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dwilder's review against another edition
3.0
Not bad, quite enjoyable really but somewhat shallow in detail. Very little about the roman equipment or troop formation. Strong on the novel, weak on the historical fiction
speesh's review against another edition
5.0
There’s perhaps only one thing wrong with Eagles at War - it’s not near long enough. I’m maybe a glutton for this kind of punishment, but the battle in the Teutoburg forest, as written by the right honourable Ben Kane here, is insanely tense, down and dirty, life on the line, not knowing from one minute to the next where the arrow, sword or spear with your name on it is coming from, tense.
It is the perennial Historical Fiction problem don’t you think, when you’re writing of an actual recorded event, for which the outcome is known - how do you get it to be tense, thrilling, edge of the seat, when everyone - even those who haven’t seen (or read) a history of the massacre (oops!), like the one called Rome’s Greatest Defeat. No amount of hoping they don’t go into the forest, that the leader isn’t quite so pig-headed, maybe will listen to Tullus and reconsider trusting Arminius, can change the inevitable. For Ben to have done it so well, even reaching towards the class of The Day of The Jackal, speaks volumes for his writing.
Because of Ben’s writerly background and because of us having bought this book to read about Romans, it’s the Romans’ side we’re on. The other lot are trouser-wearing barbarians. To the Romans and to us. However, Ben is excellent in giving the local tribes’ grievances and fears over the coming of the Romans, equal strength. As I understand it, (their leader) Arminius, it wasn’t his birth name, maybe not the name used at the time, but by Ben using the name for him here, it gives an added feeling of treachery to the plot and putting us even more firmly behind the Romans.
There are other characters galore here, on both sides. One leads the way though. And it isn’t Arminius. It’s the Roman Centurian Tullus. Wouldn’t we all hope we’d be just behind him, or someone like him, in this sort of desperate situation? He's a wonderful creation and I have no doubt he alone could carry the series. Though my personal favourite is Dagmar. I hope he survives!
Then we get to the forest.
It's in the forest Ben's writing really comes to the fore. He is quite simply superb at putting over the big picture, while also concentrating on the ‘it could have been you and me’ feeling of the boots on the ground Roman soldier. The ‘grunt.’ With the background to the tribes’ motivation put over so adroitly - facing a foreign conquering army, from a long way away, not understanding their local culture, wanting to conquer and subdue, not work with and co-operate, that’s if they absolutely have to be there at all - does that remind you of anything? Any conflict of more recent years? Maybe you have to be of my generation, or with my interests: The Vietnam War.
It’s Vietnam in the forest. No doubt about it. I’ve read many, many Vietnam War books in my time, and even if Ben Kane hasn’t, he certainly comes over as if he has. The claustrophobic, never-ending nerve-shredding unseen menace is the same as described by American soldiers in the forests of Vietnam. And if I’m going to draw a modern parallel with the Vietnam War, then I'm also bound to say my overriding feeling from this book is, separated by 1960-odd years or not - nothing has changed. Read it and see, you'll agree.
I think a reader might be forgiven for thinking ‘well, why not turn around and go back?’ However, thinking about how Ben has the attacks on the Romans unfold, it could perhaps be inferred that the opening attacks, were small scale to have the Romans believe they were just isolated, maybe opportunist, attacks the army would be able to march on through. And only when they were too far in, to contemplate turning round, did the attacks begin in overwhelming force. This does to me suggest also that the Romans didn't have an accurate appreciation of the forests size. No local guides or information. And that while the army was spread out to near breaking point along narrow forest paths, no one had any real idea of the situation as a whole. No one riding up and down the lines, though Ben does have a couple of incidents with messengers. Clearly I’m perhaps thinking of it in modern terms, where the back could radio to the front and communicate easily. The Romans didn’t, I think I’m correct in saying, have radios. Then, there’s the face-losing aspect. No Roman leader, as is implied, worth his salt would admit to have made a mistake like going into the forest. So, they had to go on, they couldn’t, physically as well as mentally, turn round.
