Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction discussion

Wounds of Honour by Anthony Riches is our July 2013 Group Read Book and runs for the entire month.
Anybody welcome to join in.

Marcus Valerius Aquila has scarcely landed in Britannia when he has to run for his life - condemned to dishonorable death by power-crazed Emperor Commodus. The plan is to take a new name, serve in an obscure regiment on Hadrian's Wall and lie low until he can hope for justice. Then a rebel army sweeps down from the wastes north of the Wall, and Marcus has to prove he's hard enough to lead a century in the front line of a brutal, violent war.

Gee, bad luck again as this one is also not available on Kindle in the US. No dice on BN, iBooks or Kobo either. Oh well, at least I already read The Last Kingdom!

Yes, I was worried about that. I suspected it was not available on Kindle. It was the only book out of all the four books in the two polls that is not available on US Kindle.
I figured if Wounds of Honour won and Kindle users who didn't want to buy the paper book could not read it, that The Last Kingdom grouo read would be an option.

Picked this group read up from the library. Looks well read. Feels like it has been a while since I read Roman action.
The last Roman era book I read (I think) was
About time I read another Roman themed book.

I'll be starting it July 1. Right on time.

It is on Kobo, in Canada at least

http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Wounds...

I got mine form my library and it is chambered up for july

Excellent news. I was starting to wonder if i was going to be solo on this read, which was odd because I know a lot of people want to read it.
Here's your excuse to finally get to it folks. :)

I probably need to start this a day early, as my copy is due back at the library on the 5th and you can't be sure that no one else is waiting or it so you can renew it. Plus I'm not able to spend much time reading at the moment as I'm in the middle of proof reading other people's reports and writing my own. Hopefully finished by the end of the week and things can get back to being more normal.

Available on Kobo in the US as well - just got it. I'll be joining you as soon as I finish my current book!

Great. Good to have you all along!

Terri wrote: "Great. Good to have you all along!"
I've bought Wounds of Honor too, but may not be able to start it for a few days. Too many other books in the queue!
Wounds of Honour

I am the same. Reading one book now that I had expected to have finsihed a couple days ago. looks like I may not start until the 2nd or 3rd.

This looks neat. Maybe I can get ahold of it somehow.

Good luck trying to track it down, Nate.
Maybe you'll stumble upon a copy like you did with Insurrection

So far, so good - the story runs along quite well! But I have one comment - after reading all 3 books from R.W. Peake, I find it annoying to read novels about Rome that use translations for rank like First Spear and English curse words. Peake does such a great work explaining details about the life of a Roman legionary including their daily lives, organization and tactics. Tough to match. If it has not been done, I would recommend one of the books as a Group read.

Thanks for the suggestion Jean-Luc but those books are almost all digital only, which wouldn't work for much of the group. :)

Jean-luc wrote: "So far, so good - the story runs along quite well! But I have one comment - after reading all 3 books from R.W. Peake, I find it annoying to read novels about Rome that use translations for rank li..."


I still haven't started. Maybe one more day...

No ecopy Wounds of Honour. B&N does not have the book at all. If anyone has an ecopy, let me know. Thanks.

Linda, I found it on Kobo in the US.

This is a great read - enjoy, everyone!

Up to page 53 and good so far and enjoying It. The English swearing doesn't bother me, but like Jean-luc the term first spear is an irritant. Would it really hurt to use the Latin and have a glossary?

Dawn wrote: "Thanks for the suggestion Jean-Luc but those books are almost all digital only, which wouldn't work for much of the group. :)"

Do they still print books on paper? :-)

In any case, a shame as these books are well researched. In the last one the story revolves around Mark Anthony's campaign in Partha and I thought that it was an interesting twist.

Plan to start reading this little later tonight. From what I can read on the dust jacket, the book looks promising.

The Eagle on the cover look very similar with The Eagles on M.C. Scott book.

Anthony Riches ; M.C. Scott

Thanks everyone. I'll dig around a little more for an ecopy. If I have to, I will go to Kobo. I have never shopped there so have no account with them. If I buy there and am subject to credit card fraud and lose my house (like the lady on TV did), I hope I get to keep my Nook and ASUS! Lol

Chris F wrote: "Up to page 53 and good so far and enjoying It. The English swearing doesn't bother me, but like Jean-luc the term first spear is an irritant. Would it really hurt to use the Latin and have a glossary?"

And now I am getting annoyed at the Anglicization of the local names. Most book keep the Latin names with a list of places. I guess I have to pick on what I can criticize since I can't judge the writing much (English not being my native language) and enjoying the story so far!

Dawn wrote: "Thanks for the suggestion Jean-Luc but those books are almost all digital only, which wouldn't work for much of the group. :)"

Dawn, I had the opportunity to meet R.W. (Ron) Peake at the Historical Novel Society Conference, and all three of his current books do exist in print. In fact, I just received the first one (Conquest of Gaul) from Amazon.com. I haven't started it so can't recommend it for a group read, but perhaps the availability of these books for other readers is broader than it first appeared to you?

Hi all,

I'm fascinated to see your comments - and very honoured to be a book of the month. To pick up on the feedback so far (for which my thanks):

- English place names - I only do it where the name is translatable, like Badger Holes for Brocolitia,, and I do it because it brings home what the Romans were thinking when they named the Wall forts, often for what they could see around them. Cilernum becomes Cauldron Fort, and when you go there you can see the water 'boiling' over the rocks in the river. I guess it's a bit Marmitey (for non-Brits you either like it or you don't)!

