A Winter War by Tim Leach

It is 173 AD and only the Danube stands between the mighty army of Marcus Aurelius and the complete destruction of the Sarmatians, a fierce, fractious nomadic people. The warrior tribes come together to fight the Romans on the Danube’s ice surface but it is a disaster. Few survive and those that do must make a choice when given a terrible ultimatum by an emperor who believes himself a god. Kai survived, hidden by one of the fearsome horses that his people prize, and must become a leader of sorts, a role that doesn’t suit because to many he is a coward, a shamed outcast. And no-one hates him more than his sister, the most feared of warriors. But, as the winter freezes the ground and people alike, the Sarmatians must walk an uncertain path between honour and shame, watched over by a Roman army, fascinated by their enemy but determined to crush it forever.

The Last King of Lydia and its sequel The King and the Slave are among the most wonderful historical novels that I have ever read, immersing me in an unfamiliar and almost mythical period of history (the 6th century BC), and illuminating that time with its astonishing depiction of Croesus and his transformation from king to slave. Now Tim Leach portrays a clash of cultures on the fringes of a Roman empire ruled by an enigmatic, cruel philosopher emperor. We spend time with Marcus Aurelius, camped by the Danube, and it’s a dangerous place, but most of the novel is spent with Kai and those closest to him, his friend, his daughter, his lover and his slave. And his extraordinary sister.

Through Kai, Tim Leach explores the society of the Sarmatians, its blurring of genders and roles, its strange and terrible traditions, its relationship with horses and the land, and its complete lack of perception about what the Romans really are, what they represent and what they will do. Knowledge brings with it desperation and division. Male and female characters fascinate equally here, which is a real draw of this novel.

Tim Leach writes beautifully. This is gorgeous prose, immersing the reader in the trials of this cold, cold place at such a time of brutal crisis. It’s lyrical and thoughtful. There is plenty of action, some of it quite shocking – these are violent people! – but this is offset by Kai’s journey.

A Winter War is the first in a new series. It’s a complete novel in itself while also making the reader very keen for book 2! I can’t wait to see what happens next because it is going to be incredible.

Other reviews
The Last King of Lydia
The King and the Slave

I wish someone had warned me to wrap up warm before starting "A Winter War"! This is a very atmospheric story (prepare for some shivers on the ice!), that is written well and has some interesting characters (most notably, Kai - our main character). As the first book of a planned trilogy, it has everything it needs to make you eager for the following novels - and a little bit excited, too!

My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.

Before reading this, I would not have been able to tell you who the Sarmatians were. Never heard of them in my life. So I really enjoyed learning about this ancient people from central Europe and their fight against the Roman Empire.

I also appreciate that my first exposure to the Sarmatians was through this book because, if I had learned about them in a history class, I know I would have been bored out of my mind. I like how TL brings to life their lifestyle, their culture, and the world they lived in.

From a historical standpoint, I think the idea of the story is very interesting. From a personal standpoint, books about war usually aren't my favourite. While I did find moments of enjoyment, particularly due to the characters, I wasn't really committed to their fight again the Romans.

But I do think fans of historical fiction, ancient confederations, classic antiquity, and battles for honour will really enjoy this.

The Sarmatians (not to be confused with the Samaritans, who lived in very different place of the world) are a people we don't know that much about. The lived on the other bank of the Danube to the Romans, and clashed with them, ending up part of the Roman cavalry. They have not written record, and not much archaeological leavings, so most of our knowledge come from Roman writings of the time.

It is into this murky near-void that Tim Leach writes. I love seeing writers try to understand people long go, piecing together the fragments and bringing them to the attention of non-scholars. And fiction is such a powerful tool for that, one of the reasons I read a fair bit of historical fiction - I love history, and fiction is a lot more accessible than dense tomes written for academics, a good stepping off point.

A WINTER WAR (the number of times I've written "A WINTER'S TALE" after the Shakespeare play!) is a tale of survival, shame, and personal honour as the Romans march on the Sarmatian lands, bringing the clans together to face a common enemy and then breaking them apart.

It was a good choice to pick up when ill, as it's gripping, but with a more laid back style that meant I was able to put it down when I need a rest, but was still engaged enough to pick it back up as soon as I felt less dizzy.

The writing style is bordering on literary at times, with a narrator that sometimes pulls back to a very distant view of the scene to paint it in stark colours, almost greyscale. It helps describe the world and the harshness of life - the powerful, dangerous steppes, the mingled despair, fear, and anticipation before a battle, and the bloody aftermath.

The brief historical note mentions the link between the Sarmatians and King Arthur. I vaguely was aware of the potential link between the Central Asian horsemen and the knights, if the roots of the myth are indeed in the Romans and then muddled up with the stories from the "Dark Ages." I would be interested to see if this idea is taken up in the second book, as it looks like Kai might be heading to Britain in service of the Romans.

The first in a trilogy set in the second century AD featuring the conflicts between the Roman empire and the Sarmatian people of Central Europe.
This story was gripping right from the outset. I loved the characters, especially the flawed central character, Kai. It was a very atmospheric book about a period of history and a people I knew very little about. The desperation for survival against all the odds was vividly brought to life. I can't wait to read in next book in the series.