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Caesar's Sword #2
Siege of Rome
After centuries of being on the defensive, the Roman Empire is on the march once again…
Constantinople, 537 AD: after the successful reconquest of North Africa, the Emperor Justinian starts to entertain grand dreams of restoring the shattered Western Empire. He despatches his golden general, Flavius Belisarius, with an army of twelve thousand men to drive the Goths from Italy and recover Rome, the Eternal City and ancient capital of the Roman world.
For Coel ap Amhar, King Arthur’s grandson, the Italian campaign is an opportunity to escape his growing number of enemies in Constantinople. But the early successes of Belisarius quickly fade, as Rome is surrounded by an overwhelming horde of Goths, commanded by their dread king, Vitiges.
Stalked by assassins, thrown into one desperate battle after another, Coel’s life and liberty are at stake as Belisarius makes his final stand in the siege of Rome…
Constantinople, 537 AD: after the successful reconquest of North Africa, the Emperor Justinian starts to entertain grand dreams of restoring the shattered Western Empire. He despatches his golden general, Flavius Belisarius, with an army of twelve thousand men to drive the Goths from Italy and recover Rome, the Eternal City and ancient capital of the Roman world.
For Coel ap Amhar, King Arthur’s grandson, the Italian campaign is an opportunity to escape his growing number of enemies in Constantinople. But the early successes of Belisarius quickly fade, as Rome is surrounded by an overwhelming horde of Goths, commanded by their dread king, Vitiges.
Stalked by assassins, thrown into one desperate battle after another, Coel’s life and liberty are at stake as Belisarius makes his final stand in the siege of Rome…
- GenresHistorical Fiction
177 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 30, 2013
12 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 9, 2016
In this second instalment in this series, Coel, grandson of King Arthur, continues his story, telling us about his exciting adventures in Sicily, North Africa, Naples and at the Siege of Rome in 537 AD. Again we meet the great general, Belisarius, but also some new and interesting characters - I particularly liked the scholar Procopius and the way the author portrays him.
This novel is a good mixture of fact and fiction. It is written in an easy-to-follow and witty style, which keeps you turning the pages and wanting to know what happens next. There is plenty of action with some exciting battles and fights, and also a dose of mythology.
I am enjoying this series, and will be reading the next and final instalment soon.
This novel is a good mixture of fact and fiction. It is written in an easy-to-follow and witty style, which keeps you turning the pages and wanting to know what happens next. There is plenty of action with some exciting battles and fights, and also a dose of mythology.
I am enjoying this series, and will be reading the next and final instalment soon.
October 19, 2015
The grandson of Arthur, Coel, is put through the wringer by the author in this the second volume in the Caesar's Sword series. If it isn't vengeful people in Justinian's court, it's Vandals in Africa, if it isn't them it's the Goths in Italy, if it isn't them, it's people in Belisarius own household, all of them want him dead Make no mistake, Coel has a lot of enemies. David Pilling as wrought an exciting tale that follows the famous General Belisarius who is given the task of retaking Rome from the Ostrogoths who have held it for decades but a Vandal rebellion in Africa must be dealt with first. Taking Rome from the Goths is accomplished but now the trick is to keep it as the city is under siege by 120,000 Goths. The author is once again in top form as he gives us a scintillating story of the genius of Belisarius while intertwining the trial and tribulations of Coel who is not immune to outside forces despite being an officer on Belisarius staff. Descriptive, imaginative and replete with the glory of war and the machinations of behind the scene shenanigans of those who would bring Coel down, Siege of Rome is a worthy successor to The Red Death and will continue in book 3, Flame of the West. 5 stars.
About the author:
I'm an English writer and researcher, addicted to history for as long as I can remember. I spent much of my childhood dragging my long-suffering parents up and down the misted ruins of castles in Wales, and the medieval period has always held a particular fascination for me. I am also interested in the Roman period, the Dark Ages and the British Civil Wars of the 17th century.
My first published novel, Folville's Law, followed the adventures of Sir John Swale during the dying days of Edward II's catastrophic reign. It was followed by twelve mini-sequels.
My stand-alone novel, The Half-Hanged Man, was told from the perspective of three characters and focused on the mercenary Free Companies that plagued Christendom in the latter half of the 14th century.
The White Hawk (I) and (II) form part of a planned 4-part series set during The Wars of the Roses, and chronicle the trials and adventures of the Boltons, a family of minor Staffordshire gentry, as they attempt to survive this particularly bloody period of English history.
Caesar's Sword tells the story of Coel ap Amhar, King Arthur's bastard grandson, and his adventures in the glittering, lethal environment of Constantinople and the Late Roman Empire.
Fireship Press have just released Nowhere Was There Peace, a tale of espionage and power politics set during The Second Baron's War, just after the Battle of Evesham.
I have also written a series of fantasy novels with my friend and co-writer, Martin Bolton.
All my novels are available as ebooks and paperbacks.
Enjoy!
www.davidpillingauthor.com
Links for the humble scribe who did the review:
On Twitter @hooverbkreview
On Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Clash-...
About the author:
I'm an English writer and researcher, addicted to history for as long as I can remember. I spent much of my childhood dragging my long-suffering parents up and down the misted ruins of castles in Wales, and the medieval period has always held a particular fascination for me. I am also interested in the Roman period, the Dark Ages and the British Civil Wars of the 17th century.
My first published novel, Folville's Law, followed the adventures of Sir John Swale during the dying days of Edward II's catastrophic reign. It was followed by twelve mini-sequels.
My stand-alone novel, The Half-Hanged Man, was told from the perspective of three characters and focused on the mercenary Free Companies that plagued Christendom in the latter half of the 14th century.
The White Hawk (I) and (II) form part of a planned 4-part series set during The Wars of the Roses, and chronicle the trials and adventures of the Boltons, a family of minor Staffordshire gentry, as they attempt to survive this particularly bloody period of English history.
Caesar's Sword tells the story of Coel ap Amhar, King Arthur's bastard grandson, and his adventures in the glittering, lethal environment of Constantinople and the Late Roman Empire.
Fireship Press have just released Nowhere Was There Peace, a tale of espionage and power politics set during The Second Baron's War, just after the Battle of Evesham.
I have also written a series of fantasy novels with my friend and co-writer, Martin Bolton.
All my novels are available as ebooks and paperbacks.
Enjoy!
www.davidpillingauthor.com
Links for the humble scribe who did the review:
On Twitter @hooverbkreview
On Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Clash-...
September 26, 2016
Good Story
An Interesting perspective of Rome and the rest of Italy and Sicily during a period of attempts at restoration. Good plot and well-written descriptions and dialogue.
An Interesting perspective of Rome and the rest of Italy and Sicily during a period of attempts at restoration. Good plot and well-written descriptions and dialogue.
June 9, 2014
This series has been easy to read. The author has good flow and pick up timing. He makes too many grammatical errors, especially with personal pronouns. A four star writer needs a four star editor. His mechanics of good writing are otherwise fine. Coel, a descendant of King Arthur and owner of Excalibur, suffers from 'teacher's pet' syndrome. (Teacher's Pet came to me out of the blue.) He is not liked by many of his fellow soldiers, he is despised by Bellasarius' wife, but he is loved by Bellasarius. Coel is the most unlikely hero I have ever met. Valor seems to fall on him in the most inexplicable ways.
The storyline is an attempt by the failing Roman Empire to re-take Rome. The methods of fighting by both armies are interesting. The book ends abruptly without any resolution of the dangers befalling Ceol and the Roman army. Another book in the series is necessary, and I am anxious to read it.
Thank you, Mr. Pilling, for a good read.
The storyline is an attempt by the failing Roman Empire to re-take Rome. The methods of fighting by both armies are interesting. The book ends abruptly without any resolution of the dangers befalling Ceol and the Roman army. Another book in the series is necessary, and I am anxious to read it.
Thank you, Mr. Pilling, for a good read.
February 5, 2014
Quite a short well written good book, I definitely recommend the author and the Ceasar series
July 18, 2016
A compelling, read
A great story, well researched and well written. For lovers of historical fiction. I thoroughly recommend this book.
I look forward to the next installment.
A great story, well researched and well written. For lovers of historical fiction. I thoroughly recommend this book.
I look forward to the next installment.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews