This novel is entertaining, but it does not bring anything new to the fantasy genre. All the usual stereotypes related to dwarves are used and exploited in this novel. As such, "Dwarves" provides an easy but unmemorable read. The perfect fantasy book to read on the beach or while in transit.
Probably the best historical novel based on a Roman Empire setting I have read since "I, Claudius" by Robert Graves.
The strength of this book lies in the research work that was performed by the author. The story takes place during the downfall of the Empire and provides a lot of insight on the political situation of that period. The story itself is interesting but the character development was a bit too idealistic for my tastes, although this does not impair on the overall quality of the historical portrayal made by the author.
The story of Vercingetorix and the political ramifications that have lead to the fall of Gaul are quite interesting. Most facts portrayed in this book are not commonly known (or at least they were not known to me), so this story makes for a good historical novel. I have also appreciated how the author has early on presented the political motives for Julius Caesar to create the conditions so that Gaul could be officially conquered; he has unfortunately not expended on this further on in the book.
What I didn't like about this novel is that the author repeats himself quite often. He keeps referring to visions that Vercingetorix had over and over again, which lead in my view to an… Read more
