Alternate History Books

The Gates of Rome

Advantages: exciting, good characters, believable world
Disadvantages: lack of historical accuracy

This book is about the youth of Gaius Julius Caesar and Marcus Brutus. They grow up together, sharing a deep friendship, and getting into trouble as a pair. As they grow older, Gaius' father hires a famous ex-gladiator to train them, which he does with plenty of abuse. When the ex-gladiator wounds Gaius, it is Marcus who takes revenge. Gaius' father is killed in a slave revolt, and Gaius assumes his adult name of Julius. He goes to his uncle for ...
...course, Julius is involved in. The ending then sets up the next book in the series. As a novel, it's an excellent book. There's warfare, politics, romance, and intrigue. Iggulden has created a very believable world. If you have studied the period you will doubtless find inaccuracies, but for the average reader it gives a convincing impression of what life in Ancient Rome might be like. The two main characters are perhaps the best part of the book. ...

ali_morag 15.06.2007 · Read full review
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Review of The Gates of Rome - Conn Iggulden

Caesar Strikes Back

Advantages: If you liked the film 'Gladiator', you'll like this
Disadvantages: Some violent battle scenes

...with a generous typeface, tells the story of the colossus that was the roman general Caesar. According to the author's note, it is based on real historical events, although some license has been taken and a few of the characters and sequence of some events have been changed. In many ways, it sounds very authentic, with a great atmosphere and graphic descriptions of life in the capital Rome, heart of the Empire. The daily life of a soldier, living ...
...It is based on the early life of Julius Caesar, commander of a Roman galley ship, who is captured by pirates and held for ransom. Released onto a deserted coastline in North Africa, he rallies fellow survivors, traversing the country and raising an army, determined to return to Rome in style. The first major set piece is a battle with Mithridates, a Greek commander who is conquering Roman outposts, where the empire's chain of control is weak. In ...

aspebbles 26.11.2006 · Read full review
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Review of The Death of Kings - Conn Iggulden

The adventures of one-handed Ren

Advantages: colourful characters, adventure, an endearing protagonist
Disadvantages: A slow beginning

The story opens in 19th Century New England with the hero, a twelve-year-old orphaned boy called Ren living in a Catholic orphanage hoping and dreaming of one day being rescued and brought into the bosom of a loving family. Ren knows little about his heritage having been dropped at the door of the orphanage as a baby. His hopes of one day having a loving family are minimal as he is missing a left hand and is generally considered less desirable than ...
...man called Benjamin Nab visits the orphanage and picks Ren out of the group of boys claming he is Rens long lost brother. For once, Rens missing hand seems to be his saving grace as it becomes clear early on that con-artist Benjamin feels he can play on Ren's disability when "acquiring" money. Ren is then taken across the country learning what its like living day to day outside the orphanage, meeting strange and interesting characters and listening ...

burtybookworm 30.04.2009 · Read full review
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Review of The Good Thief - Hannah Tinti

Strangely Compelling

Advantages: An enchanting story
Disadvantages: The footnotes can annoy and the language can be a bit tricky.

...is even more worried when Jonathan Strange appears on the scene, not knowing whether to treat him as a student, an equal or a rival. Starting as the former, the two soon develop contrasting ideas concerning magic and are soon in competition. Will it be a fight to the death or will they ever be able to see eye to eye? It's tough to explain what effect this book has. It does sound quite dull and, in truth, in places it can be. But it's almost as if ...
...seemingly possessing forenames, apart from Jonathan Strange himself. Once this rather stiff and unusual writing style is adapted to, however, it does become a lot easier to read. In the early parts of the book, however, they style meant that the narrator sounded like a venerable old gentleman in my head and for the first few days, I kept hearing the voice of Patrick Stewart reading the words to me. The use of footnotes can be a cause for concern, ...

Soho_Black 30.07.2006 · Read full review
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Review of Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell - Susanna Clarke

Boudica: Dreaming of the Bull

Advantages: Gripping, page turning novel
Disadvantages: A bit price to compete competitively on the market

I enjoyed 'Boudica: Dreaming of the Bull' immensely. Whilst having a proper educational meaning to the book, it offers thrill and excitement every time a reader will turn the page. There is a great plot to this book. In AD 60, Boudica, war leader of the Eceni, led her people in a final bloody revolt against the occupying armies of Rome; the culmination of nearly twenty years of resistance against an occupying force that sought to crush a vibrant, ...
...slavery of the Roman Empire. Dreaming the Bull continues the story of Breaca, acclaimed as bringer of victory to her people, and her half-brother, Bán, now an officer in the Roman cavalry. Each stands on either side in a brutal war of attrition between the occupying army and the defeated tribes, each determined to see the other dead. Caught in the middle are Cunomar and Graine, son and daughter to two of the greatest warriors their world has ever ...

midpikyrozziy 10.01.2008 · Read full review
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Review of Boudica: Dreaming the Bull - Manda Scott