Just Finished Reading: The Forgotten Legion by Ben Kane (FP: 2008)

Rome, 70BC. Slave girl Velvinna is returned to her master’s residence when she stumbles into a group of drunken nobles on their way between tavern and brothel. Raped for her bad luck at being in the wrong place at the wrong time she is left to fend for herself as the nobles move on with their planned evening. So is set in motion events that will shape the Republic and some of the greatest names in it. When Velvinna gives birth to twins they immediately become the property of her master Gemellus. Thirteen years later, with his business failing Gemellus uses the excuse of finding the male twin, Romulus, training with forbidden swords to sell both him and his sister for a quick prophet. Whilst Romulus goes to the local gladiator school his sister Fabiola is sold to a high class brothel whose madam recognises the profit she can accrue both from her virginity and her beauty. Both brother and sister vow eternal revenge and prey to the Gods to allow them to exact it in their lifetimes. Whilst Fabiola starts her campaign to seduce the high and mighty to her side, Romulus vows to be the best fighter Rome has ever seen. Aided by the all-conquering Gaulish gladiator Bennus he might just accomplish that feat despite enemies both inside the arena and within the gladiator school itself. Meanwhile to the north the student of an Etruscan seer discovers something of his mentor’s dreams and the place he will play in them – to travel far across the world in the company of gladiators he has yet to meet. Around them the great Republic seethes with political intrigue and three factions vie for the highest offices in the land. Chaos spreads and blood flows on the streets of Rome. Only one faction can emerge victorious but which one will it be?

It’s been a while since I’ve read any Rome based fiction and I was beginning to miss it. I had hoped that this book – inevitably the first book in a trilogy – would live up to the writing of John Stack and his Master of Rome series. I was not disappointed. Practically from the first page I loved just about everything about this book – it’s gritty no nonsense realism with its depiction of the seedy underbelly of the great ancient civilisation that, to our eyes, was barely civilised at all with its endemic slavery and violence dominated arenas. There is no rose tinted awe of Rome here. Things are brutal, unforgiving and relentless. People live, and more often die, on their wits and are just as likely to die from a thief’s blade or an opponents poison as of disease or war. Rome in this book is far, far from a nice place. The so-called glory is seen from the bottom, from the victim of slavery and Rome’s relentless conquests across the known world. In this kind of environment only the tough survive and only then if they are favoured by the Gods or fated to achieve great things.

Not surprisingly I already have the other two books in the series (bought before I’d read this) and I have acquired several more of the authors work too. Needless to say I am already looking forward to baking under an unforgiving sun and smelling the blood of Rome’s enemies as their bodies hit the earth in droves and I am really looking forward to some very high ranking Romans facing their fate when it arrives at their door holding a well-used sword. Highly recommended for any fan of ancient Roman fiction or just a good tale well told.