Category: HF Reading Challenge

Book Review – Conqueror (Agricola #4) by Simon Turney @HoZ_Books

whatcathyreadnextLeave a comment

About the Book

Following years of distinguished military and political exploits, Agricola has been rewarded with control of Aquitania by the Emperor Vespasian.

But Agricola’s greatest glories have always come in that rainy northern corner of the Empire: Britannia. When Vespasian sends him back to Britannia, this time as governor, he has a chance to cement his place in Roman history.

To conquer Britannia completely Agricola must overcome its many Celtic tribes. The Ordovices have massacred a Roman cavalry unit. The Selgovae and Damnonii resist Imperial rule fiercely. And he must take them on with ever fewer troops due to a series of changes at the heart of Roman power.

Failure will mean disgrace or death, but if he should succeed, Agricola will be forever lauded among the pantheon of Rome’s heroes.

Format: Paperback (416 pages) Publisher: Head of Zeus
Publication date: 27th August 2026 Genre: Historical fiction

Find Conqueror (Agricola #4) on Goodreads

Purchase Conqueror (Agricola #4) from Bookshop.org [Disclosure: If you buy books linked to this site, I may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops]

My Review

Conqueror is the fourth and final book in the series depicting the life of Roman statesman and general Gnaeus Julius Agricola. Links from each title will take you to my reviews of the previous three books in the series – Invader, Warrior and Commander.

As with the earlier books, the events in Conqueror are based on available historical sources, including Tacitus’s biography of Agricola (Tacitus was Agricola’s son-in-law) and the author’s own in-depth knowledge of the period. However, like the previous books, Conqueror is very much a picture of Agricola the man not just the historical figure.

Appointed its governor, Agricola returns to Britannia charged by the Emperor Vespasian with conquering the whole of the island and placing it under Roman control. It’s a huge task made even more challenging by being accompanied by a time limit, the withdrawal of legions to protect other parts of the Empire and, being Britannia, the weather. The pressure to complete the task, likely to be the defining moment of Agricola’s career, is always uppermost in his mind. It informs his tactics, the deployment of forces and increasingly requires a change of mindset. As the pressure to complete the task builds, we see a more ruthless side of Agricola, latterly influenced by tragic events in his personal life.

Agricola was ever the tactician but his relentless progress northwards, quelling the various tribes either through negotiation or direct engagement, really demonstrates his ability to innovate. For example, combining his land forces with the Roman fleet, which at the time was separately commanded. He never quite loses his desire to be at the heart of the action, fighting alongside his men, although now resigned to the fact that, as governor, he can only sit and watch. Well, for a time…

Some of the tribes Agricola encounters prove particularly hostile, seemingly preferring death over defeat. This leads to epic battle scenes including the climactic encounter with the Caledonii at Mons Graupius. It is a bloody affair leaving Agricola, even at the moment of conquest, feeling hollow at the loss of life. ‘All around him, a whole generation of humanity lay strewn in their own blood and gore.’

Being the final book in the series, it’s a time of partings, one especially poignant, and the end of longstanding relationships. As the author notes, history provides a bittersweet ending. As Tacitus records, ‘Perdomita Britannia et statim omissa‘ [Britain was conquered and immediately lost].

Conqueror brings to a close a series which combines fascinating historical detail with the immersive ‘cacophony of battle’. If you have a desire to learn more about Agricola, Simon’s biography of Agricola was published in 2022. And Simon has just embarked on a new series about Constantine, the last Emperor of Rome. The first book in the series, Prince, was published by Canelo on 16th July.

I received an advance reader copy courtesy of Head of Zeus via NetGalley.

In three words: Gripping, authentic, fascinating
Try somethig similar: Agrippa by Robert Harris

About the Author

Simon Turney author of Bellatrix and The Capsarius

Simon Turney is from Yorkshire and, having spent much of his childhood visiting historic sites, fell in love with the Roman heritage of the region. His fascination with the ancient world snowballed from there with great interest in Rome, Egypt, Greece and Byzantium. His works include the Marius’ Mules and Praetorian series, the Tales of the Empire and The Damned Emperor series, and the Rise of Emperors books with Gordon Doherty. He lives in North Yorkshire with his family.

Connect with Simon
Website | Bluesky | Facebook

Book Review – The Knife Maker of Venice by David Gilman @HoZ_Books

whatcathyreadnext2 Comments

About the Book

1604. As pirates seeking slaves to sell in the markets of North Africa terrorise the coasts of Europe, headstrong Richard Sheriff and his sister Elizabeth are torn from their Devonshire home and thrust into a waking nightmare.

