This book has some incredible action at the beginning which really captivates the reader. Later on it seemed a bit far fetched to me but having done the research later one finds that all the stories can be substantiated.
Overall I very good book. Leaves me wanting to read more of David Gibbons. Mar 13, Babis Papadimitriou rated it it was ok Shelves: historical-fiction.
This book was an enjoyable read and i liked the gritty descriptions of the battles. I also loved the little details about the different armors and swords worn by the different tribes Goths, Romans, Huns.
Another detail that i really liked was the fact that many Romans had an anchestor from the barbarian tribes which accurately depicts the reality of the time. Then the main protagonist after he has used the sword to spread fear in Attila himself argues that men and not magical swords win battles.
If the sword doesn't have magical powers and Attila doesn't believe it has magical powers why does he fear the sword? He is a dick for the sake of being a dick not any reasoning is given for his behaviour. It was Theodosius's laws that did that.
Also it is not certain if Constantine had actually converted to christianity and even if he did he was baptized at he end of his life by Arrians e. I could go on but you get the picture. Overall an enjoable read but a ver flawed one in terms of character development and historical accuracy. Oct 11, Charles rated it liked it. This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
This novel describes the final years of the Roman empire, about AD, when depravity rules in Rome, which is ripe for conquest by surrounding barbarians, and notably by the unstoppable western offensive of the Huns under the rule of Attila.
Leading the Roman army is general Aetius, commander in chief of This novel describes the final years of the Roman empire, about AD, when depravity rules in Rome, which is ripe for conquest by surrounding barbarians, and notably by the unstoppable western offensive of the Huns under the rule of Attila.
Leading the Roman army is general Aetius, commander in chief of the Roman army in Gaul, who had been sent to the Hun capital years before, as hostage in exchange for the Hun heir Attila being sent to Rome. Aetius becomes "the savior of Western civilization". Mar 18, Robin Carter rated it liked it Shelves: historical-fiction.
Review: Book one in this novel new series, starts with the real birth of the roman empire, the sacking of Carthage, the beginning of their real power in the Mediterranean. Book 2 The Sword of Attila focuses on the end of the empire, Rome has been sacked a hundred years previously by the goths, and are now on the verge of being kicked out of Africa by the vandals.
In the east a new power is rising ruling over the Hun. Nov 13, Russell Andresen rated it liked it. It takes the reader through the basics of intrigue in the Roman Empire but expertly told by a man who has forgotten MORE about the subject than you or I will ever learn.
Gibbins has ever written. Sue Flynn rated it really liked it Sep 20, Moonia rated it it was ok Jan 10, D M rated it it was ok Feb 03, Mike rated it really liked it Jun 30, Brittany rated it liked it May 09, Jeremy rated it did not like it Jun 22, Glen Broad rated it really liked it Jul 27, Marcos Garcia Garcia rated it liked it Jul 22, Randy rated it liked it Jul 08, Norman Wayworth rated it really liked it Jun 12, Charles Horvath rated it really liked it Jul 01, Garry rated it really liked it Apr 13, There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one ». Readers also enjoyed. About David Gibbins. David Gibbins. Canadian-born underwater archaeologist and novelist. Gibbins learned to scuba dive at the age of 15 in Canada, and dived under ice, on shipwrecks and in caves while he was still at school. He has led numerous underwater archaeology expeditions around the world, including five seasons excavating ancient Roman shipwrecks off Sicily and a survey of the submerged harbour of ancient Carthage.
In Canadian-born underwater archaeologist and novelist. In he was part of an international team excavating a 5th century BC shipwreck off Turkey. His many publications on ancient shipwreck sites have appeared in scientific journals, books and popular magazines.
On leaving teaching he become a novelist, writing archaeological thrillers derived from his own background. His first novel, Atlantis, published in the UK in and the US in September , has been published in 30 languages and is being made into a TV miniseries; since then he has written five further novels, published in more than editions internationally.
His novels form a series based on the fictional maritime archaeologist Jack Howard and his team, and are contemporary thrillers involving a plausible archaeological backdrop.
Other books in the series. Total War Rome 2 books. Books by David Gibbins. The writing style is also very good, with intriguing action, intense atmosphere with slow building pressure. I recommend this book to all historical-fiction fans as well The Fall of Rome , that continues the historical events. Jan 23, Lori Clark-Erickson rated it really liked it Shelves: fiction , ford-mc , historical-fiction , michael-curtis-ford , rome.
Liked: The book was very engaging and exciting and showed interesting facts about two very different cultures. Disliked: At points the book was repetitive but for the most part it was really interesting. Summary: This book goes into the lives of two teenage boys, but these boys aren 19t regular teenage boys. These two boys are the sons of the Hunnish king and a great Roman general.
The boys are traded to the other empire to keep an alliance between the empires. They have to adapt to the others 19 life styles and ultimately better themselves. Mar 10, Oscar rated it it was amazing. I really liked this book. It started with a scene near the end, then digressed to many years before, keeping me interested, wanting to get to the resolution of the first chapter.
It kept my interest throughout; I did not want to put it down at times. Author constructed this historical fiction very nicely.
Maybe a little disappointing was the final ending, but I guess that is how history happened. Dec 06, Scott Schmidt rated it really liked it. I devoured this book. I think historical novels tend to be stale, but Ford writes the ancient world with a thrilling and efficient style. I've always been fascinated by the Greek and Roman worlds and Ford's books transport me there.
