HISTORICAL FICTION REVIEW: Empire 3: Fortress of Spears - Anthony Riches

Release Date: 28/04/11

SYNOPSIS:

In the enthralling third volume of Empire, Anthony Riches takes the legions deep into north Britannia, where the survivors of the rebellion still hope for revenge. The Romans have vanquished the rebel alliance, leaving Calgus, Lord of the Northern Tribes, the prisoner of the chieftains he once led. But the new Roman leader will not let them rest. He forms an audacious plan to capture Dinpaladyr, the Selgovaes' fortress of spears, and return it to the hands of a trusted ally. Marcus Aquila - burning for revenge on an enemy army that has killed one of his best friends - is part of the select group of infantry chosen to go north with the Petriana cavalry and take the fort before the rebel army can reach it. He believes his disguise as Centurion Corvus of the 2nd Tungrians is still holding. But he is just a few days ahead of two of the emperor's agents, sent from Rome to kill him. Pitiless assassins who know his real name, and too much about his friends.


REVIEW:

To be honest I absolutely love a title that takes me on a journey especially when I get to march alongside the ancestors and those who have gone before. Here in the third offering in his Empire series, Anthony returns to the Tungrians as the Legion marches to finish the natives uprising for once and for all. As usual it’s got great action sequences, emotional conflict and some seriously apt prose as the battle gets down and dirty with men dying for each inch of ground. Back that up with great prose alongside an author who plays for keeps and you know that there will be some heavy losses with friends from previous excursions falling by the wayside. Finally, if you want entertainment, battles and action sequences then this title will definitely fulfil the brief for you and a great addition for fans of Bernard Cornwell and Simon Scarrow.