Scan barcode
cedric_callnight's review against another edition
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
didactylos's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
This is not sure what it is. A novel or a treatise on a specific period of warfare. The narrative moving between numerous characters makes it have no real focus. I got to the point where I really didn’t care what happened to who…..
gemrox's review against another edition
3.0
Before I started reading this, I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy it but to my surprise I found it not only interesting but also enjoyable.
Whichever characters pov it was, I found myself routing for that side.
Whichever characters pov it was, I found myself routing for that side.
rororollinginthedeep's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
jmatkinson1's review against another edition
4.0
On the plains of Zama, Hannibal of Carthage is finally defeated by the Roman legions. Precipe Felix kills an elephant during the fight but triumph does not last long and after an error Felix and his brother are dismissed from the army. In Rome Flaminius is looking for power and a defeat to get into the Senate does not stop him - he has his eyes on the conquest of the Hellenic region. Philip of Macedon is running amok over the eastern mediterranean, his troops gaining cities and territory. Lowly Demetrios dreams of becoming a soldier in the phalanx but as an orphan he is merely an oarsman until a chance encounter gives him an opportunity. These four characters will come together as two empires clash.
At his best, Kane is an excellent writer. He manages to put together a fictionalised plot about events in history where fictional characters rub shoulders with known figures. In the first of this new series of books Kane has turned his attention to the Hellenic Wars around 200BC, a period of history not often covered. The research is excellent, the battle scenes bloody and the characters rounded. My only criticism is that I felt the book took a long time to really hit its stride.
At his best, Kane is an excellent writer. He manages to put together a fictionalised plot about events in history where fictional characters rub shoulders with known figures. In the first of this new series of books Kane has turned his attention to the Hellenic Wars around 200BC, a period of history not often covered. The research is excellent, the battle scenes bloody and the characters rounded. My only criticism is that I felt the book took a long time to really hit its stride.
books_with_brad's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
auspea's review against another edition
5.0
Exciting military historical fiction with great character development. Looking forward to the rest of the series and other Ben Kane books.
wspence's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this book. The cover put me off a little bit at first, but the way they portrayed Philip V as well as life in the legions on the "brothers" side was very realistic seeming. Life was brutal, and the final "showdown" was well worth the wait.
I do with there had been some interaction between the rank and file characters....but maybe book 2?
I do with there had been some interaction between the rank and file characters....but maybe book 2?