Review: Gods of Rome by Simon Turney & Gordon Doherty

Synopsis: For one to rule, the other must die.

312 AD is a year of horrific and brutal warfare. Constantine's northern army is a small force, plagued by religious rivalries, but seemingly unstoppable as they invade Maxentius' Italian heartlands. These relentless clashes, incidents of treachery and twists of fortune see Maxentius' armies driven back to Rome.

Constantine has his prize in sight, yet his army is diminished and on the verge of revolt. Maxentius meanwhile works to calm a restive and dissenting Roman populace. When the two forces clash in the Battle of the Milvian Bridge, there are factors at work beyond their control and soon they are left with carnage.

There is only one way Constantine and Maxentius' rivalry will end. With one on a bloodied sword and the other the sole ruler of Rome...

So, this latest follows on from the first two in the Rise of Emperors series in which two friends, now rivals, meet in the ultimate battle for Rome. As Edward Gibbon in his "The Decline & Fall of the Roman Empire" states: "... though the characters of Constantine and Maxentius had very little affinity with each other, their situation and interest were the same ...... " - and that interest was Rome.

Gibbon further waxes lyrical on the virtues of Constantine over the vices of Maxentius, writing that "... though Constantine might view the conduct of Maxentius with abhorrence, and the situation of the Romans with compassion, we have no reason to presume that he would have taken up arms to punish the one or to relieve the other ..."

History is written by the victors, and the accounts are heavily one-sided in favour of Constantine, and by 312 (when our story opens), Constantine and Maxentius were engaged in open hostility with one another, although they were brothers-in‑law through Constantine's marriage to Fausta, sister of Maxentius. 

Many reasons are thrown about - Gibbon himself talks about some slight inflicted upon the statues of Constantine by Maxentius, whereupon: " ... Constantine no longer hesitated. He had deliberated with caution, he acted with vigour. He gave a private audience to the ambassadors who, in the name of the senate and people, conjured him to deliver Rome from a detested tyrant; and, without regarding the timid remonstrances of his council, he resolved to prevent the enemy, and to carry the war into the heart of Italy. ..."

And so it was that in the spring of 312, Constantine gathered an army and decided to oust Maxentius himself. He easily overran northern Italy, winning two major battles: the first near Turin, the second at Verona.  Upon hearing the news of Constantine's approach, Maxentius chose to make his stand in front of the Milvian Bridge.  Holding it was crucial if Maxentius was to keep his rival out of Rome.  Here history is a little blurred - Maxentius had probably partially destroyed the bridge during his preparations for a siege for he had a wooden or pontoon bridge constructed to get his army across the river, which he would then use to cut off Constantine's advance should that prove necessary.

As the battle turned, Maxentius decided to order a retreat, intending to make another stand at Rome itself. However, there was only one escape route - the pontoon bridge. Constantine's men inflicted heavy losses on the retreating army.  But we know the outcome of this battle - Constantine was the victor, whilst Maxentius was among the dead.  The battle gave Constantine undisputed control of the western half of the Roman Empire.

Whilst the focus of this narrative is on that fateful year of 312, there is still plenty going on, and despite the known outcome, you still can't help but hope that the underdog will triumph.

Neither man is hero or villain. Unlike the sources from this period, which reflect the propaganda of Constantine and present Maxentius as a brutal tyrant, authors Turney & Doherty provide a carefully constructed, and fluid narrative from the viewpoint of both. 

And as the reader progresses through the alternating narrative, you soon realise that both men share more in common than one would expect - both are beset by fractious factions within their support networks; both look to signs, omens and prophecies; both are surrounded by traitors, dissemblers and deceivers, religious discontents, and angry wives.

The authors' notes at the end provide a neat wrap up to this well researched and written series.

read more here:

Edward Gibbon: Chapter 14 - The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

Eusebius of Caesarea - Vita Constantine 

Review: Usurpers: a New Look at Medieval Kings by Michele Morrical

Synopsis: In the Middle Ages, England had to contend with a string of usurpers who disrupted the British monarchy and ultimately changed the course of European history by deposing England's reigning kings and seizing power for themselves. Some of the most infamous usurper kings to come out of medieval England include William the Conqueror, Stephen of Blois, Henry Bolingbroke, Edward IV, Richard III, and Henry Tudor. Did these kings really deserve the title of usurper or were they unfairly vilified by royal propaganda and biased chroniclers?

