What do you think?
Rate this book
Strategos #1
Strategos: Born in the Borderlands
When the falcon has flown, the mountain lion will charge from the east, and all Byzantium will quake. Only one man can save the empire . . . the Haga!
1046 AD. The Byzantine Empire teeters on full-blown war with the Seljuk Sultanate. In the borderlands of Eastern Anatolia, a land riven with bloodshed and doubt, young Apion's life is shattered in one swift and brutal Seljuk night raid. Only the benevolence of Mansur, a Seljuk farmer, offers him a second chance of happiness.
Yet a hunger for revenge burns in Apion's soul, and he is drawn down a dark path that leads him right into the heart of a conflict that will echo through the ages.
1046 AD. The Byzantine Empire teeters on full-blown war with the Seljuk Sultanate. In the borderlands of Eastern Anatolia, a land riven with bloodshed and doubt, young Apion's life is shattered in one swift and brutal Seljuk night raid. Only the benevolence of Mansur, a Seljuk farmer, offers him a second chance of happiness.
Yet a hunger for revenge burns in Apion's soul, and he is drawn down a dark path that leads him right into the heart of a conflict that will echo through the ages.
420 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2011
83 people are currently reading
1002 people want to read
About the author
Gordon Doherty
42 books293 followersI'm a Scottish writer, addicted to reading and writing historical fiction.
My love of history was first kindled by visits to the misty Roman ruins of Britain and the sun-baked antiquities of Turkey and Greece. My expeditions since have taken me all over the world and back and forth through time (metaphorically, at least), allowing me to write tales of the later Roman Empire, Byzantium, Classical Greece and even the distant Bronze Age.
All of my novels are available from good online stores in paperback and eBook format.
Happy reading!
My website: www.gordondoherty.co.uk
My Twitter: @GordonDoherty
My Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GordonDohert...
My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCybC...
My love of history was first kindled by visits to the misty Roman ruins of Britain and the sun-baked antiquities of Turkey and Greece. My expeditions since have taken me all over the world and back and forth through time (metaphorically, at least), allowing me to write tales of the later Roman Empire, Byzantium, Classical Greece and even the distant Bronze Age.
All of my novels are available from good online stores in paperback and eBook format.
Happy reading!
My website: www.gordondoherty.co.uk
My Twitter: @GordonDoherty
My Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GordonDohert...
My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCybC...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
February 12, 2019
Full disclaimer before I begin: I read the author’s earlier
Legionary
novel and had such a strongly negative reaction that I never finished it. You may ask why I then went on to read (and finish!) another of his books. That is due simply to the rarity of books set during this era. There are a few, don’t get me wrong, but apart from books set during the Justinianic era (half a millennium before this one is set) Byzantine novels tend to view the empire from the outside. So the idea of a military novel set in the 11th century buildup to Manzikert really appealed to me. In the end, despite a reasonably strong start, I was disappointed.
What this book does reasonably well is establish a very backwoods setting and populate it with distinct characters. The setting is simplistic and not very emotionally believable (everyone seems too relaxed and idyllic for people under constant danger of raids) but it does its job and presents a view of the world that we’re not familiar with. When the book focused on these wordbuilding elements (i.e. in the first half) it worked well.
Another element that worked well was the introduction of fantasy elements. The chosen one motif is played up very strongly and it helps to paper over some of the more absurd elements of the story. It does suffer from some historical impossibilities even leaving aside the unreal elements such as a mystical forest nymph or goddess guiding our heroes. The big one is the symbol of the Haga, a Hittite creature in the form of an eagle with two heads. Except that the Hittites lay lost and forgotten for thousands of years. The Ancient Greeks had no memory of them and the Byzantines and Turks certainly wouldn’t. The symbol itself never died out nor was it restricted to the Hittites. I assume there’s a connection to the Comnenoi but it seems a clumsy one.
And this sort of casual historical mistake is regrettably common in this book. The author had done a fair amount of research, that’s for certain, and he seems aware of the broad strokes of Byzantine history, but his works lack a certain… perspective. By which I mean that he doesn’t have a very good idea for what is possible in a given era. They all tend to blend together. The agentes in rebus are a prime example. They were disbanded two centuries earlier, although they were already largely meaningless by then and their heyday was the fourth century. Let’s skip for now that they were government bureaucrats with their own department and nothing like the lawless and fantastical secret society he presents here. His historical afterward mentions their disbandment but ignores the fact that the Greeks never called them agentes but magristianoi, i.e. the Magister Officiorum’s men. And it was the Magister who was disbanded in the ninth century. You can’t have the Magister’s men outlast the Magister. It’d be like having FBI agents without an FBI. Nitpicking, you might say, but these are the main villains and they could never have existed.
But the real issue here is that the societies just feel wrong. Obviously this is partly subjective but it’s not all a case of different interpretations. A few issues: Religion is treated casually, as it is in our secular world. At no point is there any concern about heretics or a belief that the infidels are doomed to hell. When it comes right down to it everyone’s pretty calm for a society on a knife’s edge. Civilization goes on as normal and there isn’t really the feel of tension you’d expect from people having to deal with danger every day. People don’t act in the way you’d expect. They just seem too modern in approach and outlook. This goes true for the Agentes as well who seem more like depictions of the Illuminati or the Templars from Assassin’s Creed than any government official who ever existed.
The character names are also all wrong. Yes, they’re authentic Byzantine names (for the most part) but they’re all Justinianic or earlier. That’s 500 years out of date. It’d be like a novel set in the modern day where everyone is called Hiram or Jedediah. Worse, some are even Latin names. Mid-Byzantine names were a lot more similar to modern Greek names than to Justinianic ones. But a bigger issue is the use of the term Byzantine. It’s a tough one for any author to deal with, but to me it seemed particularly glaring that the term is used by everyone to refer to what we now call the Byzantine Empire. Byzantines called themselves Romans, heir to a line of emperors that stretched back to Augustus. It’s plain awkward to hear them speak of their glorious history as if Rome was separate. And to look at the opposing side: I can’t understand why the Turks are called Seljuks. Yes, this batch were called the Seljuk Turks, but Seljuk was the name of the dynasty not the people. Is it some sort of effort to be culturally sensitive? If so it seems woefully misplaced.
Despite these issues, the story was strong enough that it kept me involved for quite a while. It was only once the plot devolved into pure fantasy that I stopped caring entirely. By the time we’re fed omnipotent and needlessly sinister secret societies, regular duels to the death, villains who keep letting the hero live for no obvious reason, soldiers so docile they meekly accept the worst of punishments for defending their homes when not ordered to do so, and absurd feats of endurance, the whole experience has become rather silly.
Now some may find this unreality less disqualifying than I do. And that’s fine. I like Fantasy novels too and even if this becomes one in the end it does at least provide a unique setting. But what really irritates me is that the unreality always seems to take the form of tired cliches. Villains with an unhealthy obsession for inflicting pain, secret societies who control everything, a backstory filled with the hero’s family being murdered and him sold into slavery, a chosen one...
But there is probably no hyperfantastical plotline I hate more than the family held hostage to keep the hero in line. It’s a cheap motivation and an obvious sign that the book has run out of ways to justify where it’s taking the plot. And this example is pretty bad, for all that it only shows up 2/3 of the way in. Its only purpose is to keep the plot going endlessly, freezing everything at a key moment so that the villain isn’t killed before the climax. It’s lazy, not believable in any way, and forces us to endure more absurd torture-porn “training” so we can marvel at how tough Apion has become. Ugh.
So yes, I soured on this book. It had a strong start and worked moderately, sometimes even very, well when dealing with daily life in the Byzantine borderlands. But once the focus shifted to the big picture it becomes clear just how dumb it all is.
If you’re looking for military fiction set in the mid-late Byzantine Empire you’re a bit out of luck. The only ones I can think of are The High City and Byzantium (both focused on Vikings in service of the empire), although the First Crusade novels starting with The Mosaic of Shadows feature a Byzantine lead and the Videssos novels are a thinly disguised version of Byzantium. There’s also A Place Called Armageddon, which I haven’t read yet but have heard is good. And Justinian (a different Justinian) has a lot of military events as well. But that’s about it.
Story: 4 (Reasonably strong start peters out once plot begins)
Characters: 4 (Distinct if not original, but the OTT villains irritate)
Accuracy: 3 (Some areas correct but mostly anachronistic and wrong-feeling)
What this book does reasonably well is establish a very backwoods setting and populate it with distinct characters. The setting is simplistic and not very emotionally believable (everyone seems too relaxed and idyllic for people under constant danger of raids) but it does its job and presents a view of the world that we’re not familiar with. When the book focused on these wordbuilding elements (i.e. in the first half) it worked well.
