Rebellion (Eagles of Empire 22)

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TheEagles of the Empireseries centers upon two main protagonists,Quintus Licinius CatoandLucius Cornelius Macro, who are bothRoman soldiers. Macro, a veteran with nearly 15 years’ service (at the start of the first novel) in the Roman Army, has recently been appointed to the Centurion. Cato is in his teen years, grew up in the Imperial Palace as a slave, and at the start of the series joins the Eagles as Macro’s Optio. I was fascinated to read the way the Roman army worked and pulled together to form ‘wedges’ and almost impenetrable walls of shields. Some of the fighting, well actually all of it, is quite gruesome but that’s war.

The novels since Under the Eagle first being published have contained the word 'Eagle' in the title however since the 8th book Centurion the author has refrained from using 'Eagle' - the reason for this is unknown, however some speculate that this has been done in effort to make the books accessible to a wider audience, and also explains the change in cover illustrations. Vespasian: Legate of the Second Legion and Macro and Cato's commander in the first five books during the Roman conquest of Britain. Vespasian also appears in The Eagle's Prophecy as the Prefect of the naval fleet. Vespasian is often fighting in the front line with his men but is consistently at odds with his tribune Vitellius who threatens him with the knowledge that Vespasian's wife Flavia is a member of the dissident group who are conspiring to overthrow the Emperor.The writing takes you to very heart of the book, the narrative is so descriptive, you can imagine yourself there, you get a terrific sense of place and feel for the locations, the period comes alive, you can sense and breathe in the atmosphere, it’s like going round the Jorvik centre taking in the sights and sounds The series, in its entirety, documents Macro and Cato's attempts to live a soldier's simple life, however, their effectiveness as soldiers and Cato's former connections to the Imperial Court make this difficult. Through association with Cato, Macro also finds himself the object of the upper classes' intrigue and struggles for supremacy. The series also features Vespasian and Vitellius as supporting characters, during the formative years of their careers, and foreshadowing their future rivalry for the Imperial throne. The Eagle's Prophecy Audiobook | Simon Scarrow | Audible.co.uk". Audible . Retrieved 4 January 2020.

In Londinium there is devastating news. Centurion Macro is amongst those unaccounted for after the massacre at Camulodunum. Has Cato's comrade and friend made his last stand? A brilliantly written story with an intense atmosphere throughout, great fight scenes and an unbreakable bond of brotherhood that is intoxicating. The Eagle's Conquest Audiobook | Simon Scarrow | Audible.co.uk". Audible . Retrieved 4 January 2020. Entry #20 in Simon Scarrow's Macro and Cato series, which means there's been approximately one entry per year. The audiobook was narrated by Jonathan Keeble. His performance was superb, flowing with the action be it military or more personal, investing emotion where needed and generally carrying the reader through the trials and tribulations of 'peaceful' retirement. And, of course, every protagonist is given a personal, unique voice (with, delightfully, the spy, Appolonius, sounding very much like Julian Clarey).Narcissus: Claudius's Chief Secretary and effectively Prime Minister of the whole Empire. He recruits Macro and Cato for "special" tasks around the Empire, promising them rich rewards for success, but making it clear that their lives are of little value to him or the Empire. This very eventful Roman historical adventure is the 20th volume of the amazing "Eagle of the Empire" series, featuring Cato & Macro. In these times of Covid is there a better way to forget all that nonsense than immersing yourself in a good book? In the case of Simon Scarrow's latest, it's a visit from our old friends Macro and Cato - and what can be more fun than that?

In the first novel, he is only seventeen years of age, tall and gawky, and so weak-looking that many of the officers, including Macro, place bets on how long it will be before he quits, or is killed. The Emperor grants Cato an immediate commission as a Centurion, but because of his age, Vespasian makes him an optio as a compromise, which causes the officers and his fellow recruits to resent him further. He is however, extremely determined and proves the officers wrong throughout the series. Cato attains the rank of Centurion at the end of When the Eagle Hunts and during the events of Centurion, he is promoted to acting prefect of the Second Illyrian. Halfway through The Gladiator Cato is promoted to the rank of tribune for his mission to Egypt, temporarily outranking Macro, but at the end of the book he is awarded a temporary rank of prefect. In The Legion Cato joins a legion in Egypt and receives a temporary promotion to Senior Tribune. At the beginning of the book you'll find two well-drawn maps of South-East Britannia and of Londinium in AD 59, as well as a Chain of Command, and not to forget a Cast List, with figures featuring in this great tale. Bound together more by their hatred of Rome than anything else, the rebel tribes take brutal and bloody revenge on the Roman settlements they pass through. Whipped up into a religious frenzy by their Druids, their treatment of prisoners is especially cruel and merciless. Those who are squeamish may wish to skip a couple of the scenes. I do admire Simon Scarrow's in-depth knowledge of life in the Roman Empire, from the day to day routine of housekeeping and providing meals to the details of Army life for both serving soldiers and veterans. I haven't read all of his stuff (there's so much of it!), but this is the third 'Macro' novel I've read and it was nice to renew his acquaintance, and that of Petronella, and to catch up on their adventures in the far-flung outpost of Britannia.

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You are also treated to the inner workings of the Roman Army and the thought processes involved, you see a sense of forlorn hoplesness and foreboding of what is to come within the Romans, afterall they are facing an army in the thousands It would be fair to say that it is a blood thirsty book, but then you have to remember the times and the people the Romans were fighting, the battles scenes are described in glorious detail, you can feel each sword and axe stroke being taken, again the writing gives you a sense of what was endured Cato is the son of an Imperial Freedman (former slave) in direct service of Emperor Claudius. Being born a slave himself, and the property of the state, he was given an opportunity by the Emperor as a favour to Cato's late father to enlist in the legions and be given his freedom. Cato has lived a relatively luxurious life as a slave within the Imperial palace, in comparison to the rank and file of the legions, and after accepting the Emperor's offer. he joins the Second Augustan as Macro's Optio. Full of non stop action and vicious battles, and it all leads to the final nail biting heart pounding battle with Queen Boudica’s rebel army. Simon Scarrow is a British author of historical fictional novels. He was born on October 03, 1962. Simon’s novels have been published in the USA and translation all around the world. Simon Scarrow is a Sunday Times No. 1 bestselling author.

This tale starts off in full action in January AD 59, with Macro and his wife, Petronella, arriving in Londinium, to join Macro's mother, Portia, at the Dog and Deer inn. This story kept me reading till late in the night as I wanted to be sure that my favourite characters were going to survive.Macro has been close friends with Cato since Cato saved his life in the first book. This bond deepens when Macro confesses that he is illiterate and asks Cato's help in learning to read, and so maintain his position as an officer.