Immersive adventures for kids: ‘Revenge of the Barbarians’ by S J Morris

I was contacted by the author of this novel for middle grade readers, asking if I’d be interested in writing a review. Since it is a life mission of mine to encourage young readers to fall in love with historical fiction, of course I said yes.

Revenge of the Barbarians is set in Roman-ruled Britain, and the author has planned a whole series of similar books set in different historical times and places. Fabulous idea.

As the series name suggests (Time Path Adventures) the book is of the ‘choose your own adventure’ genre. Each small chapter allows the reader to choose one of three next step options, and be directed to the appropriate page for that choice. The options vary (from the relatively ‘safe’ to the definitely adventurous) and each next step, of course, offers further options. There are several chapters which eventually readers will land on, which serve as resolutions (again, varied) to the story.

The added bonus is that readers can go back and choose a different option to see where it leads, as many times as they wish.

The book is written in present tense and second person point of view, addressing the reader as ‘you’. This is a powerful way to immediately engage readers and make them a central part of the narrative.

It opens with the main character (the reader) as a youngster in Roman-controlled Fort Vindolanda near Hadrian’s Wall, needing to respond to a definitely scary scenario. A frightened messenger has just arrived, babbling about ‘eyes in the forest’. Is this a group of Calendonian barbarians about to invade? Or something to do with the magic of the Celtic Druids that appear and disappear in mysterious ways? What to do: report the situation to the disbelieving adults at the fort, or investigate yourself?

What I enjoyed about this book is that the author asserts in the preface that ‘history should never be boring’, then proves why, with an adventure that keeps the pages turning. There are dollops of humour, too, of the type youngsters will definitely enjoy (latrine jokes, anyone?)

I also love that there are many historical details sprinkled throughout, based on real history. There’s a helpful Glossary right at the beginning so that any readers not familiar with aspects of ancient Rome can quickly find the info there.

A terrific start to a promising series for younger readers that will be sure to engage and – I’m sure – turn them onto historical fiction.

Revenge of the Barbarians was published by Time Path Adventures in 2025 and is available on Amazon books.
My thanks to the author for a review copy.