Tuesday 2 September 2014

HISTORICAL FICTION: Agend of Rome 4: The Black Stone - Nick Brown

Release Date: 05/06/14
Publisher:  Hodder

SYNOPSIS:

AD 273. Obsessed by the solar religions of the east, the emperor Aurelian sets out to obtain every sacred object within his realm. But one - a mysterious rock said to channel the power of the sun god - lies beyond his reach. Warrior-priest Ilaha has captured the legendary stone and is using it to raise an army against Rome. For Imperial agent Cassius Corbulo and ex-gladiator bodyguard Indavara, stopping him constitutes their greatest challenge yet. Assisted by a squad of undercover soldiers and a Saracen chieftain, they trek south across the deserts of Arabia, encountering sandstorms, murderous money-lenders and a ruthless German mercenary. And when they finally reach Ilaha's mountain fortress, they face thousands of warriors who will give their lives to protect him ...and the black stone.


REVIEW:

I’ve loved Nick Brown’s Corbulo since the first outing a while ago and whilst each book has a key mystery that this ancient investigator has to find the answer to, this one is more of a search for an object rather than a killer as the reader is informed early on who was behind it.

As usual with Nick, the plot is fast paced, has some great action and when backed with his cracking dialogue as well as wonderful writing style, it leaves the reader feeling not only fulfilled but also demonstrates that Nick is upping the ante with this latest outing. All round a great book and one that has made this one of my favourite series in recent years.



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