Another element that worked well was the introduction of fantasy elements. The chosen one motif is played up very strongly and it helps to paper over some of the more absurd elements of the story. It does suffer from some historical impossibilities even leaving aside the unreal elements such as a mystical forest nymph or goddess guiding our heroes. The big one is the symbol of the Haga, a Hittite creature in the form of an eagle with two heads. Except that the Hittites lay lost and forgotten for thousands of years. The Ancient Greeks had no memory of them and the Byzantines and Turks certainly wouldn’t. The symbol itself never died out nor was it restricted to the Hittites. I assume there’s a connection to the Comnenoi but it seems a clumsy one.
And this sort of casual historical mistake is regrettably common in this book. The author had done a fair amount of research, that’s for certain, and he seems aware of the broad strokes of Byzantine history, but his works lack a certain… perspective. By which I mean that he doesn’t have a very good idea for what is possible in a given era. They all tend to blend together. The agentes in rebus are a prime example. They were disbanded two centuries earlier, although they were already largely meaningless by then and their heyday was the fourth century. Let’s skip for now that they were government bureaucrats with their own department and nothing like the lawless and fantastical secret society he presents here. His historical afterward mentions their disbandment but ignores the fact that the Greeks never called them agentes but magristianoi, i.e. the Magister Officiorum’s men. And it was the Magister who was disbanded in the ninth century. You can’t have the Magister’s men outlast the Magister. It’d be like having FBI agents without an FBI. Nitpicking, you might say, but these are the main villains and they could never have existed.
But the real issue here is that the societies just feel wrong. Obviously this is partly subjective but it’s not all a case of different interpretations. A few issues: Religion is treated casually, as it is in our secular world. At no point is there any concern about heretics or a belief that the infidels are doomed to hell. When it comes right down to it everyone’s pretty calm for a society on a knife’s edge. Civilization goes on as normal and there isn’t really the feel of tension you’d expect from people having to deal with danger every day. People don’t act in the way you’d expect. They just seem too modern in approach and outlook. This goes true for the Agentes as well who seem more like depictions of the Illuminati or the Templars from Assassin’s Creed than any government official who ever existed.
The character names are also all wrong. Yes, they’re authentic Byzantine names (for the most part) but they’re all Justinianic or earlier. That’s 500 years out of date. It’d be like a novel set in the modern day where everyone is called Hiram or Jedediah. Worse, some are even Latin names. Mid-Byzantine names were a lot more similar to modern Greek names than to Justinianic ones. But a bigger issue is the use of the term Byzantine. It’s a tough one for any author to deal with, but to me it seemed particularly glaring that the term is used by everyone to refer to what we now call the Byzantine Empire. Byzantines called themselves Romans, heir to a line of emperors that stretched back to Augustus. It’s plain awkward to hear them speak of their glorious history as if Rome was separate. And to look at the opposing side: I can’t understand why the Turks are called Seljuks. Yes, this batch were called the Seljuk Turks, but Seljuk was the name of the dynasty not the people. Is it some sort of effort to be culturally sensitive? If so it seems woefully misplaced.
Despite these issues, the story was strong enough that it kept me involved for quite a while. It was only once the plot devolved into pure fantasy that I stopped caring entirely. By the time we’re fed omnipotent and needlessly sinister secret societies, regular duels to the death, villains who keep letting the hero live for no obvious reason, soldiers so docile they meekly accept the worst of punishments for defending their homes when not ordered to do so, and absurd feats of endurance, the whole experience has become rather silly.
Now some may find this unreality less disqualifying than I do. And that’s fine. I like Fantasy novels too and even if this becomes one in the end it does at least provide a unique setting. But what really irritates me is that the unreality always seems to take the form of tired cliches. Villains with an unhealthy obsession for inflicting pain, secret societies who control everything, a backstory filled with the hero’s family being murdered and him sold into slavery, a chosen one...
But there is probably no hyperfantastical plotline I hate more than the family held hostage to keep the hero in line. It’s a cheap motivation and an obvious sign that the book has run out of ways to justify where it’s taking the plot. And this example is pretty bad, for all that it only shows up 2/3 of the way in. Its only purpose is to keep the plot going endlessly, freezing everything at a key moment so that the villain isn’t killed before the climax. It’s lazy, not believable in any way, and forces us to endure more absurd torture-porn “training” so we can marvel at how tough Apion has become. Ugh.
So yes, I soured on this book. It had a strong start and worked moderately, sometimes even very, well when dealing with daily life in the Byzantine borderlands. But once the focus shifted to the big picture it becomes clear just how dumb it all is.
If you’re looking for military fiction set in the mid-late Byzantine Empire you’re a bit out of luck. The only ones I can think of are The High City and Byzantium (both focused on Vikings in service of the empire), although the First Crusade novels starting with The Mosaic of Shadows feature a Byzantine lead and the Videssos novels are a thinly disguised version of Byzantium. There’s also A Place Called Armageddon, which I haven’t read yet but have heard is good. And Justinian (a different Justinian) has a lot of military events as well. But that’s about it.
Story: 4 (Reasonably strong start peters out once plot begins)
Characters: 4 (Distinct if not original, but the OTT villains irritate)
Accuracy: 3 (Some areas correct but mostly anachronistic and wrong-feeling)
September 21, 2013
When it came down to it, I have to confess that Strategos: Born in the Borderlands was a mixed bag for me. A book that made me pause as I read it. And I mean that literally (more on that in a moment).
Whilst I enjoyed the setting and some of the characters, I had some personal taste issues with the book and they put a creative block in my way.
What I liked about the book was the research the author had done and the gamble he had taken in writing in a little known era of Byzantine history. With so many authors jumping on era bandwagons, Gordon Doherty selected a thoroughly unique and fascinating story setting and went ahead to do a damn fine job of bringing it to the reader.
What I didn't like about the book. Well, this is where personal taste comes to the fore. The book has a lot of appeal and has gained a lot of fans who don't have the same personal taste issues as I do.
I have to give a small mention to formatting. In the edition to date there is double spacing between each paragraph (which includes after each line of dialogue). I have spent a lifetime, from learning to read as a child to adult, with large spaces after paragraphs in novels meaning scene breaks and it really messed with my reading flow to have such large spacing format applied to this book. It did affect my ability to get into the book more, so I have to mention it.
The other two things that I did not like that come down once again to personal taste are that this book technically is a historical fantasy. With visions of one person being shared by multiple characters. If books include fantasy, for my taste, it should be able to be rationalised to keep it straight historical fiction. And if it can't be rationalised then I believe a book should be proudly fantasy and go full blown.
But not everyone shares this opinion on fantasy themes in novels and that is why it is a matter of personal taste.
The other issue was that the book was mostly childhood. Half being about young children. The rest was predominantly late teen and I personally found that it read like a Young Adult book and since my personal taste is for adult books and adult issues I could not get an adult connection with the story. Some people may say that it doesn't read like YA because it has graphic violence in it, but YA does sometimes have graphic violence in it.
I accept that most series openers will have children in the start of the book. It is a common device when it comes to a Series or an Epic Fiction. But I don't like it to take up too much of the story. I like to be into the adult part of the character well before halfway.
I suspect book two Strategos: Rise of the Golden Heart would suit me more....if only I could be guaranteed that it did not include fantasy.
EDIT: Have heard book two is even more fantasy, so I won't be going on with the series.
*Please NB: I interviewed Gordon Doherty on my blog if you would like to know more about him and his books: http://ancientandmedievalmayhem.blogs...
December 23, 2011
As a fan of historic and heroic fiction ever since I read David Gemmell's Legend at the age of 13 I have read a lot of these types of books from Conn Iggulden, Simon Scarrow and Bernard Cornwell. I enjoyed all these authors but no-one compared to the emotional connection I felt towards Mr Gemmell's characters (I'll be honest Scarrow has come close with Cato and Macro). Sadly in 1996 David Gemmell passed away and I've struggled to find an author I've enjoyed even half as much.
