Happy New Year to everyone.
I’m afraid this is something of a begging post.
The cover of Vengeance of a Slave has been accepted in All Authors’ cover of the month contest. The first round runs until 7th January when the top 100 will go on to the next round. It’s by votes, so please would you pop over and vote for it.You can get to the voting page by clicking
https://allauthor.com/cover-of-the-month/17022/
Thanks in advance, and wish me luck.
Here’s the blurb.
Forced to watch his father’s crucifixion and separated from his mother, orphaned six-year-old Adelbhert’s life forever changes when he is sold into slavery in Britannia.
Years of servitude fill his heart with malice and he resolves to escape, determined to rescue those he loves and deliver retribution to the Romans who wronged him.
But as new allies shed light on old perspectives, Adelbhert begins to question his path. Will he find true freedom, or allow his vengeance to consume him?
Vengeance of a Slave is the first book in the series ‘A Family Through the Ages.’ So far there are 2 books published. The second one is Jealousy of a Viking and follows a descendant of Adelbehrt, from Vengeance. I hope to follow this family through many generations.
The books can be purchased from a variety of booksellers. Just click on the links to go to your favourite.
If you buy and read a copy, I would be grateful if you could post an honest review. Reviews are important to authors as they help readers to find books they might like. It needn’t be long. Just if you liked it or not, and what you liked or disliked about it.
I love hearing your opinions. Please leave a comment in the comments box.
I should have posted this yesterday, but I didn’t get round to it. In fact, I’m rather late today, too.
If you’ve been waiting for the post about Muldee, I promise that will be posted next Tuesday.
Soon it was Imbolc, the time when the young lambs began to be born. The villagers had much preparation to do, for they invited the goddess, Brigid, into their homes to bless them, and they prepared special food for this day. Awena, was delighted when the villagers chose her to help carry the image of Brigid around the village.
She helped to clean the house with enthusiasm, sweeping out all the old rushes and piling them up outside ready to be lit into a bonfire. Ailbert laughed at her enthusiasm saying he had never thought of her as a domestic type.
She stuck her tongue out at him in response. “It’s important everything is ready for Brigid.”
“What about the gods we worshipped in Londinium? Have you forgotten them? Jupiter, Juno, Venus and the rest?”
“They’re gods for the Romans.” She shook her head. “They’ve no use for the Britons. Only if we become Roman Citizens will they care for us, and that’s not going to happen. We’re now Britons and we must worship the gods that care for the Britons.”
She carried on sweeping while Ailbert continued walking towards the sheep pens to see if any lambs yet been born.
He met Madoc on the way and the boy told him in excited tones that one of the ewes had gone into labour and the lamb, or hopefully lambs would arrive very shortly. Ailbert quickened his steps towards the pens in the hope of seeing the actual birth. Being a house slave in Londinium he had never been present at the birth of any of the animals owned by the dominus and domina.
They arrived in time to see the ewe pushing out what turned out to be the first of two lambs. Ailbert frowned. He had not expected blood. The little lamb lay on the ground, wet, and the mother turned to look at him, for it was a male lamb. Ailbert watched as she began to lick him clean. The second lamb was born soon afterwards and she repeated the process. The lambs staggered to their feet and immediately began suckling.
Ailbert smiled. He had witnessed a wonderful thing. New life being brought into the world and he ran off to tell Awena and Gwen the first lambs had been born and Imbolc was due to start.
At sunset that evening, the unwed girls carried the image of Brigid around the village. The villagers had made a crude image of reeds and the girls visited each house in turn, walked three times round it and then asked for admittance for Brigid. Each house opened the door and let the image and girls in. They gave them food and each householder added a decoration to the reed image.
For some weeks before, the women and girls had been busy making Brigid crosses out of reeds, and one hung over the door of each house.
As it was winter still, it soon got dark. Each household put out newly made clothes, and food and drink for the goddess. They also made a bed for her in the house, just in case she decided to visit.
They ate and drank the foods made for this special day, a kind of porridge made from the starch left in the husks of the oats, soaked and left to ferment. It tasted sour to Ailbert and Awena but they ate their share as it would have been discourteous to do otherwise.
