"I must not be mastered by hatred. Justice and revenge are best served cold".
"This was his destiny. Just as it had been for his father and his father before him. He was a Prince of Numidia, born to lead his people into battle... He was eighteen years old, the same age as his uncle when he'd led his first campaign. Sphax felt ready".
To Kill a Consul by Robert M. Kidd is a riveting, action-packed historical novel set in 217BC.
Blurb:
To Kill a Consul
217BC. The Gauls are restless. Where is the wealth, plunder and lands they were promised? Hannibal's army has become little more than a burden to be fed and quartered... as welcome as a plague of locusts. Assassination plots abound as Hannibal is driven to take desperate measures to evade the assassin's knife.
If Hannibal is to appease the Gauls he must act fast. The invasion of Italia must not be delayed - his very life depends on it - but as that winter of winters fades into memory he is faced with a stark choice. Should he strike east towards the plains of Umbria and face consul Gnaeus Servilius Geminus' legions holed up inside the unassailable walls of Ariminum? Or strike westwards into the plunder-rich lands of Etruria?
Consul Gaius Flaminius' legions guard the western approaches. If any man can fire the bellies of Gauls with loathing it's Flaminius. But there is one other whose blood runs cold at the mention of the name. Flaminius ordered the brutal murder of Sphax's parents and Sphax has sworn a sacred oath to seek revenge. Can Hannibal trust the leader of his Numidian cavalry, or will this blood feud cloud his judgment? Sooner or later Sphax will have to face his inner demons.
The story follows real historical events, as seen through the eyes of the young warrior Sphax, Hannibal's nephew. The general confides in his nephew that he has spies everywhere in the Roman empire, including Rome itself, and that he plans a surprise attack on Consul Gaius Flaminius' camp.
At the mention of Flaminius' name, Sphax is plunged into "the red mist of hatred".
Flaminius is ruthless, cruel and totally devoid of moral principle or honour. His destruction should be planned with cold-blooded reason.
Hannibal is taking huge risks, playing with lives of his warriors. Sphax feels worried and frustrated, but there is nothing he can do to change the ambitious plans. The trip through the treacherous swamps sounds like a crazy scheme. Just the logistics of travelling with horses and weapons, providing food on the journey, appears impossible to solve. And there will be no turning back.
"For three days our army will simply disappear from sight, and when we emerge from its waters we will take the Consul's legions by surprise".
This will be an incredible test of endurance for Hannibal's army. Sphax must curb his feelings of revenge, yet he is consumed by his inner struggles. He ventures deeper into the darkness and must find strength to survive.
This is the fourth book in the Histories of Sphax series. To appreciate all the nuances of the politics, military action and historical references in general, as well as the personal stories of the main characters, it would be wise to start with the Book 1. It is also quite a complicated historical period, with many military strategies depending on the political unions, betrayals and enmity. It might be tricky to understand what's at stake if you haven't read the previous books in the series.
As the series continues, we watch Sphax as he grows into a man, gains maturity and learns to curb his impusliveness.
The series just asks to be adapted to the TV screen. Many battle scenes are so atmospheric and evocative, you have the feeling of the panorama unrolling in front of you, and the action progresses, scene by scene, in an almost cinematic experience.
"Taking his place in the middle of the front rank he urged them forward. By the luck of the gods they were only spotted when they spilled from the track onto the field of the moon. By now they were all breathing hard, but javelins were already flying, spinning their deadly courses. Screams and cries of pain filled the air".
To Kill a Consul is an engrossing and accomplished historical adventure. Tightly plotted, tense and punchy, it is emotionally engaging as well. Robert M. Kidd orchestrates the story perfectly. Readers will delight in period detail and fascinating historical insight.
Many thanks to Robert M. Kidd and Rachel's Random Resources for my copy of the book!
You can catch up with the reviews for the previous books in the series:
and
Purchase Links
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kill-Consul-Histories-Sphax-Book-ebook/dp/B0CKZCXPRV
https://www.amazon.com/Kill-Consul-Histories-Sphax-Book-ebook/dp/B0CKZCXPRV
Author Bio:
I’ve always read widely and been fascinated by ancient cultures - especially those of Greece, Phoenicia and Carthage. But my reason for writing the first novel in The Histories of Sphax series may sound strange to readers: I really wanted to set the record straight, to write about Hannibal’s war with Rome from Carthage’s perspective.
When Cato the Censor demanded that ‘Carthage must be destroyed,’ Rome did just that. In 146 BC, after a three year siege, Carthage was raised to the ground, its surviving citizens sold into slavery and the fields where this once magnificent city had stood, ploughed by oxen. Carthage was erased from history.
That’s why I’m a novelist on a mission! I want to set the historical record straight. Our entire history of Hannibal’s wars with Rome is nothing short of propaganda, written by Greeks and Romans for their Roman clients. It intrigues me that Hannibal took two Greek scholars and historians with him on campaign, yet their histories of Rome’s deadliest war have never seen the light of day.
My hero, Sphax the Numidian, tells a different story!
When I’m not waging war with my pen, I like to indulge my passion for travel and hill walking, and like my hero, I too love horses. I live in Pembrokeshire, West Wales.
Social Media Links
https://twitter.com/RobertMKidd1
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064169594911
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