With every book I've read of Ben Kane's, he's added something a little new, whilst still retaining all the parts I enjoyed from his previous books. Meanwhile, Spartacus is struggling with an influx of recruits and locked in a power struggle with some of the other former gladiators who had themselves built up a following in the ludus and weren't happy to serve under Spartacus. The Roman Senate is predictably unhappy at this turn of events and sends an army after the escaped gladiator. He quickly gathers a following and, despite another betrayal, this time he achieves his aim and sets up camp on top of Mount Vesuvius. Attempting a revolution against the new King, the man who murdered his father, Spartacus is betrayed and sold into slavery to fight as a gladiator.Ī life of slavery doesn't suit Spartacus at all, having lived as a free man, so he sets about escaping. His King has been murdered and his likely replacement, Spartacus' father, has also been betrayed and murdered. He soon discovers that nothing is the same as when he left. Returning to his home in Thrace after several years away fighting in the legions, Spartacus anticipates settling back into normal life and finding himself a wife. This is, perhaps, the only thing you can say about Kane's writing that is predictable. Given Ben Kane's tendency to write strong characters who rebel against their Roman leaders, it's perhaps slightly predictable that he should take on the story of Spartacus, who led a slaves' rebellion against Rome.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |