Ship of Rome

Masters of the Sea #1

by John Stack

Against a backdrop of the clash of the Roman and Carthaginian empires, the battle for sovereignty takes place on the high seas Atticus, captain of one of the ships of Rome's small, coastal fleet, is from a Greek fishing family. Septimus, legionary commander, reluctantly ordered aboard ship, is from Rome, born into a traditionally army family. It could never be an easy alliance. But the arrival of a hostile fleet, larger, far more skilful and more powerful than any Atticus has encountered before, forces them to act together. So Atticus, one of Rome's few experienced sailors, finds himself propelled into the middle of a political struggle that is completely foreign to him. Rome need to build a navy fast but the obstacles are many; political animosities, legions adamant that they will only use their traditional methods; Roman prejudice even from friends, that all those not born in Rome are inferior citizens. The enemy are first class, experienced and determined to control the seas. Can Atticus, and the fledgling Roman navy, staffed with inexperienced sailors and unwilling legionaries, outwit and outfight his opponents. SHIP OF ROME, full of magnificent sea-battles, packed with strong characters, torn between two powerful empires, is the first book in a new series, MASTERS OF THE SEA, by a brilliant new author.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Roman, War, Ebooks, Action

368 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

John Stack was born and lives in County Cork in Ireland. He has always wanted to write but has done a variety of jobs ending up in IT. He is married with three children. He is presently writing the second book of the Masters of the Sea series.

Reviews

[Clemens Schoonderwoert · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Should Read as 4.5 Stars!**

Read this book in 2010, and its the 1st volume of the delightful "Masters of the Sea" trilogy, from the Irish author, John Stack.

This starts off in 260 BC with Rome as a little or poor sailing nation compared to their great rivals and enemy, Carthage.

Born as a Greek but now in the service of Rome, Atticus, must built a fleet that can compare and even more importantly can compete against Carthage, and with him on board is a legionary commander, Septimus.

Together but also reluctantly they must work together if they want to overcome the superior numbers the enemy can muster.

In the middle of political struggles, animosity and Roman born superiority against those not Roman born makes it hard for Atticus to build a navy as fast as possible.

Against an experienced enemy as Carthage, can Atticus, Septimus and all their ships and men combine their strengths and beliefs that they can overcome this enemy, and bring a victory home that can Rome use as a bridge to further increase their fleet and become masters of the sea.

What is to follow is an astonishing Roman adventure, with a lot of sea-fighting action, and that's brought to us by the author in his own very likeable and interesting fashion.

Highly recommended, for this is a brilliant begin of this wonderful trilogy, and that's why I like to call this episode: "An Excellent Ship Of Rome Start!"

[Andy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well BT Infinity works......!

So why a 2* rating when it's really only worth 1.5? A 1* would be a poor reflection on ME :) for actually finishing it, so it's a two then & those 1.5 marks would be awarded to the historical content only which to be fair Mr Stack has put some time & effort into, allbeit it's limited in many ways.

The writing style I did not like 1 iota, very little dialogue & that at best is turgid with next to no emotion between the lead protagonists, much of the narrative is throu the author relaying the charactors thoughts & emotions which is ok from time to time but not ALL the time imo, we've jus had one of the few exchanges of dialogue & c'mon Mr Stack we DO get the nuiances, the jib of the action & reasons, we CAN understand what's occuring! It does become extremely annoying, it's almost a case of dumbing down to the reader... a poor expression I know on my part but it's the general feel throughout for me. It's also a style that doesn't pull the story onwards & it's a struggle, a real struggle at times to not throw it across the room.

Where does it fit in to the Roman period? Ok it's nautical thats refreshing it some ways, but Mr Scarrow's duo of Macro & cato were marines in one of the episodes & he did a better job of it than this book in terms of an enjoyable bosh style of read. There's exchanges in the senate which, are in comparison with Mr Harris Cisero series, embarassingly simplistic & then of course the author pores forth in the next paragraph or three the consequences in case.....yep you got it... you didnt grasp the plot.

There's romance, well an attempt....?

I really wanted to learn more about Rome & Carthage in that period.... i didn't.

