10 Sweeping Military Historical Novels by Ben Kane

The Forgotten Legion follows the fate of four individuals during the waning days of the Roman Republic.

Born into slavery, Romulus and Fabiola are 13-year-old twins destined for a harsh life: Romulus is slated for gladiatorial school, while Fabiola is being sold into prostitution. Tarquinius is an Etruscan soothsayer burdened with visions of the future. Brennus, a fearsome Gaulish warrior, becomes a slave after the fall of his people.

Brennus, Romulus, and Tarquinius find themselves swept up in Crassus’ Parthian campaign, members of the Forgotten Legion, and facing long odds against the Parthians.

The second book of the Forgotten Legion Chronicles picks up with Romulus and his companions trapped in the East, serving as unwilling soldiers for the Parthian army. With hope becoming more difficult to muster each day, they endure brutal campaigns, forge uneasy alliances, and do whatever they can to survive.

Meanwhile, Fabiola finds herself ensnared in the ruthless machinations of Roman politics. No longer just a courtesan navigating the dangerous desires of the elite, she is now a hunted woman. Slave catchers are on her trail, forcing her to flee the only home she’s ever known. Unable to find safe haven in Rome, she sets her sights on Alexandria, hoping to reunite with her lover, Brutus.

After years of enslavement and service in foreign lands, Romulus, Brennus, and Tarquinius are determined to return to Rome and reclaim their freedom. As the three men make their way back toward Rome, they find themselves caught up in one of the most significant conflicts of the era: Julius Caesar’s war with Pompey.

Fabiola, having narrowly escaped Rome’s dangers, has carved out a position of power for herself. But in a world where a woman’s influence is fragile and fleeting, she struggles to maintain her place, even as her lover’s rival woos her.

Set in 202 BCE, Clash of Empires follows Rome and Macedon as they teeter on the brink of war. The surging power of the Roman Republic sets its sights on Greece, threatening Philip V of Macedon. As Rome pushes its expansion eastward, Philip must decide whether to bow to this new force, or fight to defend his lands.

A Roman senator, Flamininus, is determined to prove the Republic’s superiority. Cunning, relentless, and willing to do whatever it takes to crush Macedon, he’s a skilled leader, and a ruthless opponent.

Felix, a discharged Roman legionary, reenlists with his brother to take part in the battles against the Greeks. Facing him is Demetrios, a loyal Macedonian sailor who staunchly supports Greek independence.

This sequel to Clash of Empires opens in 198 BCE. Rome, relentless in its quest for expansion, is determined to bring Philip V of Macedon to his knees. The Macedonians, though battered, refuse to surrender.

On the Roman side, Flamininus remains determined to break Macedon’s power and cement Rome’s influence in the Greek world. But his path to victory is not as simple as he expects. His legions are battle-hardened but stretched thin, and the war is proving costlier than anticipated. Demetrios, the loyal and courageous Macedonian warrior, continues to fight for his homeland, knowing that if Rome wins, Greece will never be the same again.

Kane’s novel brings one of history’s most legendary rebels back to life: Spartacus, the Thracian warrior who defied the might of Rome. Captured and sold into slavery, Spartacus is thrust into the brutal life of a gladiator, where only the strongest survive. But Spartacus is a soldier, a man of honor, and unwilling to bow to any master.

As he endures the blood-soaked sands of the arena, he begins to forge bonds with his fellow gladiators, men who have been beaten, humiliated, and stripped of their former lives. Rome is their common enemy, and under Spartacus’s leadership, they may just turn the tides of history.

In this sequel to The Gladiator, Spartacus continues his astonishing campaign against Rome. Having defeated multiple Roman armies, he now commands a force of thousands—former slaves, gladiators, and others who defy the Republic. But the greater his victories, the more Rome is determined to crush him.

Spartacus faces a myriad of difficult choices: how to feed his men, where to lead them, and whether to march on Rome itself. Some of his followers want to plunder and pillage, while others dream of true freedom. Spartacus struggles to keep them all on the same path, knowing that one mistake could mean their doom.

As he struggles to keep his footing, Rome is learning from its defeats. The Senate sends its most ruthless generals to hunt Spartacus down, and the tide of war begins to turn. As betrayals and hardships mount, Spartacus faces the ultimate question: is victory even possible, or is he leading his people to a glorious but doomed last stand?

The first in a trilogy, Enemy of Rome digs into the Second Punic War—the clash between Rome and one of its most formidable adversaries: Hannibal of Carthage.

Hanno, the son of a powerful Carthaginian general, is raised to despise Rome and dreams of glory in battle. But when he is captured and enslaved, he finds himself in the company of those he was raised to loathe.

Quintus, the son of the man who bought Hanno, has been raised in a life of privilege. His path has always seemed straightforward—but the coming war will challenge everything he believes.

As Hannibal marches his army and elephants across the Alps, Hanno and Quintus struggle on opposite sides of a war that will determine the fate of many.

Hannibal, having carved a path of destruction through Italy, continues his relentless campaign against the Republic. Rome is battered but refuses to surrender, marshaling its remaining strength in a struggle against the Carthaginian forces.

Hanno is a prisoner in enemy territory, fighting to survive. His heart remains with Carthage, and he’s determined to escape and fight for his homeland.

Quintus is forced into a world of hardship previously unknown to him, thrust into the horrors of war. The Rome he knew is rapidly crumbling under Hannibal’s force. As the legions suffer crushing defeats, he must grow into the soldier his city desperately needs.

After years of relentless warfare, the tide of battle is shifting. The Republic is learning from its past failures and bides its time as Hannibal’s fortune grows thin.

For Hanno, the war has become personal. Once a privileged Carthaginian noble, he has suffered imprisonment, loss, and betrayal. Now a hardened warrior, he returns to his homeland, only to find a city weakened by political infighting and doubt.

Quintus has endured some of the Republic’s darkest days. Rome has been humbled and bloodied, but has remained resilient. Rome regroups and prepares for a massive counteroffensive, and Quintus braces for a battle that could change the world as he knows it.