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Books by P.J. Lawton
Continue shopping Checkout Continue shopping. Chi ama i libri sceglie Kobo e inMondadori. Simulated Justice by PJ Lawton. A disastrous adventure will see Hanno sold into slavery and bought by Quintus's father. Although an unexpected friendship springs up between the two boys -- and with Quintus's sister, Aurelia -- the fortunes of the two warring empires once again separates them. They find themselves on opposite sides of the conflict and an alliance forged through slavery will be played out to its stunning conclusion in battle.
From the Trade Paperback edition. Hardcover , pages. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. To ask other readers questions about Hannibal , please sign up. Very graphic violence and implied sexual activity that I think is inappropriate for that age range. Some tough stuff in it. See 1 question about Hannibal…. Lists with This Book. Initial thoughts - More a 3. Fuller review to follow. I signed up for a tale of Hannib Initial thoughts - More a 3.
I signed up for a tale of Hannibal, where he be? I feel tricked, its getting a TWO! I AM starting to wain With the story fully supplanted on the adults I'm enjoying it a lot more. I mention YA but in reality its not likely designed that way, its jus that the most part of the story revolves around characters who happen to be in the process of child to manhood, coming of age they call it View all 6 comments.
Sep 19, happy rated it really liked it Shelves: Let me state what this novel is not. It is not the story of Hannibal Barca. He is at most a major supporting character in the novel. What this novel is the story of the opening moves of the 2nd Punic war: The author tells I found Dr. The author tells his story through the eyes of two noble families. One Carthaginian and Roman. He begins the novel with the youngest son of the Carthaginian family, Hanno, being swept out to sea while playing hooky, being picked up by pirates off the coast of Sicily and eventually being sold as a slave to a Roman family.
He then becomes a companion to the son of the purchasing family, Quintus. Roughly the first half of the novel is establishing the two boys relationship — they become fast friends. This plays into some of the events in the second half of the book when they face each other on the battlefield. The story of the two sons is interrupted by scenes of what is going on in Carthage. As the siege of Saguntum winds down Hannibal proposes a plan to invade Italy and attack Rome.
At this time Hanno also shows up. He has been release by Quintus and after returning to Carthage, continues on to join his family and the army. Since Rome now controls the northern Mediterranean Sea the problem is how to get there. What Hannibal proposes is an overland invasion through the Alps. For me, this is where the novel really takes off.
Kane does a superb job of telling the story of the crossing of the Alps. He illustrates the problems the army had with native Celtic tribes, who the Carthaginians assumed would be automatically their allies. The weather - esp the cold and snow it excellently drawn, to say nothing of getting the elephants over the passes and down into what became Northern Italy. He also tells of the struggles with the paths crossing the Alps. They were narrow and often blocked.
The ingenuity that enabled the army to just get to Italy is very well portrayed. Once the Army arrives in Italy, Dr. Kane does an excellent job of describing both the Roman, and Carthaginian strategies as well as the political problems that beset the Roman generals. Dr, Kane ends the novel before Hannibal's classic and crushing victory at Cannae. I would presume this will be taken up in the next novel. As Hannibal descends the Alps into Italy, Quintus and his father join the army. Kane does battle sequences well and draws the reader into the action. His descriptions of the tension between the two Roman commanders, a feature of Republican armies was that there was no overall commander; command was passed between two commanders daily, is well drawn and enlightening.
Finally one word about the structure of the novel. This novel was a solid 4 star read for me. I definately plan on reading the other novels in the series May 07, Robin Carter rated it it was amazing. After the excellent Forgotten Legion Trilogy I wondered what Ben Kane would treat us to next and how long would it be before we can convince him to return to do book 4 of the Forgotten series. When the Title was announced: Hannibal Enemy of Rome, i was really pleased, I had recently watched the BBC drama on Hannibal's trail in which three Australian brothers - Danny, Ben and Sam Wood - set out cycling on the trail of Hannibal, the Carthaginian warrior who marched from Spain to Rome at the head After the excellent Forgotten Legion Trilogy I wondered what Ben Kane would treat us to next and how long would it be before we can convince him to return to do book 4 of the Forgotten series.