If the whole thing is worthy of a trilogy, I think the jury is still out. I have the second two in the series, but haven’t read them as at the time of writing. If you’re looking at just the conflict, the build up to, the march through the forest and the battle, with its immediate aftermath, then a one volume, this book, would do. But no one writes - or commissions, it seems - one-offs these days. Things always seem to be planned as trilogies from the start. I’ll write about this historical event! "Can you get three books out of it? Even if you can’t, do!" Robert Fabbri seems to have written a one volume book on Arminius, which I have yet to read, so I don’t know if that is basically the yin to this’ yang, but certainly it shows that a one-off on this can be done. I just do wish, that authors would announce their new book. Now always, always, announce their new series. How refreshing that would be.
The web's best book blog is: Speesh Reads
The Facebook's best page is: Speesh Reads
It is the perennial Historical Fiction problem don’t you think, when you’re writing of an actual recorded event, for which the outcome is known - how do you get it to be tense, thrilling, edge of the seat, when everyone - even those who haven’t seen (or read) a history of the massacre (oops!), like the one called Rome’s Greatest Defeat. No amount of hoping they don’t go into the forest, that the leader isn’t quite so pig-headed, maybe will listen to Tullus and reconsider trusting Arminius, can change the inevitable. For Ben to have done it so well, even reaching towards the class of The Day of The Jackal, speaks volumes for his writing.
Because of Ben’s writerly background and because of us having bought this book to read about Romans, it’s the Romans’ side we’re on. The other lot are trouser-wearing barbarians. To the Romans and to us. However, Ben is excellent in giving the local tribes’ grievances and fears over the coming of the Romans, equal strength. As I understand it, (their leader) Arminius, it wasn’t his birth name, maybe not the name used at the time, but by Ben using the name for him here, it gives an added feeling of treachery to the plot and putting us even more firmly behind the Romans.
There are other characters galore here, on both sides. One leads the way though. And it isn’t Arminius. It’s the Roman Centurian Tullus. Wouldn’t we all hope we’d be just behind him, or someone like him, in this sort of desperate situation? He's a wonderful creation and I have no doubt he alone could carry the series. Though my personal favourite is Dagmar. I hope he survives!
Then we get to the forest.
It's in the forest Ben's writing really comes to the fore. He is quite simply superb at putting over the big picture, while also concentrating on the ‘it could have been you and me’ feeling of the boots on the ground Roman soldier. The ‘grunt.’ With the background to the tribes’ motivation put over so adroitly - facing a foreign conquering army, from a long way away, not understanding their local culture, wanting to conquer and subdue, not work with and co-operate, that’s if they absolutely have to be there at all - does that remind you of anything? Any conflict of more recent years? Maybe you have to be of my generation, or with my interests: The Vietnam War.
It’s Vietnam in the forest. No doubt about it. I’ve read many, many Vietnam War books in my time, and even if Ben Kane hasn’t, he certainly comes over as if he has. The claustrophobic, never-ending nerve-shredding unseen menace is the same as described by American soldiers in the forests of Vietnam. And if I’m going to draw a modern parallel with the Vietnam War, then I'm also bound to say my overriding feeling from this book is, separated by 1960-odd years or not - nothing has changed. Read it and see, you'll agree.
I think a reader might be forgiven for thinking ‘well, why not turn around and go back?’ However, thinking about how Ben has the attacks on the Romans unfold, it could perhaps be inferred that the opening attacks, were small scale to have the Romans believe they were just isolated, maybe opportunist, attacks the army would be able to march on through. And only when they were too far in, to contemplate turning round, did the attacks begin in overwhelming force. This does to me suggest also that the Romans didn't have an accurate appreciation of the forests size. No local guides or information. And that while the army was spread out to near breaking point along narrow forest paths, no one had any real idea of the situation as a whole. No one riding up and down the lines, though Ben does have a couple of incidents with messengers. Clearly I’m perhaps thinking of it in modern terms, where the back could radio to the front and communicate easily. The Romans didn’t, I think I’m correct in saying, have radios. Then, there’s the face-losing aspect. No Roman leader, as is implied, worth his salt would admit to have made a mistake like going into the forest. So, they had to go on, they couldn’t, physically as well as mentally, turn round.
