Eagle In Exile: The Clash Of Eagles Trilogy Book II Download Free (EPUB, PDF)
Perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell, Steve Berry, Naomi Novik, and Harry Turtledove, Alan Smale’s gripping alternate history series imagines a world in which the Roman Empire has survived long enough to invade North America in 1218. Now the stunning story carries hero Gaius Marcellinus deeper into the culture of an extraordinary people—whose humanity, bravery, love, and ingenuity forever change his life and destiny. In A.D. 1218, Praetor Gaius Marcellinus is ordered to conquer North America and turning it into a Roman province. But outside the walls of the great city of Cahokia, his legion is destroyed outright; Marcellinus is the only one spared. In the months and years that follow, Marcellinus comes to see North America as his home and the Cahokians as his kin. He vows to defend these proud people from any threat, Roman or native. After successfully repelling an invasion by the fearsome Iroqua tribes, Marcellinus realizes that a weak and fractured North America won’t stand a chance against the returning Roman army. Worse, rival factions from within threaten to tear Cahokia apart just when it needs to be most united and strong. Marcellinus is determined to save the civilization that has come to mean more to him than the empire he once served. But to survive the swords of Roma, he first must avert another Iroqua attack and bring Cahokia together. Only with the hearts and souls of a nation at his back can Marcellinus hope to know triumph.Praise for Alan Smale and Eagle in Exile “In Alan Smale, speculative fiction has been dealt a winning hand. Part historian, part anthropologist, part scientist, Smale is a Renaissance man with a storyteller’s gift for letting tireless research inform the narrative without overwhelming it. Smale entertains, educates, and enraptures.”—Myke Cole, author of Javelin Rain “[Eagle in Exile] has the pace and scope of a Michener or Uris epic. . . . Smale’s action scenes slash across page after page, intense and bloody. . . . Grab your dagger and sword, for the battle continues.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)“Warfare, political conflict, family strife—these are all presented in an epic scope where any decision or wrong move can forever change society.”—Tech Times “Thoroughly believable . . . Marcellinus is a complicated man, a hero we can all get behind.”—Historical Novels Review
Series: The Clash of Eagles Trilogy (Book 2)
Hardcover: 576 pages
Publisher: Del Rey (March 22, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0804177244
ISBN-13: 978-0804177245
Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 1.7 x 9.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (58 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #531,358 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #212 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Myths & Legends > Greek & Roman #1228 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Historical > Alternate History #2087 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Action & Adventure > Fantasy
UPDATE 20 JANUARY 2016 Re: SpoilersToo many of the reviews of the first book in this series, including the highest rated review, give up one of the major surprising premises of this series. Yes, it may be a stupid premise, it may be a cool premise (I weigh in on "cool"), but I find it unforgivable when a reviewer spoils the surprise. The reader neither gets the opportunity to guffaw and yell "THAT'S STUPID!!!" nor discover something excellent about the plot. Giving away the premise is like reviewing the new Star Wars Movie, The Force Awakens, and complaining about the death of a certain character by giving their name.ORIGINAL REVIEW:This is definitely one of those "if you didn't read the first book, don't bother starting here" works. I do highly recommend author Alan Smale's first book in this series, Clash of Eagles: The Clash of Eagles Trilogy Book I. If you have read the first in the series, this is the typical lull before the storm volume typical of trilogies. There is a lot more character development and exposition about the Hesperian (New World) societies than in the first book.Struggling not to give up any spoilers (including a really big one if you haven't read Clash of Eagles), the main difference between the first and second books is that the first one has a lot more large scale action. Smales is excellent with his battle scenes, and if I have any complaint about the series it's that there aren't enough such scenes. One of the fun things about alternate histories are the "what ifs" involving different historical technologies that never encountered each other. You do get that in these books where there are scenes where a Roman short sword (gladius) goes up against a native american chert war club. But Smales is much more fun when he's describing larger battles where tactics designed for specific weaponry is explored.Having now read the first two legs of the triology, I can say that these are a lot of fun. Smales' research really brings the different native american societies to life. He unabashedly focuses on the native american groups, primarily through his Roman protagonist (think A Roman Praetorian Dances with Wolves). I'm looking forward to, and hoping, that the final book in the trilogy will once again let us inside Roman military society.In the end, fun.
I really enjoyed "Clash of Eagles" - it was a fresh look at the alt. history trope of a Roman Empire that never fell, set in an America quite different from the one we know. Author Alan Smale continues the story in the second book int he trilogy, Eagle In Exile." Much of what made the first book excellent is still present: the informed speculation on the mysterious Cahokia and their society, the accurate depiction of Roman mores and military strategy, and the characterization of a wide variety of Roman and native characters. Unfortunately, this book suffers from the common problem for many second acts in trilogies, that is seems to be a bridge between the fresh first book and the anticipated major clash and settling of accounts likely forthcoming in book three. Parts of the story drag a bit, and the stakes do not seem as high as they were in book 1 (or will be in book 3). That criticism aside, it is still an enjoyable read and a must for anyone who liked the first book. However, if you are new to the series, read book 1 first and get a taste before moving on to "Exile"
I liked the concept as soon as I read the summary of the book. I think author Alan Smale really had a brainstorm in choosing an alternate history in which Rome finds it's way west to the New World (almost as good would have been Rome going east and contacting China).I like alternate history done right. It can show us the world that could have been if not for one or a few different decisions or rolls of the dice. That's always a good discussion and worthy of exploration. The other thing is that it must be entertaining. Otherwise it's just something else I read because I have to.I like the way the author presents the Amerindians as what they were, neither making them "peaceful and peace-loving people" who are invaded by evil, white men, blah, blah, blah. Nor are they presented as mindless savages. Instead, the Amerindians are portrayed as people of their own time and place who are capable of sophisticated thought and organization but have the same capacity for war and cruelty as everyone else. The author's dialogue is also quite good.There are some good things here and I like both alternate history and fantasy - but, not both at the same time. I found Amerindians flying hang-gliders and hot-air balloons really silly. I don't do spoilers, so I'm not going to go any further on some of the more fantasy aspects, but I really didn't like that.The book itself really dragged and developed slowly - especially in the beginning. If you are an action-adventure fan, you're going to be in this a long time before you get any. This was another aspect of the book I didn't like. It was more character-based fiction where everyone's "feelings" are paramount and who had difficulty potty training and were scarred forever by it, etc. I wanted it to be a faster-moving and more action-oriented read and it wasn't.There were some positives in this work, but not enough for the alt-history or action-adventure fan.
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