It was emotional? Absolutely NOT! Not one shred of emotion throughout the read, can't recollect a laugh, a smile, anger,..... a book like a film needs to take you through a range of emotions for it to work, this read, for me, evoked nowt & that's what leaves me to not complete the series. I dont normally do reviews, it's more a case of 4 or 5 stars with me, YAHHHH really liked that, made me laff, weap, rage, empathise with the leads etc so you've been warned, read at your peril :)

He works in IT.... nuff said

[Mr. Matt · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was excited to pick up this book. The focus on the Punic Wars between Rome and Carthage offered a unique, fresh arena for a good historical fiction romp. All too often books about Romans focus on the Imperial capital "R" Rome rather than the older Republican small "r" Rome. This book also emphasized the great naval struggle between the Carthagian masters of the seas and the upstart Romans. (On picking up this book I hoped it would be the Roman world equivalent of Dewey Lambdin's Lewrie series to Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe books.)

I was ready to like this book, but I was disappointed. I won't go into all of my gripes but there were a couple key things that bugged me.

First, the author constantly switched perspectives from person to person to person in order to craft his story. This works well if the number of characters is kept to the few and the essential. In the case of this book it was overdone. We follow Gisco, Hamilcar, Atticus, Scipio, Duilius, Septimus, a legate on Sicily, and more. It made it hard to immerse oneself into the overall arc of the story.

Next, some of the characters and scenes were absolutely stale and felt more like cardboard props than living and breathing people. in particular, the relationship between Hadria and Atticus. They have barely met and the author is telling me that they are falling head over heels in love with one another. Okay, maybe there is love at first glance, but come on! My wife told me that she knew she'd marry me the day she saw me but it took me longer than that.

Finally, there just wasn't enough tension in the overall arc of the story. As it is historical fiction, we know that the Romans will defeat the Carthaginians and rescue the Legions trapped on Sicily. This story was following a direct line from point A to point B. The author needs to inject more realistic obstacles in the path of the main characters. I think the opportunity to do so was in the building of the fleet. Prop up a real, fleshed out nemesis who is opposed to the building of the corvus and tries to undermine him at every turn. Yes, the Consul Scipio did that, but the power differential between the Greek Atticus and the Consul Scipio was too great. It should have been a struggle between two more or less equals.

It was truly a two star book. It was "OK."

[Kirsten McKenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved every page. Loved the historical references and the well managed descriptions of military techniques. Bear in mind that this book doesn't gloss over the horrors of war or the utter disregard for the lives of slaves shackled to their oars.
Well worth a read if you enjoy Roman fiction, or maritime fiction.

[Rainb0warri0r · Rating 4 out of 5]

