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Chronicles of an Imperial Legionary Officer #1
Stiger's Tigers
The empire has endured many centuries but is now threatened by multiple wars and a major rebellion in the South.
A nobleman from an infamous family, imperial legionary officer, fighter and a right proper bastard of a man… Captain Ben Stiger finds himself reassigned from a crack legion to the rebellion simmering in the South. Placed in command of a truly terrible company, the 85th Imperial Foot, he is unknowingly sent on a suicide mission to resupply an isolated outpost, the garrison of Vrell. Along the way he must rebuild his new company, gain the respect of the men he leads, survive an assassination attempt, fight bandits, rebels, and an agent of an evil god. His companions on this journey of discovery and adventure are one of the few remaining elven rangers and a paladin on a quest for the High Father.
The battle to save the empire and the world begins here in the first book of this exciting new series!
A nobleman from an infamous family, imperial legionary officer, fighter and a right proper bastard of a man… Captain Ben Stiger finds himself reassigned from a crack legion to the rebellion simmering in the South. Placed in command of a truly terrible company, the 85th Imperial Foot, he is unknowingly sent on a suicide mission to resupply an isolated outpost, the garrison of Vrell. Along the way he must rebuild his new company, gain the respect of the men he leads, survive an assassination attempt, fight bandits, rebels, and an agent of an evil god. His companions on this journey of discovery and adventure are one of the few remaining elven rangers and a paladin on a quest for the High Father.
The battle to save the empire and the world begins here in the first book of this exciting new series!
315 pages, ebook
First published March 23, 2015
1857 people are currently reading
3141 people want to read
About the author
Marc Alan Edelheit
46 books859 followersBestselling author Marc Edelheit has traveled the world, from Asia to Europe, at one point crossing the border at Check Point Charlie in Berlin toward the end of the Cold War.
Marc is the ultimate history fan and incorporates much of that passion into his work to bring greater realism to his fans. He is also an avid reader, devouring several books per week, ranging from history to science fiction and fantasy.
Marc is the ultimate history fan and incorporates much of that passion into his work to bring greater realism to his fans. He is also an avid reader, devouring several books per week, ranging from history to science fiction and fantasy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 392 reviews
June 26, 2022
Tigers and elves and dwarfs and legionaries
A fine bit of military fiction with fantasy and quasi historical elements. Mr.Edelheit is an excellent story teller and a pretty darn good writer as well. He has produced a strong and entertaining tale of uncompromising evil vs good.
Some have complained of a cliched plot and characters. Captain Stiger is an excellent officer so naturally there are similarities to other excellent fictional officers. Richard Sharpe, Honor Harrington, Jack Aubrey, various officers from Hammer's Slammers and other David Drake creations come to mind. Others have complained of things such as the Romans had no knowledge of tobacco. So? The Empire in this novel is not Rome. Perhaps there is some connection to Rome but it isn't Rome.The planet is apparently not even Earth. This is a fantasy. A created world. The author can do with it as he wishes. So long as things remain consistent and logical, readers have no reason to complain. I have already started the second volume and so far it meets expectations raised by the quality of volume one.
A fine bit of military fiction with fantasy and quasi historical elements. Mr.Edelheit is an excellent story teller and a pretty darn good writer as well. He has produced a strong and entertaining tale of uncompromising evil vs good.
Some have complained of a cliched plot and characters. Captain Stiger is an excellent officer so naturally there are similarities to other excellent fictional officers. Richard Sharpe, Honor Harrington, Jack Aubrey, various officers from Hammer's Slammers and other David Drake creations come to mind. Others have complained of things such as the Romans had no knowledge of tobacco. So? The Empire in this novel is not Rome. Perhaps there is some connection to Rome but it isn't Rome.The planet is apparently not even Earth. This is a fantasy. A created world. The author can do with it as he wishes. So long as things remain consistent and logical, readers have no reason to complain. I have already started the second volume and so far it meets expectations raised by the quality of volume one.
January 9, 2023
Actual rating: 3.23568994 stars.
Aside from the fact that the plot is virtually nonexistent and that the actual story doesn't really start before the 70% mark, this book wasn't revoltingly bad. I guess it helps that I likedull, repetitive martial training yummy military stuff. You'll probably think the whole thing is boring as fish if you don't. Like dull, repetitive martial training yummy military stuff, I mean.
P.S. The tigers mentioned in the title don't refer to slightly ferocious, striped kitties, in case you were wondering. (This is a complete rip-off, by the way. I want my money back. Sorry, what? I got this book for free, you say? And your point is?)
Aside from the fact that the plot is virtually nonexistent and that the actual story doesn't really start before the 70% mark, this book wasn't revoltingly bad. I guess it helps that I like
P.S. The tigers mentioned in the title don't refer to slightly ferocious, striped kitties, in case you were wondering. (This is a complete rip-off, by the way. I want my money back. Sorry, what? I got this book for free, you say? And your point is?)
February 2, 2019
"He wasn’t interested in glory or fame. Stiger was simply intent on doing his duty to the empire. With duty came honor. To Stiger, nothing was more important."
If you have been “into” FRP; if you enjoy novels of military adventure; you can add Edelheit’s Imperial Legionary saga to your list.
