Title: Saviors of Italia
Author: Harry Salazar
Publisher: AuthorHouse
ISBN: 978-1-5462-4246-8
Pages: 315
Genre: Historical Fiction
Reviewed by: Carl Conrad
Pacific Book Review
In an historical fiction novel as big and sprawling as it is full of characters and medieval crises, author Harry Salazar has written an epic tale of a Christian Alliance of soldiers and royalty that became the Saviors of Italia. Keeping Godly virtues at the core of their mission, the gallant, brave, and faithfully balanced followers of this land of oppression, feuding tribes and poverty waged a revolution that was sustained and determined enough to transform a relatively godless land into one that was safe and prosperous.
King Sorka di Bruce and High-Priest Regis, with the king’s two sons, Markus and Salamar, lead the kingdom of Torrance through battles with an evil shaman named Ramitica who had three demon dragons, attacks by a vicious pack of Dire Wolves, a huge, 800 pound Marsican Bear, and encounters with other soldiers of the Orc Razormanes, rogue Goths, the Philistines, Samnites, and the Huns. Their adventures continue to challenge and entertain the reader who will never feel a shortage of action in the ongoing saga.
The book strongly mixes Christian obedience to God and His principles with medieval superstitions about witchcraft, castles, curses, and caves of wonder, which plunges its characters into a harmonious quest to rebuild the city of Torrance. With the conviction that Christian theology gives to them, the people of Torrance show that belief and faith can prevail over brute force, satanic demons, and medieval superstitions. They battle, feast, and socialize in ways which spread their fellowship throughout the kingdom where they have prevailed. Formed of an allegiance which opens itself to promoting brotherhood, a kingdom of inclusiveness spreads across the land like a wave of emancipation.
It is the variety and depth of characters that powers the strengths of this book. Never to be left without a story to tell or lessons to be learned from the rich code of loyalty, bravery, and obedience they shared, the Saviors of Italia creates a land where legends are born and heroes are extolled. It even weaves economic principles into its explanations of city-building and community rejuvenation as there is talk about how to create jobs by amassing an army and by rebuilding the outdated and crumbling infrastructure of their city.
The bravery of its warriors mixes with the shared goodness of its characters as this deeply-constructed, constantly-interweaving story of the glory days of old sweeps the reader into a time when a sharp sword of justice could carve its mark into history.
