In late 1944, the American Flying Fortress, “Dangerous Dolly”, plunges into an electrical storm to escape destruction by a Nazi jet fighter. Captain Jack Ronan and her aircrew emerge over wartime England in the year 1915. There, they make a forced landing on the estate of an outcast politician named Winston Churchill. Desperate to restore his political career, the erstwhile First Lord of the Admiralty launches Dolly on a one-plane air war against Kaiser Wilhelm. Neither the American aircrew nor the British government know that Churchill is playing a deeper and more dangerous game than he admits.

Churchill and the Americans are unaware of an adversary that could easily destroy Dolly—the jet that pursued her was also drawn into the space-time rift. Ambitious Luftwaffe pilot Fritz Wernher wants to become Imperial Germany’s greatest ace, but instead, is ordered to assist designer Anton Fokker to reverse-engineer the jet. If Fokker succeeds, with overwhelming aerial supremacy, the Central Powers will win the war.

After the American bomber attacks his war industry and humiliates his fleet, the irate Kaiser orders Wernher to destroy the elusive nemesis. When Churchill attacks the infamous Paris Gun, Wernher’s hunt climaxes in a savage air battle. The outcome will change the future of a continent and history as we know it.

Review

Goodbye Dolly is a story of sacrifice, endurance, and determination. It illustrates the complexity of egos in two world wars that cost European lives in both theatres. However, instead of going into a unique perspective on an alternate history of WWII, we have instead travelled to WW1. Captain Jack and his merry crew of the Dangerous Dolly become mired in the events of a tumultuous conflict. What transpires is technological upheaval, a reversal of history, and an excellent display of writing when depicting the naval battles between the Imperial German Navy and the Royal Navy.

The naval aspect of WWI is often not covered in popular media as it deserves. EJ Lake did a ton of research, and it shows from depicting historical figures such as Prime Minister Asquith Churchill with his brand of whiskey he so often likes to consume and the enigmatic Kaiser Wilhelm I. The wide variety of historical characters and their personalities spill onto their page as if Ken Follet had written this novel entirely. That’s how good the writing is! I loved characters like Churchill, Jack, his crew, and many others. The dialogue is rich in historical detail, and no characters feel one-dimensional; instead, they feel like three-dimensional characters. The description makes you feel as if you are in this world. And Dolly the Bomber Airplane? She’s a fantastic plane carrying a brave crew daring to fight against the might of WW1, Germany.

Each character is a testament to the brave men who sacrificed themselves in both world wars. To fight against fierce enemies while defending the right to freedom and democracy against expansionist and imperialist beliefs is not a simple thing to do. That said, the novel does not shy away from depicting the carnage of warfare and the devastating destruction that bombing cities can bring. At some points, I’ve noticed that alternate history novels focus more on the technical details of what has changed than on the story.

At some points, the book often tries to balance between contrasting what changes and what the story should be. I would like to see more alternate history novels focus on the story rather than being hung up on explaining everything that changes. I love books like this, with people from different periods travelling into other areas of history. I once read a story in Quora about Napoleon and his army time travelling back to the Ancient Roman Era. What a story that would be! I want more stuff like this. Where different civilisations meet each other that would never have met. I urge more authors to do this. This is a fantastic novel that I thoroughly recommend you to read!

Rating: 8.2/10

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
A GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK

“This summer’s hottest debut.” —Cosmopolitan • “Witty, sexy escapist fiction [that] packs a substantial punch…It’s a smart, gripping work that’s also a feast for the senses…Fresh and thrilling.” —Los Angeles Times • “Electric…I loved every second.” —Emily Henry

“Utterly winning…Imagine if The Time Traveler’s Wife had an affair with A Gentleman in Moscow…Readers, I envy you: There’s a smart, witty novel in your future.” —Ron Charles, The Washington Post

A time travel romance, a spy thriller, a workplace comedy, and an ingenious exploration of the nature of power and the potential for love to change it all: Welcome to The Ministry of Time, the exhilarating debut novel by Kaliane Bradley.