The next morning, Gwen looked carefully at the ashes that she had raked smooth the evening before, to see any disturbances that might indicate that Brigid had visited in the night, but they were as smooth as they had been when they all went to bed.
Gwen led the way outside to be met with a frost on the ground and an overcast sky. “Ah! That’s good. A cold, miserable day means that the Cailleach is still asleep and not gathering wood for fires to keep her warm through the next cold spell.” She turned to the young people who frowned and looked at each other. Ailbert shrugged his shoulders.
“Cailliach is winter personified. If today is bright and sunny, then she can come out and look for firewood and so keep herself warm for longer. If it’s cold and miserable, or rainy and stormy, then she’s asleep and will soon run out of firewood, so Brigid can bring the spring sooner.”
They, along with the rest of the village, made their way to the well. Here they walked round it in the direction of the sun and prayed to Brigid to bring health and prosperity. They gave offerings of strips of cloth and a few coins to the goddess.
Singing and dancing followed, as well as eating and drinking, and the day passed quickly, darkness coming early at this season, half-way between the winter solstice and spring equinox. Tired and happy with the prospect of a good season to come, the villagers retired to their beds.
Thank you for reading. If you want to find out more about Ailbert, you can go to the online store of your choice by clicking the link above, or the book cover in the side bar.
I always enjoy reading your comments, and so please leave any in the comments box.
This book is the first in a series, following a family from their origins in Roman Britain.
The Batavian revolt indirectly led to the taking of Adelbhert and his sister as slaves, and hence began the tale told in Vengeance of a Slave.
This revolt took place between the years 69 and 70 CE. The Batavi was a small tribe living in Germania Inferior, near the Rhine delta. They sent some conscripts to Rome, who became what was known as The Germanic Bodyguard and were personal guards of the emperor.
The emperor Nero was becoming more and more despotic, and so the governor of Gaul, decided to try to do something about it. He found what he thought as a worthy successor to the emperor. A man called Galba. He fomented a revolution, Galba became emperor and Nero committed suicide.
Galba disbanded the Germanic Bodyguard because he mistrusted them as they had been loyal to Nero. The Batavian people took this as an insult.
After the death of Nero, Rome was plunged into civil war. There followed what is known as the Year of the Four Emperors. Galba’s deputy, Otho, overthrew him in a coup, then Vitellius prepared to take the Rhine legions to Rome to overthrow Otho. The Batavi joined the Rhine legions and overthrew Otho at the battle of Bedriacum.
After the battle, the Batavi were ordered to return home, but then Vespasian, commander of the forces in Syria, revolted. He was joined by the legions of the Danube.
Vitellius tried to conscript more than the agreed number of conscripts from the Batavi. This, on top of the insult of disbanding the Germanic Bodyguard, the brutality of the conscripting centurians and the sexual assaults on Batavian boys brought things to a head.
In the summer of 69, Civilis was commander of the Batavian troops in the Rhine regions. He persuaded the tribe known as Cananefates, to revolt and to attack a number of Roman forts.
This was a good time to do this since most of the troops were fighting the civil war in Rome.
The commander of the Rhine regions sent troops to put down this rebellion, leaving the rest of the area vulnerable. Civilis and his men defeated the Romans near what is now Arnhem.
To deal with this insurrection, the commander sent two legions, V Alaudae and XV Primigenea to fight them. These legions included some Batavian cavalry, who defected to their countrymen during the battle and so the Romans lost, after which the Batavians were promised independence.
Civilis wanted vengeance, however. He wanted to destroy the two legions. He besieged their camp. With the civil war in Rome, the Romans could do little about this. They did not have the troops to spare.
Then came the news of Vitellius’s defeat. This had been helped by Civilis pinning down two legions, but his aim was not to help Vespasian. He launched an attack on Krefeld, sending his eight best cavalry troops. This time, the Roman army was successful, destroying all eight troops, but at great loss to themselves.
Civilis then lifted the siege, saying that the legions could have free passage, providing they left everything behind for his men to loot. The two legions left with nothing, but a few kilometers away, they were ambushed and all of them destroyed.
Vespasian, once he had established himself on the throne, sent an enormous army to deal with Civilis and his rebels. On hearing of the approach of the army, one of Civilis’s allies surrendered, but Civilis himself continued to fight.
