#BlogTour-‘The Falling Sword’ by Ben Kane

About the book…

Available from 02/05/2019 in hardback, prepare to follow the mighty ‘Clash Of Empires’ with ‘The Falling Sword’ by Ben Kane

CAN GREECE RESIST THE MIGHT OF ROME?
Get ready for the climax of the Roman invasion of Greece in Sunday Times bestseller Ben Kane’s latest historical adventure.
ONE FINAL CLASH
Reeling from his defeat at the hands of the Macedonians, Rome’s furious General Flamininus gathers his legions for the final strike on King Philip’s mighty phalanx.

AN EMPIRE ON THE EDGE
Both leaders know the victor will rule Greece, and both armies will do everything in their power to claim the ultimate prize.

TWO HEROES PREPARED TO DIE
Fighting on opposing sides, Felix and Demetrios think they have survived the worst of the campaign. But between vicious infighting, unruly locals, and intense battle, both will be tested as the final showdown between two great civilisations begins . . .

THE FALLING SWORD is the gripping follow-up to CLASH OF EMPIRES from Ben Kane, the master of historical fiction – for fans of Simon Scarrow, Harry Sidebottom, Conn Iggulden and Bernard Cornwell.

Praise for Ben Kane’s CLASH OF EMPIRES:
‘A triumph!’ Harry Sidebottom 
‘Exceptional’ Anthony Riches
‘Fans of battle-heavy historical fiction will, justly, adore Clash of Empires‘ The Times

Thundering over the horizon like one of Hannibal’s elephants comes the majestic and triumphant follow up to ‘Clash Of Empires’.

You don’t need to have read that one to read this but I would 100% recommend that you do in order to enjoy this sequel more, as you are invested in the characters and their losses, however, it’s not necessary (do it! do it! it’s a brilliant read!)

There is enough information about ‘Clash Of Empires’ to enjoy it but not not so much that the recap overtakes the new and exciting story which Ben swiftly-and bloodily-lays out over the course of ‘The Falling Sword’.

Much like the sword of Damocles, this dangles precariously over the heads of Felix and Demetrios their skill in battle is absolutely assured but what happens when you get 2 men, who are the best at what they do, fighting each other?

The military precision with which Ben lays out this tale of Ancient Greece and Rome not only throws light on a relatively unknown period of history, he adds his own work to the canon of mythical literature. Many people know of Troy,Thermopylae and the Peloponnesian wars, however, how many are aware of General Flaminius and Philp the 5th of Macedon?

I didn’t!

And Ben’s work on Hannibal Barca  is groundbreaking in it’s execution, he absolutely carries his enthusiasm for the classical world aloft like a flaming sword , and takes you along with him.

If, like me, you haven;t read a lot beyond the standard classics (Thucydides, Homer,Hesiod etc) this could feel a bit of a risk but honestly, I have no hesitation in recommending Ben’s work as a gateway into this time period, as it comes fully supported by detailed maps as well as a comprehensive recommended reading list and glossary of terms.

That may sound like a textbook, but I guarentee that the enthusiasm engendered by reading ‘The Falling Sword’ will leave you wanting to investigate further. Dry, dusty and full of miltary manouevres this is not, you are plunged, after a brief, teaser-y reprieve into the heart of battle and political machinations that will leave you reeling, battle sore and hungry for more. The subtle shades that Ben uses to create Felix and Demetrios mean that you aren’t sure whose side you are on-they are both so loyal to their commanders and their causes that you kidn of want them both to succeed and make it to the end of the book.

Who survives? On whose head will ‘The Falling Sword’ descend? Read it and find out for yourself, you won’t regret it!

About the author…

Ben Kane is a novelist, specialising in the historical fiction genre. He is best known for The Forgotten Legion, Spartacus and Hannibal series of books.

His books have been published in more than ten countries, including the USA, Italy, Spain, Greece, Russia and the Netherlands.

In 2013, Ben and two friends – Anthony Riches and Russell Whitfield – walked the entire length of Hadrian’s Wall for charity, wearing full Roman military kit, including hobnailed boots. They raised nearly £19,000 for Combat Stress and Medecins Sans Frontieres.

In 2014, they walked again in Italy, raising over £26,500. A film was made of their walk, entitled The Road to Rome. Sir Ian McKellen provides the voiceover. There are hopes to bring the documentary to TV channels soon.

Kane was born in Kenya and moved to Ireland at the age of seven. He studied veterinary medicine at University College Dublin, after which he travelled the world extensively, indulging his passion for ancient history.

Links-http://www.benkane.net/

https://www.compulsivereaders.com/

RachelReadIt Review of ‘Clash Of Empires’

Twitter @BenKaneAuthor

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