Simon Scarrow’s fourth book in the Eagle’s Series, The Eagle and the Wolves, is an excellent story about the Roman Army when the Roman Empire was at its strongest, 1st Century AD. Scarrow does a superb job in bringing the characters to life.
Here is a summary from the book’s cover:
In the epic fourth novel of Simon Scarrow’s series, it’s ad 44 and Vespasian and the Roman Army’s Second Legion are forging ahead in their campaign to seize the southwest. Centurion Macro and newly appointed Centurion Cato are ordered by Vespasian to provide Verica, aged ruler of the Atrebates, with an army. They must train his tribal levies into a force that can protect him, enforce his rule, and take on the increasingly ambitious raids that the enemy is launching.
But open revolt is brewing. Despite the Atrebates’ official allegiance to Rome, many are wary of the legions and want to resist the Roman invaders, and Macro and Cato must first win the loyalty of the disgruntled levies before tackling the enemy without. Can they succeed while surviving a deadly plot to destroy both them and their comrades serving with the eagles? In the midst of this highly volatile situation, Macro and Cato face the greatest test of their army careers. Theirs is a brazen tale of military adventure, political intrigue, and heroism, as only they stand between the destiny of Rome and bloody defeat.
Although Scarrow has a tendency to spread things a little thin for reality’s sake (severe injuries healing relatively quickly), Scarrow spins a wonderful tale. The constant danger that Cato and Macro must contend with makes the book fly by. In fact, the writing and plot are so good that I was amazed at one point that I had read 100 pages.
I also like how Scarrow is developing the relationship between Cato and Macro. Cato is growing into a superb leader under Macro’s wing. You can see his progression as a better and better leader in each book.
The book is not laced with heavy issues, but that is not Scarrow’s intent. He writes a book that is simply fun to read and hard to put down.