I realise this may make me look like a gushing teenage girl who has just read Twilight for the first time but I loved this book. I liked the off the beaten track location and time period, the plot, the accurate historical decription of the warfare and most of all the characters. I felt genuine concern for young Apion when he placed himself and his friends into peril, not because I thought he would be killed, I knew it was unlikely he would die being the main character but incase anyone he cared about was killed and how this would affect him. This is a rare feeling for me when reading a book and that emotional connection is why I have felt tired all week at work because I would be unable to but my E-reader down until the early hours when I should be sleeping. I look forward to future books written by this author and wish him all the success he deserves.
I know I compared this author to David Gemmell and at risk off setting expectations too high I can only say please read this book and make up your own mind but I would be very supprised if you didn't agree.
I realise this may make me look like a gushing teenage girl who has just read Twilight for the first time but I loved this book. I liked the off the beaten track location and time period, the plot, the accurate historical decription of the warfare and most of all the characters. I felt genuine concern for young Apion when he placed himself and his friends into peril, not because I thought he would be killed, I knew it was unlikely he would die being the main character but incase anyone he cared about was killed and how this would affect him. This is a rare feeling for me when reading a book and that emotional connection is why I have felt tired all week at work because I would be unable to but my E-reader down until the early hours when I should be sleeping. I look forward to future books written by this author and wish him all the success he deserves.
I know I compared this author to David Gemmell and at risk off setting expectations too high I can only say please read this book and make up your own mind but I would be very supprised if you didn't agree.
September 8, 2013
Yes this is a tale of revenge, yes it’s a ‘zero to hero’ story, no it’s not without grammatical errors, but yes it still deserves five stars. Here are the reasons why:
Firstly, I found Gordon’s writing style flowed beautifully making this is a very fast read.
Secondly, what made this tale interesting from the start: this is a novel of the end of the Byzantine Empire – a period of history I was very ignorant of. It was wonderful to be plunged into this unfamiliar set. This is strongly in the novel’s favour. Are we not all tired of the same old Napoleonic era? The Roman Empire? The Dark Ages? Here is something new…
Thirdly, we have the usual band of brothers forced into dangerous bloody situations with looming threats both foreign and domestic; bloody pitched battles; a complicated love-triangle; a man on a quest of vengeance, and plenty of twists to keep us interested. It’s a set of ingredients that work well together, and Gordon gives us a liberal sprinkling of each.
Fourthly, and for me the most important of all the reasons that this book receives five stars instead of four, is that the author did all of this independently. He did it without an agent who knows the market, without the team of professional editors, without the demands of the major publishers, which is probably why we have a novel of Byzantium, and not of the other settings mentioned above. This is all Gordon Doherty, and Historical Fiction at its best.
Firstly, I found Gordon’s writing style flowed beautifully making this is a very fast read.
Secondly, what made this tale interesting from the start: this is a novel of the end of the Byzantine Empire – a period of history I was very ignorant of. It was wonderful to be plunged into this unfamiliar set. This is strongly in the novel’s favour. Are we not all tired of the same old Napoleonic era? The Roman Empire? The Dark Ages? Here is something new…
Thirdly, we have the usual band of brothers forced into dangerous bloody situations with looming threats both foreign and domestic; bloody pitched battles; a complicated love-triangle; a man on a quest of vengeance, and plenty of twists to keep us interested. It’s a set of ingredients that work well together, and Gordon gives us a liberal sprinkling of each.
Fourthly, and for me the most important of all the reasons that this book receives five stars instead of four, is that the author did all of this independently. He did it without an agent who knows the market, without the team of professional editors, without the demands of the major publishers, which is probably why we have a novel of Byzantium, and not of the other settings mentioned above. This is all Gordon Doherty, and Historical Fiction at its best.
May 22, 2012
I'll state for the record that Gordon emerged from the same writing-feedback site as I (and a few others), and have since come to know him through Twitter too. But this fact in no way influences the following review, as nepotism does not float my boat. Feel free to simply disregard it if you must, but you do so at your peril.
I gave Gordon's first book 5 stars. I honestly thought it was that good. Reading it just made me jealous over the relative quality of my own work. Now that I've read Strategos, I wish I'd given it 4 stars, as this book is significantly better and I can't reflect that in the ratings, so there you go. Both fab books, but this is better.
Strategos seems to be the work where Gordon's writing has matured into a solid style that is easily the challenge of most established Histfic authors. I feel you will find it hard to tell that this is not a traditionally published novel. Even the shaky editing and typos that are a regrettable feature of self-published work are suspiciously absent. I think I found three or four typos in the whole book, which is a number I expect to find in any work. And the editing? Well it's tight and on-track all the way through.
The story is complex and deep, involving a twisting tale of intrigue and revenge that entwines the protagonist's path all against the background of a great and tumultuous time of desperate military actions to preserve a dying empire. What impressed me particularly is that there is no Good guy/Bad guy black-and-white attitude in Strategos. It is hard not to find likeable and appreciable traits in the bad guys. Not all the good guys are that good. Indeed the main antagonists are ostensibly on the same side as the hero.
The story had a plausible tale of personal growth and overcoming the most outrageous obstacles, the unit cameraderie a reader tends to seek in any military histfic, scenes of horror and glory, but pulls no punches and at times leaves the reader feeling a little hollow and angered at events.
For those of you who like the Byzantine era, I'm sure you'll like this. Gordon's done a great deal of research and it shows (I'm not knowledgable enough on the subject to find any errors if there are any, so I can't tell if it's mistake free. You'll have to do that yourself and comment appropriately). What I CAN say is that if, like me, you have a deep love of the Roman era or the Medieval/Crusading era, you should find this fascinating, as it is an era that is a definite crossover. To have a man who is the descendant of the Roman legionary, armoured in a late-Roman fashion, facing an enemy that would not seem out of place fighting the crusaders in Outremer is a fascinating thing.
There is also an overtone of spirituality and strangeness that threads throughout the story, pointing at a greater destiny that must become apparent in a future book.
If I have a criticism (and it's really hard to find one) it was that the ending was a little abrupt. I was expecting a sort of wind-down epilogue, but the plot wrapped up and the story ended with a sharp stop. In the grand scheme of things I hardly think this is a reason to put anyone off, so go ahead and read the book and see for yourself. And, since indie authors are oft accused of promoting one another blindly, please do comment on this review if you think I've been fair and on-the-ball.
Happy reading.
Vale, Haga.
I gave Gordon's first book 5 stars. I honestly thought it was that good. Reading it just made me jealous over the relative quality of my own work. Now that I've read Strategos, I wish I'd given it 4 stars, as this book is significantly better and I can't reflect that in the ratings, so there you go. Both fab books, but this is better.
Strategos seems to be the work where Gordon's writing has matured into a solid style that is easily the challenge of most established Histfic authors. I feel you will find it hard to tell that this is not a traditionally published novel. Even the shaky editing and typos that are a regrettable feature of self-published work are suspiciously absent. I think I found three or four typos in the whole book, which is a number I expect to find in any work. And the editing? Well it's tight and on-track all the way through.
The story is complex and deep, involving a twisting tale of intrigue and revenge that entwines the protagonist's path all against the background of a great and tumultuous time of desperate military actions to preserve a dying empire. What impressed me particularly is that there is no Good guy/Bad guy black-and-white attitude in Strategos. It is hard not to find likeable and appreciable traits in the bad guys. Not all the good guys are that good. Indeed the main antagonists are ostensibly on the same side as the hero.
The story had a plausible tale of personal growth and overcoming the most outrageous obstacles, the unit cameraderie a reader tends to seek in any military histfic, scenes of horror and glory, but pulls no punches and at times leaves the reader feeling a little hollow and angered at events.
For those of you who like the Byzantine era, I'm sure you'll like this. Gordon's done a great deal of research and it shows (I'm not knowledgable enough on the subject to find any errors if there are any, so I can't tell if it's mistake free. You'll have to do that yourself and comment appropriately). What I CAN say is that if, like me, you have a deep love of the Roman era or the Medieval/Crusading era, you should find this fascinating, as it is an era that is a definite crossover. To have a man who is the descendant of the Roman legionary, armoured in a late-Roman fashion, facing an enemy that would not seem out of place fighting the crusaders in Outremer is a fascinating thing.
There is also an overtone of spirituality and strangeness that threads throughout the story, pointing at a greater destiny that must become apparent in a future book.
If I have a criticism (and it's really hard to find one) it was that the ending was a little abrupt. I was expecting a sort of wind-down epilogue, but the plot wrapped up and the story ended with a sharp stop. In the grand scheme of things I hardly think this is a reason to put anyone off, so go ahead and read the book and see for yourself. And, since indie authors are oft accused of promoting one another blindly, please do comment on this review if you think I've been fair and on-the-ball.
