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Title: Eagles in the Storm
Author: Ben Kane
Series: Eagles of Rome #3
Publication: March 23rd 2017 by Preface Publishing
Genre: Historical Fiction
Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Google Play | Kobo
Rating: 5/5★
Arminius has been defeated, one of the three eagles has been recovered, and thousands of German tribesmen slain.
Yet these successes aren’t nearly enough for senior centurion Lucius Tullus. Not until Arminius is dead, his old legion’s eagle liberated and the enemy tribes completely vanquished will he rest.
But Arminius is still at large, devious, fearless and burning for revenge of his own. Charismatic as ever, he raises another large tribal army, which will harry the Romans the length and breadth of the land.
Into this cauldron of bloodshed, danger and treachery, Tullus must go - alone. His mission – to find and bring back his legion’s eagle – will place him in more danger than he has ever faced before.
Can he succeed? Can he even survive?
It's not often that I rate a trilogy with five stars for all three books, but with Ben Kane's Eagles of Rome trilogy I did it and it's so well deserved!
Eagles in the Storm was a fantastic conclusion. I could barely put the book down, it was so thrilling and as always well-written. It was also heart-wrenching at times I must say.
The story returns with its great cast of characters like Tullus, Armenis, Maelo, Piso and several others.Tullus is still holding hope after so many years to find the lost eagle of the 18th and revenge on Arminius. Meanwhile Arminius is desperate to lead his people and the other tribes into battle against the Romans.
The book had its fair share of battles. It was all very action-packed and as always really brutal. The author's way of writing not only the battle scenes but every other detail made me feel as if I was actually there. I also can't help but praise the subtle humor as well.
The story was amazing and I thought the ending was pretty much perfect but some characters' deaths basically punched me in the gut. The unexpectedness of that made it even a more powerful ending of my one of my favorite trilogies.
Author bio:
Ben Kane is a bestselling Roman author and former veterinarian. He was born in Kenya and grew up in Ireland (where his parents are from). He has traveled widely and is a lifelong student of military history in general, and Roman history in particular. He lives in North Somerset, England, with his family. Read his full bio here.
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Title: Hunting the Eagles
Author: Ben Kane
Series: Eagles of Rome #2
Publication: March 24th 2016 by Preface Publishing
Genre: Historical Fiction
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Kobo
Rating: 5/5
AN ARMY DEFEATED
AD 14: Five long years have passed since the annihilation of three legions in the wilds of Germania. Although the bones of 15,000 soldiers now moulder in the Teutoburg Forest, not all the Romans were slain in the bloody ambush.
A CENTURION OUT FOR VENGEANCE
Demoted, battle-scarred and hell-bent on revenge, Centurion Tullus and his legionaries begin their fightback. Ranged against them is the charismatic chieftan Arminius, who is gathering thousands of hostile tribesmen, and determined to crush the Romans for a second time.
AN EAGLE RECOVERED
The eagle belonging to Tullus' old legion is still in enemy hands, but as the Romans' reprisals take their army deep into German tribal lands, he remains convinced that it is within reach. But Arminius and his warriors are perilously close. As battle begins, Tullus and his comrades know they must fight as never before - just to stay alive...
Hunting the Eagles was just as good — if not a little better — as the first book, Eagles at War. I literally loved every single page of it, never wanted to put my Kindle down or ever get bored. Ben Kane is fast turning into one of my favorite historical fiction authors!
The first book was one of my top favorites of 2015, so I'm really thrilled to say that Hunting the Eagles wasn't a disappointment at all. If anything, I think I enjoyed it even more because I was already familiar with the characters.
I don't want to say too much about the story itself because I don't want to spoil it for other people but it takes place over five years later. Tullus and Arminius are still important characters in the story. Tullus is out for revenge on Arminius and his tribesmen. Arminius wants to crush the Romans once again.
Like in the first book it was full of action, battles and bloodshed so there's never a boring moment, not even for a second. The different points of view were all great to read, in my opinion and the writing was obviously excellent. What more can I say? I loved this book.
Ben Kane is a bestselling Roman author and former veterinarian. He was born in Kenya and grew up in Ireland (where his parents are from). He has traveled widely and is a lifelong student of military history in general, and Roman history in particular. He lives in North Somerset, England, with his family.
Click here to read my review of book #1, Eagles at War!
Title: Eagles at War
Author: Ben Kane
Series: Eagles of Rome #1
Publication: April 23rd 2015 by Preface Digital
Genre: Historical Fiction
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Kobo
Rating: 5/5
Review copy provided in exchange for an honest review.
From the author of The Forgotten Legion, the first in a gripping three-part series based on actual historical events
In the summer of 9 CE, Publius Varus, the Roman governor of Germania, and Lucius Tullus, a centurion garrisoned on the Rhine, march east with three legions. As they prepare to return to their winter quarters, they are lured off the road and ambushed by German warriors. The Germans are led by Arminius, a chieftain who is a trusted ally of Rome—and a man who has been secretly planning to betray the empire since childhood. Trapping Varus’ legionaries between a hillside and a marsh, and thereby preventing them from forming up or using their artillery, Arminius and his warriors wreak a terrible slaughter. The Roman defeat is overwhelming, but it is not until the third day of the massacre that the scale of Arminius’ victory becomes clear. Three legions, upwards of 14,000 men, have been annihilated, and three treasured Eagle standards have been lost. Just a few hundred legionaries, including Tullus, manage to escape. Nor is the survivors’ ordeal over. Pursued to the last Roman fort east of the Rhine, they are besieged by thousands of bloodthirsty tribesmen. Only the gods can save them now.
I requested Eagles at War kind of randomly on NetGalley when I saw it and it was a spur in the moment decision when I decided to start reading it soon after I got approved for it. I love history, especially history of this era but I didn't know a single thing about the battle of the Teutoburg Forest. And to be honest I didn't think I would enjoy this book because I didn't think I'd like a book that focuses on the military espects in history. But guess what? I ended up absolutely loving it and it's my favorite book that I have read in 2015 so far.
I was intrigued by all of the characters. From the characters that were created by the author to the ones that had once lived.There was just something about the way Ben Kane wrote these characters that made me want to find out what was going to happen to them. I especially liked reading about Roman centurion Tullus, and chieftain Arminius.
The book switched points of view a bit between a couple of characters but I was always glad the most when it returned to Tullus. He was an incredible character.
There was also a certain suspense to the story, knowing a big battle is imminent because Arminius is planning to betray and ambush the Romans. And naturally, the book was very action-packed, gritty and intense.
The book took me almost a week to finish. Generally I finish books way faster because I usually read shorter ones but it was totally worth it. I was pretty much hooked from the moment I read the prologue up to the ending.
And I also have to say that after finishing the book, I actually found myself wanting to read and learn more about the battle of the Teutoburg Forest.
I dived into this book blindly, not knowing what to expect. What I didn't expect was to be so engrossed with this story, with these characters. You know a book is good when you're actually sad to have finished it because you wanted to read more. That's what Eagles at War by Ben Kane did to me. Highly recommended!
About the Author:
Ben Kane is a bestselling Roman author and former veterinarian. He was born in Kenya and grew up in Ireland (where his parents are from). He has traveled widely and is a lifelong student of military history in general, and Roman history in particular. He lives in North Somerset, England, with his family.
