Genre ... Historical fiction
Publication Date ... May 2022
Standalone Book 3 of The Histories of Sphax series
Estimated Page Count: 380
217 BC. Rome has been savaged, beaten and is in retreat. Yet, in that winter of winters, her garrisons cling on behind the walls of Placentia and Cremona, thanks to her sea-born supplies. If he could be freed, a hostage of Rome may yet hold the key to launching a fleet of pirates that could sweep Rome from the seas. For that hostage is none other than Corinna’s son Cleon, rival heir to the throne of Illyria, held in Brundisium, four hundred miles south of the Rubicon.
But Hannibal is set on a greater prize! Macedon is the great power in Greece, feared even by Rome. Its young king, Philip, is being compared with his illustrious ancestor, Alexander the Great. An alliance with Macedon would surely sound the death knell for Rome.
Given Hannibal’s blessing, Sphax, Idwal and Corinna face an epic journey against impossible odds. Navigating the length of the Padus, past legionary garrisons and hostile Gauls, they must then risk the perils of the storm-torn Adria in the depths of the winter. If the gods favour them and they reach the lands of the pirate queen, only then will their real trials begin. ... Synopsis
Sphax watched anxiously as Jagurtha, Hanon and Abgal threaded their javelins. ... First Sentence, Part One: Chapter One
Even as they watched, the light seemed to diminish from the world. Moments later the first squall hit, splattering with hailstones as the mainsail billowed, lurching them forward almost out of control.
'We can outrun it. We must outrun it!' he heard Corinna mutter under her breath before she yelled, 'Camo! Elpis! Man every oar. Row for your lives!'... Memorable Moment, Page 82
I've enjoyed following the journey of Sphax from a young man, his childhood spent a slave, intent on seeking revenge for his parent's murders to a strong, capable warrior, here in book 3, The Hostage Of Rome, tasked with a new challenge ... may the gods favour him.
I've enjoyed sharing in his exploits, in listening to the 'banter' between himself and the Numidians, none of them natural sailors, their navigating the Padus leading to some witty retorts as you may imagine.
More than this though, I've enjoyed Corinna. I've enjoyed her become the strong, feisty woman I'd hoped her to be; her go from strength to strength, her coming into her own, assuring her a place as one of my favourite characters of 2020.
With thanks to the author for a compelling, action pact read, much of it taking place at sea, a list of principal characters, some of them fictional, some of them actual historical figures, and the interesting historical notes.
That’s why I’m a novelist on a mission! I want to set the historical record straight. Our entire history of Hannibal’s wars with Rome is nothing short of propaganda, written by Greeks and Romans for their Roman clients. It intrigues me that Hannibal took two Greek scholars and historians with him on campaign, yet their histories of Rome’s deadliest war have never seen the light of day.
My hero, Sphax the Numidian, tells a different story!
When I’m not waging war with my pen, I like to indulge my passion for travel and hill walking, and like my hero, I too love horses. I live in Pembrokeshire, West Wales.
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