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James Mace
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Die by the Blade Kindle Edition

by James Mace (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 276 ratings
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*Thus Valour and Skill Have Their Reward*

The year is 77 A.D. On the frontier of the Roman Empire, a Dacian man named Verus is captured and enslaved during an imperial raid north of the Danube. He is sent to a rock quarry known as The Pit, as one among thousands of fresh slaves needed to mine marble for Emperor Vespasian’s new amphitheatre. Funded by spoils taken during the Siege of Jerusalem, the Emperor promises it will be the largest gladiatorial arena ever; his personal gift to the people of Rome. Requiring years of herculean labour and millions of cubic feet in stone, Vespasian’s son, Titus, worries whether his father will live to see its completion.

After months of back-breaking suffering and toil, Verus is taken from The Pit to become a gladiator. Whether by chance or fate, he knows that only by making a pact with death will he have a chance at life. In a savage world of blood, sweat, sand, and steel, his very soul is forged, until he no longer remembers the man he once was. As the Flavian Amphitheatre nears completion, with the possibility of fighting before the Emperor himself, Verus swears to either win his cherished freedom, or ignominiously die by the blade.
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  1. Print length
    251 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    November 30, 2017
  5. File size
    7288 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. See all details
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0772Y7P2R
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Legionary Books (November 30, 2017)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 30, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 7288 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 251 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 276 ratings

About the author

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James Mace

James Mace

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James Mace is an author, historian, and life-long storyteller. According to his parents, he’s been telling stories since he was six. He first began writing as a hobby in the early 2000s, penning physical fitness articles for a bodybuilding website and a magazine called Hardcore Muscle.

James wrote the initial draft of his first novel, Soldier of Rome: The Legionary, as a cathartic means of escapism while serving in Iraq from 2004 to 2005. He has since released thirty-two books, including thirteen Ancient History best-sellers, and five South African History best-sellers. His works currently span his two favourite eras: Ancient Rome and the British Empire. He plans to eventually delve into Medieval times, as well as the First World War.

Outside of his historical novels, James maintains a blog called The Buffed Historian, sharing random fitness and other tales from across history. His hobbies include weightlifting, road cycling, foothills hikes, travelling across the globe, live theatre, video games, and sitting down for a game of Dungeons & Dragons with friends. He lives in Boise with his wife, Tracy, and their cats.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
276 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Very good
Reviewed in the United States on September 23, 2023
Verified Purchase
I wrote this review because I really enjoyed reading this particular book about roman gladiators and their lives and deaths
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SOLI DEO GLORIA
4.0 out of 5 stars INTERESTING READ
Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2018
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IT WAS VERY INTERESTING. I WOULD THE SEQUEL IMMEDIATELY IF THERE WERE ANY.
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Roger J. Buffington
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent novel about Roman gladiators
Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2018
Verified Purchase
I like James Mace's writings about ancient Rome, and this is my favorite novel by him to date. This one is very loosely based upon the lives of two actual gladiators, based upon what little is known about them. This novel exposes the utter cruelty and brutality of the Roman state and nation, while acquainting the reader with what it might have been like to be a gladiator in those days. I found the story to be engaging and I kept the Kindle pages turning. Recommended. RJB.
2 people found this helpful
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j governale
5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping
Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2018
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I had trouble putting it down. Excellent storytelling brings ancient Rome and its inhabitants of all classes to full life for the reader. I highly recommend this book to those who love period pieces from this time in history. You won't be disappointed.
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McFitz
4.0 out of 5 stars Exciting historical novel of Roman gladiators
Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2018
This story of Verus, a captive gladiator in empirical Rome, was well written and exciting. It was obvious the author did his research, and very little exposition was needed to keep the story on pace. Instead, the third-person POV was used to cut away from the main character and bring us glimpses of the emperors in order to show the bigger picture.

The characters were somewhat archetypical, but I still cared whether or not the "good guys" survived in the arena.

Settings were described adequately, and I'm glad there is no such thing as "smell-o-book" to add to the atmosphere of blood, sweat, and worse.

The Kindle format was presented very well, with few errors throughout.

There is obviously quite a bit of violence, but it was only appropriate given the subject matter and it was not egregious. The occasional foul language might have added for the sake of authenticity, but was somewhat grating, especially for a woman reader, and I think it could have been toned down, or perhaps other choices could have been used. No real sex; although the author could have gone this direction, I'm glad he didn't.

NOTE: I won this book in an Amazon giveaway from the author, and was not required to write a review. However, I love to pass on good reading suggestions and would definitely recommend this book to those who like historical novels, Roman history, and/or adventure.
2 people found this helpful
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Glorie Sacco
5.0 out of 5 stars Highly entertaining
Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2018
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This book detailed hystoricl facts in a well written story bringing each character to life. As with all his books, this author was exact with descriptions of weapons, training, and life lived at the time.
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David
3.0 out of 5 stars Not his best effort, but less than $5 so can't complain too much.
Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2018
Verified Purchase
Not his best effort. Mace tells a good story and have enjoyed many of his novels in this genre over the years, but he seemed to get a little lazy with this one. A bit predictable, characters were a little flat, somewhat repetitive in spots. Not bad for a light, quick read but this won't be making it onto any literary reading lists without a major rewrite.
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Brian Campbell
4.0 out of 5 stars More Ancient Roman stories
Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2017
James Mace again brings the reader back to ancient Rome with this tale of the life of a Roman Gladiator. Though excessive with vulgarity the author still spins an enjoyable story that combines historic themes of people and events with the fictional dialogue of the main characters. I always look forward to these novels of a time long ago with both real and devised elements of the actual time. I recommend this and all the books in this series to anyone interested in the era of ancient Rome.
5 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Bill Grant
5.0 out of 5 stars A short tale of what it was like to be one of Rome's famous gladiators;
Reviewed in Canada on September 1, 2018
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Entertaining and Informative
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Patrick
5.0 out of 5 stars A really good read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 10, 2018
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Absolutely brilliant if you like a good story with some violence well worth it read 1/2 the book last night looking forward to reading it tonigjt.
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Reg
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in Australia on February 25, 2018
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Good read fast pace action
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Tim Vanns
4.0 out of 5 stars The ending is True.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 1, 2020
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Part fiction part non fictio this story is about how two slaves became famous gladiators. I won't spoil it by telling you how they became famous . I will say if this period of history interests you, get this book. You will not be disappointed.
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Rogerb
5.0 out of 5 stars Superb as usual..
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 10, 2018
Verified Purchase
I could smell the smells, feel the fear, walk alongside the characters. What a storyteller. Can't wait for James next book.
One person found this helpful
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