Terra Incognita by Simon Turney

On October 9, 2024 By The Unseen LibraryIn Historical FictionLeave a comment

Publisher: Head of Zeus (Ebook – 12 September 2024)

Series: Standalone

Length: 407 pages

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Simon Turney continues to explore the Roman Empire with his latest novel Terra Incognita, a fantastic read that proves to be one of the top historical fiction adventure novels of 2024.

Simon Turney, who also writes as SJA Turney, is a fantastic author who has been penning various intriguing historical novels for several years now. I have enjoyed a couple of his books in the past, including the deeply compelling read, Commodus, which was part of his Damned Emperors series. 2024 has proven to be another good year for Turney, as he managed to also to impress me with the first book in his Agricola series, Invader. Invader was a very fun military novel that followed the early career of a famous Roman general and his potential involvement with Boudica’s rebellion. I deeply enjoyed Invader, and I am very keen for the sequel, Warrior, which is set for release in early 2025. However, before Warrior comes out, I was very happy to receive a copy of Turney’s intriguing novel Terra Incognita. Providing his own take on a truly fascinating adventure hinted at in Roman historical records, Terra Incognita was an awesome read I was excited to check out.

Rome, 61 AD. Under the rule of Emperor Nero, the Roman Empire is a wealthy and powerful civilisation covering much of Europe and Africa. However, Nero is eager to expand the range of his control even further and sets his eyes down the River Nile. Desiring to conquer the mysterious and reportedly rich lands and kingdoms below Egypt, Nero devises an elaborate plan to learn more about the world beyond his borders.

Under the command of an ambitious tribune, Nero sends two centuries of his elite Praetorian Guard into the African wilds with orders to follow the Nile until they find the source of the river. If they succeed, they are to offer tribute to the river’s spirits, and ensure favourable waters for any subsequent invasion of the lands that follow. However, reaching these fabled waters alive will prove to be an arduous journey.

Travelling down the Nile, the soldiers of Rome experience great hardships as they make their way to their empire’s borders. But even greater challenges wait beyond, as the Romans will have to overcome bandits, hostile kingdoms, disease, inhospitable desert, fierce beasts and the madness of their own commander. Can the Romans make it to their goal alive, or will the insanity of their Emperor and the impossible mission he’s set for them destroy even these elite soldiers?

Terra Incognita was as an outstanding and epic historical read that I honestly could not stop reading. Presenting a powerful and deeply compelling narrative of trials, tribulations, and the dark side of ambition and duty in the wilds of Africa, Turney expertly grabs the reader in with his elaborate historical adventure tale and refused to let go.

I really loved the fun and distinctive story that Turney sets up in Terra Incognita, which proved to be particularly captivating and gripping to me. A fictional account of the two Praetorian centuries the historical record indicates Nero reportedly sent to find the source of the River Nile, Terra Incognita is an exciting, entertaining and occasionally grim book, that just keeps loading compelling misadventure after compelling misadventure. Told from the perspective of the venture’s two centurions, Sempronius Densus and Claudius Faventinus, you witness the full extent of the expedition through their eyes, from its hopeful if apprehensive start, all the way to its grim conclusion, and you will love every single second of it.

The narrative itself starts off as a classic Roman historical adventure, as it follows its protagonists down into Egypt. This early part of the book is very much focused on introducing the characters and setting the scene for the adventures to come, and the readers get some fun sights of Roman occupied Egypt, while also experiencing the initial hurdles of the expedition. However, once they leave Egypt and journey into land owned by the Kushites, Rome’s southern neighbour in Africa at the period, things start to unravel for them, as they come under attack, encounter greater setbacks, and are beset by bad omens.

The second half of the book sees the Romans enter unexplored territory and encounter the world beyond their known borders. The already tired and demoralised soldiers face a lengthy and grim trudge deeper into Africa, with things getting worse for them the further they get away from home. Trapped in their mission by their stubborn and seemingly unkillable commander, the book takes on a real Heart of Darkness vibe as their commander’s obsession drives them forward no matter the consequences. Things continue to get more and more desperate for the protagonists as they continue, and you are constantly on the edge of your seat waiting to see what disaster or intriguing new turn of events they are likely to stumble across next. After an increasingly tense series of events, Turney brings the reader to a deeply interesting and compelling conclusion, which fit the overall themes of obsession, insanity and a desire to survive perfectly. This ended up being an excellent and well-crafted standalone narrative, and I had such a brilliant time getting through this elaborate adventure.

Turney is probably one of the top current authors of Roman historical fiction, and he clearly had a lot of fun bringing this elaborate novel together through his great writing. Written as one continuous and compelling historical adventure, readers are really drawn into the epic tale of exploration and insanity that evolves, and Turney does a wonderful job of blending historical inclusions with a deep and powerful narrative. I think the author had the right elements of action, exploration, history and personal stories in Terra Incognita, and it’s hard not to get drawn into the constant adventure and the interaction with new obstacles and societies.

In addition to the well-written story, I really must highlight the excellent main characters of Terra Incognita, especially as you see the entire disastrous expedition through the eyes of the group’s two centurions, Sempronius Densus and Claudius Faventinus. Cast as the group’s sensible, disciplined and stubborn hearts, the two centurions doggedly lead their soldiers on, forced to serve as a buffer between the disgruntled Praetorian Guard, and their increasingly unhinged commander. While there sometimes isn’t a lot to distinguish between the two centurions, you grow attached to them, especially as they are forced into impossible situations time and time again and are compelled by duty to continue.

However, the best character in the book is easily the expedition’s leader, Tribune Lucius Curtius Lupus. An ambitious and regal figure, the tribune serves as a great foil to the sensible protagonists in the first half of the book, especially as his bluster, unreasonable orders and lack of common sense ensure that the centurions are forced to work against him to continue. However, once the Romans find themselves in the African wilds, the tribune really turns into a fantastic character. Due to a mixture of illness, pettiness and fear, the tribune becomes continuously more detached from the reality of the situation they are in and keeps dragging his mutinous soldiers further down into Africa. Absolutely driven by obsession, Lupus refuses to stop until Nero’s orders are fulfilled, no matter the cost to the troops, and every action forces his centurions to decide whether to support him or kill him. I loved the constant battle of duty and practicality that emerged, as the two centurion protagonists attempt to find their line in the sand against the tribune, only to allow him to make more bad decisions. It also proves quite amusing to see the continued tribulations that the tribune survives, so much so that his soldiers become to believe his mission is blessed by the gods. It’s hard not to both love and hate Tribune Lupus as the book unfolds, and I felt that Turney’s use of him was perfect, especially as there are some interesting parallels between him and a key figure from Heart of Darkness/Apocalypse Now.