In this book we examine the lives of these six medieval kings, the circumstances which brought each of them to power, and whether or not they deserve the title of usurper. Along the way readers will hear stories of some of the most fascinating people from medieval Europe, including Empress Matilda, the woman who nearly succeeded at becoming the first ruling Queen of England; Eleanor of Aquitaine, the queen of both France and England who stirred her own sons to rebel against their father, Henry II; the cruel and vengeful reign of Richard II which caused his own family to overthrow him; the epic struggle for power between Henry VI, Margaret of Anjou, Richard of York, and Edward IV during the Wars of the Roses; the notorious Richard III and his monstrous reputation as a child-killer; and Henry VII who rose from relative obscurity to establish the most famous royal family of all time: the Tudors.

Whilst I appreciate that this promises a rather unique look at the reigns of some notable kings and whether they were worthy of the title "usurper" that had been applied to them, this really did not ignite any spark.

If you are going to use the words "a new look" in the title, then there should be something new that has not been repeated elsewhere. If I have picked up your tome with the title "usurpers" in it - it means that I have read the usual tomes, have a working background knowledge, and don't need the details of each kings' reign ..... in detail, including a history of events of the previous rulers.

Even a cursory read of the synopsis will tell you that there is more being included than needs to be - in fact - where really does Eleanor of Aquitaine fit into the subjects being studied - Henry II is not being accused of being a usurper nor is Richard or John. Begs a number of questions ... 

If you plan to provide an analysis of the reign of kings considered as usurpers, then more than a one to two page assessment at the end of what I considered to be an information dump, is required. What I am after is a unique, unbiased, assessment of why each deserved or did not deserve the title of usurper - not just a throw-away "because he snuffed out the previous ruler" or "because of his father's political ambitions" or "because his stole it {the crown} away".  And the synopsis will also tell you - if you read between the lines - what the verdict already is!

The assessment, whatever the author's opinion is, needs to be weighted against the reign, the actions, and viewed in the context of the period in order to be able to formulate a cohesive analysis. Sure provide some background - but - after I finished and looked at the sources provided and noted that I had read them all - sometimes less is more - a short sharp summary of events. I know you've done the research - what I want to see is how you've applied it to the premise - did the book meet the brief. Well ... briefly.

I would put this in the category of more popularist history - certainly, from the tone of the narrative, the language, it is not an academic text - I was left wondering who the intended audience was. Even if the reader had read nothing about the history of England from the time of Alfred to Henry VIII, I would be hesitant is suggesting this as an initial text. I actually did not enjoy reading this at all.  I think this is more of a case of someone thought it was a good idea to cobble together a number of blog posts and present them in book form (and not for the first time from this publisher unfortunately).

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion - and this is mine (based upon many, many years of reading and studying history).

Review: Echoes of War by Tania Blanchard

Synsopsis: Set in Mussolini’s Italy amid great upheaval, this is the story of one woman’s determination to find her place in a world that men are threatening to tear apart. Another heart-rending novel inspired by a true story from Australia's bestselling author of The Girl from Munich.

Calabria, Italy, 1936 - In a remote farming village nestled in the mountains that descend into the sparkling Ionian Sea, young and spirited Giulia Tallariti longs for something more. While she loves her home and her lively family, she would much rather follow in her nonna’s footsteps and pursue her dream of becoming a healer.

But as Mussolini’s focus shifts to the war in Europe, civil unrest looms. Whispers of war are at every corner and her beloved village, once safe from the fascist agenda of the North, is now in very real danger.

Caught between her desire to forge her own path and her duty to her family, Giulia must draw on the passion in her heart and the strength of her conviction.

Can she find a way to fulfill her dreams or will the echoes of war drown out her voice?

Unfortunately not for me.

The main character grated on me - she was way to modern for the period. The narrative dragged on without really much happening then jumped about ten years in the very last part.

In the end I could sum up the whole book in one famous sentence by French writer Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr, who wrote “plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose “ – the more things change, the more they stay the same - which was also the theme of The Leopard.

As a side note, I noticed the same theme running through all her other books - is this a good or bad thing, or just complacency?

Review: The Tempest by Juan Manuel de Prada

Synopsis: Murder, love, betrayal, and some of the world’s most beautiful objets d’art come together in Juan Manuel de Prada's tempestuous, prize-winning novel set in Europe’s quintessentially enigmatic city: Venice. 

Alejandro Ballesteros, a young Spanish art historian, arrives in wintry Venice to study Giorgione's painting “The Tempest,” but on his first day there, he witnesses a shocking murder and is propelled into a dangerous web that brings together the city's rarified academic world and a master forger. Exploring the boundaries between art and reality, intellect and passion, The Tempest is a mesmerizing and thought-provoking novel by one of Spain’s most gifted new writers.

