Arrows of Fury: Empire II

This author has crafted a VG series with excellent books.I'd say a solid 5-star rating.I would like to provide further textual content on that Rating as part of this Review, however am unable to do so.The ACDLT has restricted my ability to Comment or Reply (and doing so without any prior warning, any specific notification, any identification of specific alleged problems or appeal).That being so, an inability to respond to Review comments by others (positive, negative, indifferent) would be unfair to myself and others. I would therefore request no Comments (or, if so, recognize that I do not have an ability to respond to same).But it is a solid 5-star book in this genre.

Whilst I think the hero of this series has too much invulnerability, much like a comic book superhero, the tale itself, with the background it is set in, is worthwhile, and reads fast. A way to pass the time without much thinking involved. That Riches could do better with his hero Marcus, the vendetta growing so greatly against him for no valid reason, (His father framed in Rome and all the family killed, Marcus is hiding in Britannia. At what point do those chasing him give up because he is costing them far too much to kill, and he doesn't know why he should be killed beyond a land deal or some such back in Rome.)Marcus and his companions find themselves amidst another Barbarian Rebellion and dealing with it works rather well. They even get a commander who is the type of man that Marcus should turn into as the series continues.In all, a quick, fun read set in the later part of the 2nd century.

Mr. Riches continues the exploits of young centurion "Corvus", commander of a cohort of auxiliaries fighting against the tribes gathering to expel the Roman occupiers of Britain. I cannot offhand recall any other books that focus on the activities of conquered foreign auxiliaries, and that device instantly provides a sense of the sweep and success of Roman arms. Corvus himself is a true Roman, hiding under an assumed name in Britain from the Emperor's mortal ire. He is surrounded by a cosmopolitan mix of Syrian archers, a German "Chosen Man", some Britons, and a handful of fellow Roman officers. The campaign against the barbarian leader, Calgus, is exceptionally well told, with convincing details of Roman military conduct and equipment effectively contrasted with that of the barbarians north of the wall. There is gore, intrigue, and derring do enough to satisfy the most jaded reader of historical fiction; as a lifetime reader of such, I think Mr. Riches is already in the top ranks of the genre. I think I would have liked him to resolve Corvus' political dilemma in book one, rather than drag it along through three volumes (I haven't read the third, yet), but that is a minor quibble that does not prevent me from enthusiastically recommending this series.

Anthony Riches as an author has a firm grasp of what a novel requires to totally captivate the attention and interest of a reader. Book 2 in this Empire series has that magic formula that compels a reader to read unceasingly, even to a point of exhaustion. Once you start reading this book it is hard to put it down.Riches' novels are also educational. The author obviously does his research well and in this case you get a lesson on Roman fighting tactics, the use and value of archers, the equipment of a legionary and its upkeep, the rebellious nature of Northern Britannia and interestingly the trials and tribulation of army life of the common soldier.The battle scenes are impressive and the underlying storyline is magnetic. The main character Marcus brings familiarity to the novel and a focus point for many of the interesting events that make this novel riveting reading.

This is the second in the series, and, as it picks up almost exactly where the first volume ends, you should read the previous volume,"Wounds of Honour," before you start this one. The blurb summarizes the setting quite accurately, so I won't add anything, but I will say that I devoured this offering in one sitting. By the time I finished, I felt that I had been fighting all those barbarians myself. Great for anyone who likes Roman military fiction.

It took me the longest time to warm to this book--months in fact of brief dipping. There were too many principal characters and none were developed or engaging. Finally, 1/3 in, I got interested. The once enemy auxiliaries too quickly embrace Rome and its army; there's an obsession with fundaments and feces; motivations are boyish. Yet I read it through. Worth the price and time for the action and easy reading.Larry K

All of this series was great reading. Read the last 3 from the ships library and bought the rest on my return. Historical fiction by someone who do the work in a classroom and keep the students spellbound.

Another great read full of action with twists and turns.

