Ben Kane

The author's official web site and blog

Hannibal: Fields of Blood

Hannibal’s campaign to defeat Rome continues as he marches south to confront his enemy.

With him is a young soldier, Hanno. Like his general, Hanno burns to vanquish Rome. Never has the possibility seemed so likely.

But a stealthy game of cat and mouse is being played as Rome’s generals seek to avoid confrontation.

Eventually the two armies meet under a fierce summer sun. The place Cannae – the fields of blood.

The battle will go down in history as one of the bloodiest ever fought, a battle in which Hanno knows he must fight as never before – just to stay alive.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Hi Ben
    What an amazing set of books. Have just read Fields of Blood and cannot wait until the next book Clouds of War is released.
    Can you please advise the release date! Tomorrow I hope.

    Best regards

    Jean

  2. @coljea: Thanks very much!
    CLouds of War isn’t even half written yet…give me a chance!
    It will come out next summer…
    In the meantime, have you read Anthony Riches, Douglas Jackson, Harry Sidebottom or MC Scott’s books?

  3. I can not wait untill the fields of blood is published in the Netherlands, i’ve been looking forward to its release since the first chaper of The Enemy of Rome ! I enjoy your books a lot!

  5. Hi Ben,

    Will there be an audiobook? If so can u tell me when it will be available?

    Thanks

  6. @johnnyb: Yes, there will. Michael Praed,who has done the voice over on all of my books, wasn’t available until September (I think) so the decision was made to leave it until then. Apologies for this! Best wishes – Ben.

  7. Ben,
    Love your books, style etc……. sorry……. Sparticus was a hit and run ……….should have given that away to us while we waited for a “Ben Kane book. probably don”t like this comment ….but I keep it real. What ever happened to Soldier of Carthae ?( ? )

  8. Is Fields of Blood Out in’Australian’? Sorry! Is it available in Australia?

  9. @melvin: Not quite sure I understand all of your comments, but thanks for them anyway! Soldier of Carthage was renamed Hannibal: Enemy of Rome (a marketing decision based on the sad truth that no one knows where Carthage is).

  11. Hi Ben,I’ve just registered love your books and just finished Spartacus Rebellion, fantastic read! Will read Fields of blood as soon as. Did you watch Blood and Sand and subsequent series if so what did you think of them?. Initially, i thought there was a bit too much gratuitous content but ,what the hell ,i soon became hooked and became an avid fan. What did you think of the ending ? Are there any plans to film the Forgotten Legion ? Love to see that! Regards

  12. @lesrog: Many thanks for registering, and for your kind words. I’m pleased that you enjoyed Rebellion so much.

    I waited until I had written both Spartacus novels before watching Blood and Sand, and the rest. It took a while for me to be drawn in, but Andy Whifield was so great that I was able to ignore the masses of historical bloopers. The ending of that series was magnificent. That said, Gods of the Arena was pure garbage. Series Two, Vengeance, was OK in parts, good in parts, awful in parts. Liam McIntyre did a good job, though, I thought. Series Three, War of the Damned, nearly drove me mad. I thought the first six or seven episodes were pure sh*te, apart from a few realistic moments, like when the gladiators took the city and killed every living soul. Awful, but how it would have been. What I disliked the most was that Spartacus’ real story was so amazing, and yet they changed it. I accept that a relatively small station like Starz probably can’t afford to film the vast set piece battles that would have been necessary, but what they replaced it with was no good at all. The last three episodes were great, however. Top class, and very sad at the end.

    No plans to film The Forgotten Legion ATM, but I live in hope and true expectation that it will happen one day! Best wishes to you – Ben.

  13. Hi,

    I have noticed you are not speaking at History Live this year, will you be doing any talks soon near the east of England?

  14. @Akepler: Hi, and apologies that my events page is blank! No Kelmarsh this year, no. A shame, but I’m on holiday. The Fayre Times festival in Billericay, on the 21/22 September will be the next big appearance I do. See you there! Or at the HWA History Festival in Harrogate on 25-27 October? Best wishes.

