Attila: The Gathering of the Storm

I was curious to see if the second book of the Attila the Hun series would be as interesting to read as the first, and it was. I normally don't like stories told by a third person (in this book it was by a scribe), and sure enough, I ended up skipping some pages which I hate to do! I just don't think this type of writing helps most stories. I do wish I knew before I bought the series, that the story would be written in this manner and I probably wouldn't have felt as guilty about skipping pages. Mr. Napier is a good author, but Conn Iggulden did a much better job with his Genghis Khan series. I would recommend (and have already) the Attila the Hun series and have enjoyed them myself.

This is the second book in this series and it is a well-written story. After 30 years of banishment, Attila returns to the Huns to claim his rightful place. He spends most of the book getting the Huns ready to attack and destroy Rome. The author effectively illustrates how Attila uses his cunning and ruthlessness to join all of the Hun tribes for his planned juggernaut against the weak and corrupt west. Attila develops an effective spy network, drills his rusty home tribe into fighting shape and outfoxes his fellow Hun tribal leaders. There is very little about his Roman nemesis Aetius in this book as the focus is on Attila. However, this is a great read. I had a hard time putting it down. I can't wait for the next installment.

If you don't know anything about Attila the Hun then this is the series of books that you should read. William Napier captures the sense of what it must have been like to live during those troubling times. I bought the first book "Attila" since I had enjoyed the series "Spartacus" on Starz. I like to learn about the men that brought so much trouble to the Roman empire, they really seem to be very interesting characters. If you buy this book be sure and by the first one, "Attila" and the 3rd in the series "Attila, The Judgement".

Oral tradition is beautiful. The history of a people is put to song and dance. The story is passed from generation to generation via the spoken word. There is a problem though. The history dies out as the tribes die out. This is the problem with the story of Attila. We only have the account of the Romans which is slanted in their favor.Read it and decide for yourself. Personally I think Attila got a bum rap

I ordered the 2nd and 3rd books in this trilogy together, after I had finished the first. I seldom read two of an author's books in a row, preferring to switch between genres and authors. After I finished this book, a bit after midnight, I had to start the 3rd! I was so engrossed in the narrative, I really did not want to put off finishing the trilogy.I suggest this whole trilogy for anyone intersted in this time period. Excellent!

I have the trilogy on Attila by Napier and all are excellent reads. I have read several articles on Attila as well as some other historical "faction" books. The story is fascinating how the Roman "civilization" and the Mongol hordes come to a final confrontation.

It is an entertaining book but with unnecessary parts and a bit boring.

I became hooked on Attila after reading the first book. Hence the search for the second and third volumes. I love learning about past times and events: the culture, the land and climate, the norms, etc. this series is full of such and a pleasure to read

**Should Read as 4.5 Stars!**Read this book in 2007, and its the 2nd volume of the wonderful "Attila" trilogy.Its the year AD 441, and in this book we see Attila returning to his homelands after serving 30 years as a Roman hostage, and now with a heart full of hate he's looking on revenge and the annihilation of Rome.And so Attila's journey will begin by gathering together all the tribes, they being Hun or Scythian, and bring them under one banner and one King.Bringing down his enemies in the East, he will be able to unite the rest of the tribes, and so make himself ready to invade the Roman Empire to destroy it completely.What will follow is a very entertaining and thrilling historical adventure, in which Attila and his tribes are making ready to invade the Western Roman Empire, and bring destruction and death to all in their path.Very much recommended, for this is an excellent addition to this great trilogy, and that's why I like to call this middle episode: "A Very Satisfying Attila Sequel"!

There were too many long speeches from the shaman and Attilla. There was also a huge gap in his story whilst he was exiled. The battle scenes are good and well constructed but overall too much padding for me. That said I'm looking forward to the final book.

Good book and easy to read.

This is a quite beautifully written and characterized historical blockbuster - very unusual combination! there are some great set piece battle scenes and confronations, a real drive and energy in the emerging iron will of this terrifying warlord Attila, bewitching and very charismatic and yet also hugely destructive but there are also lovely descriptive passages which totally transport you back to the Dark Ages, and the wilds of the East, even as far as Mongolia (I think!) which is where most of this book takes place, as Attila forges his people into a war machine and gathers other tribes to him, ready for the Final Conflict with Rome, can't wait for the Book Three, needless to say, but this is wonderful middle part, full of epic journeys and dangers and astonishing, almost mythical landscapes and savage adventures. This author is in a class of his own, as far as I'm concerned, in this genre.

Brilliant book although I might be somewhat biased, really enjoying anything on this period.