The Sword of Attila: A Novel of the Last Years of Rome

Walks, Walls & Patios: Plan, Design & Build - Fran J. Donegan, David Short Even though the author admitted he didn't use correct informations at all times, on a few points using superstitions or non-verrified facts, I loved every second of this book.

I usually want my historical fiction to be accurate because most of the history I know comes from books and if I get mislead about an information I don't feel too good. But I do appreciate good writing, and I think Michael Curtis Ford is a good writer.

The book is at its core the story of two men and the battle bewteen them. One of them is Flavius Aetius, commander of the Roman legions in Galia (basically running the Roman empire) and the other is Atilla, one of the Huns. They met when they were children, running through the streets of Ravenna, and they separate when the exchange of prisoners forces Atilla to remain in the Roman empire and Aetius to go and live with the Huns in their capital. They are both raised by other people than their families, and in the end, they both remain with things from the other's world. Atilla learns lating and greek, what diplomacy means, how to acts in society and how to hide your feelings against all other men. Aetius learns about honour, about fighting the right way, of what a life lived in camps and dirt what mean and most of all, he learns that a man can make his own path without destroying the path of others.

These two are sent back to their families, where Aetius becomes the leader of the legions and has all the power of the Roman empire in his hands, and Atilla becomes the king of the Huns and ultimatelly, Aetius biggest enemy.

Besides the subject, which was extremely interesting, what kept me reading this book with such pleasure was the really good rythm. The pace is fast and it doesn't slow down until the last three pages, when still you want it not to stop.

I do hope this books gets around and more people read it, it's really good!