Review: First Rate Historical Roman Empire without Rome
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 09 30, 2013
The author says that this in not an historical Roman legion novel but pure fiction. Indeed, that is correct but it reads much like his true historical novels such as "Marius Mules" of that time period.  Pure fiction just gives him the license to allow what would be anachronisms to appear - spyglasses, stirrups on saddles, crossbows, etc. and to make up characters and cities out of whole cloth.  Nevertheless, one certainly gets the feeling that one is reading about the Roman Empire and the legions.As for the story, the Empire is in ruins following the death of the last Emperor twenty years previously, leaving no heirs.  The last great general of the Imperial army, Kiva,  is reduced to leading a mercenary band of twelve of his finest soldiers. They will fight for any lord who wishes to expand on his lands and various vassal states in the former empire. After one battle they find a remarkable young man who is a direct bloodline to the throne.The astute reader can now assume to know how the plot will develop, but  may very well be wrong.To say that the author introduces various twists in the plot would be an understatement. Rather, the reader occasionally gets a dash of cold water in the face, metaphorically speaking.  This all makes for a very engrossing book.