EMPEROR: The Field of Swords, Book 3 (Unabridged)

By: Conn Iggulden

Narrated by: Paul Blake

Length: 17 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

Julius Caesar has taken his legions north into mighty battles with the Gallic tribes. But as his successes mount, overwhelming ambition and new alliances begin to threaten his friendship with Marcus Brutus, brother-in-arms and fellow warrior. Although the conquest of Gaul has made Caesar a hero all over again, his victories on the battlefield cause still more rivalries at home. And ultimately Caesar and Brutus will have to choose whether to cross the Rubicon - together or singly - and to take the fight to Rome itself.

©2005 Conn Iggulden (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Pick a Bloody Narrator

There is absolutely nothing more infuriating that switching narrators in the middle of a series. Especially a switch to one as bad as Paul Blake. Overact much?

Fascinating And Thoroughly Engaging

I enjoyed the story so much I had to go through it one more time for extra measure. I love how the author add some of the historical notes at the end of the book. What an extraordinary story about an extraordinary man at an extraordinary time. Thank you for your wonderful imagination in reading this book.

Great series, I love the author's work and Ceaser

You could not ask for better historical fiction. I can't wait to finish this series and start the Gengis Khan one.

The Narrator is Drunk

Narrator slugged a bottle of whiskey before reading this. Really really bad. Keep the first guy.

Review of book 3

I don’t know if it was the subject matter or the change of narrator, but this book did not hold my interest near as much as the first two books did. I did finish the book, but felt it was lacking in both fiction and history hopefully book four will be better.

The narrator pronounces names with accurate Latin

I see a lot of reviews complaining about the pronunciation of names by the narrator.

YOU FOOLS, this is the CORRECT pronunciation of Latin!

V's sounded like W's, C's sounded like K's. Cicero is pronounced Kikero by Latin speakers, Octavian like Oktawian.

I applaud the narrator for a historically accurate pronunciation of the names in this book.

Changed narrator, not for the better

The first two books in this series were very well narrated by Robert Glenister. Paul Blake’s narration ruined this story for me and made it incredible difficult to finish. There is an extreme sense of disdain in his voice for this story as he narrates it. All the character are portrayed as haughty and condescending. It is almost as if he does not respect the authors literary depiction of the characters voices and the story suffers greatly for it. Along with this, Blake’s insistence of mispronouncing character names jolts you uncomfortably from the story constantly. It seems as though Blake was asked to find a way to make this story as unpleasant to listen to as possible. I will not listen to the fourth book on Audible but will finish this series reading the book itself. The author and the story deserve a better showing than this narrator provided. On the bright side I have missed the feel of turning the page and falling into the written story maybe I should thank Blake....

Annoying reader great story

Book is amazing but Paul Blake changes the pronunciation of character names from the previous 2 readers. Makes it hard to listen too.

Different narrator, but just as good

This was a first listen for us with narrator, Paul Blake. We're enjoying him very much. He's different from Robert Glenister (narrator of the first two books in this series) but just as good. It is rather annoying when changes are made in a middle of a series. But if, as in this case, the story is worthwhile, (and Conn Iggulden is always terrific) than getting to know a new narrator is part of the fun.

Overacting

Would you try another book from Conn Iggulden and/or Paul Blake?

I will never listen to another book from this narrator

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The narration was terrible. It was so distracting. There was so much overacting and emphasis on words that did not need to be emphasized. It sounded like like someone was doing a parody of a Reading. Also he could not pronounce the characters' names properly. It Is Servilia not sewilia and Octavian not Octawian. I stopped listening after an hour because I couldn't take it anymore.