Outside the walls, a vast Roman army waits. Yet the city’s incredible defences, designed by Archimedes, mean that Syracuse will not be taken easily.
A veteran of the bitter war since its beginning, Quintus is ready to give his life in the service of the Republic. But dangers face him from within his own ranks as well as from the enemy – who include his former friend, the Carthaginian, Hanno.
Hanno has been sent by his general Hannibal to aid Syracuse in its fight against Rome. Pledged to bring death to all Romans, he is diverted from his mission by the discovery of Quintus’ sister Aurelia, a captive within the city.
Two friends on opposing sides. A woman caught between them. They are about to meet in one of the most brutal sieges of all time.
Who will survive?
26 Comments
Hi Ben, I would like to buy your latest (Clouds of War) Signed…How can I do that (Hardback)
Many thanks
Nigel
PS. Great books !!!
@Nigel: best way is to contact Topping’s Books: http://www.toppingbooks.co.uk/ or Goldsboro Books: http://www.goldsborobooks.com – cheers.
Can you purchase your books anywhere in the United States? You are right up there with Wilbur Smith as my favorite author!
¿Cuándo llegara a Montevideo, Uruguay? Lo espero con ansias!!! =D
@pallettek: My sincere apologies for not replying until now. Life gathers pace every day.
You should be able to buy my books in B&N, and in indie stores. You can also get them at bn.com, Amazon or from The Book Depository in the UK, which doesn’t charge shipping to the States. Thanks and best wishes – Ben
@aleboreani: no hasta Feb. 2015 – lo siento. Saludos.
Hi Ben, i have been a big fan of all your books, especially the Hannibal series. I was after The clouds of war book, will there be another book coming out?
Todor
When is going to be more books in Spanish in iBooks? we need it!!!! Special Hannibal: Clouds of War.
@Todor: Sorry for the delay in replying! I’m so pleased you enjoy my books. Yes, there will be at least two more Hannibal books, but not for a little bit. I’m scheduled to write three books about the disaster in Germania in AD 9 and its aftermath first. Eagles at War, the first book, comes out in Feb. 2015…I hope it will keep you happy for the time being. Best wishes – Ben
@aoxford: Espartaco: Rebelion saldo hace unos semanas. Nubes de Guerra saldra en febrero 2015… 😉
Thanks Ben 😀 i cant wait until your new books come out 🙂 i think you are the best writer ive come across so far 🙂 and best books
So there is going to be at least 2 more Hannibal books I look forward to these and will they still follow the perspective of Hanno and quintus and possibly aurelia and also maybe hanno’s brothers Sapho and bostar I really think you should consider trying to get a TV show and/or a game for this series
And I also forgot to ask could you say when the next Hannibal book is due out
I look forward to your reply
@Todor: Sorry, been away on holiday! Many thanks for your kind words.
@kyle: thanks for your message. Yes, there will be at least two more Hannibal books (maybe three). They will mainly follow Quintus and Hanno. I’d love them to be made into TV series or films, but I’m afraid that’s not down to me. I live in hope and expectation, however!
The next Hannibal book won’t be out for a few years, I’m afraid, as I’m writing a three part series about the Romans in Germany. The first book, Eagles at War, comes out early next year. I hope that will keep you going – cheers – Ben
Hey Ben!
Love the new book! I am also very glad to see that you interact with your supporters as much as you do 🙂
I enjoyed all the Hannibal books so far, however, I miss the intense interaction between Aurelia and Hanno. I would also have loved to see/read about how different Quintus and Hanno looked after many years of not seeing one another.eg. physically etc.
I only wish to give you constructive criticism and wish you the best of luck with your new books!
I will always be a fan!
All your books make for great reading, I’m looking forward to future additions
Hello Ben,
I have read both Spartacus’s books and the two first about Hannibal. I really have enjoyed them as well as learning a lot of impressive history. The crossing of the carthaginian army through the Alps reminded me a little bit of the crossing of San Martin’s army through the Cordillera de los Andes 200 years ago 😉
Can’t wait for the spanish version of Clouds of War. I think I’m gonna read it in english!!
It’s really an honour having the possibility to write you from here. Thanks a lot for everything!
Francisco
From Buenos Aires, Argentina
Hi Gideon, and many apologies for not replying for so long. Sorry that you weren’t as happy with the last book…
Best wishes
Hi creights 89: Many apologies for not replying for so long. Thanks a lot!
Hi Francisco, and many apologies for not replying for so long. I’m delighted you enjoy my books so much. I hope you like Clouds of War too! Saludos.
Buenas noches desde Madrid (España) Ben. Quisiera preguntar si se dispone de la fecha de publicación de Clouds of War aquí en España.
Muchas gracias y un saludo.
Ben, I am super excited that there will be more books to come in this series. I for one love this series, the twists and turns, the true human element with choices being made by all the characters, no matter their importance of being a main character or just a street urchin you see for just a few pages. Keep up the excellent work! ~Krystal~
Lo siento por estar tan tarde! Nubes de Guerra saldo en Marzo. Saludos!
So so sorry for not replying until now, Krystal! Thanks for your message.
My problem is that the relationships among Hanno, Quintus, and Aurelia is totally unbelievable. The idea that the members of a Roman aristocratic family would develop any sort of friendship with a Carthaginian slave, much less a romantic one, would be like Queen Elizabeth II wanting to have sex with Kanye West. It just would NEVER happen.
@nosterrex: It is true that it’s stretching the truth a little to have a friendship/romance between a Roman equestrian and a Carthaginian noble youth. However, it’s no more implausible than many fictions readers are expected to accept in other novels, viz. Sharpe surviving every single skirmish and battle of the Napoleonic wars and beyond without being killed, Steven Saylor’s Gordianus being present at every single important historical event that took place in his lifetime – even the carpet-unrolling revealing of Cleopatra to Caesar and so on and so on. People accept these implausible plot devices…
Moreover, your comment about QE II and Kanye West shows your ignorance of the period. First off, Aurelia’s family are of equestrian class, not senatorial. They were nowhere near royalty in mid Republican Rome. Hanno’s family is of equivalent, more likely higher class, Carthaginian, with a lineage that was older than the Roman equivalent – and certainly with way more ‘class’ than that muppet Kanye West. It’s your ‘black’ comment that’s most laughable, however. Carthaginians were not black, or even close to it. They were of Phoenician stock, and therefore probably looked like Israelis might today. Black Africans did not exist in north Africa at the time – even now, they’re rare.