I just could not get into this one - I literally could not get past the first chapter I am sorry to say.  I picked it up second hand as the premise sounded good, only to find myself now wondering why.

I just could not get into the first person narrative that seemed to meander along without direction or focus. The book, "like January ".. was setting in like an opiate; cold and harsh ..." and I for one was glad to relinquish its icy hold.

Review: The Spirit Engineer by AJ West

Sysnopsis: Belfast, 1914. Two years after the sinking of the Titanic, high society has become obsessed with spiritualism in the form of seances that attempt to contact the spirits of loved ones lost at sea.

William is a man of science and a sceptic, but one night with everyone sat around the circle something happens that places doubt in his heart and a seed of obsession in his mind. Could the spirits truly be communicating with him or is this one of Kathleen’s parlour tricks gone too far?

This early 20th century gothic set in Northern Ireland contains all the mystery and intrigue one might expect from a Sarah Waters novel. Deftly plotted with echoes of The Woman in Black, readers will be thrilled to discover West’s chilling prose.

Based on the true story of William Jackson Crawford and famed medium Kathleen Goligher, and with a cast of characters that include Arthur Conan Doyle and Harry Houdini, The Spirit Engineer conjures a haunting tale that will keep readers guessing until the very end.

Sad to say that I did not finish this - after fourteen chapters which failed to enthrall me in any way shape or form, I put it aside, and found that West's blog was much more interesting - and which can be found HERE.

Review: Wolf at the Door by Sarah Hawkswood

Synopsis: All Hallow’s Eve, 1144.

The savaged body of Durand Wuduweard, the solitary and unpopular keeper of the King’s Forest of Feckenham, is discovered beside his hearth, his corpse rendered barely identifiable by sharp teeth.

Whispers of a wolf on the prowl grow louder and Sheriff William de Beauchamp’s men, Hugh Bradecote and Serjeant Catchpoll, are tasked with cutting through the clamour. They must uncover who killed Durand and why while beset by superstitious villagers, raids upon manors and further grim deaths. Out of the shadows of the forest, where will the wolf’s fangs strike next?

As per my review on River of Sins, book seven in the Bradecote and Catchpoll series, the setting for this latest in firmly during the time of The Anarchy.

This time we are transported back to the medieval village of Feckenham. A village has been situated at Feckenham since the 9th century, and has been known by various names, including Feccheham (11th century), Fekkeham, Fekeham (12th century).

In the Middle Ages, Feckenham stood in the middle of the ancient Royal Forest of Feckenham, and was the administrative centre for this substantial royal forest covering much of Worcestershire.  The forest was used by the Kings of England who had a lodge in the park of Feckenham Manor (current structure dates from the 16th century).

The forest's titular head was the keeper, whose role was essentially honorary. Under the keeper were verderers who were the main enforcers of forest law, investigating infractions and trespasses; and then there were the Woodwards (wardens) who guarded royal timber rights and venison.  These appointments  were often viewed in light of communal status and be of considerable prestige and preferment; and at times a source of jealously and rivalry.

Forest Law was especially harsh and a cause of considerable grievance. You can read more about these laws here at Early English Laws. 

The town of Worcester, having survived attacks, fire, ransoms, owed its loyalty to the King, Stephen, and his representative, the Sheriff of Worcester.  At this point in time, the Sheriff was one William de Beauchamp, who inherited the title from his father Walter de Beauchamp. This Walter had been granted the right to hunt wolves and foxes in the royal forests of Worcestershire by Henry I; it is also said that he probably held the office of royal forester for Worcestershire as well as sheriff. Historians Judith Green and C. Warren Hollister both favour this, and that the son, William, succeeded to these title upon Walter's death c.1130-1133.

The word sheriff comes down to us from the Old English term for  a royal official (or shire reeve), who was responsible for keeping the peace throughout a shire or county on behalf of the king. Shrieval judicial and administrative activities were broad - one of the main responsibilities was the annual collection of taxes for the Exchequer. He presided over the county courts, but was not per se judge and the requirement for judical competence was rather vague. The sheriff generally carried out the King’s orders, with an armed county posse if necessary. He could be ordered to carry out particular investigations. He had authority to raise the "hue and cry" for the pursuit of thieves and other criminals. The hue and cry was a form of posse, in which once the shout was sounded that a crime such as robbery, theft, assault, or murder was committed; all that heard it were obligated and bound by honor to join the pursuit until the scoundrel was captured or the reeve called off the search.

