Customer Reviews

Wounds of Honour (Empire)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

A previous review noted that the book might appeal more to younger readers. I admit it: I've been addicted to historical military fiction/series since becoming hooked on C.S. Forester as a youngster in the late '50's and I can see how that comment makes sense. I don't yet know what Mr. Riches plans for his books and, even assuming he hopes to create a long series, it is obviously far too soon to mention him alongside Cornwell, et. al. But that was what I was thinking as I was reading and enjoying Wounds of Honour. Mr. Riches has chosen to plow in the same fields as Simon Scarrow and, to my mind, he is already a bit better in some ways and can be expected to improve as his writing career proceeds. Anyway, the distinguishing features of the genre are: some effort at an accurate feel for the historical period; a central figure who starts at or near the bottom of his service and rises with age and experience; and stories that are often set around real events. The drama of combat is a universally central element of this genre, but there is also often an emphasis on the exemplary behavior and code of personal honor that earns the respect of a ship's crew or, in this case, a century of Roman auxiliaries. For some reason, British authors have a virtual lock on this latter feature of military series.

Mr. Riches seems to have a nice feel for the period and is especially good at describing the tools of war, their use and their effects. He charts military strategies that are convincing in their detail and seem to make sense. In these areas, I would say that he already surpasses most of the rest of the field, which is not meant to criticize any other author but only to praise Mr. Riches' strengths.

In terms of plot, admittedly a lesser part of writing in the genre, I found Mr. Riches' story to depend overly on certain complications that I won't describe lest I spoil it for others, but they were the author's choices and were entertaining and credible enough to serve. The romantic element was negligible and presumably will be developed in later books. This volume was all about male bonding.

The setting of Hadrian's Wall is not all that common, but it does evoke the film King Arthur (Director's Cut) [Blu-ray] and the fine single volume by Gillian Bradshaw, Island of Ghosts: A Novel of Roman Britain.

In conclusion, I very much enjoyed this first volume and look forward to reading the next when it becomes available.

Set some time aside because you won't want to put it down. I don't usually read a book over the weekend but it was hard to stop. I do have a bias as to historical fiction but I think anyone who loves action and an author who is not in love with his own verbose prose will love this story. I'm over 50 and I don't agree with the previous reviewers who feel it has a juvenile read. I suggested to my son to read it (teenager) and he loved it also. I think the book simply has a wide audience appeal. Don't hesitate to enjoy it.

I enjoyed this story well enough, but will probably not buy another in the series. The story line is fresh, but the style of writing feels rather juvenile as if the author is aiming at a very young audience. I enjoyed the setting of the story, however I felt the story line to be rather predictable. Many of the scenes in the story felt unbelievable such as the young Marcus so easily winning over the respect of the First Spear centurion, etc. Much of the history is good, but some details are inaccurate. For me this story is simply fair...not bad, but not good.

A friend got me hooked into Mr. Scarrow's Cato and Macro series awhile back. Since I caught up with the current publication Nick suggest that I try Mr. Riches Empire: Wounds of Honor.

This is an interesting tale that cut similar to Mr. Scarrow's (Romans and barbarians in Britain) with a focus on one hero, Marcus Valerius Aquila. As with Mr. Scarrow's Under the Eagle: A Tale of Military Adventure and Reckless Heroism with the Roman Legions, Marcus is befriended by an old legionary centurion and taken to an auxilia cohort to hide from Imperial assassins who are trying to kill Marcus to end his family line, accused traitors to Emperor Commodus. Inevitably I'm forced compare Mr. Riches' work to Mr. Scarrow's. Both writers are telling tales about Romans and Britons and while Britain is settled in Mr. Riches' work, there's still upheaval and both men are using Mr. Cornwell's formula for telling their tales. In this case our main character Marcus Valerius Aquila isn't as loveable as Cato or stout but simple as Macro. Instead Marcus possesses the traditional Horatio Hornblower tendencies of being the best and always at the right spot at the right time. This is borne out by Mr. Riches having Marcus "saving" the day many times, first by gaining the trust of a century of slackers, then destroying the barbarians supplies, and finally saving the finally; a strong character with a rich future if he can stay alive. However I found myself more drawn to the secondary characters in his century, Dubnus, Scarface, and Antenoch, they were more human. Merging this with Mr. Riches tendency to show us other people viewpoint (Calgus is the main culprit who provides the barbarians viewpoint). Because of this I felt a certain amount of clunkiness in the plot making it so things had to be "contrived" a bit more than they were in Under the Eagle. However I am calling this one a 4 star book due to the potential I see and the fact that I want to know what happens to the 1st Tungrians.