If the whole thing is worthy of a trilogy, I think the jury is still out. I have the second two in the series, but haven’t read them as at the time of writing. If you’re looking at just the conflict, the build up to, the march through the forest and the battle, with its immediate aftermath, then a one volume, this book, would do. But no one writes - or commissions, it seems - one-offs these days. Things always seem to be planned as trilogies from the start. I’ll write about this historical event! "Can you get three books out of it? Even if you can’t, do!" Robert Fabbri seems to have written a one volume book on Arminius, which I have yet to read, so I don’t know if that is basically the yin to this’ yang, but certainly it shows that a one-off on this can be done. I just do wish, that authors would announce their new book. Now always, always, announce their new series. How refreshing that would be.
The web's best book blog is: Speesh Reads
The Facebook's best page is: Speesh Reads
lindzy's review against another edition
5.0
Full review here
It’s been a while since I’ve indulged in any Roman fiction, so I figured adding some to my review list was a certain way to rectify that. It’s been a few years since I read my last Ben Kane book and I’ve been meaning to get to this trilogy for a while.
Eagles at War definitely filled my craving. It had the developed characters, the long, drawn-out battles, the tactics and the impossible odds that make these books addictive. There are moments when the violence made me squirm a little – there’s only a few graphic scenes (which, considering half the book is one battle, I was grateful for) but as a warning for those who don’t like those scenes, this might not be the one for you.
One thing I thoroughly enjoy about Ben Kane’s writing is the split narration. It never just follows one person, which means the good/bad division is always a grey area.
Tullus is a centurion, a veteran with many years of service behind him. Tullus became my favourite within the first few paragraphs of being introduced to him. His men clearly respect him and he knows exactly what to do and say to keep them going, whether through the boredom of repeating drills or to keep them moving when all is lost. You can respect him but he’s not infallible, which makes him relatable. He doubts, he hurts and he feels as overwhelmed as the rest of them.
Arminius is supposed to be charismatic, but he’s the one character I never warmed to. From the off-set, you know what he is planning to do and whose side he is really on; it’s hard to like a character you know is about to betray everyone else, especially when the other characters are your favourites. He’s strong in his own right: determined, patient and cunning. I just didn’t like him – and had the impression I wasn’t supposed to like him (he’s the bad guy, after all!)
The commander, Varus, was neither here nor there. He was likeable enough for the first half, but his failure to listen to reason – especially when we know it’s true – made him weak. Piso is the underdog you instinctively want to survive – and the one that somehow proves himself despite all odds. There was a good mix of characters and conflicting personalities for an interesting read.
The pace is fairly slow: events unfold leisurely for the majority of the book. But the tension is sky-high, especially the second half. It’s one continuous battle, where every page brings new survivors and new horrors for the men caught in the cross-fire. I was gripped; I had to know who made it through and how they were going to survive the next ambush.
But it is these long, drawn out battles that I love about Roman fiction, and this certainly did not disappoint. A very strong start to what I believe is going to be a thrilling trilogy and I can’t wait to continue it.
It’s been a while since I’ve indulged in any Roman fiction, so I figured adding some to my review list was a certain way to rectify that. It’s been a few years since I read my last Ben Kane book and I’ve been meaning to get to this trilogy for a while.
Eagles at War definitely filled my craving. It had the developed characters, the long, drawn-out battles, the tactics and the impossible odds that make these books addictive. There are moments when the violence made me squirm a little – there’s only a few graphic scenes (which, considering half the book is one battle, I was grateful for) but as a warning for those who don’t like those scenes, this might not be the one for you.
One thing I thoroughly enjoy about Ben Kane’s writing is the split narration. It never just follows one person, which means the good/bad division is always a grey area.
Tullus is a centurion, a veteran with many years of service behind him. Tullus became my favourite within the first few paragraphs of being introduced to him. His men clearly respect him and he knows exactly what to do and say to keep them going, whether through the boredom of repeating drills or to keep them moving when all is lost. You can respect him but he’s not infallible, which makes him relatable. He doubts, he hurts and he feels as overwhelmed as the rest of them.