He made a series of raids from land and from the river, once capturing a Roman flagship. The Romans then invaded Batavia and the revolt was over.
It is against this chaotic time in the Roman Empire that Vengeance of a Slave is set. Adelbehrt’s father and some of the other villagers take the opportunity of a weakened army on the Rhine to raid across the river into the Roman lands. This leads to the terrible punishment of the men at the beginning of the book.
Here is a review of the book.
R. J. Krzak, Award-Winning Author
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Riveting Story Set in Roman Times
Reviewed in the United States on 30 December 2019
Vengeance of a Slave by V.M. Sang is a riveting story set during the period when Rome controlled Britannia. Follow the trials and tribulations of Adelbhert after he and his sister are taken by the Romans from their mother. They eventually end up as slaves in what is modern-day London. Adelbhert performs a nightly ritual to remind himself of the suffering he and his sister have endured, beginning with the crucifixion of their father. He vows to escape and punish those who have wronged him.
V.M. has created a moving story which will keep you turning the pages to find out how Adelbhert and his sister handle their new life. Experience their sorrow, anguish, and finally hope as they adapt to their changing situation. This is the first novel I’ve read of V.M.’s and it certainly won’t be the last! Well done and highly recommended!
And a brief taste of the story.
In this extract, Adelelbehrt is growing up and is not the pretty small child he was when he became a pet. There is a threat to his life with his current owners.
One day, when the children had been slaves for six years, Marcus approached Adelbehrt.
“Have you a minute?” the older man asked.
Adelbehrt looked at Marcus. “What do you want?”
The boy sat on the edge of the impluvium and trailed his hand in the water. The domina did not seem to want him at the moment. In fact, she had not had much for him to do for a while now. He thought the novelty of his appearance might be wearing off, especially as he was now beginning to grow up.
He crossed to where Marcus emerged from the office of the dominus. What did the accountant want? He had little reason to ask Adelbehrt for anything. Marcus was an important man, even if a slave.
As Adelbehrt approached, Marcus began to speak. “How long have you been here now, Adelbehrt?”
“Six years.”
“That will make you about twelve then.”
The boy nodded “About that, I suppose.”
“Now I don’t want to worry you, but you’re growing up. You’re still an attractive boy—attractive enough to still be a pet—but as you get older, yes, from now on probably, the domina will find you less like her pretty, little slave boy.
“Your unusual hair colouring is no longer a novelty. No one comments on it any more. Soon the domina won’t want you as her slave and will find a new pet. Or perhaps she has already. Look at how she dotes on that little dog the dominus bought her.”
Adelbehrt looked at the older man. He had thought long about this himself. He noticed how the domina played with her puppy and spent less time with him. He wasn’t jealous. Not really. In fact, he often felt glad she had another toy to play with. After six years of petting and fussing he felt heartily fed up. Still, he found it galling to be ignored.
Marcus continued and he pricked up his ears and listened. It did not do to ignore one’s elders.
“I spoke to the dominus yesterday. It seems he’s noticed how his wife seems more concerned with her puppy than you and he talked about selling you.”
Adelbehrt drew in a sharp breath at that news and looked at Marcus.
“He said he’d noticed you liked the horses and are good with them, but he doesn’t need another slave in the stables. He thinks he can sell you as a stable lad, though.”
“But…” Adelbehrt did not know what to say. He thought of Avelina. Oh, the little girl seemed happy enough as Claudia’s slave, but she was still only ten summers old. She could not really remember their home by the Rhenus and had completely forgotten their native language.
Claudia treated her well. In fact, they were almost like friends rather than mistress and slave, but Adelbehrt had promised his mother he would look after her. How could he do that if the dominus sold him?
If you are interested in reading more about Adelbehrt and his sister Avelina, click on the link below.
It is also available in several other formats, including audio.
A long time ago, when I was still in my teens, I went with a friend and her family for a walk in Derbyshire, in England.
Derbyshire is in what is known as The Peak District, and is composed of moorland hills, valleys, cascading water falls and small villages. It is especially lovely when the heather is out, turning the hills purple.