  15. Just started reading Spartacus: Rebellion, finding books that 1. keep the reader informed 2. are accurate and 3. Are not some b.s. is making your book unlike so many other history books I have came across… I’m making sure that all my friends that saw any of the Starz shows of Spartacus A. get your books and B. read them…..Cant wait to read the others ,thanks

  16. @donald572: Many thanks for your post, and for your kind words. It’s good that you feel my Spartacus books tell it how it was. I tried very hard to do that (in as much as it’s possible). Gratitude for telling your friends about me! Best wishes – Ben.

  17. Ervern,
    I have just come back from holiday having read both Hannibal books, absolutely terrific.
    Could not put them down. In the same way once I read The Forgotten legion I had to go out and buy the rest. These were equally gripping.

    In respect of Hannibal it has sent me researching a character and era that I knew very little about before.

    Have Spartacus to read now.

    My main authors are Bernard Cornwall, Conn Iggulden and Simon Scarrow. You are very much up amongst the best. Brilliant and thank you for some wonderful reading material.

  18. @Ervern: Welcome to my site, and thanks for your high praise. I’m chuffed that you enjoyed the Hannibal books so much, and that you place me among such exalted company. Enjoy Spartacus! Best wishes – Ben.

  19. Mr. Kane, I just wanted to say, Thank You!!! Roman history is by far my most enjoyable time period and you are the first author that has been able to place me right on the dusty, toxic, awe-inspiring streets of Rome itself… I cannot believe that I picked up your book completely by chance at the library. The plume on the helmet drew me in and after reading the first book, I bought the rest of the series. I have only read The Forgotton Legion series, but I own the 2 Spartacus Novels and am working on obtaining the Hannibal series… My problem is that I hate waiting for the next installment. HP pretty much killed me and Percy Jackson is working on it… My question is, how many installments of these series will there be before I start reading them?

    I cannot tell you enough how enamoured I am by these books, they are absolutely FANTASTIC!!! Keep up the excellent work!

  20. @EtTuBrute: Thanks for posting, and welcome to my website!

    Thanks too for your kind words – I’m always pleased when someone emails to say that they felt transported to Rome by one of my books. In my mind, that’s success. I do hope that you enjoy the Spartacus novels as well – I think they’re still my favourites of all the books I’ve written.

    How many Hannibal books will there be? I’m not totally sure. I’m finishing the third, and there will be at least two more – but there might be a sixth as well…

    Best wishes to you – Ben.

  21. Hi Ben Kane I was just wondering if after you have finished Hannibal will you be moving on to a different time period like Greece or Egypt?

  22. hello ben , im from mexico , just finished Reading spartacus , and I read 5 of your books, I look forward to translate into Spanish which I have not read,
    thank you for your books !!! i really enjoy all of them
    my sincere greetings and I hope you keep writing these great stories

    the accuracy of your histories makes me feel that i´m in rome. the roman empire its my favorite topic , and I write about that too, maybe someday you also read my stories, I hope… hahaha
    Un gran saludo desde Mexico !!

  24. @cheko: Muchas gracias por tu mensaje. Me amo Mexico – viaje en el pais por dos meses en 1998, y me encanto recibir mensajes de mis lectores alloa.

    Lo siento por mi castellano fatal – olvido todo ahora.

    Saludos a ti tambien – Ben.

  25. Hey, Ben 🙂

    I have read Hannibal enemy of rome and fields of blood!!! Absolutely amazing books!!! I can’t wait untill Clouds of war is released in South Africa.

    I am 16 and also want to be involved in history like you, and would love to visit Italy.

    Please do send me the release dates of any future books.