Happy reading.
Vale, Haga.
June 1, 2015
I’m a fan of Gordon already after reading the first three novels in his other series Legionary so I was very pleased when offered the chance to read the first book in the Strategos series.
This book is split into two parts first being Apion’s early life, we slowly find out how he became a slave and earned his scar which haunts him day after day. We see him rescued from this life by Mansur. We see him learn from Mansur and this gives the characters a lot of depth and you feel like a father yourself seeing Apion coming out of his shell forging friendships with Mansur’s daughter Maria and their neighbouring farmer’s son Nasir. The author definitely put a lot of time into the development of the storyline and it pays off.
You can tell straight away Mansur being a Seljuk living in the lands of the empire won’t go down well with some people and you are introduced to the character Bracchus who I took and instant dislike to with his threats. I could tell there was something behind this character as soon as you were introduced to him but I had no idea things would play out the way they did.
The second part of the book focuses on Apion’s life after he joins the armies of the Empire to fight in the inevitable war with the Seljuk. We see him fight against his own body in order to prove himself. After sometime we see Apion become the man he wanted to be, not the runt he felt as a young boy.
Apion progresses through the ranks of the army forming friendships with Nepos, Procopius, Sha & Blastares. All of these characters are unique and have their own talents. I loved every single one of them.
I don’t like to give away too much but a lot happens here, friendships are tested. Along the way a number of people are lost and we learn a lot more about Apion’s past.
This book really has been one of my favourite reads. This book is full of action and even more development which I think is essential when writing a series of books, without good character development its hard to keep the reader engaged enough to buy the next installment.
Gordon has a talent of keeping the reader interested, you find yourself getting lost in the story and before you know it your hit with and ending that leaves you gasping for more. As a reader I was hooked and will be purchasing the next book in the series soon as there’s no way I can continue without finding out what happens next.
This book is split into two parts first being Apion’s early life, we slowly find out how he became a slave and earned his scar which haunts him day after day. We see him rescued from this life by Mansur. We see him learn from Mansur and this gives the characters a lot of depth and you feel like a father yourself seeing Apion coming out of his shell forging friendships with Mansur’s daughter Maria and their neighbouring farmer’s son Nasir. The author definitely put a lot of time into the development of the storyline and it pays off.
You can tell straight away Mansur being a Seljuk living in the lands of the empire won’t go down well with some people and you are introduced to the character Bracchus who I took and instant dislike to with his threats. I could tell there was something behind this character as soon as you were introduced to him but I had no idea things would play out the way they did.
The second part of the book focuses on Apion’s life after he joins the armies of the Empire to fight in the inevitable war with the Seljuk. We see him fight against his own body in order to prove himself. After sometime we see Apion become the man he wanted to be, not the runt he felt as a young boy.
Apion progresses through the ranks of the army forming friendships with Nepos, Procopius, Sha & Blastares. All of these characters are unique and have their own talents. I loved every single one of them.
I don’t like to give away too much but a lot happens here, friendships are tested. Along the way a number of people are lost and we learn a lot more about Apion’s past.
This book really has been one of my favourite reads. This book is full of action and even more development which I think is essential when writing a series of books, without good character development its hard to keep the reader engaged enough to buy the next installment.
Gordon has a talent of keeping the reader interested, you find yourself getting lost in the story and before you know it your hit with and ending that leaves you gasping for more. As a reader I was hooked and will be purchasing the next book in the series soon as there’s no way I can continue without finding out what happens next.
December 6, 2013
This was just awesome. I think I am getting some early Christmas gifts with the recent books. :) The whole book, including the setting, characters, plot, all was just Great. Author even put quite a bit of effort in including maps, and schemata of the organization of Byzantine army (as it is unfortunately under-explored topic for HF). There is a feature of the novel which is a bit unnecessary - a fantasy aspect of shared visions and foretelling of future. So far it was not all that important for the story, but I admit that it allows for some quite artful symbolic imagery. Also, the fantasy aspect was somehow strangely separated from the religious environment of the setting. Overall I would expect stronger religious motive as it was the era of the Great Schism etc.
In any case, looking forward to the second instalment.
In any case, looking forward to the second instalment.
March 7, 2021
Really enjoyed this read! The Byzantine Empire is often not reflected much in historical fiction and Mr. Doherty did a great job bringing the world to life.
September 18, 2013
Sept. 15-17, 2013 I reread it and liked it just as well the second time. I'm increasing my rating to 3.75 stars, because of the reasons below; the only negative was the preponderance of modernisms, so it didn't quite make 4 stars. Otherwise, it filled all my requirements for good historical fiction. I did notice the importance of the prejudice theme this time around, and saw how Apion learns there is good and bad in all peoples. Apion has become one of my favorite fictional characters. This was my first exposure in a novel of the Byzantine period to the non-naval use of Greek Fire. I'm sure Mr. Doherty carefully researched Greek Fire for this novel. This is a novel worth buying and rereading.
My original review of Sept. 5, 2013
If this rating were available, I would award 3.5 stars. That is
closer to my opinion. I enjoyed this novel. The setting and time period were most unusual--11th century Byzantine Empire, Eastern Anatolia, near the Black Sea. I'm glad the author has written this novel, a book taking place at the cusp of ancient and medieval times. Once I started reading, I couldn't put the book down.
A young boy, Apion, sees his family killed before him in an attack by Turks, and is left with a badly injured leg. A kind Seljuk Turk farmer, with a young daughter, offers him a home and they become his loving family. Apion becomes obsessed by the idea of revenge for his parents' death. The shadow of the evil Bracchus, an Agente--[spy] falls across the lives of Apion and his new family. Apion grows to young manhood, joins the army, and rises from a raw recruit to a respected officer. The idea of revenge on Bracchus, who perpetrated the attack, still haunts him and guides his actions.
The book was very exciting: battles, duels, an avalanche, attacks by brigands, and many other things. There was courage, compassion, treachery, extortion, blackmail, deceit and a soupçon of romance. The writing style was workmanlike. Description was adequate. The big plus was character development. I admired how Apion, the most well-rounded, by sheer force of will, overcame his physical limitations. Other characters were sympathetic. The villains, however, were stereotypes--evil incarnate. Bracchus reminded me of the sadistic commandant of the French Foreign Legion fort in Beau Geste by P.C. Wren. The novel was very readable. However, I deplored the modernisms here and there in the text.
The battle scenes and any other fight scenes match anything in other novels. The impalings and torture were too gruesome for my taste.
Chess imagery was overdone. I did appreciate the Author's note, map, and glossary. Although there was a chart on the make-up of the Byzantine Army, I would have liked a simple line drawing of a Byzantine soldier, with parts of his uniform marked. I did find pictures of soldier-saints on the Internet, so I did get some idea of what they might have looked like. They were all dressed in Byzantine military garb. I did wonder why the slogan shouted by the soldiers in the novel was in Latin, rather than in Greek.
Recommended for those liking military fiction set in this time period.
My original review of Sept. 5, 2013
If this rating were available, I would award 3.5 stars. That is
closer to my opinion. I enjoyed this novel. The setting and time period were most unusual--11th century Byzantine Empire, Eastern Anatolia, near the Black Sea. I'm glad the author has written this novel, a book taking place at the cusp of ancient and medieval times. Once I started reading, I couldn't put the book down.
A young boy, Apion, sees his family killed before him in an attack by Turks, and is left with a badly injured leg. A kind Seljuk Turk farmer, with a young daughter, offers him a home and they become his loving family. Apion becomes obsessed by the idea of revenge for his parents' death. The shadow of the evil Bracchus, an Agente--[spy] falls across the lives of Apion and his new family. Apion grows to young manhood, joins the army, and rises from a raw recruit to a respected officer. The idea of revenge on Bracchus, who perpetrated the attack, still haunts him and guides his actions.
The book was very exciting: battles, duels, an avalanche, attacks by brigands, and many other things. There was courage, compassion, treachery, extortion, blackmail, deceit and a soupçon of romance. The writing style was workmanlike. Description was adequate. The big plus was character development. I admired how Apion, the most well-rounded, by sheer force of will, overcame his physical limitations. Other characters were sympathetic. The villains, however, were stereotypes--evil incarnate. Bracchus reminded me of the sadistic commandant of the French Foreign Legion fort in Beau Geste by P.C. Wren. The novel was very readable. However, I deplored the modernisms here and there in the text.
