Just a reminder that my book reviews are also on MeWe - mewe.com/i/jasonberry6
Over Spring Break, the family and I went to St. Augustine, FL. Even though I already had a couple of books chosen for the trip, I decided to drop by Barnes & Noble, one more time, before heading out. I discovered this book in their Bargain Section - only $5 (hardcover)!
While not your typical "beach read", I decided to give this one a shot, as the last couple of books that I've read were on the light side.
I have always loved tales of Spartacus, and I devoured this book. It is superbly written! (This is the first novel that I have read by Durham, and it won't be the last.) The book starts off, right away, with the slaves' uprising, and each chapter/section is written from a different characters point of view. The view point shifts between the slaves and the Romans, with time-shifts in between.
It is almost like a big compilation of short stories that intertwine within themselves to make a complete novel.
Definitely head out to your local Barnes & Noble and check their Bargain Books for this great deal. Also, fair warning, this book will make you want to re-watch the Starz television series Spartacus.
Here is the book's synopsis since it tells you all you need to know:
In this thrilling and panoramic historical novel we see one of the most storied uprisings of classical times from multiple points of view: Spartacus, the visionary captive and gladiator whose toughness and charisma turn a prison break into a multi-cultural revolt that threatens an empire; his consort, the oracular Astera, whose connection to the spirit world and its omens guides the uprising’s progress; Nonus, a Roman soldier working both sides of the conflict in a half-adroit, half-desperate attempt to save his life; Laelia and Hustus, two shepherd children drawn into the ranks of the slave rebellion; Kaleb, the slave secretary to Crassus, the Roman senator and commander saddled with the unenviable task of quashing an insurrection of mere slaves; and other players in a vast spectacle of bloodshed, heroism, and treachery.
In the pages of The Risen—the term the slaves in revolt have adopted for themselves—an entire, teeming world comes into view with great clarity and titanic drama, with nothing less than the future of the ancient world at stake. No one brings more verve, intelligence, and freshness to the novel of the classical age than David Anthony Durham.
4/5 Skulls
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