Finally, I need to highlight the excellent historical inclusions featured within Terra Incognita. Turney does an outstanding job bringing the wild and uncharted territories of Africa to life through his excellent writing, and you are constantly envisioning the elaborate landscapes and intriguing people that the Romans may have encountered on this expedition. I also really appreciated how Turney utilised and expanded on details from the Roman historical records as well more modern understandings of the period in his story. The depiction of several different tribes, nations and kingdoms that likely existed along the Nile at that point in history was fascinating. I also enjoyed seeing how Turney envisioned the Roman’s reactions to the various crazy creatures, obstacles and unusual people they would have encountered, including crocodiles, hippopotamuses, and some of Africa’s more impassable terrain. These obstacles also led to some interesting solutions, and I particularly appreciated Turney’s idea for a potential malaria treatment/preventative. Throw in some great depictions of the Roman soldiers themselves, something the author has a lot of experience showcasing, and this was a great historical book with some unique features.

Terra Incognita was an outstanding standalone book from Simon Turney that provides readers with an awesome historical adventure. Fast-paced, addictive, and loaded with some fantastic intensity, especially around the great characters, Terra Incognita was an epic read that comes very highly recommended.

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Quick Review – The Youngest Son by John Byrnes

On October 7, 2024 By The Unseen LibraryIn Australian, Historical Fiction, Quick Review11 Comments

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia (Trade Paperback – 30 July 2024)

Series: Standalone

Length: 386 pages

My Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars

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Rising Australian author John Byrnes dives into a new genre with the fascinating and compelling historical fiction novel, The Youngest Son, which focuses an exciting and moving narrative around one damaged family.

Plot Synopsis:

On the unforgiving streets of 1920s Sydney, the Leach family have nothing but each other.

In a tale spanning decades, three children of the broken, working-class family find adventure, heartache and trouble as their lives drift apart.

John finds faith and love at a young age. The inevitable clash between the two leads him into a different kind of brotherhood as war clouds gather.

Maureen dreams of a life ‘just like the movies’ and waits to be swept off her feet. Yet at every crossroad, she makes the wrong choice.

Bob discovers a natural talent with his fists and an instinct for trouble. But with every win he earns the hard way, more enemies rise.

From police corruption and gambling dens to brothels and blood feuds, the Leach family toil in Sydney’s seedy underbelly and on battlefields far away. Against the backdrop of the Great Depression and the Second World War, The Youngest Son chronicles one family’s mesmerising fate in a grand saga and a masterclass in epic storytelling.

The Youngest Son was a fast-paced and addictive novel that cleverly followed the youngest members of a disadvantaged working class 1920s Sydney family through the highs and lows of early 20^th century Australian history. Byrnes, who really impressed me last year with his first novel, the gripping modern thriller Headland (one of my favourite debuts of 2023), did an outstanding job diving into the historical fiction genre, and I enjoyed the excellent and personal story that emerged.

The plot of The Youngest Son works very well, as Byrnes follows the varied lives of the three Leach children, John, Maureen and Bob, as well as a raft of other entertaining and complex characters. Starting in the 1920s and continuing towards the end of World War II, The Youngest Son’s narrative splits between each of these primary characters and follows the highs and lows of their lives. This includes the criminal activities of the youngest son, Bob, whose career fighting for Sydney’s criminal underbelly leads him into trouble time and time again. The oldest son, John, attempts to live a good life and join the church, but misfortune and deceit instead lead him towards the horrors of war. Finally, the daughter of the Leach family, Maureen, tries to find the excitement and glamour missing from her working-class life, but finds only heartbreak and bad decisions as she is constantly led along the wrong path in life. Each of these characters experience conflict, betrayal, and tragedy as they attempt to find their way in life, and it helps produce one hell of a story.

I really enjoy historical fiction books that follow the lives of multiple characters as they follow their own path amid the backdrop of real-life history, and it is a format that has served many authors, such as Ken Follett, Jeffrey Archer and Peter Watt extremely well over the years. Byrnes is another great author who perfectly utilised this story telling method, and I had a lot of fun getting to know the Leach family and their various friends and associates. The author pulls together a great layered narrative, and I loved the mixture of story elements that emerged, including personal stories of self-discovery, a gritty war narrative, and a continued dive into the criminal underbelly of Sydney during the 1930s and 40s. While all these major storylines are great in their own way, I personally found myself drawn more to Bob’s narrative, mainly because his dangerous dive into the world of underground boxing is full of excitement and action.

Each of the three main protagonists have intriguing journeys in their respective chapters, and I deeply enjoyed where each of their specific storylines go. All their story arcs have a great mixture of success, tragedy and self-discovery, and you grow attached to all of them as a result. The storylines also blend into a fantastic major narrative, and while for the most part they are kept separate from each other, they play off each other well, ensuring that readers get a good mixture of emotions and different experiences, as well as alternating character highs and lows. Byrnes also makes excellent use of the 1930s and 40s background setting throughout The Youngest Son, and the author ensures each character’s story cleverly evolves to face the various changes occurring around Sydney. The entire narrative goes in some interesting directions, and you willingly follow these characters wherever they end up, even if that leads you even deeper into tragedy.

While the three main characters are all entertaining in their own ways, I felt that the fourth perspective character Byrnes added in really helped to make The Youngest Son especially special. This fourth character is the villainous Vince, a cowardly street thug who makes a big impact on the Leach family’s lives in different ways. Vince proves to be a great recurring antagonist, and his slimy story of success blends in well with the alternating fortunes of the Leach children while also providing some real entertainment value. You really cannot help but dislike Vince as he succeeds, but you really can’t look away as he succeeds, especially as his various dastardly and snivelling interactions with the other characters, primarily Bob and Maureen, prove to be excellent bridges between these protagonist’s respective storylines. I really appreciate how Byrnes wove the story of Vince amongst the other major narrative threads of The Youngest Son, and the use of the excellent antagonist continuously moves the plot in the best direction, including with the big finale.

Overall, I felt that this was a great book from John Byrnes, who created an amazing and captivating novel with The Youngest Son. A slick and easy-to-read novel with some real heart that makes excellent use of its impressive character-driven narrative, historical setting, and engaging protagonists, The Youngest Son is an awesome book to get lost in, and it was fantastic to see how Byrnes has grown as an author.