    KEEP UP THE FANTASTIC WORK 🙂

  26. Just got the first book of Hannibal and started to read the first chapter, but interrupted it immediately ! I’ve been a fan of yours since 2010, when my girlfriend gave me “The Forgotten Legion” as a birthday present in Santorini. After reading the first chapter I bought the other 2 books of the triology and read them back in Albania. But i’m studying archaeology for 2 months now (my 1st year) and i started to re-read the first book of the triology, obviously reading it with the eye of a future archaeologist… What can i say is that your ability to get through the world of antiquity is terrific. Everything is perfect, the descriptions of the war scenes, the everyday-life, everything ! Can’t wait to read all the Hannibal books as soon as i finish my exams. Cheers !

  27. Hi just read Hannibal enemy if Rome picked it up in a library just because I like Ancient Rome and stuff like that but I’m getting both the Hannibal books that are out for Christmas

  28. @Gideon: Big apologies for not having replied before now. Thanks for your post – I’m delighted you’ve enjoyed the Hannibal books so far. I’ll be sure to add your name to my emailing list. Happy Xmas to you and your family – best wishes – Ben.

  29. @Archaeonold: Big apologies for not having replied before now. Thanks for your post – I’m delighted you’ve enjoyed the trilogy. Best of luck with your studies! Happy Xmas to you and your family – best wishes – Ben.

  30. @kyle oneill: Big apologies for not having replied before now. Thanks for your post – I’m delighted you’ve enjoyed the first Hannibal book. I hope you enjoy the next one too. Happy Xmas to you and your family – best wishes – Ben.

  31. Ben, gods I loved that book. I have always loved the story about Hannibal, and what he did to Rome. And it was just great when I found out someone made a story about him in such a perfect way. This novel was my favorite of the series so far, and SPOILERS but I loved the battle in the end in Cannae. I believe that it was the greatest battle you’ve written in my point of view. And I’m just wondering, what’s next in the series? Will you be doing Hannibal’s entire campaign? Maybe eve after that to the battle of Zama. I can’t wait for the next novel, keep up the good work.

  32. @broomeinator: I’m really pleased that you liked my depiction of Cannae! I will be writing Hannibal’s entire campaign, yes. The next book, Clouds of War, comes out in February, and concerns the war on Sicily. The book after that (which won’t be out for a couple of years, because I’m off to write another trilogy first) will be the war in Spain, and then to the Metaurus etc. At least 2 more books after Clouds of War, if not three. Best wishes to you!

  33. Ben, I dont know where to start to tell you how much I love your books, I’m from Argentina and I follow you since you released The Silver Eagle.
    It’s sad how long the books take to reach here, but I just got my hands on a kindle so I can at least read your releases in english, im looking foward to read Clouds of Wars, and please dont let me suffer at the end of that one too, its to hard for me to wait years to know about those lovable characters.
    If you ever come to visit Buenos Aires Argentina, please let us know, i’d love a signed book and a photo with you, I know its odd and unlikely but dreaming its free!
    My best wishes, keep up this awesome work! and I’m sorry for my english i know it’s not the best.

  34. @Jose Lozano: Gracias por tus palabras. Eres muy amable. Yo amo Argentina, y ha visitado lo dos veces, en 98 y 99, por algos 9 o 10 semanas en total. Un muy hermoso pais. Pero ahora falta mi castellano, so I will go back to English. I’m glad that you can read my books in English – and your English is very good! – because you will always have to wait 12 months or more after each is released before it is available in Spanish.
    When I come back to BsAs – I have no idea when that will be, but I will come back one day – I’d love to sign your books and have a photo with you.
    Saludos – Ben.

  35. Hi Ben, I have loved the history of Rome for many years, my favourite time has to be the rebellion of Spartacus and his gladiators! I believe it is the greatest rebellion in history, I am just finishing Spartacus Rebellion, you have brought every dirt trodden road, brilliant battles and spectacular sceneries to colourful imagination.

    I will be be reading Hannibal next and can’t wait to start the journey. I have your Forgotten Legion Trilogy which I will be reading afterwards.
    I am a huge fan and can’t wait for your next books! Also, I love all the Historical facts in your books.