"The tension and anxiety he felt were not over his own safety. He worried that they would be discovered before the assault began. He worried that he would make a mistake in leading them in and he would lose men as a result. He worried that once the men went in, in the heat of the fight, they might panic and forget their training, costing lives. What if he’d missed something critical? He worried … Despite this, he had not once reconsidered carrying the assault home. It was natural for a commander to worry. He was careful to project a sense of calm and resolve to the men around him, and not betray fear. He had trained and worked his men hard. He felt they were ready for this. The enemy was before him, and he meant to destroy them. It was as simple as that."
What we have here is something akin to Imperial Rome, complete with the historical Roman military tactics and equipment in a fantasy realm complete with paladins, elves, magic, etc.
"Stiger had just finished introducing himself and explaining his expectations, which he considered simple. In short: honor, courage, and loyalty to both unit and empire. They were the watchwords by which Stiger lived his life, and he would communicate them by example and force of will alone if necessary."
Our hero finds himself sent “south” for a new posting. He has no idea what he will face but he knows what kind of first impression will accompany him. "Ikelys were clients of the Agadow family, which made them a loosely tied ally to the Stigers." Family is everything and the Stiger family comes with a lot of baggage.
Stiger’s first assignment consists of legionaries that have lacked any consistent leadership and discipline. "What should have taken less than thirty minutes consumed more than an hour. Stiger was not at all surprised. The men moved almost lethargically. Though he did not like it, he understood why. Filthy and ragged, they were living like animals. Half the men were missing proper marching sandals. More disturbing, they looked hungry—almost starved. It was a testament to the supply problems in the encampment."
This marks the start of a slow and patient buildup to the battle that defines Stiger and his “Tigers.” Again, you have to love this genre to find Edelheit’s patient world-building worthwhile. It also takes a long while to get the back stories that illuminate our hero and his family.
The plot elements in play get some resolution. It dovetails with the next book, but you are expected to acquire #2 immediately and keep reading. Not quite a 4* but I am rounding up (a new year’s resolution) despite the following quibbles:
"In the morning, he would have to watch someone flogged. Damn … damn … damn! How he hated the lash. Yet deep down he understood it was a necessary part of the legionary’s life. Without it, there would be no order." I guess this was included because it was a sanctioned form of punishment with Rome’s legions. (And the British Navy believed the same.)
There is no mention of daily time in this novel except the usual (morning, noon and night). And then, somehow, we have a way of measuring minutes? "The captain had instructed the main body to spend forty-five minutes of every hour on the move, followed by a fifteen-minute break."
If you have been “into” FRP; if you enjoy novels of military adventure; you can add Edelheit’s Imperial Legionary saga to your list.
"The tension and anxiety he felt were not over his own safety. He worried that they would be discovered before the assault began. He worried that he would make a mistake in leading them in and he would lose men as a result. He worried that once the men went in, in the heat of the fight, they might panic and forget their training, costing lives. What if he’d missed something critical? He worried … Despite this, he had not once reconsidered carrying the assault home. It was natural for a commander to worry. He was careful to project a sense of calm and resolve to the men around him, and not betray fear. He had trained and worked his men hard. He felt they were ready for this. The enemy was before him, and he meant to destroy them. It was as simple as that."
What we have here is something akin to Imperial Rome, complete with the historical Roman military tactics and equipment in a fantasy realm complete with paladins, elves, magic, etc.
"Stiger had just finished introducing himself and explaining his expectations, which he considered simple. In short: honor, courage, and loyalty to both unit and empire. They were the watchwords by which Stiger lived his life, and he would communicate them by example and force of will alone if necessary."
Our hero finds himself sent “south” for a new posting. He has no idea what he will face but he knows what kind of first impression will accompany him. "Ikelys were clients of the Agadow family, which made them a loosely tied ally to the Stigers." Family is everything and the Stiger family comes with a lot of baggage.
Stiger’s first assignment consists of legionaries that have lacked any consistent leadership and discipline. "What should have taken less than thirty minutes consumed more than an hour. Stiger was not at all surprised. The men moved almost lethargically. Though he did not like it, he understood why. Filthy and ragged, they were living like animals. Half the men were missing proper marching sandals. More disturbing, they looked hungry—almost starved. It was a testament to the supply problems in the encampment."
This marks the start of a slow and patient buildup to the battle that defines Stiger and his “Tigers.” Again, you have to love this genre to find Edelheit’s patient world-building worthwhile. It also takes a long while to get the back stories that illuminate our hero and his family.
The plot elements in play get some resolution. It dovetails with the next book, but you are expected to acquire #2 immediately and keep reading. Not quite a 4* but I am rounding up (a new year’s resolution) despite the following quibbles:
"In the morning, he would have to watch someone flogged. Damn … damn … damn! How he hated the lash. Yet deep down he understood it was a necessary part of the legionary’s life. Without it, there would be no order." I guess this was included because it was a sanctioned form of punishment with Rome’s legions. (And the British Navy believed the same.)
There is no mention of daily time in this novel except the usual (morning, noon and night). And then, somehow, we have a way of measuring minutes? "The captain had instructed the main body to spend forty-five minutes of every hour on the move, followed by a fifteen-minute break."
June 22, 2018
Well-written, interesting start to the series.
