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Empire #4
Aufstand der Barbaren
Die Germanen sind in Aufruhr, der römische Frieden wankt. Nur ein Zenturio könnte einen Aufstand noch verhindern – doch er gilt als Verräter!
Marcus Tribulus Corvus, der Zenturio der zweiten tungrischen Hilfskohorte, führt seine Männer vom Hadrianswall in Britannien zurück in ihre Heimat nach Germanien. Dort wartet eine neue Herausforderung auf sie. Der Banditenhäuptling Obduro raubt und tötet ungestraft. Nun hat er sich sogar noch höhere Ziele gesetzt: Er will seinem Volk die Freiheit von der römischen Herrschaft bringen! Immer mehr Tungrier folgen ihm. Kann Marcus Tribulus Corvus einen Aufstand verhindern?
Marcus Tribulus Corvus, der Zenturio der zweiten tungrischen Hilfskohorte, führt seine Männer vom Hadrianswall in Britannien zurück in ihre Heimat nach Germanien. Dort wartet eine neue Herausforderung auf sie. Der Banditenhäuptling Obduro raubt und tötet ungestraft. Nun hat er sich sogar noch höhere Ziele gesetzt: Er will seinem Volk die Freiheit von der römischen Herrschaft bringen! Immer mehr Tungrier folgen ihm. Kann Marcus Tribulus Corvus einen Aufstand verhindern?
545 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 26, 2012
101 people are currently reading
660 people want to read
About the author
Anthony Riches
51 books359 followersAnthony Riches began his lifelong interest in war and soldiers when he first heard his father's stories about World War II. This led to a degree in Military Studies at Manchester University. He began writing the story that would become Wounds of Honour after a visit to Housesteads in 1996. He lives in Hertfordshire with his wife and three children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
October 6, 2021
This book is more 3.5 stars and rounded up to 4 for a couple of reasons. But first I should mention that I enjoyed the story and characters, as usual.
So in this one, we had deception upon deception upon deception. And then we throw in some more deceptive deceptions. That's not necessarily a bad thing in a book. But some of these deceptions grew to such staggeringly huge proportions that they stretched the bounds of credulity. I am really trying not to be spoilery here. If you've read it then you'll know what I'm referring to!
The second issue was the reaction, or rather the lackadaisical reaction that the characters had to the death of a certain brother-in-arms. I was really puzzled as to why this wasn't addressed more since he was such a huge part of their lives. Sheesh- I was more upset than they were!! And I don't know why the author skimmed over the death like that. I think that was a boo-boo on his part.
So aside from these two complaints I still intend to soldier on and continue to the next book.
So in this one, we had deception upon deception upon deception. And then we throw in some more deceptive deceptions. That's not necessarily a bad thing in a book. But some of these deceptions grew to such staggeringly huge proportions that they stretched the bounds of credulity. I am really trying not to be spoilery here. If you've read it then you'll know what I'm referring to!
The second issue was the reaction, or rather the lackadaisical reaction that the characters had to the death of a certain brother-in-arms. I was really puzzled as to why this wasn't addressed more since he was such a huge part of their lives. Sheesh- I was more upset than they were!! And I don't know why the author skimmed over the death like that. I think that was a boo-boo on his part.
So aside from these two complaints I still intend to soldier on and continue to the next book.
Read
December 23, 2023‘Only you, [redacted], only you could take a complaint and turn it into a lesson on the workings of the empire.’
Super-Roman gets super equipment and acts as Sherlock Holmes. Riches moves the tale to the continent to introduce new suspects but retains the formula. Sufficient duplicity to keep readers engaged. Even grittier, if possible, but rip-roaring action adventure.
‘I killed again today.’ ‘I can always tell, whether there’s blood on your armour or not. You may be a natural with your swords, but you’re not hardened to the results of using them, are you?’
Twentieth-century GI slang intrudes more often than previous volumes. Verbal anachronisms abound. ‘… left holding his cloak like a uniformed doorman,’ ‘not holding my breath,’ ‘don’t do anything I wouldn’t,’ the perfect “victimless” crime. Blades “forged in Damascus” are six centuries in the future.
‘The more audacity we bring to this life, the luckier we seem to be when it pays off, no matter how we make that luck happen.’
Series overview: Hardcore historical fiction told with modern English military idioms and profanity. Second-century Roman empire provides rich background of war, intrigue, and unrest to propel too-good-to-be-true protagonist to adventure. Roman grunts spoke Latin, but not that learned in school. (The whole series loses one star for profanity and violence. You’ve been warned.) Compare to Ellis Peters’ Chronicles of Cadfael or Bernard Cornwell (Author)’s Sharpe's Tiger series. Though episodic, best read in order.
Super-Roman gets super equipment and acts as Sherlock Holmes. Riches moves the tale to the continent to introduce new suspects but retains the formula. Sufficient duplicity to keep readers engaged. Even grittier, if possible, but rip-roaring action adventure.
‘I killed again today.’ ‘I can always tell, whether there’s blood on your armour or not. You may be a natural with your swords, but you’re not hardened to the results of using them, are you?’
Twentieth-century GI slang intrudes more often than previous volumes. Verbal anachronisms abound. ‘… left holding his cloak like a uniformed doorman,’ ‘not holding my breath,’ ‘don’t do anything I wouldn’t,’ the perfect “victimless” crime. Blades “forged in Damascus” are six centuries in the future.
‘The more audacity we bring to this life, the luckier we seem to be when it pays off, no matter how we make that luck happen.’
Series overview: Hardcore historical fiction told with modern English military idioms and profanity. Second-century Roman empire provides rich background of war, intrigue, and unrest to propel too-good-to-be-true protagonist to adventure. Roman grunts spoke Latin, but not that learned in school. (The whole series loses one star for profanity and violence. You’ve been warned.) Compare to Ellis Peters’ Chronicles of Cadfael or Bernard Cornwell (Author)’s Sharpe's Tiger series. Though episodic, best read in order.
