Review of The Eagle and the Dragon, a Novel of Rome and China
Posted: 19 Aug 2021, 16:13
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Eagle and the Dragon, a Novel of Rome and China" by Lewis F. McIntyre.]
In 53 BC, after Roman soldiers lost to Parthia in battle at Carrhae, less than fifty soldiers out of the five hundred that survived the war escaped execution by a stroke of luck. Instead, they were marched off to a strange land. A century and a half later, Marcia and Marcus, the descendants of one of the surviving soldiers, accompanied Han envoys on a diplomatic trip to Rome as translators. A Roman senator and prominent merchant, Aulus, was tasked with transporting the envoys safely back to Han land and meeting with the Han emperor, Emperor He. Legatus Gaius and his centurion, Antonius, are assigned to oversee the military aspect of the journey.
Aulus embarks on the trip with his newly built ships: Asia, Africa and Europa. Mid voyage, the dreaded pirate Ibrahim hijacked the Europa with Gaius and Antonius on it. Shared interests see the trio forming an unlikely alliance. However, their mission takes a different turn when Marcia's consort accuses her of committing adultery. In Aulus' eagerness to make sure she gets a fair trial as a Roman citizen, he and his team defy Emperor He's protocol, and the consequences are dire.
Set in 98AD, The Eagle and the Dragon, a Novel of Rome and China by Lewis F. McIntyre is an intricate historical tale wrapped around adventure and culture with a romantic bow. While Lewis' picturesque writing style pulls you into the story, his mastery of suspense and timing keeps you hooked. In addition, the location maps he included do a superb job of helping the reader visualize the towns the characters traverse.
History and culture enthusiasts like me will feel at home with this book. Learning about the people and culture of the communities the characters lodged was a thrill. Their experiences and interactions were organic and realistic for the era. Considering how long it took them to send a letter, I couldn't help but appreciate the wonders of modern technology. Although, I wish the author toned down the gory violence a notch.
Characters carry a story, and I adore how the characters lit up the book's pages with their personalities. Lewis did a great job with their development and growth. However, I was most impressed by Marcia's growth. There was no better feeling than seeing her grow from a timid young woman into a confident lady and skilled fighter.
Conclusively, I rate the book 4 out of 4 stars. I love every part of it. At first, the book had many sketchy details. But, I like how they all fell in place in the end. Even though it didn't hamper my reading, I will recommend a second editing bout to fix the errors I gleaned while reading.
******
The Eagle and the Dragon, a Novel of Rome and China
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
In 53 BC, after Roman soldiers lost to Parthia in battle at Carrhae, less than fifty soldiers out of the five hundred that survived the war escaped execution by a stroke of luck. Instead, they were marched off to a strange land. A century and a half later, Marcia and Marcus, the descendants of one of the surviving soldiers, accompanied Han envoys on a diplomatic trip to Rome as translators. A Roman senator and prominent merchant, Aulus, was tasked with transporting the envoys safely back to Han land and meeting with the Han emperor, Emperor He. Legatus Gaius and his centurion, Antonius, are assigned to oversee the military aspect of the journey.
Aulus embarks on the trip with his newly built ships: Asia, Africa and Europa. Mid voyage, the dreaded pirate Ibrahim hijacked the Europa with Gaius and Antonius on it. Shared interests see the trio forming an unlikely alliance. However, their mission takes a different turn when Marcia's consort accuses her of committing adultery. In Aulus' eagerness to make sure she gets a fair trial as a Roman citizen, he and his team defy Emperor He's protocol, and the consequences are dire.
Set in 98AD, The Eagle and the Dragon, a Novel of Rome and China by Lewis F. McIntyre is an intricate historical tale wrapped around adventure and culture with a romantic bow. While Lewis' picturesque writing style pulls you into the story, his mastery of suspense and timing keeps you hooked. In addition, the location maps he included do a superb job of helping the reader visualize the towns the characters traverse.
History and culture enthusiasts like me will feel at home with this book. Learning about the people and culture of the communities the characters lodged was a thrill. Their experiences and interactions were organic and realistic for the era. Considering how long it took them to send a letter, I couldn't help but appreciate the wonders of modern technology. Although, I wish the author toned down the gory violence a notch.
Characters carry a story, and I adore how the characters lit up the book's pages with their personalities. Lewis did a great job with their development and growth. However, I was most impressed by Marcia's growth. There was no better feeling than seeing her grow from a timid young woman into a confident lady and skilled fighter.
Conclusively, I rate the book 4 out of 4 stars. I love every part of it. At first, the book had many sketchy details. But, I like how they all fell in place in the end. Even though it didn't hamper my reading, I will recommend a second editing bout to fix the errors I gleaned while reading.
******
The Eagle and the Dragon, a Novel of Rome and China
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon