesting take on the Attila the Hun story. It starts out with Attila as a pre-pubescent boy, being held hostage in Rome to insure the loyalty of his grandfather Uldin, King of the Huns and ends with his exile at the age of fifteen. This is the first book in the trilogy by Napier and its historical details appear to be pretty accurate, although you have to suspend your disbelief that 5th century Romans would be using expressions like 'okay' and 'yeah.' General Stilicho and his wife Serena are depicted as sympathetic to the plight of the wily young Attila. By contrast, Emperor Honorius is chicken-feeding idiot, and his sister, Galla Placidia, is a self-righteous, power-hungry bitch who is determined to destroy both the boy and the general's family. Napier gives both Romans and Barbarians fair depictions - both were brutal and honorable after their own fashion. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
August 27, 2014
I've been reading alot of Roman historical fiction lately and it feels so strange to be now reading a book which contains Rome's downfall. Everything that was fought for, is now going to be lost. Trouble is, I can't be to sad about it as I've already got behind Attila and am now cheering him on. I want him to win! I also really liked the British solider, Lucius. He was a good, strong character. The plot was interesting and kept me page turning, like with all these books, I sometimes get a little bored by the fighting but there wasn't to much of that. I don't know how much of this book is accurate, as I know nothing about the Huns. But it's entertaining enough for me. Bring on the next one :)
November 25, 2011
I really enjoyed this book on Attila the Hun's early life. I don't know enough about historic Attila to comment on the accuracy of the book, but it has good entertainment value. There were times when the story drifted away from the action and towards mysticism and philosophy and I found myself bored. But the rest of the novel made up for those moments. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
February 1, 2010
Highly enjoyable. This is more historical fiction than historically accurate. It does however do a great job of giving you a sense of Attila. This is the first book in a biographical series about Attila. This one is focused on his childhood as a Roman hostage and then his return to his people. I will certainly be looking for the next two books.
March 27, 2018
An entertaining read that drew me in. The descriptions of the locations were great. The modern use of curse words, some of which would not come into use for another 1200 years, felt quite jarring.
Overall I think the story was about 100 pages too long, because of this the tying up of lose ends was slightly anti-climatic for me.
Overall I think the story was about 100 pages too long, because of this the tying up of lose ends was slightly anti-climatic for me.
April 12, 2014
Buen libro.
August 22, 2021
Historical purists may poo-poo this book, as it reads more like fiction than fact. But it's still a fast-paced, engaging read that blends known, real characters with others invented by the author. Of course, we're talking about the early 400's AD here, so it's probably safe to assume that not everything could be known about the time—especially concerning the Huns, who apparently never transcribed anything. Instead, they "recorded" what was most important to them in their minds rather than on paper. Thus, fiction is the result, no matter how much of it is based on historical accuracy. But hell, isn't that one of the reasons why we read historical fiction? To discover how someone has embellished the known with the engagingly possible? Yes. Yes, it is.
Plus, the book does a nice job of intertwining the impending fall of Rome with young Atilla's desire to do nothing but escape Roman imprisonment and find his way back home. A straightforward narrative that only became icky when the author invoked mystical woodland nymphs that felt more ridiculous than important to the book's main story. The descriptions about young Atilla's stocky, muscular frame, face tattoos, and slanted yellow eyes were also a bit overdone, as were the word "terror" and the many slips into modern vernacular, especially when spoken by Atilla. C'est la vie.
But hey. I still liked this bloody, testosterone-addled romp. While almost always vicious, there are also moments of tenderness that helped make young Atilla (10-14 in this book) very likeable in parts while 100% heinous in others. For me, the result was an engaging read that did a fine job of putting us in a certain place at a certain time and made me want to know more about the true life of Atilla. And for that, I say yay.
Plus, the book does a nice job of intertwining the impending fall of Rome with young Atilla's desire to do nothing but escape Roman imprisonment and find his way back home. A straightforward narrative that only became icky when the author invoked mystical woodland nymphs that felt more ridiculous than important to the book's main story. The descriptions about young Atilla's stocky, muscular frame, face tattoos, and slanted yellow eyes were also a bit overdone, as were the word "terror" and the many slips into modern vernacular, especially when spoken by Atilla. C'est la vie.
But hey. I still liked this bloody, testosterone-addled romp. While almost always vicious, there are also moments of tenderness that helped make young Atilla (10-14 in this book) very likeable in parts while 100% heinous in others. For me, the result was an engaging read that did a fine job of putting us in a certain place at a certain time and made me want to know more about the true life of Atilla. And for that, I say yay.
July 31, 2019
Page turner за историскиот лик Атила Хун. Жанровски гледано се работи за историска фикција, во која авторот на моменти си има дадено можеби и преголема слобода во интерпретација на настаните.
Напиер пишува читко, со допадлив стил. Каректеризацијата на ликовите е солидна со неизбежна стереотипизација, особено во деловите со описи на Римската држава и војничкото уредување. Деловите со Хуни (кои рака на срце ги нема многу во првиот дел) се најдобри, особено во описот на битка на почетокот, кога Римјаните од прва рака имаат можност да се уверет во начинот на војување на ова (за нив) варварско племе.