Hannibal Enemy of Rome, i was really pleased, I had recently watched the BBC drama on Hannibal's trail in which three Australian brothers - Danny, Ben and Sam Wood - set out cycling on the trail of Hannibal, the Carthaginian warrior who marched from Spain to Rome at the head of an invading army accompanied by elephants. Again it was yet another point in history I knew a little about, but not the detail, so this book and Ben Kane's excellent writing skills I knew would not only entertain me but also educate me, and this book delivers both of these things in spades, I read this book in a single sitting and was hugely upset when the book ended, a book full of Ben's usual great characters, great pace, fantastic writing of dialogue couple all of that with the fantastic fights scenes that Ben writes and any book Ben writes just leaps off the page.
The next book Spartacus due in Feb only has one flaw Thank you Ben a great book Nov 13, Zeke Chase rated it liked it Shelves: The structure jumped all over the place. Tarquinius spends about twenty pages reading the entrails of a goat, and then drifts through ten years with a snap of the fingers in another chapter. Here, the structure is better, though I probably would h Rating: Here, the structure is better, though I probably would have structured the POV characters a little more rigidly, perhaps with each their own chapter.
It's the prose that does you in, Mr. It had been months since he'd last had sexual relations, as was made clear by his throbbing groin. Write it the way people would speak it. This should feel like a natural river, not a series of lochs. It had been months since he'd fucked — his cock was throbbing at the sight of her. The story expands to include Hanno's older brothers, Bostar and Sapho, his father Malchus and Quintus' family — his father Fabricius, sister Aurelia and sister's betrothed Flaccus. The major players in the Second Punic War — Hannibal, Scipio Africanus, Tiberius Sempronius Longus — aren't introduced until well into the novel, with Hannibal's introduction about a third of the way in.
This was much to my surprise, as I am quite used to the works of Conn Iggulden, whom makes Caesar his protagonist. This is probably the best route to telling this story; not through the eyes of Hannibal or Scipio themselves, but through underlings associated with them. Chapters are drawn at random points, the chapter titles are superfluous, although it is rather well balanced between the characters involved. All things considered, this is a bit of a tour de force of Roman sword and sandal, with some problems. The final climax became a little predictable, and in a battle scene that left Rome ripe for the picking by the Carthaginians, there are so few character deaths.
Only two of the major characters die in the end, which means virtually every other one vanquishes death for themselves and their families on multiple occasions. I will continue with the rest of the series, if a bit reluctantly. Kane, good job, but focus a little bit on your prose and structure. A novel with a strong adventure flavour, that uses tactics of suspense. At first the simplicity of the writing bothered me, but plotting skills swept me up.
Simple needn't be bad, in my book: I liked the presentation from both sides, Carthaginian and Roman, with quick switches between them. Carthaginians might have an edge in our sympathies but they commit atrocities too. The book is warm-hearted and has a conscience about what people do in war. It looks at prejudices and war hatreds.
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It has a knack for skipping the boring bits and a flexibility in the telling. It doesn't dwell too much on so-called action, than which nothing is more dull. What's not to like? Nov 06, Speesh rated it it was amazing Shelves: I was glued to it the whole way through and by the end, I found myself wishing it had been twice as long. Gooder still…that I have the others lined up on the shelf over there. Then I think, does it even matter? Well, Ben Kane does have the deserved reputation - in my book anyway - for writing battle scenes that are perhaps a cut!
However, excellent battle scenes apart, it was the verbal cut and thrusts, jabs straight to the heart - and of course the final delivery of the death blow - of the Senate debate scenes between Publius and Marcus Minucius Rufus that really impressed and will stay with me. Superb writing is superb writing, whatever the genre.
Hannibal: Enemy of Rome
And this, that, is superb writing. There were a couple of minor occasions where they clearly, in the real world, have reacted differently. Carthaginians and Romans are treated even-handedly. No good guys and bad guys. I suppose there could have been a temptation to treat the Carthaginians more favourably, as the underdog, perhaps, the Romans less so.
More world-class reviews on Speesh Reads Although I do own other books set in the Roman period this was not only the first I got around to reading but also my first encounter with author Ben Kane's work. While I can't say it endeared itself to me in exactly the same way as those set in later times - ie Viking, Saxon, Norman etc - that I prefer, I have to give significant praise for the sheer quality of the book.