August 28, 2019
It is obvious that the author as researched this historical era in great details, which is transmitted to the reader via his story telling, a bit of a slower pace book than previous ones in the series (in my opinion), thus said it is a good read, typical Roman Empire era book, you get what you expect, the characters are well defined, the story as substance, well written, the pace of the story increases towards the ending of the book. I did enjoy it, will be certainly reading more from the author, no editorial issues, excellent book cover.
December 25, 2021
Read this book in 2014, and its the 4th volume of the superb "Empire" series.
In this tale Marcus Valerius Aquila, or Marcus Tribulus Corvus, Centurion of the 2nd Tungrian Auxiliary Cohort, is on the run from Britannia, after the killings of the two assassins at the hand of his friends.
But will happen is that more henchmen will be sent to Britannia, and so Corvus sets off towards the Tungrians' original home in Germania Inferior.
He's sent to Tungrorum to deal with an outbreak of robbery and banditry, and soon his will encounter a bandit called, Obduro, a man who hides his face and identity behind an iron cavalry helmet, when killing and robbing with impunity.
This thieving and killing actions by Obduro will be confronted by Corvus with a sword that is as razor sharp and deadly as it comes, and he will needs this sharpness and unstoppable power to stop this threat to destabilize the whole northern frontier of the empire.
What is to follow is an excellent Roman adventure in which Corvus is a sharp as his sword when it comes to his actions and dealings with this threat to the Roman Empire, and all this is brought to us by the author in his own spectacular and thrilling fashion.
Highly recommended, for this is another marvellous addition to this tremendous series, and that's why i like to call this episode: "A Compelling Leopard Sword"!
In this tale Marcus Valerius Aquila, or Marcus Tribulus Corvus, Centurion of the 2nd Tungrian Auxiliary Cohort, is on the run from Britannia, after the killings of the two assassins at the hand of his friends.
But will happen is that more henchmen will be sent to Britannia, and so Corvus sets off towards the Tungrians' original home in Germania Inferior.
He's sent to Tungrorum to deal with an outbreak of robbery and banditry, and soon his will encounter a bandit called, Obduro, a man who hides his face and identity behind an iron cavalry helmet, when killing and robbing with impunity.
This thieving and killing actions by Obduro will be confronted by Corvus with a sword that is as razor sharp and deadly as it comes, and he will needs this sharpness and unstoppable power to stop this threat to destabilize the whole northern frontier of the empire.
What is to follow is an excellent Roman adventure in which Corvus is a sharp as his sword when it comes to his actions and dealings with this threat to the Roman Empire, and all this is brought to us by the author in his own spectacular and thrilling fashion.
Highly recommended, for this is another marvellous addition to this tremendous series, and that's why i like to call this episode: "A Compelling Leopard Sword"!
September 20, 2014
Once again, be warned - if you’re looking for Jane Austin set in 183AD, you better go find some Jane Austen, or Phillipa Gregory, or…or… You know, the stuff that is basically ‘Mills and Boon’ masquerading as Historical Fiction. For girls. Chick Hist Fic. Lit. Etc.
This is the fourth of Anthony Riches’ ‘Empire’ series and the first one to leave Britannia. As the series was clearly originally planned, or commissioned as a trilogy (you read the last chapters of #3 and disagree), I guess it’s natural that he should sell further volumes to the publishers, beginning with a change of scenery. Our Tungrian auxiliaries have left Britannia with the revolting natives seemingly subdued. Or at least the tribes have been put in their place for a while. They are back in what seems to be their original stamping ground in northern Gaul (though I was a little disappointed that more was not made of this being back on home territory). Whilst it is trumpeted as a ‘different world’ in the book blurb, it isn’t really. They’ve basically just swapped one hostile country with another and the antagonists wherever they are, want them gone, dead, preferably both. The Ardennes forest is puffed up to be perhaps a more forbidding place, than the forests of (what is now) Scotland and some of the passages set in the forest are really very excitingly tense. The main difference here, is the nature of their opponent. A bandit, freedom fighter, soldier, chieftain known as ‘Obduro.’ His schtick is that no one (apart from the few close confidants he has) know what he looks like. And those who do know what he looks like, don’t know for long, if you get my meaning? This is because he wears a mask of an iron cavalry helmet at all times he is seen in public. Oh, and has a ‘Leopard Sword.’ Again, that was an interesting development that, despite it being the title of the book, wasn’t really picked up and run with as much as I’d have liked.
For all the action has moved, some things remain the same. There is still a rather unhealthy preoccupation with testicles, their own and each other’s. Eyebrows, rising minutely, imperceptibly, quizzically, or noticeably, questioning, are clearly still a Roman soldiers best way of communicating emotion. And Anthony Riches still doesn’t seem to have found an editor with 20/20 vision. Oh, and in the Audible version I listened to, obviously aristocratic Romans have speech impediments and/or are effeminate. The more aristocratic, the worse the impediment, you get the idea.
If you liked and enjoyed (as I did/have) the previous trilogy, you’ll find nothing not to enjoy here. It is more of the same, with a few extra dimensions added. A more complex plot, maybe as well. Not exactly complicated, but compared with previous outings, more varied, even nuanced. There are still fights, raids and battles, often to the death, but with a more developed undertone - if I can describe it that way. I’m not going to say it’s better (or worse) for that, compared to what I found most appealing in the first three books, which was their rather more straight-ahead story-telling. The only subterfuge there was the fact that one of their number was (and still is actually) not who he wants it to be known he is. Marcus Valerius Aquilais is, in essence, still in hiding, just hiding in plain sight, with the Tungrian Auxiliaries and now doing it in Tungria. His enemies back in Rome have tried a couple of times to find him, but have been unsuccessful. Not because he has tried to lay low and merge in with the background, quite the opposite. But because his friends have had his back for him, while he constantly throws caution out with the bathwater. None of that gets in the way too much here either. The mystery man ‘Obduro', knows who he is really and knows the consequences for him of the knowledge getting out, but nothing really comes of it apart from some taunting.