260 a.C. - siamo nel cuore della prima guerra punica. La Sicilia è terra di scontro tra Cartaginesi e Romani, prima vera prova della flotta marina della res publica.
Questo il periodo storico scelto da John Stack per il suo romanzo. Un romanzo storico da manuale, tra invenzione e documentazione, dotato di una scrittura appropriata, densa di azione ma anche di pathos, approfondite descrizioni ma anche un'interessante caratterizzazione dei personaggi, che siano storici o inventati dall'autore.
Il libro segue la vicenda della flotta navale romana, tra cui spicca l'Aquila: a bordo troviamo il comandante Septimus, incaricato di imbastire in pochi mesi - come realmente pare esser avvenuto - una flotta capace di contrastare il dominio marittimo di Cartagine, e Atticus, di origini greche, chiamato proprio per la sua ricca esperienza. Con la creazione di questi due personaggi John Stack ha voluto dare volto ai tanti uomini dimenticati dalla storia, e che pure hanno contribuito al corso degli eventi. Una scelta apprezzabile, originale, che mostra innanzitutto la capacità dell'autore di collocare personaggi del tutto inventati, con un background tutto da scrivere, in un contesto storico il più verosimile possibile, a fianco di nomi più noti e altisonanti. Interessanti le interazioni tra i due, soprattutto il gioco di specchi che rivela le mille sfumature dell'incontro culturale greco-romano.
Su un altro piano, figure come i consoli rivali Gneo Cornelio Scipione e Gaio Duilio, da un lato, e il cartaginese Annibale Giscone, dall'altro. Per quanto la narrazione sembri abbastanza romanocentrica, l'autore non manca di dare spazio e dignità alla controparte cartaginese, elaborando un altro gioco di specchi, quello tra Scipione e Giscone. Il ritratto accurato e storicamente fondato di Scipione si colora di vivacità, e la sua ambizione trova espressione nel desiderio di ottenere l'agnomen Siciliano, per onorare il suo successo; peccato che all'indomani della sua pessima figura otterrà piuttosto un agnomen come Asina, a testimonianza del suo fallimento (a onor di cronaca rivelo che l'infamante nome non comportò una affrettata conclusione della sua carriera, che anzi progredì ulteriormente). Scorbutico, irascibile e oltremodo ambizioso: questo il ritratto di Scipione; non è da meno quello di Giscone, scelto da Stack come volto dell'arroganza di Cartagine, che si cullava infantilmente nel suo dominio dei mari - almeno, fino a quel momento.
Inutile dire quanto appaia ben documentata l'opera: l'intero romanzo è intriso di termini romani, il più delle volte senza traduzione o spiegazione. Una scelta forse inusuale, ma che trovo soddisfacentemente audace: personalmente, ritengo un'intrusione le note didascaliche, e l'autore riesce a evitare il problema scegliendo termini la cui mancata traduzione, nel lettore occasionale, non causa alcuna perdita: unità di misura e termini militari resi in latino danno colore alla lettura, senza per questo rallentarla.
Risultano invece eccessive le scene d'azione: esageratamente lunghe, iperrealistiche e ridondanti. I tentativi di dare vita sulla pagina a scene d'azione visualizzate come nei film spesso si rivelano fallimentari. Certo: si tratta di un romanzo storico fatto di scontri e battaglie navali - ma già dopo dieci pagine di azione, attacchi e quant'altro la tentazione è di sfogliare rapidamente le pagine restanti. Per eccesso di zelo, l'autore si perde negli infiniti movimenti di una nave e nel mare monstrum dei suoi tecnicismi: viene da esclamare, voglio leggere un romanzo storico, non un trattato di strategia militare!
Malgrado questo inconveniente la lettura tiene, trascina il lettore attraverso i sotterfugi, gli inganni, i giochi di potere di Roma, lo porta dentro l'azione viva, dentro il Senato, tra le affollate strade di Roma antica, fino alla conclusione di una guerra che, come ben si sa, fu solo l'inizio.

[David Sarkies · Rating 1 out of 5]

A really bad rendition of the First Punic War
22 June 2011

I thought that I have already analysed this book, but as it turns out either I hadn't, or the analysis got lost in the twittersphere somewhere. However, this book is the introduction to the first Punic War when Rome and Carthage began to fight over control of the Mediterranean. Most of the action takes place in and around Sicily, the lynch pin in the domination of the Mediterranean sea. As we know from history, the Romans won the war, took control of Sicily, and expanded their empire to control all of the Mediterranean. No other empire in the history of the world has succeeded in this feat.
As for the book, I must admit that it seriously did not do anything for me. It was just not interesting. At the beginning, the heroes of the story are fleeing the Carthaginian navy that was invading Sicily, and passed through the Straights of Messina, which the writer referred to as the whirlpool and the rocks, otherwise known as Scylla and Charibdis (from the Odyssey, and I hope to pass through those straights myself this year). I'm sorry, but Homer just does a much better job of that, and in Homer, Scylla is a nasty monster that eats his men as they pass through. No rocks there.
I was so disappointed in this book that I immediately passed it on to another person that I knew who had studied Rome, and now I repent on doing so. Books like this, if I am anything to go by, just don't do it for people who are well versed in the classics. One would be much better off reading Livy, I'm sure he would be much more interesting (I haven't read Livy yet), or Wordsworth's translation of Plutarch.

