Island of Ghosts: A Novel of Roman Britain: Amazon.ca: Gillian Bradshaw: Books

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From Publishers Weekly

Set during an uneasy, second-century alliance between the marauding, scalp-taking Slavic Samartians and the Roman empire, Bradshaw's fifth historical novel (after Horses of Heaven) is a vivid, atmospheric work that follows the Samartian prince Ariantes and his cavalry troops to Britain, where they are to serve under Roman command. When Ariantes discovers that some of the Samartians plan to support a Druidical uprising against the provincial government by the British queen Bodica, he forms an alliance with the newly emergent Christian sect in order to foil the plot?while saving his life and the lives of his loyal troops. Fluidly written, well researched and luxuriant with colorful authentic detail, this fact-based chronicle of a proud tribe of legendary horsemen and their gradual assimilation by the empire will engage readers with an interest in the history either of Rome or of its most exotic outposts.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

YA-Making good use of the classic storytelling elements of fantasy and legend, Bradshaw creates a believable ancient world populated by compelling characters. Cultural diversity poses some serious operational challenges for the Roman Empire. Picts raid the northern borders while outlawed Druid sects (even as they feud among themselves) forge subversive alliances with the Picts and with the (also outlawed) Christians. Roman administrators have married into local families of questionable loyalty, and the occupying army itself consists of units drawn from some of the Empire's farthest reaches-and they don't get along with one another. Into this volatile situation, the Empire sends 8000 fierce and unpredictable barbarians. Proud and independent, these Sarmatian horse soldiers have pledged their service and loyalty to the Empire in a recent peace settlement, but they have no idea what it actually means to submit to Roman military discipline. It falls upon a prince named Ariantes to find a route through this treacherous political territory and bring his troops to safety in their new lives as Roman soldiers in a strange land. The tale of how noble and clever Ariantes becomes "Romanized" while remaining true to his Sarmatian values is fascinating while the background story of warfare, treachery, and romance in the brutal and distant lands should appeal to fans of swashbuckling adventure. In writing about Sarmatians, about whom little is known, the author has much latitude in creating fictional history while, as a classics scholar, she commands a richness of detail that brings the known facts vividly to life.
Christine C. Menefee, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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WE MUTINIED WHEN we reached the ocean. Read the first page

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Customer Reviews

19 Reviews

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3.8 out of 5 stars (19 customer reviews)

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4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent for Jaded Readers, Mar 23 2004

By

Xina Uhl "Author of NECROPOLIS" (California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: Island of Ghosts: A Novel of Roman Britain (Mass Market Paperback)

Yup. That's me - a jaded reader. I suppose I've just spent too many hours reading lousy books and that, combined with an extreme lack of time, has made me extremely choosy about the books that I choose to spend my time on these days. If you're like me you'll probably enjoy this offering from Gillian Bradshaw.

Ariantes is the honorable commander of a group of semi-barbaric Sarmatians who have been beaten, and then recruited by, 2nd century AD Romans. Unlike the other army commanders he cares enough about his men to Romanize a bit if that's what it takes to keep them alive in their new posting - far-off Britain.

I found this novel to be a pleasant romp through ages past - not too deep, and just suprising enough to be satisfying. Bradshaw does an admirable job of evoking Ariantes' barbaric mindset, even if he is a bit too self-sacrificing now and then. The main characters are nicely fleshed out, though the villain is a bit too one-dimensional for my tastes - but then it's a very rare book that can satisfy me in that regard. I'm a historian - not a historical nit-picker - and found this book to do a good job of representing the past. The plot wasn't complex enough to give me a headache, which I like. Plus, I rather enjoyed reading about someone who excelled in administration. Not the most glorious of occupations, for sure, but don't worry - there's enough fighting and action in here to mix things up if that's more to your taste.

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3.0 out of 5 stars Island of Ghosts, Jun 20 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Island of Ghosts: A Novel of Roman Britain (Mass Market Paperback)

After defeat by the Romans, the Sarmatian cavalryman Ariantes must adjust to life as a commander in Roman service in Britain.

I thought this was good, solid, historical fiction. The bits of Sarmatian culture and tactics, reconstructed believably by the author from the few extant sources, are probably the most interesting elements. Ariantes and his cohorts are appealing, three-dimensional characters.

The plot makes sense, though it's a little familiar: the Evil Would-Be Celtic Queen and her druids, something Rosemary Sutcliff, Patricia Finney, etc. have all done already. Bodica doesn't actually get around to selecting a Year-King, as this character type tends to do, but one gets the feeling she might.

The plot arc is a bit off, with a lot of the action skipped over and told in exposition rather than being presented with dramatic emphasis, with the result that the novel isn't as gripping as it might have been. Still, I enjoyed the book overall, and it does feature an outstanding duel scene.

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4.0 out of 5 stars Finely Drawn Characterization in Enjoyable Historical Venue, April 12 2003

By

Diana F. Von Behren "reneofc" (Kenner, LA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: Island of Ghosts: A Novel of Roman Britain (Mass Market Paperback)

Gillian Bradford's tale of Ariantes and his Sarmatian comrades-in-arm delights in its smallness and arouses in the largeness of its message. Ariantes has swore an oath to the Roman Emperor and as a man who does not take any promise lightly, he would rather die than submit his name to dishonor. However, as a prince of a conquered people, Ariantes finds himself reduced to leading his squadron of men in the strange world of the Romans where diplomacy and deceit walk hand in hand. Ariantes' simpler life of breeding horses, making war and caring for his family disappears in the blink of an eye as he and his troops make camp on the not completely Romanized isle of Britain, near Hadrian's Wall. Yet Ariantes adapts; he finds himself negotiating for his men in matters of pay, rations and privileges and devising schemes to keep the hot headed Sarmatians from fighting amongst themselves to avoid the stricter penalties of Roman justice. As Ariantes manipulates the Roman system to better accommodate his men, he struggles to understand the customs of his conquerors and of the British tribes he and his men have sworn to simultaneously protect and keep down. Above all Ariantes remains true to himself and to what his people believe in. When he finds himself embroiled in a plot involving druids, the Pict tribe, an ambitious woman and two of his Sarmatian brothers, his true nobility is put to the test.

Like her other historical novels, Island of Ghosts provides an interesting glimpse into a world where inner strength defines true courage. This portrayal of a man uprooted from his home and his assimilation into a foreign place with different values speaks universally to anyone coming in contact with a new environment. Recommended to all who love historical fiction and a strong male character who will not knuckle under political forces.

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Most recent customer reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Great stuff
Excellent. Gillian Bradshaw takes an obscure historical footnote and turns it into a real human story. A vanished, fascinating people are really brought to life. Read more

Published on Oct 2 2002 by Christian

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid Historical Fiction
There's a lot of junk out there in the realm of historical fiction. But this book is not one of those. Read more

Published on July 21 2002 by Stuart W. Mirsky