The Blood of Rome

Eagles of the Empire, Book 17

De: Simon Scarrow

Narrado por: Jonathan Keeble

The gripping new Cato and Macro adventure in Simon Scarrow's bestselling Eagles of the Empire series, not to be missed by readers of Conn Iggulden and Bernard Cornwell.

It is AD 55. As trouble brews on the eastern fringes of the Roman Empire, Tribune Cato and Centurion Macro must prepare for war . . .

The wily Parthian Empire has invaded Armenia, a frontier territory claimed by Rome, ousting King Rhadamistus. The king is ambitious and ruthless, but he is vital to Rome's strategic interests. General Corbulo must restore him to power, while also readying the troops for war with the powerful Parthian Empire. Corbulo orders new arrivals Cato and Macro, and their elite cohort of Praetorian Guards, to carry out the task.

Marching into unmapped and unfamiliar terrain to restore an unpopular king is a perilous mission. Allies cannot be trusted and foes lurk on all sides. The bravery and skill of the Roman army will be tested to the limit . . .

Praise for Scarrow's bestselling novels: 'Blood, gore, political intrigue...A historical fiction thriller that'll have you reaching for your gladius' Daily Sport

©2018 Simon Scarrow (P)2018 Headline Publishing Group Ltd

Another great tale.

Jonathan Keeble reading Simon Scarrow - it doesn’t get any better than this! This is another great tale and an enjoyable addition to the series.

a great story

the best in the series yet. Though a little predictable midway but not the ending

Great Series

Love this series, great plots with a cast that you can relate to! A must listen if you enjoy Roman warfare.

Great!!!

Not a bad volume in the bunch. This series and author will never disappoint. At least in this the 17th from the 1st. As well I may add of all his other works on Rome.

The Series is Spent!<br />

I have previously given Scarrow high marks for the Cato/Macro series of books but this last one complete with Cato's tortured pseudoethical machinations regarding punishing his own soldiers for defending themselves but no such machinations for the massacre and torture of a unit of Romans is frustratingly comical though clearly put forth as serious writing. Finally, Scarrow's inept understanding of the "similarities" between the Roman usurpation of Armenia and Vietnam conflict are simply hysterical. By far the worst book of the series.

Legionary Soap Opera

I chose this book because of the reviews, wondering at the same time why I had abandoned the series earlier. The beginning of this book was excellent hence three stars instead of two - until the heroes' domestic scenes became a necessary part of the story. Then I remembered why I had given up on this author's work: it is basically a TV series written as novels with the same predictable, labored, trite, lame, cardboard cutout charactered tedium that passes as entertainment on the airwaves.

There really is no story here: the narrative is based loosely around a Roman-Parthian conflict in the reign of Nero. What plot there is has more to do with the author's catering to modern sensibilities than with anything actually related to the period, and all done with the rise and fall tempo of a soap opera.

Really disappointing.