The idea of the mystery rebel in the face mask, whom no one knows the identity of, even his own fellow rebels, is an intriguing one and is handled pretty well here. However, it could have been better and had perhaps more weight, more punch and been a bigger shock when revealed (who it was) if it hadn’t all been contained within the book. By that I mean, if the masked person had been related to someone or something from the preceding books (hope I’m not giving too much away here), instead of being someone we meet in ‘The Leopard Sword’ and leave in 'The Leopard Sword' (I am nearly through the next book, and there has been no mention, or hint, of anything to do with the masked person in that.
Don’t get me wrong, this is an enjoyable thundering bull in a china shop of book. Neither Anthony Riches nor his Tungrians take any prisoners with the style of writing or fighting. I’d say you’re either going to like it or not. I can see opinions being divided quite sharply on this. How many would begin by reading this one, I can’t say. The shift in scenery for the Tungrians would at least give new readers a chance to begin here, as do many of the characters. Long-term readers, will again find themselves on the same familiar ground as the characters are (the Tungrians are back where they came from - you see what I did there?). The question of who will read this book, is easy to answer. Men. I can’t for the life of me think a woman would read this, or if she did so by accident, stick around after the first barrack room exchange or the first description of the preferred interrogation practices of either the barbarians or Romans.
It would have had four stars, if the expressing of every conceivable emotion by eyebrows shooting hither and thither around a character’s head, were reduced. Also, strangely for the start of the rest of the series, after the #3 was clearly written to end a trilogy, everything here does all end rather completely and with even less dangling ends, than even 'Fortress of Spears.' Which ended like a trilogy might end, but where the author got the nod from the publisher for more while he was doing the edits. With this ending, I imagined the camera pulling back from the final scene, an unseen, off-camera hand slowly closing the door (you've seen it done), voices inside to fade, and we are left to imagine how the characters' lives continue without us. If I hadn't already bought #5, 6 and 7, with #8 on order, I might go along with the above scenario. But as I have them (apart from #8) sat on the shelf over there, I do find the ending a little more than mystifying. Unless he finished up without knowing if the option for more was going to be taken up. Never mind, go read it, see what you think.
This is the fourth of Anthony Riches’ ‘Empire’ series and the first one to leave Britannia. As the series was clearly originally planned, or commissioned as a trilogy (you read the last chapters of #3 and disagree), I guess it’s natural that he should sell further volumes to the publishers, beginning with a change of scenery. Our Tungrian auxiliaries have left Britannia with the revolting natives seemingly subdued. Or at least the tribes have been put in their place for a while. They are back in what seems to be their original stamping ground in northern Gaul (though I was a little disappointed that more was not made of this being back on home territory). Whilst it is trumpeted as a ‘different world’ in the book blurb, it isn’t really. They’ve basically just swapped one hostile country with another and the antagonists wherever they are, want them gone, dead, preferably both. The Ardennes forest is puffed up to be perhaps a more forbidding place, than the forests of (what is now) Scotland and some of the passages set in the forest are really very excitingly tense. The main difference here, is the nature of their opponent. A bandit, freedom fighter, soldier, chieftain known as ‘Obduro.’ His schtick is that no one (apart from the few close confidants he has) know what he looks like. And those who do know what he looks like, don’t know for long, if you get my meaning? This is because he wears a mask of an iron cavalry helmet at all times he is seen in public. Oh, and has a ‘Leopard Sword.’ Again, that was an interesting development that, despite it being the title of the book, wasn’t really picked up and run with as much as I’d have liked.
For all the action has moved, some things remain the same. There is still a rather unhealthy preoccupation with testicles, their own and each other’s. Eyebrows, rising minutely, imperceptibly, quizzically, or noticeably, questioning, are clearly still a Roman soldiers best way of communicating emotion. And Anthony Riches still doesn’t seem to have found an editor with 20/20 vision. Oh, and in the Audible version I listened to, obviously aristocratic Romans have speech impediments and/or are effeminate. The more aristocratic, the worse the impediment, you get the idea.
If you liked and enjoyed (as I did/have) the previous trilogy, you’ll find nothing not to enjoy here. It is more of the same, with a few extra dimensions added. A more complex plot, maybe as well. Not exactly complicated, but compared with previous outings, more varied, even nuanced. There are still fights, raids and battles, often to the death, but with a more developed undertone - if I can describe it that way. I’m not going to say it’s better (or worse) for that, compared to what I found most appealing in the first three books, which was their rather more straight-ahead story-telling. The only subterfuge there was the fact that one of their number was (and still is actually) not who he wants it to be known he is. Marcus Valerius Aquilais is, in essence, still in hiding, just hiding in plain sight, with the Tungrian Auxiliaries and now doing it in Tungria. His enemies back in Rome have tried a couple of times to find him, but have been unsuccessful. Not because he has tried to lay low and merge in with the background, quite the opposite. But because his friends have had his back for him, while he constantly throws caution out with the bathwater. None of that gets in the way too much here either. The mystery man ‘Obduro', knows who he is really and knows the consequences for him of the knowledge getting out, but nothing really comes of it apart from some taunting.
The idea of the mystery rebel in the face mask, whom no one knows the identity of, even his own fellow rebels, is an intriguing one and is handled pretty well here. However, it could have been better and had perhaps more weight, more punch and been a bigger shock when revealed (who it was) if it hadn’t all been contained within the book. By that I mean, if the masked person had been related to someone or something from the preceding books (hope I’m not giving too much away here), instead of being someone we meet in ‘The Leopard Sword’ and leave in 'The Leopard Sword' (I am nearly through the next book, and there has been no mention, or hint, of anything to do with the masked person in that.
Don’t get me wrong, this is an enjoyable thundering bull in a china shop of book. Neither Anthony Riches nor his Tungrians take any prisoners with the style of writing or fighting. I’d say you’re either going to like it or not. I can see opinions being divided quite sharply on this. How many would begin by reading this one, I can’t say. The shift in scenery for the Tungrians would at least give new readers a chance to begin here, as do many of the characters. Long-term readers, will again find themselves on the same familiar ground as the characters are (the Tungrians are back where they came from - you see what I did there?). The question of who will read this book, is easy to answer. Men. I can’t for the life of me think a woman would read this, or if she did so by accident, stick around after the first barrack room exchange or the first description of the preferred interrogation practices of either the barbarians or Romans.