For the purposes of our novel, justice has been delegated to the Undersheriff of Worcestershire, Hugh Bradecote, his gruff and worldly assistant Serjeant Catchpoll, and Catchpoll’s protege, Walkelin. Our trio are sent out to investigate the death of the local woodward, however, this presents no easy task as there is talk of wolves, or more specifically, werewolves. The word werewolf comes from the Old English word werwulf, a compound of wer "man" and wulf "wolf". Werewolves were mentioned in a number of medieval law codes, including that of King Canute (r.1016 - 1035), whose Ecclesiastical Ordinances inform us that the codes aim to ensure that “…the madly audacious werewolf do not too widely devastate, nor bite too many of the spiritual flock.’ There was widespread belief in these creatures throughout northern Europe so this was not just a localised belief at this particular time.

With the Middle Ages being an age of uncertainty and an overall lack of knowledge in the very world that surrounded the people living in this time, superstitions became apart of everyday life and could even be considered routine. While today many of the fears of the people of the Middle Ages which were the root cause of superstition are considered non-realistic and just completely ridiculous, the fear that these people felt strongly impacted their lives and the societies in which they lived. For our investigators,  reality is cloaked in superstition, and to solve this crime, they must strip away the unreal and present the actual to a community living in terror of the unknown.

All of the above aspects are woven together in a highly engaging tale; with the characters holding their own across the narrative.  The reader gets a real feel for the period and its peoples, as they struggle not only with their daily lives but in reconciling what  their beliefs and the opposing reality presents.

A series worthy of investing in.

Read More

Royal Forests of Medieval England 

Royal Forest 

Review: The Back to Front Murder by Tim Major

Synopsis: May 1898: Sherlock Holmes investigates a murder stolen from a writer’s research.

Abigail Moone presents an unusual problem at Baker Street. She is a writer of mystery stories under a male pseudonym, and gets her ideas following real people and imagining how she might kill them and get away with it. It’s made her very successful, until her latest “victim” dies, apparently of the poison method she meticulously planned in her notebook. Abigail insists she is not responsible, and that someone is trying to frame her for his death. With the evidence stacking up against her, she begs Holmes to prove her innocence…

I have read a number of books, by a number of authors, who have taken on the mantle of writing new Holmes & Watson books. Many have failed to meet with my expectations; others have done so admirably. This is one of the latter. It actually felt as if the words came from Conan Doyle's own pen - all the nuances that I remembered from my own collection of Sherlockian literature were there.

Major's book is one of many in the Titan Books stables of authors taking on the Holmes genre - but this is the first from that group that I have read. It is not an overly long read, and there is a little twist at the end. I look forward to reading more from both this and other authors under the Titan Books umbrella.

Edit: you can read about Tim's journey here @ Crimereads

Review: U Tube by Rozlan Mohd Noor

Synopsis: For fans of Jo Nesbo, Ian Rankin, and Michael Connelly, the third Inspector Mislan thriller takes the inspector to a netherworld of vicious sex crimes.

In this new thriller, Mislan and his assistant, Detective Sergeant Johan, are called to the scene of an ongoing investigation by D11, the Sexual & Child Abuse Investigation Division, that involves a series of rapes of successful young women.

What immediately jumps out in the first case D11's Inspector Sherry Azlina Syed Abdullah investigates is that the attack was filmed with a videocam. The perpetrator, gloved and masked, had gained access to the victim's apartment and was there with a cameraman, standing over her, when she woke in her bedroom. When the video appears on UTube with the legend that it is her "Salvation," the shame of it drives her to suicide. The second case involving the same M.O. has left a friend of the rape victim murdered at the scene, and that brings in the team from Special Investigations.

Forced by their superiors to combine efforts, with Sherry in the lead, Mislan struggles to rein in his maverick methods. But the video of the second assault is posted and then still another rape makes the news, leading to mounting public alarm. With pressure from above to close the case quickly, the two inspectors have no choice but to find the way to be effective together in order to track the source of the posts, identify what unites the victims, and discover the trail that will lead them to the shadowy figure who calls himself the Emancipator.

This is my second "Inspector Mislan" book - the first was "21 Immortals: Inspector Mislan and the Yee Sang Murders" - see below for link to my review and the background for both that and this book (so I won't go into detail here).

Readers who in the past have focused mainly on UK and US based crime fiction, should come into the international scene with an open mind. The reader cannot assume that the UK/US version is how policing and crime works elsewhere, and that the same cultural norms apply.

