plaidpladd's review against another edition
5.0
This book was great! I wasn't sure it would hold my interest since I usually find fighting really boring to read about, but the premise was really interesting, and I'm excited to read the sequel.
silea's review against another edition
2.0
Interesting premise, utterly generic ''civilized' european meets native americans' plot that i've seen at least a dozen times before, and lots and lots of native american stereotypes to fill in what isn't known about Cohokian culture.
roxanamalinachirila's review against another edition
2.0
The Roman Empire never fell. It survived and extended, and when the Vikings started their raids, the Romans brought them to heel - so it's now the 13th century and the Vikings bring tides of new, rich lands where gold flows aplenty.
Naturally, Rome sends out a legion to conquer that new land and bring back the riches, shipping the soldiers across the Atlantic on Viking ships. And less naturally, it turns out that some tribes across the Atlantic have discovered flight, so they can drop fire on their enemies (literally).
And thus, an extraordinary battle ensues between Rome and Native American tribes, leading to a clash of civilizations!
...this is the point where I got a coffee and sober up for the rest of the review...
While the idea is *brilliant*, I'm not so sure about the way it's handled. It's very... very...
Look, when the Romans march, they build roads, ok? So that needs to be mentioned in detail. They also build fortifications every night, so that has to be described. And before you know it, you're reading loads and loads of passages like:
And you read about palisades, and how to train soldiers Roman-style, and how hard it is to forge iron rather than bronze, and how to make a bathhouse and...
It's a sort of realistic alternate universe novel, I suppose? It has a few battles, but little action otherwise, and a lot of descriptions of how the main character and the leader of his legion, Marcellinus, employs everything he knows to bring Roman innovation to this new land. And if you're reading this to be wowed, even the primitive, yet very effective flying machines soon become boring, because they're put back in storage on the gigantic mound built by generations of Indians (they carried the earth in baskets), in a wattle and daub longhouse which is taken down and rebuilt every year.
At one point, I started feeling as if I were reading my old history textbook, because it was about as dry.
But, once the Stockholm syndrome kicked in and I started enjoying the book, I realized "Clash of Eagles" isn't about Romans vs. Indians, nor about the clash of great armies (unless a "clash" is a short battle in which one army gets obliterated). It's a fantasy of quick technological innovation and ingenious engineering. It's about one man who tries to bring his civilization to a new world and by the gods, does he do it! He forges, he makes bricks, he makes wheelbarrows and needles, and he won't be stopped!
I was going to three-star the book, but the ending left me somewhat bitter -
Naturally, Rome sends out a legion to conquer that new land and bring back the riches, shipping the soldiers across the Atlantic on Viking ships. And less naturally, it turns out that some tribes across the Atlantic have discovered flight, so they can drop fire on their enemies (literally).
And thus, an extraordinary battle ensues between Rome and Native American tribes, leading to a clash of civilizations!
...this is the point where I got a coffee and sober up for the rest of the review...
While the idea is *brilliant*, I'm not so sure about the way it's handled. It's very... very...
Look, when the Romans march, they build roads, ok? So that needs to be mentioned in detail. They also build fortifications every night, so that has to be described. And before you know it, you're reading loads and loads of passages like:
“Marcellinus was interested to see that here in Woshakee, where space was tight, the houses had been built in rows as neat and orderly as any castra or Roman town. It was a way of getting as many houses as possible inside the small compound defined by the palisade perimeter.”
And you read about palisades, and how to train soldiers Roman-style, and how hard it is to forge iron rather than bronze, and how to make a bathhouse and...
It's a sort of realistic alternate universe novel, I suppose? It has a few battles, but little action otherwise, and a lot of descriptions of how the main character and the leader of his legion, Marcellinus, employs everything he knows to bring Roman innovation to this new land. And if you're reading this to be wowed, even the primitive, yet very effective flying machines soon become boring, because they're put back in storage on the gigantic mound built by generations of Indians (they carried the earth in baskets), in a wattle and daub longhouse which is taken down and rebuilt every year.
At one point, I started feeling as if I were reading my old history textbook, because it was about as dry.
