Tagged: ancient warfare
The Oasis by Pauline Gedge
(Cover picture courtesy of Amazon.)
Using subtle means of political power and economic control, a foreign power known as the “Rulers of the Upland” has taken over Egypt to plunder its riches and eradicate its religion and culture. In The Hippopotamus Marsh, the stunning first volume of Pauline Gedge’s Lords of the Two Lands trilogy, the family of the last true King of Egypt chose to end 200 years of submission to King Apepa, and attempted to resurrect a dynasty. Seqenenra Tao began a courageous and tragic revolt that almost led to the destruction of his family.
In this thrilling second volume, Seqenenra’s surviving son Kamose refuses an inheritance of failure, and chooses instead to continue his father’s fight for the freedom of Egypt and his family. He begins his desperate sweep north, collecting fighting men from the loyal towns and villages he passes. Will his savage brilliance bring him victory of defeat? And will his acts redeem him or drive him to the brink of madness?
With his father (Seqenenra) and his twin (Si-Amun) dead, you would think Kamose would be ready to give up. But instead of standing by and watching his family torn apart by the Hyksos king, Apepa, he decides to fight. After all, he has nothing to lose and everything to gain. Kamose’s decision to fight irrevocably changes both himself and the fate of Egypt.
Faster paced than her later work and filled with memorable characters, The Oasis is my favourite book in the Lords of the Two Lands trilogy. Of course I am biased because I love reading about ancient warfare, but Pauline Gedge has still penned a wonderful novel. Told mostly from the point of view of Kamose, she gives us greater insight into the man behind the ruthless reputation. His motivations are very believable and his internal struggles with the war are heart-wrenching, which makes him a very three dimensional character.
“This trilogy is dedicated to Prince Kamose, one of the most obscure and misunderstood characters in Egyptian history. I hope that in some small way I have contributed to his rehabilitation.”
I truly believe that Pauline Gedge has contributed a lot to the rehabilitation of the infamous Kamose Tao, in much the same way Marcus Crassus was rehabilitated in my eyes by Andrew Levkoff. Her trilogy certainly changed my perception of the great leader and I hope it changes yours as well.
I give this book 5/5 stars.
Emperor: The Field of Swords by Conn Iggulden
(Cover picture courtesy of GetGlue.)
For Julius Caesar, the time has come to enter the political battleground that has become Rome. Having proved his valor in the slaves’ revolt, Caesar is strengthened by the love of a beautiful older woman—and by the sword of his loyal friend Marcus Brutus. But it is Caesar’s next move that will change history. With an army made in his own image, Caesar begins a daring charge through Gaul, across the English Channel, and to the wilds of tribal Britain.
Here, in a series of cataclysmic clashes, the legend of Julius Caesar will be forged. And while Caesar and Brutus battle the armies of the wilderness, their political adversaries in Rome grow ever more powerful. For when the fighting is over, the greatest danger to Julius Caesar will await him on the Tiber—with a man who wants Rome himself.
The Field of Swords is truly riveting historical fiction of the first order and Conn Iggulden managed to write it without changing history around as much. Surprisingly, the third book in his Emperor series is my favourite out of all four because it is by far the most exciting in terms of plot and character development. It covers the most famous part of Caesar’s life: the Gallic Wars.
War is one of my favourite parts of historical fiction because of all the details of ancient warfare fascinate me. History textbooks do not even begin to cover how physically, mentally and emotionally draining it was on the men and those who had to lead them. Warfare was not a glorious event and Iggulden perfectly hammers this point home.
I absolutely love the character development in this book. Caesar becomes more independent as all of his old tutors and friends die off, leaving him with Brutus as his only friend. How could his only friend orchestrate Caesar’s death? Well, there is a very telling scene near the end of the book when Caesar suffers from an epileptic fit and is unable to lead his men in battle. Brutus dons Caesar’s armour and leads his men into battle.
“You led them?” Julius said. Though his voice was strengthening, he still seemed confused.
“No Julius. They followed you.”
Thus the seeds of jealousy were planted in Brutus’ heart.
I give this book 4.5/5 stars.