Where a lot of historical fiction tends to focus itself far more squarely on the catalog of physical events that takes place, w Although I do own other books set in the Roman period this was not only the first I got around to reading but also my first encounter with author Ben Kane's work. Where a lot of historical fiction tends to focus itself far more squarely on the catalog of physical events that takes place, what adds rich depth to this book is the gritty believability and sheer realistic feel of the relationships and interactions between the characters within.
Coincidentally a few hours before I started reading this I'd also started reading another Roman era book, set around the first Punic Wars for those unfamiliar, the events of this book take place in the second - and final - of the Punic Wars, a generation or two later. For all the complaining that's probably lurking below the centre here, don't get me wrong this is a good worthwhile read though not one that moved me enough to make me tell all my friends about it etc.
If you're into Roman period historical fiction, definately read this book.
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If you're more into books centred in later historical periods, give it a try anyway, you might surprise yourself. Mar 26, Anne rated it it was amazing Shelves: I truly loved this book--enough in fact to search out the next in the series. This is written about an era that does not actually grab me,which makes my rating all the more wonderful. I loved the two boys Hanno and Quintus, and Aurelia was a girl after my own heart. I too was a tomboy and grew up riding horses and staging mock fights. Who wants to play with dolls? I am somewhat familiar with the wars between Rome and Carthage and remember from my Ancient History class in UNI that the Rom I truly loved this book--enough in fact to search out the next in the series.
I am somewhat familiar with the wars between Rome and Carthage and remember from my Ancient History class in UNI that the Romans finally defeated Carthage and destroyed the whole town and seeded the land with salt so no one could live there for many years, Ben Kane has a wonderful was with writing, and in spite of the small print, I was fascinated with the whole story. The characters were well developed and interesting, the historical facts and the glossary very good.
Overall a teriffic read and Highly recommended. Set during the Second Punic Wars between Rome and Carthage, this is a story of friends, enemies, brothers and war. I am not a fan of young characters and puppy love but empires and war are definitely an interest. This was a good book with some great history. I like the alternate stories from the Roman and Carthage sides, done without takin Set during the Second Punic Wars between Rome and Carthage, this is a story of friends, enemies, brothers and war. I like the alternate stories from the Roman and Carthage sides, done without taking sides I might add, but in the end the simplistic style didn't quite work for me.
May 28, S. Turney rated it it was amazing. At the time, those three books, along with a few works by Anthony Riches, Douglas Jackson and Simon Scarrow, very much set the standard for Roman historical fiction. Certain scenes from those books have stayed with me, no matter how much other Roman fiction I read and that is most of what I read. I consider a book that still has an effect on the reader a long time after reading to be a rousing success. Move on one book, and up a thousand notches.
Hannibal took me by surprise. I have an interest in all Roman history, but my knowledge of the Punic war period is considerably less than other eras. I did understand beforehand that at this point the Roman army was more of a Graeco-Etruscan force than the military machine the world generally remembers, drawn from citizen volunteers rather than a standing force. I knew as does everyone about the crossing of the Alps.
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Beyond that, my knowledge of the conflicts and the peoples is almost entirely drawn from holiday visits to Spain, Italy and Tunisia. The upshot is that, despite the title of this book, the tale is not about Hannibal. But it is not about him. Equally, those events from the sacking of Saguntum, through the crossing of the Alps and the first conflicts in Northern Italy, are the central events around which the story hinges, but they are not the story itself.
It is a heart-wrenching tale of friends and enemies experiencing the build-up to, and beginnings of, a war between their peoples, and the effects this has on their lives and relationships.
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There is a similar doom between the books, looking at friends separated by a gulf of nationality and fated to meet in those most unhappy of circumstances. Essentially, I loved Hannibal and rank it up with my faves now. Having read this I am now champing at the bit for the two Spartacus novels one of which is waiting on my shelf and the other is released shortly. Hannibal 2 now eagerly awaited. Aug 05, mixal rated it it was amazing Shelves: I've read this book straight after finishing , so I can't but compare these two books. From the beginning to the end Kane's book seems to be better researched, the author obviously went into great length in his search for reconstructions of the places he describes and he used this knowledge with a great skill in author's note he also points out all the liberties he took and what was their reason.
In addition, the story is described from the POV of middle-class Carthaginians and Romans that ev I've read this book straight after finishing , so I can't but compare these two books. In addition, the story is described from the POV of middle-class Carthaginians and Romans that eventually take part in the great scheme of things; however, for relatively long part of the story we can see the situation from the POV of people that are directly affected by the main conflict, but they have very little information about what is actually happening.