But, once the Stockholm syndrome kicked in and I started enjoying the book, I realized "Clash of Eagles" isn't about Romans vs. Indians, nor about the clash of great armies (unless a "clash" is a short battle in which one army gets obliterated). It's a fantasy of quick technological innovation and ingenious engineering. It's about one man who tries to bring his civilization to a new world and by the gods, does he do it! He forges, he makes bricks, he makes wheelbarrows and needles, and he won't be stopped!
I was going to three-star the book, but the ending left me somewhat bitter -
Spoiler
after all the smelting and sewing and frantic innovating Marcellinus and his Cahokian friends get into, it turns out the enemy tribe, the Iroqua, can steal their tech and use it against them almost more efficiently. I mean, come ooooon, is he allied with the Dunce Tribe, or are the others the Genius Tribe?spacepulsar0269's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
felinity's review against another edition
5.0
An alternate history epic, and well worthy of the title. In this world, the Goths did not sack Rome. The Romans are continuing to expand their frontiers, fighting the Mongol Khan on one side while sending troops across the Atlantic on the other. Marcellinus, a Roman Praetor, has been charged with finding the fabled gold. Roman tactics might not work quite so well in the New World though, and their concept of warfare may have a different result in the mountains of Appalachia, or when they near the great Mississippi river.
I'm glad there are to be more books in the series. The worldbuilding is excellent, the characters generally well-rounded (no black hats or white hats here), and Marcellinus' internal honesty and introspection prove most interesting as he is forced to re-evaluate everything he knows and believes, and begins to see his warriors as individual people rather than just a mass of faceless troops.
As an anthropologist, it was incredibly fascinating to see Roman soldiers coming up against braves, the interactions with the local tribes with their varying customs and how even the simplest things (like counting on fingers) may be done differently. They clash, with great confusion, and eventually start melding together to create a wholly new picture, yet there is always a price to pay for innovation.
The level of detail in Smale's research is quite astounding, but the level of thought that's gone into recreating these lost civilizations was even more so - and that's before you see the "alternative" part - but I also appreciated the detailed appendices with their extra information, creating more historical context and offering a lengthy bibliography to anyone who wishes to learn more.
I already had to recommend Clash of Eagles to someone else, who is waiting impatiently for his copy! If you enjoy military SF (historic rather than futuristic) or alternate history, you should definitely take a look.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I'm glad there are to be more books in the series. The worldbuilding is excellent, the characters generally well-rounded (no black hats or white hats here), and Marcellinus' internal honesty and introspection prove most interesting as he is forced to re-evaluate everything he knows and believes, and begins to see his warriors as individual people rather than just a mass of faceless troops.
As an anthropologist, it was incredibly fascinating to see Roman soldiers coming up against braves, the interactions with the local tribes with their varying customs and how even the simplest things (like counting on fingers) may be done differently. They clash, with great confusion, and eventually start melding together to create a wholly new picture, yet there is always a price to pay for innovation.
The level of detail in Smale's research is quite astounding, but the level of thought that's gone into recreating these lost civilizations was even more so - and that's before you see the "alternative" part - but I also appreciated the detailed appendices with their extra information, creating more historical context and offering a lengthy bibliography to anyone who wishes to learn more.
I already had to recommend Clash of Eagles to someone else, who is waiting impatiently for his copy! If you enjoy military SF (historic rather than futuristic) or alternate history, you should definitely take a look.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
kellan_writes's review against another edition
3.0
I found Clash of Eagles a good read, face paced and interesting take on alternative history. I think there was more that could have been explored, and it had slight hints of white savior in it that I wasn't too fond of, but it still handled it better than I could have thought. I would probably reread it, and I'm definitely going to grab the next book from the library next chance I get.
I feel like really more should have been done to give more backstory to how the world is the way it is in this story. It's a what if the Roman Empire never fell and discovered America story, but why didn't the Romans fall. Also why did their technology stagnate, or at least it felt stagnated compared to what the Cahokians and Iroquan had. It sort of nagged me the whole book.
I feel like really more should have been done to give more backstory to how the world is the way it is in this story. It's a what if the Roman Empire never fell and discovered America story, but why didn't the Romans fall. Also why did their technology stagnate, or at least it felt stagnated compared to what the Cahokians and Iroquan had. It sort of nagged me the whole book.
annaswan's review against another edition
3.0
Marcellinus was ultimately not so much a white savior as a catalyst of change both constructive and destructive.
jgolomb's review against another edition
3.0
Roman Empire Meets Unsettled North America.
