The Caspian Gates (Warrior of Rome 4)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
AD262 - the Imperium is in turmoil after the struggle for the throne. Furthermore, Ephesus, Asia's metropolis, lies in ruins, shattered by a mighty earthquake. Its citizens live in fear as the mob overwhelms the city, baying for blood to avenge the gods who have punished them.
Yet an even greater threat to the Empire advances from the North. The barbaric Goth tribes sail towards Ephesus, determined to pillage the city. Only Ballista, Warrior of Rome, knows the ways of the barbarians, and only he can defeat them.
The Goths' appetite for brutality and destruction is limitless and before long Ballista is locked into a deadly bloodfeud, with an enemy that has sworn to destroy him - and the Imperium - at all costs.
About the Author
Dr Harry Sidebottom is a Fellow of St Benet's Hall and lecturer at Lincoln College, Oxford - where he specializes in ancient warfare and classical art.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
36 of 39 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Fans of Roman Historical Fiction will undoubtedly have tried at least one Harry Sidebottom title. They're well written, beautifully researched and have memorable characters who find ways to help keep Rome on top of the world, stamping their own brand of Justice in their size x steel studded caligae.
What unfurls in this title, for me, is Harry's best book to date, from its almost Gemmellesque prologue to its heavy adventure of bloody slaughter as our hero, Ballista, faces the might of the Goths in a no holds barred battle to the death. Back this up with great prose, some deliciously soldierly dialogue and tie it up with an almost mythical reading of pace and you know that it's going to be a book that will be hard to put down. Great stuff.
What unfurls in this title, for me, is Harry's best book to date, from its almost Gemmellesque prologue to its heavy adventure of bloody slaughter as our hero, Ballista, faces the might of the Goths in a no holds barred battle to the death. Back this up with great prose, some deliciously soldierly dialogue and tie it up with an almost mythical reading of pace and you know that it's going to be a book that will be hard to put down. Great stuff.
15 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The fourth Warrior of Rome novel begins with a bang as Ephesus is struck by a mighty earthquake. Not long after the Goths invade and Ballista is involved in the defence of a number of nearby poorly prepared cities. Yet Ballista's past is swift to catch up with him and his new Imperial Mandata sends him to the very edge of the Empire. Confronted with barbarian hordes, a rotten royal family and complex tribal politics, life for Ballista in the fourth book is quite eventful.
As ever the book oozes with detail, historical intricacies and subtle semantics. Yet I found the fourth book to be somewhat slower paced than the previous three. That was probably because the overall theme of the fourth book could be summed up as `travel'. Ballista spends an awful long time travelling to one of the furthest reaches of the Empire. It was therefore necessary for the author to fully describe Ballista's journey in order to give the reader a sense of the scale and monotony that Ballista endured. That being said, the travel passages are beautifully described, you really feel like you are stood on deck with the rest of the familia. In addition, these important plot building passages are not devoid of the occasional action scene.
There are a couple of new characters within the fourth book which inject fresh energy and charisma. Yet all of the old favourites accompany Ballista on his journey. It enabled that sense of family and camaraderie to flourish within the fourth book as it has done in the past three. I love the fact that the author takes his time to build his characters throughout the books. It's such a great and simple technique which allows the reader to remain engaged with the characters as the series progresses. By learning more about a character slowly, relationships strengthen and that shared sense of experience endures throughout each new book. Great stuff!
I think for me, Harry Sidebottom's unique selling point is his craftsmanship and the way his books are immersed in authenticity. Don't expect a simple read with this author and you won't be disappointed. Instead, allow yourself the time to fully enjoy this beautifully written Roman novel which really is head and shoulders above other Roman contenders. I think you'll find the descriptive prose some of the author's finest work in his fourth book.
The fourth book creates a fantastic foundation on which the fifth can be built. The end of the book was for me, one of the very best endings to a historical novel that I have yet read. Completely chilling, but very simple! I'll say no more.
Thoroughly recommended and thoroughly enjoyed by this reviewer!
As ever the book oozes with detail, historical intricacies and subtle semantics. Yet I found the fourth book to be somewhat slower paced than the previous three. That was probably because the overall theme of the fourth book could be summed up as `travel'. Ballista spends an awful long time travelling to one of the furthest reaches of the Empire. It was therefore necessary for the author to fully describe Ballista's journey in order to give the reader a sense of the scale and monotony that Ballista endured. That being said, the travel passages are beautifully described, you really feel like you are stood on deck with the rest of the familia. In addition, these important plot building passages are not devoid of the occasional action scene.
There are a couple of new characters within the fourth book which inject fresh energy and charisma. Yet all of the old favourites accompany Ballista on his journey. It enabled that sense of family and camaraderie to flourish within the fourth book as it has done in the past three. I love the fact that the author takes his time to build his characters throughout the books. It's such a great and simple technique which allows the reader to remain engaged with the characters as the series progresses. By learning more about a character slowly, relationships strengthen and that shared sense of experience endures throughout each new book. Great stuff!
I think for me, Harry Sidebottom's unique selling point is his craftsmanship and the way his books are immersed in authenticity. Don't expect a simple read with this author and you won't be disappointed. Instead, allow yourself the time to fully enjoy this beautifully written Roman novel which really is head and shoulders above other Roman contenders. I think you'll find the descriptive prose some of the author's finest work in his fourth book.