Anthony Riches steps into Scarrow territory with an excellent first novel. Set on Hadrian's Wall in AD 181 this is a blend of action, honour and treachery all blended into a very satisfying mix.

Young Praetorian guard is forced to take a false name and a role as a Centurion commanding troops on 'the wall'. Can he hide his identity and gain the respect of his troops at a time when they may be up against their greatest challenge yet?

Yep, there are elements here that we may have seen before, but the author gives us a real page turner with strong characters and a real plot. I felt guilty for rooting for the Romans over my own countrymen, but this is a very entertaining book and a more then welcome addition to books set in this era. Great stuff and recommended,

It appears that there is a lot of interest in Roman Britain today what with two movies out (Centurion and The Eagle coming up) and a number of books written on the subject.

This is a good one although the basis of this story is probably questionable. There is no history of Roman Britain that reflects the battle that occurs at the end (of which I won't provide any details since I don't want to ruin the story for you). So, this is really more a novel in my opinion than a historical novel, although it is set in the time of Commodus (181/182 AD) and the problems that his reign was causing on the empire are clearly laid out in this book.

However, it is an excellent story - well told and difficult to put down. It tells about a young Roman Praetorian centurion who is on a special mission to Britain but who was sent on that mission to get away from Commodus and his henchman who were about to execute his father and who were out to do the same to him.

From there, the story has some interesting twists and turns in the plot as you learn more about why he was saved by the legate of the 6th Legion. He was saved by burying him in an auxiliary Roman unit (Tungrians) who are stationed on Hadrian's wall. Half way through the book, the barbarians north of the wall attack leading to a series of battles with the barbarians helped along by the treachery of a Roman Tribune.

All in all, the book is very exciting and as I mentioned, hard to put down. Well worth the read for anyone interested in Roman history and novels related to Roman history.

I just finished Wounds of Honour and thoroughly enjoyed it. It is well-written, possesses excellent character development, good plotting and has a very authentic historical feel. It was engrossing and hard to put down, and I am looking forward to the next book in this promising series. I don't understand the comments about it appealing to younger audiences; I was fascinated with authors such as H.G. Wells and Edgar Allen Poe as a teen, and do not consider that as a criticism of the authors.

First of all I want to say that I really enjoyed this book. I love novels about ancient Rome and read anything and everything about it. I too would set this book along side Simon Scarrow's. However I did find the premise a bit far-fetched until I really got into the story. One thing did bother me a lot though: the English names that Riches gives the Roman military posts. He did use one proper Roman name, Deva, Chester in the modern world, but none else. I have read and reread Gillian Bradshaw's "Island of Ghosts," and so have practically memorized the forts on Hadrian's Wall (which I've also visited). So I sit here trying to figure out the "real" names of these places. I think "Yew Grove" is Eboracum or York and "Dark Pool" is Lindum or Lincoln. That reminds me about another annoying trait: usage of the term "chosen man." I'm familiar with the phrase from the (very fine) series about Richard Sharpe, but I find its use jolting here. Wouldn't the rank properly be "decurion?" Can anyone else give me a hand here? As I said these names did annoy me. After all any who reads a book like this Is already "into" Roman history.

Al this having been said, I have ordered the second book in the series and am looking forward to its arrival.

For fans of Roman legionary tails, this is a ripping good story. The pace is fast, the action is plentiful, the scenes, equipment, tactics, strategy, and dialogue all feel authentic. Characters are well developed. I enjoyed reading it very much. Two issues keep me from scoring it a 5. First, the primary antagonist of the story seems almost to have superpowers, gettng into and out of places with considerable ease that I did not think he should be able to get into and out of. Seemed a little far fetched. Secon there is a tendency to over-explain a little at times. Nevertheless I realy did enjoy the writing overall, and when the story gets going, it moves very rapidly and reads very well.

This was a book that I will read again. Characters believable as well as plot settings. The action started from the beginning and went through to the end. I am looking forward to the next installment and if it is comparable to the first then we are on a winning series. The plot flowed well with the last chapters not rushing to a conclusion.