Just as I expected the book exists entirely within the army in ways that just don't make sense. And a very modern army too. Generals appear as career army instead of senators serving merely one stage in their career. All centurions are grizzled veterans raised from the ranks and the suggestion that Cato could be appointed directly to the position is treated as absurd despite an imperial command. Pretty much everything that exists outside the army is a skeletal sketch or vague caricature. If it's not army, it doesn't matter. Let's talk about Under The Eagle by Simon Scarrow. It's good, in a sort of balls-to-the-wall way. Having read this before, I knew what to expect. Blood, betrayal, lots of swearing and gladius slashing fun. With any historical novel, there's a fine line between historical accuracy and story-telling. Conn Iggulden, as much as I respect him for taking on Caesar is a fine example of bad story-telling set against historical accuracy (which in part is well researched). Simon Scarrow doesn't pretend to be 'historical accurate', yes it is accurate in the sense of being set within the reign of Claudius-I've-The-Mind-Of-A-Child-And-The-Eating-Habit-Of-A-Ox. Yes it is accurate given the timeline, the invasion of Britain was what solidified Claudius's Emperor-ship - without it, he would have been history (ironic).

This age is not known for any type of Geneva treaty or piety, the Roman pietas is the sense of loyalty not any type of kindness

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Claudia Acta the real life whore/mistress of Nero was never in Brittania and was still hanging around Nero’s palace in Rome in 64 and 65AD. So I've been avoiding (intentionally or not) these books for a while now. It seems like everyone who's really excited about Roman military fiction just gushes over Scarrow's books. And that's why I've been a little nervous about them. Military fiction fanboys are a whole different breed from historical fiction ones.* At some level people who seek out military fiction expect to see an experience they can relate to. When centurions issue commands to their men they want to feel not "how interesting the way the Roman class structure coexists with army ranks" but "ah, I remember when my NCOs acted like that." And that is perhaps not an approach I find rewarding. Christian Cameron (one of the best writers of ancient military fiction) sums it up best: there's no such thing as military history. It's impossible to understand ancient warfare (or the warfare of any period) without understanding how it interacted with all other aspects of ancient life. Without a good grounding in the economic, political, administrative, cultural, and technological history of the past it is impossible to really depict ancient warfare. Which, as you might imagine, is where I find this book frustrating. There is political plotting throughout with some of the fringe characters seeking ways to progress up the career ladder which leads to a major part of the final third of the book. Nothing is really resolved in this book which means I'm expecting some big things from this series and some of these issues to roll on. Following on closely from the events of the previous Eagles of Empire book, Death to the Emperor, this novel drops Cato and Macro into a Britannia not only in open rebellion, but in a time when it seems the days of Roman rule may be coming to an end... and it starts very much as it means to go on, with a fierce battle to get the blood pumping!

Meanwhile, Cato has been sent northwest to harry and conquer once and for all the Druids and their followers. By moving the major Roman army units away from southern England, the Romans inadvertently created the opening and window of opportunity for Boudica's rebellion. Again, we know that from history. Cato and the Romans must now counter-march and return to the southeast in an attempt to save Londinium (London). This is the first in Scarrow’s Eagle series and I am a little anal about always insisting on starting at the beginning of a series rather than jumping in half way through even if, as in the case of Scarrow, he has already written some 11 novels as part of said series. However, I was really excited about discovering this. I studied A Level Latin and some ancient history at University. I am intrigued by all things Roman and Spartan in particular and having absolutely adored Madeline Miller’s ‘The Song of Achilles’ last year, was genuinely looking forward to discovering a series that I could read over several months or even years given Scarrow’s productivity. Sadly, this is not to be…I doubt I will be returning to Macro or Cato or their ludicrous legion. Well what can I say.. I have been a fan of Simon Scarrows Eagle of the Empire series since 2017 when I discovered the books in my local library.It was a fascinating read as Boudica’s rebellion is a fascinating topic as it’s also one that changes according to the personal point of view of the reader: feminist ante litteram, nationalist or simply someone who rebelled against the power of the Romans. The action scenes are pretty thrilling and seem like you're part of a grand adventure. There was nothing particularly new or original in this book's depiction of a village under siege, but it is drawn out well enough that you actually care about the outcome. I suspect this is enough for most people. The main historical event described in the series is the second invasion of Britain in the Roman Empire and the resulting campaign undertaken by the Julio-Claudian dynasty to resist the Britishers from doing so. The series consists of a total of 13 books with the 14th one about to be published soon later in the year. Macro and Cato each face deadly battles against enemies who would rather die than succumb to Roman rule. The future of Britannia hangs in the balance. I have found the previous two books The Emperor’s Exile a waste and ponitless it was just written to get Cato to Britain to join up with Macro again.