Titan Books has released Spartacus: Swords and Ashes, an original novel that tells a new story of blood, sex, and politics set in the world of the arena from the television series Spartacus: Blood and Sand, in paperback and for Kindle.

The novel by J.M. Clements came out today, January 3, 2012, and thanks to Titan Books, we have an exclusive excerpt, which you can read right here below.

Take a read from Spartacus: Swords and Ashes and let us know what you think!

An awesome new preview of the upcoming follow-up season to the hit Starz original series, Spartacus: Blood and Sand, has found its way to the ‘net.

The new season, titled Spartacus: Vengeance, sees Liam McIntyre stepping into the role first played by the late Andy Whitfield, and leading his band of rebels and gladiators outside the confines of the House of Batiatus. When the Romans learn of the troubles these rebels are causing, they send Claudius Glaber (Craig Parker), the man responsible for first enslaving Spartacus, and his troops to end the rebellion.

You can check out the 12-minute season preview by clicking on over to the other side now. There is a great deal of violence and some language (they discuss the now-infamous usage of a certain c-word, among other things), so this should be considered NSFW.

It’s been a long road from the first season of the Starz original series, Spartacus: Blood and Sand, to its second season, Spartacus: Vengeance. A road that saw its very popular star, Andy Whitfield, diagnosed with cancer, his eventual replacement with Liam McIntyre, and, ultimately, his heartbreaking death this past September.

A short prequel season, Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, was produced while these devastating events put the show’s production on hold, but come January 27th Season 2 will finally arrive.

Sad news tonight out of the TV world as Andy Whitfield, the former star of the hit Starz series Spartacus: Blood and Sand, has died after a battle with cancer. The actor died on September 11, 2011, of non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in Sydney, Australia, after an 18-month fight. He was 39.

While many may not have known his name going into the show, his turn as the show’s lead was so well received that instead of recasting the character right away, the show halted their production for the second season while he fought his illness. In the meantime, they worked on a prequel while he was in treatment in hopes of his return to the series. Eventually, with Whitfield’s blessing after his cancer returned, the role was recast with Australian actor Liam McIntyre taking over the lead.

No, it’s not the longest and best trailer ever released (that will be releasing next week), but Starz has unveiled the very first mini–trailer””more of a TV spot, really””for the upcoming second season of their hit original series, Spartacus, this time dropping the Blood and Sand and going with Spartacus: Vengeance.

According to Entertainment Weekly, show creator Steven DeKnight revealed during the show’s Comic–Con panel that the title is not only about Spartacus’s vengeance, but also that of a few other characters you’ll very much recognize. He also shared that this new season will be huge and that tons of people are going to die (rut-roh!)…especially in one specific episode.

You can see the first TV spot trailer for Spartacus: Vengeance below now!