THE DACIAN ENIGMA by Charles Edward Williams
The Dacian Enigma isn’t the sort of book I normally read. It’s set in the Roman Empire and although I enjoy historical novels, I tend to go for more modern history. However, the setting here seems very authentic and I appreciated the research the author must have done and the detailed descriptions that really brought the book to life. (I think I’ll skip the roasted dormice though!)
The novel is rather violent and bloodthirsty at times and can be quite graphic, including attacks on people and animals. (There are sex scenes as well as violent ones, so it’s not really a book you’d lend to your grandma.)
It begins with a young goatherd called Caius (later known as Luscinius) who is attacked by a Roman soldier for “neglecting his duty” and this sets the tone for the book. This is no romanticized vision of Roman times and we see many a Roman wielding his physical and political power throughout. Later on, there’s a particularly graphic description of a brutal attack on Brasus, who is now an outcast due to his facial injuries and lasting scars. We follow his story too, as he tries to exact revenge on the soldier who disfigured him, and that of Caius/Luscinius, who turns out to have a beautiful singing voice.
Cletus is the character who punishes the goatherd. We are told he is a “battle-seasoned legion tribune” but after this initial impression, we follow his story, see the issues he has to deal with and begin to feel sympathy for him. Later on, we find out about his family background and his upbringing and the unforgiving training needed to become a soldier in the Legion Gemina X. I d being able to see the characters both “at work” and “at home” so they became more rounded and interesting.
My favourite character is Livia. I really enjoyed reading about her beautiful home she shares with her husband Draco, a wealthy merchant, and the lavish parties and banquets they host there. I enjoyed seeing the different “class” positions held by the various characters in the novel. I also d the gossiping between Livia and her friend Sabina.
I was also intrigued by Brasus’s story and how he is ‘adopted’ by a street gang in his quest for revenge. The street gang reminded me of a Roman version of Fagin and his boys in Oliver Twist. I especially enjoyed Brasus’s befriending of a black cat, which made a nice change to the horrors elsewhere.
Roman times were obviously times of war and battle, so this plays a major part in the story. The battlefield scenes are very believable and display the risks and brutality associated with being a soldier. I also found reading about the weapons used and the war tactics interesting.
Overall, it’s an interesting read that seems very realistic and authentic and shows the hierarchy of Roman society and the power wielded through politics and military might.
1 Livi Brooks59 8

Book Analysis - The Dacian Enigma by Charles Edward Williams

The Dacian Enigma is placed during the main course of the Roman Empire, where society and political means rule all through war and authoritarian regimes.
Cletus is a very prominent and experienced man within the world created by the author. His most distinct characteristics I instantly depicted was his vulnerability to obedience and his constant observational inner critic. He is good at wearing an expressionless look to any visitor or foe and observing their fondness before deciding whether to trust that character or not.
The way the author describes Cletus displays his superiority, including how he “towering over the visitor” near the beginning of the story. I find these details simple yet effective when needing to understand where the protagonist stands at the beginning of the story. This author does so with ease and clarity.
The sentence structure and overall word choice sets the sophisticated tone of the novel. Using precise and under abundant words not normally seen to describe a character or setting is what enhanced this story in my eyes. The author knows how to balance out using wide-reaching words without creating a bore of wordiness.
Although it would have been interesting to read this story through Cletus’s eyes, the author made a great choice in writing this book in the third person view point. There are so many exquisite characters that needed formal character development which would not have been properly executed if not in third person. As a reader you are able to see so many perspectives of so many characters, throughout the entire book.
This review is full of characters, but I believe in no spoiler and the best way I can explain this complex and thrilling novel is through explaining the characters. Draco was a riveting addition to this book, someone with emotions the reader can connect to. He was important in keeping the sane human emotion throughout the plot.
The plot driven by a Roman soldier’s story is something I have never thought to lay hands on, and this books is exactly what I needed to start in this specific array of work. The explanation of the ranks of the Roman Empire and experiencing different characters fight their way through in and through out the ideas of leadership, war, politics, and rank is so compelling.
Definitely read this book if you are willing to feel the experience of time travel, as this book truly makes you feel as if you are standing in the times of the Roman Empire. Obsessional, captivating, thrilling, the only way I can explain this great book. 1 Chris Maddix332 16

Emperor Trajan (Caesar Nerva Traianus; 18 September 53 – 9/11 August 117) was Roman emperor from 98 to 117. Trajan is remembered as a successful soldier-emperor who presided over the second-greatest military expansion in Roman history, after Augustus, leading the empire to attain its maximum territorial extent by the time of his death. Roman wars with Dacia, a province roughly located in modern Romania, are the subject of The Dacian Enigma. These wars took place from AD 101 - 105 and ended with the conquest of Dacia. Justification for the wars was recent Dacian aggression against Rome; an unsatisfactory peace settlement between Dacia and Rome, negotiated by previous Emperor Domitian that included Roman subsidies; a dangerous flow of Roman deserters over to Dacia able to better train the Dacians against Roman tactics; the promise of plentiful booty; and the growing threat of destabilization in the Danube region given potential alliances between Dacia and surrounding tribes.