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Quick Review – The Death of Dora Black by Lainie Anderson

On September 29, 2024 By The Unseen LibraryIn Australian, Historical Fiction, Murder Mystery, Quick Review5 Comments

Publisher: Hachette Australia (Trade Paperback – 28 August 2024)

Series: Petticoat Police Mystery – Book One

Length: 312 pages

My Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars

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Australian author Lainie Anderson presents a fun and compelling historical murder mystery that looks at a unique Australian historical figure with The Death of Dora Black.

Plot Synopsis:

Summer, Adelaide, 1917. The impeccably dressed Miss Kate Cocks might look more like a schoolmistress than a policewoman, but don’t let that fool you. She’s a household name, wrangling wayward husbands into repentance, seeing through deceptive clairvoyants, and rescuing young women (whether they like it or not) with the help of a five-foot cane and her sassy junior constable, Ethel Bromley.

When shop assistant Dora Black is found dead on a city beach, Miss Cocks and Ethel are ordered to stay out of the investigation and leave it to the men. But when Dora’s workmate goes missing soon after, the women suspect something sinister, and determine to take matters into their own hands. After all, who knows Adelaide better than the indomitable Miss Cocks?

*In 1915, Fanny Kate Boadicea Cocks became the first policewoman in the British Empire employed on the same salary as men. This novel is a rich exploration of that little-known chapter of Australian history.*

The Death of Dora Black was a particularly interesting and entertaining read from Lainie Anderson, who has struck upon a fascinating figure to set her book around. The first book in Anderson’s new Petticoat Policy Mystery series, The Death of Dora Black was a clever novel that blended the real-life history of the infamous Miss Kate Cocks with the author’s own crime fiction narrative.

Starting out in Adelaide, 1917, the book’s story sees formidable real-life police officer Miss Kate Cocks become embroiled in a deadly murder mystery when shop assistant Dora Black is found dead on the city’s beach. What follows is an excellent story that blends the historical exploits of Cocks, which included helping the needy of Adelaide in her own unique way and attempting to save the morality of the young women of the city with her cane, with a gritty informal murder investigation. This later investigation of course adds most of the meat to the story, as Cocks, and her junior constable Ethel Bromley, uncover a dark conspiracy of murder, drugs and kidnapping, with its roots deep in the heart of the city.

Anderson brings these disparate elements together into a fantastic overall read, and it was fascinating to see the more cozy and historical elements you would associate with Kate Cocks and her real-life actions blend with a darker murder plot. I felt that Anderson’s main murder mystery was very well set out, and the resulting investigation by two underestimated women got quite thrilling and exciting. There are some dark moments and intriguing twists featured throughout this plot, and Anderson produces a particularly powerful crime fiction narrative. The entire murder mystery and the investigative arc came together extremely well, and I really enjoyed seeing Anderson’s unique protagonists trying to solve the case in their own unique way. The background setting of Adelaide during World War I also added quite a lot to the narrative, and the author provided a complex and detailed recreation of the historical setting.

The real highlight of The Death of Dora Black was the intriguing main protagonists, Miss Kate Cocks and her junior constable Ethel Bromley. The two protagonists play off each other extremely well throughout the course of the novel, and the blend of personalities, with the strict but caring Kate and the sassy and exceedingly keen Ethel, proved to be a winning combination. Readers will particularly enjoy Anderson’s portrayal of Miss Kate Cocks in this book, especially as the author tried to capture all this unique figures’ quirks and historical reputation. Anderson, who is a major expert on Kate Cocks, paints her as a particularly complex and conflicted figure driven by her religious principals but also willing to do the moral choice and help anyone in need. It was fascinating to see Miss Cocks wander around historical Adeliade, distributing her moral judgement with her cane, while also solving problems no-one else can. Anderson succeeded in capturing various aspects of her occasionally controversial history, and I really appreciated the way in which she converted her into a fearsome crime-fighting force, capable of hunting down murderers and drug smugglers. The utilisation of this very distinctive figure helped to turn The Death of Dora Black into something very special, and I look forward to more exploits with Miss Kate Cocks in the future.

Overall, I felt that The Death of Dora Black was an amazing and highly entertaining novel from Lainie Anderson, who successfully brings her real-life historical protagonist to life and sets a wonderfully enjoyable crime fiction book around her. Clever, fascinating, and with a lot of crossover appeal to many different readers, The Death of Dora Black was a great book, and I had a ton of fun getting through it.

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The Last True Templar – Signed Copy

On September 24, 2024 By The Unseen LibraryIn Extras, Historical FictionLeave a comment

Recently, my fellow Canberra Weekly reviewer Jeff from the Murder Mayhem and Long Dogs blog had a wonderful time at Bouchercon 2024 in Nashville, where he was able to have fun with all things crime fiction. While there he was nice enough to pick me up a beautiful hardcover copy of The Last True Templar by Boyd and Beth Morrison. Readers of this blog may remember that I checked out The Last True Templar last year, and it proved to be an excellent historical adventure from this talented writing team.

While I would love having any hardcover copy of The Last True Templar, this one is extra special as Jeff also managed to track down Boyd Morrison at Bouchercon and got him to sign it for me. Boyd wrote in a very lovely message for me, which I can’t help but show off here.

Thanks to Jeff for the book and a special thanks to Boyd for the wonderful inscription, it was much appreciated. Remember to keep an eye out for Boyd and Beth’s next book, The White Fortress, coming out early in 2025.

King’s Enemy by Ian Ross

On September 22, 2024 By The Unseen LibraryIn Five-Star Books, Historical Fiction4 Comments

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton (Trade Paperback – 10 September 2024)

Series: De Norton Trilogy – Book Three

Length: 419 pages

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

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Ian Ross brings his exceptional De Norton historical fiction trilogy to an extremely strong end with the excellent and powerful third and final entry, King’s Enemy.

For the last year or so, I have been utterly enthralled with acclaimed historical fiction author Ian Ross’s latest series, the De Norton books. Following young squire and eventual knight, Adam de Norton, as he finds himself drawn into the 13^th century rebellion of Simon de Montford against the crown, the De Norton books are extremely compelling, and I love the blend of action, cool characters, and compelling historical setting. The first book in the series, Battle Song, was an outstanding read that expertly introduced the protagonist, as well as his unpredictable mentor, and showed how he became involved in the war on de Montford’s side. Battle Song ended up being one of my favourite books of 2023, and I eagerly dived into the sequel, War Cry, earlier this year. Set shortly after the events of Battle Song, War Cry worked to show the aftermath of de Montford’s major victory, and the subsequent royalist counter-rebellion, by following the newly knighted de Norton as he finds himself once again called to battle. War Cry was a very worthy sequel, and I loved how dark and grim it got in places, especially at the end. War Cry left the reader on a major cliffhanger, and as such I have been eagerly waiting to get my hands on the third and final book, King’s Enemy. One of my most anticipated books from the second half of 2024, King’s Enemy had an outstanding plot behind it that really got me excited.

