{THE HISTORIES OF SPHAX 3}: THE HOSTAGE OF ROME.

  One of several bloggers who over 7 days will be participating in this Blog Tour. Today {the 5th day of the Tour) its my pleasure to be sharing my thoughts on ...

THE HOSTAGE OF ROME by ROBERT M KIDD.

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.

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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

Lucky enough to have participated in the tour for all three books in the Sphax series, The Walls Of Rome, The Winter Of Winters and this, the third instalment, The Hostage Of Rome. Whilst all three can be read as standalone novels, I'd strongly suggest that, following Spax's journey as they do, in order to get the very best out of the books they are best read in order of publication.

I said it about book one, The Walls Of Rome, and I'll say it again here, what my late grandad would call a rollicking good read. 

The author a wonderful story teller; their ability to weave historical detail into the very fabric of their writing; seamlessly mixing fact and fiction, their attention to detail, their world building, all truly exceptional ...

And what a tremendous cast of characters.

I had worried that the books would perhaps prove too plot based for my liking but as strong as the plot was, so the characters proved themselves to be every bit as strong.

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.

About Robert M. Kidd ... When Cato the Censor demanded that ‘Carthage must be destroyed,’ Rome did just that. In 146 BC, after a three year siege, Carthage was raised to the ground, its surviving citizens sold into slavery and the fields where this once magnificent city had stood, ploughed by oxen. Carthage was erased from history.

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.

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My hero, Sphax the Numidian, tells a different story!

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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.

Follow Robert M Kidd ... ~ Website ~ Twitter ~