I highly recommend this and any of his work. Jul 10, Kir rated it liked it. Decent book about the near-end of the Roman empire. I liked the parts set in the Hunnish community, but the battle scenes were really long Aug 28, Cat Bezubiak rated it really liked it. If I could rate by halves I would give this book a 3.
It's not a bad book, but it has a strange style that I have seen in other novels by this author. It sort of has a feeling of always being up. Like you're always on the brink of something happening. It makes the reading exciting, but also sort of hurried, while at the same time providing exquisite details about the setting and characters.
However, the characters are somewhat hard to get to know. I never really felt like I connected with any If I could rate by halves I would give this book a 3. I never really felt like I connected with any of them.
The only way I have ever been able to describe it is to say it was textbookish. It was like the author wanted to fictionalize historical events, but we all know what's going to happen so let's just get to the facts without too much fanciness.
All that said, it's pretty good as historical fiction goes. It HF is your thing than I would definitely recommend this book. If you're just thinking about getting into the genre and want to try something, there are better places to start. Pauline Gedge is excellent, particularly her Egyptian novels. This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here. La forma en que comienza esta novela ya es muy atrapante.. Dec 29, Iceman rated it really liked it. Ambos conhecem a mentalidade do inimigo e ambos tiram disso vantagem.
De Atila conhece-se alguma coisa mas isso deve-se a historiados romanos. Um livro excepcional! Oct 08, Ben rated it liked it Shelves: historical-fiction. Although the book was entertaining, I found it nowhere near as engaging or well-written as his first novel, 'The Ten Thousand. As Mr. Ford admits, he left out much of the information from both Atilla's and Aetus' lives in order to make the story shorter and more readable.
Personally, I felt that I missed out on a lot of impo Although the book was entertaining, I found it nowhere near as engaging or well-written as his first novel, 'The Ten Thousand. Personally, I felt that I missed out on a lot of important information about the growth of the characters in the time lapses-- especially the later ones. The change in Aetus especially is quite drastic between his return to Rome and his assumption of the governorship of Gual and his marriage quite a few years later to Priscilla.
I would have liked very much to at least witness the reasons, or at least have some points of reference, for these important changes. Overall, it was an enjoyable book, but definitely one that did not pull me into it and keep me riveted in a way that his earlier novels did. This is a good book for a light read, especially if you are interested in military history or the period of transition between what we think of as the traditional Roman Empire and late-antiquity.
Jan 22, Ian rated it it was ok Shelves: histfic. The second novel I've read of MCF's ancient historical fiction epics and I can safely say he is a brilliant descriptive author. His ability to cause the reader to visualize the environment is his greatest strength, which also happens to be a major weakness.
The lack of brevity in developing the setting distracts from the overall very strong storytelling. Another flaw is the campy dialogue that does not match the quality of descriptive prose. It's like watching Ben Hur with the cast and script of The second novel I've read of MCF's ancient historical fiction epics and I can safely say he is a brilliant descriptive author. It's like watching Ben Hur with the cast and script of Conan the Barbarian. Additionally, while I really enjoy the well-researched and presented piece depicting an era that is rarely explored, I find the lines between creative license and historical accuracy are far too blurred to consider offer a serious recommendation such that would be awarded to novels by Gore Vidal.
Having said that, this novel is certainly very readable. More so, if you know when and what to skim. Oct 08, Masen Production added it. The story of Attila the Hun. Thanks to him Rome was diminished in 50 years of his conquest. It's one of the bloodiest fights Romans ever had to the extent that Europe was without able bodied men for over 4 decades. Everybody knows of Attila and his conquest to annihilate Rome, the man that stood between him and his victory was Atieus - Genral of Rome, not much has ever been spoken about him ever.
He was Attila's friend and grew up among the Hun's and knew their style inside out. Thanks to him Rome did not face defeat in the hands of the Huns but the battle left Rome too weak to sustain itself from other enemies. Thus within a century it started disintegrating itself. A good read.
Feb 09, William rated it liked it Shelves: his-fiction , paperback. This retelling of the legend of Attila the Hun lacked primarily in the fact that too much time was spent following Flavius Aetius, the Roman who stopped the great warrior from conquering Rome.
Fine I guess given that the book is told from his point of view, but if you are looking for more about Attila then this isn't the book for you. AD The Roman Empire is on the brink of collapse. With terrifying speed a Vandal army has swept through the Roman provinces of Spain and North Africa, conquering Carthage and threatening Roman control of the Mediterranean.
But a far greater threat lies to the east, a barbarian force born in the harsh steppelands of central Asia, warriors of unparalleled savagery who will sweep all before them in their thirst for conquest - the army of Attila the Hun. For a small group of Roman soldiers and a mysterious British monk, the only defence is to rise above the corruption and weakness of the Roman emperors and hark back to the glory days of the army centuries before, to find strength in history.
Led by Flavius, a young tribune, and his trusty centurion Macrobius, they fight a last-ditch battle against the Vandals in North Africa before falling back to Rome, where they regroup and prepare for the onslaught to come. Aetius is desperate to buy time until his army is strong enough to confront the Huns on the field of battle, and meanwhile will do anything to undermine their strength.
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