Great Ancient Historical Fiction
Explore the best ancient historical fiction books! Dive into captivating tales of legendary civilizations, epic battles, and forgotten eras with our curated list of must-read novels.
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Men of Bronze
by Scott Oden
It is 526 B.C. and the empire of the Pharaohs is dying. Leading the fight to preserve the soul of Egypt is Hasdrabal Barca, Pharaoh's deadliest killer. When one of Egypt's most celebrated generals, a Greek mercenary called Phanes, defects to the Persians, it triggers a savage war that will tax Barca's skills, and his humanity, to the limit.
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Pride of Carthage
by David Anthony Durham
This epic retelling of the legendary Carthaginian military leader’s assault on the Roman empire begins in Ancient Spain, where Hannibal Barca sets out with tens of thousands of soldiers and 30 elephants. After conquering the Roman city of Saguntum, Hannibal wages his campaign through the outposts of the empire, shrewdly befriending peoples disillusioned by Rome and, with dazzling tactics, outwitting the opponents who believe the land route he has chosen is impossible. Yet Hannibal’s armies must take brutal losses as they pass through the Pyrenees mountains, forge the Rhone river, and make a winter crossing of the Alps before descending to the great tests at Cannae and Rome itself. David Anthony Durham draws a brilliant and complex Hannibal out of the scant historical record–sharp, sure-footed, as nimble among rivals as on the battlefield, yet one who misses his family and longs to see his son grow to manhood. Whether portraying the deliberations of a general or the calculations of a common soldier, vast multilayered scenes of battle or moments of introspection when loss seems imminent, Durham brings history alive.
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Under the Eagle
by Simon Scarrow
It is the year 42 AD, and Centurion Macro, battle-scarred and fearless, is in the heart of Germany with the Second Legion, the toughest in the Roman army. Cato, a new recruit and the newly appointed second-in-command to Macro, will have more to prove than most. In a bloody skirmish with local tribes, Cato gets his first chance to prove that he's more than a callow, privileged youth. As their next campaign takes them to a land of unparalleled barbarity - Britain - a special mission unfolds, thrusting Cato and Macro headlong into a conspiracy that threatens to topple the Emperor himself.
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When the Eagle Hunts
by Simon Scarrow
When the family members of a first-century Roman general are taken prisoner by brutal native Druids, two volunteers undertake a dangerous suicide mission to rescue the captives before they are sacrificed to the cult's dark gods.
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The Eagle's Prey
by Simon Scarrow
It is late summer 44 AD and the battle-weary Roman legions are in their second year of campaigning against the British tribes. The troops' commander, General Plautius, is under considerable pressure from the emperor to crush the natives once and for all. Centurions Macro and Cato are with the crack Second Legion under the precarious leadership of Centurion Maximus and it's their task to hold a ford across the river Tamesis when the natives are forced into a trap. But Maximus's nerve breaks at the critical point, allowing the enemy leader, Caratacus, and his men to escape. Outraged by this failure, General Plautius orders the decimation of the unit. Their choice: die, or escape to become a fugitive pursued by soldiers of their own ruthless army. Hiding from their former comrades, as well as the Britons, Cato's small band of fugitives have only one chance to redeem themselves before they are hunted down like animals...
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The Eagle's Prophecy
by Simon Scarrow
Centurions Macro and Cato, dismissed from the Second Legion in Britain, undertake a mission to rescue an imperial agent carrying scrolls vital to the future of Rome who was captured by Illyrian pirates.
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Rubicon
by Steven Saylor
Gordianus the Finder is in a tough spot when Pompey takes his son-in-law hostage, and to save both their lives, Gordianus must prove that his son did not kill Pompey's beloved cousin.
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Last Seen in Massilia
by Steven Saylor
In 49 B.C., Gordianus travels to the besieged city of Massilia (Marseille) to discover the truth about his son Meto.