The book also quite colorfully describes relationships and customs in the respective cultures. One thing that seems to be trendy in HF novels these days is that one of the main characters is a young woman that is displeased with her role as a woman and that wants to practice with weapons and does not understand why she is not allowed to. This is probably recommended by the editors in order to make the book appealing to a broader audience. These characters usually lack depth and realism. Kane's book is hard to judge from this point of view, but I am not going to write any more so I do not unintentionally reveal some spoilers.
I myself find the whole idea quite modern, but who knows. I was looking out for these aspects, but I couldn't tell which passages these reviewers meant. There is one complicated friendship, and the above-mentioned emancipated female character. I am not sure whether this necessarily constitutes YA literature, but I do not think Kane focused too much on these aspects. Overall it was a great and engaging read.
I myself was really surprised by how fast I got to the end, and started immediately the next instalment. Jul 03, Nick Brett rated it really liked it. Set during the second of the Punic wars this book sits between Ben Kane's Forgotten Legion series and his new Spartacus series.
Hard to tell if it is a stand-alone or if Mr Kane will return to the characters here. But this is the story of the rise of Hannibal, and his attack towards Rome via the Alps, told from the perspective of a group of participants on the Roman side and the Carthaginians side.
Often in these books by weight of the central character you form a view of the good guys and the b Set during the second of the Punic wars this book sits between Ben Kane's Forgotten Legion series and his new Spartacus series. Often in these books by weight of the central character you form a view of the good guys and the bad guys, but not here, as the author cleverly balances the perspectives and views of both sides. In essence it is the tale of two families, one Roman and one Carthaginian and a slave that links the two.
So, using the background of Hannibal, we are given a tale of perspectives, loyalty, honour, family and, of course, action and thrills. For me this was a bit of a diversion for the author, a more rounded and complex story than his other works and I have seen some reviews that were not fond of some of the pace or detail, but it worked for me. Ben Kane builds both character and perspective so as a reader you see events and history through their eyes. I have read all of his books except Spartacus 2 and enjoyed them all obviously!
Sep 24, Joseph rated it it was amazing Shelves: Another excellent novel from Ben Kane. This time and it's a first for me we're introduced to Carthage, a place I had heard very little about. His description at the beginning of the book left me able to visualize it very easily. The rest of the book is also brought to life as you follow Hano, the main character around Europe and Africa.
Loved it, can't wait to read the next one. Jan 24, Mark rated it liked it. Sep 03, Mary rated it it was amazing. It's been a busy summer but I finally finished the first book in bestselling author Ben Kane's series about the Hannibalic Wars entitled "Hannibal: As in his popular "The Forgotten Legion", Kane has used young men on the cusp of manhood as his primary characters.
We first meet Hanno, a young Carthaginian who hopes to become a soldier like his father, Malchus, once was. Now, Malchus serves on the council in Carthage and, although Malchus drags Hanno to the council meetings so he m It's been a busy summer but I finally finished the first book in bestselling author Ben Kane's series about the Hannibalic Wars entitled "Hannibal: Now, Malchus serves on the council in Carthage and, although Malchus drags Hanno to the council meetings so he may learn statecraft, Hanno finds the meetings a bore and prefers to skip out and go fishing with his best friend, Suniaton, the son of a high priest.
We also briefly meet Hanno's two older brothers, Sapho and Bostar who presently serve as officers in the Carthaginian army. We discover that Sapho, the eldest, is jealous of Bostar because Bostar has been promoted above him because of Bostar's superior tactical acumen. Sapho's jealousy also extends to a lesser degree to Hanno, who, as the youngest, has captured his father's heart after the death of Hanno's mother. Kane provides a vivid description of the capital of Carthage, still majestic even after suffering defeat at the hands of the Romans in the First Punic War.
But all is not well as Carthage and Rome have once more butted heads in Iberia where Carthage has conquered most of the peninsula and the town of Saguntum, fearful of the growing Carthaginian presence in the region, has appealed to Rome for help. Malchus supports the Barca family and clearly expects Hannibal, the senior Barca commander, to exact "payback" from the Romans for their past offenses to Carthage. Meanwhile, Hanno and Suniaton hear of a large run of tunny tuna , and can't resist trying their luck so they can earn a little spending money.