[Rosa Chacón García · Rating 3 out of 5]

si te gustan las batallas navales y el Imperio romano disfruta. Si te gustan las épocas de las guerras Púnicas disfruta aún más.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three hundred years before it became an empire, the Roman Republic started its ascension toward power when it took on the Carthaginian state for control of first the island of Sicily, and then the entire Mediterranean. Their struggle unfolded over the course of over a hundred years and ended with the complete destruction of Carthage, but it began with an ignominious Roman defeat. As mighty as Rome’s legions were on land, the war with Carthage made control of the sea a must. Ship of Rome is a tale of naval warfare set during the first Punic War, as mighty yet humiliated Rome sought to find a way to make good on its naval weakness. It’s the story of two men, a Roman legionnaire turned marine named Septimus, and his friend and brother-warrior, the Greek captain of the good ship Aquila. Together they attempt to save Rome from defeat, and redeem their lost comrades.

Roman historical fiction is typified by political intrigue and battles on land, not naval stories; Britain was a naval empire, not Rome. But the war with Carthage made sea superiority a must, just as Britain’s war with Germany made air dominance a requirement, regardless of English naval accomplishments. In Ship of Rome, a Roman army officer and a Greek sea captain serving on the same ship are key players in the opening battles of the first Punic War, when Carthage decides to turn the delicate balance for power between the two states’ holdings in Sicily into open war, first blockading a supply port and then luring the Roman fleet into a disastrous battle. The Carthaginians are skilled at naval warfare, and Rome has no time to train its men sufficiently to surpass their rivals experience. But a way must be found, or the legions in Sicily will die a slow death of disease and starvation. Complicating matters is the rivalry between the two Roman consuls over who will get the glory for turning the side, and their mutual treachery of one another is only given spice by the wiles of the merciless Carthaginian admiral, who early on is thwarted by the Aquila and wants revenge. At least Atticus and Septimus can count on one another to cover the other’s back – at least, when Septimus isn’t distracted by his little sister making goo-goo eyes at his comrade, who for all of his virtues can’t help not being properly Roman, but only merely Greek.

Ship of Rome is a fantastic read, novel both for being Roman fiction set on the high seas, and for being a sea story set in the classical world. Naval combat during the Punic War bears little resemblance to that of the Age of Wooden Ships and Iron Men that has produced series like the Aubrey-Maturin novels or C.S. Forester’s Horatio Hornblower. There are no cannon broadsides here; combat consists of ramming and boarding; these ships’ weapons are the six-foot long bronze rams on their front ends and the swords, shields, and arrows of the men aboard her. Readers of sea stories will find it engaging, but there’s combat on land and in the courts as the consuls vie for power, not to mention the interpersonal conflict like that between the senior consul and his slave, a gladiator who is biding his time and waiting for an opportunity to strike for freedom – but not before taking the consul with him. For all this strife the plot matures nicely, and even gives a slightly villainous character some sympathetic development. John Stack has delivered here a book with a lot of appeal; for my own part, I’ve already ordered its sequel, Captain of Rome.

[Katie McDermott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read about Stack when an account of him writing this series about the Punic wars and getting a Harper Collins three book deal was published in the Irish Independent. However I've been unable to get a copy of it till now due to financial constraints and a woeful lack of historical fiction in my library.

The bad stuff first. This is another author who insists on itlalicising every use of a Latin word which does get very annoying when it happens two or three times on a page. I know it's a minor complaint but after explaining the difference between a Holplon Shield and a Scutum shield he shouldn't feel the need to highlight the fact that the word is Latin every time it is used, I know it's not an English word and he kindly tells us what it means so there's no need to break flow in a fictional narrative to obey academic conventions.

A love story between Hadria and Atticus is crowbarred into the plot but barely dealt with leaving a skeleton romance to be fleshed out in the sequels. The manner in which he deals with this is extremely clumsy, the counterparts barely meet then subsequently are separated for a long period of time. Upon their reunion they assert their love for each other despite Hadria's only apparent quality being her beauty and they barely speak to each other up until this point.