What I liked most were the military elements. I believe this is where the book really shines. The author’s bio describes him as somewhat of a history buff. I don’t know very much about Roman legions, but the descriptions and actions of the characters were believable, and the author seemed to have a good grasp on military training and expectations.
There were some small issues that took away from the experience though. First, the author explained too much, and didn’t allow the reader to come to their own conclusions. This is most noticeable when Stiger is trying to earn the respect of his soldiers. The why of a decision is evident in the outcome. It doesn’t always need an explanation. I would have also liked to see some of the supporting characters fleshed out a little more. Despite Stiger being fairly likable, and clearly someone you can respect and root for, having a fully imagined cast could have deepened my connection to his struggles, and provide much needed depth to the serious lack of military bearing being displayed.
Although this is labeled historical fantasy, I’d say it’s more history than fantasy at this point. Most of this first book focuses on the legion, garrison and supply train. Eventually the book progresses from basic legionary life to the more exciting fantasy side, but being that so much of the book is spent focused on the day to day activities of the legion, and is basically uneventful, I assume some readers will find it disappointing.
So overall this was a quick read, and fairly enjoyable. It looks to pick up on the fantasy side of things in the next installment, so I will probably continue the series to see where it leads.
What I liked most were the military elements. I believe this is where the book really shines. The author’s bio describes him as somewhat of a history buff. I don’t know very much about Roman legions, but the descriptions and actions of the characters were believable, and the author seemed to have a good grasp on military training and expectations.
There were some small issues that took away from the experience though. First, the author explained too much, and didn’t allow the reader to come to their own conclusions. This is most noticeable when Stiger is trying to earn the respect of his soldiers. The why of a decision is evident in the outcome. It doesn’t always need an explanation. I would have also liked to see some of the supporting characters fleshed out a little more. Despite Stiger being fairly likable, and clearly someone you can respect and root for, having a fully imagined cast could have deepened my connection to his struggles, and provide much needed depth to the serious lack of military bearing being displayed.
Although this is labeled historical fantasy, I’d say it’s more history than fantasy at this point. Most of this first book focuses on the legion, garrison and supply train. Eventually the book progresses from basic legionary life to the more exciting fantasy side, but being that so much of the book is spent focused on the day to day activities of the legion, and is basically uneventful, I assume some readers will find it disappointing.
So overall this was a quick read, and fairly enjoyable. It looks to pick up on the fantasy side of things in the next installment, so I will probably continue the series to see where it leads.
September 1, 2017
Welll huh...a good book.
What we got here is a sort of historical fiction/fantasy book. We're looking at a world with a version of the Roman Legionnaires facing off with the barbarians at the edges of the Empire. We seem to be nearing the end of the Empire's life. Our hero (Stiger) is from a leading family but has a kind of black mark against his name (so to speak).
The story here is of him taking a slovenly, undisciplined group of legionnaires and turning them completely around.
I liked this one. Forgive the lack of detail but any more would get into a sort of extended synopsis and they'd be spoilers there. You don't want spoilers. I've already purchased the next in this series and plan to fit it into my currently reading queue.
When I own books they always end up waiting for me to finish library books.
Recommended, enjoy.
What we got here is a sort of historical fiction/fantasy book. We're looking at a world with a version of the Roman Legionnaires facing off with the barbarians at the edges of the Empire. We seem to be nearing the end of the Empire's life. Our hero (Stiger) is from a leading family but has a kind of black mark against his name (so to speak).
The story here is of him taking a slovenly, undisciplined group of legionnaires and turning them completely around.
I liked this one. Forgive the lack of detail but any more would get into a sort of extended synopsis and they'd be spoilers there. You don't want spoilers. I've already purchased the next in this series and plan to fit it into my currently reading queue.
When I own books they always end up waiting for me to finish library books.
Recommended, enjoy.
August 9, 2015
Stiger's Tigers is an impressive debut novel from Marc Alan Edelheit. From page one I was transported into his fantasy world of elves, humans, and magic, where I immediately felt connected to the main character, Captain Stiger, who is a no-nonsense honorable soldier determined to whip a lazy group of men into fighting shape. This book is well-edited and is written in a very straight-forward fashion, which suits the nature of the protagonist. Although I would've liked a little more action, I was always excited when I would turn on my Kindle knowing I would get to read more of the tale.
I highly recommend this novel for those who love war-centered fantasy stories that feel real while still having magic and mythical creatures.
I highly recommend this novel for those who love war-centered fantasy stories that feel real while still having magic and mythical creatures.
January 27, 2023
This is the first in the Stiger series, and it's re-read #3. Or maybe it's the fourth time around, I can't remember!
This is fantasy (extremely light) featuring faux-Roman legions. It's a win-win for me since I have always enjoyed fantasy, and I love historical fiction dealing with the Roman legions.
Captain Ben Stiger and his sidekick Lieutenant Eli'Far, an elf, are tasked with whipping a sorry company into disciplined shape in order to carry out some potentially dangerous orders in rebel territory. Most of this book deals with the training of disreputable legionaries and the introduction of various characters. There is a good and varied mix of characters. As to Stiger himself, if his tunic, armor and sword were swapped out with French cavalry coveralls, a shako and a rifle, he could pass for one of my all-time favorite fictional characters: Richard Sharpe. Stiger even has Sharpe's same scar on his cheek and the flogging scars on his back. Maybe that's why I like this series, too, now that I think about it. You can't go wrong with Sharpe.