England, 1265. It is two months after the infamous battle of Evesham, where knight Adam de Norton lost everything. The rebellious Simon de Montford lies dead on the field alongside de Norton’s mentor, Robert de Dunstanville. and the rest of their army, massacred by Prince Edward and his victorious army. Spared by the prince alongside a few other noble survivors, de Norton remains a prisoner of the crown in the grim castle of Beeston, with all his lands, wealth and honour stripped from him.

However, despite the crushing victory at Evesham, England is far from peaceful, as new rebellions begin against the king. Determined to take his fate into his own hands, de Norton makes good an escape from Beeston and becomes a fugitive from the crown. Branded a king’s enemy, a man who can be slain with impunity by those pursuing him, de Norton flees across England, alongside the recently widowed noblewoman Joane de Bohun, contending with royal troops and dangerous outlaws, desperate to find a cause to fight for. But when the promised new rebel army is swiftly beaten, de Norton and Joane are once again left without options.

Adam and Joane soon find their fates tied to that of the mightiest fortress in England, Kenilworth Castle, when they seek sanctuary there. The last castle holding out against the crown, Kenilworth is garrisoned by a motley band of rebels and knights, each with their own reasons for being there. Joining the defenders, Adam finds old friends and enemies within and without the castle walls, as he prepares to endure a lengthy siege. But as the months pass and the battle becomes more desperate, Adam must decide what is more important, the lives of those he loves or his knightly honour.

King’s Enemy was another outstanding novel from Ross, who brings his de Norton trilogy to brilliant end with this third book. Once again expertly focusing on a particularly intriguing part of English medieval history, Ross crafts together a powerful and intense narrative that will have you hooked the entire way through. King’s Enemy is an epic read that gets a full five-star rating from me.

Ross has come up with a fantastic story that I honestly could not turn away from. Starting shortly after the memorable cliffhanger of the second book in the trilogy, War Cry, King’s Enemy starts off with Adam de Norton in captivity, having lost everything. Ross does a great job capturing the initial despair of his protagonist before setting him off on a new adventure as he makes his escape from captivity. This results in a pretty good fugitive arc as Adam and his ill-fated main love interest, the recently widowed Joane de Bohun, attempt to find a new cause so that they may both recover their positions. This first half of the book is very fun and makes sure to set the scene for the rest of King’s Enemy. There is plenty of adventure, excitement, and even a surprising nod to classic Robin Hoods mythology, as the two protagonists head towards promised safety and a new army to fight with. However, as readers of the De Norton books will be aware, things rarely go well from the main character, and Ross adds in a major road-bump for him halfway through the plot that forces him towards his inevitable destiny at Kenilworth Castle.

The rest of King’s Enemy is essentially one big siege sequence, as Adam, Joane, and several surviving supporting characters, take refuge int the castle and attempt to hold off a massive besieging force belonging to the crown. This proved to be an exciting second half which really pushes the protagonists to the limit. I’m a huge fan of sieges in fiction, and I thought that this depiction of this infamous British siege was extremely good. Ross captures so many cool aspects of this siege with his writing, including the desperate defenders, the intense fighting, and the grinding impacts of time as the besiegers attempt to starve out the inhabitants of the castle. Things get really tense as the book continues, as Adam finds himself caught amid various big personalities, including an unstable fellow knight and other defenders seeking to gain advantage from their plight. There are some dark and deadly moments here, and Ross keeps the reader on the edge of their seat as Adam tries to determine the best course forward. Everything ends on an interesting note, as all the existing storylines are wrapped up, many figures, both fictional and historical, meet their fates, and the final chapter in the protagonist’s adventure and complex romantic life is revealed. I personally felt that Ross ended everything on a very strong note, and those readers who have become quite attached to the series will come away very satisfied.

I felt that Ross once again did a really good job of enhancing his captivating narrative with his great writing, and readers really get stuck into King’s Enemy as a result. The quick-paced flow of the story and the intense action really help to drag you in and go hand in hand with the great characters and intriguing historical setting. Ross does an outstanding job of showcasing the hard-hitting combat associated with historical knights, and all the intense action sequences are a joy to read. I also must once again highlight the cool siege that made up the second half of the book, and fans of fictional fighting will love some of the chaotic sequences that emerge there. There is also a strong emotional edge to the plot, as many of the main characters are desperate figures struggling in the aftermath of a devastating defeat and trying to find a path forward that balances their survival with their sense of honour. While King’s Enemy can be read as a standalone novel due to the excellent way Ross summarises some key prior events, readers really should check out the first two entries in the series first. The continuing character arcs, recurring themes, and excellent conclusion to long-running story elements, help to make King’s Enemy a lot more enjoyable for returning readers rather than interested newbies, and I was very invested in seeing how this story ended due to how much I had connected to the protagonist. I felt that Ross wrapped up this trilogy extremely well, and if you loved Battle Song and War Cry you will not be disappointed here.

As with the previous De Norton novels, one of the things that most impressed me about King’s Enemy was the intriguing historical events that Ross chose to set his story around. The 13^th century rebellion of Simon de Montford is one of England’s lesser-known civil wars, and I have been deeply enjoying seeing the events of this war unfold through the eyes of the protagonist. The first book did a wonderful job exploring the events leading up to the rebellion, as well as de Montford’s major victory that turned the whole country on its head, while the second book captured the chaotic instability that followed and the eventual end of the main rebellion. King’s Enemy continues in this vein by examining what occurred after de Montford’s death and defeat, with the country still unstable despite the crown’s victory. Ross does an excellent job of ensuring his protagonist is present for many of the key moments of this post-rebellion period, and you really get some good insights into these tumultuous events from the protagonist’s perspective. There is a great focus on the politics and society at the time, especially as major parts of the plot revolve around how the defeated knights and lords were treated. Ross also excelled at capturing the many key parts of the siege of Kenilworth Castle in the second part of King’s Enemy. The longest siege in English history, the battle for Kenilworth is a fascinating inclusion to the story, and I loved how Ross showcased it as the last stand for the desperate rebels. You really get a sense of the events leading up to, and surrounding the siege, and I loved how well Ross examined the motivations of the various defenders and why they kept fighting. All this proves to be an excellent background setting to Ross’s main story, and it was fascinating to find out how this entire civil war came to its end.

