Marius' Mules IX: Pax Gallica

Fronto is indeed back, and as with all Turney's Marius' Mules novels, Fronto is the focus of a larger, fascinating world that rests lightly but firmly on history. This book has two main features that compliment each other to devastating effect: a spare and intense story of the simplest kind, the unrelenting pursuit of one man by another, and the larger story of these men's past. Turney weaves his characters into history so well that it seems that he has invented the whole of the ancient world just to support and surround them. It's always a surprise to me that something that seems so inevitable in the story's circumstances is actually true. The chase that Fronto is trapped in is so fierce and horrifying that it contrasts completely with the wide surrounding world that is this series' specialty. It's one of the most fast-moving and suspenseful novels in the series, and the most deeply personal and heartbreaking. Oddly, the very fact that this novel in the series holds much of Fronto's early history seems to make it a natural stand-alone novel, and a good entry point for a reader new to these wonderful books.

A great read. My mistake was reading the books out of order. There are nine books in the series and this one closes the series out nicely.

Pax Gallica is easily one of Simon Turney’s best books. It is relentlessly paced, the characters are well developed and the plot is thoroughly engaging, therefore all of this is likely to raise the price of his books, something that I am willing to live with. As Turney states, there is quite a bit of artistic license in this novel, but it is not gratuitous as it indeed “plugs the gaps” and we are left with a better understanding of Marcus Falerius Fronto, the primary protagonist in the “Marius’ Mules” series, as this book really delves into the events that served to shape Fronto. While I still feel that Turney’s characters drink far too much to come through as truly Roman, it is a flaw that I can live with. I will also add, with hope that my history professors don’t hold this against me, that the “Marius’ Mules” series is much more fun to read than Caesar’s “De Bello Gallico.” I happily recommend this book to any fan of historical novels.

I had so much fun reading volume 9 of this saga Fronto just can't seem to stay away from Ceaser. This volume explorers Frontos adventures on the Iberian pensula.

Another terrific story. Lots of detail about the life and times of the Romans and great descriptions of people and the countries that the Romans invaded. These stories are just so well written and so thrilling.

This is truly the best in Marius Mules series. It reflects superb writing and plot development, a must-read for anyone interested in this period of history. I sincerely hope that S.J.A. Turney will continue with this series. After all, we need to find how what role Fronto will play when Caesar battles Pompey. I am eager and anxious for the next installment.

Marcus Falerius Fronto and his family are exiled to Massilia. Fronto then rejoins Caesar in hopes that an alliance with him will regain what has been lost. Caesar gives him charge of a legion of veterans who are nearing retirement. Fronto is to take this legion to the area of Aquitania and release the men into retirement there to settle the land for Rome. But Fronto soon finds that things are not all peaceful in that region. A "Smiling King" has stirred the inhabitants to rebellion and soon Fronto has to use his aged veterans in an attempt to put down the revolt. The book starts out with a simple plot line. Perhaps too simple so things have to be stretched out to fill 400 pages. I got rather tired of the legion moving on and on and finding village after village deserted or Roman citizens left for dead in various and creative ways. Okay I get it; could we just move on to find out why this is happening? It really was starting to get very tedious. When it was time to confront this Smiling King in battle, things started to get a bit unbelievable. The enemy is holed up in a fortress that neither Fronto nor his advisors can find a way to assault. The solution? Just show a chest of coins to one cohort, tell them it is all theirs if they successfully assault and they happily win the day, fighting ten to one odds and having to climb a ten foot high stone wall while doing so. An assault on another fortress has Fronto leading a party to sneak into the rear of the fortress and open the gates for the rest of the army. Interesting reading but after about forty pages this too becomes rather tedious. Surely a dozen or so pages could have sufficed to cover this. After that the book shifts from historical fiction to historical fantasy. Things just become too silly and unbelievable with no true historical facts. I really liked the previous books in this series and looked forward to reading this. I was sadly disappointed and just started to flip through the pages of the last one third of the book to finish. I hope Mr. Turney gets back on track and turns out a more believable plot line in the next novel. (I am giving this a 3 star rating based more on the past enjoyment of the series, rather than the 2 star rating that I feel it truly deserves.)

Fronto is back. Of course the book is a page turner and only my family and farm work got in the way of completing the book in three days. While Turney has mastered the art of pace, he deepens his skill in this book of building character. Turney creates an evil mystery character that is I think is his best adversary yet. But by the end of the book, the reader feels great sympathy for the "Smiling King". In pulling this off, Turnery explores one of the mysteries of men who stand shoulder to shoulder with each other in combat. The Greeks called this feeling "Philia". Loosely translated it means "Brotherly Love". But the actual feeling is much deeper than that. It is more like Maternal Love where the feelings are so strong that men will die for the other as many mother's might for their child. Added to this, Turney explores the impact of extreme trauma on the psyche. We finally understand why the Smiling King can be so cruel and with understanding can even accept this. Added to the action and the deep character work, Turney uses some very clever plot devices. The Legion involved in this book has a unique organizational aspect that infuses the first half of the book. And of course, we meet a new set of lead characters who arise from this idea. One of the aspects of Turney's books that I and many others like is that he creates many characters that stand out and that we get attached too. So while Fronto is front and centre (sad pun), there are many others who we cheer for. That is why so many of us get upset because Turney has a habit of killing off such men - but even here in this book there is a twist to this too. The Marius books follow the career of Julius Caesar through the eyes of Fronto. This volume covers an off year when all that happened to Caesar was that his troubles in Rome grew to being intolerable. IX ends with the Rubicon about to be crossed and Fronto returning to Caesar's side for the events that were to change the world. Needless to say I can't wait. Fortunately Turney has the work rate of a machine and we can confidently expect X next year.

La serie de Marius Mules se añade a series como las de Colleen McCullough creando una novelaciones históricas entretenidas. una buena lectura para quien le guste el tema y con más rigor histórico de lo habitual

The story works for the position in the series. The narrative fills in gaps for the main participants with a thoughtful conclusions. Looking forward to the next book ☺️

While Caesar does basically nothing in Gaul (50 bc), as in the previous year Marcus Falerius finds himself busy again. Except this time vengeful trouble does not come to him in Rome, but devilishly lures him and yet another Gallic brother-in-arms (and this time brother-in-law) into the wilderness of the Pyrenees towards a terrifying resolution. The plot is so original, and the rhythm such a progressive crescendo , from the most welcome reunion with an ever so devious, witty and disarmingly charming Caesar, to a gradually darkening journey equally marked by new, stunning characters, and odious events, up to its conclusion and an intimate understanding of Fronto's early command and traumatic experience, that the author could almost branch out and start a new saga right here. Another excellent episode of Fronto's journey along Julius's. Brilliant, Mr Turney. Please hurry on to the next one

An excellent book as always, good job Mr. Turney Ready for book 10, towards Rome we proceed, Fronto and friends.

It was a good read and enjoyable but sad at times when new characters are met and they fall later.