This book is not bursting with action. There is some, but the story is more of a turning-the-soldiers-into-a-cohesive-unit tale. There are a lot of drills, training and marching. There is also some politicking among Stiger's superiors.
Although this is nowhere near Bernard Cornwell's high quality, it's still a darned good series!
This is fantasy (extremely light) featuring faux-Roman legions. It's a win-win for me since I have always enjoyed fantasy, and I love historical fiction dealing with the Roman legions.
Captain Ben Stiger and his sidekick Lieutenant Eli'Far, an elf, are tasked with whipping a sorry company into disciplined shape in order to carry out some potentially dangerous orders in rebel territory. Most of this book deals with the training of disreputable legionaries and the introduction of various characters. There is a good and varied mix of characters. As to Stiger himself, if his tunic, armor and sword were swapped out with French cavalry coveralls, a shako and a rifle, he could pass for one of my all-time favorite fictional characters: Richard Sharpe. Stiger even has Sharpe's same scar on his cheek and the flogging scars on his back. Maybe that's why I like this series, too, now that I think about it. You can't go wrong with Sharpe.
This book is not bursting with action. There is some, but the story is more of a turning-the-soldiers-into-a-cohesive-unit tale. There are a lot of drills, training and marching. There is also some politicking among Stiger's superiors.
Although this is nowhere near Bernard Cornwell's high quality, it's still a darned good series!
March 27, 2025
This book is a mixture of traditional fantasy with a military fantasy with a Roman twist. I really enjoyed it. The author did a great job with the character work of Stiger as well as his elf companion. It’s pretty slow since most of the book is him training a terrible group of soldiers into a capable force.
September 8, 2015
I received this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.
Stiger is a Captain in an Imperial Army tasked with resupplying an outpost while retraining and preparing his newly assigned company men. He has the help of his friend, Eli'Far, and elf with pointed teeth.
The main story sounds interesting and exciting, an army with elves, the possibility of magic, wizards, and and other fantastical things. I was so pumped to read this, but I found it a huge letdown.
The biggest problem is the plot - there isn't one - or at least the author forgets there is one until the very end of the book. When the main event you've been waiting for finally arrives, it is over in a few pages and is hardly worth slogging through 200 pages to get to.
The majority of the book is spent on telling the various details of training and preparing the men. It's interesting for a bit, but I want excitement and battles. When we finally get to battles, there are no details, no buildup. It was like going to a fireworks display and seeing one dud and heading home. Really? That's it?
The second major problem was the repetition. Stiger's name creates fear and terror to everyone he meets. We're told this over and over, although we are never told why! The elf has pointed teeth. The shields are most expensive. If everything was told only once, this book would be half the length.
The overall premise had promise, but sadly it didn't live up to my expectations.
Stiger is a Captain in an Imperial Army tasked with resupplying an outpost while retraining and preparing his newly assigned company men. He has the help of his friend, Eli'Far, and elf with pointed teeth.
The main story sounds interesting and exciting, an army with elves, the possibility of magic, wizards, and and other fantastical things. I was so pumped to read this, but I found it a huge letdown.
The biggest problem is the plot - there isn't one - or at least the author forgets there is one until the very end of the book. When the main event you've been waiting for finally arrives, it is over in a few pages and is hardly worth slogging through 200 pages to get to.
The majority of the book is spent on telling the various details of training and preparing the men. It's interesting for a bit, but I want excitement and battles. When we finally get to battles, there are no details, no buildup. It was like going to a fireworks display and seeing one dud and heading home. Really? That's it?
The second major problem was the repetition. Stiger's name creates fear and terror to everyone he meets. We're told this over and over, although we are never told why! The elf has pointed teeth. The shields are most expensive. If everything was told only once, this book would be half the length.
The overall premise had promise, but sadly it didn't live up to my expectations.
June 2, 2020
Very readable and enjoyable start to a series, blending Ancient Rome-ish vibes with just a few tablespoons of fantasy & magic. At its heart, it's a "tough commander whips a ragtag bunch of misfits into the best group ever" story, and I'm such a sucker for those.
I'm not even taking my usual other-book-between-books-in-a-series as a palette cleanser. Nope, onto book two. Boom.
I'm not even taking my usual other-book-between-books-in-a-series as a palette cleanser. Nope, onto book two. Boom.
July 26, 2022
I liked this tale very much, appreciating the leadership role of Stiger against all odds. I rarely read fantasy and usually do not like it, but who wouldn't like the assistance of a special elf as Stiger benefits from? It mostly reads as a good Roman legion yarn, something I was looking for.
September 25, 2018
I loved the idea of adding traditional "Fantasy" elements in to a story about a Roman solder. But after just a few chapters I realized it is more of traditional fantasy story with just a bit of "Roman" elements added in. But if you don't over think it, it is an enjoyable and fast paced read. It is a pretty short book though I finished book 1 in just a few hours and am about half way done with book 2 all in 1 day.
August 7, 2021
Listened to this one within a 24 hour period, Excellent!!
