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katieejayne's review
5.0
Firstly, a huge thank you to Zaffre and Compulsive Readers for having me on this blog tour.
I have a confession, agreeing to this tour scared me. I have never read a historical fiction book, nevermind one heavily entrenched within the military genre. However, I've loved Greek and Roman history for as long as I can remember. I studied it in college and have been independently researching whenever I can. I took a gamble. A gamble that paid off tenfold.
I loved The Lost Ten*. It felt so visceral...literally, at times, some of the battle scenes were pretty graphic! Which I loved as well. It follows ten men sent on a secret mission to free a Persian Prince held captive by his own people in an attempt to provoke a war. However, there is a traitor amongst their midst. Someone is trying to sabotage the mission. Think Greek Cluedo but it was more like Satrap Julius in the desert with a sword than colonel mustard with the candlestick.
The book moved with great pace despite the vast lands covered. The passage of time was conveyed very well by how the men changed both physically and mentally. Each character had a distinct background, beliefs and mannerisms making them easy to identify. What an eclectic band of soldiers. I truly felt that each character could have been a figure from our history they felt so fully formed. The tension never truly dissipated and even increased with every glass of wine and sharp word. Usually, about another's religion or heritage. I particularly felt for Valens. A young man with a sorry origin story forced onto a mission he really didn't want.
A phenomenal story with amazing battle scenes and even the odd tender moment or two...just for a little bit though, then it's back to the killing.
www.a-novel-idea.co.uk
I have a confession, agreeing to this tour scared me. I have never read a historical fiction book, nevermind one heavily entrenched within the military genre. However, I've loved Greek and Roman history for as long as I can remember. I studied it in college and have been independently researching whenever I can. I took a gamble. A gamble that paid off tenfold.
I loved The Lost Ten*. It felt so visceral...literally, at times, some of the battle scenes were pretty graphic! Which I loved as well. It follows ten men sent on a secret mission to free a Persian Prince held captive by his own people in an attempt to provoke a war. However, there is a traitor amongst their midst. Someone is trying to sabotage the mission. Think Greek Cluedo but it was more like Satrap Julius in the desert with a sword than colonel mustard with the candlestick.
The book moved with great pace despite the vast lands covered. The passage of time was conveyed very well by how the men changed both physically and mentally. Each character had a distinct background, beliefs and mannerisms making them easy to identify. What an eclectic band of soldiers. I truly felt that each character could have been a figure from our history they felt so fully formed. The tension never truly dissipated and even increased with every glass of wine and sharp word. Usually, about another's religion or heritage. I particularly felt for Valens. A young man with a sorry origin story forced onto a mission he really didn't want.
A phenomenal story with amazing battle scenes and even the odd tender moment or two...just for a little bit though, then it's back to the killing.
www.a-novel-idea.co.uk
kipsfj's review
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
It starts of slow, but unfolds into a beautiful adventure. Ten men are sent to rescue a young prince. Along the way, they face many adversities.
It is set in the Roman era, I’m not a fan usually of historical fiction. But this definitely was a nice change
It is set in the Roman era, I’m not a fan usually of historical fiction. But this definitely was a nice change
nietzschesghost's review
4.0
Bestselling author Harry Sidebottom is back with a fascinating and perilous standalone historical adventure set in third-century Rome. It follows a group of ragtag soldiers from the Roman Empire as they embark on an impossible mission which is fraught with danger from the very beginning. Crossing into many different countries where they encounter people from all walks of life, I was aware almost instantaneously after reading a few pages that Sidebottom knew his onions when it comes to the empire. It was a pleasure to read with a palpable sense of tension running throughout and a satisfying ending to boot.
All in all, this is an evocative, visceral and exciting story and not only that but you get a real history lesson in the process. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Zaffre for an ARC.
All in all, this is an evocative, visceral and exciting story and not only that but you get a real history lesson in the process. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Zaffre for an ARC.
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