The battle scenes and any other fight scenes match anything in other novels. The impalings and torture were too gruesome for my taste.
Chess imagery was overdone. I did appreciate the Author's note, map, and glossary. Although there was a chart on the make-up of the Byzantine Army, I would have liked a simple line drawing of a Byzantine soldier, with parts of his uniform marked. I did find pictures of soldier-saints on the Internet, so I did get some idea of what they might have looked like. They were all dressed in Byzantine military garb. I did wonder why the slogan shouted by the soldiers in the novel was in Latin, rather than in Greek.
Recommended for those liking military fiction set in this time period.
January 2, 2012
I have 'known' Gordon Doherty for a number of years now. We met on a writing site, and have kept in touch ever since. It is very difficult to review the work of someone you 'know', and for that reason I generally choose not to. When a book comes along however, that is worth mentioning, it is very difficult not to.
Here is my evaluation of Gordon's book:
1. Presentation - Gordon has a professional attitude to his work. Although this is a self-published title, you would never know. It has a professional cover, has been extremely well edited and proof-read. In addition to a table of contents, Gordon has taken the time to include a full Glossary of terms, an Authors note, Maps of the regions, and a flowchart showing the breakdown of the Byzantine Thema. 5 out of 5.
2. Plot - The storyline really is first class. A war is brewing in the East: a young boy who must overcome adversity to fulfill a fate not yet known to him: a love triangle: treachery and misplaced trust: Action: unexpected twists and turns in the storyline. 5 out of 5.
3. Characters - David Gemmell is one of my favourite writers. He created memorable characters for whom you felt a real empathy. Although Gordon is not yet a Gemmell, I believe he isn't that far away. In 'Strategos' he has created some wonderful characters, especially that of his protagonist Apion. I fully believed in his character arc as he developed from crippled teenager to military hero, and the motivating factors which drove him on. If I had any complaint here, it would be that I would have liked to have seen a little more of the story from the POV of some of the other characters, such as the evil Bracchus, but that is probably me harking back to my love of Gemmell. Great characters all the same 4 out of 5.
4. Dialogue - Gordon has a real knack for this. Too often, I see the different voices of characters merging into one. Not so in 'Strategos'; each character has their own distinctive voice, and this is especially apparent when the POV is from that of the Seljuks. 5 out of 5.
5. Writing style - I feel that descriptive prose is overdone in many a novel and often find myself nodding off mid-sentence. Descriptive prose, I believe, is one of Gordon's greatest strengths, he has the balance just right, and consequently his words literally flow of the page. Although this is a hefty read, I found myself not wanting to put it down. Gordon writes so well that you can almost feel that you are there fighting alongside Apion, experiencing the hardships that are placed in his way. Bravo Gordon! 5 out of 5.
All in all, one of the best reviews I have ever written. Hardly surprising then that 'Strategos - Born in the Borderlands' has been one of my favourite reads of the last year.
cheers
Tony
Here is my evaluation of Gordon's book:
1. Presentation - Gordon has a professional attitude to his work. Although this is a self-published title, you would never know. It has a professional cover, has been extremely well edited and proof-read. In addition to a table of contents, Gordon has taken the time to include a full Glossary of terms, an Authors note, Maps of the regions, and a flowchart showing the breakdown of the Byzantine Thema. 5 out of 5.
2. Plot - The storyline really is first class. A war is brewing in the East: a young boy who must overcome adversity to fulfill a fate not yet known to him: a love triangle: treachery and misplaced trust: Action: unexpected twists and turns in the storyline. 5 out of 5.
3. Characters - David Gemmell is one of my favourite writers. He created memorable characters for whom you felt a real empathy. Although Gordon is not yet a Gemmell, I believe he isn't that far away. In 'Strategos' he has created some wonderful characters, especially that of his protagonist Apion. I fully believed in his character arc as he developed from crippled teenager to military hero, and the motivating factors which drove him on. If I had any complaint here, it would be that I would have liked to have seen a little more of the story from the POV of some of the other characters, such as the evil Bracchus, but that is probably me harking back to my love of Gemmell. Great characters all the same 4 out of 5.
4. Dialogue - Gordon has a real knack for this. Too often, I see the different voices of characters merging into one. Not so in 'Strategos'; each character has their own distinctive voice, and this is especially apparent when the POV is from that of the Seljuks. 5 out of 5.
5. Writing style - I feel that descriptive prose is overdone in many a novel and often find myself nodding off mid-sentence. Descriptive prose, I believe, is one of Gordon's greatest strengths, he has the balance just right, and consequently his words literally flow of the page. Although this is a hefty read, I found myself not wanting to put it down. Gordon writes so well that you can almost feel that you are there fighting alongside Apion, experiencing the hardships that are placed in his way. Bravo Gordon! 5 out of 5.
All in all, one of the best reviews I have ever written. Hardly surprising then that 'Strategos - Born in the Borderlands' has been one of my favourite reads of the last year.
cheers
Tony
May 6, 2012
I’ve been reading a lot about the Roman Empire lately since I’m writing my own historical novel about Caesar’s Rome. Both writers and readers seem to have a renewed interest in that fascinating era. I know I have. One of the things I most appreciated about Strategos is its focus on the Eastern Roman Empire when most books I’ve been reading focus on the west. Though they were both part of the Roman Empire, the two halves had very different personalities. Doherty has a knack for writing realistic, exciting battle scenes, and the well-woven plot kept me turning pages. I can’t think of anything more I could want from an historical novel. I’ve since discovered that Doherty has written other books, which I’ll be looking for. I would recommend this book for anyone with an interest in the Byzantine Empire, well-written battle scenes, and engrossing historical fiction.
July 10, 2012
Strategos, Born in the Borderlands follows the story of Apion, a young crippled Byzantine boy who has a dark past and an even darker future. At an early age Apion’s mother and father are murdered by masked killers and he becomes enslaved in the aftermath. Whilst working in a dingy drinking-hole for a cruel master, Apion stumbles into an elderly Seljuk man called Mansur, who buys Apion’s freedom and takes him back to his farm to live as a foster son. There Apion grows happy and forgets about his dark past and the murder of his parents, learning sword-play and strategy from Mansur whilst creating a great bond with Mansur’s daughter Maria.
However, a few years into his stay at Mansur’s farm, Apion discovers that the man behind the murder of his parents is none other than Bracchus, a corrupt soldier who forces Mansur to pay money for protection. But Apion cannot get at Bracchus for two reasons. The first is that Bracchus has been made into a Tourmarches, a powerful figure within the Byzantine army. The second reason is because Bracchus is a secret imperial agent with the Emperor’s protection and blessing, and therefore untouchable to Apion.
But Apion has a plan! With the threat of invasion from the Seljuk hordes in the East, Apion decides to join the army and becomes stationed under Bracchus. However when he arrives at Argyroupolis (where Bracchus is stationed) it is not what he is expecting, and soon finds Bracchus has the town run as a mini kingdom with him at the top! With joining the army, Apion also has another problem. With his deformed leg he cannot keep up on marches! Apion decides to bide his time, not only to make his leg stronger but to give him enough time to come up with a plan to take down Bracchus. Though, time may be running out for Apion as the Seljuk advance is much quicker than expected!
Apion and his comrades must face the odds and destroy the Seljuk army (which have 4 times as many troops!) Will Apion survive the battle? Will he gain his revenge for the murder of his family? Will the Byzantines push back the wave of all conquering Seljuks? You’ll have to read the book to find out!
I was looking forward to reading this book the moment I heard about it! I am a huge fan of Byzantine history (especially Justinian!) but I have never really read into this period of the long and eventful Byzantine era. And Strategos didn’t disappoint! I thought Doherty did a brilliant job of painting the picture of the era, especially when describing the troops of the Byzantine and Seljuk armies! I also loved the character of Apion! He is the hero that I always love to read about because he shouldn’t really be a hero! He is a cripple, an orphan and hated by some other Byzantines because he was brought up in a Seljuk family. But he perceivers! He overcomes his weakness and uses his great mind and understanding of strategy to become a Tourmarches, the leader of hundreds of men. There is also a revelation in the book that I was not expecting! I thought I knew where the book was heading but towards the end a spanner is thrown into the works which I thought was excellent! And which really rattles Apion!
This was a great book! I would suggest it to anyone who is a fan of C. C. Humphrey's book Constantinople, A Place Called Armageddon or is a fan other Romanesque/Greek epics authors such as Simon Scarrow, Ben Kane, Conn Iggulden and Anthony Riches! I’d just like to say a massive thank you to Gordon for getting in touch and introducing me to his work, this was a great book!