In the near future, a civil servant is offered the salary of her dreams and is, shortly afterward, told what project she’ll be working on. A recently established government ministry is gathering “expats” from across history to establish whether time travel is feasible—for the body, but also for the fabric of space-time.

She is tasked with working as a “bridge”: living with, assisting, and monitoring the expat known as “1847” or Commander Graham Gore. As far as history is concerned, Commander Gore died on Sir John Franklin’s doomed 1845 expedition to the Arctic, so he’s a little disoriented to be living with an unmarried woman who regularly shows her calves, surrounded by outlandish concepts such as “washing machines,” “Spotify,” and “the collapse of the British Empire.” But with an appetite for discovery, a seven-a-day cigarette habit, and the support of a charming and chaotic cast of fellow expats, he soon adjusts.

Over the next year, what the bridge initially thought would be, at best, a horrifically uncomfortable roommate dynamic, evolves into something much deeper. By the time the true shape of the Ministry’s project comes to light, the bridge has fallen haphazardly, fervently in love, with consequences she never could have imagined. Forced to confront the choices that brought them together, the bridge must finally reckon with how—and whether she believes—what she does next can change the future.

An exquisitely original and feverishly fun fusion of genres and ideas, The Ministry of Time asks: What does it mean to defy history, when history is living in your house? Kaliane Bradley’s answer is a blazing, unforgettable testament to what we owe each other in a changing world.

Review

The Ministry of Time is an odd novel for me; for it has all the right elements of time travel and includes a modern ministry to deal with time travel issues. At the same time, it cleverly connects to the ongoing climate change crisis that the world is being gripped in and foreshadows future wars and how the earth will become terrible to live in. As someone who studied politics at the University of Portsmouth from 2015 to 2019, I witnessed the rise of the Far Right in American Politics and how it spread to European shores. And the reason is simple: People want more. People want to feel safe, and they will follow the rules without saying a word. Yet, when the characters from the past are transported into the 21st century it is an overwhelming transformation from their old pasts.

At the same time, I didn’t feel I was a part of the Ministry, nor did we get much perspective on different Ministry agents or how they dealt with time travel. I watched the original El Ministerio Del Timepio on Netflix set in Spain, which I felt was a better version. The reason is that the agents were recruited from the past, and they were dealing with the past itself. I find that format much better. I would say that the British version adopts a modern approach, in fact, more similar to Sky’s The Lazarus Project. This is a crossover between the Lazarus Project and Doctor Who, except more serious sci-fi. The characters within this novel have bubbling personalities, that resonate with their pasts and have some serious contrasts to the 21st century. Plenty of romance and chemistry between the vast and vibrant cast of characters pulls you into the story.

In the end, I would say that some parts of the story didn’t win me over when it came to the modern-day section. The pacing was slow in some areas, and some prose could have been improved rather it felt more like raw prose that hadn’t been rewritten. But still, I want to see more different formats of Time Travel Ministries being adapted to different cultures. The British version is another adaptation of this brilliant format. But I wish we would stop going into the modern day, and explore history. History is far superior to explaining the problems of the past. After all, the 21st century is the most comfortable period we live in, with fewer wars, and fewer famines, but human greed and politics always play a role because we always want more. Despite this, this novel is 100% worth a read. I would recommend picking it up.

FROM THE ASHES OF AN EMPIRE, A HERO WILL RISE…

‘A dazzlingly epic and richly complex world of dragons, magic, and rebellion’ Amélie Wen Zhao, New York Times bestselling author of Song of Silver, Flame Like Night

‘A classic fantasy adventure that reminds me of the novels I loved growing up, but with a flair of cultivation from the novels I love now’ Will Wight, New York Times bestselling author of the Cradle series

FROM THE ASHES OF AN EMPIRE, A HERO WILL RISE…

Jai has spent his life forced to serve the cruel empire that killed his family and now rules his people.

