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Fantasy Book Review: The Silver Eagle by Ben Kane

The Forgotten Legion – ten thousand legionnaires made captive by the Parthians – has marched to Margiana on the edge of the known world. In the midst are Romulus, Brennus and Tarquinius, all men with good reason to hate Rome. Together the trio must face the savage tribes which constantly threaten the area. But other, more treacherous enemies lurk within the ranks of the Forgotten Legion itself. When all hope is lost, the three friends’ character will be tested to the upper limit.

Meanwhile in Rome, Fabiola, Romulus’ twin sister, also fights to survive. Beset by enemies on all sides, she must travel to Gaul to find her lover, Caesar’s right-hand man. There tribal rebellion under the charismatic chieftain, Vercingetorix, threatens not just Caesar’s route to power, but his life and the lives of all who support him.

The Forgotten Legion, the first book in The Forgotten Legion Chronicles was the eighth bestselling debut novel in 2008 and won Ben Kane comparisons to Bernard Cromwell and Conn Iggulden. It was also Fantasy Book Review’s Book of the Month for May 2009.The Silver Eagle continues the story.

Read the Fantasy Book Review of Ben Kane’s The Silver Eagle

Ben Kane was born in Kenya and grew up there and in Ireland. He studied veterinary medicine at University College Dublin, and afterwards he travelled the world extensively, indulging his passion for ancient history. Now he lives in North Somerset, where he researches, writes and also practices as a small animal vet. The Forgotten Legion chronicles are born of a lifelong fascination with military history in general, and Roman history in particular.

Posted: August 22nd, 2009
Author: Lee
Categories: Ben Kane, Fantasy Book Review

Coming Soon: The Silver Eagle by Ben Kane

The first in The Forgotten Legion series was the eighth bestselling debut novel in 2008 and won Ben Kane comparisons to Bernard Cromwell and Conn Iggulden. The hotly anticipated The Silver Eagle is the second novel in Kane’s epic Roman trilogy and takes Romulus, Brennus, Tarquinius and Fabiola into even greater danger.

The Forgotten Legion – ten thousand legionnaires made captive by the Parthians – has marched to Margiana on the edge of the known world. In the midst are Romulus, Brennus and Tarquinius, all men with good reason to hate Rome. Together the trio must face the savage tribes which constantly threaten the area. But other, more treacherous enemies lurk within the ranks of the Forgotten Legion itself. When all hope is lost, the three friends’ character will be tested to the upper limit.

Meanwhile in Rome, Fabiola, Romulus’ twin sister, also fights to survive. Beset by enemies on all sides, she must travel to Gaul to find her lover, Caesar’s right-hand man. There tribal rebellion under the charismatic chieftain, Vercingetorix, threatens not just Caesar’s route to power, but his life and the lives of all who support him.

Fantasy Book Review loved The Forgotten Legion and hopes for more of the same from The Silver Eagle.

Check back in a week’s time to find out what we thought of Ben Kane’s newest offering. In the meantime, why not take a look at our review of The Forgotten Legion (May’s Book of the Month).

Ben Kane was born in Kenya and grew up there and in Ireland. He studied veterinary medicine at University College Dublin, and afterwards he travelled the world extensively, indulging his passion for ancient history. Now he lives in North Somerset, where he researches, writes and also practices as a small animal vet. The Forgotten Legion chronicles is born of a lifelong fascination with military history in general, and Roman history in particular.

Posted: June 19th, 2009
Author: Lee
Categories: Ben Kane

Fantasy Book Review interviews: Peter Ward, Ben Kane and Sarwat Chadda

In April we were fortunate to interview three of the most promising new authors around.

Peter Ward was born in 1958 and grew up in different places all over the Far East, England and Germany. Dragon Horse, an epic fantasy tale of Chinese dragons and myths, set along the Great Silk Road more than a thousand years ago is his debut novel. Peter kindly spoke to Fantasy Book Review in April 2009.

Peter Ward interview

Ben Kane was born in Nairobi in 1970, returning to Ireland when he was 7. From an early age he loved reading all things historical, devouring classics written by authors like Henry Treece, Rosemary Sutcliffe, T.H. White and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. In 2006 Kane began to work on a new idea, something that quickly became The Forgotten Legion. After a long process, the manuscript was sent out to publishing houses and in July 2007 a bidding war ensued between six of the biggest publishing houses. Preface, a new imprint of Random House, won the war, and he was signed for a three-book deal in September 2007. Since then, rights have sold to the USA, Italy, Greece, Russia and Spain. Ben kindly spoke to Fantasy Book Review in April 2009.

Ben Kane interview

Sarwat Chadda, brought up a Muslim and married to a vicar’s daughter, is a distinctive new voice in teen fiction. Devil’s Kiss is his debut novel; a fast-paced, action-packed urban fantasy set in his home city of London. Sarwat kindly spoke to Fantasy Book Review in May 2009.

Sarwat Chadda interview

Posted: May 1st, 2009
Author: Floresiensis
Categories: Ben Kane, Sarwat Chadda

Fantasy Book Review: The Forgotten Legion by Ben Kane

Romulus and Fabiola are twins, born into slavery after their mother is raped by a drunken nobleman on his way home from a good night out. At 13 years old, they and their mother are sold: Romulus to gladiator school, Fabiola into prostitution, where she will catch the eye of one of the most powerful men in Rome, and their mother into obscurity and death in the salt mines. Tarquinius is an Etruscan, a warrior and soothsayer, born enemy of Rome, but doomed to fight for the Republic in the Forgotten Legion. Brennus is a Gaul; the Romans killed his entire family.He rises to become one of the most famous and feared gladiators of his day – and mentor to the boy slave, Romulus, who dreams night and day of escape and of revenge. The lives of these four characters are bound and interwoven in a marvellous story which begins in a Rome riven by corruption, violence and political enmities, but ends far away, where Romulus, Brennus and Tarquinius find themselves fighting against the Parthians and overwhelming odds.

Read the full review of The Forgotten Legion

One of the biggest compliments I can give this book is that its 600+ pages felt like only 300. The Forgotten Legion is a book that has universal appeal; a fascinating, educational and action-packed tale of bravery, suffering and hope set at the height of the Roman Empire. Fantastic entertainment.

Ben Kane was born in Kenya and raised there and in Ireland. He studied veterinary medicine at University College Dublin, but after that he travelled the world extensively, indulging his passion for ancient history. Now he lives in North Somerset, where he researches, writes and also practices as a small animal vet. The Forgotten Legion is his first novel. For more information please visit www.benkane.net.

Posted: March 21st, 2009
Author: Floresiensis
Categories: Ben Kane, Fantasy Book Review