Historical graphic novel about chariot racers in Rome. The races are exceptionally well drawn and the story has caught my interest. My only complaint is that the first book comes to a too abrupt ending.

Received via NetGalley.

This had the potential to be really interesting, but for the me the language was incredibly difficult to read and following along with it felt like a proper slog. A missed opportunity unfortunately.

Starts off with a race among some of the top chariot racers in the Roman empire. After a deadly crash, we flash forward 12 years where we follow one of the racer's sons, who is now a slave but has his father's talent. This was just really starting to get going right as it stopped. The art is indicative of most of the period dramas found in European comics. They tend to all have the same grounded, realistic style.

Great artwork here, in this Book One of Four, but the story about Roman charioteers really didn't appeal.

Too short, so it leaves a lot hanging, but it has promise and really beautiful art. It's a story about a young Roman man, Aelio, whose father dies in a chariot accident deliberately caused by his competitor. Jump to 12 years after the death and Aelio has lost both parents and has been forced to sell himself into slavery to survive, until a runaway chariot crosses his path and changes his life.

Great artwork and a gripping story.

Aelio Hermeros watches his charioteer father die as he races horses. Twelve years later Aelio is rescued from slavery when he saves the runaway chariot of a rich property owner.

This first volume introduces us to Aelio and begins the story of how he becomes a charioteer. The artwork is good and it is clear that this is going to be a thrilling and dramatic series. I really enjoyed the way the story pulled me into the drama from the very beginning.

Copy provided by Europe Comics via Netgalleyin exchange for an unbiased review.

'Gloria Victis #1: The Sons of Apollo' by Juanra Fernandez with art by Mateo Guerrero is a graphic novel set in Ancient Rome.

The story begins with a thrilling chariot race that ends in the death of a racer. The story then follows the racer's son, who is now a slave, but has a way with horses. When he saves a life, he is offered his freedom, but freedom comes at a cost for this young man.

This was a good foundational story, but at 58 pages, the story is just getting started when the volume ends. The art is pretty good. I liked the afterword showing the historical notes behind the story.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Europe Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.

I really love this book more than any other that I've read before! I reaply loved this graphic novel!

Filled with action and great artwork, this is a fast-moving story. Like other graphic novels, this is one rather hard to read, so I would not recommend it for anything smaller than an iPad, and even then it is distracting. The publishers should carefully consider fonts with new stories.

This is a fun graphic novel with a solid art style and story. I'll be recommending this one for sure.

A perfectly acceptable tale of fate, horses, Romans, slaves, destiny, gambling, love, fathers, sons, and chariot racing. The protagonist was a bit too strong silent pretty type, and had a bit too much "chosen one" vibes around him, but the setting (in Roman Spain) and the interesting side characters made up for that.This volume was more setup than delivery for the overall arc, and therefore somewhat unsatisfying to not have any payoff in a volume.

After having taken a uni course on how history is displayed in modern board games and, by chance, getting to review a game on horse carriage races in the Circus Maximus and what has gone wrong in said game, I was excited to read a comic about the same themes. I soon discovered that both the author and artist did an amazing job at bringing history to life.

Gloria Victis tells the story of the charioteer Aelio Hermeros, who is a historical figure andwas a successful race driver. The narration begins with a short insight to the protagonists past to then contiunue in his present and how he came to take part in the vicious races of the circus.

If you are in any way interested in Roman history you will absolutely enjyo this comic (and I am sure that the same is true for the following parts of the story). Be warned though, there are some potentially triggering parts in this comic:
- grafic display of gore and death
- heavy drinking
- slavery
- rape

Unfortunately the story here didn't work for me, but the art style and composition presents it in dynamic ways.

Gloria Victis by Juanra Fernandez and Mateo Guerrero is set in Ancient Rome, when chariot raced by slaves would be careering around a track with hundreds of spectators all betting on who would win.  Think Ben Hur!

This graphic novel has the excitement of the race, and the risks to the drivers. We also see where the horses and charioteers are trained.

If you don't know much about Ancient Rome, then this might be an enjoyable introduction for you.  You meet slaves, freemen, masters and mistresses.  You can see the problems that slaves and freedmen have with those who have power over their lives.

I thought this was fast paced and enjoyable.

 Gloria Victis  was published in 2017, and is available on  Amazon . 

If you're interested in graphic novels, have a look to see what else I've  reviewed  !

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, and so my thanks to NetGalley and  Europe Comics  for this book.

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From the depiction of both the Roman villa and arena, to the excellent driven by tight dialogue and all consuming action. This is a graphic novel comic books were allowed to evolve and tell.
A tale of Rome, it’s Gods, portents of the future, slavery, gambling and a love of chariot racing.
I love the background to how this story came into being and the imagination and research that brought to creation a story worthy of its historical beginnings.
The darker tones of terracotta and little bold primary colour allows the artist to crate a mood and sense of time and location. The horses are a challenge but beautifully drawn to show their power and majesty.
This is a very male focus on the love of powerful charioteers risking all to win the race. One step down from gladiatorial face offs perhaps but still the one to one combat of racers, and punters backing their champions. The art and skill are cleverly brought out as opposed to the drive and whip some sought to wield.
Having seen his father’s last chariot race this is the story of his son cast into to slavery, where his love and knowledge of horses might one day save him.
The lighter moments come from a rich wife whose wig seems slipping and whose default position is one who will be obeyed and rule by cruelty and punishment. Also the forbidden love of our hero who saves a slave girl and her mistress. His heart is turned towards her but fate it seems will not allow genuine love to bloom amid the sexual excesses of Roman society, it’s wealth and power which rule.