Title: The Gothica
Author: Patrick C. DiCarlo
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 978-1-6632-2385-2
Pages: 265
Genre: Historical Fiction
Reviewed by: Philip Zozzaro

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The 4th Century was witnessing the cracks in the facade of the Roman Empire. The days of the skillful military tacticians who fought off the advancing barbarians were nearing an end. The Visigoths are a tribe fighting their own battles, currently with the Huns. Theoric, the young son of Guntheric, witnesses the stirrings of conflict as he walks the battle lines. Theoric looks to prove himself worthy on the battlefield. The fight with the Huns goes sideways quickly, their allies in the Ostrogoths are wounded by the death of their king. The unknowns of costly campaigns, mainly the location of a wily enemy and their own allies are highlighted. Uldin, the leader of the Huns, oversees the pillage and carnage of his conquering armies. The fortunate of his victims are spared only to be enslaved by their conquerors.

The Visigoths and Ostrogoths need to figure out a strategy to defeat their enemy. However, time might not be on their side. Theoric arrives home to a bittersweet homecoming, as his Father has been felled in battle. He is at a loss to explain his Father’s death, while his younger Brother Alaric questions Theoric’s actions in battle. Theoric is now the man of his family, yet his position in the Visigoth army has ascended with the recent casualties. Theoric is resolute in his will to win.

The Romans have heard about the Visigoths’ skirmishes with the Huns. They hope to form an alliance with the Visigoths for their own military reasons. However, they soon renege on the deal, earning the enmity of the Visigoths. Alaric is keen on picking up the masculine tradition in his family and fighting for his tribe. His young age initially prohibits it, but his headstrong ways result in him breaking the rules to do anything to aid his fellow people. Soon the death of Theoric propels Alaric into the alpha in his family. He has excelled in his training; his spirit is unquenchable. He puts aside a pending betrothal to hit the battlefield. A warrior has been sprung to wage war on his enemies.

The Gothica breathes new life into the distant past in its telling of the rise to power of the Visigoths who would battle the Huns and eventually sack the Roman Empire. Author Patrick DiCarlo pens a fierce narrative of war, family, love and ambition which spans multiple decades.  The Gothica proves absorbing from the genesis of the book and never levels off. By the end of the book, the reader will find themselves eager to read more about the latter days of the Roman Empire and its conquerors.