For more reviews check out http://adam-p-reviews.blogspot.co.uk/
However, a few years into his stay at Mansur’s farm, Apion discovers that the man behind the murder of his parents is none other than Bracchus, a corrupt soldier who forces Mansur to pay money for protection. But Apion cannot get at Bracchus for two reasons. The first is that Bracchus has been made into a Tourmarches, a powerful figure within the Byzantine army. The second reason is because Bracchus is a secret imperial agent with the Emperor’s protection and blessing, and therefore untouchable to Apion.
But Apion has a plan! With the threat of invasion from the Seljuk hordes in the East, Apion decides to join the army and becomes stationed under Bracchus. However when he arrives at Argyroupolis (where Bracchus is stationed) it is not what he is expecting, and soon finds Bracchus has the town run as a mini kingdom with him at the top! With joining the army, Apion also has another problem. With his deformed leg he cannot keep up on marches! Apion decides to bide his time, not only to make his leg stronger but to give him enough time to come up with a plan to take down Bracchus. Though, time may be running out for Apion as the Seljuk advance is much quicker than expected!
Apion and his comrades must face the odds and destroy the Seljuk army (which have 4 times as many troops!) Will Apion survive the battle? Will he gain his revenge for the murder of his family? Will the Byzantines push back the wave of all conquering Seljuks? You’ll have to read the book to find out!
I was looking forward to reading this book the moment I heard about it! I am a huge fan of Byzantine history (especially Justinian!) but I have never really read into this period of the long and eventful Byzantine era. And Strategos didn’t disappoint! I thought Doherty did a brilliant job of painting the picture of the era, especially when describing the troops of the Byzantine and Seljuk armies! I also loved the character of Apion! He is the hero that I always love to read about because he shouldn’t really be a hero! He is a cripple, an orphan and hated by some other Byzantines because he was brought up in a Seljuk family. But he perceivers! He overcomes his weakness and uses his great mind and understanding of strategy to become a Tourmarches, the leader of hundreds of men. There is also a revelation in the book that I was not expecting! I thought I knew where the book was heading but towards the end a spanner is thrown into the works which I thought was excellent! And which really rattles Apion!
This was a great book! I would suggest it to anyone who is a fan of C. C. Humphrey's book Constantinople, A Place Called Armageddon or is a fan other Romanesque/Greek epics authors such as Simon Scarrow, Ben Kane, Conn Iggulden and Anthony Riches! I’d just like to say a massive thank you to Gordon for getting in touch and introducing me to his work, this was a great book!
For more reviews check out http://adam-p-reviews.blogspot.co.uk/
March 30, 2012
Review from goodbookalert.blogspot.com
Strategos
Author: Gordon Doherty
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 4 Stars
Strategos is an engaging trip to the 11th-century Byzantine borderlands.
Summary:
In the mid-11th century, the Byzantine Empire finds its border threatened by the hungry Seljuk Sultanate. Caught up in the clash between the two warring empires is Apion, a young boy whose life is destroyed by the murder of his family during a Seljuk raid. His hatred and quest for vengeance is complicated by the unexpected aid of a Seljuk farmer and his family. As he grows into a man in the borderlands, Apion faces a complicated web of overlapping loyalties, corruption, and the bloody reality of war.
Review:
Whatever one thinks of the morality of vengeance, it does have a certain purity about it that makes it easy to understand, though not always interesting. Vengeance may motivate Hamlet in Shakespeare’s play, for example, but the psychological complexity of the prince is what makes the drama compelling.
Such is the case with Apion, the protagonist in Strategos, who has his life course initially charted by vengeance. The friendship of a Seljuk farmer with his own complicated past and various other characters of various ethnicities and nationalities creates a lovely psychological stew for Apion as he moves forward in his quest. While Apion’s motivation and behavior are pretty straight-forward and his own ethical and moral codes perhaps a bit less troubled by self-doubt than the aforementioned emo Danish prince, the interaction with the various other characters still provides for a satisfying and realistic struggle as we follow Apion as a boy, and later as a man, trying to do what he thinks is right. There’s a bit of ambiguous prophecy that adds a bit of fatalistic drama to his struggles without ever steering the narrative away from straight-forward historical fiction.
The various secondary characters are also well-rendered, and I particularly enjoyed some of the glimpses into the men running the Sultanate. These are not, by our modern standards, men we’d necessarily think of as good, but they are still interesting men following their own complicated honor requirements. This allows them good contrast with both the honorable and less than honorable denizens of the Byzantine Empire. While the author doesn’t, in this book at least, push true relativism between the cultures, he does definitely take full dramatic advantage of having threats against the protagonist being both foreign and domestic.
The plot isn’t as Byzantine as the empire the novel is set in, but, at the same time, the inclusion of several intrigue elements steadily throughout does provide more than a few nice surprises. The Byzantine Empire was a society known to have more than its fair share of intrigue and even though Apion and his friends on the borderlands are less likely to be delving into those sort of matters as people in the capital, it is still nice to see some of those ideas and elements explored in creative ways.
Military matters take up increasing plot attention in the latter portions of the book along with an increasing number of actions scenes. These are crisp and well-executed, generating a good sense of excitement. They also do a fine job of depicting the military realities and tactics of the period.
Overall, Strategos is an engaging trip to the 11th-century borderlands.
4/5 Stars
Strategos
Author: Gordon Doherty
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 4 Stars
Strategos is an engaging trip to the 11th-century Byzantine borderlands.
Summary:
In the mid-11th century, the Byzantine Empire finds its border threatened by the hungry Seljuk Sultanate. Caught up in the clash between the two warring empires is Apion, a young boy whose life is destroyed by the murder of his family during a Seljuk raid. His hatred and quest for vengeance is complicated by the unexpected aid of a Seljuk farmer and his family. As he grows into a man in the borderlands, Apion faces a complicated web of overlapping loyalties, corruption, and the bloody reality of war.
Review:
Whatever one thinks of the morality of vengeance, it does have a certain purity about it that makes it easy to understand, though not always interesting. Vengeance may motivate Hamlet in Shakespeare’s play, for example, but the psychological complexity of the prince is what makes the drama compelling.
Such is the case with Apion, the protagonist in Strategos, who has his life course initially charted by vengeance. The friendship of a Seljuk farmer with his own complicated past and various other characters of various ethnicities and nationalities creates a lovely psychological stew for Apion as he moves forward in his quest. While Apion’s motivation and behavior are pretty straight-forward and his own ethical and moral codes perhaps a bit less troubled by self-doubt than the aforementioned emo Danish prince, the interaction with the various other characters still provides for a satisfying and realistic struggle as we follow Apion as a boy, and later as a man, trying to do what he thinks is right. There’s a bit of ambiguous prophecy that adds a bit of fatalistic drama to his struggles without ever steering the narrative away from straight-forward historical fiction.
The various secondary characters are also well-rendered, and I particularly enjoyed some of the glimpses into the men running the Sultanate. These are not, by our modern standards, men we’d necessarily think of as good, but they are still interesting men following their own complicated honor requirements. This allows them good contrast with both the honorable and less than honorable denizens of the Byzantine Empire. While the author doesn’t, in this book at least, push true relativism between the cultures, he does definitely take full dramatic advantage of having threats against the protagonist being both foreign and domestic.
The plot isn’t as Byzantine as the empire the novel is set in, but, at the same time, the inclusion of several intrigue elements steadily throughout does provide more than a few nice surprises. The Byzantine Empire was a society known to have more than its fair share of intrigue and even though Apion and his friends on the borderlands are less likely to be delving into those sort of matters as people in the capital, it is still nice to see some of those ideas and elements explored in creative ways.
Military matters take up increasing plot attention in the latter portions of the book along with an increasing number of actions scenes. These are crisp and well-executed, generating a good sense of excitement. They also do a fine job of depicting the military realities and tactics of the period.
Overall, Strategos is an engaging trip to the 11th-century borderlands.
4/5 Stars
July 29, 2016
Clichéd plot of revenge and zero-to-hero bravado, and predictable outcome slightly mar this otherwise well written and engaging historical action adventure. Thankfully, unlike the plot itself, the setting of the novel in mid-1000s borderland Byzantium, a time and place where the empire faces a significant threat from the rising Seljuks, is both refreshing and quite original ... combined with fine story-telling, it manages to be entertaining rather well.
