Janine W. (alibrian) reviewed The Misplaced Legion (Videssos Cycle, Bk 1) on + 249 more book reviews
NO ROADS TO ROME
One monent, they stood under the skies of Gaul, facing each other in a strange duel of survival. In the hand of the Roman tribune Marcus Scaurus was the spell-scribed sword of a Druid priest. The Celtic chieftain Viridovix held a similar sword bespelled by a rival Druid sorcerer.
Then, as the two swords touched, a dome of golden light flared out and surrounded Marcus, Viridovix, and three cohorts of Caesar's legions. The next moment, they found themselves under a strange night sky where no stars were familiar and where Gual and Rome were unknown.
They were in an outpost of the embattled Empire of Videssos--in a world where magic and dark socery would test their skill and courage as no Roman legion had ever been tested before.
One monent, they stood under the skies of Gaul, facing each other in a strange duel of survival. In the hand of the Roman tribune Marcus Scaurus was the spell-scribed sword of a Druid priest. The Celtic chieftain Viridovix held a similar sword bespelled by a rival Druid sorcerer.
Then, as the two swords touched, a dome of golden light flared out and surrounded Marcus, Viridovix, and three cohorts of Caesar's legions. The next moment, they found themselves under a strange night sky where no stars were familiar and where Gual and Rome were unknown.
They were in an outpost of the embattled Empire of Videssos--in a world where magic and dark socery would test their skill and courage as no Roman legion had ever been tested before.
Older Turtledove First in series good escapism
This is an excellent adventure for anyone who loves the Roman era along with some high fantasy! The back cover reads:
"One moment they stood under the skies of GAul, facing each other in a strange duel of survival."
A Roman legion is transported to the Empire of Videssos through sorcery and has to decide where and when and who to fight for!
"One moment they stood under the skies of GAul, facing each other in a strange duel of survival."
A Roman legion is transported to the Empire of Videssos through sorcery and has to decide where and when and who to fight for!
Turtledove is just awesome. He's a professor of Byzantine History and it really shows. Excellent series.
An intriuging story. The perspective of a Roman citizen-soldier (officer) thrown into not only a new world, but the political intrigues of a kingdom. The author does a good job of building diverse politics and powers, while not getting mired in intrigue or masking the "facts" from the readers. The events and settings are nicely described, enough to build a vivid picture in your mind, not so much as to bore you with irrelavent details. My only two complaints are the complex names (latin, roman, etc) that made it difficult for me to remember who's who, and the re-curring disjointed grammer.
In short: Good plot and development, poor proof-reading.
In short: Good plot and development, poor proof-reading.