It is also the home of the bilberry.. This is a small dark fruit resembling a tiny blueberry. It grows on moorland, but it is difficult to pick because, unlike the blueberry, it grows on low plants. It’s back-breaking work. I think it has much more flavour than its cousin.
But that’s another story. Not the one I’m telling you.
As we walked, enjoying the fresh air and the wild country, we suddenly stumbled upon a ruined mansion. To me it looked as though it had been a Georgian building. We wondered about its story. There was no village nearby, so why was it where it was? And why had it been let fall into decay?
This picture stayed with me through many decades. I always had the thought of its story at the back of my mind. Then I became a teacher, got married and had children. Life became very busy, so the thought of this house disappeared from my mind.
Then I decided to take early retirement. It was then that I began writing. I began with fantasy, converting a D&D scenario I had written into a book, that ended as a series. Then I wrote two more and a recipe book.
I still hadn’t thought about this house, but it pushed itself to the forefront of my memory one day and I decided I’d better do something about it.
So began the saga of A Family Through the Ages.
The first thing I thought about was where to begin. As it was the house that was in my mind, I decided to begin with the building of it and had a rough idea in my head. Then I thought I would tell the story of the family who built it, but where to begin?
It was then that Adelbehrt made his appearance. He came to me as a child with ash blond hair captured by the Romans and brought to Britain as a slave. I’m not quite sure where he came from, but he insisted I write his story. Thus the first book of this series began. It is called Vengeance of a Slave.
Then I needed to move on. I needed to get my family from the York area to Derbyshire. I did this in the next book in the series, Jealousy of a Viking.
Helgha is a descendant of Adelbehrt. She is half Danish and half British, her father having come over with the Great Heathen Army that I wrote about the other week. Most of the so-called Vikings who lived in that part of Britain were Danes.
Helgha falls in love with Erik, the son of a jarl (Viking noble) in Jorvik (York). They cannot marry because of the difference in status. Erik must marry for political reasons, and when he does so, Helgha finds herself wracked with jealousy.
She does some pretty unpleasant things, as does Erik’s wife, who is jealous of Helgha, who has Erik’s love. It all turns out badly, and Helgha has to flee with her two sons by Erik where she ends up in Mercia, a part of central Britain where the Danes have no jurisdiction.
But all is not smooth here either. She has to undergo trials similar to those she met in Jorvik, and overcome her tendency towards jealousy.
Currently, Jealousy of a Viking is with the publisher so I will keep you informed as to what is happening with it. This one I describe as adult as it has some scenes that might upset some people.
If you wish to read Vengeance of a Slave, click on the title of the book, or the cover in the side bar. It is available in most formats, including audio and large print.
Please leave your comments in the comments box.
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Last week I had a message from my publisher that The Making of a Mage, a Wolves of Vimar prequel, is now available as an audio book. This was a surprise as I didn’t know it was being done. Previously the narrators have contacted me to check on things I might want done in a particular way, and also pronunciations. This person didn’t.
Anyway it’s now out there, so if any of you would like to have a free copy, I have some promo codes. Email me (vivienne.sang@gmail.com) telling me if you are in the UK or the US as the codes are different.
Each code is only one use, so if you would like to gift someone else as well as yourself, you will need a separate code for each person.
After joining a street gang, Carthinal begins a life of crime. Soon after, he sees a performing magician, and decides he wants to learn the art of magic.
But can he break away from his past and find the path to his true destiny?
The next piece of news is that I received a draft cover for Book 2 of my historical series, A Family Through the Ages.
This is called Jealousy of a Viking. It follows a descendant of Adelbehrt from Vengeance of a Slave.
The copy they sent me was simply a rehash of the first cover. In fact, it was exactly the same, but in a different colour.
I said that this was not suitable as this story was not about fighting. I think the designer saw the title contained Viking and thought “Ah! They are a violent people.” so went with the same cover.
I pointed out that this book is about a young girl who has to fight her jealous feelings when her lover marries for political reasons, and that this cover would be entirely unsuitable for when we get to later times. Can you imagine something like that on a Regency book, or one about the Elizabethan or Victorian eras?
Anyway, we eventually got a cover that is not violent, but fits in with the Vengeance one.
At least it hasn’t got fighting men in the background!
What do you think?
I’ve no idea when it’s likely to be released, but I’ll keep you informed.