On to "The Tiger".
On to "The Tiger".
December 19, 2016
Ever read a book and know before you finish that you are in for the long haul. If the author wants to write 25 books into the series I will read them. If every side character gets a series of his own I'm there. If this epic adventure takes on truly epic proportions I am ok with that. It wasn't perfect. I haven't come across a perfect book yet. However, it was enough to get the hooks into me. Stiger is a classic hero who isn't seeking glory. He just wants to live a useful life and uphold the honor of the empire and his family. I'm a bit in love with him and his sneer already.
August 25, 2018
If Bernard Cornwell wrote a D&D campaign about a legionary.
I wanted to like this more, but the ending and the fantasy elements didn’t work for me. The buildup of the first couple hundred pages just didn’t have enough of a payoff, and the main character, Stiger, plays too small a role in the resolution. The opening felt like a transplanted Richard Sharpe Story, and the ending like a summary of someone’s RPG weekend.
That said, the story was short and entertaining, and I didn’t feel like giving up on it. As a mashup genre novel it works better than others I’ve read from bigger names and traditional publishers. Kudos to the author in that regard.
If you like hybrid genre fiction, this will be worth a try, but if you prefer historical or literary reading, look elsewhere.
I wanted to like this more, but the ending and the fantasy elements didn’t work for me. The buildup of the first couple hundred pages just didn’t have enough of a payoff, and the main character, Stiger, plays too small a role in the resolution. The opening felt like a transplanted Richard Sharpe Story, and the ending like a summary of someone’s RPG weekend.
That said, the story was short and entertaining, and I didn’t feel like giving up on it. As a mashup genre novel it works better than others I’ve read from bigger names and traditional publishers. Kudos to the author in that regard.
If you like hybrid genre fiction, this will be worth a try, but if you prefer historical or literary reading, look elsewhere.
February 4, 2019
Gritty, Raw, Driven. One man's account, Lieutenant Stiger, of the extraordinary events occurring in the life of a soldier in the imperial legions. A fascinating book, an intriguing book one in a series I absolutely must continue. The pace is steady as the world building is done, but with just enough emphasis on the events occurring, as setting the stage for much, much more to come. I am finding, I am enjoying the anticipation, as much as the intensity of the character building. Quite promising as I will quickly begin book two now. A promising start, on a promising series. Well played, Marc Alan Edelheit, well played.
June 8, 2021
Fast paced, action packed fantasy combining ancient Rome, Middle Earth fantasy, and interesting spiritual currents. This first in a series and several spin-off ones is a bit rocky as it begins world-building, but the pace leaves little time or details for reflection. Looking forward to seeing this fleshed out as the hero continues toward his destiny.
March 4, 2019
Another book by this author that I had trouble putting down. A book of this length usually takes me a week to read, instead of just 2 days. I was expecting historical fiction, but it does have fantasy elements like elves and dwarves. No romance, which surprised me.
March 30, 2020
An odd mix. Something similar to the Roman Legion soldiers with a smattering of fantasy. The main character, Stiger is a competent, but proud noble from an infamous family. He is accompanied by an elf ranger, who serves him for some unknown reason.
Tasked with leading a group of slovenly legionnaires, Stiger whips them into shape and goes on a mission to deliver supplies to a site far from the Legion camp.
All in all, a good story. It is a bit slow at times, but solid read. I'll be checking out the sequel.
Tasked with leading a group of slovenly legionnaires, Stiger whips them into shape and goes on a mission to deliver supplies to a site far from the Legion camp.
All in all, a good story. It is a bit slow at times, but solid read. I'll be checking out the sequel.
July 25, 2021
An enjoyable yarn
August 11, 2020
Some people may like this book.
There are people who like fantasy stories with somewhat recognizable settings, and they may get that from this book. I went in expecting more flavor of the Roman empire, given that the book is ostensibly about Roman legions, but I got none of that.
Among the problems that I had with the story are that, while the author talked about the legion, and the empire, there is no recognition of the culture of Rome.
The military ranks in the book are not part of the Roman military structure, which could have been easily introduced and explained. Instead he uses modern ranks and structures, such as corporals and sergeants, lieutenants, captains, colonels and generals. Even the personal and family names of the characters seem to come more from 19th century Britain or America than Tuscany or Rome.
He spends a great deal of time talking about how slovenly the legions are and how great the main character is in saving a company from the mud and animal waste, but it all seems to be done by rote. I get no feeling for why the troops would follow this guy, or how he can build them into a functional company as quickly as he does.
Additionally, the pace of the book is slow, and the story meanders without really going anywhere.
The fact that they are in a world other than Earth could be used to explain some of the changes in the culture, but the author does not use that obvious out.
The writer introduces Elves, and the concept of Dwarfs, but tells us nothing about them.
He writes about the religion as a polytheistic belief structure, but everyone seems to focus their belief on the "High Father" with no explanation as to why, or what the nature of the religion is.
The society has Paladins, who seem to have magical powers, but there is no real explanation as to where those powers come from, how they work, or how they fit into society.
We are introduced to conflicts early in the book that go absolutely nowhere by the end.
It is possible that more of this is explained in later books in the series, but as for me, I see no reason to hang around and find out.
