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 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.

A riveting story about dealing with London’s gangs, although does seem to jump around a bit with a slightly unnecessary jaunt for Macro with the veterans. What was also great about this book is finally the scene has been setup for Boudica’s revolt, which has been one of the key things to look forward to for me ever since her introduction in book three (along with reuniting with Vespasian, future clashes with Vitellius, the hope of seeing Figulus again, and the obvious year of the four emperors). Macro needs a plan to deal with these thugs. If only he could talk to his old friend Cato as he would come up with a plan to deal with the rabble. I was happy to catch up with Cato and Marco, felt for them and hope to read soon their new story as the aftermath of the rebellion won’t be easy.Simon Scarrow really makes you care about his characters, over the course of the book and indeed the series you get to know them as real people, it is evident as your Rebellion of the bond and friendship that Cato and Marco share. Fair to say that all the characters within the book come at you in a way that you sense who they are, I particularly enjoy the way that Boudica is portrayed

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.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.

Eagles of the Empire is a series of historical military fiction novels written by Simon Scarrow. The series began in July 2000 with the publication of Under the Eagle, and as of March 2022 there have been 21 novels released in the series, with the 22nd novel due in November 2023. [1] The following four books are set in Britain, between the years AD 42 and 44 - detailing the Roman subjugation of the province alongside court intrigue that often leaves the protagonists in receipt of contempt from the Roman political class.

Simon Scarrow’s twentieth book in the series featuring Centurion Macro and his friend Cato sees the focus turn to Britannia, as Macro, now retired, joins his mother in Londinium. 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.