To grow ever more powerful, the emperor’s young son is betrothed to Princess Erica of the Dansk Kingdom. An unconquerable realm, where ancient beasts roam. The princess brings with her a priceless gift: dragons. Only Dansk Royalty can bond with these magical beasts to draw on their power and strength. Until now.

When the betrothal goes wrong, a bloody coup leads to chaos at court. Finally, Jai has a chance to escape. He flees with a fierce Dansk warrior, Frida, but not before stealing a dragon egg.

To vanquish the empire, he must do the impossible: bond with a dragon. Only then he can seize his destiny, and seek his revenge . . .

An epic new fantasy from New York Times bestselling author Taran Matharu, where dragons fly and empires fall.

‘Bloody, glorious, and irresistibly compelling, Dragon Rider is a riveting epic that is at once sweepingly vast and heart-wrenchingly personal’ Sarah Beth Durst, award-winning author of The Bone Maker

‘An excellent addition to the collection of any fantasy reader!’ Dakota Krout, bestselling author of The Completionist Chronicles

‘Dragons soar, kingdoms clash, and a unlikely hero discovers his inner strength and forges his own destiny’ Jennifer Estep, New York Times bestselling author of the Crown of Shards series

‘Brutal politics, intricate worldbuilding, and edge-of-the-seat battles’ Prashanth Srivatsa, author of The Spice Gate

READ THE EPIC FANTASY WITH SCORCHING FIVE-STAR READER REVIEWS

‘After falling in love with the dragons in Fourth Wing and Iron Flame . . . Dragon Rider did not disappoint in any way. I was hooked’

‘What an absolutely amazing ride this was!’

‘Fans of Iron Flame and Dragonfall will love this book!’

‘Okay, this is a must read! If you like dragons, political intrigue and machinations, and a touch of violence, pick it up!’

Review

There was something about this book that pulled me into this story; not even 500 pages was enough to keep me back from going further into the story wanting to discover what happened. I had a sense of urgency because epic fantasy books are either slow in their worldbuilding or medium-paced in the other sense that they’ll contain a lot of story and worldbuilding combined. Yet, I read Dragon Rider and became attached to Jai’s story instantly. I liked Lenoid, but I hated him at the same time. You’ll understand that everything that happens within Jai’s journey is because of good old Emperor Lenoid.

Every page I read through, made me want to go further. Jai had a story that was worthy of the heroes of old. It was exceptionally gripping to see how his character evolved, from being the son of a Steppeman to becoming something else. Hope, and inspiration for other characters under the heel of the Sabines. And the Sabines are as good as they get; they’re hated by everybody! That should be enough to give you an idea of the story. It’s a story full of colourful characters, but sometimes they did fall into the good vs bad trope, and I want more nuance within the characters that are opposed to Jai. That doesn’t mean it detracts from the story either.

Yet at the same time, some criticism that I did have: the story did contain traditional fantasy tropes, and sometimes the magic explanation was a bit too cumbersome and could have been paced down. Some parts could have been slow, but there are some exceptional writing scenes especially when it comes to dungeons. I would have wanted better diversity when it came to displaying races such as the Dansk which was more or less your typical fantasy Viking race. I would have wanted more variety such as a race based on the Carthaginians, the Kushites, or more. There are hints of it within the Phoneix Empire and the deserts. But I’ve noticed in many fantasy novels now being published; that you’ll mention a ‘desert’ land, and then the Far East, and we never get to go there. So I want to see more of them being put into the story.

All that being said, this was an EXCEPTIONAL story. Probably one of the best Adult Fantasy Debuts of 2024 that can be compared to Dragon’s Dogma 2 and other fantasy novels out there. It’s a enticing world, and you will not regret it.

Also Winter for the win. She’s awesome

-Norbert Zsivicz first book, the Hungarian Literary Award winner Sealed Empire now available in English by the famous translator Tamás Pétersz (Game of Thrones).

