Ballista crosses the Alps.

Emperor Gallienus begins his reconquest of Gaul from the usurper Postumus. Ballista leads part of the army and faces tremendous difficulties, first in the Alps, then in the plains of Southern Gaul. It is clear too that some on his own side want him dead, and the volatile Gallienus is a liability rather than an effective leader. Before long Ballista is behind enemy lines forced to fight his way back to Italy where his safety is compromised also.

As much as anything else, this novel is an elegy to Roman horsemanship, as Ballista guides his cavalry across southern Gaul, and the climactic battle scene is made more intriguing by the fact that Ballista's brother and other Angle warriors are fighting, as it were, on the wrong side. Finally I enjoyed the portrayal of the rebel emperor Postumus, a humane man who might have made a better emperor than the flashy and unreliable Gallienus.

The Falling Sky is the 9th book released in Harry Sidebottom’s brilliant Warrior of Rome series, but falls 8th chronologically.
Unlike some of Sidebottom’s previous books, which could become bogged down in historical detail, his latest release reads as a quick, fast paced historical thriller.
Ballista and his immediate familia find themselves in the Alps, and the author gives us 300 brilliant pages of battle and action. Very little of the book deals with the politics of the Roman age, and it lends itself to a page turner that’s hard to put down.

A remarkable and well-researched book about the political machinations and military campaigns surrounding Ballista, a likeable Roman General.

The plots and sub-plots can be quite difficult to follow at times - in particular tracking the many players. However, it is worth the reader persevering.

As in Sidebottom's previous books, the battle scenes are gripping without gratuitous bloodshed. The violence of battle is often understated.

I particularly appreciated his research into actual military campaigns using cavalry.

A thoroughly recommended book for those who enjoy military history and intrigue.

This is the third book i read in this series and it's another well plotted and well researched mix of historical fiction and mystery.
Great characters, a well plotted story, a vivid and well researched historical background.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

Harry Sidebottom knocks it out of the park with another rollicking Ballista adventure.
Its AD265 and Emperor Gallienus has a challenger, Postumus so Ballista is sent in to gight fellow Romans and turn the tide for Gallienus. There are elements here that follow on from the previous book (which is well worth reading obviously) but Ballista has to fight fellow Romans while not knowing who to trust and when his unit becomes isolated, he realises there is much more in play than he realises.
Needing all of his leadership skills, strategic ability and cunning, he realises that it might not be enough.
Lots to admire here, strong characterisation, a time of history with menace and conspiracy at the fore with many tests of loyalty and comradeship. A page turning adventure to be admired.

Another solid read from Harry Sidebottom. Compared to other books, there was a longer focus on the different battle scenes which I really enjoyed. The way the book is written makes you feel like a bird watching down on the organised chaos below. Great.
Looking forward to the next instalment.

I haven't read much that is set in the Roman era but I am discovering I actually really like them. I really enjoyed this book, it was full of action and I couldn't put it down.

Ballista has now reached the end of his agreed 3 year term of service in the Roman Army and wants to retire to his home on Sicily, to see his wife and son again. However, he and his troop of soldiers are ordered to war to help overthrow the Emperor Postumus and install Emperor Gallienus to his rightful throne.
During his many years of service, Ballista has probably made equal amounts of friends and enemies, as he has risen from slave to being in charge of fighting men. In this book, he becomes aware of a threat towards his life and not only does he have to carry out his field duties, he also has to stay alive and hunt down a killer.
I enjoyed this book, not necessarily for the battle scenes, well researched as usual, but for the humanity he shows towards old friends and those in training and still unsure of what is expected of them. He shows himself to be capable and caring, there are many factions at work here, some support one Emperor over the usurper, he has to reconcile men to their given cause. I especially liked the humour, loyalty and interaction of his troop members, their camaraderie sees them through the worst of times.
The skills and care of the horses was also very touching, and I can’t remember a book that covers this area in such detail before. Great victories are only possible due to these beautiful and loyal creatures, if you don’t care for them, they will only be fit for horse meat. The poem “ For the want of a nail” kept running through my mind as I was reading these descriptions of equine kindness.
Men in this novel become real, flesh is put onto bones. Family is the underlying theme, regrets about being away fighting, missing children growing up, and in some cases, being held hostage in return for your good behaviour.
This book has a different tone, maturity and serenity, almost demob happy. Whether Ballista gets to enjoy his retirement is another matter, knowing the uncertainty of Roman life, probably not!!
My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers Bonnier Books for my digital advance copy in return for my honest and unbiased opinion. I have greatly enjoyed both the previous books, The Last Hour and The Burning Road by this author. A five star read.