It would have had four stars, if the expressing of every conceivable emotion by eyebrows shooting hither and thither around a character’s head, were reduced. Also, strangely for the start of the rest of the series, after the #3 was clearly written to end a trilogy, everything here does all end rather completely and with even less dangling ends, than even 'Fortress of Spears.' Which ended like a trilogy might end, but where the author got the nod from the publisher for more while he was doing the edits. With this ending, I imagined the camera pulling back from the final scene, an unseen, off-camera hand slowly closing the door (you've seen it done), voices inside to fade, and we are left to imagine how the characters' lives continue without us. If I hadn't already bought #5, 6 and 7, with #8 on order, I might go along with the above scenario. But as I have them (apart from #8) sat on the shelf over there, I do find the ending a little more than mystifying. Unless he finished up without knowing if the option for more was going to be taken up. Never mind, go read it, see what you think.
October 1, 2012
Where do I start with The Leopard Sword? Strangely, with a comparison.
You see, I've been a fan of Tony's books since the first Empire novel, but to me there is a definitely change between the first three books and this fourth one that makes a comparison viable. I have recommended the first three novels to numerous people since I started them (and bought copies as presents for some) but the target audience for that recommendation was fairly specific. The Empire books have been distinctly miltary in nature, bloodthirsty (aka not for the faint-hearted), rude (in an entirely appropriate way - The Romans has a fairly crude sense of humour and let's face it, the military is pretty similar throughout history.) So I've aimed my recommendations at people with an interest in that area and who I know will appreciate the style.
The Leopard sword has lost none of these things. Everything that a fan of the first three books enjoyed is here. You will enjoy it. Believe me.
But more than that, Empire IV has taken Tony's writing (and most particularly, I think, his planning of novels) to a whole new level. I will recommend TLS to people who I would baulk at the thought of reading the first three. It shows not only a natural progression from the first three but also a maturity in style that I adored.
Moving from a 90% military plotline to a new and exciting mix of military, whodunnit and thriller, TLS had me guessing almost to the end, with its constant twists and surprises. Every time I thought I'd nailed part of the plot it evaporated like smoke. I could enthuse about this at length and give some fantastic detail, but I will NOT risk spoilers, so enjoy that aspect and be glad I didn't ruin it for you.
The first three books, for me, were very much a trilogy, and I worried, after the fairly definitive and enormous end of the third, whether Tony could really pull a fourth out of his hat. He's done that, and made me wish I'd given his earlier books a lower rating so that I could adequately express my high estimation of this one.
As well as the continued 'real' feel of the military seen in his earlier books, there is also a much more personal element to TLS for several characters. There are some new and impressive folk to meet, and the bad guy in TLS will rank among my top historical villains. From his very introduction, he exudes style and mystery. Oh, and one of the previously more 'supporting' characters has really come into his own in this book and taken a limelight role - not before time.
This book also has a far more complex and intricate plot that its predecessors, and a real feel for the time and the local environment, which play a very important role in the plot itself. The interwoven threads are so neatly tied, it pleased me immensely to see not a hint of a loose end.
Moreover, I feel that Tony may have shifted a tiny amount of his focus so that there is less concentration on the battle and viscera (though don't panic as there's still plenty of ICK!) and more on subtle plot twists and character growth. All in all, it's a subtle move in style, I think, but a welcome and mature one which loses nothing, yet gains everything.
Simply: I love it. Buy it. And - and I rarely will say this - even if you've not read the first three or don't fancy them, buy this anyway. You'll love it too.
Roll on The Wolf's Gold (now out in less than a month!)
You see, I've been a fan of Tony's books since the first Empire novel, but to me there is a definitely change between the first three books and this fourth one that makes a comparison viable. I have recommended the first three novels to numerous people since I started them (and bought copies as presents for some) but the target audience for that recommendation was fairly specific. The Empire books have been distinctly miltary in nature, bloodthirsty (aka not for the faint-hearted), rude (in an entirely appropriate way - The Romans has a fairly crude sense of humour and let's face it, the military is pretty similar throughout history.) So I've aimed my recommendations at people with an interest in that area and who I know will appreciate the style.
The Leopard sword has lost none of these things. Everything that a fan of the first three books enjoyed is here. You will enjoy it. Believe me.
But more than that, Empire IV has taken Tony's writing (and most particularly, I think, his planning of novels) to a whole new level. I will recommend TLS to people who I would baulk at the thought of reading the first three. It shows not only a natural progression from the first three but also a maturity in style that I adored.
Moving from a 90% military plotline to a new and exciting mix of military, whodunnit and thriller, TLS had me guessing almost to the end, with its constant twists and surprises. Every time I thought I'd nailed part of the plot it evaporated like smoke. I could enthuse about this at length and give some fantastic detail, but I will NOT risk spoilers, so enjoy that aspect and be glad I didn't ruin it for you.
The first three books, for me, were very much a trilogy, and I worried, after the fairly definitive and enormous end of the third, whether Tony could really pull a fourth out of his hat. He's done that, and made me wish I'd given his earlier books a lower rating so that I could adequately express my high estimation of this one.
As well as the continued 'real' feel of the military seen in his earlier books, there is also a much more personal element to TLS for several characters. There are some new and impressive folk to meet, and the bad guy in TLS will rank among my top historical villains. From his very introduction, he exudes style and mystery. Oh, and one of the previously more 'supporting' characters has really come into his own in this book and taken a limelight role - not before time.
This book also has a far more complex and intricate plot that its predecessors, and a real feel for the time and the local environment, which play a very important role in the plot itself. The interwoven threads are so neatly tied, it pleased me immensely to see not a hint of a loose end.
Moreover, I feel that Tony may have shifted a tiny amount of his focus so that there is less concentration on the battle and viscera (though don't panic as there's still plenty of ICK!) and more on subtle plot twists and character growth. All in all, it's a subtle move in style, I think, but a welcome and mature one which loses nothing, yet gains everything.