Blurb

Ser Edward, an experienced sailor, embarks on perhaps the most daring expedition of the Kingdom of Esenworth so far. His mission is to try to earn the blessing of the Reverend Sven, who is none other than his love’s father, probably the most influential man in the realm. But on his journey beset by fierce storms, he and his men encounter something that could shake to the core not only their faith, but their very concept of the world as well. Meanwhile, far from the oceans, his love, Emma, is trying to disentangle herself from the spider’s web of intrigue and scheming, into which she is being drawn ever deeper by Erick the new king.

And the dark clouds just keep gathering above – ancient beasts, stranger than ever, appear at sea, on land and even in the skies more and more frequently. They roar with a metallic screech, their eyes glow with an unnatural light, their skin hard and rigid as armor.

Can order be upheld in this age blind to divine prophecy, in the largest kingdom of the North, where the monarch’s mind is coming undone just like reality itself?

Our heroes must struggle ceaselessly to understand the hidden secrets of their world and their own origins. But what are they going to do once they have the answers?

Review

Sealed Empire was a novel that got me engrossed in its good world-building. The characters of Edem, Edward and Emma got me immersed in this fancy but brutal Medieval World. It’s a story filled with engaging characters, with high stakes and showing the madness that is humanity. It’s a classic mix of some sci-fi elements combined with Medieval Madness. That said, sometimes it did tend to slow down in pacing, and it also went into some traditional fantasy tropes that I would have not needed, but it was a good introduction to this new world.

And here’s the thing; it’s characters each have an arc of their own and proper goals of how they want to live their lives. And King Erick? Boy. This man is a servant of the darkness, someone you never want to serve. He’s an amalgamation of Nero and Commodus, the worst of the worst. You will see exactly why I say this. I’m trying to avoid story spoilers because there are some fantastic twists and turns in this novel.

Sealed Empire magnifies the traditional trope of fantasy and gives its unique twist similar to Michael J Sullivan’s works. I’d compare the idea that their works are similar; engaging characters in a mad medieval world filled with magic and high stakes; conspiracies and character arcs that satisfy that goal. I was so engrossed I kept reading and reading. I want MORE. I want MORE of that desert world, I just need more. A glossary is also needed, however. It’s 8/10, and you need to GET THIS NOW! It’s that GOOD!

Rating: 8/10
An action-packed flintlock fantasy book about guns, mages, bards and dragons!

Ulric, former war hero, has been living a quiet life of exile in the frontier city of Quinport and wants only to continue hiding from the mistakes of his past. But then he discovers the invention of a revolutionary new kind of rifle, and worse, the ruling Coalition discovers his identity. Rather than be blackmailed into service, Ulric goes to leave the city with the new rifles, but first he will need more money, or more help.

Enter Dellioph, no mere bard, who just arrived to Quinport and wants only to play his music and to keep his secrets. But trying to do both lands him directly in the path of one of the Coalition Chancellors, who wants to use Dellioph, and his secrets, for himself. Unable to scheme his way out entirely, Dellioph must choose to keep his secrets, his freedom, or his music. But when the choice is between anything and his music, it’s no choice at all.

And Gali, future chief of the Odagna, who wants nothing more than to save her people, even if that means forcing them to change. She disobeys her father, lies to her people, and travels to the Coalition city to learn how to do some of the things they do— making and using muskets foremost among them. But the people of the Coalition are not ready to accept the Teo, and Gali will be forced to learn the hard way that a renegade’s only friend is another renegade.

Meanwhile, two mysterious strangers from opposite sides of the world come hunting a sorcerer who has unbelievable power, a hunger for more, and dragons… but they are nothing like the stories.

Order your copy and join the action-packed journey of flintlocks, magic and dragons!

Review

Picture a world full of colonialism, guns, colonials, rivalries and magic. And also singing bards that seem to have a knack for charisma as well as getting into trouble quite often. This was an excellent novel that made me more interested in its world building as I read. Plenty of fights, drinking, a lot, and a lot of swearing, cussing and power plays. This is a world of brutality and harm, but also a world of peace.

