For the Love of Armin

by Michael G. Kramer

For the Love of Armin is the story of the battle that defined Europe. In today's Europe, there is a boundary between those who prefer beer and those who drink wine. Where the romance languages based on Latin are spoken and where the Germanic languages are spoken. This came about because of the battle of the Teutoburg Forest in 9 A.D., in which the Roman armed forces lost three legions and their supporting auxialiary units.

This resulted in the Germanic leader named Armin (Germanic name} or Arminius (Latin name) wiping out the Romans and cutting the head off the Roman leader prior to taking it to his ally called Marobod, king of Bohemia. Marobod sent the head to Rome where it was received by the first Roman emperor, Augustus. The fact that Rome had now lost more than 20,000 soldiers was an immense blow to Ausgustus and he did not shave or comb his hair for months afterwards. At night Augustus could be heard yelling, "Varus, Varus, give me back my legions!"

All of this resulted in Rome recalling all Roman units from Germania and they never returned, other than to conduct some isolated raids and other incursions. After their victory, the Germanic tribes were worried that Armin was going to become a king and end their fiercely indepedent life styles. This resulted in the murder of the hero and the enslavement of his wife. Things cam to a head with the enslavement and sale to a gladiator school of Thumelicus - the son of Armin. This novel is heavily based upon fact!

Genres: Fiction, Adventure, Historical Fiction, New Adult, Young Adult, Adult, Historical

326 pages, Paperback

First published August 31, 2015

About the author

Served Australian army, including war service in the Vietnam War in 1968 - 1969. Came home to public shunning of Vietnam Veterans and discrimination against Vietnam Veterans by potential employers. This resulted in the setting up of the first business, (contract fencing) because I could not get a job. In due course, I studied for Advanced Diploma of Egineering Technology, Associate Degree of Civil Engineering and I am now doing my Arts degree. It was during the study of the arts degree that I became interested in the history of Northern Europe and Germania during the times of Julius and Augustus Ceasar. This led to researching and writing of the second book entitled 'For the Love of Armin'. Currently studying Bachelor of Construction Management.

Reviews

[Laila Viking · Rating 4 out of 5]

An author that has done his homework. He has really being reseaching the places, events and characters. That is incredible and only makes the story more real and worth reading.
The mix of real events and fiction is really well written into this story. The details are amazing. The story almost felt like it was a historical book that could be used in schools but it is also a captivating read.

[Luxurious Literature · Rating 5 out of 5]

In recent years I have developed a real fondness for historical fiction, becoming hooked after reading 'Wolf Hall' by Hillary Mantel. An interest in the Roman Empire led me to 'For the Love of Armin' by Michael Kramer, and what followed was a novel that easily matches Mantel's for accuracy, writing skill, and ability to weave historical facts into a compelling narrative. Told through the eyes of an ancient Germanic spirit, we follow the aftermath of the Battle of the Tuetoburg Forest, a devastating defeat for the Roman Empire, focusing on Germanic soldier Armin and his family.

The descriptions were vivid, the characters invoked real empathy, and the facts behind the story were fascinating. If you have an interest in the Roman Empire or the early history of Europe, you are certain to find 'For the Love of Armin' a worthwhile and enjoyable read.

[Lust for Lit · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this type of stories which Michael Kramer described in his book " For the love of Armin". Stories from the ancient world where truth connects with fiction. Author knows what he is writing about. A reader can tell that Kramer cares for every small details in his book. His knowledge of the subject is very impressive. Because of this we get a really interesting story, which cares for climate, details and compatibility with historical fact. It is a great asset to the book.
We get a substantive description of the war between Germanic tribes with Romans troops. We meet the main character Armin, the leader and warrior of the Germanic people.
I have not read for long time historical fiction which was this interesting, well written and full of knowledge. M. Kramer did great work. Excellent book for ancient history fans.

[Reading Right · Rating 5 out of 5]

The is a whole lot of research gone into this book, that much was clear right from the off, with the intense level of detail and comfortable way in which the author sets scenes and describes the era.