Another scene which really got to me is the one in which Fabiola, wife of the senior consul Scipio, seemingly telepathically discovers the traitor in their servants who feeds information on Scipio's plans to the Junior Consul. The information he passed on, about an enemy fleet blockading Sicily, was also known by the crew of an entire naval vessel and a maniple of soldiers, none of whom were under orders to keep silent on the matter. They were all in a dock not twelve miles away potentially full of spies and informants, someone there could have easily heard the news and passed it on without Fabiola knowing but she dismisses this out of hand and just 'knows' that it was a servant listening on the other side of the door as Scipio told her the news. She even knows which servant because when Scipio called for him he had to do so three times. How could he not be a spy with psychic evidence like that?

There is some criticism of the historical accuracy in this novel but I don't think it's especially relevant as this is a historical novel some things have to be embellished, invented or left out for the benefit of the narrative and his writing style.

Some of his characterisation is stereotyped (Scipio, Gisco, Hadria) while some is excellent (Atticus, Duilius, Septimus). His main characters get the most development and detail so the few one-dimensional characters don't drag down the story too much. His writing style overall is excellent. For a novel mainly concerned with war and strategy he paces it brilliantly, balancing description and action so that one doesn't outweigh the other and neither is used when unnecessary to the story. For the various battle scenes he chooses a few characters, usually three, with different roles, objectives and allegiances, and flicks between them in short passages so that we get a fully comprehensive picture without any unnecessary overlapping.

Overall the book is an enjoyable read and I will read the rest of the series.

[Cronache di Betelgeuse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Roma e Cartagine, alla vigilia della prima guerra punica erano le potenze dell’epoca. Veniamo trasportati a fianco di personaggi storici noti e inventati per rivivere quei giorni concitati.

L’autore sceglie di rappresentare la società dell’epoca attraverso punti di vista diversi, mostrandoci le differenze e le similitudini tra le due culture. Sinceramente ho trovato i romani molto meglio definiti dei cartaginesi. Atticus e Septimus sono i più presenti nella vicenda. Molto diversi tra loro, il primo è un greco che con la sua bravura si è dato da fare per diventare un ottimo capitano, il secondo invece è un leale comandante delle truppe, pronto a tutto pur di difendere l’onore di Roma e dei suoi uomini. L’amicizia che li lega ci permette di scoprire come fossero ramificati le gerarchie romane, ma sotto sotto rimaneva importante la famiglia da cui provenivi.

Il potere e la voglia di accrescerlo accomunano invece i generali cartaginesi e i consoli romani. Al posto che pensare al bene del paese o delle truppe, questi uomini ci vengono dipinti come insaziabili, sempre alla ricerca di nuovi trucchi per abbattere il proprio nemico. La voglia di primeggiare a volte fa dimenticare loro il buon senso, portandoli a compiere errori che si riveleranno disastrosi.

La storia da un lato cerca di rimanere aderente agli eventi storici, dall’altro aggiunge dei dettagli inventati per rendere il tutto scorrevole. A volte però il comportamento dei personaggi è troppo moderno, il che stride con le credenze popolari e religiose che caratterizzano entrambi i popoli. Alcuni eventi fondamentali, come la costruzione di una flotta romana, sono analizzati in modo frettoloso, concentrandosi solo sul poco tempo impiegato nella sua costruzione. Se invece fosse stata evidenziata meglio, magari aggiungendo il punto di vista di altri personaggi non coinvolti direttamente sulle navi, ne sarebbe scaturito il senso di grandezza e meraviglia per l’impresa compiuta. Nel complesso però la storia ha un buon ritmo, soprattutto nella seconda parte quando si entra nel vivo degli scontri.

[Shane · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Ship of Rome" was right in the middle in terms of quality. Had some good things, had some things it needed to work on.
I appreciated the time period: the First Punic War is not a common place to set Roman historical fiction, and so this was a nice change. In the same vein, focusing on naval warfare was also more unique.
The action sequences were well-done, and Stack did a good job mixing history and narrative into a cohesive whole.
The book has a fairly small plotline and thus tends to draw out events more than necessary; for example, the opening scene of 1 ship escaping 3 (not a full battle, mind you) takes like 40 pages. A bit much. Also, Stack's characters have a tendency to constantly tell you what they're thinking, leaving little room for subtly or mystery in the characterization.