The principal characters of The Dacian Enigma are tribune Cletus, merchant Draco and his wife Livia, goatherd turned singer Luscinius, and Dacian Brasus, who has vowed revenge against Cletus for disfiguring him. Author Williams does a masterful job of weaving the characters together such that all are interconnected. Cletus eventually meets Brasus; Cletus hires and elevates Draco, while enjoying a brief interlude with Draco's wife; the story opens with Cletus chiding the goatherd, who is later adopted by Livia. Emperor Trajan and Dacian king Decebalus, though not prominent, have important roles. Thus, Mr. Williams has taken a piece of history, embellished it with memorable characters, and created an extremely readable story.

The book easily earned my 4 stars, and it would have elevated to 5 with two brief additions. First, as a student of history, I was familiar with many of the ancient terms but a glossary of words such as tribune, legate, strigel, posca, caltrops, buccinae, falx, scutae, etc, etc, would be helpful. Also, a brief introduction to Trajan and his wars with the Dacians, as I have given above, including a map, would clarify things. I know this is a novel and not a history, but it is based upon actual history, so these additions would be appreciated. Regardless, this is a fine read, replete with sex, violence, and a finely interwoven plot. Robert207 1 follower

Disclaimer: this book was given to me by Booktasters and the author for an honest review. I have to get one thing out of the way right off the bat. This was by no means a terrible book, I just don't think that this was for me. This marks the first book in the Historical fiction genre that I have ever read.

While outside of the TV Show Spartacus, the movie 300 and Assassin's Creed: Odyssey, I can't rightly say I have much knowledge of this time period. I can't say whether or not this was or wasn't well researched by the author as I'm not too familiar with it but what I read really did feel authentic, believable and what I gathered, exactly what it was back then.

As expected from this setting, it's filled with warfare, politics, sex, betrayal, love, greed. In short it's what you should expect from the Roman Legion era. Maybe it's my unfamiliarity with the history but I couldn't discern the fictional characters from the real-life figures to the point that all their names and personalities all became a blur after a while.

For me once I got about halfway through I got the gist of the story. Politics, warfare strategizing, sexy time, battle, rinse and repeat.

This is by no means a bad book and this doesn't make the author a bad writer. I only have myself to blame for picking up a book that was out of my realm to possibly get something out of it and in turn it not be for me. Those that this time and the authenticity of this time period will enjoy this in one fashion or another this sadly wasn't for me. Aida MandicAuthor 142 books42

"The Dacian Enigma" is a striking book. It is a deep, detailed, and daring take on the Roman Empire and its glory and gore. The price of achieving enormous victories always seems to require quite a bit of violence, doesn't it? History has proven that time and time again. Mr. Williams has highlighted that topic quite vividly so readers could get a nuanced portrait of the price of power. The militant approach towards dominance, sex, and control is quite terrifying, so buckle up and get ready for some unnerving moments. The psychology and physical scars of war are not foreign to me. Nationalism, hatred, and evil were themes that my family and I had to face during the Bosnian Genocide. Military might is always certain that it knows what it is doing and that it is right. The Serbian Chetniks brutally raped, murdered, and tortured countless Bosnians during the Bosnian War. There was absolutely no mercy in their quest to achieve dominance over my people. Although the time period is different, the situations are similar. Highly recommend this book! AlfredoAuthor 1 book8

I was given this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

Cletus is a roman legionaire, still young but making a name for himself for his heroic battles against several enemies. However, shadows from the battlefront follow him for revenge.

Took me a while to get used to the book chronology and got me thinking a lot of time which was the Dacian enigma, as I found none. More was, I think, a Dacian peril or revenge. I found that plot a bit weak and I think this book is more of a year on the life of Cletus, the tribune, and his rise from zero to hero. Still, is a very enjoyable read and certainly I recommend it. Pictures a living frame of the Roman society under the reign of Trajan, and as such I saw myself walking again through the Forum and looking at the amazing Trajan's Column. booktasters novela-historica Angelo123 1 follower

First I would to thank BookTasters and the author for giving me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

The story was interesting and it reminded me of series such as Spartacus and a bit of Rome. The plot revolves around a soldier named Cletus. The story is not told in the eyes of Cletus but from a third person point of view. With the love triangles, the power seeking, development of all the characters are needed to build up an epic ending.
There are some interesting scenes and hopefully in the coming books, it will be much more interesting. Hope the author describes them much more! Muhammed Adedeji Akinyemi8 4

Dacian Enigma is 'okay' to read if you want to binge a period fiction in its full glory without what may pass as censorship. My problem with the book is that it struggles with diction and pacing. The book is a tad difficult to read because of these. But when you are able to brush through the gnashing, it's running 240km/h on a freeway. High adrenaline, pleasurably frightful, and exciting. Liviu2,349 657

Seemed interesting but soon it became another novel glorifying the brutality of the roman legions against the "uncultured, cruel" barbarians who really deserved it. The novel has energy and moves fast, but it could be a novelization of a role playing game where the hero kills countless faceless baddies, rather than historical fiction as it really has little to do with history2020_releases_read mainstream read_20234 s J.D. Schechter740 4

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