November 23, 2015
In Clash of Eagles, the failed Roman invasion of Nova Hesperia (America)
in 1218 A.D. left Gaius Publius Marcellinus, praetor of the 33rd Legion, a captive of the Cahokia tribe. Two years later, Marcellinus still considers himself loyal to Roma, but he has been adopted by the Cahokia and begun to question Roma’s colonizing ways. He is trying to mediate a treaty between the Cahokia and their enemy, the Iroqua, so together they can combat the next legion that Roma sends to the New World. But a coup within the Cahokian power structure sends Marcellinus fleeing down the Mizipi in a Roman longboat with those still loyal to him. After several adventures on the river, Marcellinus finds that a new Roman legion has arrived. He is eventually captured and taken before the Roman emperor himself, Hadrianus III, who has his own reasons for wanting to invade the New World and refuses to let any tribes stand in his way. But will Marcellinus, who is accused of being a traitor to Roma, survive long enough to negotiate a lasting peace? The author has done prodigious research into Native American lore and Roman military history to produce this novel, which is filled with intelligent extrapolations of what a 13th-century Roman Imperium might be like. Unfortunately, all the characters come across as rather stiff, with the exception of Emperor Hadrianus, whose scenes with Marcellinus really crackle with drama and humor. Those elements are otherwise absent from this incident-crammed and overlong novel. Agent: Caitlin Blasdell, Liza Dawson Associates
Starred review from January 15, 2016
In the second book of a planned trilogy in which the Roman Empire never collapsed, Gaius Marcellinus copes alone after his 33rd Legion was wiped out by Cahokian warriors. That defeat stymied the 13th-century Roman emperor Hadrianus III, who had planned to colonize New Hesperia--North America. Gaius has shared Roman technology and tactics with his former adversaries, making him a court favorite of Mapiya, Great Sun Man, ruler of Cahokia's Great City of the Mizipi. The Cahokians already possessed sophisticated weaponry--aircraft (think hang gliders) and something like napalm, presented in acceptably believable fashion. Fearing Rome's further ambitions, Gaius pleads for a truce and alliance between Cahokia and its historic enemy, the Five Tribes of the Iroqua. Secretly, Gaius seeks out the Iroqua. When Cahokian warriors learn why, there's a bloody coup. Mapiya is killed. Gaius' enemy, Avenaka, becomes leader of the Cahokians. Gaius, his loyalists, and beautiful, brilliant Sintikala, Cahokian aviation chief, must flee. Smale's (Clash of Eagles, 2015) novel has the pace and scope of a Michener or Uris epic. Gaius and Hadrianus become compelling heroic characters, their face-to-face meetings nerve-wracking. Other characters, excepting Sintikala and a few other Cahokians, are bit players drawing little emotional investment. Conversely, Smale's action scenes slash across page after page, intense and bloody. Gaius and his crew steal a salvaged Viking longboat and traverse the Mizipi River, attempting to form tribal alliances. After discovering more Romans are landing, Gaius races north to the Wemessori River to find the People of the Grass. There, Tahtay, Mapiya's son and rightful Cahokian leader, has returned to his mother's people, the fierce Blackfoot. Tahtay's evolving boy-to-man character helps Smale's imaginative story blast past preconceptions as Gaius encourages the young chief to seek accommodation. Grab your dagger and sword, for the battle continues--setting the stage for a powerful Volume 3.
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March 15, 2016
Roman leader Gaius Marcellinus threw his lot in with the North American tribe he conquered in Clash of Eagles. In this outing, he must convince the Cohokia to unite with other tribes if they want to prevail against the new army that Rome is sending.--MM
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