Simply: I love it. Buy it. And - and I rarely will say this - even if you've not read the first three or don't fancy them, buy this anyway. You'll love it too.
Roll on The Wolf's Gold (now out in less than a month!)
August 17, 2014
This book is practically the epitome of the slow-burner.
With the principle setting for the action having switched from Britannia, the location of the previous three books in the series, to Germania Inferior (roughly where modern day Belgium is), I was initially a little sceptical about whether there would still be the same level of ever-present threat such as that represented by the tribes of Britain being in open revolt like earlier in the series.
One of the themes that set this story arc apart from other regular Roman fiction novels/series was the intrigue behind the lead character's real identity, which as this book opened seemed to have been discarded almost permanently.
So it is for the first third to half of the book, most of the elements that made the previous books relatively unique and appealing seemed to have been left by the wayside, leaving you fairly disappointed and underwhelmed. This however turned out to be a cleverly wrought ruse.
The deeper that you progress into the book, the more you find yourself surrendering to the almost colubrine ways in which Riches plays with your sense of what is happening and being able to tell what is going to happen next. Just when you think you know who Obduro is, you find yourself second guessing that assertion to think it's someone else, only to double back and believe it was the first person...
While I was around a third of a way through the book I would have easily felt no qualms at marking this down as a two out of five - 'I liked it' - until I found myself getting sucked deeper into the growing intrigue, plot developments and eventual onset of open conflict. It is squarely because of the practically expert way in which Riches teases and conjures more action, intrigue and & addictiveness the deeper you get into the book that I'm marking this 4/5.
There is also an added and enjoyable delve into the character of Centurion Julius which not only fits nicely into the wider story but also adds a welcome extra dimension to the character.
In fact I felt myself feeling how little I had left of the book and wishing there was more to come.
A welcome addition to the canon and promising opening of a new chapter in the exploits of the Tungrian cohorts and Centurion Marcus!
With the principle setting for the action having switched from Britannia, the location of the previous three books in the series, to Germania Inferior (roughly where modern day Belgium is), I was initially a little sceptical about whether there would still be the same level of ever-present threat such as that represented by the tribes of Britain being in open revolt like earlier in the series.
One of the themes that set this story arc apart from other regular Roman fiction novels/series was the intrigue behind the lead character's real identity, which as this book opened seemed to have been discarded almost permanently.
So it is for the first third to half of the book, most of the elements that made the previous books relatively unique and appealing seemed to have been left by the wayside, leaving you fairly disappointed and underwhelmed. This however turned out to be a cleverly wrought ruse.
The deeper that you progress into the book, the more you find yourself surrendering to the almost colubrine ways in which Riches plays with your sense of what is happening and being able to tell what is going to happen next. Just when you think you know who Obduro is, you find yourself second guessing that assertion to think it's someone else, only to double back and believe it was the first person...
While I was around a third of a way through the book I would have easily felt no qualms at marking this down as a two out of five - 'I liked it' - until I found myself getting sucked deeper into the growing intrigue, plot developments and eventual onset of open conflict. It is squarely because of the practically expert way in which Riches teases and conjures more action, intrigue and & addictiveness the deeper you get into the book that I'm marking this 4/5.
There is also an added and enjoyable delve into the character of Centurion Julius which not only fits nicely into the wider story but also adds a welcome extra dimension to the character.
In fact I felt myself feeling how little I had left of the book and wishing there was more to come.
A welcome addition to the canon and promising opening of a new chapter in the exploits of the Tungrian cohorts and Centurion Marcus!
April 13, 2014
While this is the fourth book in the most excellent Empire series, it is the first one that I have reviewed…when I read the first three I had yet to begin my pseudo-career as a book reviewer. In this volume we find the Tungrians posted to their original home in Germania Inferior to seek out and destroy the bandit gangs that are disrupting the grain trade in the area. The worst of the bandits is lead by a mysterious cavalry masked villain who goes by the name of Obduro, an ardent worshiper of the forest goddess Arduenna and possessor of a brutally efficient sword. The author does a masterful job at giving clues as to who the masked man is while at the same time making it difficult to figure it out. It takes a bit of doing but eventually the main character in the series, Centurion Corvus(in reality Marcus Valerius Aquila) comes up with a plan to unmask the villain.
There are also some really good subplots and back stories to go along with the meticulous research that has become a hallmark of Mr. Riches writing. I especially enjoy the verbal jousting between members of the Centuriate and the plot twists that the author inserts to bolster the main story line. My only complaint is a selfish one in that he kills off one my favorite characters in the series…I won’t say who it is…just that he will be sorely missed.
5 stars and well done Mr. Riches.
There are also some really good subplots and back stories to go along with the meticulous research that has become a hallmark of Mr. Riches writing. I especially enjoy the verbal jousting between members of the Centuriate and the plot twists that the author inserts to bolster the main story line. My only complaint is a selfish one in that he kills off one my favorite characters in the series…I won’t say who it is…just that he will be sorely missed.
5 stars and well done Mr. Riches.
July 19, 2012
I really love this series. I absolutly love the characters - it seems well-researched and is certainly well-written. Riches is for sure one of the best novelists around at the moment writing about the Romans.
This is the best in the series. I couldn't put it down!!!
Very good.
This is the best in the series. I couldn't put it down!!!
Very good.
August 5, 2012
2012. FWFTB: Tungrorum, violent, bandit, hidden, helmet. The 4th book in the Empire series – there was no way that I was not going to be reading this one. Sadly, I now seem to have caught up with the publications so it looks as if I have a long wait ahead of me for the next one. Sometimes, the honesty of the author regarding the writing process serves to distract me from the read as a whole. In this case, Mr Riches mentioned a plot point problem which I was trying to identify from the start of the book! A personal issue this - but there was no dramatis personae and even though I had read the last book only a month ago, I was struggling to connect the dots. But, on the other hand, it can be read as a stand alone if necessary. Marcus is still in disguise and his non discovery by the current Emperor is now becoming a tad incredible. I think this will be resolved soon by the change in Emperors (possibly hinted at in the historical note at the end of the book) but I am not sure how this will work out in future books. “If they escape into the forest it will be a bad thing, and much unhappiness will result. And unhappiness, as we all know, flows in only one direction.” Conn Iggulden has managed to encapsulate my thoughts about the author ie “Some authors are better historians than they are storytellers. Anthony Riches is brilliant at both.”