While my knowledge of this particular time and place in history is weak, and I can't attest to the historical accuracy, I do know that the premise of the story is generally historically accurate. Byzantium's eastern frontier had been repeatedly threatened by Seljuk forces, first by Tugrul, Sultan of the Seljuk Empire, followed by a decisive invasion at the command of his nephew Arp Arslan, who eventually wrested most of Anatolia from Byzantine control. The novel takes place at the time of transition of power from Tugrul to Arp Arslan, and both of the personalities have a place in the novel.
The Byzantine story is told from the point of view of Apion, a crippled boy who is adopted by a Sejluk family settled within empire's borders following the murder of his biological family. Apion vows to seek revenge for his murdered kin, and the path of vengeance takes him to a military outpost, where he participates in the defense of the empire along a Byzantine general named Cydones. Together, they face the initial invasion staged by Tugrul.
Whether Cydones and Apion are real personalities, I do not know. What I do know is that their story made for a good reading, despite the predictability and oft-repeated tale of revenge. The author certainly shows a knack for engaging story-telling, and the novel succeeded in maintaining my interest. Whether you have any interest in Byzantine history or not, this title is worth the read.
Unbeknownst to me at the time of the reading, another volume is planned, and the story of Apion will continue. I'm looking forward to it.
While my knowledge of this particular time and place in history is weak, and I can't attest to the historical accuracy, I do know that the premise of the story is generally historically accurate. Byzantium's eastern frontier had been repeatedly threatened by Seljuk forces, first by Tugrul, Sultan of the Seljuk Empire, followed by a decisive invasion at the command of his nephew Arp Arslan, who eventually wrested most of Anatolia from Byzantine control. The novel takes place at the time of transition of power from Tugrul to Arp Arslan, and both of the personalities have a place in the novel.
The Byzantine story is told from the point of view of Apion, a crippled boy who is adopted by a Sejluk family settled within empire's borders following the murder of his biological family. Apion vows to seek revenge for his murdered kin, and the path of vengeance takes him to a military outpost, where he participates in the defense of the empire along a Byzantine general named Cydones. Together, they face the initial invasion staged by Tugrul.
Whether Cydones and Apion are real personalities, I do not know. What I do know is that their story made for a good reading, despite the predictability and oft-repeated tale of revenge. The author certainly shows a knack for engaging story-telling, and the novel succeeded in maintaining my interest. Whether you have any interest in Byzantine history or not, this title is worth the read.
Unbeknownst to me at the time of the reading, another volume is planned, and the story of Apion will continue. I'm looking forward to it.
September 10, 2013
This book is hard to review because the author did not meet his writing potential. He is talented, and I predict he will give readers the full measure of his talent in future novels. In the present book, the author showed the purpose of his work and developed his characters in the final chapters. There were some grammatical errors, but none interrupted the flow of the read. Still, the difference between being good and being great may hinge on such matters.
Why four stars? The author wrote about a time and place that to my knowledge have not garnered enough attention, not even in history text books. The borders, races and tribes of parts of Asia and Europe were caught in a miasma of movement. The author showed courage and intelligence in writing about a time and place that lacked any great force, such as a dynamic leader, able to forge some stability for the people of the borderlands. Similar subject matters have been played out in history time and again, but with little attention paid to them. The author's reaching for a smaller star for his subject and doing the research necessary to write this book caused me to give it a solid four star rating.
The read was quick, and despite my criticisms, it was an easy read. I enjoyed it so much that I have the next book in the series open and ready to read. On Nook, the book was over eight hundred pages, and I nearly laid it aside. Turned out the book was under four hundred pages, and I will never understand why appearance and reality were so different. It must have been something technical which is why I will never understand it. Readers, don't be put off if your copy appears inordinately long. I am glad I did not let the apartment length hinder me. You see, I grew quite fond of Superman Apion.
Thank you, Mr. Doherty, for a good read.
Why four stars? The author wrote about a time and place that to my knowledge have not garnered enough attention, not even in history text books. The borders, races and tribes of parts of Asia and Europe were caught in a miasma of movement. The author showed courage and intelligence in writing about a time and place that lacked any great force, such as a dynamic leader, able to forge some stability for the people of the borderlands. Similar subject matters have been played out in history time and again, but with little attention paid to them. The author's reaching for a smaller star for his subject and doing the research necessary to write this book caused me to give it a solid four star rating.
The read was quick, and despite my criticisms, it was an easy read. I enjoyed it so much that I have the next book in the series open and ready to read. On Nook, the book was over eight hundred pages, and I nearly laid it aside. Turned out the book was under four hundred pages, and I will never understand why appearance and reality were so different. It must have been something technical which is why I will never understand it. Readers, don't be put off if your copy appears inordinately long. I am glad I did not let the apartment length hinder me. You see, I grew quite fond of Superman Apion.
Thank you, Mr. Doherty, for a good read.
August 10, 2014
Before I get started I guess I should say that my standards for a five are pretty darn high - and this book came close. I really wish I could give half a star on here sometimes and this is one of them because this is surely a four and a half.
I won't ruin the revelation at the ending but I will say that it caught me entirely by surprise and it was truly a crowning jewel moment for an already good book. I look forward to book two because if anything it has the potential to pull off the five star rating what with the plot building up at the end the way that it does.
Apion was a boy with many challenges, and the only thing that I can see that went a little bit fast it seemed like in the book was the way that his leg grew better after he joined the Byzantine Army, but the writer did skip a significant amount of time in that section of the book. It just seemed a little like he was trying to drive on to the forthcoming exciting parts.
Now Maria, as human as she is, I don't know what her problem is. I don't understand things women do in my own life though so that's not terribly surprising either.
All in all, a nice blend of action and plot along with a decent amount of historical truth behind it. A good book that will keep fans of historical fiction going and military fiction alike going until the end.
I won't ruin the revelation at the ending but I will say that it caught me entirely by surprise and it was truly a crowning jewel moment for an already good book. I look forward to book two because if anything it has the potential to pull off the five star rating what with the plot building up at the end the way that it does.
Apion was a boy with many challenges, and the only thing that I can see that went a little bit fast it seemed like in the book was the way that his leg grew better after he joined the Byzantine Army, but the writer did skip a significant amount of time in that section of the book. It just seemed a little like he was trying to drive on to the forthcoming exciting parts.
Now Maria, as human as she is, I don't know what her problem is. I don't understand things women do in my own life though so that's not terribly surprising either.
All in all, a nice blend of action and plot along with a decent amount of historical truth behind it. A good book that will keep fans of historical fiction going and military fiction alike going until the end.
February 14, 2015
1046 AD. The Byzantine Empire teeters on full-blown war with the Seljuk Sultanate. In the borderlands of Eastern Anatolia, a land riven with bloodshed and doubt, young Apion's life is shattered in one swift and brutal Seljuk night raid. Only the benevolence of Mansur, a Seljuk farmer, offers him a second chance of happiness.
Yet a hunger for revenge burns in Apion's soul, and he is drawn down a dark path that leads him right into the heart of a conflict that will echo through the ages.
This is a classy historical fiction, well researched and very well written, so much so it is hard to understand why Doherty isn’t published by a major house.
The Byzantium period is one I know virtually nothing about, however in part one of this series Doherty immerses the reader in the lives and times of the people who lived it. The characterization is a particularly strong suit of Doherty’s.
The narrative is absorbing and I found it hard to put down once I’d started. Apion, the protagonist, is a boy at the outset. He’s orphaned in circumstances that set out his path. Initially the tale is one of life in the ages, later it develops into a military plot, building towards an extremely well-constructed battle scene at the climax. Bernard Cornwell too finishes his books with a big fight and Doherty’s is at least as strong as Cornwell’s.
Yet a hunger for revenge burns in Apion's soul, and he is drawn down a dark path that leads him right into the heart of a conflict that will echo through the ages.
This is a classy historical fiction, well researched and very well written, so much so it is hard to understand why Doherty isn’t published by a major house.
The Byzantium period is one I know virtually nothing about, however in part one of this series Doherty immerses the reader in the lives and times of the people who lived it. The characterization is a particularly strong suit of Doherty’s.
The narrative is absorbing and I found it hard to put down once I’d started. Apion, the protagonist, is a boy at the outset. He’s orphaned in circumstances that set out his path. Initially the tale is one of life in the ages, later it develops into a military plot, building towards an extremely well-constructed battle scene at the climax. Bernard Cornwell too finishes his books with a big fight and Doherty’s is at least as strong as Cornwell’s.