The writing is fluid and the style fits well with story and plot-line, and I’ve read a lot bigger titled historical based novels in the past that didn’t manage this near as well.

Overall I found For The Love Of Armin to be an enjoyable book that I have since recommended to a friend. Looking forward to more from the author.

[Bookie Wookie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve always found the era FTLOA is set in to be particularly fascinating, and the writing here is so detailed I felt I was living out the experiences as I turned page after page. A lot of the conflict is quite gruesome, but I wouldn’t say it’s handled in a gratuitous way, more reflective of the violent times and struggles of the people in those days. Very informative as well as entertaining, and I get the feel the author must have heavily researched every area of life at these times before he began writing. A great read.

[Black Swan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whoa! I am so relieved I read this entire book because honestly, I was becoming overwhelmed by the bloodshed, the sexual content and the endless animosity between the ancient Romans and the peoples of Germania. Even though this was not my usual genre for reading, I kept on with it because somehow my curiosity was piqued since this was about two out of the many countries of Europe that I am fascinated by due to their individual histories and cultural aspects. I wanted to know, even though I was informed at the beginning by its narrator that it’s a work of fiction based on actual happenings back then, I was eager to discover any bizarre and interesting data about the ancestors of Italy and Germany. Anyway, here are some information about this grueling read (I say that because it’s a war novel and there is a lot of bloodshed and other inhumane practices that were performed by both the Romans and the Germanic people). The narrator of this fictional work is a ghost called, Adalhard who was an ally of the leading protagonist—Armin. Armin was a Germanic man who was taken from his people by the Romans and schooled by them on intellectual subjects like Math, Latin, and Science to name a few. The Romans even gave him a leadership role in one of their militant organizations only resulting in planting hatred in his heart for them leading to him formulating a plan of revenge that was successful.

If you have a timid heart then you should be warned that this book does not censor itself of its graphic details of certain Roman practices like crucifixion and impaling their enemies as punishment. There is also strong sexual content here which is not too intense but still may set you off if you are against sex and that stuff. These mentions of the Romans’ sexual behavior are not new to me though as I already knew about them from the movie, Spartacus and historic individuals such as Caligula. Anyway, what I really enjoyed about this book was the author’s inclusion of some Biblical events like the villainous King Herod and the birth of Jesus Christ as well as the slaughter of the innocents by King Herod. Moving on, I felt empathetic towards Armin and his people and the sufferings they went through while under the power of the Roman Empire back then. I was amazed and in a way fascinated because this was the history of Europe (the wars not the story which I must remind you is a work of fiction) that the rest of the world are not that familiar with. Haha. Interesting, huh?

I recommend this book to lovers of war stories and those who are veterans of war. I also advise those who are admirers of historical fiction that have to do with Europe to buy this one now because it will shock and soothe their tastes just by reading about the historical regions of Europe covered in this book like Gaul for instance which is present-day France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. There is mention of Odin (Woden) and his son Thor who are figures of Scandinavian/Germanic mythology. There are also references to the well-known Roman figure, the gladiator. All in all, I give this book 4 stars because although it was entertaining and at times fascinating, its structuring (formatting) was off-putting and if you buy it for yourself or a friend of yours, you two will come to know what I am talking about. But have a great day and enjoy the positives!

[Biblio Fish · Rating 5 out of 5]

2017 was a year that I promised myself that I would look beyond thriller and horror when choosing my next read. Historical fiction is something I usually avoid, so I decided to try 'For the Love of Armin' by Michael Kramer, which is set in 9AD during the Roman Empire. It seemed appropriate since I live very near the Roman Wall. I'm so glad I stepped out of m comfort zone as this novel is an absolute triumph. Can the actions of one brave man, halt the might of the Roman Empire? If he is to do so, he will have to battle his own people, including his own family. Can Armin change the course of history, and will he survive faced by threats on all sides?