Having said that, this book focuses less on the personal life of Mislan but on his interactions with his fellow officers in their pursuit of a serial rapist who uses technology to highlight their crimes and taunt the police in modern-day Malaysia. Keeping the ever open mind, this book also explores a sub-culture, one that goes against the grain of existing "cultural norms", and yet the same prejudices and attitudes are strangely not that much more different than our own when confronted by things we do not fully understand. It is a slow build, however, even as more arrests are made, the team is no closer to solving the case. And as always, there is an abundance of food (leaving the reader particularly hungry) - though consider how much time UK/US based investigators spend in the pub or getting coffee.

Noor's experiences as a serving police officer come to the fore when describing both the landscape and its peoples, as well as the inner workers of the Malaysian police force. Well worth giving this series a go!

Review >> Melisende's Library - 21 Immortals

Review: Powers & Thrones by Dan Jones

Synopsis: Dan Jones's epic new history tells nothing less than the story of how the world we know today came to be built. It is a thousand-year adventure that moves from the ruins of the once-mighty city of Rome, sacked by barbarians in AD 410, to the first contacts between the old and new worlds in the sixteenth century. It shows how, from a state of crisis and collapse, the West was rebuilt and came to dominate the entire globe. The book identifies three key themes that underpinned the success of the West: commerce, conquest and Christianity.

Across 16 chapters, blending Dan Jones' trademark gripping narrative style with authoritative analysis, Powers and Thrones shows how, at each stage in this story, successive western powers thrived by attracting – or stealing – the most valuable resources, ideas and people from the rest of the world. It casts new light on iconic locations – Rome, Paris, Venice, Constantinople – and it features some of history's most famous and notorious men and women.

This is a book written about – and for – an age of profound change, and it asks the biggest questions about the West both then and now. Where did we come from? What made us? Where do we go from here?

It should come as no surprise that Jones has decided to take on 1000 years of history and condense it into one tome.

To be perfectly blunt, I can take or leave Jones as an author - its nothing personal. I've read his books and find them entertaining enough, but to be honest he is not one of my "go to" authors - I don't go all "fan girl" when I see his books.

Having said that, this is quite a good, well-rounded read, that will appeal to the masses. It is broken down into four parts, and four sub topics, that flow in a linear timeline. The focus encompasses both Roman Empires (East & West), Europe and the UK. Its only when discussing the Arabs and Mongols does Jones veer from a predominantly Euro-centric narrative.

To give you an idea of what is in store for the reader, I have provided a little summary - each chapter and part can be read as a "stand alone" .

Part I - 470 - 750.

Its four sub catergories are:

Romans - the Roman Empire (social, military, culture and religion) with a focus on Britain and its invaders

Barbarians - Goths, Vandals, Visigoths, Huns, et el

Byzantines - predominantly Justinian and Theodora

Arabs - invasions and their conflict in the Mediterranean (Greeks and Franks)

Part II - 750 - 1215

Franks - Merovingians and Carolingians, focusing on Charlemange up the fracturing of the kingdom

Monks - looking mainly at the Christianity of the monks, pilgrimage sites

Knights - rather self explanatory, with good detail on El Cid, and the chivalric romances

Crusades - covers from the First to the decline, circa Emperor Frederick III

Part III 1215 - 1347

Mongols - their push westward, biographies on notable leaders including Tamerlane

Merchants - Venice and Genoa feature, with the emphasis on trade routes, banking, the rise of the Republics, and of course, Marco Polo and Dick Whittington

Scholars - rise of the universities, translations of Arabic sources, the insular nature of the church scholars, Isidore of Seville

Builders -Edward I's castle building in Wales, cathedrals, fortified cities

Part IV 1347 - 1527

Survivors - plague, little ice age, economic reform and rebellion, reign of Richard II of England

Renewers - Joan of Arc, Jan van Eyck, Leonardo da Vinci, the Medici, the Renaissance, Chaucer, Dante, Petrarch

Navigators - siege of Constantinople, medieval voyager to India, Africa and the Americas, and the explorers such as Henry the Navigator, Magellan, Columbus, and the Conquistadors

Protestants - papal schism, reformation, Martin Luther, Henry VIII, Charles V

So, you can pick and choose areas of interest, which makes the one thousand year history over seven hundred plus pages seem not that daunting.

The aim here is to entertain and inform, and Jones does this remarkably well; and there is - of course - plenty of notes and references for the avid history buff to go exploring further on their own.

I would recommend this to anyone looking for a slightly different take on the history narrative - and for all fans of Jones!