I also need to once again highlight the great characters that Ross has featured in this series, with some intriguing and moving character-based storylines sitting at the core of the plot. King’s Enemy is another great example of this as, while many key characters died at the end of the previous novel, it still features a strong cast of complex protagonists and supporting characters, including a mixture of original characters and historical figures. The most prominent of these is series protagonist and primary point of view character Adam de Norton, a former lowly squire who gained lands and a knighthood for his role in Simon de Montford’s rebellion. After gaining so much in the previous books, Adam starts King’s Enemy at his lowest, with most of his friends dead and everything he fought for lost. This places the protagonist in desperate circumstances, and he spends this entire book fighting with his back against the wall, literally and figuratively. Ross writes some moving storylines around Adam’s conflicted mind, as he is forced to balance his honour and loyalty with getting what he wants. I loved seeing the continued epic of Adam de Norton in King’s Enemy, as it proved impossible not to become attached to the scrappy and exceedingly honourable figure in the previous books. This proved to be a great final entry in Adam’s story, and Ross ensures that there is still plenty of suffering and conflict for his protagonist.

Other major characters I need to highlight include Adam’s main love interest, Joane de Bohun. Joane, a strong-willed survivor determined to survive and regain her lands, proves to be an interesting companion to Adam. The two share an intense and often contentious relationship, as Joane attempts to balance romantic feelings with her ambitions. Due to the desperate events of the book, Adam and Joane are finally able to express themselves to each other at times, although their differing goals often lead them into conflict. There is a real tragic romance angle going on between Adam and Joane in King’s Enemy that worked extremely well, especially with the other story elements, and it added a compelling extra layer to already impressive story.

The final character I really want to highlight was bold younger knight, Henry de Hastings, with whom Adam has many interesting encounters in King’s Enemy. A captured rebel like Adam, de Hastings seems to follow the protagonist around to all the major encounters of the book, and they become both comrades and rivals as a result. I really enjoyed how Ross portrayed de Hastings in this book, and you have to love the combination of arrogance, contempt and friendship that he gives towards the protagonist, which ensures that the reader finds him both insufferable and entertaining. De Hastings’s appearance in the book’s main siege also produces some memorable character changes as the knight becomes obsessed with winning and holding out against the enemy, so much so that he becomes a dangerous threat to the protagonist. There is a wonderfully written slide into darkness for this side character that I deeply enjoyed, and he ended up being a standout figure in King’s Enemy as a result. All these characters, and more, helped to turn King’s Enemy into something special, and it was amazing to see where many of these recuring figures ended up.

Overall, I found King’s Enemy to be an exceptional book that served as a brilliant and impressive conclusion to Ian Ross’s De Norton trilogy. Loaded with intense characters, fascinating history, and outstanding action, King’s Enemy had me hooked the entire way through and provides readers with a powerful end to a great historical series. A highly recommended read, you won’t be disappointed with this latest offering from Ross.

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Waiting on Wednesday – Warrior by Simon Turney

On August 28, 2024 By The Unseen LibraryIn Historical Fiction, Waiting on Wednesday3 Comments

Welcome to my weekly segment, Waiting on Wednesday, where I look at upcoming books that I am planning to order and review in the next few months and which I think I will really enjoy. Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them. In this latest entry to my Waiting on Wednesday series, I look at a cool upcoming historical fiction novel with Warrior by Simon Turney.

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This week I’m still in a massive historical fiction mood, and as I’ve mentioned a few times before, one of my favourite historical settings is the Roman empire. Due to its popularity and use in various media over the years, Roman historical fiction is one of the most prevalent historical fiction sub-genres, and there are some brilliant authors diving into various periods of Roman rule. One of my favourites is Simon Turney (who also writes as S. J. A Turney), who has written multiple cool books in this setting over the years, including the deeply compelling novel Commodus.

Earlier this year I became reacquainted with Turney again when I was lucky enough to receive a copy of his new book, Invader. The first book in his new Agricola series, Invader focused on the early career of the titular series protagonist, Gnaeus Julius Agricola, a man destined to become one of Rome’s greatest generals. Invader had a particularly fun narrative behind it which followed Agricola’s earliest exploits in Brittania, amid the start of Boudica’s revolt. This was an awesome book, and I had a ton of fun getting through it.

Due to how exciting and compelling Invader proved to be, I have been keeping an eye out for additional Agricola books, and I was excited to see that a sequel is coming out in early 2025, with Warrior. Continuing to follow the burgeoning career of the future general, Warrior sees Agricola forced to compete on a different battlefield of politics and royal influence, as the insanity of Nero works against him, and the Year of the Four Emperors begins. I love the sound of this cool upcoming book, and I am very curious to see how Turney envisions Agricola’s actions during this turbulent period of Roman history. I have no doubt Warrior is going to be a particularly impressive read, and I plan to dive into it the moment I get my hands on it. A fantastic, and highly anticipated upcoming read from an outstanding author.

Plot Synopsis:

The new thrilling Roman historical adventure in a series based around one of the most renowned and intriguing figures of Ancient Rome.

Agricola has won renown in the Roman army for his exploits in Britannia. Now returned to Rome with his new family, he seeks to rise further – but life in the greatest city on earth proves more difficult than he expected. The politics of Rome are on a knife-edge – often literally. The Emperor Nero is unpredictable, the manner of his rule unstable.

Agricola finds himself posted to the troublesome province of Asia Minor. The local governor is ambitious and dangerous… and has close family ties to Nero himself. Falling foul of such a man could mean certain death… and yet a rebellious young warrior like Agricola cannot stay silent for long.

With allies proving few and far between, Agricola experiences personal tragedy and soon seeks revenge. Rome, meanwhile, burns in a great fire… but further tumult is to come in the wake of Nero’s death. Agricola must tread a careful path to stay alive through the Year of the Four Emperors… a year of blood and ruin throughout the empire.

Waiting on Wednesday – The White Fortress by Boyd and Beth Morrison

On August 21, 2024 By The Unseen LibraryIn Historical Fiction, Thriller, Waiting on Wednesday6 Comments

Welcome to my weekly segment, Waiting on Wednesday, where I look at upcoming books that I am planning to order and review in the next few months and which I think I will really enjoy. Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them. For this latest Waiting on Wednesday, I highlight an awesome upcoming historical adventure novel with The White Fortress from the awesome writing team of Boyd and Beth Morrison.