Meanwhile, here are some links to Vengeance of a Slave and a review I received. The links will take you to Amazon where you are.
ebook
http://mybook.to/voas
paperback
http://mybook.to/vengeanceofaslavepb
large print
http://mybook.to/vengeanceofaslavelp
hardcover
http://mybook.to/vengeanceofaslavehc
audio
US
https://www.audible.co.uk/?ref=A dbl_ip_rdr_from_US&source_code=AUK30DFT1BkWS0826159058&ipRedirectFrom=US&ipRedirectOriginalURL=pd%2FB08B6BBDGY%2F%3Fsource_code%3DAUDFPWS0223189MWT-BK-ACX0-201366%26ref%3Dacx_bty_BK_ACX0_201366_rh_us
Forced to watch his father’s crucifixion and separated from his mother, orphaned six-year-old Adelbhert’s life forever changes when he is sold into slavery in Britannia.
Years of servitude fill his heart with malice and he resolves to escape, determined to rescue those he loves and deliver retribution to the Romans who wronged him.
But as new allies shed light on old perspectives, Adelbhert begins to question his path. Will he find true freedom, or allow his vengeance to consume him?
R. J. Krzak, Award-Winning AuthorReview
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Riveting Story Set in Roman Times
Reviewed in the United States on 30 December 2019
Vengeance of a Slave by V.M. Sang is a riveting story set during the period when Rome controlled Britannia. Follow the trials and tribulations of Adelbhert after he and his sister are taken by the Romans from their mother. They eventually end up as slaves in what is modern-day London. Adelbhert performs a nightly ritual to remind himself of the suffering he and his sister have endured, beginning with the crucifixion of their father. He vows to escape and punish those who have wronged him.
V.M. has created a moving story which will keep you turning the pages to find out how Adelbhert and his sister handle their new life. Experience their sorrow, anguish, and finally hope as they adapt to their changing situation. This is the first novel I’ve red of V.M.’s and it certainly won’t be the last! Well done and highly recommended!
This historical novel is set in Roman Britain, not long after the founding of London.
The audio version is currently 25 in Ancient History Fiction on Amazon,
Forced to watch his father’s crucifixion and separated from his mother, orphaned six-year-old Adelbhert’s life forever changes when he is sold into slavery in Britannia.
Years of servitude fill his heart with malice and he resolves to escape, determined to rescue those he loves and deliver retribution to the Romans who wronged him.
But as new allies shed light on old perspectives, Adelbhert begins to question his path. Will he find true freedom, or allow his vengeance to consume him?
R. J. Krzak, Award-Winning Author.
5.0 out of 5 stars A Riveting Story Set in Roman Times.
Vengeance of a Slave by V.M. Sang is a riveting story set during the period when Rome controlled Britannia. Follow the trials and tribulations of Adelbhert after he and his sister are taken by the Romans from their mother. They eventually end up as slaves in what is modern-day London.
Adelbhert performs a nightly ritual to remind himself of the suffering he and his sister have endured, beginning with the crucifixion of their father. He vows to escape and punish those who have wronged him.
V.M. has created a moving story which will keep you turning the pages to find out how Adelbhert and his sister handle their new life. Experience their sorrow, anguish, and finally hope as they adapt to their changing situation. This is the first novel I’ve read of V.M.’s and it certainly won’t be the last! Well done and highly recommended!
Barbara Mojica
4.0 out of 5 stars SLAVE OR FREE
Adelbehrt and his family live in the Roman provinces. Their simple life is suddenly turned upside down when Roman soldiers come to exact revenge for a rebellion in which they played no part.
They randomly choose men to be examples. Adelbehrd’s father is crucified. He and his sister are singled out to be sold as slaves because of their blond hair. Torn from their grieving mother, the two terrified children are carted off to a far-off villa to be enslaved.
For many years, their monotonous life continues. One day, Adelbehrd discovers that his sister is about to be sold. A friend tells him about a group of Britons who rescue slaves. Adelbehrd is determined to protect his sister and hatches a plan to escape.
Will they be successful, or will they suffer the dire consequences?
The book appears to be well researched. The plot moves along and keeps the reader’s interest. I would recommend it to those who enjoy history and intriguing characters.
