Wounds of Honour: Empire I
The gripping and unforgettable first book in the bestselling Empire series
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Hodder & Stoughton
Published:4th Mar '10
Should be back in stock very soon

Thrilling, authentic and action-packed, this novel introduces soldier hero Marcus Valerius: a centurion stationed on Hadrian's Wall in the second century during a revolt against the Roman Empire
Pre-order the first book in bestseller Anthony Riches's brand new series, Swords of Troy, coming July 2026Discover the iconic, bestselling Empire series today, beloved by readers around the world
'Totally, utterly enthralling' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review
'Riches is just as good as Bernard Cornwell' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review
'A breathtaking saga' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review
'In Roman military fiction, Riches is at the top of the pyramid' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review
'Fresh, unpredictable, fascinating and exciting' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review
MEET MARCUS VALERIUS, THE LEGENDARY HERO.
'A master of the genre' The Times
Marcus Valerius Aquila has scarcely landed in Britannia when he has to run for his life - condemned to dishonourable death by power-crazed emperor Commodus.
The plan is to take a new name, serve in an obscure regiment on Hadrian's Wall and lie low until he can hope for justice.
Then a rebel army sweeps down from the wastes north of the Wall, and Marcus has to prove he's hard enough to lead a century in the front line of a brutal, violent war.
Thrilling, authentic and action-packed, Wounds of Honour launched the incredible EMPIRE series, and catapulted Anthony Riches to the very top of the historical adventure genre.
This is fast-paced and gripping "read-through-the-night" fiction, with marvellous characters and occasional moments of dark humour. Some authors are better historians than they are storytellers. Anthony Riches is brilliant at both. * Conn Iggulden *
A damn fine read . . . fast-paced, action-packed. * Ben Kane *
Stands head and shoulders above a crowded field . . . . real, live characters act out their battles on the northern borders with an accuracy of detail and depth of raw emotion that is a rare combination. * Manda Scott *
His plots bristle with emotion, realism and electrifying tensions, his multi-layered characters open doors onto the fascinating everyday life of the Roman army and the sense of adventure that underpins the whole series makes each book a fresh source of excitement and enjoyment. Riches knows his stuff and boy does it show . . . While Marcus, his cohorts and the Empire series grow in stature, readers await the next instalment of this challenging and entertaining tour-de-force with a sense of heightened anticipation . . . and armed, of course, with the confidence that once again the 'master of Rome' will not disappoint. * Lancashire Evening Post *
ISBN: 9780340920329
Dimensions: 200mm x 149mm x 27mm
Weight: 300g
416 pages