- Paperback: 512 pages
- Publisher: Penguin (2010)
- Language: Unknown
- ISBN-10: 0141032308
- ISBN-13: 978-0141032306
- Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 12.8 x 3.6 cm
- Shipping Weight: 381 g
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #182,516 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.3 out of 5 stars (11 customer reviews)
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Enemy without, enemy within, July 20 2010
By Anibal Madeira - Published on Amazon.com
In the first installment of this series I gave a 4 Stars because although I found Prof. Sidebottom work an excellent historical fiction, I also considered the plot very predictable.At the beginning of this second volume I consolidated my former opinion - great details, a consummate Historian who is a good writer, but the story in itself was very straightforward: the bad guys were filled with hubris, arrogance and somewhat stupid; the good guys (although not good in a "modern" humanist, jewish-christian way of thinking - which shows that the author can really immerse himself in classical paradigms) are wiser, kinder, more humane.
And then the plot unfolds and suddenly everything makes sense. Congratulations Professor Sidebottom, this was a great story. It's almost impossible to stop reading this epic.
Great characters, including some secondary ones like Ballista's Wife and her powerful political acumen, the loyal Irish (Hybernian) bodyguard or the leader of the frumentarii and his hidden ambitions.
The Sassanid Persians are the terrible menace, led by a great king - Shapur. I hope that in the third volume, more Persian characters get the same development that the author gave the Romans.
Usually in Historical fiction (and most fiction), few look at the cover image for long after buying the book (although its an efficient marketing tool); but I must commend Larry Rostant and its exceptional cover, not only his technical quality, historical accuracy (almost perfect), and the rising sun that's all for Mazdaists - the illustrator really captured the essence of the book.
Good maps, index of characters (NEEDED), historical notes and very complete glossary helps the reader to understand the period, the places and the events.
Highly recommended, waiting for the third in the series - Lion of the Sun.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Middle Of A Trilogy Moves Things Along, Mar 21 2011
By Chris Ward - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Warrior of Rome - Part Two - King of Kings (Paperback)
I liked Sidebottom's first book, "A Fire In The East," just fine. It told a simple story well and contained literally hundreds of fascinating embellishments that put you right there in the 2nd century in the eastern part of the Roman Empire. It ended where "King of Kings" picks up, with our protagonist Ballista on the run from his misfortunes at the hands of the Sassanids and their "King of Kings," Shapur.This second volume is not as unified thematically, with Ballista wandering hither and yon, dodging assassination attempts and serving in several viscerally exciting battles along the way. It also ends in cliffhanger fashion, but the closing here is almost arbitrary, as if the words TO BE CONTINUED need to added. So: don't read this if you haven't read the first book in the series, and don't read it if you don't intend to read the last 400 pages in the third (and presumably final) volume when they emerge in a year or so.
Plotting and characterization are weak overall, but Sidebottom's historical acumen and descriptive powers mostly make up for it. Historical fiction fans will enjoy-- it's fun to see the Christians characterized as "atheists" throughout and see the jousting between various ethnicities, nations, religions, and classes in a time so very different from our own.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Well done, nice continuation., Mar 19 2010
By Blue - Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
I like Sidebottom's work. The characters are interesting and well written, definitely individuals. I enjoyed the first installment and this was a worthy follow-up. For me, these rank with the best of Cornwell's writing, with the first installment being slightly better than this second book. I await and will purchase the third.
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