The fourth book creates a fantastic foundation on which the fifth can be built. The end of the book was for me, one of the very best endings to a historical novel that I have yet read. Completely chilling, but very simple! I'll say no more.
Thoroughly recommended and thoroughly enjoyed by this reviewer!
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
So many times i have read reviews for Harry that say..."too detailed".."Too much like a text book" etc...
I have no idea what book it is these people are reading!
While Harry Sidebottom is not your typical swords and sandals writer, his books are full of action pace, great characters and a plot that leaves the reader begging for more.
I struggled to put the book down, had to force it closed at 2am etc.. that for me is the sign of an excellent book.
Ballisata could have been used as a character and kept in the confines of the empire for some more of what we have seen from others, but Harry sidebottom has taken the risk to take him away from the confines of the empire,a nd its life on the fringe of the empire that gives this series its power and energy.
Not only did this book thrill and entertain, but at the end it sets the reader up for the next book, and I'm looking forward to Book 5 so much more than any of the previous 4, for me that shows the improvements this series and this author have shown with each book.
Roll on Book 5 (2 a year Harry???)
Highly recommended
(Parm)
Product Description: (From Back of Book)
Product Description
AD262 - the Imperium is in turmoil after the struggle for the throne. Furthermore, Ephesus, Asia's metropolis, lies in ruins, shattered by a mighty earthquake. Its citizens live in fear as the mob overwhelms the city, baying for blood to avenge the gods who have punished them.
Yet an even greater threat to the Empire advances from the North. The barbaric Goth tribes sail towards Ephesus, determined to pillage the city. Only Ballista, Warrior of Rome, knows the ways of the barbarians, and only he can defeat them.
The Goths' appetite for brutality and destruction is limitless and before long Ballista is locked into a deadly bloodfeud, with an enemy that has sworn to destroy him - and the Imperium - at all costs.
I have no idea what book it is these people are reading!
While Harry Sidebottom is not your typical swords and sandals writer, his books are full of action pace, great characters and a plot that leaves the reader begging for more.
I struggled to put the book down, had to force it closed at 2am etc.. that for me is the sign of an excellent book.
Ballisata could have been used as a character and kept in the confines of the empire for some more of what we have seen from others, but Harry sidebottom has taken the risk to take him away from the confines of the empire,a nd its life on the fringe of the empire that gives this series its power and energy.
Not only did this book thrill and entertain, but at the end it sets the reader up for the next book, and I'm looking forward to Book 5 so much more than any of the previous 4, for me that shows the improvements this series and this author have shown with each book.
Roll on Book 5 (2 a year Harry???)
Highly recommended
(Parm)
Product Description: (From Back of Book)
Product Description
AD262 - the Imperium is in turmoil after the struggle for the throne. Furthermore, Ephesus, Asia's metropolis, lies in ruins, shattered by a mighty earthquake. Its citizens live in fear as the mob overwhelms the city, baying for blood to avenge the gods who have punished them.
Yet an even greater threat to the Empire advances from the North. The barbaric Goth tribes sail towards Ephesus, determined to pillage the city. Only Ballista, Warrior of Rome, knows the ways of the barbarians, and only he can defeat them.
The Goths' appetite for brutality and destruction is limitless and before long Ballista is locked into a deadly bloodfeud, with an enemy that has sworn to destroy him - and the Imperium - at all costs.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Very disappointing
Having read the previous titles in this series I could hardly wait for the Caspian Gates, but found that the plot was rather thin and the relationships between some of the... Read more
Published 4 days ago by Mr. E. Hamilton
Dissapointing
reading the previous reviews, i did wonder if we had read same book. unlike the previous ones that move along at a good pace and leaves you wanting to find out more about the... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mr. M. Wozniak
NOT AS GOOD AS BEFORE
After finding the fourth book - I found this episode rather tame compared to the previous three. Ballista seemed bored - I was waiting for the action to kick in, Maximus to start... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Debbie's Husband
warrier of rome series
4th in the series all where a very good read
it would be a good idea to read the series in order as the story does follow on from book to book
it would be a good idea to read the series in order as the story does follow on from book to book
Published 3 months ago by tomdud
Great, But Could Really Use a Plot Next Time
The end of the last book left me a bit surprised. Historically speaking Ballista is supposed to end up dead, probably at Odenathius' hands. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Stuart McCunn
gate left open
the caspian gates book 4 of harry sidebottom ballista series i have read them all and like them
how can he still keep ballista going? Read more
how can he still keep ballista going? Read more
Published 4 months ago by mark1000
Shame about the...
Third book in the series and last two have been very good. This one though is disappointing.
The Editorial team have taken their eye off the ball and allowed the author to... Read more
The Editorial team have taken their eye off the ball and allowed the author to... Read more
Published 6 months ago by PK
Losing Steam
When I first read "Fire in the East", I found that I was hanging on every word. However after the first book I have found that each of the sequels has grown progressively worse, as... Read more
Published 6 months ago by threeeyes
Caspian Gates Warrior of Rome 4
I discovered Harry Sidebottom a couple of years ago after the first three Warrior of Rome novels had been published, so came to him late. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Tom Stronach
Thrills with character depth
Sequels are a demanding task for any writer, in keeping the characters alive for the reader and consistent. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Roger M. Kean
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