Storytelling is excellent, and where Christian Cameron excel in describing famous battles and picturing these landmarks, Conn Iggulden excels in describing human emotions interwoven with great dialogue, so that all characters come vividly to life within this amazing story. although this is mainly Pericles' story and told through his eyes a few other characters are explored to a lesser extent such as the Spartan general Pausanias and Persian Artabazus.

Empire - Penguin Books UK

So, for some, especially if you are not passionate about history, Greek wars, battle description etc.My one complaint comes in the last few pages of the book - after all of the set up and development of Pericles’s character throughout, I felt that what he pulled at the end of the book to just be out of left field. Much of the book involves the Pericles/Cimon relationship as Pericles both admires Cimon as a leader and person and is jealous of him, especially for his intimacy with Thetis, the captive concubine of a pirate from Scyros and the woman who becomes Pericles wife. Jackie Pray, writing inthe USA Todaylabeled it “dramatic historic fiction to keep adults turning pages like enthralled kids.

Conn Iggulden - Book Series In Order Conn Iggulden - Book Series In Order

To make his own name [Pericles] must prove himself in the liar's den of Athenian politics: pitting wits against friends, sceptics, enemies. Sticking with Pericles rather than a constant shift of characters means you get to know and like him – a major point lacking from the first books. I'll be sure to read book 2 just to see them either get killed or redeem themselves (no hopes for Attikos, but Ephialtes might yet be saved, like Pericles - they're not entirely different, I think). To me, it sets the scene for what is coming, and it helps the main character (Pericles) grow for an in-depth re-creation of who this man was and what he did to remain a hero in Greek history.It offers an insight into life as an Athenian at that time: not just war, but the more pleasurable aspects of life; friendships, laughter, the fun of putting on a new play and seeing a society coming together, united under a cause. A reviewer forPublishers Weeklyrecognized that “Iggulden has a solid grounding in Roman military history,” but found that “anachronisms in speech and attitude roll underfoot and trip up authenticity. The middle section of Lion forms an interlude between the battles and is about Pericles’ marriage to Thetis, and his involvement in the theatre in Athens and the Festival of Dionysus. The author’s attempt is not entirely unsuccessful, but I suspect the target audience does not include a curmudgeon like me. While there’s still the divide between the fighting and a more peaceful life, the pacing and tension is smoother this time.

Lion by Conn Iggulden | Waterstones Lion by Conn Iggulden | Waterstones

It tells the story of Kublai Khan who is an extraordinary man worthy of remembrance alongside Julius Caesar, Napoleon Bonaparte and Alexander the Great.Iggulden's debut book was The Gates of Rome, the first in a currently five-part series entitled Emperor. Now they will be re-united by a shockwave from the North where a gladiator, Spartacus is building an army of 70000 slaves.