The Forgotten Legion

(The Forgotten Legion Chronicles No. 1)

Ben Kane author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Cornerstone

Published:6th Jan '11

Should be back in stock very soon

The Forgotten Legion cover

Twins Romulus and Fabiola navigate a world of slavery and violence in The Forgotten Legion, where their fates intertwine with warriors seeking honor and revenge.

In The Forgotten Legion, we follow the harrowing journey of twins Romulus and Fabiola, who are born into a life of slavery after their mother suffers a brutal assault by a nobleman. At the tender age of thirteen, their paths diverge dramatically: Romulus is sold to a gladiator school, where he must learn to survive in the brutal arena, while Fabiola is thrust into a life of prostitution, where she captures the attention of one of Rome's most powerful figures.

The narrative expands to include Tarquinius, an Etruscan warrior and soothsayer, who is fated to fight for the Roman Republic despite being its sworn enemy. Alongside him is Brennus, a Gaul whose family has been slaughtered by the Romans. He rises through the ranks to become a notorious gladiator, feared and respected in equal measure. As their lives intertwine, the characters navigate a landscape rife with political corruption and violence, ultimately leading to an epic confrontation at the fringes of the known world.

The Forgotten Legion is not just a tale of survival; it is an exploration of honor, freedom, and revenge. As Romulus, Fabiola, Tarquinius, and Brennus face overwhelming odds, their destinies become inextricably linked, culminating in a battle that will test their limits and define their legacies.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Forgotten Legion - so much so that I stayed up until 2am to finish it. Where others play in the rarefied world of senators, legates and upper class merchants, Kane delves into the grim underbelly of slavery, prostitution and gladiatorial carnage; a place where life is cheap and the thirst of the conquerors for the blood of the conquered knows no bounds. Here, we smell the grime, lie on the cold floors, face death daily with little to live for beyond the faint spark of hope that one day there might be revenge. His creation of the Etruscan Haruspex is fantastic - a man of a defeated nation who can yet give hope, and does so, to both Roman and captive alike . . . and the conclusion leaves us waiting for the sequel. -- Manda Scott, author of the 'Boudica' novels
Historical fiction has never been more visceral and engaging than Ben Kane's debut novel The Forgotten Legion. Bloody, fast-paced, thrilling . . . what Wilbur Smith did for Egypt, Kane does for ancient Rome. Written in a cinematic style, Kane paints his lost world with such fervency that you'll swear you hear the thunder of the colisseum and the roar of the lions in the pit. Here is a masterful debut that shouldn't be missed! -- James Rollins, bestselling author of The Last Oracle

ISBN: 9780099556282

Dimensions: 198mm x 129mm x 33mm

Weight: 484g

672 pages