Para Bellum

By: S.J.A. Turney

Narrated by: Robin Laing

A powerful new audiobook set in the fourth-century Roman Empire by critically acclaimed historical novelist Simon Turney, Para Bellum will delight fans of Scarrow, Kane and Cornwell.

AD 381. Five years have gone by since a Roman governor ordered the deaths of a Gothic king and his attendants at a feast in their honor. This disastrous act led to warfare in the Roman Empire and the death of the Emperor Valens.

The Empire is now at peace, but the powerful brother of the murdered king has sworn revenge on the regicides, and will not rest until they are hunted down. For the eight legionaries who carried out the killings, the bloodshed is only just beginning.

Flavius Focalis is one of those legionaries. After narrowly surviving an attempt on his life, Focalis seeks to warn his former comrades, for he knows their enemy is implacable. So begins a deadly game of cat-and-mouse across the Empire, with far more than eight lives at stake. For war is coming—and the only question is: do they die now, or die later?

©2023 S J A Turney (P)2023 W. F. Howes Ltd

Action packed!

I'm nott sure why some said it was slow or boring. I also prefer Malk Williams but the narrator still did an excellent job. If this was slow I would like to know the books they were reading. I love action.

Disappointingly mediocre

I have read almost the entire work product of Turney and this one is by far my least favorite. Lackluster plot, character development and performance. I had high hopes which by mid-book were dashed. I listened to the last half at 2.0 to get through it. The other works have been outstanding, which is the reason this one left me nonplussed. Was not up to Turney's gold standard.

The narrator was excellent!

The story kept my attention throughout.
A very good novel with superb narration and feeling!

Story is a stretch.

It’s a quick story I did enjoy it. The performance was okay sorry that Mark Williams didn’t do it. Not  equal to the Marius Mules saga interesting by not great.

PS: Gave this a second listen and I enjoyed it more than the first time. I have enjoyed and have just about all of Simon’s books. He is a creative writer and not every character has the stature of a Fronto. If there’s a second book I’ll buy it. Enjoy

Turney does it again!

Why the monsters in Hollywood don’t make this into a TV series or set of movies? A great one off. A cast of characters that you instantaneously take to with enthusiasm. Continuously fast paced, and nicely set up with a gripping plot.. you and your boys do some dirty shit back in the day, and you have always felt guilty for it and looked over your shoulder, as you have all went your separate ways you have all prepared for the day they come for you, set in the Roman Christian era this revenge thriller will check all of the boxes for a good listen. Perfect narration and proper character distinction

Excellent as always...

Really look forward to Historical Fiction books by this author, especially those set in ancient Rome. Please! Keep 'em coming!

Please make this a series

I could listen to this book repeatedly. Great story, recommended to anyone that enjoys the adventure and ultimate "feel good" a well-crafted story provides.

Not good

I understand it’s a different author, but it’s no Simon scarrow or James mace. Hard to follow, boring.

So tedious and slow

A lot of everyday tedious details with a 3 minute action scene thrown in every 45 minutes or so.

Dumb story, terrible narrator

Six Romans take on a 1000 Goths. Sheesh. The really painful part was the narrator’s singsong of mindless inflection. Cranking up the speed made it even more pronounced.