Another great cover which seems from the credits to be a kind of montage with the interesting (to me notes) that the chaps in the background are actually The Ermine Street Guard who proudly claim on their website to be ‘the number one Roman Reenactment Society of Europe” and are based in England but go all over Europe.As usual, highly recommended for all those history enthusiasts out there.
FCN: Marcus Valerius Aquila, Qadir, Felicia Clodia Drusilla, Dubnus the Brigantian, Julius .
Another great cover which seems from the credits to be a kind of montage with the interesting (to me notes) that the chaps in the background are actually The Ermine Street Guard who proudly claim on their website to be ‘the number one Roman Reenactment Society of Europe” and are based in England but go all over Europe.As usual, highly recommended for all those history enthusiasts out there.
FCN: Marcus Valerius Aquila, Qadir, Felicia Clodia Drusilla, Dubnus the Brigantian, Julius .
July 26, 2022
Empolgante e cativante!
Uma história repleta aventuras, intrigas e emoções.
Fantástico!
Uma história repleta aventuras, intrigas e emoções.
Fantástico!
April 18, 2012
The fourth in the superb Empire series. So good to see Marcus Valerius Aquila again, not to mention Arminius, Martos, Julius, Felicia and most especially Dubnus! Review to follow shortly.
December 2, 2020
The story has unique and enjoyable elements to it, but it also has its annoying features.
For one thing, I became very annoyed by the speeches delivered by whomever had the upper hand in a mortal situation, detailing how he would disembowel / emasculate / flay / blind / sorely vex the other person. Enough already! Wasn't "Acta non verba" a Roman proverb?
Another annoying feature: Every time the antagonist of the story reveals his face to someone, the other person gasps, and says, "Why, it's YOU!" This became lame after the second occurrence, and by the third time was really annoying.
But those and other stylistic quirks aside, was the story worth reading? Maybe, but as it happens, I've read a bunch of these types of stories and I didn't find this one's storyline to be particularly novel. I did enjoy the fact that the main characters were in an auxiliary unit rather than a legion, and that the action was in a part of the Roman Empire that normally gets little attention.
This is book four of a series, and that might have put me off a bit, too. I was having trouble figuring out who was who for a long time, in part because I did not know the backstory for this group, but also because, in my opinion, the characters were not very fully developed and seemed somewhat interchangeable.
I might read another in this series - especially if I spot the first in the series on the shelves of my local library branch - but I won't be going looking for them. To me, it was OK, nothing more. Vivere et discere, eh?
For one thing, I became very annoyed by the speeches delivered by whomever had the upper hand in a mortal situation, detailing how he would disembowel / emasculate / flay / blind / sorely vex the other person. Enough already! Wasn't "Acta non verba" a Roman proverb?
Another annoying feature: Every time the antagonist of the story reveals his face to someone, the other person gasps, and says, "Why, it's YOU!" This became lame after the second occurrence, and by the third time was really annoying.
But those and other stylistic quirks aside, was the story worth reading? Maybe, but as it happens, I've read a bunch of these types of stories and I didn't find this one's storyline to be particularly novel. I did enjoy the fact that the main characters were in an auxiliary unit rather than a legion, and that the action was in a part of the Roman Empire that normally gets little attention.
This is book four of a series, and that might have put me off a bit, too. I was having trouble figuring out who was who for a long time, in part because I did not know the backstory for this group, but also because, in my opinion, the characters were not very fully developed and seemed somewhat interchangeable.
I might read another in this series - especially if I spot the first in the series on the shelves of my local library branch - but I won't be going looking for them. To me, it was OK, nothing more. Vivere et discere, eh?
March 18, 2017
well, the story gets a little farfetched in this one. The antagonist has a sword of Damascus steel. While it is known that the Damascus steel made great swords, the closest the ancient world came to modern steel alloys, this one also has magic! Some of the feats done with this sword would be physically impossible. Just because a metal blade is harder than another, it would still take a tremendous amount of force to cut through another blade. Even the hardest tempered steel made today could not cut through a gladius by one person wielding it. Other than the far fetched nature of this sword, the story does not get boring. Though it does leave one to wonder how the empire survived as long as it had with such stupid people in charge.
November 26, 2020
These stories in the Empire series by Anthony Riches are hard to beat if you are in to Roman era historical fiction. I will certainly be reading the whole series in due course. If you enjoy Ben Kane, Harry Sidebottom, Robert Fabbri etc then you will surely enjoy Anthony Riches!
May 3, 2024
When I enjoy the first 3 books of this series, the 4th installment is a bit draggy for me. One thing that I spotted is how characters are talking much much more than in the previous books, as if the writer is really hard to explain the reason behind their characters motive.
August 6, 2017
truly enjoyable series.
January 17, 2018
Another holiday library found. Unfortunately the 4th in series. But just means I will have to read all the others. A cracker of a read. Very enjoyable characters and storyline.
November 7, 2019
Good read
April 18, 2020
well...i honestly can say i was bawling like a baby at the end with my heart shattered into shards. it just keeps getting better !
October 9, 2022
Lost count of how many times the characters 'raised an eyebrow'. So did I reading this blood and guts, boys' adventure nonsense, wondering how it got published.
December 3, 2022
Audiobook
October 16, 2024
A series worth reading
Excellent series read them all I have been hooked for years good luck a make sure you have peace to read
Excellent series read them all I have been hooked for years good luck a make sure you have peace to read
December 31, 2024
Hard to track who is who with so many different characters but overall a great story and addition to the series!
