the bad pronunciation

after listening to all the other books with macho Ballista, he now has a softer voice and his friends and familia have different names Commodus now sounds like a portable toilet, surely if a narrator is changed part way through a series he should familiarise himself with the ways names are pronounced in previous books, this has happened in several very good series' of books and I don't want to listen to any more it is easily avoidable.

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Great ‘page turner’

It is nice to have Ballista back after quite a gap. Harry Sidebottom knows how to tell a good story. It is packed with incident and the book is full of the historical details that bring it to life. Possibly some of the events in the book are a little contrived but it really doesn’t matter in the sweep of the story. Dugald Lockhart is a fine narrator. Anyone who enjoyed Ballista before should certainly enjoy this.

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5 people found this helpful

guide to rome

having recently returned from Rome, I found this book a reminder of streets I had walked. sadly although other ballista stories have been 5 star, something is missing from this tale. the familia appear only towards the end, and I feel Harry sidebottom has attempted his own kiefer Sutherland 24hr .

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3 people found this helpful

Roman knowledge wonderful, the story?

In the Harry's older novels, I read the 3 Throne of the Caesars books, there are many characters and sub plots.
I liked all the different locations and characters. There was a lot to take in but It is vast , expansive and rich world. It flips the perspective from character to character from one side of the roman empire to the other.
This style started to really grab me as I got to know each person's attitudes, troubles and climate.


This story for me is a bit too linear and lacks the depth of characters in comparison to Throne of the Caesers. Its nearly all from Ballista's view point which I thought in the end was a bit predictable.

I don't know if the story in this book came about because Harry Sidebottom wanted to take the reader through the ancient city of Rome? if so he does that beautifully because his knowledge of the period is really extensive and interesting.

I have not read the Warrior of Rome series so possibly this had a similar style.

if you haven't read Iron & Rust , blood & Steel or Fire & Sword, I highly recommend you do.

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1 person found this helpful

Maybe it’s me

This really seems to lack the scholarship and development of the earlier books in the series. True this is a very different writing style and perhaps too much of a change for me. Sadly the entire story is clouded by the abysmal narration. I realise that the narrator will be down to the publishing house used but come on Harry. Nick Boulton is a tragically underrated narrator and easily one of the best in the business. To allow this kind of narration to take over is really sad

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3 people found this helpful

Balliiiissstaaa!

Superb. Love all the Ballista stories. This was a major change of style, but a great way of taking the reader through the history of Rome. More please!

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2 people found this helpful

Change of narrator, why?

Love this series but the change from Nick Boulton has killed it for me. I couldn't finish this book, the characters voices and even the pronunciation of their names have changed.

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1 person found this helpful

Boring

It's what I would describe as a"then I did this and then I did this" novel. I didn't feel as if I was in Ancient Rome. Not enough sense of place. I didn't identify with the characters. There probably is a good plot in here, but it was too thud and blunder for me. It may very well suit other people better. It is certainly full of action!

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worst in series

The story was weak. The reader read too quickly throughout to attempt to generate excitement. it appeared that the author had run out of ideas and it was a case of how many fights a man could have in one night. The tension didn't build. Although I like the detailed knowledge Sidebottom has of the period in this case I almost didn't bother finishing this book because it was so predictable.

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Struggled through it

I am a massive fan of the series but I really struggled through this book.
The new narrator pronounced the names incorrectly compared to previous books and even emperor Commodus was pronounced in a way that I have never heard it before. It really grated on me.
The storyline was clever and something different to other books in the series but I’m not sure it worked on this occasion. It may have been me struggling with the narration changes that caused me to feel this way though.
I would suggest that the narrator does some research into Roman history before jumping into a series where someone else has started the narration, it was always going to be a challenge with the change but there was no thought and I am surprised that Harry Sidebottom signed off on the changes.
The new book is out soon and I hope some of the feedback has been taken onboard.

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2 people found this helpful