Having previously prevented an assassination attempt on the Emperor, Ballista is a marked man ! He may have a suspicion or two about the plotters but he is about to find out how far their reach is. From a battle across the Alps to a contrived mission devised to to see him off without suspicion Ballista hangs on to the dream of returning home. This book is not shy on the brutality of war at that time nor the deviousness that surrounded a Roman court but both are blended to make yet another very fine tale in the Warrior of Rome series.

If you are a fan of historical fiction, this book is for you. A Roman adventure set in AD265 focussing on a battle to regain the alps, the writing is vivid with enemies in front, behind and within his own ranks. Plenty twists and turns a you follow Ballista and his army.

Marcus Clodius Ballista would just like to retire to his home on the island of Sicily, but war has come, and he has been called upon by his emperor Gallienus to help defeat the usurper Postumus.
He and his cavalry set off to Gaul to put down this usurpation, but as usual things are never straight forward for Ballista and he will have to overcome obstacles if he is to succeed. All the time watching his back from enemies in his own camp. Never one to back down from anyone this will become the ultimate test for the Warrior of Rome.
Another outstanding book in this series by arguably the best writer of Roman fiction writing today.
Ballista is the most intriguing and enjoyable character in this genre of fiction. Simply put if you read historical fiction, you’d be mad to miss out on Harry Sidebottom.
The easiest five star review I’ve given this year. Simply outstanding.

This is the first novel of Harry Sidebottom's that I've read, and so picking up the action in the Warrior of Rome after 7 books could easily have left me completely clueless, but the style of writing and lore drops to previous books make it easy to pick up and enjoy the action.

Obviously if you have read the others, you are sure to find much greater depth in some of the motives and actions, but amongst that is a Roman story that's easy to pick up, filled with fast and frantic action, with a good cast of characters.

At times some elements felt a little skipped over as time moved ahead or keeping track of where certain characters were, but again, that could be down to where I am picking this up from.

I will definitely be checking out some of the other books from the series though!

I've read a couple of Sidebottom's books with Ballista and enjoyed them. Unfortunately, despite being well written, this one was not for me. Identifying the conspirators was drowned under the prolonged battle scenes. I've rated the book 3 stars based on my enjoyment but would easily justify 4 for quality of writing and if the reader enjoyed battles. I should have read the synopsis better.
This is an honest review of a complementary ARC.

Ballista from the Hebradies now a Roman Citizen living in Sicilia with his wife Julia, well he would be if he wasn't in the Army heading to war to defend Emperor Gallienus against the Usurper Posthumous.

It's AD 265 and Ballista is sent with his army to as stated above his wish is to retire by this his is orders for now. He also has an enemy within and he knows not who or why infant until a Assassins failed attempt he didn't even know he was in a hit list. However he does know that every general (or officer of his rank) may have a target on his back or anywhere on his body for that matter. The battle field is brutal and playing fair is not necessarily the way the enemies play but our hero does for the most part but I will let you read all that for yourself.

So the plot is established what about the details that give it 5 stars? There are some wonderful characters some evil slugs (using there sorry of language although the weird slug may not appear in this novel. It's all battle and gore no love interest to note our hero is happily married! Things don't all go his way but still as a true soldier he will battle on till his assignment is complete, he is dead or they make it back to Rome only one can be achieved I'm not saying which.

If historical fiction is your thing, you enjoy the Roman Era then this could well be your thing its lively fast and lots of action 🎬 you don't have to wait for it to build up its all the way through. I hope you enjoy it as well.

Another enthralling story by Harry Sidebottom. Very bloodthirsty in parts but the impact of the story makes this part of the history of the time. I am pleased thatr Ballista survives once more.