If you prefer another format, the book is also available as:
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Hi. I just received an email saying that Vengeance of a Slave, my historical novel set in Britain at the time of the Romans, has been released as an audiobook. You can get a free 30 day trial of this book if you follow this link for the UK
and this for the US
If you do listen to it, I would be very grateful if you would post a brief review. Reviews are very important to authors and readers alike as there are so many books published it is difficult to know if a book is for you or not.
Currently #52 in British & Irish Historical Literature on Amazon,
Forced to watch his father’s crucifixion and separated from his mother, orphaned six-year-old Adelbhert’s life forever changes when he is sold into slavery in Britannia.
Years of servitude fill his heart with malice and he resolves to escape, determined to rescue those he loves and deliver retribution to the Romans who wronged him.
But as new allies shed light on old perspectives, Adelbhert begins to question his path. Will he find true freedom, or allow his vengeance to consume him?
R. J. Krzak, Award-Winning Author, gave this review on Amazon
A Riveting Story Set in Roman Times
Vengeance of a Slave by V.M. Sang is a riveting story set during the period when Rome controlled Britannia. Follow the trials and tribulations of Adelbhert after he and his sister are taken by the Romans from their mother. They eventually end up as slaves in what is modern-day London. Adelbhert performs a nightly ritual to remind himself of the suffering he and his sister have endured, beginning with the crucifixion of their father. He vows to escape and punish those who have wronged him.
V.M. has created a moving story which will keep you turning the pages to find out how Adelbhert and his sister handle their new life. Experience their sorrow, anguish, and finally hope as they adapt to their changing situation. This is the first novel I’ve read of V.M.’s and it certainly won’t be the last! Well done and highly recommended!
Don’t miss your opportunity to get this book absolutely FREE Remember it’s for a limited time.
Click on the book cover in the side bar or the highlighted text to go to Amazon where you are.
If you take advantage of this offer, I would be grateful if you would post a brief review of the book. With so many books being published daily, it is difficult to get any individual book noticed. Reviews help in this, as well as helping readers to decide if a book is one they would enjoy.
Thank you in advance.
As you might know from my previous posts, Vengeance of a Slave was released on Boxing Day. I have already received a 5 star review.
It has reached the following positions on Amazon.com: #6182 in Action & Adventure Fiction #1481 in British & Irish Historical Literature #6419 in Adventure Stories & Action
Here is the review by Randall Krzak.
Vengeance of a Slave by V.M. Sang is a riveting story set during the period when Rome controlled Britannia. Follow the trials and tribulations of Adelbhert after he and his sister are taken by the Romans from their mother. They eventually end up as slaves in what is modern-day London. Adelbhert performs a nightly ritual to remind himself of the suffering he and his sister have endured, beginning with the crucifixion of their father. He vows to escape and punish those who have wronged him.
V.M. has created a moving story which will keep you turning the pages to find out how Adelbhert and his sister handle their new life. Experience their sorrow, anguish, and finally hope as they adapt to their changing situation. This is the first novel I’ve red of V.M.’s and it certainly won’t be the last! Well done and highly recommended!
And here’s another one I received when I had self-published it, before Next Chapter agreed to publish it under their Legionary imprint.
Review by Ashok.
Vengeance of a Slave (A family through the Ages) by V.M. Sang is about the horrifying experience of siblings Adelbhert and his sister Avelina, his sister, who witness Roman soldiers crucify their father and other men from their village. These small children are snatched from their mother by the Romans to be sold as slaves. Bought by a rich merchant, they are taken to a distant island Brittania where they are treated as pets. When they grow bigger, plans are made to sell them as house slave and courtesan.
Adelbehrt’s experiences have embittered him and he dreams and plans to extract revenge from the Romans, and he plans to escape with his sister. How they escape, the dangers they face, the stratagems they use to stay hidden, the helpful and cruel people they encounter, their adventures… These make up the remaining plot.
A great narration of a novel idea with good word pictures which drew me into that period, I found the overall narration and language to be gripping. But for some errors I found, I would have said it is five star material.
These typos have now been sorted, of course,
And it has also received another 5 stars without a review attached!
Dragons Rule OK. V.M.Sang (author) 