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The Wolf's Gold (2012)

by Anthony Riches(Favorite Author)

4.24 of 5 Votes: 3

ISBN

1444711865 (ISBN13: 9781444711868)

languge

English

genre

Historical Fiction

publisher

Hodder & Stoughton

series

Empire

review 1: Review of WOLF’s GOLD by Anthony Riches, published by Hodder & StoughtonISBN 978 1 444 71186 8 For the last few weeks I’ve not had a chance to read anything that wasn’t non-fiction, nor to write anything other than the final version of the first draft of my next book, which is the reason for the lateness of this review. This is the first book of Anthony’s I’ve read. He is one of those fortunate types who writes for his own pleasure, because he has a real day job, and the enjoyment of writing comes out in his books, as does his delight in history, military especially. He has a knack of bringing soldiers to life, with all their coarseness and brutality, loyalty and affection. His series is a brilliant concept: it follows the life of one guy who’s lost his inherit... moreance, relations, everything, because of betrayal back in Rome. His dreams are haunted by his father demanding revenge, or his younger brother staring at him. An awful survival guilt drives the main character through the books, initially because he has no idea who or what led to his fall from grace, and latterly (in this book) because he finds out and starts to seek vengeance. The next book, I think, will take readers back to Rome. That’s a book I’m looking forward to! Anyway, Wolf’s Gold begins with the Tungrian auxiliary cohorts arriving in Dacia, far beyond the Danube, to guard a complex of gold mines. The Sarmatians are keen to take the gold, and have little fear of the Romans. They know that Rome prefers to pay protection-money than get involved in unnecessary campaigns, but in this area there are some complicating factors: devious Sarmatians who want power over their own people, more Sarmatians who detest Rome and all she stands for, and will fight to the last to destroy any Roman soldiers they find, and when Roman politics are also thrown into the mix, the result is a complicated but immensely satisfying plot to torture the mind! This is a book which really grabs you. It’s the story of one little campaign, in effect, but that is like saying Rorke’s Drift was an insignificant sideshow in the Zulu War. Wolf’s Gold has stayed with me (with jealousy while I was finishing my own next title) and it’s one that I will go back and read again for pleasure. It’s a story full of treachery, deceit, honesty, integrity and very well-written battle scenes that will have readers on the edge of their seats! Read it. You won’t be disappointed!
review 2: Review:When I read Leopard Sword 6 months ago I was shocked at how much further Anthony Riches story telling depth had increased, his books have always been my favourite in terms of pace and sheer fun, but Leopard Sword took it further with twists and turns that had never been there before. Wolf's Gold keeps that improvement going and if possible squeaks past it in terms of great story telling.I have to admit to several laugh out loud moments reading this book (and I would love to add one of the lines, but I don't want to spoil the fun for you all) my favourite concerns a beard and tickling (I laughed, and choked on my drink). It's this sheer fun and enjoyment that Tony brings to his readers as well as well thought out, well researched plot lines. Once again he is merciless with his characters, no one is safe, I was stunned by the casual death of someone who was a well established character, and how soon he was less than a memory. A chilling but honest way to portray how warriors must have been back then, how they must have been, to be able to cope with all the death around them. It's this kind of subtlety and attention to detail that puts Tony at the forefront of Historical Fiction writing , whilst still retaining his trademark writing ability that drags the reader along at breakneck spread from first page to last.The back story of Marcus is added to in Wolf's Gold ti a greater degree than many of the other books in the series and in a very tantalising fashion, with hints of what happened, to who and by whom. Leaving many more questions, Will he go to Rome? if he does how can he retain his current position? Who will remain alive long enough to help him? (he is a dangerous man to be friends with). The scope of expansion for this series is mind bogglingly huge.Another reason to buy this book and all of the series, is the way as each book is written Tony brings a more human element to more and more of the characters, to how we see more of each man, not just the fighter and his friends but how they've all grown from book to book, and how they have grown as a group.I just hope that Tony can keep up the pace of writing and give me the next book in 6 months... I'm not sure I can wait much longer than that.One of my favourite reads this year and Very Highly recommended (as is the whole series)(Parm)Product DescriptionThe Tungrian auxiliary cohorts march east to the land beyond the Danube to guard a frontier which turns out to be as dangerous and lawless as northern Britannia in Anthony Riches' suspenseful new Empire novel. Fresh from their victory in Germania, Marcus Aquila and the Tungrians have been sent to Dacia, on the north-eastern edge of the Roman Empire, with the mission to safeguard a major source of imperial power. The mines of Alburnus Major contain enough gold to pave the road to Rome.They would make a mighty prize for the marauding Sarmatae tribesmen who threaten the province, and the outnumbered auxiliaries are entrusted with their safety in the face of a barbarian invasion. Beset by both the Sarmatian horde and more subtle threats offered by men who should be their comrades, the Tungrians must also come to terms with the danger posed by a new and unexpected enemy. They will have to fight to the death to save the honour of the empire - and their own skins. less

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