The Gallic War

Amulet #2

by Fredrik Nath

When Aulus Veridius Scapula flees Pontus his heart is breaking. He has been comfortable there for too long and realises he must find the amulet, stolen from him by his cousin Marcus, for it contains the key to untold wealth. He follows Marcus to Gaul where he fights under Caesar but despite his desperate efforts, he fails to find what he seeks. Sent back to Rome in disgrace, he continues his search, leaving a trail of blood in the streets and the arenas of the Mother City. In this tale of love, battle and family honour, Aulus follows his inexorable fate once again.

404 pages, Paperback

Published November 27, 2015

About the author

Fredrik Nath is a full time neurosurgeon. He lives in the northeast of England with his wife and daughter, his three sons having grown up and flown the coop. In his time, he has run twenty consecutive Great North Run half-marathons, trekked to 6000m in Nepal, crossed the highest mountain pass in the world and began writing, like John Buchan, "because he ran out of penny-novels to read and felt he should write his own." Fred loves a good story, which is why he writes. (From The Cyclist)

Reviews

[Dianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grab a sword and a shield, you’re headed back to the days when Rome was a war machine, a conqueror and deceit could be just around the next corner. As one injured warrior takes advantage of his absent king’s palace, hospitality and enjoys the sins of the flesh with his wife. Aulus is on the hunt for an amulet promised to bring great wealth that was stolen from him and he means to get his revenge and his amulet back. Now healed enough to run for his life when news of the king’s return hits the castle, Aulus will resume the hunt. This is his story, right or wrong, he is a man on a mission.

Amulet II by Fredrik Nath has the potential for greatness! All of the elements are there, history blended with fiction, scenes that come to life and characters that could be cast in a movie to play their roles. Mr. Nath does have a wonderful tale to tell, but sometimes I was lost in the detail or repetition of facts. I do like how we are not asked to like the characters, we are allowed to make our own decision, but only to follow their thought train on the events that transpire.

I was asked to review this book as a standalone, assured I did not need book one to enjoy Amulet II, but what I found were references to the first book that I NEEDED to completely follow book 2. Missing that information or the flavor of how everything started, I just couldn’t connect with the story as deeply as I wanted to. I actively “live” in each book I read, but I felt there was a no trespassing sign in my way this time.

I received this copy from Fredrik Nath in exchange for my honest review.

Series: Roman Amulet - Book 2
Publisher: Fredrik Nath (November 26, 2015)
Publication Date: November 26, 2015
Genre: Historical Fiction
Print Length: 405 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[Andy Peloquin · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the story does have plenty of interesting elements (who doesn't love a good military novel based on the Roman Empire?), there's a lot to be desired as well:
- The characters are a bit unrealistic. They are very much the classic historical fiction/fantasy "trope" characters (strong wounded hero, gruff but kindly older man, protective friend, love interest). Not the freshest of stories.
- It bounces around a lot, without getting "into the moment" of potentially dramatic moments. Battle scenes are often glossed over, and the narration is iffy.
- SO MANY COMMAS MISSING! There are maybe 25% of the commas the book should have. Punctuation is terrible.
- Grammar mistakes, typos, etc. More than I'd like to see.
All in all, while I enjoyed the story, it wasn't enough to get a better review out of me.

[San Diego Book Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by Kim Heimbuch

Wounded in the Battle at Tigranocerta, Roman Ninth Legionnaire, Aulus Veridius Scapula, recovers under the watchful care of Pontus Queen, Hypsicratea. Upon a sounding alarm that the King is returning, Aulus must say his goodbyes, depart for Rome, claim his pension back pay, and find his stolen amulet. Accompanied by his female companion Aripele, nothing goes as planned. But does it ever? Roman history enthusiasts will find Amulet II a gratifying and a worthwhile readYou can read this entire review at San Diego Book Review

[Namrata Ganti · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. In all honesty, I admire the way the author has crafted the tale and has written about some of the historic events, interspersing them with the story. He has masterfully used them as a backdrop for the events occurring in the story. I read this book without having read the first one and it is true that to a major extent, this can be read as a stand alone book. However, there are some events that occurred in the first book which do carry over or are mentioned in this one which it would be nice to have an idea of beforehand. Simply put, even though this book can be read as a stand alone, since it is a part of a series, it would be better to read it in order.

The story however does seem a bit of a drag in some parts, with a lot of repetition of details that have already been mentioned. Also, I noted that the story involves an Amulet, but even though it is talked about a lot by the protagonist, not much happens in the story with regard to the same. It feels as though the plot has deviated in this book, focusing more on wars and fighting. However, I choose to believe that the author has done this on purpose, perhaps to set the stage for the next book where the focus may shift.

Overall, it is a decent read with great background details. The description of the wars and fighting was on point and well done. Some of the characters were well introduced and developed and I assume the author has some tricks up his sleeve to be brought out in the upcoming books. A well written tale, it will definitely interest readers who enjoy fiction that involves history, wars and some amount of mystery!