Marius' Mules XI: Tides of War: Marius' Mules Book 11

Written by S. J. A. Turney

Narrated by Malk Williams

It is 48 BC and Caesar is master of Rome, but Pompey is at large in the huge recruiting grounds of the east with a core of powerful officers, nominally representing the senate in absentia. As the general deals with matters in the city his army gathers at the coast, waiting to cross the sea and fight that worst of all conflicts: civil war.

This will be no easy campaign for Caesar and his officers. Fronto and Galronus, both preparing to join the campaign, know that they will face appalling odds right from the outset, for Pompey's immense navy controls the seas, and the force he has gathered in the east will dwarf that of Caesar, commanded by shrewd officers like the great Scipio and the turncoat Labienus.

From the bitter Adriatic Sea to the mountains and valleys of the Balkans, Fronto and his men strive to stop Pompey and bring the war to an end, heading for a conflict the likes of which none have ever seen. Hades awaits the legions of Rome on the plains of Pharsalus.

• Language: English
• Publisher: QUEST from W. F. Howes Ltd
• Release date: Apr 7, 2022
• ISBN: 9781004076567

S. J. A. Turney

S.J.A. Turney is an author of Roman and medieval historical fiction, gritty historical fantasy and rollicking Roman children's books. He lives with his family and extended menagerie of pets in rural North Yorkshire.

Reviews for Marius' Mules XI

[Eleanor Carson · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Ever since watching the BBC production of the TV series, Rome, I`ve wondered about how Caesar and Pompei conducted themselves in Greece. Much was hinted at yet glossed over by the TV production. This book reduces the mystery somewhat. It is based on mostly on Caesar`s campaign diaries, along with other material from Plutarch and Appian (sp?). I expected this account to end with the decisive battle at Pharsalus. I was surprised to listen on to hear of Caesar`s landing in Egypt, the beginning of the battle between the Caesarian forces with those of Ptolemy`s Egyptian forces, and the smuggling of Cleopatra into the palace as Caesar attempted to mediate between Cleopatra and her brother/husband/king Ptolemy XIII. In a separate historical note at the end, Turney explains that he ended this book at this point because Caesar`s account of the civil war ends here with a note that what followed was the Alexandrian War. Unlike the previous Marius` Mules books, this one ends on a cliffhanger. Again, the details are somewhat mysterious and complex and were also largely glossed over by the TV series Rome.

The lack of a 5-star rating is not due to Turney`s writing but to the somewhat inconclusive and sometimes farcical posterings of the two armies of Caesar and Pompei as they jockeyed for advantage. I suspect that even Turney`s masterful story-telling talents were somewhat stymied and unable to convey a muddled situation any more clearly than he did. Even Turney said the events surrounding Dyrrachium in the early stages of the war between Caesar and Pompei in Greece were a jumbled mess. Sometimes the source material cannot be dressed up much.

I`m really looking forward to the next book in this series. This part of the historical story is also vague, and I hope Turney can bring his usual talents to clarify what must have been a complex time.

[Alexander Anderson · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

With an ongoing series numbering 11 volumes, there are bound to be some good, some less so, but so far, none that has not been worth listening to.

The quality of this series is well known and secure, like any brand name, from The Golden Arches to Rolex, you know that you’ll get what’s expected and it will be good.

While our favourite tribune Fronto is here, he is by no means the main protagonist of this book, the narrative is.