First Spear (and other Anglicisms such as Chosen Man). Again, it reflects my tastes - I like to know what things mean, not simply to use the Latin phrase. I think there are enough other authors using the Latin that I can get away with it. You may well disagree!

And R.W.Peake? What a great tip! I've never read any of his stuff, and I'm away to Rome on holiday at the end of the week, so what a great chance to gorge on a new author. Thanks for the recommendation.

Got to go, I'm straining to get book 7 finished, but I'll keep an eye on the thread - I enjoy all feedback, both positive and constructive, because it's only by listening to readers' views that I'm going to improve what I do.

Thank you.

I'm not doing the read, but may I still say, in general I can like names/terms Englished. Cauldron Fort and Badger Holes are evocative, and I'd be happy with First Spear. Makes sense to me, as 'more like what the Romans hear'.

Anthony wrote: "Hi all,

I'm fascinated to see your comments - and very honoured to be a book of the month. To pick up on the feedback so far (for which my thanks):

- English place names - I only do it where the ..."

Thanks for joining us Anthony. Hope you get a kick out of hanging out with us and hearing the feedback. :)

I am not far off starting. Still trying to finish up a book then I am all systems go.

Sherry wrote: "Dawn wrote: "Thanks for the suggestion Jean-Luc but those books are almost all digital only, which wouldn't work for much of the group. :)"

Dawn, I had the opportunity to meet R.W. (Ron) Peake at ..."


I think what Dawn was also trying to hint at, is the books that go into the polls have to have an International presence and be available in as many forms as possible.
They aren't going to be available on every device or in every place, but a book for the group reads must be the kind of book that might be available in libraries around the world, on multiple forms of eReaders around the world, available to buy easily as paper as well and preferrably with some translations so non English speakers can join in.

The books chosen don't always fulfill every role in every country, but they have to tick as many boxes as possible. Especially the library one.

Stuart wrote: "I'm starting this over the weekend, so hopefully it will be sunny and less busy in my life - I plan to sit down and read it in two days.

I think we've had several discussion on contemporary sweari..."

I like as much authenticiy as possible with a very good glossary and minimal f#ck words. :)

But we all know how I feel about that. You've seen me talk about it before.
And just to clarify...it is not that I don't swear. I am Australian, and as many of you might know about our country, swearing is an important part of my culture. We are very good at it. :)

I have posted a video of Anthony Riches to the Group Videos.
It is a talk about What Did The Romans Ever Do For Us?
About 8mins long.
http://www.goodreads.com/videos/46713...

I can understand what the author is trying to do with the English naming.

Just finished the book last night and I did find it very enjoyable. Likable hero, detestable villains, accurate battle descriptions and a good story overall. Most of the boxes are checked!

Thanks for Anthony for his feedback on some of my criticism. I understand his point of view although not necessarily my preferences. But I look forward to reading the other books in the series.

Unfortunately my library does not have this and my finances are such that I cannot buy it. I hope next month's books are ones that my library has.

What we need to do is find you a borrow-buddy. :)

Anne wrote: "Unfortunately my library does not have this and my finances are such that I cannot buy it. I hope next month's books are ones that my library has."

Unfortunately, it appears your library has not got a very big HF selection, Anne. If you had not read The Last Kingdom already you would have been able to do that group read. At least you can join in the discussion on the book though. Like me. :)
Hopefully, once in a while, you will strike it lucky with your library again soon, Anne. :)

Just ordered this one and I'm looking forward to it. My son will love this one too as he's into Roman history. :)

Make sure you get the book first this time. :)

really enjoying this story so far.

I started! That was a ball tearer of a fight at the start. Great stuff. :)
I am liking it too Daniel.

The rereading police will come and lock you up for excessive rereading. :)

Not going to lie. I am having issues with all the modern language.
In saying that, right now there is a really enjoyable plot going on and so the modern dialogue is not messing with me too much. I am still able to enjoy the story at this stage.

I find the little health-for-survival tips quite fun. Fast tracking calluses - a gift for any hiker.

What to do when hit by an arrow with shit on it - a nifty trick for any Bear Grylls wannabe. :)

Could not stop and moved on to the next book in the series Arrows of Fury and found it just as enjoyable. My only (mild) criticism is that some of the characters are a bit left out of the story as compared to book 1. Going to have to stop here for now to move on to other books in my list but won't be long until I go back to these books.

Terri wrote: "What to do when hit by an arrow with shit on it - a nifty trick for any Bear Grylls wannabe. :)"

LOL! That's hilarious. Bear Grylls is my hero.

"Terri wrote: "What to do when hit by an arrow with shit on it - a nifty trick for any Bear Grylls wannabe. :)"

Derek wrote: LOL! That's hilarious. Bear Grylls is my hero."


haha! He'd fit in well with these Romans. :D

Finished this book, just a fun read. The battle scenes were well done, you were left with a sense of being in a roman formation.

The modern language did not stop me form enjoying this story in the least.

Terri wrote: " "Terri wrote: "What to do when hit by an arrow with shit on it - a nifty trick for any Bear Grylls wannabe. :)"

Derek wrote: LOL! That's hilarious. Bear Grylls is my hero."


haha! He'd fit in ..."

'I am going to show you what it takes to survive in a Roman century.'