This story is accompanied by a wide cast of great supporting characters and great dialogue. Through every second I felt the frustration of the Teo and the anger of the citizens of the coalition. I felt as if I too needed to be there and rally against the injustice. Yet it’s a world of conflicting alliances and I loved Dellioph and Ulric, Gali and Devo and so many others. This dude here knows how to write an entertaining novel.

All in all, a triumphant debut and I can’t wait to read more. Get this while you can. You will not regret

In a world of forbidden magic and cunning royals, a fugitive queen bargains with her kingdom’s greatest enemy and is soon embroiled in a deadly game that could resurrect her scorched kingdom, or leave it in ashes forever. A stunning enemies-to-lovers fantasy debut, perfect for fans of Fourth Wing and The Jasmine Throne.

At ten years old, the Heir of Jasad flees a massacre that takes her entire family.

At fifteen, she buries her first body.

At twenty, the clock is ticking on Sylvia’s third attempt at home. Nizahl’s armies have laid waste to Jasad and banned magic across the four remaining kingdoms. Fortunately, Sylvia’s magic is as good at playing dead as she is.

When the Nizahl Heir tracks a group of Jasadis to Sylvia’s village, the quiet life she’s crafted unravels. Calculating and cold, Arin’s tactical brilliance is surpassed only by his hatred for magic. When a mistake exposes Sylvia’s magic, Arin offers her an escape: compete as Nizahl’s Champion in the Alcalah tournament and win immunity from persecution. In exchange, Arin will use her as bait to draw out the Jasadis he’s hunting.

To win the deadly Alcalah, Sylvia must work with Arin to free her trapped magic, all while staying a step ahead of his efforts to uncover her identity. But as the two grow closer, Sylvia realizes winning her freedom as Nizahl’s Champion means destroying any chance of reuniting Jasad under her banner. The scorched kingdom is rising again, and Sylvia will have to choose between the life she’s earned and the one she left behind.

Review

Thank you to Nazia/Little Brown Books for the Review Copy!

Magic is the lifeblood of this world. It is the very thing that I would say sustains life. Yet, there are those who would hate it, be envious of it, and oppress others simply for even wanting to use it. Because it is the envious that rules this world, and the passion that is perscueted. Sylvia, or shall we say the Heir of Jasad lives a life in hiding, trying to keep her magic hidden from the glaring eyes of the Nizahl Kingdom, who had destroyed the once glorious Kingdom of Jasad. And that’s when life begins to change. Arin and his cold calculating method of persuasion and torture slowly brings Sylvia into his side.

It is always fascinating to see this new world of Arabic-inspired fantasy that is coming onto the scene of traditional fantasy. I applaud it and want more. Playing Assassin’s Creed Mirage which is set in 8th century Baghdad has got me more interested in Medieval Arabic culture, and when I read this novel, I could only think of where the author has been inspired from, including Medieval Egypt under the Ayyubids. There is immense worldbuilding provided and I want more. That’s it. This is another world of magic vs non-magic yet told in a different way.

I would say that sometimes the pacing of the novel slowed down a bit, and a world glossary would have been needed as it would have helped. Writing big epic fantasy novels requires a lot of work, especially from the author’s side and sometimes little details like this can be missed. What you read will be the product of countless hours of draft and Sara, the author also told about how she rediscovered her Arabic heritage by learning about it. There is special care and attention to detail that you can see in this novel. That said, I think this is a fantastic novel, and you need to go and read it now!

Synopsis

‘STRIKINGLY INTENSE. . . IMMERSIVE AND THOROUGHLY COMPELLING’ SFX

The war is over but peace can be hell.

Demons continue to burn farmlands, violent mercenaries roam the wilds and a plague is spreading. The country of Eidyn is on its knees.

In a society that fears and shuns him, Aranok is the first mage to be named king’s envoy. And his latest task is to restore and exiled foreign queen to her throne.

