I'm not sure about this book. I can't say that I found it an enjoyable read. From the author's name, one can deduce that it was translated from another language but if so, there is a great deal of America about it, and as a result, it seems to have lost its European flavour. Whoever did the translation, English grammar is not their strong point - in fact, English in general seems not to be their strong point. We read "... when she had the map laid out like she wanted." Appaling grammar and diction. Just as bad is the use of colloquialisms such as 'hip-checking' in prose rather than dialogue. The author (or translator) frequently uses the wrong word in the wrong context - such as "...dust mites danced in the air..." when clearly what is meant is "dust motes". Added to this is the poor research - there is reference to characters wearing trousers but ancient Romans did not wear trousers.

From the amateurish writing let's move on to the absolutely awful characterisation. In Rivka yet again we find a bitter, vituperative, rude, unprincipled, unspeakably violent character - and a young girl at that - given a carte blanche excuse for such unacceptable behaviour by the statement "... she has had a hard life..." as if that is any excuse for such behaviour. There are many who have had hard lives that do not end up like this and I am utterly sick of seeing these hackneyed character tropes being hauled out again and again with exactly the same excuses for this sort of behaviour. Just for a change, it would be nice to read a book character who has had a hard life but actually turns out to be a rather nice person. It is almost as if such a thing is an impossibility in book-land, yet we see this happening in everyday life all the time. Perhaps art ought to start imitating life a little more in this respect.

To continue with the horrible characters, we are given yet more examples of domineering, bullying, termagant women. As a woman myself, I am fed up of this type of characterisation of a woman who is supposed to be strong and in control. Why is it that authors feel the need to give female characters the worst possible character traits in order for them to be strong? It is perfectly possible to be a nice person as well as a strong leader yet modern writers seem to think the two things mutually exclusive.

Finally, what is with that ending? It seemed incredibly rushed compared to the rest of the book but by that time, since the end couldn't come fast enough, who the hell cared?

This second book in the Hidden Legion series is as action packed, fun, and engaging as the first. The characters are given even more character, more to do, and the legion's history is being fleshed out. I cannot decide what genre this truly represents. Is it alternate history, action/suspense, fantasy, or some combination of all? Bravo Snorri Kristjansson ! I am looking forward to the Legion's further adventures.

Continúan las andanzas de Aemilius y sus compañeros de Legión, aunque esta vez hay algo más de intriga política y algo menos de enfrentamientos con bestias mitológicas, sin dejar de haberlos por que es la salsa de la historia. Esta vez en vez de leer la versión física del libro he preferido escuchar el audiolibro, narrado magistralmente por John Skelley. Podéis pensar que exagero, pero os aseguro que ha sido capaz de dar con una voz distinta para cada personaje, sea hombre y mujer, y dotarla de las características con las que Snorri Kristjansson ha diseñado a sus personajes con su entonación. Un trabajo estupendo.


Aemilius sigue investigando su poder sobre los animales, pero no es la única área en la que va creciendo como persona. Tendrá que emplear a fondo sus capacidades para el subterfugio una vez que se infiltran en la villa romana que es escenario de gran parte del libro, haciéndose pasar por sirviente y descubriendo un mundo que le era totalmente desconocido hasta entonces. Cierto es que la novela tiene algunos pasajes que pueden acercarla al rito de madurez, pero creo que es más bien un entretenimiento ligero que se ve aderezado por estos elementos.

Me parece especialmente interesante el punto de vista del gato doméstico con el que se relaciona cada vez más gracias a su don, veo que el autor cada vez se divierte más con los medios a su disposición y creo que esta parte ha sido la más divertida para él. También ha incluido nuevos personajes a la historia, quizá para tener más variedad en los diálogos y conversaciones o quizá para ir preparando las siguientes entregas.

Estamos hablando de una saga que tiene un carácter marcadamente episódico, que está intentando construir una narrativa algo más constante, pero todavía no se ve el trasfondo y la continuidad que esperaríamos en una serie que pretende prolongarse en el tiempo. Es divertido, sí, pero quizá me gustaría ver mejor el camino y la meta a la que se dirige la historia. Y el pedazo de cliffhanger con el que cierra la novela no era imprescindible para mantener el interés en la historia, me parece un recurso un tanto tramposo.

liked like when The Silent Emperor (2) The Silent Emperor (2) (The Hidden Legion Trilogy) by Snorri Kristjansson by Snorri Kristjansson Snorri Kristjansson because there were two people that seemed to be attracted to each other Rivkah and Aemilius of Hispania. Although there were others that were in some of the fights they were played down. like when the boy came from a village they sent Rivkah and Aemilius to the village to see what was happening. There was the thing about a knife. And the Senators house that they went to. There's more which I won't tell you about because you can read about it. I recommend this book it is about Italy but it is written by a Icelander.

This was a strong sequel in the Hidden Legion series, it uses the elements from the first book and thoroughly enjoyed the world again. The characters had that overall story-line that worked and I enjoyed getting to know them in this. Snorri Kristjánsson is able to weave a story that I wanted and left me wanting more from the author. It uses the historical element perfectly and glad it had that element that I enjoyed from the first book.

Review: A very captivating read from start to finish. I liked the converstations between man and beast and the singular POV throughout. The story line shifts around quite a bit at first and then settles in. This wandering leads you to believe that the questing nature of the novel will continue, but it doesn't.

The only fall down was the justification for venturing under cover and the accepted impersonations. Some logical progression needs to be maintained.

I received this ARC for an honest review.

4.7/5