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William Havelock
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The Last Dying Light: A Novel of Belisarius (The Last of the Romans) Paperback – October 29, 2020

by William Havelock (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 3,101 ratings
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Rome has fallen into darkness.Its legacy remains alive in Constantinople, whose leaders struggle to retain control of a decaying land. Yet famine, war, and an encroaching night leave the Eastern Empire trending towards ruin.Faint hope arises as a new dynasty ascends to the throne of Caesar. Bearing witness to such events is Varus, a young Herulian slave to the aging yet powerful Justin, who unveils a bold plan held by two generations of Romans – to retake the West and reclaim their homeland.Following Justin’s dream, Varus enlists with the Roman Army and discovers the carnage of 6th Century warfare. As a mysterious horde of black-shielded invaders devastates the Empire’s northern provinces, Varus’ unit is called upon to defend under the leadership of Belisarius, one of Justin’s most promising commanders. As Varus prepares for the sacrifices to come, however, he begins to question Justin’s secrets, seeking answers regarding his true identity and place as a pivotal figure in the Empire’s survival.
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Previous page
  1. Book 1 of 5
    The Last of the Romans
  2. Print length
    398 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    October 29, 2020
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 0.9 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0578755408
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0578755403
  8. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Havelock Books (October 29, 2020)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 398 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0578755408
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0578755403
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.35 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.9 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 3,101 ratings

About the author

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William Havelock

William Havelock

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History is replete with stories of daring, sacrifice, loss, and triumph. Yet we tend to focus upon only a few of these diverse societies and eras - and are worse off for it.

William Havelock is a novelist seeking to bring these oft-neglected historical figures to the modern page. His debut novel, The Last Dying Light, tells of Belisarius - a figure who defied all odds in service of his Emperor, even at the cost of his freedom and life. The Last Dying Light is the first of a series known as 'The Last of the Romans', which will unveil all the unbelievably true tales from looming figures such as Theodora, Justinian, and Belisarius himself.

For information on upcoming books as well as additional content such as maps and artwork, sign up for the newsletter at https://havelockbooks.com/.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
3,101 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

charles B. konner
5.0 out of 5 stars I loved this book! It’s one of the top 5 books that I’ve read in a long time!
Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2024
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Fun engaging and I couldn’t stop reading it! I can’t wait to read book 2!
Mr Havelock, thank you for writing this great novel!
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Joel Jacobs
4.0 out of 5 stars Great story
Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2023
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Good read keep me interested. The heroes' were well defined and the backstory was appealing. Great story line. Can't wait to red the next book.
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars A gripping tale...
Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2024
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Although the author took some artistic liberties, creating some composite characters and fudging the timeline a tiny bit (maybe 30 years?), this is an exhaustively researched piece of historical fiction.I
I have read several well written pieces of historical fiction about this era, but this one has to be the most accurate, and certainly one of the most gratifying of them to read.
2 people found this helpful
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John S.
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, fast-paced historical fiction
Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2021
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What a great read. I could not put this book down. It's very well-written, and an extremely interesting piece of historical fiction. Set against the decline of the Roman Empire, this book tells of the journey of a slave to the Emperor gaining his freedom and climbing through the ranks of the Roman army. The action is fast-paced and exciting. I can't wait for the next book in the series. Highly recommended.
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Kindle Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Well done!
Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2023
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Strong characters. Good writing. Rapid pacing. A cut above most. Reminded me of Wallace Breem's Eagle in the Snow. Highly recommend it.
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Stephen Mccoy
5.0 out of 5 stars Great stuff
Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2024
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Really interesting take on a period of Roman history that I admit, I basically never even considered. I'm definitely looking forward to continuing this series...
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Bruce Hall
5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Read!
Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2022
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The Last Dying light is an excellent read. Through Havelock's disciplined hand, Varus and other major historical characters take on an exciting flesh-and-blood reality deserving of our interest and study. Lessor characters, whether historical or fictional, serve to move the exciting storyline forward. As a result, you feel yourself breathing the dust of the battles, and tearing up in the face of Varus' travails. You identify with his fears and his dreams, you share his despair and hopes. This is historical fiction at its best; and not just for its compelling characters, but for its efforts at righting a grievous oversight in the story of Western history. For too long, many of us have skipped past the important record left by the thousand-year reign of the Eastern Roman Empire, happy to consign the Romans to the darkness of dead empires with the fall of Rome in the year 476 CE. Havelock will have done a great service if he can help right this wrong. I give The Last Dying Light an enthusiastic 5 stars. Bruce H.
4 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars fantastic story, novel setting and historical placement..sometimes tedious with detail but overall an entertaining read
Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2023
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Great effort spent by the author to include factual detail, right down to soldiers’ equipment, weather, and geography… good historical fiction should inform and entertain, and this does both in great fashion
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

William Hay
5.0 out of 5 stars superb writing suspense and action
Reviewed in Canada on February 21, 2023
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I know little of this time and enjoyed the history and geography. Especially liked Rosamund the healer. Beginning in the palace of Constantinople it cared forward to the Crimean. I loved the intrigue as much as the description of Roman Christian soldiers fighting the pagans who came after Attila.
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4.0 out of 5 stars Worth reading
Reviewed in India on March 8, 2022
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Well written and retains one’s interest till the end. Those into the Roman Empire era should enjoy reading this book.
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Mr. Loudon Craig
5.0 out of 5 stars The story of a remarkable man and amilitary giant.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 4, 2021
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This book by William Havelock is the first in a proposed series and is set in and around The Black Sea,The Crimea and Constantinople in the early 6th. Century AD.
The Roman Empire is collapsing. Over the last 100 years England has fallen to the Angles,Saxons and Jutes,France to the Visigoths,Franks and Vandals,Italy to the Goths,Spain and Portugal to Vandals and Visigoths and Morocco,Algeria,Tunisia and Libya, to the Vandals.
At the start of the 6th. Century AD The Eastern Empire is clinging onto its crumbling territories-Turkey,parts of the Middle East,Macedonia, Thrace,and Greece.The Danube Frontier from Basel to the Black Sea is under constant threat from Huns,Goths Gepids and Ostragoths. Their territories to the north of the Black Sea including Crimea are awash with Huns and Avers.To the East and South, the Persians are ready to pounce.Their Capital,Constantinople is rife with corruption,Palace plots, intrigues and betrayals are the norm,bloody riots in the streets are a regular occurance.
In this end of times atmosphere the then Emperor,Justin and his nephew and heir,Justinian and Justinian's formidable wife Theodora gamble on one last throw of the dice.They decide to fight back and the man tasked with saving the Empire is Flavius Belisarius- a remarkable man and a military giant.
The novel is narrated by Varus an ex imperial slave now a soldier who fights along side Belisarius as they try to achieve the "impossible"while watching their backs against treachery and betrayal.
This first book tells the early part of their story.It is tightly plotted, has interesting characters,excellent background detail,compelling,well described battles and just the right blend of historical fact and fictional colour to produce an excellent read.I cannot wait for the next installment.
14 people found this helpful
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Merlin
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome
Reviewed in Australia on June 12, 2023
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Wow what a read. Beautifully written and fantastic characters.. the final battle was exhausting. Looking forward to the next one.
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Phil C
4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining story, easy reading
Reviewed in Canada on October 25, 2021
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The story is an entertaining adventure of a freed slave who joins the Byzantine army (and Belisarius) to fight one of the empire's belligerent neighbors. It mixes characters from emperor Justin down to a soldier's servant. Although the formula is not original, it is a good one and makes for an enjoyable read. This book is the first in what should be a series as it follows the impressive career of Belisarius, one of the greatest military leaders of all time.
2 people found this helpful
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