There are people who like fantasy stories with somewhat recognizable settings, and they may get that from this book. I went in expecting more flavor of the Roman empire, given that the book is ostensibly about Roman legions, but I got none of that.
Among the problems that I had with the story are that, while the author talked about the legion, and the empire, there is no recognition of the culture of Rome.
The military ranks in the book are not part of the Roman military structure, which could have been easily introduced and explained. Instead he uses modern ranks and structures, such as corporals and sergeants, lieutenants, captains, colonels and generals. Even the personal and family names of the characters seem to come more from 19th century Britain or America than Tuscany or Rome.
He spends a great deal of time talking about how slovenly the legions are and how great the main character is in saving a company from the mud and animal waste, but it all seems to be done by rote. I get no feeling for why the troops would follow this guy, or how he can build them into a functional company as quickly as he does.
Additionally, the pace of the book is slow, and the story meanders without really going anywhere.
The fact that they are in a world other than Earth could be used to explain some of the changes in the culture, but the author does not use that obvious out.
The writer introduces Elves, and the concept of Dwarfs, but tells us nothing about them.
He writes about the religion as a polytheistic belief structure, but everyone seems to focus their belief on the "High Father" with no explanation as to why, or what the nature of the religion is.
The society has Paladins, who seem to have magical powers, but there is no real explanation as to where those powers come from, how they work, or how they fit into society.
We are introduced to conflicts early in the book that go absolutely nowhere by the end.
It is possible that more of this is explained in later books in the series, but as for me, I see no reason to hang around and find out.
June 12, 2015
Really enjoyed this, can't wait to read the next. Think, Romans with elves and dwarves and a bit of magic. The first book is about Stiger (and Eli, the elf!), building the troop into a cohesive, effective, and self-confident fighting unit, then embarking on their first mission. While the set-up for the next book is obvious at the end, it wrapped up in such a way that I am both eager for the next story but not left with that irritated "the author has left me hanging" feeling. (Still impatient for the next story, but not grumpy about it.)
My one nit-pick would be that every time Stiger gives one of his fairly rare smiles, we are told how the scar on his face turns it into a sneer. Every. Time. Once or twice, worded differently, wouldn't have been bad, but it was a few more than that and worded pretty much the same. But, it's a pretty petty nit-pick compared to my overall enjoyment of the story.
My one nit-pick would be that every time Stiger gives one of his fairly rare smiles, we are told how the scar on his face turns it into a sneer. Every. Time. Once or twice, worded differently, wouldn't have been bad, but it was a few more than that and worded pretty much the same. But, it's a pretty petty nit-pick compared to my overall enjoyment of the story.
October 22, 2016
Title: Stiger's Tigers
Author: Marc Alan Edelheit
Genre: Fantasy, Military
Publication Date: March 23, 2015
Publisher: Telemachus Press, LLC
Pages: 315
Amazon Book Blurb:
The empire has endured many centuries but is now threatened by multiple wars and a major rebellion in the South. A nobleman from an infamous family, imperial legionary officer, fighter and a right proper bastard of a man… Captain Ben Stiger finds himself reassigned from a crack legion to the rebellion simmering in the South. Placed in command of a truly terrible company, the 85th Imperial Foot, he is unknowingly sent on a suicide mission to resupply an isolated outpost, the garrison of Vrell. Along the way he must rebuild his new company, gain the respect of the men he leads, survive an assassination attempt, fight bandits, rebels, and an agent of an evil god. His companions on this journey of discovery and adventure are one of the few remaining elven rangers and a paladin on a quest for the High Father. The battle to save the empire and the world begins here in the first book of this exciting new series!
Review: The world Mr. Edelheit has created for his book series is an interesting blend of high fantasy with a heavy dose of Roman Empire culture. It's not historical fiction since the empire in the book is not the Roman Empire nor does the story take place in a real geographical location. No, this book is mostly fantasy while relying heavily on bringing in elements of the Roman Empire's military and politics to give Stiger's Tigers a distinct flavor from other novels of the genre. Those looking for a hardcore Roman Empire experience will probably be disappointed. I'm not a historian but I'm fairly sure that the military structure isn't quite true to form. Again, this will probably only bother the Roman Empire aficionados looking for something more historically accurate.
One of the most interesting attributes of the Roman Empire is its incessant political intrigue and Mr. Edelheit wastes no time in introducing some of his own. We're shown hints and shadows of imperial power plays taking place behind the scenes. Stiger, our stereotypical no-nonsense gruff but caring commander, has no patience for political games but finds himself in the middle of them anyway which always makes for an interesting read.
Stiger comes from a noble family that has a reputation for being overly harsh leaders. This reputation is so well known that whispers and fear accompany Stiger wherever he goes. And while Stiger is clearly a man relentless in his duty there were times when I found it hard to reconcile his caring nature, his cold pragmatism and his over-boiling anger. I couldn't quite nail down exactly what I expected of him at any given time. At times he felt the burden of the men's welfare heavily on his shoulders while at others he was eager to kill men who made him angry. But then again, I've experienced similar whirlwinds of emotion so perhaps Stiger is more real than I give him credit for.