[Beorn · Rating 2 out of 5]

An okay read set during the First Punic War between the great powers of the day, Rome and Carthage. In what should be an action-packed, riveting read, it all feels a little bland and underwhelming. It's not that it's badly written or clunkily constructed, it's just that there's little in the way to endear you much to any of the principal characters let alone put yourself in their place.

In other words, it's okay but far from worth hunting down or making a special effort to start reading.
If it's Punic War era Roman books you're after, you could do a lot better to go read Ben Kane's most recent book based around the Second Punic War and the more famous Hannibal Barca (as opposed to the earlier, less well-known Hannibal Gisco who is the main enemy protagonist in this novel).

[Bill P. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I continue to be a sucker for these Roman war games novels that seemed to be so popular in British publishing. This one is a bit of a departure from most since it takes up the first Punic war rather than yet another treatment of Julius Ceasar. The action is primarily based at sea in this case and highlights the feat of a 260 BC Rome mobilization of a navy from virtually no warships to a fleet of 160 in a matter of a few months that then sailed forth to beat the much more experience Carthagenian navy. The central characters will be hard to tell apart from Simon Scarrow legioneers, these Brit's must all be going to the same writers workshops.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Given my love of Roman Historical fiction, It's a touch shaming that its taken me so long to read John Stacks books!
so far so brilliant!
I really wasn't sure that being intermitantly set at sea, that it would hold my interest, as it could easily have been repetiscious! Very glad to be wrong! it's a cracking read from cover to cover and given a days freedom is easily a single or two seatting read!
as is often the case for me tho, reading time is hard to come by, so its good to read something you can get into the moment you start to read!

Great stuff! Now onto book 2.

[Somnath Sengupta · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a riveting page turner. Stack focuses on an era of Rome when she was not a major empire and was grappling with Carthage for the control of Southern Italy. Years later Africanus Scipio and Hannibal Barca fought the Battle of Zama which would decisively tilt the Rome-Carthage conflict. What I didn't know at all, was the clash between an ancestor of Africanus - Gnaeus and a different Hannibal, with the surname of Gisco in the Battle of Lipari Islands. It was also a time when Roman navy came into existence, after being ignored for centuries.

There are two major battles in this plot. To start off, Stack in his attempt to sew a thriller is hamstrung by historical events as Battle of Lipari Islands was a rather tame event, not a battle per se. In contrast Battle of Mylae under the command of Gaius Duilius was a much more pivotal event. To Stack's credit he has made both accounts thrilling.

The pacing is breathless but despite that, Stack is surprisingly adept in his characterization. Gnaeus Scipio exudes arrogance of Roman patricians while Duilius' more pragmatic character as a plebian also seems quite accurate. Stack switches his narratives frequently and this gives small windows into a number of characters in the plot.

There is a romance, which is completely flaky and unnecessary. I also felt that Stack's insistence of frantic pacing robs some of the finer points of historical depiction. There are sections where a little more vivid description of Rome would have enriched the book. The readers don't get to bask in the glory of Rome due to breathless narrative. Some of the events would have seemed any different had they been in Roman Republic or England during Edward I's reign. His dialogues often are really contemporary, robbing the historical essence.

[George Barbu · Rating 4 out of 5]

One masterful description of the outbreak of the First Punic War, with lots of insights on the early Roman Republic naval warfare.

This first instalment in the Master of the Seas series takes us from the aftermath of the Battle of Agrigentum through the Roman Republic schemes of achieving the highest levels of Cursum Honorus and to the very climax of the Battle of Mylae, where we can witness the first use in battle of the famed corvus device.

The intricacies of Roman politics, the very vivid battle scenes, even the blooming of romance, make this novel a very lively one.

I would've enjoyed more in-depths background of the main characters and some more organic character development to make this a 5 stars novel.
Great beginning though.
Hats off mr. Stack!

[D. Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

SHIP OF ROME is a fast paced and riveting historical fiction about the beginnings of the Roman navy. A perspective and topic we rarely get in nautical fiction.