I've waited until I finished the third book in this series before posting a review of any of them, and for a particular reason. Most of the historical series I've read consist of a new separate story with each book, often defined by a narrator's pause or some such device. Most series are different stories with different themes that build a series.Wile clearly part of a series, Tony's first three Empire books are different. To me they follow on so closely and seamlessly that the series so far could easily be seen as one huge story spread over three books with appropriate pauses between releases. The stories are readable independently, for sure, but the best will be got from them by reading them one after the other. Quite simply, you can't read one book of this series without wanting to go on with the story. In order to get the best from the story, you need to read them all, and for the best possible results, I would suggest back-to-back.A second thing that I would say that concerns each of Tony's works is what I consider his greatest strength as an author: The gritty military reality of his tale-telling. I have spent some time in my life, in a civilian situation but alongside men of military units, and there is something so authentic about Tony's characterisation that it felt truly familiar and real. You will find it hard to disbelieve anything about Tony's depiction of the legions, auxiliary troopers, the cavalry, their structure, style, attitude and actions. While no one can confirm exactly how soldiers then spoke and acted, it's hard to believe they were any different from the modern military and Tony has made these ancient soldiers understandable and relevant to the modern reader.I feel that it is better for me to review the series as a whole, which I have given an appropriate 5 stars of 5, and then add a short section on the individual novel. I find it almost impossible to put down Tony's books and eagerly await the Leopard Sword to see what new direction the series might take.Book TwoArrows of fury follows up perfectly from Wounds of honour, and takes the action to a new level, concentrating more this time on the war that was the impetus and background of the first book, the Tribal leader who has become the great antagonist of the Empire series and the campaigns of great leaders (and occasionally of chinless idiots.)Alongside this great military campaign, we experience the machinations of wicked and stupid men and best of all heroics from the most unexpected quarters. The Hamian unit that are the reason for the book's name simply blew me away and made me reassess the importance of missile troops in the Roman military. I have come to love Qadir as a character. Arrows of fury doesn't just follow on from Wounds of Honour, but builds on it, introducing wonderful new characters and elements.

The only thing that confuses me about these books is.....why aren't more people reading them they're great and virtually as good as Simon Scarrow. The price of this book has dropped already!Like a lot of people I found the first book in the series by accident on the shelves of Waterstones. It was sat there all alone and I'd never heard of the author. However, being a 'history geek' and after discovering it was about Roman Britain, I decided it was worth giving it the benefit of the doubt.The first book in the series took Anthony Riches fourteen years to write (I believe) but he didnt have a deadline and was doing it for pleasure more than anything else and 'giving writing a go!' I saved reading that book for when I was on holiday in Scotland and found it 'kind of' enhanced the experience (being surrounded by the Mountains of the Highlands).I couldnt put the first book down and enjoyed every page, the characters and the story. Being a history buff and especially of the Roman era and more importantly Roman Britain and Simon Scarrow etc etc, I was like a kid in a sweet shop when I discovered the subject matter and was even happier when I found that Mr Riches story telling was not only comparable to Mr Scarrow but had elements of real history included.Considering that Anthony Riches had merely months to write the second in the series, he has done a masterful job and produced another winner in my opinion. Unlike some authors who gloss over the real aspects and fundamentally more important elements of the era, Riches gets down to brass tacks and doesnt 'fluff' up the story and tells it like we think it was.Calgus the Britons Chieftan in the region who was victorious against a legion who he crushed and virtually destroyed, is looking to defeat the Romans and push them south. He allies himself with other tribes but defeating the invaders is not his only goal.Centurion Corvus is attempting to keep a low profile in the wind swept and rain soaked north as he has been labelled an enemy of Rome by the Emperor. However, due to his leadership and tactical know how and his own ability fight man to man, he is quickly making a name for himself which attracts the more insideous side of certain soldiers who are supposed to be fighting with him.Arrows of Fury is a no frills, edge of Empire, rain, dirt, fear engulfed, battle ridden, bravery soaked, full of conspiracies and traitors absorbed tail which are all included in a great second book in the series. I look forward in great anticipation the the next installment 10/10!

