Listen free for 30 days

Listen with offer

Preview
  • Blood and Steel

  • Throne of the Caesars, Book 2
  • By: Harry Sidebottom
  • Narrated by: Colin Mace
  • Length: 10 hrs and 36 mins
  • 4.0 out of 5 stars (27 ratings)

£0.00 for first 30 days

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Blood and Steel

By: Harry Sidebottom
Narrated by: Colin Mace
Try for £0.00

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £12.99

Buy Now for £12.99

Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.

Summary

From the bestselling author of WARRIOR OF ROME comes the second book in an epic new series set in third century Rome; a dramatic era of murder, coup, counter-rebellions and civil war.

In a world of battle and betrayal men will fight – and kill – to sit on the Throne of the Caesars.

Rome, AD238

Emperor Maximinus’ reign hangs in the balance. At the helm of an empire that is bleeding manpower and money to sustain his wars in the north, rebellions flare in the far reaches of its territories.

In Africa, Gordian the Elder and Younger are proclaimed as the new Augusti. A family descending from the imperial bloodline, they represent a chance for the establishment to take back the empire.

In Rome, the first blood of the revolt is shed when an assassin murders Maximinus’ prefect and announces to Rome that their ruler is dead and the Gordians have taken the throne. Still bitter at having a soldier from the barracks wearing the imperial purple, the Senate endorses the rebellion: the Gordiani are hailed as Emperors.

But as chaos descends on the capital, news reaches Maximinus of the betrayal. A man of war, he acts with decisive brutality and violence. On the dusty plains outside Carthage, bloody battle will determine the fate of the Roman empire.

©2015 Harry Sidebottom (P)2015 HarperCollins Publishers Limited
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Listeners also enjoyed...

Under the Eagle cover art
The Capsarius cover art
The Fort cover art
EMPEROR: The Gates of Rome, Book 1 (Unabridged) cover art
Eagles at War cover art
Emperor's Sword cover art
Blood Feud cover art
Hero of Rome cover art
The Wall cover art
The Dragon Sword cover art
Killer of Men cover art
Hannibal: Enemy of Rome cover art
Sword for Hire cover art
The Last Berserker cover art
Sands of the Arena and Other Stories cover art
Betrayal cover art

Critic reviews

‘Absorbing, rich in detail and brilliant’ THE TIMES

What listeners say about Blood and Steel

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    15
  • 4 Stars
    5
  • 3 Stars
    3
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    3
Performance
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    14
  • 4 Stars
    6
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    2
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    10
  • 4 Stars
    7
  • 3 Stars
    4
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    3

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Book 2 and it gets better

Where does Blood and Steel rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Top 3

Who was your favorite character and why?

Timesitheus the slimy backstabbing weasel. will do anything to while not be emperor, to be high in the Emperor's inner circle or even the power behind the throne.

Which character – as performed by Colin Mace – was your favourite?

see above

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Death of the Gordians, both the younger and elder

Any additional comments?

This is book 2 of a three book series. And all three are equally good, as they chart the rise and fall (well death) of Maximinus from various points of view from the citizens of Rome, to the eastern reaches of the Empire. To the wars on the frontiers. A complex tale is nicely created with both tragic and heroic moments. I would recommend all three to anyone.
Also as they are set a few years before the writers "Warrior of Rome" series they form a prequel of sorts with Ballista playing quite a pivotal role in book 3 of this series.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Glad that's finished

Struggled to finish this, longest drawn out tale yet, why repeat some ones name over and over again when they have five to seven names.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!