    Dan

  36. @Dan: Many thanks for your message and kind words. I’m delighted that you enjoyed the Spartacus novels so much. I hope you like the other ones too. Good news for you – the third Hannibal book comes out in 16 days, so you won’t have to wait for it… Best wishes.

  37. HI BEN
    I READ ON THE INTERNET THAT YOUR NEXT BOOK RE THE HANNIBAL SERIES WOULD BE CALLED HANIBAL THE PATROL BUT JOINING YOUR WEB PAGE TODAY YOU ARE RELEASING A BOOK CALLED HANIBAL –CLOUDS OF WAR.
    MY QUESTION IS THIS BOOK 3 IN THE HANIBAL SERIES OR BOOK 4.

    I HAVE ALL YOUR BOOKS BEN .

    KEE UP THE GREAT WORK AND I WILL WRITE SOME IDEAS RE BOOKS ..

    REGARDS

    PETER JONES –AUSSIE

  38. @docjones / Peter: thanks for your message, and kind words. To answer your question, The Patrol is a short story, which fits between Enemy of Rome and Fields of Blood. That makes it a sort of Book no. 1 (a), if you see what I mean, with EOR being no. 1 and FOB being no. 2. Clouds of War is book no. 3, and comes out here in less than two weeks. You’ll have to wait a little bit longer in Oz, unless you order it from overseas, which is what I think a lot of Aussies do anyway.
    Best wishes to you – Ben

  39. Hi just finished Hannibal clouds of war and I am wondering if there will be another book in the Hannibal series because I have really enjoyed them.

  40. Hola Ben! Quisiera saber si este libro se encuentra en español, porque en Uruguay (Montevideo) no lo encuentro. Gracias!

  41. @kyle: Cheers! There will be two or three more, but I’m writing another trilogy first – about the Varus disaster in Germany in AD 9. I hope you can wait a couple of years…

  42. Hola tabare_cx, y gracias por tu mensaje. Saldro en espanol el 5 de febrero. Necesitas preguntar en tu tienda de libros – buen suerte!

  43. Hi, first of all thank you fo awsome books!!!

    I am woundering when Hannibal 2&3 are coming as audiobooks? Dont have time right now to read but your books make car travels fly by!

  44. Fantastic books just read road to Rome and I’m hooked many thanks for the ride

  45. Hi Ben
    Just finished Fields of Blood, like all of your books so far it was impossible to put down, it’s like reading 3 books in 1 following the different characters. Only just found this book, now on the hunt for Clouds of War.

  46. @eriksson25: Sorry for the delay in replying. Thanks for your kind words. AFAIK, book 2 IS available (where have you tried?) Book 3 will be coming out in the next 2 months or so – the delay has been because of Michael Praed’s schedule.

  48. @martyn: Many thanks! I hope that you enjoy Clouds of War as well.

  49. Hi Ben,
    I have read many books about the Roman period both factual and historical fiction. I picked up ‘Fields of Blood’ thinking – this looks good! I was thrilled that it lived up to my expectations. In fairness, exceeded them! I was hooked. Your writing allows ‘us’ to imagine how horrific that passage of time would have been. I read the book in no time and got on with finding more of your titles. I am about to start the ‘Forgotten Legion Chronicles’ and can’t wait.
    I am glade I went shopping that day when I picked up your book. Thanks for feeding my thirst ‘of all things Roman’.
    Hope you don’t mind me giving a shout out to a fairly new writer, John Stack. He has written a great trilogy that looks at Roman navy. Like yourself, his gritty writing left me thanking my lucky stars I wasn’t a slave rowing a galley!
    Best wishes
    Jon

  50. @jon.merry293: Many thanks for your comment, and my sincere apologies for not replying until now. Life gathers pace every day…I’m glad that you enjoyed Fields of Blood so much. Glad you like John Stack’s books too! Best wishes – Ben

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