I loved this book, so I was interested to learn that Kramer has also written a novel about the Vietnam War, which has been added to my wish list for Christmas. I hope it is as brilliant as this one.

[8th Day Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

An often vivid and enthralling account, both factual and fiction based, around a fascinating period of history towards the end of the Roman Empire. The detail, and layered plot pieces are cunningly crafted by the author providing a steady build that kept me hooked right from the beginning. I wouldn’t describe myself as a history buff, but I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. I’ll give it another read at some point I think, and may well read more by the author at a later date too.

[Literary Loft · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the Love of Armin by Michael Kramer is a factually based look at the young Germanic warrior known as Armin. His enemies called him Arminius and he is credited with defeating a total of three Roman legions. The author has contrived to write a book of fiction backed up by historical fact, and that he has done in the intriguing book that not only is interesting and entertaining but imparts great historical knowledge as well. After you read this book, you will have learned something. Battle tales are recounted in great detail, even Biblical events are examined, sometimes it is hard to tell what is fact or fiction, they are so well blended together. Sometimes the cadence of the book feels a little disjointed but that small lacking is certainly made up for with the extensive research that obviously went into the writing. An excellent tome that explores Roman and European history in depth; great for students to learn from and others to sit back and enjoy.

[Book It Up · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found ‘For the Love of Armin’ to be an unusual novel, with its heavily scholarly historical focus mixed with pure storytelling. It certainly fleshes out dry educational facts with the author’s imagined conversations and interactions. Readers are treated to much discussion and explanation of gladiators, battles and sexual encounters. If this were to form the basis for a film it would definitely contain scenes of a Certificate 18 nature! The author does not unnecessarily complicate the text, he maintains a simple, straightforward writing style that makes it accessible to a wide range of readers. I highly recommend this quirky, immersive reading experience to anyone from history buffs to complete beginners with a nose for the past.

[Only the Best Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the Love of Armin, is an exciting and interesting book based on factual events. The plot focuses mainly around a world changing battle that resulted in the loss of tens of thousands of Roman troops and the trials of Germanic warrior Armin.

This novel would make a really great gift for anyone who has an interest in ancient history. They get all the facts, but delivered in an exciting, moving, and interesting story. The author manages to be factually correct, but keeps his writing style dynamic and interesting, so you definitely feel immersed in the era, as opposed to feeling like you are reading a textbook. The story flows really well, and with action, betrayal, politics, sex, romance, and so much more, you will have plenty to keep you gripped from start to finish.

[Cece Whittaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the Love of Armin by Michael Kramer, told largely in narrative form is a treasure trove for eager fans of early Roman and Germanic history, especially if they favor the freedom seeking Germanics. The story is told of Armin, the Germanic Warrior whose cunning and discipline brought the defeat of the Roman Governor in Germania as well as three Roman legions, but ultimately incurred the wrath of Tiberius, who brought about severe consequences.
The story is told interspersing heavily such detail as weaponry and its construction and use, battlefield and coinciding bits of interesting history. From the point of view of the ghost of a native training officer, Adalhard, from around the time of 18 B.C., we travel through the reigns of Julius Caesar, Augustus Caesar, and into Tiberius’s checkered reign.
We are treated to a gladiator scene right at the start, after which Adalhard flashes back through the developments that brought the young victorious gladiator to the ring. There can be little question, that Mr. Kramer is an expert in this subject, and has woven a work of art into this historical manuscript, For the Love of Armin, around the era.

[Book Blast · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is instantly clear about Michael Kramer's novel, For the Love of Armin, is the amount of work and research he has put into it. He has used as much historical fact as he can, and used them to create realistic characters, that were appropriate to the time period of the Roman Empire. His ability to combine fact and fiction is brilliant, as was his ability to set such dramatic scenes with epic action and bloodshed. Set in the early years following the birth of Christ, we start the book as the Roman Empire is at the height of it's power, expanding throughout Europe, sacking village after village, taking over clan after clan. Germanic soldier, Armin is determined to free his people from the relentless power of Rome, but with his own arrival to power comes betrayal, heartbreak, and risk of those who would take his power for themselves. I would really recommend this book, it I exciting and educational as well as being very well-written, with a fast-paced plot, with unexpected twists.