Having thoroughly enjoyed the first in Anthony Riches' Empire series,  Wounds of Honour: v. 1 (Empire) , I am delighted but not surprised that the second outing for Centurion Corvus and his brothers in arms is if anything even better.The action, set in the 2nd century AD, still takes place on and around Hadrian's Wall but now we know that little bit more about Marcus `Two Knives' Corvus, Julius, Dubnus, Rufius, Felicia and the men of the 1st Tungrian Cohort. Chieftain Calgus continues to plot the demise of Roman rule on his land but this is not the only threat that young Corvus faces. Knowledge about his true identity is spreading amongst their rival cohort, the 2nd Tungrians, a situation which gets worse when the 2nd steals most of the replacements intended for the 1st, who were decimated during their heroic stand during the Battle of the Lost Eagle. Corvus' bravery wins over the new Prefect Scaurus, with whom the young centurion makes a pact.Marcus Corvus also takes the risky military decision to work with the only replacements available, two cohorts of Syrian archers, the Hamians, led by Qadir, a very likeable addition to the series. As time goes by, and despite the jeers of the Tungrians and in spite of being so far from terrain and warfare that's familiar to them, the Hamians prove their honour. They don the armour, march at speed for miles until their feet bleed, and try to get to grips with the Roman spear (and the repartee that goes with it).Throughout the Empire series, Anthony Riches' expertise and learning in everything Roman military shines through and this knowledge adds a detail and authenticity that is unique. Daily life as a Roman soldier - in camp and on the march, battle scenes, skirmishes, medicine and, not least, the dialogue between soldiers, rings true. This is demonstrated in the transformation of the Hamians, in the soldiers' code and in the action, which is jampacked throughout Arrows of Fury.Not all of the Romans are good here - there is a very enjoyable baddie - and not all of the blue noses are bad. What matters is honour and valour and, if you have those, your origin is less important. After all, the Roman army, as we see here, was a right mix. Far away from the less than perfect influence of the emperor Commodus, the Tungrians fight their battles and make their own justice on the very edge of the empire. On now to  Fortress of Spears: Empire III . Wounds of Honour: v. 1 (Empire)Fortress of Spears: Empire III

Rome and its Empire is an extremely ripe period of history to plunder for all your fictional needs; war, intrigue and action are all par for the course. Unfortunately, the popularity of the genre means that you have to lift your game as a writer to stand out from the crowd less you be drowned out by a thousand other voices. With `Arrows of Fury', the second in Anthony Riches `Empire' novels, there is a fear that this may happen and it is Riches' own doing. Set in 182 AD Britain along Hadrian's Wall, it surrounds the men tasked with subduing the revolting British tribes in the North of the country. Whilst book one revolved mainly around Marcus, a Roman aristocrat hiding in the army from his enemies, book 2 opens out to cover the entire cohort.It is with this increase in scale that the book loses its way. I struggle to tell my Marcos from my Marcus, so having so many different characters means that I started to lose my bearings. It was not aided that there were so many notable Centurions in the mix, Centurion This and Centurion That. The expansive nature of the characters helped Riches explain the camaraderie of the troops and the brother like love they have for one another, but not knowing one person from another meant that conversations became taxing and deaths unrewarding - who was that again?There are great moments in `Arrows', especially during the battle scenes. Riches has a keen eye for detail and the battles feel realistic and grim. I also liked the elements that remained concentrated on Marcus, these sections are more structured and give a narrative through line that is lost whenever Riches starts listening in on other soldiers' conversations. With a slightly clearer distinction between characters `Arrows' would have been a mini epic. As it is, it is a book full of great scenes, but stitched together by forgettable exchanges amongst characters I found hard to differentiate between.

I enjoyed the first volume, which I received as part of the Amazon VIne programme. This book does follow on and like many of this genre is very much action packed almost from the first page. I was not so impressed by this offering and found that I was not that enthusiastic in seeking it out to read each evening. It is not bad, as reflected in my three star grading, which still rates it as good, I just didn't feel that it warranted anything higher. In effect, the storyline seemed to drag along and perhaps it transferred the cold and inhospitable north into my soul!Please do not be put off by my review, this is a good author following on nicely from the first volume and who is entering late into the plethora of Roman history novels: it certainly would not put me off purchasing this author's work again and I will be looking forward to the third in the trilogy being published, although not as enthusiastically as I awaited this one.