A lot of the book deals with the struggle of military training and the difficulties it presents for not only the men that are subjected to it but also the commander who is ultimately responsible for their welfare. I was fascinated by all that that had entailed, from building a proper fortification to arms training. It kept me engrossed in the book as they struggled with their lot in the military.
I think the biggest issue that readers are going to have is feeling that there's a lack of conflict or plot. A great deal of the book addresses Stiger's burden of being given command of a pathetic group of soldiers and turning them into true legionaries, all of which occurs before they even begin down the road to their true objective. Given that this is a book about a military company, most readers will probably be looking forward to conflict in the form of battles and will be disappointed when the fights they were looking for are quick and towards the end of the novel. But to say that the book lacked a plot would be a mistake. The entire training section of the book is its own plot, it's own conflict. It's not military in nature. The conflict that dominates the first half of the book is the looming specter of failure. Stiger constantly wrestles with the idea of failing to make something out of his sorry lot of soldiers as well as the idea that poor training will lead to more deaths being on his already burdened conscience. There's significant conflict, it's just not in the form most readers will expect.
When there was violent conflict the book didn't shy away from the violence but it didn't wallow in it either. While talk of swords scraping past ribs might be too much for children, the average adult will probably be okay with it.
Despite the book listing a publisher, this is a self-published book (See A Note For Self-Publishers below). I only researched the publisher after finding a considerable number of typos, missing words and punctuation errors: quotation marks at the end of a paragraph that preceded more dialogue from the same speaker, misuse of semi-colons and—every author's weakness—overusing commas. The punctuation issues lighten up considerably as the book progresses signifying Mr. Edelheit's continuing improvement as a writer and while these issues bothered me at first, I kept reading because I really enjoyed his writing.
I enjoyed the book immensely. I loved the Roman Empire's dominance in both politics and warfare as a youth and find myself still admiring the dedication to form and function laid out in Mr. Edelheit's pages. I'm a picky reader and so I usually have between two to six books that I switch back and forth between. Should I encounter a lull or particularly uninteresting plot point in one novel I've got plenty of backups to refresh my palate. I didn't need them for Stiger's Tigers. It kept me engrossed throughout, which, coming from me, is quite the complement.
Also, it's the first book I've read that uses the proper measurement for wood: cord. As the son of a man who was a logger in his youth, I appreciated it.
Author: Marc Alan Edelheit
Genre: Fantasy, Military
Publication Date: March 23, 2015
Publisher: Telemachus Press, LLC
Pages: 315
Amazon Book Blurb:
The empire has endured many centuries but is now threatened by multiple wars and a major rebellion in the South. A nobleman from an infamous family, imperial legionary officer, fighter and a right proper bastard of a man… Captain Ben Stiger finds himself reassigned from a crack legion to the rebellion simmering in the South. Placed in command of a truly terrible company, the 85th Imperial Foot, he is unknowingly sent on a suicide mission to resupply an isolated outpost, the garrison of Vrell. Along the way he must rebuild his new company, gain the respect of the men he leads, survive an assassination attempt, fight bandits, rebels, and an agent of an evil god. His companions on this journey of discovery and adventure are one of the few remaining elven rangers and a paladin on a quest for the High Father. The battle to save the empire and the world begins here in the first book of this exciting new series!
Review: The world Mr. Edelheit has created for his book series is an interesting blend of high fantasy with a heavy dose of Roman Empire culture. It's not historical fiction since the empire in the book is not the Roman Empire nor does the story take place in a real geographical location. No, this book is mostly fantasy while relying heavily on bringing in elements of the Roman Empire's military and politics to give Stiger's Tigers a distinct flavor from other novels of the genre. Those looking for a hardcore Roman Empire experience will probably be disappointed. I'm not a historian but I'm fairly sure that the military structure isn't quite true to form. Again, this will probably only bother the Roman Empire aficionados looking for something more historically accurate.
One of the most interesting attributes of the Roman Empire is its incessant political intrigue and Mr. Edelheit wastes no time in introducing some of his own. We're shown hints and shadows of imperial power plays taking place behind the scenes. Stiger, our stereotypical no-nonsense gruff but caring commander, has no patience for political games but finds himself in the middle of them anyway which always makes for an interesting read.
Stiger comes from a noble family that has a reputation for being overly harsh leaders. This reputation is so well known that whispers and fear accompany Stiger wherever he goes. And while Stiger is clearly a man relentless in his duty there were times when I found it hard to reconcile his caring nature, his cold pragmatism and his over-boiling anger. I couldn't quite nail down exactly what I expected of him at any given time. At times he felt the burden of the men's welfare heavily on his shoulders while at others he was eager to kill men who made him angry. But then again, I've experienced similar whirlwinds of emotion so perhaps Stiger is more real than I give him credit for.
A lot of the book deals with the struggle of military training and the difficulties it presents for not only the men that are subjected to it but also the commander who is ultimately responsible for their welfare. I was fascinated by all that that had entailed, from building a proper fortification to arms training. It kept me engrossed in the book as they struggled with their lot in the military.
I think the biggest issue that readers are going to have is feeling that there's a lack of conflict or plot. A great deal of the book addresses Stiger's burden of being given command of a pathetic group of soldiers and turning them into true legionaries, all of which occurs before they even begin down the road to their true objective. Given that this is a book about a military company, most readers will probably be looking forward to conflict in the form of battles and will be disappointed when the fights they were looking for are quick and towards the end of the novel. But to say that the book lacked a plot would be a mistake. The entire training section of the book is its own plot, it's own conflict. It's not military in nature. The conflict that dominates the first half of the book is the looming specter of failure. Stiger constantly wrestles with the idea of failing to make something out of his sorry lot of soldiers as well as the idea that poor training will lead to more deaths being on his already burdened conscience. There's significant conflict, it's just not in the form most readers will expect.
When there was violent conflict the book didn't shy away from the violence but it didn't wallow in it either. While talk of swords scraping past ribs might be too much for children, the average adult will probably be okay with it.
Despite the book listing a publisher, this is a self-published book (See A Note For Self-Publishers below). I only researched the publisher after finding a considerable number of typos, missing words and punctuation errors: quotation marks at the end of a paragraph that preceded more dialogue from the same speaker, misuse of semi-colons and—every author's weakness—overusing commas. The punctuation issues lighten up considerably as the book progresses signifying Mr. Edelheit's continuing improvement as a writer and while these issues bothered me at first, I kept reading because I really enjoyed his writing.
I enjoyed the book immensely. I loved the Roman Empire's dominance in both politics and warfare as a youth and find myself still admiring the dedication to form and function laid out in Mr. Edelheit's pages. I'm a picky reader and so I usually have between two to six books that I switch back and forth between. Should I encounter a lull or particularly uninteresting plot point in one novel I've got plenty of backups to refresh my palate. I didn't need them for Stiger's Tigers. It kept me engrossed throughout, which, coming from me, is quite the complement.
Also, it's the first book I've read that uses the proper measurement for wood: cord. As the son of a man who was a logger in his youth, I appreciated it.
April 15, 2017
I was a little disappointed by this one. A mixture between military and fantasy? Sounded interesting. I enjoyed the beginning and looked forward to watching Stiger get his rabble of a unit into shape. While he did, it was done at a narrative distance. I wanted to experience the men improving, especially the one . Instead, the story focused on the higher ranking officers, only passing over the troops in narrative here and there. In fact, that was the overall problem I had with the story. The narrative summary. It's very heavy and I got so bogged down by it I nearly stopped reading halfway though. My mind kept wandering and I not only lost track of the story, but felt it never pulled me in. I decided to stick it out to the end, hoping that the engagement I experienced in the beginning would resurface, and that the scenes would get more interesting, but they too got bogged down only to rise and then fall. Not saying the story is bad, just that it wasn't my cup of tea. Overall, I liked it, or parts of it, just didn't like it enough to desire continuing to the next book in the series.
May 17, 2021
I went into Stiger's Tigers actually expecting a Roman novel, what I got instead was a mix of military fantasy and epic fantasy that had some Roman sprinkled in, but a decent bit of a high fantasy identity too. I enjoyed the characters in this book, I especially enjoy that Stiger is a bit of a hard captain, when I read him I imagine it's what the Black Company would have been like if we got to read from the Captain's POV in the first book rather than Croaker's. The military elements really did it for me but some of the more high fantasy elements were hit or miss for me. All in all a very enjoyable book though with a fun world, story, and a well done military journey.
May 13, 2019
Wow! I've always enjoyed military fiction but I think this is my first foray into a pure military fantasy.
Legionaries, elves, paladins and magic!
I believe that this is the author's first book and while the mistakes you normally see on first novels is present, they are definitely few and far between. The story is really well put together and everything makes sense.
If you are into that kind of genre, pick this up. You will not be disappointed.
On to book 2.
Legionaries, elves, paladins and magic!
I believe that this is the author's first book and while the mistakes you normally see on first novels is present, they are definitely few and far between. The story is really well put together and everything makes sense.
If you are into that kind of genre, pick this up. You will not be disappointed.
On to book 2.
September 9, 2020
I went into this book thinking it just a roman legion historical fiction romp. So you could say I was surprised at the sudden appearance of an elf. But this book gets the balance between the two really spot of. It doesn't lean too much on the ooohhhohoh magic side of the things and spends a lot of time grounded in the day to day running of a legion, which is what I was hoping for.
I am looking forward to getting into the next instalment.
I am looking forward to getting into the next instalment.
December 8, 2021
Historical Paranormal Military 🔪🐎Adventure
This is mostly a historical style military adventure featuring Captain Stiger🐺🔪 and his attache, Eli, an Elf.
The two men are sent to a huge encampment under orders to see General Kromen. They are to then go to Castle Vrell🏰, a stronghold that no one has heard from in weeks, to see what has happened there.
Part of a series.
This is mostly a historical style military adventure featuring Captain Stiger🐺🔪 and his attache, Eli, an Elf.
The two men are sent to a huge encampment under orders to see General Kromen. They are to then go to Castle Vrell🏰, a stronghold that no one has heard from in weeks, to see what has happened there.
Part of a series.
February 15, 2023
This was a quick and easy read. A lot of the book is setting up - getting the troops in shape, getting them where they were going. It isn’t one of the more action packed books I’ve read and not a violent as some but it was good. I’m looking forward to the next book to see where this goes
January 8, 2019
Pseudo-Roman historical military fantasy fun!
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