[Bookish Picks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michael Kramer evidently put a huge amount of work into researching this historical fiction. For the Love of Armin is crammed full of historical facts and extrapolations based on fact. The novel is narrated by the ghost of an ancient Germanic warrior, although large sections slip into a more didactic encyclopedia style. These changes of pace makes the text feel slightly disjointed, but at the same time each section is easy to read, understand and follow. This is Kramer’s second novel; his first being about the Vietnam War. Kramer clearly has a vested interest in battle, along with first-hand experience, which he has lent to For the Love of Armin - a very battle-heavy story. I was surprised to discover a Bible-related anecdote, concerning Mary and Joseph fleeing to safety from Herod, with baby Jesus. More surprising still, perhaps, were the absolutely no-holds-barred sexual accounts of various characters.

[No Shelf Control · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking for a novel that is a little bit different, then look no further than 'For the Love of Armin', by upcoming author Michael Kramer. With many novels these days taking influences from modern culture, it was nice to read something that took me back over 2,000 years. The author has a real talent for painting a vivid picture of life during the Roman Empire, complete with fully rounded characters. I really took to Tusnelda, the protagonist’s wife – she was strong, willful and smart. She really is the great woman behind Armin, she loves him completely and plays a key role in brining ruin to Rome's Army. I wouldn't recommend this book to just fans of history, I think so many people would get so much enjoyment from reading it.

[Grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘The ancient Germanic tribes thought that their women had many prophetic powers’

Australian author Michael Kramer earned degrees in architecture and engineering and now adds the Arts to his arsenal. Michael served in the Australian Army during the Vietnam War in 1968-1969. He has published three books – FULL CIRCLE FOR MICK based on the Vietnam War and its aftermath, ANGLO-SAXON INVASION, and FOR THE LOVE OF ARMIN, the last two examine ancient history with an emphasis on the Roman conquests.

The subtitle of FOR THE LOVE OF ARMIN is telling – ‘The Destroyer of Three Roman Legions and his People. In his Introduction Michael shares –‘I found the research into the background of the hero who delivered Germania from the yoke of the Romans to be challenging and also immensely satisfying…As all stories, must have a beginning, middle and end, it was at first difficult to decide when to start this story and the decision was reached to begin with background items such as how the ancient Germanic tribes provided food, the status of their women, their religious beliefs, their funeral practices, their military traditions and formations, weapons used and tactics. Having said this, it was also necessary to include the Roman ranks, military organisation, tactics, armor and weapons, including their war machines. All of that is told by the ghost of Adalhard, who begins the story immediately after the first gladiatorial contest of Thumelicus, who was the son of Armin. Adalhard continues from the above by telling the story by giving you the background of the ancient Germanic tribes and the Roman invaders of his country.’

Michael’s writing fits the subject well, as is evident in the opening – ‘At the mid-morning hour of ten a.m., a guard appeared at the door of the cell housing Thumelicus and said to him, “Thumelicus, it is time for you to entertain the Roman Senators in the arena. You have been matched with a retiarius we call Olaf and this Gaul does not like Germanic boys one little bit, so expect a hard fight!” With that said, the guard now escorted Thumelicus, who was as usual, armed with helmet, and some chain mail armour over one arm as well as his shoulder, a greave on his left leg as well as a heavy Roman shield and his gladius. Thumelicus now walked straight into the arena, and just like both his mother and father before him, he was totally unafraid and he was in fact looking forward to the contest. There were no cheers to spur him on, just total silence as he was being appraised by the crowd watching as well as the group of Roman Senators. Then suddenly, there was a lot of wild cheering and applause which was for the benefit of Olaf, who was now entering the arena. Both gladiators now addressed the crowd with the standard form of address, “Hail Caesar, we who are about to die, salute you!”