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A couple of years ago I had the very great pleasure of the fantastic historical fiction novel, The Lawless Land. Written by the sibling team of historian Beth Morrison and established thriller author Boyd Morrison, The Lawless Land was an intriguing historical adventure novel that saw an excommunicated knight and a fugitive lady take on a corrupt cardinal in 14^th century Paris. The Lawless Land ended up being one of my favourite novels of 2022, and I really got caught up in its exciting and compelling story.

After the success of their first book, the authors expanded their narrative out into the Tales of the Lawless Land series, which continued to follow the protagonists from the first book as they get involved in additional conflicts and adventures. The first sequel to The Lawless Land was the 2023 release, The Last True Templar, which saw the protagonists enter into a thrilling treasure hunt around Italy to find a stash of missing Templar treasure. This was a pretty amazing sequel to the first book, and it solidified my love for this cool new series.

As such, I am very excited to finally have details about the third book in the series, The White Fortress. Continuing to follow the two protagonists as they journey around Europe, The White Fortress will see them involved in a series of historical hijinks in Croatia. Set for release in March 2025, this sounds really intriguing read and one I know I’m going to like.

Plot Synopsis:

Croatia, 1351. Daring knight Gerard Fox and his adventurous wife Willa, fresh from a dangerous quest across Italy and Greece, soon find themselves embroiled in a new intrigue as they sail toward the walled city of Dubrovnik.

Having inadvertently hindered a rescue mission, Fox and Willa make amends by helping a desperate Croatian couple forced into a terrible dilemma: either they betray their hometown to a treacherous nobleman and the brutal warlord he serves, or their abducted child will be murdered.

A century-old prophecy and a lost codex written by fabled explorer Marco Polo are key to stopping the warlord’s conquest, which could spark a devastating war along the entire Adriatic coast. Fox and Willa race against time to devise a plan for saving a child, a town, and a country – knowing it could cost them everything if they fail…

Unsurprisingly, I love the sound of this new historical adventure from the Morrison siblings, and I am very interested in the new plot they have come up with. It sounds like The White Fortress will follow the trends set out in The Last True Templar, with the protagonists helping a new group of supporting characters attempt to stop a deadly enemy by solving a historical mystery, this time around Marco Polo. This worked really well for The Last True Templar, and I imagine this historical thriller set-up will result in another intense treasure hunt throughout a great historical setting.

Speaking of historical settings, Croatia should be a particularly interesting background for this plot, and I am looking forward to seeing it, mainly because I don’t know a lot about Croatian history. The previous two Tales of the Lawless Land books were both loaded with historical detail about the settings, and I imagine that we will get some intriguing background in The White Fortress as well. All of this, as well as the continued focus on the fun pairing of Gerard and Willa, should make for quite an exciting and captivating narrative, and I am very excited to check it out.

Based on how much I enjoyed the previous two novels in this series, there was no way that I am not going to grab a copy of The White Fortress next year. The previous Tales of the Lawless Land books by Boyd and Beth Morrison have both been extremely good, and I cannot wait to see how this series continues. I really love the sound of this new entry, and I have a feeling that The White Fortress is going to be one of the best historical fiction books of 2025.

Quick Review – Song of the Samurai by C. A. Parker

On July 29, 2024 By The Unseen LibraryIn Historical Fiction, Quick Review3 Comments

Publisher: Running Wild Press (ebook – 7 May 2024)

Series: Standalone

Length: 283 pages

My Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars

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Intriguing new author C. A. Parker dives into an intriguing area of Japanese history with his debut novel, Song of the Samurai, a fantastic and deeply compelling historical read that I had a wonderful time getting through.

Fans of this blog will know that I have a lot of love for historical fiction, as it was one of the original genres that I started with as a book reviewer, and I still try to enjoy a range of great historical reads whenever I get the chance. I also have a lot of love for Japanese history due to some amazing personal travels as well as my long-running fandom of the Usagi Yojimbo comics by Stan Sakai. While there have been some very interesting Japanese historical fiction novels over the years (Child of Vengeance by David Kirk comes to mind), this setting doesn’t get utilised as some other historical backgrounds, which is a real shame when you consider just how awesome and complex the setting truly is. As such, when I came across Song of the Samurai, I couldn’t pass it up, as it sounded like such an intriguing read.

Plot Synopsis:

Japan, 1745, is a land under the iron grip of the Tokugawa shoguns. Roads are monitored, dissent stifled, and order maintained through blackmail and an extensive network of informers. Amid rumors of rebellion, Kurosawa Kinko– samurai and monk– is expelled in disgrace as the head music instructor of his Zen temple in Nagasaki. He begins an odyssey across Japan, dogged by agents and assassins from an unknown foe. Along his journey, Kinko encounters a compelling cast of merchants, ronin, courtesans, spies, warriors, hermits, and spirits, on a quest to redeem his honor. Inspired by the life of the historical Kurosawa Kinko (1710-1771), master of the shakuhachi flute and founder of the Kinko-ryu school, Song of the Samurai takes the reader on a richly-textured exploration of feudal Japan and the complexities of the human spirit.

Song of the Samurai is the debut novel of C. A. Parker and provides readers with a compelling and fascinating historical adventure that also utilises the author’s personal passions and passes on a heartfelt message about spirituality and self-determination.

The plot of Song of the Samurai is a fictionalised narrative of real-life historical figure Kurosawa Kinko, who is known for his teachings and spiritual journeys to learn the Japanese shakuhachi flute. Parker reimagines Kinko’s history somewhat by showing him as a young man who undertakes an extended pilgrimage from his original temple in Nagasaki all the way to the capital in Edo. Banished from his temple due to a romantic scandal, Kinko initially starts the journey in disgrace, but soon embraces his pilgrimage, learning more and more about the people of Japan. This ended up feeling like a bit of a quest narrative, and Parker throws in some fantastic side stories brought on by the multitude of intriguing and unique supporting characters the protagonist encounters along the way, including bandits, spies, courtesans, peasants, fellow monks and more.