March 24, 2012
Utterly brilliant
July 24, 2012
I thoroughly enjoyed this book but wish the second in the series was already out!
April 22, 2019
After approaching a difficult historical period with Legionary (376 AD, NE border of the Roman Empire), Gordon does one up with Strategos, going headlong into a time and a place that is largely ignored by mainstream Western culture: 1046 AD, Eastern Anatolia. While the Byzantine Empire is still far from its conventional 1453 end, this is an era when the empire's border are continually shrinking and, more importantly, at the Eastern border of the empire two major civilizations meet and mix, often through very violent means.
The plot and the tension in the action is by far the best thing in the book IMO. Beyond any nitpicking I might do in regards to the Byzantine outlook on life or the existence and functions of secret societies in late Byzantium or the strategic thinking of Byzantine emperors, I was engrossed in the book pretty much from the off and I kept wanting to find out whatever will come of Apion or Cydones or Bracchus next.
I like how twisted the plot is, how unpredictable the fate of all the characters is and how even the villains have a redeeming back story while the heroes can be led to virtuous actions by questionable goals. There's a lot of depth to all the characters that survive beyond a few pages, and it's well spread throughout, each episode adding another single element to one particular character's story.
I also like how Gordon doesn't shy away from writing sex scenes, and in Strategos there's a few of them, but they're all well integrated in the story and avoid the usual cringe that sex scenes seem to generate when written. There's plenty of blood and gore, sure, and writing battles and fights is the bread and butter of most historical fiction writers, but they tend to tread a lot more cautiously when it comes to the romantic lives of their characters. Not Gordon. His characters have feelings and urges and this gives them an extra dimension to the regular 'good with a sword' routine.
All in all, a gripping and pleasant read, and one that sparks interest in an unfairly overlooked era. I have a few reservations about moments in the plot that I think require too much of a suspension of belief, but then doesn't any work of fiction require some suspension of belief?
The plot and the tension in the action is by far the best thing in the book IMO. Beyond any nitpicking I might do in regards to the Byzantine outlook on life or the existence and functions of secret societies in late Byzantium or the strategic thinking of Byzantine emperors, I was engrossed in the book pretty much from the off and I kept wanting to find out whatever will come of Apion or Cydones or Bracchus next.
I like how twisted the plot is, how unpredictable the fate of all the characters is and how even the villains have a redeeming back story while the heroes can be led to virtuous actions by questionable goals. There's a lot of depth to all the characters that survive beyond a few pages, and it's well spread throughout, each episode adding another single element to one particular character's story.
I also like how Gordon doesn't shy away from writing sex scenes, and in Strategos there's a few of them, but they're all well integrated in the story and avoid the usual cringe that sex scenes seem to generate when written. There's plenty of blood and gore, sure, and writing battles and fights is the bread and butter of most historical fiction writers, but they tend to tread a lot more cautiously when it comes to the romantic lives of their characters. Not Gordon. His characters have feelings and urges and this gives them an extra dimension to the regular 'good with a sword' routine.
All in all, a gripping and pleasant read, and one that sparks interest in an unfairly overlooked era. I have a few reservations about moments in the plot that I think require too much of a suspension of belief, but then doesn't any work of fiction require some suspension of belief?
November 4, 2022
This was a very classic coming of age story. Apion grew from a confused crippled boy into a strong leader of men. It was a basic outline, but I think it was done well. Doherty managed to humanize both sides of the war, which is not something most authors attempt. He made sure to give motivations for all of our characters, including Apion, the enemy empire, and even Bracchus - the Byzantine agent who serves as our book 1 minor villain.
My only real gripe is the amount of prophecy and the occurring appearance of a mystic woman who can seemingly see the future. I'm just not sure if that was entirely necessary. Apion's life story laid out his path without being pushed by the living embodiment of destiny. Hopefully she fades into the background moving forward and we focus on what this book did well: dealing with real characters living in a harsh time and place in history. I also give bonus points for the book's setting. There aren't many books set in Byzantium, let alone the frontiers. While I love reading about this conflict on the edges of history (if I didn't listen to The History of Byzantium I'd have no knowledge of the years between 400 and 1000AD), I kinda hope we get a glimpse into the great city. I can see a Triumph being done for a reason to visit that snake's den, but it might also bog down a story that already has plenty of intrigue.
(My minor gripe is the formatting of the book. I don't like the extra 6pts spacing after every paragraph. It just annoys me in general and felt like a high schooler trying to reach the page count. There were also multiple times where a single ' gets pushed to it's own line at the end of a statement and it feels like that could have been cleaned up. Super minor details. They don't detract from the story at all.)
My only real gripe is the amount of prophecy and the occurring appearance of a mystic woman who can seemingly see the future. I'm just not sure if that was entirely necessary. Apion's life story laid out his path without being pushed by the living embodiment of destiny. Hopefully she fades into the background moving forward and we focus on what this book did well: dealing with real characters living in a harsh time and place in history. I also give bonus points for the book's setting. There aren't many books set in Byzantium, let alone the frontiers. While I love reading about this conflict on the edges of history (if I didn't listen to The History of Byzantium I'd have no knowledge of the years between 400 and 1000AD), I kinda hope we get a glimpse into the great city. I can see a Triumph being done for a reason to visit that snake's den, but it might also bog down a story that already has plenty of intrigue.
(My minor gripe is the formatting of the book. I don't like the extra 6pts spacing after every paragraph. It just annoys me in general and felt like a high schooler trying to reach the page count. There were also multiple times where a single ' gets pushed to it's own line at the end of a statement and it feels like that could have been cleaned up. Super minor details. They don't detract from the story at all.)
September 12, 2023
A real shame. So little medieval fiction is written about the Byzantine period and sadly this one really missed a good opportunity. The civilization, culture, religion, military world and peoples were so rich but this book takes the typical William Wallace plot, the typical country bumpkin story rising to military prominence. A cookie cutter story with injustice and evil bla bla bla. There was just enough historical references to keep you going, but in the end, just bland and dark descriptions of the surroundings that are a real missed opportunity. By the end, there was so much rage and anger. It seems the author was raging at something and put it in his writing. It totally put me off even wanting to read the next installment.
For those who love Byzantine history, definitely still read the first book, but don’t expect much.
For those who love Byzantine history, definitely still read the first book, but don’t expect much.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 16, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. The story of Apion is gripping and well-crafted, pulling the reader into the turbulent world of Byzantium. This is a period often overlooked in historical fiction, and Doherty does a fantastic job bringing this era to life. My only gripe is the reference to Hittite mythology. I'm a bit skeptical about how much the Byzantines would have been aware of or connected themselves to that ancient people. That said, it didn't detract from the overall experience. This is a well-written and engaging novel that I’d highly recommend to fans of Conn Iggulden, Simon Scarrow, or Ben Kane.
April 26, 2019
Engaging story!!!
I enjoyed the story immensely. The character development was very interesting and I have been fascinated by stories about the Byzantine Empire. I look forward to the next installment of the Haga's adventure.
I enjoyed the story immensely. The character development was very interesting and I have been fascinated by stories about the Byzantine Empire. I look forward to the next installment of the Haga's adventure.
August 10, 2020
this story has the bones to be epic...but is let down by the wrong narrator...for a book so full of roaring it needs a stronger narrator who can carry the characters better. Nigel is a good narrator just not for this book. i can't finish it...:(
August 21, 2020
Rise of a legend
Easy five stars for a flawless recreation of the early career of an unlikely fictional hero. Totally believable storyline with superb characterisation of all the principal participants in both sides of the conflict.
Easy five stars for a flawless recreation of the early career of an unlikely fictional hero. Totally believable storyline with superb characterisation of all the principal participants in both sides of the conflict.
March 28, 2021
As a Byzantine enthusiast, I was thrilled to find a book written in this era and overall I think it was a strong book. If you like authors like Guy Gavriel Kay, who writes historical fiction with a fantasy overcoat, this is a good book for you. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
December 9, 2022
I appreciated the military details and the setting was interesting. Definitely some interesting bits about tolerance. Where it lost me was the whole "chosen one" thing, which made the main character oh-so-perfect. It was too much to take.
January 7, 2018
Great read from start to finish :-) Now for some more :-)
September 22, 2019
Gordon Doherty sure knows how to write a good book! Check out his entire catalog for some exciting military historical fiction
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews