Assessment:
Plot/Idea: Fire on the Frontier is an immersive and layered work of historical fiction set in ancient Rome. With interwoven stories and multiple perspectives that draw from actual events, it can be challenging to keep track of all the narratives, but invested readers will be richly rewarded.
Prose: Kunkel's prose style is clear, anchoring readers in the time and circumstances with detailed descriptions and an effective balance of action and dialogue.
Originality: Fire on the Frontier captures the ancient era convincingly while maintaining forward momentum and careful plotting.
Character/Execution: While the multiple storylines can become unwieldy, Kunkel is a capable writer invested in the many characters, both male and female. Historical places and events are vibrantly portrayed and provided understandable context.
Date Submitted: April 02, 2024
…an ambitious novel with a strong sense of place and time while still managing to feel fresh. Driven by an authentic cast and underpinned by thorough research, it provides an excellent reconstruction of a historical period…an exciting novel that offers much more than the usual sword and sandals epic. Driven by four complex, obsessive protagonists and their intriguing stories, Fire on the Frontier is an engrossing and rewarding read, full of heart, emotion, and historical insight.
A grand story that illustrates how the blood spilled from revenge can never wash away…The Roman empire feels alive and bustling…an excellent job candidly portraying the lives of women at the time…The focus on multifaceted women adds some captivating layers of emotional depth…well-researched historical fiction. It’s invoked with mystery, love, and all of the epic heroics that we have come to associate with this time period.
A nuanced story of conflicts in the Roman Empire…Looks at familiar aspects of ancient Rome from some unexpected angles…Takes a close look at Rome’s relationship with barbarian peoples…Readers will come to understand the often gruesome world that the characters inhabit.