While many of these side storylines don’t last too long, they do weave together into a compelling tapestry of events that aim to enhance Kinko’s personal journey. There is a particular focus on the spiritual, as Kinko begins to fully appreciate the significance of the shakuhachi and the music that he plays, as well as the many different people who make up the nation of Japan. I loved the impressive character development that surrounded the protagonist throughout this book, and the growth in spirit and attitude makes for a moving heart to this great narrative. Parker also works in a compelling recurring storyline about espionage and potential rebellion against the ruling Shogun family, as Kinko finds himself wandering the outskirts of dangerous actions. This part of the book adds in a little necessary excitement and action, and I think it balanced well with the historical and personal elements of the narrative. While I did think this espionage element could have been a stronger part of the plot, especially as it gets sidelined several times throughout Song of the Samurai, for the most part this was a particularly engrossing and captivating story, and one that I had had a fun time getting through.

As a huge admirer of Japanese history, I felt that Parker did an exceptional job of capturing the feel and impact of the setting throughout his narrative, and the many, many depictions of Feudal Japan was an impressive part of Song of the Samurai. Thanks to his wandering protagonist, Parker visits a ton of major cities and towns throughout Japan, and I loved the elaborate descriptions that were featured, especially as the author goes out of his way to cover some of the most intriguing parts of the country. I personally loved it when Kinko visited locations I have been to, and you can really feel the author’s love for the setting through his writing. Parker also makes sure to fit in a lot of discussion about key parts of Japanese history and mythology throughout the book, often included as part of a conversation or the protagonist’s thoughts. While some of these historical inclusions weren’t as organic as they could have been, for the most part I found them to be very fascinating, and they added some excellent context to the locations the protagonist visited.

Unsurprisingly when you consider the title of the book and the author’s passion for the shakuhachi flute, there is a huge focus on music in Song of the Samurai. The playing of the shakuhachi is a huge part of the protagonist’s identity as a monk and as a man, and the author really tries to capture Kinko’s love of the flute with his excellent writing. The many, many scenes of Kinko playing his music are some of the best parts of Song of the Samurai, and it allowed the author to showcase the protagonist’s spiritual connection to the music and provide him with new insights into the world around him, especially as he finds music in many different people and locations. The extended sequence where Kinko spent time learning music from a hermit monk on-top of the mountain was particularly fascinating, and I liked how moving those scenes came across. I felt that the author did an excellent job of readapting Kurosawa Kinko’s life story in the book by showcasing these early stages of his lifelong mission to collect and understand music, and you will come away from Song of the Samurai with a whole new appreciation for traditional Japanese music.

Overall, I felt that Song of the Samurai was an outstanding and intriguing debut novel from C. A. Parker, and one I was very glad I decided to check out. Featuring an outstanding historical story that blended great characters with unique locations, Song of the Samurai was an excellent read, and one of the more unique novels of 2024.

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Quick Review – Camino Ghosts by John Grisham

On July 20, 2024 By The Unseen LibraryIn Thriller5 Comments

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton (Trade Paperback – 28 May 2024)

Series: Camino Island – Book Three

Length: 292 pages

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Amazon

Iconic thriller author John Grisham returns with another excellent and compelling novel, Camino Ghosts, that takes the reader on an intriguing journey.

Grisham is another author I don’t really need to introduce. The mastermind behind so many classic best sellers, Grisham has been wowing audiences since the 1980s with fantastic and intricate tales. I myself have only reading Grisham in the last couple of years, with books like The Judge’s List, The Boys from Biloxi, Sparring Partners and The Exchange, leaving a big impression on me. As such, I was eager to try out Grisham’s latest novel, Camino Ghosts, especially as it had a great plot premise behind it. The third book in the author’s Camino Island series, Camino Ghosts was a fascinating book that I got quite attached to.

Plot Synopsis:

Following John Grisham’s international bestsellers, Camino Island and Camino Winds, Camino Ghosts is the story of an island off the Florida coast with a haunted, violent history and an uncertain future.

Dark Isle off the Florida coast is said to be cursed: drownings, disappearances and hauntings have been the fate of intruders. The people who lived there were once enslaved. Now abandoned, it is the target of greedy developers.

Lovely Jackson is the last survivor and claims to be its legal owner. But there is not a shred of evidence to prove that is true.

It’s unlikely that the developers will be deterred by the claims of one old woman. They have millions; Lovely only has Steve Mahon, a pro bono environmental lawyer, and Mercer Mann, a floundering novelist, to fight in her corner.

With the court case looming and the bulldozers waiting to roll in, Steve and Mercer are in a race against time to unearth the truth behind Lovely’s story and save the legacy of the island.

I really liked Camino Ghosts, which proved to be a very entertaining and unique novel that I had such a wonderful getting through. This was quite an interesting read, and Grisham came up with quite an unusual story that really appealed to me. Although billed as a thriller or legal thriller, Camino Ghosts honestly felt more like a comfy slice-of-life story to me that occasionally featured some legal thriller elements, as well as an outstanding historical fiction background.

As I mentioned above, Camino Ghosts is part of the Camino Islands series, and is once again primarily set on the fictitious Camino Island, home to an eclectic mixture of people, all bustling along on their island paradise. The series primarily focuses on recurring characters Mercer Mann, an idealistic novelist, and island bookseller Bruce Cable, new local figure Lovely Jackson, as well as a various other friends and inhabitants who come together as the story demands it. The latest book is essentially a standalone read with its own self-contained story, although readers can expect the same easy-going atmosphere that Grisham included in the previous Camino Island novels, as well as a few minor references to prior events.

The plot of Camino Ghosts revolves around a historically significant abandoned island that sits just off the main Camino Island, known to the locals as Dark Isle. The always entertaining Bruce provides Mercer with an interesting, self-published history of Dark Isle, and which Mercer decides to use as inspiration for her next book. Seeking out the author, Lovely Jackson, the last living inhabitant of the island, Mercer and Bruce soon get involved in Lovely’s battle to save Dark Isle from developers, which results in a lengthy legal battle. At the same time, the characters learn more and more about the unique history of Dark Isle, which served as a refuge for runaway slaves, and upon which a dark curse still apparently lingers.

This ended up being a sleek and captivating story that really drew me in. Grisham quickly sets the scene for the narrative, with the returning protagonists becoming aware of the history of Dark Isle before becoming invested in saving it from the property developers who want to destroy it. The main plot is very character driven, and it combines their actions in trying to document and save the island, with their day-to-day lives and interactions on Camino Island. There are quite a few interesting and memorable figures who get involved in the resulting case, which includes a mixture of returning figures from the previous books, as well as several great new characters. The entire story proceeds a fast and compelling pace, and soon you get stuck into the legal proceedings around the ownership of the island. While Grisham throws in some entertaining legal shenanigans and ploys, for the most part the main story comes across as a nice and comfy read, with a focus on character interactions and human interest. There is even a pretty fun ongoing discussion about the joys of writing novels/books and the complicated behind the scenes elements of securing publishing and getting paid for your work.

