Book Review - In The Shadow of Rome by Joanna B McGarry @JayBMcGarry #BookReview #BookBlogger #Histfic
I read a book of ancient Rome
Filled with history, war, politics, and then some
A time led by the hatred of Optio Vespasian
An era of soldiers banded in auxilium
Hate and love go hand in hand
Man of sea and woman of land
Soldier Sigdan with Giorsal, his lass
A woman of strength and more sass
Dreams bloomed with the womb
Their destiny soon became the tomb
When evil sullied one such kid
Giorsal rushed in dangerous aid
Sigdan then took matters in hand
Prison was where they both land
Then…
A plan bloomed
A stage set
Drama enacted
Reality bested
A love and a sacrifice, nothing more dire
A child to be saved was their mire
Read Sigdan’s Saga from the start
Read the book with an open heart…
My poem was the summary of this book. In the land of ancient Rome, the air was strife with fights between the clans, till the Romans defeated them. The Empire soon established its fort with the Vespasian as the in-charge. Sigdan was the prisoner of war who had to join the Romans to survive. He fell in love with a strong woman Giorsal, and she became pregnant. But there was evil lurking, and Giorsal helped one such child. Repercussions soon followed, and their love was put to the highest test.
A rocking debut by author Joanna B McGarry, this was one heck of a story. There were so many hidden layers that each brought a new flavor to the story. The book was the perfect amalgamation of history and fiction. Joanna’s writing had a classic timelessness to it. It was obvious she had researched this period well.
I am always blown away by emotions, and this story had those wisps of gentle breezes, filled deep feelings. Love between Sigdan and Giorsal was never blatantly said, but it was felt in their touch and their glances. Injustice was rebelled against. And friendship closed ranks in a grand finale, just when everything they believed in washed away. An old dream was lost in the greatest sacrifice, but a new one had to be found under the shades of the rainbow at Odin’s table. This was the saga of Sigdan, a hero of those times.
I downloaded the digital version of the book from Kindle Unlimited, and this is my journey into its pages, straight from the heart!! STRICTLY HONEST AND UNBIASED.
All my reviews can be read here
Roman soldiers, based on the Antonine Wall, Rome’s most northerly frontier in Britain in the 2nd century CE, live, work, and fight beside native Britons who have settled in the shadow of the wall, in the village known as Clotagenium (Old Kilpatrick) on the banks of the River Clwyd (Clyde).
Life is dangerous, and conflicts arise between the soldiers and raiding Caledonii from north of the wall. Alongside the raids and battles, a personal conflict between Sigdan, an ex-sea-wolf, now a Roman auxiliary, and a dangerously incompetent officer, leads, inevitably, to a final– very Roman, reckoning in the arena.
Publication Date: 11th June 2019
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Honestly, if I’d only read just the blurb, this book wouldn’t have interested me. For me, the blurb just doesn’t pull me in. However, your obviously well-thought-out poem and your amazing review definitely make it sound interesting. A 5-star from Shalini is rare, so I will have to check it out. Have a great weekend, my friend, and thanks for sharing! 🙂 🙂 🙂
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It is a very atmospheric read of those times, slow paced, detailed read… Thank you ❤️
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Great poem! I love how you did that 💚
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Thank you so much ❤️… I have no idea how I went about it… This one took time. I was blocked for words
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Well, it worked so well 🙂
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Thank you ❤️
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This isn’t my cup of tea, but your review/poem knocked my socks off!
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Aww thank you.. I do read such books sometimes
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Lovely heart felt review, Shalini!
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Thank you so much Marialyce ♥️
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Fabulous poem, Shalini. Sounds like it was quite an epic read…
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Thank you so much… It was an atmospheric read, slow paced and fun
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nice blog post….
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Thank you so much
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I love your poem as a summary. Well done!
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Sometimes, something in my brain clicks
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I haven’t heard of this book before - in fact, I don’t know a lot of hisfic set in ancient Rome! So cool. Thanks for the review, I’ll check out this book!!
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Thank you Naty.. ❤️
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You wrote a freaking poem! A brilliant one!! It should totally replace the blurb!
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Aww thank you so much… ❤️I hope the author is listening
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Wow! Very heartfelt, and so wonderful! Thank you for this great summarising poem, Shalini! Best wishes, Michael (Btw: The following days we shall get 30+ (C) here. 😉
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Here it is 37degrees. Thank you so much ❤️
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Hey, great temperature. So I can practice for a stay in Mumbai.;-) Best wishes, Michael❤️
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First of all, your poem is beautiful! Second, I think I need to read this. Lovely review ❤
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Thank you so much ❤️
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Lovely poem! It was so well thought out and planned! I <3ed it!
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Thank you so much. Some days I can write poems too
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