Arminius is supposed to be charismatic, but he’s the one character I never warmed to. From the off-set, you know what he is planning to do and whose side he is really on; it’s hard to like a character you know is about to betray everyone else, especially when the other characters are your favourites. He’s strong in his own right: determined, patient and cunning. I just didn’t like him – and had the impression I wasn’t supposed to like him (he’s the bad guy, after all!)
The commander, Varus, was neither here nor there. He was likeable enough for the first half, but his failure to listen to reason – especially when we know it’s true – made him weak. Piso is the underdog you instinctively want to survive – and the one that somehow proves himself despite all odds. There was a good mix of characters and conflicting personalities for an interesting read.
The pace is fairly slow: events unfold leisurely for the majority of the book. But the tension is sky-high, especially the second half. It’s one continuous battle, where every page brings new survivors and new horrors for the men caught in the cross-fire. I was gripped; I had to know who made it through and how they were going to survive the next ambush.
But it is these long, drawn out battles that I love about Roman fiction, and this certainly did not disappoint. A very strong start to what I believe is going to be a thrilling trilogy and I can’t wait to continue it.
bookfever's review against another edition
5.0
I requested Eagles at War kind of randomly on NetGalley when I saw it and it was a spur in the moment decision when I decided to start reading it soon after I got approved for it. I love history, especially history of this era but I didn't know a single thing about the battle of the Teutoburg Forest. And to be honest I didn't think I would enjoy this book because I didn't think I'd like a book that focuses on the military espects in history. But guess what? I ended up absolutely loving it and it's my favorite book that I have read in 2015 so far.
I was intrigued by all of the characters. From the characters that were created by the author to the ones that had once lived.There was just something about the way Ben Kane wrote these characters that made me want to find out what was going to happen to them. I especially liked reading about Roman centurion Tullus, and chieftain Arminius.
The book switched points of view a bit between a couple of characters but I was always glad the most when it returned to Tullus. He was an incredible character.
There was also a certain suspense to the story, knowing a big battle is imminent because Arminius is planning to betray and ambush the Romans. And naturally, the book was very action-packed, gritty and intense.
The book took me almost a week to finish. Generally I finish books way faster because I usually read shorter ones but it was totally worth it. I was pretty much hooked from the moment I read the prologue up to the ending.
And I also have to say that after finishing the book, I actually found myself wanting to read and learn more about the battle of the Teutoburg Forest.
I dived into this book blindly, not knowing what to expect. What I didn't expect was to be so engrossed with this story, with these characters. You know a book is good when you're actually sad to have finished it because you wanted to read more. That's what Eagles at War by Ben Kane did to me. Highly recommended!
I was intrigued by all of the characters. From the characters that were created by the author to the ones that had once lived.There was just something about the way Ben Kane wrote these characters that made me want to find out what was going to happen to them. I especially liked reading about Roman centurion Tullus, and chieftain Arminius.
The book switched points of view a bit between a couple of characters but I was always glad the most when it returned to Tullus. He was an incredible character.
There was also a certain suspense to the story, knowing a big battle is imminent because Arminius is planning to betray and ambush the Romans. And naturally, the book was very action-packed, gritty and intense.
The book took me almost a week to finish. Generally I finish books way faster because I usually read shorter ones but it was totally worth it. I was pretty much hooked from the moment I read the prologue up to the ending.
And I also have to say that after finishing the book, I actually found myself wanting to read and learn more about the battle of the Teutoburg Forest.
I dived into this book blindly, not knowing what to expect. What I didn't expect was to be so engrossed with this story, with these characters. You know a book is good when you're actually sad to have finished it because you wanted to read more. That's what Eagles at War by Ben Kane did to me. Highly recommended!
lordnikon's review
5.0
Holy shitsnacks, this was fantastic! Just really amazing stuff. Characters of great depth, even minor ones, and a back end loaded with battles and last stands. Amazing. Mr. Kane, you have a new fan, I'm going to buy the rest of your books now.
philippamary_94's review
4.0
This was a great historical fiction book. The intrigue, the politics and the characters are all written very well. It was engaging and I enjoyed reading a historical fiction book set in this time period, as I have never read anything set in this time before.
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