The complex plot is well outlined – ‘In September of the year 9 A.D., the young Germanic warrior known as Armin to his friends and Arminius to his Roman enemies, successfully took on and defeated three entire Roman legions. This resulted in the deaths of over twenty thousand Roman soldiers. This in turn resulted in the Roman emperor called Tiberius recalling all Roman military units from Germania. The Germanic tribes would associate for their common good, often meeting and forming up for offensive or defensive war, but they were always separate and very independent. Armin knew that the best way to ensure that his country was not bothered by outside invaders again was to become a single country complete with it own army and navy. In this he crossed swords with the independent temper of his own people. They did not want any king from anywhere telling them what to do. In due course, this resulted in even the members of his own family taking up arms against him in order to make sure that the tribes of Germania remained independent and free. Such was the concern of the ancient Germanic tribesmen that this might not be the case, that Armin was murdered by the members of his own family.’

It is rewarding and enriching to read this history that Michael brings to life in these pages. Skilled writing and research result in a fascinating survey of not only Roman quests but also the heroism of an invaded country who does in indeed have a hero in Armin!

[Gabriela Vulpe · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like history and heroes, if you are fascinated by battles and strategies, then this book is for you. Well researched, it tells the story of the tribe leader and warrior Armin, in a detailed historical context. On the way, we learn about unruly Germanic tribes as well as Roman leaders of the time. Michael Kramer creates a crescendo culminating in the great battle which saw the Romans utterly defeated. We are led to understand the fight and the fighters, their tactics and their motivations. We also learn that Germanic women were fierce and sometimes took part in battle alongside

[Marcus Goncalves · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author did an amazing job reaacounting the European historical facts that has defined that region. This is especially so among the two classes, the wine drinkers, dominated by Romance languages rooted on Latin, and the beer drinkers. The author did an incredible job retelling historic events of the battle that stopped the Augustine Roman Empire expansion into the far most northern of Europe. Worth reading it!!

[Ella]

*I received this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Michael Kramer did a lot of research for this book. Historical facts are mixed in with fiction so well at some points, that I could hardly tell the difference. The unusual format and style this was written in, reminds me of history books I stared at years ago. Kramer's writing style fits well here. I think he caught the feel of what people would say and do during that time period very well. His portrayal of Roman figures like Julius Caesar and Augustus was true to the imagery I have in mind. In my opinion, Rome was a lot more ruthless and advanced in engineering, than society lets on.
Rome devoured whatever was in its path, especially if the nation set its eyes on it. Anything that the war machine spit out was fashioned in ways that would work best for Rome. Armin's story begins during Rome's good years. The height of the nation's existence follows. Armin is a smart warrior that travels through the Roman system to a high rank in the military. What he intends to do with that authority is liberate his clan and other clans from Rome's tight grip. What ensues is what I would expect from any power struggle. War, love, family dramas and betrayal. Armin's life once he has freed his people from Rome's hold isn't what I expected, but, it lines up with the setting. The same for his family.
A nice amount of power-hungry villains live in this book. Every reader needs at least one character to love hating.
Sexual content and cursing are apart of this story. I don't believe that the cursing is overbearing though. Curses are not in every area of dialogue and I don't think they were excessively used. The sexualized areas can be a little heavy in some parts. So if you're not a fan of that, this book may not be for you.
A bit of proofreading is necessary. I would put this in more than one category. Educational fiction, historical fiction, romance, and adventure. This book is a great read for anyone who's interested in any of those genres.


