Arrows of Fury (Empire)

This once again was just a terrific read. Hard to put down. The battle details are just great. They do draw you into the total sorry.

Whilst I think the hero of this series has too much invulnerability, much like a comic book superhero, the tale itself, with the background it is set in, is worthwhile, and reads fast. A way to pass the time without much thinking involved. That Riches could do better with his hero Marcus, the vendetta growing so greatly against him for no valid reason, (His father framed in Rome and all the family killed, Marcus is hiding in Britannia. At what point do those chasing him give up because he is costing them far too much to kill, and he doesn't know why he should be killed beyond a land deal or some such back in Rome.) Marcus and his companions find themselves amidst another Barbarian Rebellion and dealing with it works rather well. They even get a commander who is the type of man that Marcus should turn into as the series continues. In all, a quick, fun read set in the later part of the 2nd century.

Anthony Riches as an author has a firm grasp of what a novel requires to totally captivate the attention and interest of a reader. Book 2 in this Empire series has that magic formula that compels a reader to read unceasingly, even to a point of exhaustion. Once you start reading this book it is hard to put it down. Riches' novels are also educational. The author obviously does his research well and in this case you get a lesson on Roman fighting tactics, the use and value of archers, the equipment of a legionary and its upkeep, the rebellious nature of Northern Britannia and interestingly the trials and tribulation of army life of the common soldier. The battle scenes are impressive and the underlying storyline is magnetic. The main character Marcus brings familiarity to the novel and a focus point for many of the interesting events that make this novel riveting reading.

All of this series was great reading. Read the last 3 from the ships library and bought the rest on my return. Historical fiction by someone who do the work in a classroom and keep the students spellbound.

This book captures the imagination from page one until the very last page, Mr Riches writes great work, thatb is easy to pass the hours with day by day. Nice work, I have now bought the whole series post reading book 1 and 2

It took me the longest time to warm to this book--months in fact of brief dipping. There were too many principal characters and none were developed or engaging. Finally, 1/3 in, I got interested. The once enemy auxiliaries too quickly embrace Rome and its army; there's an obsession with fundaments and feces; motivations are boyish. Yet I read it through. Worth the price and time for the action and easy reading. Larry K

Mr. Riches continues the exploits of young centurion "Corvus", commander of a cohort of auxiliaries fighting against the tribes gathering to expel the Roman occupiers of Britain. I cannot offhand recall any other books that focus on the activities of conquered foreign auxiliaries, and that device instantly provides a sense of the sweep and success of Roman arms. Corvus himself is a true Roman, hiding under an assumed name in Britain from the Emperor's mortal ire. He is surrounded by a cosmopolitan mix of Syrian archers, a German "Chosen Man", some Britons, and a handful of fellow Roman officers. The campaign against the barbarian leader, Calgus, is exceptionally well told, with convincing details of Roman military conduct and equipment effectively contrasted with that of the barbarians north of the wall. There is gore, intrigue, and derring do enough to satisfy the most jaded reader of historical fiction; as a lifetime reader of such, I think Mr. Riches is already in the top ranks of the genre. I think I would have liked him to resolve Corvus' political dilemma in book one, rather than drag it along through three volumes (I haven't read the third, yet), but that is a minor quibble that does not prevent me from enthusiastically recommending this series.

This author has crafted a VG series with excellent books. I'd say a solid 5-star rating. I would like to provide further textual content on that Rating as part of this Review, however am unable to do so. The ACDLT has restricted my ability to Comment or Reply (and doing so without any prior warning, any specific notification, any identification of specific alleged problems or appeal). That being so, an inability to respond to Review comments by others (positive, negative, indifferent) would be unfair to myself and others. I would therefore request no Comments (or, if so, recognize that I do not have an ability to respond to same). But it is a solid 5-star book in this genre.

A good continuation of the story from the 1st book. Looking forward to the next in the series.

The only thing that confuses me about these books is.....why aren't more people reading them they're great and virtually as good as Simon Scarrow. The price of this book has dropped already! Like a lot of people I found the first book in the series by accident on the shelves of Waterstones. It was sat there all alone and I'd never heard of the author. However, being a 'history geek' and after discovering it was about Roman Britain, I decided it was worth giving it the benefit of the doubt. The first book in the series took Anthony Riches fourteen years to write (I believe) but he didnt have a deadline and was doing it for pleasure more than anything else and 'giving writing a go!' I saved reading that book for when I was on holiday in Scotland and found it 'kind of' enhanced the experience (being surrounded by the Mountains of the Highlands). I couldnt put the first book down and enjoyed every page, the characters and the story. Being a history buff and especially of the Roman era and more importantly Roman Britain and Simon Scarrow etc etc, I was like a kid in a sweet shop when I discovered the subject matter and was even happier when I found that Mr Riches story telling was not only comparable to Mr Scarrow but had elements of real history included. Considering that Anthony Riches had merely months to write the second in the series, he has done a masterful job and produced another winner in my opinion. Unlike some authors who gloss over the real aspects and fundamentally more important elements of the era, Riches gets down to brass tacks and doesnt 'fluff' up the story and tells it like we think it was. Calgus the Britons Chieftan in the region who was victorious against a legion who he crushed and virtually destroyed, is looking to defeat the Romans and push them south. He allies himself with other tribes but defeating the invaders is not his only goal. Centurion Corvus is attempting to keep a low profile in the wind swept and rain soaked north as he has been labelled an enemy of Rome by the Emperor. However, due to his leadership and tactical know how and his own ability fight man to man, he is quickly making a name for himself which attracts the more insideous side of certain soldiers who are supposed to be fighting with him. Arrows of Fury is a no frills, edge of Empire, rain, dirt, fear engulfed, battle ridden, bravery soaked, full of conspiracies and traitors absorbed tail which are all included in a great second book in the series. I look forward in great anticipation the the next installment 10/10!