The band of allies he assembles each have their own unique skills. But they are strangers to one another, and at every step across the ravaged land, a new threat emerges, lies are revealed and distrust could destroy everything they are working for. Somehow, Aranok must bring his companions together and uncover the conspiracy that threatens the kingdom – before war returns to the realms again.

A fast-paced epic fantasy, filled with swashbuckling action and expansive worldbuilding, The Lost War is perfect for fans of Nicholas Eames’ Kings of the Wyld and RJ Barker.

Praise for The Lost War:

‘An exciting, action-packed fantasy’ Mark Lawrence

‘Justin’s book reads like you’ve been dropped in the middle of a classic fantasy adventure, full of familiar elements twisted to be terrifying. . . Exquisite‘ Gareth Hanrahan, author of The Sword Defiant

‘Excellent – full of great characters, tense action scenes and truly surprising twists. A highly recommended read’ James Islington, author of The Shadow of What was Lost

‘Rich in action and intrigue, this fantasy adventure with a Scottish flavour is sure to please fans of David Gemmell‘ Anthony Ryan, New York Times bestselling author

‘A fantastic read. . . It’s an exceptional book and I can’t recommend it enough’ Steve McHugh, author of The Last Raven

‘Compelling and entertaining. . . inventive and fun.’ SciFiNow

‘Genuinely surprised and delighted me‘ Anna Stephens, author of Godblind

‘Highly entertaining fantasy. . .extremely readable’ Tom Lloyd, author of Twilight Reign

‘A blistering tale packed with action and adventure‘ Evening News

‘This book has a perfect blend of everything‘ Spells and Spaceships

‘Outstanding. . . The Lost War is easily one of the biggest surprises of the year’ Novel Notions

Review

Imagine Time and Memory were but a distant memory. Where you weren’t able to recall your own life, and you now live in the shadows of murky distances and half-truths. The truth itself is a powerful tool, but the lie is greater. The lie is the very object of what is a human’s fantasy. A lie deceives and deceives someone. It deceives us all. The title of the novel itself illustrates exactly what a paradoxical tale the Lost War is. It is a war of time and memory. A war of elegant histories and magic, of showing prejudice and the horrors of it. Of curses and such.

So many emotions occurred when I was reading this novel. It has a great set up of characters, and Aranok and Allanandria are the two stars of the novel. I really liked their chemistry. I must say that the use of time and travel itself is a very nicely elaborated concept within the novel itself. The writing is solid, and the worldbuilding feels unique enough though it may contain traces of the typical medieval world. I would, however, compare this novel to Matthew Ward’s The Legacy trilogy. Very comparable in terms of worldbuilding, prose, and carrying similar elements. Also, the Sword Undefiant is very similar to this as well.

All in all, this is a great novel that you will definitely enjoy. I am enjoying the worldbuilding so much that I just find it amazing. Justin, you’ve done a fantastic job. A 9/10 from me!

This electrifying novel set in the world of Cyberpunk 2077 follows a group of strangers as they discover that the dangers of Night City are all too real. In neon-drenched Night City, a ragtag group of strangers have just pulled off a daring heist on a Militech convoy transporting a mysterious container. What do each of them have in common? Good, old-fashioned blackmail. Forced to do the job, they have no idea how far their employer’s reach goes, nor what mysterious object the container holds.

The newly-formed gang – consisting of a veteran turned renegade, a Militech sleeper agent, an amateur netrunner, a corporate negotiator, a ripperdoc and a techie – must overcome their differences and work together lest their secrets come to light before they can pull off the next deadly heist.

Review:

Have you ever wanted to do a heist while not getting screwed over by Militech and the Corpos? Well welcome to Night City! This world is alive and bustling, with flashing neon lights and cold rain pouring down the streets. Rival Gangs grip the crime world, and cyber upgrades in human bodies are a real thing. Want to get clean water? That’s a subscription. Want to get access to stuff? Subscription. Cyberpunk 2077: No Coincidence is a novel that brings the world of this amazing setting alive. The book is brim to packed with extra details for fans of the Cyberpunk 2077 novel.

All in all, the novel is packed with exciting characters with feisty personalities. Zor was one of my favorites, a man who’s searching for questions. Milenna, is a strong intelligent woman who is trying to navigate her life in Night City. Liam, is a professional policeman who wants to bring justice to the city but finds that corrupt politics always plays a big role. Seems like something hasn’t changed. If anything, Albert is the most flawed character in this novel. His backstory is interesting enough that it’ll engage you in it. Multi POVs help bring this world alive.

A glossary would have helped in between to help casual readers who might not have heard about this world, as sometimes the novel goes into full depth into extra secrets that you might not find anywhere else. As a gamer, I played Cyberpunk. I love the stories it tells. And recently update 2.0 came out which overhauls the game to such an extent, that this novel is an extension of what I’m reading here. I loved the writing that popped out every little detail of offices, and how people live, everything about it is just awesome. The writing was really solid. This is a true adaptation of the video game’s world and setting. You really have to read this now!

An imaginative and sprawling epic fantasy reimagining of the Mongol Empire’s invasion of Persia, following the lives and treacherous journeys of four key figures in the heart of war.

1260, Persia:

Due to the efforts of the great Genghis Khan, the Mongol Empire covers a vast portion of the known world.

In the shadow of his grandfather, Hulagu, ruler of the Ilkhanate, is determined to create a single empire that covers the entire world. His method? Violence.

His youngest son, Temujin, struggles to find his place in his father’s bloody rule. After another failure, Temujin is given one last chance to prove himself to Hulagu, who is sure there is a great warrior buried deep inside. But there’s something else rippling under the surface… something far more powerful and dangerous than they could ever imagine…

Reduced to the position of one of Hulagu’s many wives, the Blue Princess Kokochin is the last of her tribe. Alone and forgotten in a foreign land, Kokochin is unwilling to spend her days seeking out trivial pursuits. Seeking purpose, she finds herself wandering down a path that grants her more power than a wife of the ruler may be allowed.

Kaivon, the Persian rebel who despises the Mongols for the massacre of his people, thirsts for revenge. However, he knows alone he cannot destroy the empire. When given the opportunity to serve Hulagu, Kaivon must put aside his feelings and risk his life for a chance to destroy from within an empire that aims to conquer the world.

Family and war collide in this thrilling and bloody reimagining of the Mongol Empire’s invasion of Persia.

Review

It is often rare that you get a novel that encompasses one of the most brutal time periods in all of history, and showcases the grandeur of the Mongol Empire in all of its glory. The historical cast of this overwhelming story is brought alive in ways that you instantly develop a connection with them. Many of these characters, from Hulagu Khan down to his son, Temujin, Doquz, his mistress, and Karion, the Persian General who unwillingly serves under them. This is a world where the Mongols are showing signs of decline, but they cannot be underestimated. The Mongols destroyed city after city, village after village, and then quickly rebuilt what they could to act as if no one had ever heard of it. Their reputation for brutality was well deserved. But then, there have been many Empires that have done the same.

The rich worldbuilding is a result of the immense research that must have been taken by Stephen Aryan. Every character from the main cast to the small character felt unique. Each has its own personality and traits. Many have their own motives. An underlying theme however exists: All are scared of the Great Khan of the Mongol Empire. And civil war is teetering now that Subotai, the greatest general of Genghis Khan has passed away. To serve the Khan is to show your loyalty, and pay tribute. But to show disloyalty and plot behind the scenes is even more difficult. The brutal siege of Baghdad is depicted in a blunt manner, and I appreciate the author for showcasing the fact that Baghdad had been a great city, a city that was the wealth of knowledge, and the patron of the Islamic World under the Abbasaids. What happened on that fateful day, is a disgrace to mankind itself. One could compare it to the fall of Carthage, the fall of Corinth, the sack of Babylon, and the destruction of Persepolis itself. There is a reason you will begin to fear the Mongol Army.