"Clash of Eagles" is an interesting take on the tale of a fish-out-of-water. Take the Roman Empire; extend its' dominance into the 1300s; run them into an unexplored North American wonderland; collide with native american civilizations...and BAM, you've got a pretty good concept for a solid story.
After seizing treasure on board Viking ships, a future emperor Hadrianus sends the 33rd legion, led by Gaius Publius Marcellinus, to 'Nova Hesperia' (New Western Land), to explore the land and find gold. Landing at Chesapica, the Romans march west, bent on finding gold, and expanding the empire.
The book succeeds though the first 15% at exposing a realistic scenario of the Romans marching across an undiscovered country. Without exposing any key plot points, Smale does a nice job building Marcellinus' relationships with the Cahokian tribe he ends up living with. And here we have the fish-out-of-water.
The book fails to get into why the Romans survived and what tidbits in history were changed due to this key factor. Once Marcellinus settles into his new home, aside from some technological and militaristic nuggets, there's very little that's alternate history.
The story is heavy on action and moderate on the development of the characters. Though definitely sets up what could make for a quality series.
I received this book free through Net Gallery.
"Clash of Eagles" is an interesting take on the tale of a fish-out-of-water. Take the Roman Empire; extend its' dominance into the 1300s; run them into an unexplored North American wonderland; collide with native american civilizations...and BAM, you've got a pretty good concept for a solid story.
After seizing treasure on board Viking ships, a future emperor Hadrianus sends the 33rd legion, led by Gaius Publius Marcellinus, to 'Nova Hesperia' (New Western Land), to explore the land and find gold. Landing at Chesapica, the Romans march west, bent on finding gold, and expanding the empire.
The book succeeds though the first 15% at exposing a realistic scenario of the Romans marching across an undiscovered country. Without exposing any key plot points, Smale does a nice job building Marcellinus' relationships with the Cahokian tribe he ends up living with. And here we have the fish-out-of-water.
The book fails to get into why the Romans survived and what tidbits in history were changed due to this key factor. Once Marcellinus settles into his new home, aside from some technological and militaristic nuggets, there's very little that's alternate history.
The story is heavy on action and moderate on the development of the characters. Though definitely sets up what could make for a quality series.
I received this book free through Net Gallery.
sarabc's review against another edition
5.0
This review was originally on Sara's Books and Things
My first foray into military fiction, and I loved it. The battles were more tactically explained, then descriptions of gore which I appreciated. You really get inside the mind of a Roman solider. The natives also have a multitude of tricks up their sleeves.
I also enjoy the inter-tribal relationships particularity the rivalry between the Cahokia *Gaius's adopted tribe* and the Iroqua . It's one of the main reasons for Gaius's continued survival, as the war chief thinks that he can help them win the Mourning War.
I also like the changes that are wrought by Roman technology, weapons for the most part. The way that the battles are fought between the natives have been drastically changed because of it.
As with any book that's historically based I look for accuracy and research, and this book delivers. Painstakingly researched, and beautifully portrayed, giving life to a city where the history has been forgotten. Granted a few technologies were added to the natives stash were created by the author but they fit in wonderfully.
I hope there will be more books in this universe, maybe with a native narrating next time. Either way I hope for more from this extremely talented author.
I received this book courtesy of NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group in exchange for my free and honest review.
My first foray into military fiction, and I loved it. The battles were more tactically explained, then descriptions of gore which I appreciated. You really get inside the mind of a Roman solider. The natives also have a multitude of tricks up their sleeves.
I also enjoy the inter-tribal relationships particularity the rivalry between the Cahokia *Gaius's adopted tribe* and the Iroqua . It's one of the main reasons for Gaius's continued survival, as the war chief thinks that he can help them win the Mourning War.
I also like the changes that are wrought by Roman technology, weapons for the most part. The way that the battles are fought between the natives have been drastically changed because of it.
As with any book that's historically based I look for accuracy and research, and this book delivers. Painstakingly researched, and beautifully portrayed, giving life to a city where the history has been forgotten. Granted a few technologies were added to the natives stash were created by the author but they fit in wonderfully.
I hope there will be more books in this universe, maybe with a native narrating next time. Either way I hope for more from this extremely talented author.
I received this book courtesy of NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group in exchange for my free and honest review.