"Arrows of Fury", der sehnsüchtig erwartete zweite Band der Empire-Reihe von Anthony Riches, erfüllt all die Erwartungen, die nach dem wirklich hervorragenden Vorgängerband "Wounds of Honour" an das Buch gestellt worden sind. Da es sich, wie erwähnt, um den zweiten Band handelt und die Handlung direkt dort anschließt, wo das erste Buch endete, ist es absolut zu empfehlen, den Vorgänger "Wounds of Honour" zu lesen, ehe man "Arrows of Fury" liest. Die Schlacht des Verlorenen Adlers hat den Hadrianswall gerettet, aber der neue römische Gouverneur von Britannien muss die Rebellion der nördlichen Stämme niederschlagen, ansonsten riskiert er es, die Provinz zu verlieren. Nach Süden ziehend, das Land unter Schwert und Feuer nehmend, hinterlassen die Aufständischen unter der Führung von Calgus eine Spurt der Verwüstung. Für Marcus Valerius Aquila - mittlerweile einfach Centurio Corvus von der ersten Tungrerischen Kohorte - wird diese Kampagne doppelt gefährlich. Als Verstärkungen nach Britannien gelangen, ist er umgeben von neuen Offizieren, die keine Veranlassung haben, ihn vor den Schergen des Kaisers zu schützen. Der Tod kann genauso von einem feindlichen Speer kommen, wie auch durch ein unvorsichtiges Wort. Schlimmer noch, einer dieser Offiziere ist ihm dicht auf den Fersen. Während Marcus zwei Centurien syrischer Bogenschützen trainiert, um den Ansturm der Barbaren zu überleben und den Kampf zu ihren Feinden zurückzutragen, hat der neue Präfekt der zweiten Tungrerischen Kohorte das Geheimnis von Centurio Corvus entdeckt. Nur ein Wunder kann Marcus und die Männer, die ihn schützen, vor einem Tod am Kreuz bewahren... Anthony Riches verbindet erneut detailgenaue Recherche mit einem brillanten Schreibstil. Es gelingt ihm zu vermitteln, wie es sich anfühlte, in der römischen Armee zu dienen, in einem brutalen Krieg gegen einen erbarmungslosen Gegner. Angefüllt mit all dem, was einen historischen Roman ausmacht, erlebt man hier authentisches Zeitgefühl und eine hervorragende Handlung. Regen, Dreck, Angst, Schlachtenlärm, Mut, Opferbereitschaft, Verschwörungen, Verräter und Geheimnisse füllen die Seiten des Buches und machen "Arrows of Fury" zu einem begeisternden Leseerlebnis. Ein hervorragendes Beispiel dafür, wie solch ein Buch geschrieben werden sollte. Voller Action, Tempo, Humor, Drama und überraschenden Wendungen. Dies und die brillant gestalteten Charaktere bis in die kleinsten Nebenrollen hinein, sorgen dafür, dass man ein Buch erhält, welches man einfach nicht aus der Hand legen will, ehe man nicht atemlos und fasziniert die letzte Seite erreicht hat. In der "Empire" - Reihe sind bislang erschienen: 1. Wounds of Honour (2009) 2. Arrows of Fury (2010) Fünf Sterne für einen nahezu perfekten historischen Roman, der genau das bietet, was man erwartet - geniale, spannende Unterhaltung und die Vermittlung von unaufdringlichem, aber dafür umso fundierterem Geschichtswissen. Absolut empfehlenswert.

A page turner and riches is as good as Bernard Cornwall Battles aplenty,rogues, villains and heroes and even some romance

Loved vol 1, vol 2 has held me. Story would have been lost without the Hamians (who I thought could have had a bit more cultural character development) and the hero is being presented a bit like a super hero. It is still a good history lesson though - the qualtiy of the research is excellent (I am the sort of the person who cannot help but to go and look up further on the issues raised) Why mugwump ? I am sitting here wondering whether to go onto Vol III or not. Is the story hooking me sufficiently to draw me to the next volume? Today it is no. Let's see what withdrawal symptoms I go through