March 23, 2025
Mais uma vez regresso ao império romano pela pena de Riches e do centurião Corvus, desta vez na germania. Gosto deste período, da organização das legiões e dos problemas que enfrentavam. Bom livro!!!
September 9, 2023
Superb Series!
Really enjoying Mr. Riches series thus far. Great story lines and
admirable characters. Starting book V with the anticipation of another enjoyable read.
Really enjoying Mr. Riches series thus far. Great story lines and
admirable characters. Starting book V with the anticipation of another enjoyable read.
May 4, 2012
Synopsis
Britannia has been subdued - and an epic new chapter in Marcus Valerius Aquila's life begins.
The murderous Roman agents who nearly captured Marcus have been defeated by his friends. But in order to protect those very friends from the wrath of the emperor, he must leave the province which has been giving him shelter. As Marcus Tribulus Corvus, centurion of the second Tungrian auxiliary cohort, he leads his men from Hadrian's Wall to the Tungrians' original home in Germania Inferior.
There he finds a very different world from the turbulent British frontier - but one with its own dangers. Tungrorum, the centre of a once-prosperous farming province, a city already brought low by the ravages of the eastern plague that has swept through the empire, is now threatened by an outbreak of brutally violent robbery. A bandit chieftain called Obduro, his identity always hidden behind an iron cavalry helmet, is robbing and killing with impunity.
His sword - sharper, stronger and more deadly than any known to the Roman army - is the lethal symbol of his unstoppable power. And now he has moved beyond mere theft and threatens to destabilize the whole northern frontier of the empire . . .
Review
Anthony Riches has over the last few years become one of my favorite authors, his uncompromising action packed fast paced and fun style of writing has led to a series of books that holds its head up among the elite of the genre and say "Bring it on bitches".
This latest book in the series for me is the best so far, it has all the power, pace, action, sudden violence and drama of the earlier books, but also many other layers of passion, feeling, love story, comradeship, loss, devious chicanery and many more it really is a book with everything.
Our hero grows more and more with every book and this one is no exception, but unlike many authors this book and series may have a hero but Anthony doesn't centre everything around him, the rest of his friends and comrades grow with him, as people and characters, everyone from the little boy being trained to fight to his wife to his commander, we enjoy a story that envelopes everyone, with everyone having a major part to play.
All of the action in this book takes place in Germania Inferior instead of Britannia (as in previous books) and with Anthony's subtle style we are shown a whole new world, a place vastly different and yet similar to Britannia with new tribes &|religions and how they drive the populous. (this is another of the layers of this truly exceptional book).
if i could give this book 11 /10 i would: it really is a highlight for 2012 right up there with my current Favorite God of War by Christian Cameron (and that's the highest accolade i can give it)
I'm exceptionally glad that book 6 The Wolf's Gold will be out later this year.
Highly recommended
(Parm)
Britannia has been subdued - and an epic new chapter in Marcus Valerius Aquila's life begins.
The murderous Roman agents who nearly captured Marcus have been defeated by his friends. But in order to protect those very friends from the wrath of the emperor, he must leave the province which has been giving him shelter. As Marcus Tribulus Corvus, centurion of the second Tungrian auxiliary cohort, he leads his men from Hadrian's Wall to the Tungrians' original home in Germania Inferior.
There he finds a very different world from the turbulent British frontier - but one with its own dangers. Tungrorum, the centre of a once-prosperous farming province, a city already brought low by the ravages of the eastern plague that has swept through the empire, is now threatened by an outbreak of brutally violent robbery. A bandit chieftain called Obduro, his identity always hidden behind an iron cavalry helmet, is robbing and killing with impunity.
His sword - sharper, stronger and more deadly than any known to the Roman army - is the lethal symbol of his unstoppable power. And now he has moved beyond mere theft and threatens to destabilize the whole northern frontier of the empire . . .
Review
Anthony Riches has over the last few years become one of my favorite authors, his uncompromising action packed fast paced and fun style of writing has led to a series of books that holds its head up among the elite of the genre and say "Bring it on bitches".
This latest book in the series for me is the best so far, it has all the power, pace, action, sudden violence and drama of the earlier books, but also many other layers of passion, feeling, love story, comradeship, loss, devious chicanery and many more it really is a book with everything.
Our hero grows more and more with every book and this one is no exception, but unlike many authors this book and series may have a hero but Anthony doesn't centre everything around him, the rest of his friends and comrades grow with him, as people and characters, everyone from the little boy being trained to fight to his wife to his commander, we enjoy a story that envelopes everyone, with everyone having a major part to play.
All of the action in this book takes place in Germania Inferior instead of Britannia (as in previous books) and with Anthony's subtle style we are shown a whole new world, a place vastly different and yet similar to Britannia with new tribes &|religions and how they drive the populous. (this is another of the layers of this truly exceptional book).
if i could give this book 11 /10 i would: it really is a highlight for 2012 right up there with my current Favorite God of War by Christian Cameron (and that's the highest accolade i can give it)
I'm exceptionally glad that book 6 The Wolf's Gold will be out later this year.
Highly recommended
(Parm)
August 14, 2012
Okay I'm new to this site and this is my first ever review, but here goes....
This series had me hooked from the moment I picked up wounds of honour. I love reading about Romans and the way Anthony Riches has woven this story into a historically accurate backdrop makes it all the better. Marcus Valarius Aquilla (Corvus) is fast becoming one of my favourite characters in any of the books I've read.
Riches may be by all accounts 'the new kid on the block' when it comes to historical fiction but he's just made me a massive fan of the genre of which for some reason in the past I have avoided. If other historical fiction authors are this good, then count me in
The first three books Wounds of honour, Arrows of fury and Fortress of spears are all set against the backdrop of northern Britain and Hadrians wall where our heroes are trying to hold back an invading horde of blue nose warriors led by the sinister and extremely clever Calgus. However, after neutralising the threat, the action in this book moves on to the Tungrians homeland And the city of Tungrorum where Marcus and co are trying to stop the elusive bandit leader Obduro whos identity is Hidden beneath a highly polished cavalry mask and who's skills with 'the leapord sword' may just pass Marcus' own? The action culminates in an explosive finale beneath the city walls.
