Dawn of a Fantastic new author !
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I cannot praise this book & author highly enough. Sam Barone brings ancient times vividly to life and creates characters that one can truly relate to and care about ! I found myself captivated from page one and the story was so well written as to immerse the reader fully into those brutal times creating a whirlwind of emotions. I often put the book down breathless, but totally captivated.
As an avid reader of historical fiction ( Conn Iggulden, Bernard Cornwell, Simon Scarrow etc.)I rate Sam Barone up there with the very best !
If you love historical fiction then buy this book...you will not be disapointed !
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A brilliant book
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Publishers of historic fiction nowadays tend to put on the covers stickers stating "for fans of Conn Iggulden or Bernard Cornwell" capitalising of these two great writers. More often than not I wonder where is the similiarity or great writing/story? But NOT in this case. This was a really great read. I could not put it down, and quickly raced through it and its sequel. The story stayed with me too and I often remember parts of the story.
Often too when i read a story I am left thinking how I would have done it or why didnt they do this? But with this story he covers every detail and is very interesting.
If you like historic fiction you should love this.
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Ok, just ok.
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I am a keen reader of all fiction history books and a big fan of Iggulden, Scarrow et al. So on the strength of Conn having said what a wonderful book this was I thought I would try it despite it being pure fiction. I must say I can't agree with a lot of these reviews, this book is very so-so. Comes good towards the end, but I almost dropped it half way through. Eskkar is a good character, but Trella is quite simply unbelievable as a character. In the early stages it very wooden and leaden as a story - the fight scenes are good but the relationship between Eskkar and Trella is almost annoying. Man comes home after a hard day doing macho stuff while his political genius of a slave/wife changes public opinion. This is an ok holiday read but I will not be rushing for anymore of Sam's books I am afraid.
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Drunken layabout comes good
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Dawn of Empire is the story of a barbarian named Eskkar...and what a story it is. Hired to defend a town from a feared barbarian tribe, Dawn of Empire sweeps us through a really exciting time and is a gripping read.
I discovered Dawn of Empire completely at random but before reaching the half way point had already visited Amazon and ordered the second book, Empire Rising. I can't recommend these books enough (I've already converted my father) and suggest that anyone who enjoys reading historical fantasy (that means you, Conn Iggulden readers - it's even got a quote from him on the cover of some editions) definitely pick them up.
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Enjoyable if a bit anachronistic here and there
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If you're a nit picking historian or athropologist with an interest in pre-biblical societies then Dawn of Empire will have you spitting tacks. Full of anachronistic language and social and scientific developments, this tale of early agrarian civilisation on the banks of the Tigris is not a good history lesson.
If however, you like a decent sword and sandals adventure then Sam Barone's debut will probably entertain (based on the cover art the publishers are aiming this very squarely at people who enjoyed the movie '300', although it shares little in common with it). Its not brilliant. There are too many repetitive sex scenes (every chapter seems to end with one) and the whole thing is about fifty pages too long. Overall however, its not a bad effort. Barone keeps the story simple (a bit too simple in places, with too few surprises being served up along the way), the pace moving along swiftly, the action scenes are well handled and the characters memorable enough that you don't lose track of who is who.
Its all enough to leave me sufficiently intrigued about what Barone does with the next volume in what is likely to be a trilogy of adventures at the very least. If its more of the same then I think I call it a day there, but Dawn of Empire suggests that the author at least has the potential to try something a bit different next time out.
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