Reviewed by: Connor Salter, Professional Writing student at Taylor University, Upland, IN.

Introduction

Title: A War Within: The Praetorian (A War Within #3)

Author: Nathan D. Maki

Publisher: Word Aflame Press (Pentecostal Publishing House)

Publication Date: 2014

Format: Paperback

Length: 343 pages

OVERVIEW

Things have changed since Antonius Maximus first met his friend Theudas Ben Ya’ir in the Coliseum’s gladiator school. Since those days they have become friends, warriors, and now both of them may be able to leave their fighting days behind them. But Theudas still has one mission left: to find to his missing mother. As the two men come against slave traders, Roman politicians, and others who stand in their way, it seems their fighting days are far from over.

Maki’s writing style shows the same basic flaws from the first book in the A War Within series – a writing tone and dialogue that sound good but rely too much on clichés to become great. However, those problems stand out much less in this book because the main characters’ motivations and relationships to each other have grown. Here the heroes aren’t just trying to basically survive, they’re working to get past the mind games that enemies play on them and the complex emotions they feel toward each other. Many of the story’s best scenes are still the battle sequences, but the interplay of emotions and intentions are what make this book truly engaging.

ASSESSMENT

Rating (1 to 5)

3 out of 5 stars

Suggested Audience

Readers interested in “sword and sandal” epics, readers interested in stories about the early church or adventure stories about the Roman Empire.

Christian Impact

This book’s discussions about Christianity during a persecuted era will encourage many readers to think about their faith.

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