Ми пречеше употреба на некои термини и поими, кои не припаѓаат на историската епоха за која пишува Напиер. Пример: Младиот Атила бега од потерата на римските војници и се крие во пештера, при што набргу во темнината забележува и слуша некое суштество, за кое мисли дека е вампир. Вампир во 5-ти век од наша ера? Имал можност да употреби било кое суштество од грчка или римска митолигија и он го искористува вампир. Интересен историски факт е дека терминот и поимот вампир е употребен за прв пат во Србија, и тоа некаде на почетокот на 18 век, за да кон крајот на 19 век Брем Стокер, умешно комбинирајќи ги народните преданија од овие простори за постоење на вампири и приказните за крволочниот романски кнез Влад Цепеш, ја напише култната книга "Дракула".
Како сублимат, за понеискусните читатели Атила веројатно ќе им биде супер wow, со милион препораки за најблиските. За оние пак со поистенчен вкус, една од брдо прочитани книги која ќе биде заборевена со страниците на некоја нова книга.
Сепак решив да ја заокружам приказната, така што ќе ги прочитам преостанатите два дела...
Напиер пишува читко, со допадлив стил. Каректеризацијата на ликовите е солидна со неизбежна стереотипизација, особено во деловите со описи на Римската држава и војничкото уредување. Деловите со Хуни (кои рака на срце ги нема многу во првиот дел) се најдобри, особено во описот на битка на почетокот, кога Римјаните од прва рака имаат можност да се уверет во начинот на војување на ова (за нив) варварско племе.
Ми пречеше употреба на некои термини и поими, кои не припаѓаат на историската епоха за која пишува Напиер. Пример: Младиот Атила бега од потерата на римските војници и се крие во пештера, при што набргу во темнината забележува и слуша некое суштество, за кое мисли дека е вампир. Вампир во 5-ти век од наша ера? Имал можност да употреби било кое суштество од грчка или римска митолигија и он го искористува вампир. Интересен историски факт е дека терминот и поимот вампир е употребен за прв пат во Србија, и тоа некаде на почетокот на 18 век, за да кон крајот на 19 век Брем Стокер, умешно комбинирајќи ги народните преданија од овие простори за постоење на вампири и приказните за крволочниот романски кнез Влад Цепеш, ја напише култната книга "Дракула".
Како сублимат, за понеискусните читатели Атила веројатно ќе им биде супер wow, со милион препораки за најблиските. За оние пак со поистенчен вкус, една од брдо прочитани книги која ќе биде заборевена со страниците на некоја нова книга.
Сепак решив да ја заокружам приказната, така што ќе ги прочитам преостанатите два дела...
September 20, 2018
Debo de decir que nunca habia leido nada del autor pero soy una fanatica de la novela de ficcion historica y mas en concreto de esta epoca, los años finales de Roma, ese imperio al que solo se le baticinaron 12 siglos de Gloria.
Este primer libro de una trilogia nos habla de Atila, el ultimo guerrero Huno, mas en especifico de su infancia. Él al ser nieto de Uldino, rey de los hunos, es enviado a Roma como rehen de paz, para que asi la alianza con ellos no se rompa. Roma esta en una epoca dificil su emperador no es el gran hombre que se esperaba y muchas tribus comienzan a atacarla, ademas profecias rondan las calles sobre su fin, aun asi Roma se mantiene e intenta aparentar seguir siendo un gran imperio, ahi Atila aprende a despreciar a esa cultura pues a pesar de ser el rehen mas valioso es despreciado, su unico sueño es huir y regresar a su tierra. Pero no es facil escapar de Roma y mucho menos es el viaje a su libertad pero aquel chiquillo tiene que demostrar su fuerza pues grandes cosas le esperan.
Debo de decir que la lectura es sencilla a pesar de todos los acronimos antiguos que se usan y los personajes tan bien construidos que te sientes identificado (aunque tengo problemas con uno en particular ya que lei parte de esta historia en otra novela y ahora no puedo verlo tan noble).
Aun asi es una gran novela, y aunque los acontecimientos no sean tan fieles realmente te hace pensar que asi pudo haber sido.
Este primer libro de una trilogia nos habla de Atila, el ultimo guerrero Huno, mas en especifico de su infancia. Él al ser nieto de Uldino, rey de los hunos, es enviado a Roma como rehen de paz, para que asi la alianza con ellos no se rompa. Roma esta en una epoca dificil su emperador no es el gran hombre que se esperaba y muchas tribus comienzan a atacarla, ademas profecias rondan las calles sobre su fin, aun asi Roma se mantiene e intenta aparentar seguir siendo un gran imperio, ahi Atila aprende a despreciar a esa cultura pues a pesar de ser el rehen mas valioso es despreciado, su unico sueño es huir y regresar a su tierra. Pero no es facil escapar de Roma y mucho menos es el viaje a su libertad pero aquel chiquillo tiene que demostrar su fuerza pues grandes cosas le esperan.
Debo de decir que la lectura es sencilla a pesar de todos los acronimos antiguos que se usan y los personajes tan bien construidos que te sientes identificado (aunque tengo problemas con uno en particular ya que lei parte de esta historia en otra novela y ahora no puedo verlo tan noble).
Aun asi es una gran novela, y aunque los acontecimientos no sean tan fieles realmente te hace pensar que asi pudo haber sido.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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