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From Publishers Weekly
British writer Scarrow (Under the Eagle) offers a second action novel set in ancient Rome, focusing on a key battle in Britain during the Roman invasion led by Claudius in 43 A.D., then turning to an attempt to assassinate Claudius. The first half of the book follows the adventures of Centurion Macro and his eager young subordinate, Optio Cato (both of whom played prominent roles in the first book), as the Romans try to outmaneuver the forces of Caratacus, king of the Celtic tribes of Britain, in a series of skirmishes along the Thames. The battle scenes are lifeless and generic despite the nonstop action, mostly because Scarrow offers little in the way of character development (most of the combatants are military stereotypes) or period detail (the contemporary colloquialisms offer some unintentional levity: "Just make sure you get some proper bloody swimming lessons," Macro chides Cato). The assassination conspiracy that takes up the second half of the book is far more interesting. Macro and Cato must get to the bottom of a plot involving fellow soldier Vitellius, a Carthaginian surgeon and Flavia Lavinia, a former romantic interest of Cato's. Scarrow deftly negotiates this tricky, labyrinthian story line, but his writing style remains pedestrian. Cato and Marco are one-dimensional, albeit fitfully amusing, protagonists. Scarrow will need to elaborate their personalities considerably if they're to carry the sequel that Scarrow foreshadows in this book's rather predictable conclusion.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From Booklist
Fresh from their triumphs in Under the Eagle (2001), battle-scarred Centurion Lucius Cornelius Macro and his seemingly unlikely protege, former slave Quintus Licinius Cato, embark upon another mission brimming with intrigue, adventure, and betrayal. Part of the Roman expeditionary force assigned by Emperor Claudius to conquer Britain, Macro and Cato must overcome more than their British enemies in order to prevail. Vastly outnumbered by the Britons, the four legions of Roman troops invading the British Isles rely more on experience, cunning, and superior military strategy than strength in numbers. When the emperor arrives on Britain's shores to bask in the victory of his army, Macro and Cato must expose a treasonous plot and foil an assassination attempt on his life. Scarrow manages to summon up in this exhilarating tale all the glory and the gore that characterized life in the Roman legions. Outstanding military history from a relatively new master of the genre. Margaret Flanagan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.3 out of 5 stars (26 customer reviews)
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Vacation on Paper, Jun 21 2006
By Jennifer Smith - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Eagle's Conquest (Paperback)
If you read novels to take your mind off the bills or the divorce or tax time, then this novel may please you. If you are hoping to learn more about Roman history or Latin or whatever, then this is not the book for you. Several reviewers have complained about the lack of depth of the characters, but they are deep enough. Others have said that the scenes are not realistic or the Optio, Cato, not believable because of his youth and inexperience. This isn't Moby Dick, people. It's like a romance novel for guys (d*** lit) -- there are lots of characters, lots of action, some love scenes, heroes, villains, exotic locations (well, I don't know if the British Isles count as exotic), historical people... Fun! I spent many a night telling myself "only one more chapter..." and paying for it the next day. I thought the scenes moved quickly, the conversations were pretty believable (despite the PC modernity of a few of them), the battle scenes easy to follow, and the characters drawn well enough to maintain my interest. You may never see this novel offered up as great literature at the local college, but judging by what passes at literature these days, I may have to eat my words.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
The conquest of Britain seen through a Roman's eyes, April 6 2003
By Ross Durham - Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This is a sequel to Scarrow's first book, Under the Eagle, and is every bit as good as its antecedent. Both provide us with a series of interesting, new twists. Few novels have been written of Ancient Rome that do not feature christians, the triumph of christianity, or the excesses of Latin civilization. This is one of the few that has none of that. It follows the career of a slave who was once in the Emperor's service and who so pleased that worthy that he was freed and sent into the Roman army in a position of responsibility (highly unusual for a recruit). The legion to which he's assigned is destined to invade and conquer Britain and I, being of British extraction, surprisingly find myself cheering for the efforts of the legions.There is one important inaccuracy (I believe) that should perhaps be challenged. Claudius was the emperor during the conquest of Britain and that is accurate enough. However, he is portrayed as a bumbling dolt which, according to my old Ancient History professor at UCLA, he was not. Suetonius wrote of him as such, as did many of his contemporaries, but that was evidently because of physical disabilities and a speech impediment that made him appear retarded. Apparently those physical flaws masked a real ability for organization. Civil war abounded in republican Rome and had it remained a republic, many historians feel it would have collapsed shortly after Caligula's death. Claudius was the one who pulled that republic out of the hands of self-seeking senators made them responsible for their acts, and established a firm government administration as well as a standard of succession to supreme power. It was Claudius, not Augustus, who made Rome into the Empire that survived for another 300 years. But I digress.
Scarrow has given us a slightly watered-down, but exciting, view of life within the legions, and has filled his adventure with historical facts and some speculations that are nothing short of fascinating.
I cannot recommend this book too highly.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Cato's saga continues, April 3 2005
By Dan "Longsword" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Eagle's Conquest (Paperback)
In the summer of 43 AD the Roman invasion of Britain is being bitterly contested by the brave natives. The battle-weary men of the Second Legion are faced with a new challenge; the heavily fortified crossing on the Medway. A treacherous tidal river and massive earthworks seem to present an impenetrable obstacle to Roman Army.Having shown his worth to his comrades in a recent fight, Cato - optio of the sixth century of the third cohort, must now prove that he can be trusted to lead the hard, experienced legionaries in his unit.
The Britons are not the only enemy Cato and Macro must face in the coming months. The same sinister forces they had confronted in UNDER THE EAGLE are still working to depose Emperor Claudius. A chance encounter on the misty banks of the Thames and a mysterious coded message plunge the two legionaries into the dark world of traitors and assassins.
Discredited in the eyes of their comrades and manipulated by corrupt and powerful schemers Cato and Macro become involved in a desperate race to save Claudius from the hands of a killer when the Emperor arrives to lead his army into the decisive battle against the Britons.
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