I love the fine details and accuracy when describing The mundane daily life of an Auxilliary cohort of the Roman army mixed with the graphic, violent and disturbingly realistic many many battle scenes against the blue noses and other barbarian hordes.
Alongside the main story is the fact that Marcus is still officially wanted by the emperor and how long will his identity stay hidden as with every victory, surely the empire and those in Rome will surely start to notice.
I really feel part of the story when I'm reading and Anthony really builds fantastic relationships between the characters and the story seems to flow with this.
.
Dave
Hurry up and write another novel. I can't wait
This series had me hooked from the moment I picked up wounds of honour. I love reading about Romans and the way Anthony Riches has woven this story into a historically accurate backdrop makes it all the better. Marcus Valarius Aquilla (Corvus) is fast becoming one of my favourite characters in any of the books I've read.
Riches may be by all accounts 'the new kid on the block' when it comes to historical fiction but he's just made me a massive fan of the genre of which for some reason in the past I have avoided. If other historical fiction authors are this good, then count me in
The first three books Wounds of honour, Arrows of fury and Fortress of spears are all set against the backdrop of northern Britain and Hadrians wall where our heroes are trying to hold back an invading horde of blue nose warriors led by the sinister and extremely clever Calgus. However, after neutralising the threat, the action in this book moves on to the Tungrians homeland And the city of Tungrorum where Marcus and co are trying to stop the elusive bandit leader Obduro whos identity is Hidden beneath a highly polished cavalry mask and who's skills with 'the leapord sword' may just pass Marcus' own? The action culminates in an explosive finale beneath the city walls.
I love the fine details and accuracy when describing The mundane daily life of an Auxilliary cohort of the Roman army mixed with the graphic, violent and disturbingly realistic many many battle scenes against the blue noses and other barbarian hordes.
Alongside the main story is the fact that Marcus is still officially wanted by the emperor and how long will his identity stay hidden as with every victory, surely the empire and those in Rome will surely start to notice.
I really feel part of the story when I'm reading and Anthony really builds fantastic relationships between the characters and the story seems to flow with this.
.
Dave
Hurry up and write another novel. I can't wait
May 1, 2012
The Leopard Sword is the fourth in the Empire series. The first three were set on Hadrian's Wall with young Centurion Marcus Tribulus Corvus hiding under an assumed name, escaping the politics of Rome. The books centred on his adventures on the Wall and the barbarians beyond, while finding him home in the camaraderie of his Legion colleagues. Very entertaining they were too, but Anthony Riches was wise enough to realise he needed to throw something fresh into the series, and indeed he has.
The Leopard Sword sees Marcus and his colleagues being sent to their original home, Tungrorum in Germania. Their role is to protect the town from bandits and ensure the supply routes for grain are kept open. On arrival they find the bandits have been united by a mysterious masked leader, and nothing is what it seems at first sight.
Of course it roars along at a great pace and sucks you in straight away, the signs of a great story-teller and with a great cast of characters. The author is clever enough to spread the story a bit and it works really well, Marcus is in there but he is not the main focus. I have to say my favourite character is probably the Tribune, Scaurus. A clever and multi-layered character, but that is true of many of the individuals in here, and the author finely balances the story around them.
So, much to enjoy here and a welcome addition to a series that dares to grow and challenge the reader.
The Leopard Sword sees Marcus and his colleagues being sent to their original home, Tungrorum in Germania. Their role is to protect the town from bandits and ensure the supply routes for grain are kept open. On arrival they find the bandits have been united by a mysterious masked leader, and nothing is what it seems at first sight.
Of course it roars along at a great pace and sucks you in straight away, the signs of a great story-teller and with a great cast of characters. The author is clever enough to spread the story a bit and it works really well, Marcus is in there but he is not the main focus. I have to say my favourite character is probably the Tribune, Scaurus. A clever and multi-layered character, but that is true of many of the individuals in here, and the author finely balances the story around them.
So, much to enjoy here and a welcome addition to a series that dares to grow and challenge the reader.
May 21, 2015
Marcus has made it to Book 4 and we are promised by the end many more. Now however he is out of Britain, and this becomes puzzling in that the adversary here that the man we know is the hero of the story, is the Centurion, out of all his choice of officers to look into, that needs to be investigated to the point that he learns Marcus' secret.
Riches falls into this trap that he believes his tale of the comic book like Marcus needs to be full of this dark past that must haunt his character in every tale. Not so. It is old now and wearing thin. Only appearing here to be filler when it was completely not needed to the tale. The plot twists and devices that the book already has was more than enough to make a strong read. Here, on the edges of the Empire, there is more than enough intrigue to provide a fertile field of action and adventure with out the added nonsense that the protagonist has lugging around behind him.
The subplot of Julius, one of Marcus companions, could have been given even a stronger emphasis and we could have been allowed some indication that Marcus need not be the only person in near 2000 soldiers of Rome who can figure out a mystery. Riches though loses points for continuing to make his hero unbelievable at the expense of those where things could have been quite believable.
Once more, if you would like to read the exploits of the GOD like, comic book like superhero that is Marcus, this is for you.
Riches falls into this trap that he believes his tale of the comic book like Marcus needs to be full of this dark past that must haunt his character in every tale. Not so. It is old now and wearing thin. Only appearing here to be filler when it was completely not needed to the tale. The plot twists and devices that the book already has was more than enough to make a strong read. Here, on the edges of the Empire, there is more than enough intrigue to provide a fertile field of action and adventure with out the added nonsense that the protagonist has lugging around behind him.
The subplot of Julius, one of Marcus companions, could have been given even a stronger emphasis and we could have been allowed some indication that Marcus need not be the only person in near 2000 soldiers of Rome who can figure out a mystery. Riches though loses points for continuing to make his hero unbelievable at the expense of those where things could have been quite believable.
Once more, if you would like to read the exploits of the GOD like, comic book like superhero that is Marcus, this is for you.
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