Conn Iggulden wrote an epic series based on the Mongol Empire a long time back. I would definitely compare this to it. This is Iggulden’s style of writing. And while there are fantastical elements shown in this, I am pleased to see the elements of spirituality and magic combined together. The novel illustrates many points of view, from Mongol Concubines to showcasing a huge female cast, being the wives of the Great Khan, who carry gravitas and a willingness to navigate through the court of Mongol Imperial Power. You will get attached to characters, and then there may be moments when you will come to despise them. But this was the Middle Ages after all. I can’t include everything in this review because this novel encompasses a vast multicultural world of ethnicities that once existed. Now they are gone. There is a story: Freedom. That’s what this novel is about.

This is the beginning of an epic series that will unsheathe the light of a forgotten world that has not existed in millennia. A world in which the Mongols, the Persians, the Franks, and the Mamluks of Egypt shall clash with each other. A story that will want you on your side. It only remains to be open once you open this book. I am thoroughly impressed. A 10/10 from me! I cannot wait to read the sequel!

Much has been written about the Roman army and the mighty legions that conquered their empire and then defended it for centuries against all comers. But little has been written about the men and units employed when something more subtle than the march of legions into pitched battle was required. This is the only book available dedicated to Roman special ops and the role of the Speculatores, Exploratores, Protectores and Areani.

Simon Elliott reveals the kinds of special operations conducted by the tactical scouting ahead of the legions, covert strategic reconnaissance in neighboring states, espionage, assassination or abduction of dissidents and enemies, counter-insurgency, and close protection of Roman officials and commanders. While such missions were frequently executed by ad-hoc units or individuals detailed for that specific mission, the author goes on to reveal the evidence for the aforementioned specialist units. He concludes with an analysis of the extent to which these various forces corresponded to a modern conception of Special Forces. These men were the eyes and ears of the Empire, the deadly tip of the Roman sword.

Review

If one were to say the term, secret special forces, and associate that with the Roman Empire I’m not sure they would have a proper idea of what that meant, for the history of the Roman Empire and the Roman Army is so vast. It is as extensive from the beginning of Rome till its end. This book has a solid understanding of the events of Roman History, ranging from the Republic to the Late Empire. And Simon goes extensively into the many varieties of spy organizations, special forces that would be known as the explorates (I am simply condensing it because there are a lot of Latin names mentioned for a degree of military and state organizations that evolved).

You might be interested to hear that when a Roman Legion had to defeat a marauding Briton army, the Roman General at that time ordered his Batavain Auxiliaries that were comfortable swimming in full armor to harass the Britons at night. What did the Batavian Auxiliaries do? They either poisoned the horses or slit their throats. While revolting, it did the job of preventing the Britons from using their chariots, and the job was done. Or you might want to know how different spy organisations that were made by the Emperors, were never really trusted by them. How did Ceasar achieve his victories in Gaul?

Because he had an informed spy network during his campaign, gathered intelligence and struck at the right moment. Without this spy network, certain Roman units being designated for specific roles, the function of the Roman Army would have been less cumbersome. In many cases, the Emperors of Rome distrusted the Praetorian Guard and often distrusted the informer networks that they had (not all). There’s so much richly packed detail h

At the end, this book covers a lot of the Roman provinces, from Britannia to Rome, and to Egypt and North Africa. At the same time I felt there is so much to be uncovered, that I would read a 500 page book detailing in far more detail about the Special Forces of Ancient Rome. I would also go into detail exploring the naval aspect of the Roman Empire, and see how special forces and spy networks played a crucial role in maintaining Rome’s role. This book is a good introductory to the special forces of the Roman Empire and it’s spy networks. I just need a longer book. It’s a fantastic oversight of an fascinating history of the Roman Army that’s rarely explored!