Wednesday 5 May 2021

The Seal of Aeolus - Manuel Alfonseca - Chronicles of the Aeolian Family Book 01

The Seal of Aeolus
Chronicles of the Aeolian Family Book 01
Manuel Alfonseca
ISBN 9798616687609
ASIN B0852KM5YL


A few years ago I read several books in translation by Manuel Alfonseca. Most I believe translated by the author himself. This is the 9th volume from his pen that I have read. I believe this book was originally published in Spanish in 2002. There have been several Spanish editions over the years, and it was published in English in 2020. I picked this up to read because it was the Catholic Book Club on Good Reads book for this month. Once I started reading it I could hardly put it down. But that should not have surprised me, I have been impressed by everything I have read from Alfonseca’s pen. Several times while reading this volume I thought of Sword and Serpent by Taylor R. Marshall and also the writings of Jack Whyte. And I believe this book is just as good as the writings from those two authors. 

This book is masterfully written and incredibly well researched. And I implore you when you read the book stick it through and read the Authors Note at the end of the text. I picked up the next two volumes in this series as soon as I finished the first. And it took all my self restraint not to start the second for a few days until I was able to write this review. The description of the volume is:

“During the war of the Roman Empire against the Parthian Empire, in the time of emperor Marcus Aurelius, the young Flavius obtains a position in the legions as a standard bearer. His father wishes to separate him from Christianity, the religion he has converted to. The boy must face many dangers, travel to far away countries and work as a spy of the Roman Empire. After finding true love, he must deal with a complex moral issue that will be solved providentially, in a way he would never have foreseen.”

A story sent in ancient Roman times. Following a solder as he embarks on his military career. He is a Christian and not ashamed of it. War, battles, a theft, love., and more. This story has a bit of it all. 

Alfonseca is the author of over 50 books, 24 of which I believe are available in English. He writes across genres and styles with great ease. His books are always entertaining. And yet they cause a reader to think. In this story and many of his others a great strength is the characters. His characters are masterfully written. And his scene work and setting really draw readers in and keep them hooked. 

A fantastic historical fiction novel of a top quality. And excellent read that I highly recommend! But be warned you will likely need to buy the whole trilogy.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2021 Catholic Reading Plan!

Books by Manuel Alfonseca in English:
Jacob's Ladder
The Ruby of the Ganges
The Last Dinosaur
Ennia in Faerie
The Heirloom of King Scorpion
Beyond the Black Hole
The Water of Life
Albatros


The Sleuths of the Spanish Transition Series:
Quetzalcoatl's Zahir

The Mystery of the Haunted House
The Mystery of the Sapphire Bracelet
The Mystery of the Honeymoon
The Mystery of the Egyptian Vulture Country House
...

Chronicles of the Magic Jigsaw Puzzle Series:
The Journey of Tivo the Dauntless
The Mystery of the Black Lake
The Silver Swan
The Secret of the Ice Field
The Lost Continent

The Chronicles of the Aeolian Family Series:

Non-Fiction:
Human Cultures & Evolution
World Population: Past, Present, & Future
The Fifth Level of Evolution
...




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