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

By: Conn Iggulden

Narrated by: Paul Blake

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.

Poor Narration, Rambling Story

This story isn't as concise as Iggulden's other books in the series, it rambles and feels disjointed and jumps around too much. the characters aren't as relatable as they were in the first two books. And the story isn't pretty inaccurate historically. Julius was older than Servilia, and didn't grow up with Brutus, who was much younger than him. So pivotal points of the story just never happened, which kind of ruins it for me. Also Paul Blake's narration isn't nearly as good as the guy who narrated the first two books. And he pronounces the names very strangely, they're all different from the previous books so it's confusing and annoying. Good story overall, but by the end I was glad to be finished, and I won't be getting the next book.

How important it is having a competent narrator

The third book is just as good as the first two. However, with a new narrator, But it feels much much worse. The new narrator tries to be dramatic, but lacks any understanding of when to use it. He maintains nearly the same tone throughout and probably doesn't know the function of punctuation. A good example of the difference between reading and storytelling. Really really bad narrator.

different narrator

hard to get used to the new narrator for the books but well done nonetheless

Wonderful story - Narrator unfamiliar w historic characters

Love those series the excellent writing, but good grief, perhaps make sure the narrator understands the pronunciations of the ancient names. Octavian, Servilia, Vercingetorix - any basic student of history will be distracted by the narrators new pronunciations. Annoying mistake in a brilliant series.

great story, frustrating performance by narrator

first things first, this is a great story and series and the performance by the narrator of the first two books was outstanding. The characters are well developed and you care what happens to them. However, like other reviews have said, for some reason they change narrators at book three and the new narrator seems bound and determined to aggravate as many listeners as possible. It's not that he gives a bad performance. It's actually a good performance except for the narrator's insistence on mispronouncing as many names as possible. I think he wants us to believe that it's just his accent and natural annunciation of these names, but it seems obvious to me that it is intentional. I don't remember hearing anyone else in my life pronounce Ciro, as keyro, or Cicero, as kickaro. These are well known names to most people who read or study history. Every time I hear him say, Octawian or Serwillia, instead of Octavian or Servillia, it's like nails dragging across a chalkboard. There's many times he reads other words with the letter V in them and doesn't say hawe for have or sawe for save. countless times he says Julius, and pronounces it as it should be, yet when he talks about the Temple of Jupiter, he tortures my ears and says youpiter. Youpiter, really?! Similarly, the narrator has no problem pronouncing Caesar, or Cleopatra, but insists on saying kickaro or telling how the soldiers sent orders by blowing their corkneekins and not cornicans. The story is so good that I bought the next book and enjoyed them both for the most part. Just be warned, you will be aggravated at times. I would love to hear more by Conn Iggulden, but I will not start another series if this narrator is part of it.