The protagonist, Atticus is nuanced and interesting and the sea battles were very well done. I'm going to read John Stack's ARMADA next and I just finished another book covering that era (INYO'S RING) Needless to say I am excited to find so many very cool takes on less covered historical events.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting action story. But if you base a story on actual figures then there really is no good reason to move them around in history. A "boys own adventure".

[Vinayak Malik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good mix of facts and fiction

[Joyce Tang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book- sparked my near obsessive interest in general historical fiction and ancient Rome history!

[John Somers · Rating 4 out of 5]

14/20.

[Steven Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have to say I found this to be a gripping read from start to finish :-)

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

very enjoyable book

[Michael Heath-Caldwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Early Roman era where fate could have gone in either direction and Carthage could have succeeded Greece.

[Bob Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good effort on a first novel by the author John Stack. Looking forward to reading the next couple of books in the series.

[Medusa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable, solid, workmanlike.

[Rowan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great story with interesting and/or likeable characters, but the constant and sudden switching between characters' perspectives breaks the flow of the story.

[Danielle Billington · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just grabbed this book from my dads collection to read as a filler book, but actually ended up enjoying it lol

[David Lin]

In the book "Ship of Rome" by John Stack, Atticus and Septimus are against a backdrop of the clash of the Roman and Carthaginian empires, the battle for sovereignty takes place on the high seas. Atticus, captain of one of the ships of Rome's small, coastal fleet, is from a Greek fishing family. Septimus, legionary commander, reluctantly ordered aboard ship, is from Rome, born into a traditionally army family. It could never be an easy alliance. But the arrival of a hostile fleet, larger, far more skilful and more powerful than any Atticus has encountered before, forces them to act together. So Atticus, one of Rome's few experienced sailors, finds himself propelled into the middle of a political struggle that is completely foreign to him. Rome need to build a navy fast but the obstacles are many; political animosities, legions adamant that they will only use their traditional methods; Roman prejudice even from friends, that all those not born in Rome are inferior citizens. The enemy are first class, experienced and determined to control the seas. They fight against them on land and on sea with reluctant legions and slaves, this is going to be a hard battle. Even with the might of the Roman army, the Carthigians resist and slaughter many lives using their naval tactics.The action scenes build genuine suspense, although readers who know their history will not be surprised when Atticus hits on the key innovation that allows Roman soldiers to use their disciplined style of combat at sea. Stack does a solid job with the political infighting in the Senate and among the Carthaginians, though the heart of the novel is its battle scenes. A side plot dealing with the Greek captain's growing love for his friend's sister is a bit too pro forma to evoke much emotion. Ship of Rome is a competent enough action novel, even though the characters rarely rise above the level of cartoon stereotype. But the astonishing ebb and flow of the early stages of this naval war this book is inspiring and easy to read

[Sue Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did enjoy this novel. Historically accurate and extremely descriptive, the author John Stack made you really feel what it would have been like to be there in the battles and in the cities. All in all, it was like Gladiator on the sea. If you've seen the movie, you'll get a feel for what this book will be like!!

I can honestly say that I wouldn't have wanted to live through those times - it really was a world of war and conquest and being a 'man'. That pretty well sums up the mind set as well. And the politics! Underhanded and self serving, regardless of being a 'republic'. It puts that in a bad picture to boot. Although, that hasn't changed all that much through time. The guy with the biggest supporters wins! - Right?! But it does speak for some of the senselessness done in the name of politics. (Then and now - things don't really change all that much!).

It was a tension filled story well told. My biggest beef would have been the introduction of a spark of romance that went - well - seemingly nowhere! Totally unresolved in my mind's eye, so why even have it there, other than to create some friction between characters. I think that could have been attained in other manners. That part was silly. Unless you're supposed to want to carry on to the 'next' adventure to see how the romance pans out!!! Hahahhaa!!! As if!

Anyways, for those of you who like a war story with lots of action and thinking strategies of war craft, then this book is for you. Well detailed and somewhat well paced, it's well written and really gets you into the time of the era where war was strategy of mind and craft.