STRENGTH and HONOR

Caesar's Gambit

De: Michael Pandolfo

Narrado por: Virtual Voice

TWO-TIME WINNER FIREBIRD BOOK AWARDS - 2022 Historical Fiction Novel and 2024 Best Series

Editorial Review: "5 out of 5 stars for its impeccable writing, humorous narrative and dialogues, well-developed characters, and surprising turns of events. I highly recommend it to ALL readers regardless of your preferred genre. This book is a MUST-READ!" ~ SHEY SAINTS Review of STRENGTH and HONOR

Author Note: Royalties from the sale of this book (less publishing expenses) are donated to St Jude Research Hospital for Children.

In November of 9 AD Micah Antonius Equinus was the XVII Legion's Prefect of Cavalry in Germania; that is, before the legion ceased to exist. He and his servant were among the lucky few to escape the Teutoburg Forest massacre – the worst defeat of Roman forces in 60 years.

It is now 10 AD, and it is Micah, as senior surviving officer, who brings to Rome the detailed news of the catastrophe when the mountain passes clear in the spring. The loss of three entire legions and the suicide of their general, Publius Varus, is a shock that reverberates throughout the Empire. Caesar Augustus is understandably upset. While bearers of ill tidings are rarely well received, Prefect Equinus is presented with an unanticipated promotion to tribune and a new posting as Deputy Commander of the III Legion. He had expected worse – much worse. Imperial functionaries, wise in Caesar's ways, decide to get him on his way before the old man could have second thoughts. So, in short order, Micah, along with his body slave Lucius, are hustled out of town and onto the first available ship for Alexandria, Egypt, home of the III Cyrenaica.

As bad as Teutoburg is, Caesar has other problems brewing, most notably in Egypt, the breadbasket of Rome. The Emperor needs a man of strength and honor to deal with the situation. Micah is that man, yet Augustus does not take the new tribune into his confidence – just why remains to be seen.

The German princess, Gisela, was taken as a hostage by the Romans three years before the Teutoburg debacle. The eighteen year-old was situated comfortably with a wealthy family in Transalpine Gaul. After the massacre, Gisela suddenly found herself enslaved, as was the practice of the time. Acquired by the Greek procurer, Polinaris, she was transported to Alexandria, and there sold twice and returned twice for truculence and outright disobedience. Gisela had the attitude problem towards foreign authority commonly associated with the Germanic peoples. And so it happens that chance brings together Micah and Gisela in what can only be called tumultuous contact.

Strength and Honor is a story of treachery and loyalty, brutality and kindness, murder and salvation, all set against the backdrop of Roman Egypt, where anything can and does happen.