* SPOILER ALERT * SPOILER ALERT * SPOILER ALERT* SPOILER ALERT * * SPOILER ALERT * SPOILER ALERT *




My favorite characters are Thusnelda, who becomes Armin's wife and Adelhard Armin's friend. Kramer didn't write a lot of strong female characters. I would have liked to see more women like Thusnelda. She was intelligent with a strong mind of her own. Armin was smart enough to trust her completely. Thusnelda was a big contributor in the plan to demolish part of Rome's military. She helped Armin's right-hand man Adalhard to plot out the battle area and report back to Armin. The pair truly loved each other and were loyal to each other without pause. I would have liked to read more about her. More interaction with her peers and friends would have been nice.
Adalhard worked with Armin in Rome's military. The two were schooled together and grew close over the years. As Armin rose in rank Adalhard continued to work with him to move the plan forward when the opportunity arose. It would have been nice to read more about him as well. His presence as this books guide was refreshing and a bit different.
I hope this review is helpful to you in your hunt for a good read.

[Nessamars16]

*Thank you to BookTasters and Micheal Kramer for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

If you love history, For the Love of Armin is what you're looking for. Wars, gladiators, tribes, all in one book:
on the one hand, you'll meet the Romans and their traditions and their glory, on the other hand you'll get to know the Germanic hero "who delivered Germania from the yoke of the Romans". So, two worlds against each other; one driven by the desire to conquer and the other driven by the desire to fight for freedom.

Thanks to a long and accurate research, the author provides the reader with a story rich in detail but also with a story based mainly on true facts. Therefore, For the Love of Armin could be regarded as a source of knowledge for anyone (Alas, I wish I had read it before my exam, last year!).

Overall, I'd recommend it to anyone who likes historical fiction, especially if you feel passionate about history because it could be a bit too much after a bit.

In conclusion, reading For the Love of Armin will be definitely a journey through the past, a journey by which any reader will feel fascinated.

[Klissia]

A delightful read for a historical fiction, such subjects like battle,weapon,estrategy are normally tedious but the writer made a good,colorful,humorous and interesting narrative about real History and persons.
I'am a great fan of HBO ' series Roma and reading this epic downfall of three roman legions of powerful Army of Octavius Augustus to Armin and the germanic warriors ,made me wondering about how epic and good would be the season 3...

[Brenna · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is poorly written (or translated). A lot of typos and grammatical errors. And sometimes I can tell that English is not its native language. It is also supposedly fiction, but it is written mostly like a documentary. Obviously, some dialogue and scenes are fiction, but they aren't enough to get past the boredom of reading this.

[Ashuntae Holliday]

Travis

[Page After Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one for the role-players for certain. Battles galore, rich in historical facts and an almost uncanny insider knowledge of the exploits of Germanic warriors. Michael Kramer is familiar with war, that much is outstandingly evident from this book, his first novel (based on the Vietnam war) and his own personal history, serving in the army. In this book he intersperses chunks of very well research-based history with fictional suppositions that leave no stone unturned and little to the imagination. One of the more unexpected chapters for readers to discover concerns Julia, the “wayward daughter of Augustus”. This book is a tapestry of threads woven together to create an almost exhaustive, in-depth and larger than life, warts-and-all account of a specific previous incarnation of life.

[BookBubblez · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the Love of Armin's author Michael Kramer has done an excellent job researching historical data for his book. As explained in the Introduction, the author relied on historical materials and added his own fictional take on certain scenes, especially those involving dialogue. Because of this, this book is classified as Historical fiction.

Don't go into this expecting a typical liberally fictionalized historical novel. It reads more like an entertaining History textbook.

I would recommend this book to anyone serious about learning ancient European history. This would make a fantastic resource material for writers and students researching ancient Rome and the Germanic people. I can picture this being indispensable to a anyone writing a historical story set in this period.

For the Love of Armin needs a bit more editing work but nothing major. If you're looking for a historical book that's overly fictionalized or written in the usual romanticized format, then this probably isn't for you.

If you're serious about history, then this is a great book. I especially enjoyed the emphasis on the courageous Germanic women and the information about the lives of these people from thousands of years ago.

*I'm a booktuber, bookstagrammer, and book blogger. Read my honest reviews or watch my YouTube videos on www.BookBubbleZ.com *

I was sent this book in exchange for an honest review. I don't accept paid reviews.