Richard’s skills as a blacksmith see him fetch a high price, but the pirate captain has other plans for Elizabeth and once they are separated, Richard has no idea of his sister’s fate. They must both learn to survive on a deadly voyage into the unknown.

Sold into servitude in Venice: glittering, vicious city of secrets, he is apprenticed to a knife maker. Richard’s talents soon win him renown… but haunted by his sister’s absence, he vows never to stop looking for her, knowing she would do the same for him.

First he must survive that city of ghosts. Will the siblings live to see each other again, or will they join the myriads lost to Venice, where life is cheap, profit is all, and escape nigh-on impossible? 

Format: Hardback (512 pages) Publisher: Head of Zeus
Publication date: 13th August 2026 Genre: Historical Fiction

Find The Knife Maker of Venice on Goodreads

Preorder/Purchase The Knife Maker of Venice from Bookshop.org [If you buy books linked to this site, I may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops]

My Review

David Gilman’s books have made numerous appearances on my blog. I’ve read several of his ‘Master of War’ series set in 14th century Europe (the most recent being Rage of Swords), thoroughly enjoyed his WW2 thriller Night Flight to Paris, and devoured his three thrillers featuring former member of the French Foreign Legion, Dan Raglan aka The Englishman, on whom I admit to having a literary crush. I’ve enjoyed every one of the books I’ve read and I’m pleased to say The Knife Maker of Venice continues that trend.

Following a raid by corsair John Challenor, Richard and Elizabeth find themselves aboard a ship sailing towards Tunis where Challenor hopes to sell the men, women and children he has captured as slaves. That’s if they survive the voyage and the terrible conditions below deck. Richard is consigned to the hold with the others but Elizabeth, with whom Challenor is besotted, is taken to his cabin. Surprisingly, he does not force himself upon her, clinging to the hope she will agree to be his wife. Having said that he’s not averse to using her brother as a bargaining chip.

Challenor has made plenty of enemies during his career. Not surprising since he’s no stranger to double-dealing. It leads to some dangerous naval encounters during which it’s only Challenor’s remarkable seamanship that keeps the vessel from being sunk or captured. It’s during one of these encounters that Richard makes a daring rescue unaware that in doing so he is setting in motion a train of events that will come back to haunt him.

The meticulousness of the book’s plotting becomes apparent once the action moves to Venice as we discover the relevance of certain events, some seemingly minor, that occurred earlier in the story.

As Richard and Elizabeth discover, Venice may be beautiful on the outside but it is a cesspit of intrigue, deception and cruelty on the inside. Activities that are officially illegal, such as slavery, persist with a blind eye turned as long as you possess sufficient wealth or influence. Power is the currency of the nobility. People who get in the way simply disappear. There’s a telling moment when Richard learns the true nature of the flickering lights he sees on the lagoon at night.

But at the same time, Venice is a place of superb craftmanship: exquisite glass, delicate lace and skilfully honed knives studded with precious gems. It’s Richard expertise at crafting the latter that brings him to the attention of a wealthy patroness. But he remains a slave, his freedom only to be attained on her death.

The pace really picks up in the final third of the book where the intrigue and deception I mentioned earlier comes to the fore with plenty of twists and turns and some narrow escapes. It’s at this point that relationships formed earlier in the story make the difference between life and death.

I loved Richard’s devotion to his sister, always mindful of his father’s last words to him, but I also admired Elizabeth’s resilience and instinct for survival which is really put to the test towards the end of the book.

The Knife Maker of Venice is a rich tapestry of a historical novel that combines fascinating period detail with thrilling action.

I received an advance reader copy courtesy of Head of Zeus via Goodreads. The Knife Maker of Venice is book 16 of my 20 Books of Summer.

In three words: Epic, suspenseful, action-packed
Try something similar: The Glassmaker by Tracy Chevalier

About the Author

David Gilman has enjoyed many careers, including paratrooper, firefighter and photographer. An award-winning author and screenwriters, he is the author of the critically acclaimed ‘Master of War’ series of historical novels, and was shortlisted for the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize for The Last Horseman. He was longlisted for the same prize for The Englishman, the first book featuring ex-French Foreign Legionnaire Dan Raglan. David lives in Devon.

Connect with David
Website | X/Twitter | Facebook