The Silver Eagle

This is an excellent read. At least on a par with Harry Sidebottom's 'Warrior of Rome' books.'The Silver Eagle', is number two in Ben Kane's 'Forgotten Legion' series.
The Forgotten Legion are one of the Roman Legions defeated after the battle of Carrhae. They are then captured and taken east by the victors, the Parthians. In the east, they are kept together and kept fighting, but under (name) control against their eastern enemies, ending with a huge battle in the far east against an Indian army, in the footsteps of Alexander the Great.

Throughout this story and the previous book (presumably number three as well), we follow a brother and sister, made slaves, sold, captured, forced to fight, forced to...well, plenty of other things. They show more are separated, the sister is kept in Rome, the brother, Romulus, is forced into the 'Forgotten Legion.' The story follows them and the people who become their close friends, companions, spiritual advisors, enemies, rivals, tormentors and worse. The novel is centred around the two and their adventures both trying to stay alive at a crucial period in Roman history (the rise of Julius Caesar, the end of the Republic, the time of Rome as an empire, driven by Emperors and Caesars, modelled in various degrees of success, on Julius Caesar) and their search for each other and for revenge.

If you know, or can remember anything of this period of Roman history from your school-days, then there seem to be some clues as to what might well happen in the third (and possibly final) volume of The Forgotten Legion series. But, I could be mistaken of course.

You don't necessarily need to have read the previous book, The Forgotten Legion, but it would only increase your enjoyment of The Silver Eagle. There's a good pace kept up throughout the book, which is obviously written from a thorough understanding of and a deep interest in, the period it is set.

If there is one thing though, that I was a little doubtful about. He has a habit of ending each chapter on a cliff-hanger; 'will they, won't they get out of this one!' Whilst never having read any Charles Dickens (seen enough tv series and films to cover that particular base), I understand he used to do it because his stories were published in weekly, or monthly, periodicals and each chapter or section finished on a cliff-hanger in order to get the reader sufficiently worked-up to purchase the next edition. Here, Ben Kane is merely shifting from one strand of the story to another and back. Whilst it is exciting to read of battles against overwhelming odds blended into the story, it does get a little wearing and in danger of becoming a forced cliche by doing it at the end of each chapter. It eases up in the later sections and the story is the better for it.

Other than that minor irritation, I can thoroughly recommend 'The Silver Eagle' and look forward to the next excuse to order a whole load of new books from Amazon. show less

[The Silver Eagle] is the second book in the The Forgotten Legion Chronicles. This was an excellent continuation of the series. We catch up with our protagonists about a year after The Forgotten Legion concludes. We are deep in Margiana (Afghanistan) with Romulus, Brennus and Tarquinius as they are standing outside a secret temple for the warrior god Mithras. Tarquinus' ability to see the future has been very scarce for several months and he is being put on the spot by Pacorus the military leader to give him a believable prophecy or face death.Mithras finally grants him a vision of an immediate attack.

Every time our heroes appear to get a little ahead in life something comes along and sets them back. No matter how hard it gets though show more the friends stick together. If it can be believed this book gets even grittier than the first and you feel like you are in the forum during the riot. Kane once again does an excellent job of bring the past back to life and we travel to the edge of India and back across the Arabic peninsula. While with Fabiola we travel all the way to Paris to join with Caesar and then on to Egypt.

Overall I enjoyed this book quite a bit and I am eagerly awaiting the last book in the series. It's another great story though in my opinion it isn't quite as good as the first one. I think part of the problem was it seemed to go on forever because in the last half Kane seemed to focus on things I wasn't really interested in and skimmed over parts I wanted to know more details about. That and his giving Romulus and Fabiola glimpses of a happy future only to take them away again and again. While the story was great the pattern was getting a little monotonous. Despite the small negatives I still think it was a book well worth my time to read and for anyone interested in the ancient world, a fun way to visit. Make sure you begin your journey with 'The Forgotten Legion', you won't be disappointed. show less

The Silver Eagle is the 2nd book in The Forgotten Legion Chronicles, which started with The Forgotten Legion. This initial book spends a lot of time introducing the main characters, and weaving together their lives, whilst at the same time describing everyday life for the different classes at the time.

For me, the strength of The Forgotten Legion was within the characters and their lives, and so I was keen to see where they would go next. It can often be difficult when picking up the second book in a series – I want to be reminded of the storylines which have gone before, but I don’t want too much time wasted on this. In this book, Ben Kane seems to get this just right – my memory was nudged just enough.

In the previous books, there show more are quite a few descriptions of fighting. This continues in The Silver Eagle, but the emphasis is more on the politics, and the war as a whole, rather than individual battles. The various characters continue their journeys, both physical and personal, and it continues to be a series which keeps your attention.

I have to admit that I was a little disappointed with the increasing mystical powers of various characters. Tarquinus is a soothsayer, and so his abilities suit him, but it was not something I expected to see in other characters. I do hope that this isn’t relied on too much in the 3rd book.

I understand that this is to be a trilogy, which I believe will feel about right.. I fear it could weaken from being a long series. As it stands, I am very much looking forward to the final part of this chronicle. show less

Good read. The story of our four friends as they battle the injustices of fate and destiny in late Republican Rome. The lads travel to the far east of the Parthian Empire, while the sister becomes the mistress of Decimus Brutus, the man who will soon assassinate Julius Caesar. The novel has lots of battles, a little repetitive after a while, but that is the way it was at this time.

The story moves along well, lots of action, a measure of good surprises. Fun to read.

A middling middle novel...

La legión olvidada ha partido hacia Margiana, en las fronteras del mundo conocido. En ella se encuentran el gladiador Romulus, el galo Brennus y el vidente Tarquinius, tres hombres con razones de sobra para odiar Roma. Un ataque sangriento de las tribus escitas deja un reguero de muerte y destrucción, y plantea un nuevo peligro para Romulus y sus amigos.