As the main story progresses, Grisham also throws in an entertaining historical fiction aspect to the plot, which I really enjoyed. Thanks to extracts from Lovely Jackson’s book, you come to learn the history of Dark Isle, and its intriguing role as a haven for escaped slaves, who formed their own community on the island. Grisham spreads these historical inclusions throughout the plot of Camino Ghosts, and they feature an intriguing array of narrative threads, which honestly are much darker than the main story of the book. Focusing on slavery, brutality and even some unconventional war down in Florida, the history of Dark Isle proves to be highly fascinating, and I honestly would have loved to see a whole book written about this fictious island. I really appreciated how these historical elements melded into the main plot of the story, and it gives some context to events happening as well as discussing the apparent curse haunting the island and causing issues for the antagonists. I felt that the shift in tones between the main plot and this dive into the past contrasted nicely against each other, and it allowed for a much more powerful read, especially as it allows the reader to fully appreciate the importance of saving Dark Isle and the connection Lovely Jackson has to the location.

This combination of story elements comes together into a satisfying and entertaining overarching narrative which honestly proves hard to put down. Thanks to both the relatable characters and intriguing history, you grow quite invested in the fight to save Dark Isle, and Grisham works in some exciting legal sequences to keep the reader on the edge of their seats. The story ends on a very satisfying, thoughtful note, and readers come away really engaged with the complex story the author was trying to tell. I really loved how deep and personal Camino Ghosts felt at times, and I honestly was surprised at how much I enjoyed this more comfortable storytelling from Grisham. As such, Camino Ghosts is a very highly recommended book that will appeal to a range of readers, especially those looking for a nice, easy to read novel with some unique twists to them.

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Waiting on Wednesday – Revenge of Rome by Simon Scarrow

On July 3, 2024 By The Unseen LibraryIn Historical Fiction, Waiting on Wednesday6 Comments

Welcome to my weekly segment, Waiting on Wednesday, where I look at upcoming books that I am planning to order and review in the next few months and which I think I will really enjoy. I run this segment in conjunction with the Can’t-Wait Wednesday meme that is currently running at Wishful Endings. Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them. In this week’s Waiting on Wednesday, I look at an awesome upcoming historical fiction novel from one of my favourite authors with Revenge of Rome by Simon Scarrow.

Revenge of Rome Cover

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Readers of this blog will no doubt be very familiar with my constant praise of Simon Scarrow and his exceptional historical fiction novels. An author who I have been a massive fan of for a very long time, Scarrow has written some amazing and varied pieces of historical fiction over the years, and I have made a real effort to read them all. His most iconic books are part of his long-running Eagles of the Empire series, which follow two veteran Roman soldiers through every major battlefield and conflict of their historical period. I have had a wonderful time with this series over the years, and readers can find reviews for several of the more recent entries, such as The Blood of Rome, Traitors of Rome, The Emperor’s Exile, The Honour of Rome, Death to the Emperor and Rebellion, on this blog.

While The Eagles of the Empire series is always very good, Scarrow has been on a particularly strong roll lately as he portrays the events of Boudica’s rebellion in exquisite and heartbreaking detail, covering all the evils done by both sides during the conflict. With his protagonists firmly in the middle of the action, books like Death to the Emperor and Rebellion have been some of the best entries in the series, and I loved the compelling and powerful narrative that Scarrow wove around these iconic events. However, the story of the rebellion and Boudica still isn’t over, and Scarrow looks to bring it to an intense end with the next novel in the series, Revenge of Rome.

Revenge of Rome will be the 23^rd book in the Eagles of the Empire series and will be set in the immediate aftermath of the big climatic battle that shattered Boudica’s army. This upcoming book will see protagonists Cato and Macro forced to chase after Boudica to get Rome’s revenge for the destruction the rebelling Britons wrought.

Plot Synopsis:

ROME AND BOUDICA. A DUEL TO THE DEATH.

AD 61. Britannia is divided.

The rebel horde has been defeated. But the leader, Boudica, and her remaining warriors are still at large. With them is the eagle standard of the Ninth Legion, taken in ambush, flaunted as proof that Rome can yet be beaten.

The embers of rebellion are still glowing . . .

The toll has been heavy, with countless men lost, and major towns in ruins. The bodies of the dead are strewn across the streets. And for Centurion Macro, there is the scarring knowledge that his mother perished in the attack on Londinium.

As Macro’s heart burns for revenge, he and his comrade-in-arms Prefect Cato are tasked with hunting down the remnants of the enemy army. There can be no peace until the queen is captured or killed. And Roman honour will only be restored when the eagle standard has been recovered.

I have been very much looking forward to this new Eagles of the Empire book ever since I read the last gripping page of the preceding novel Rebellion, especially as Scarrow left several powerful storylines unfinished. It looks like many of these plot points are going to be resolved in Revenge of Rome, as Cato and Macro try to hunt down Boudica and either capture or kill her. I love the idea of this story concept for the new book, especially as it likely to result in a lot of epic moments. Not only will be get some more intense action as the remaining Roman units attempt to bring the remaining rebels to heel, but it also looks like we are going to get a powerful look at the traumatic aftermath of the destruction caused by the latest conflict.

This will no doubt lead to some dark and captivating character moments, especially for the character of Macro, who lost his mother, friends and hope of a quiet retirement due to the rebellion he unintentionally helped start. I cannot wait to see how Macro’s character arc unfolds in Revenge of Rome, especially as Scarrow has built up so many different connections to Boudica in recent books. I have no doubt the inevitable confrontation between Macro and Boudica is going to be something extremely dramatic, as there is plenty of enmity and guilt on both sides, and it will be very interesting to see how certain issues between the two are decided. I think that these character elements will make Revenge of Rome one of the most emotionally charged novels in the entire Eagles of the Empire series and I cannot wait to see it all unfold.

Revenge of Rome was always going to be very high on my to-read list, as this any Scarrow novel is an instant get more me. However, I am very invested in seeing how the current Eagles of the Empire storyline continues in Revenge of Rome, especially some of the compelling character elements that Scarrow has been cleverly building up in the last couple of books. Sure to feature a ton of conflict, personal trauma, and dramatic interactions, Revenge of Rome is going to be an awesome read, and it is already one of my most anticipated novels for the second half of 2024.