Rebellion (Eagles Of Empire Book 22) by Simon Scarrow

 

Rebellion (Eagles of Empire Book 22) by Simon Scarrow.

Published 9th November 2023 by Headline.

From the cover of the book:

AD 60. Britannia is in turmoil. The rebel leader Boudica has tasted victory, against a force of tough veterans in Camulodunum.

Alerted to the rapidly spreading uprising, Governor Suetonius leads his army towards endangered Londinium with a mounted escort, led by Prefect Cato. Soon it's terrifyingly clear that Britannia is slipping into chaos and panic, with ever more tribal warriors swelling Boudica's ranks. And Cato and Suetonius are grimly aware that little preparation has been made to withstand a full-scale rebellion.

In Londinium there is devastating news. Centurion Macro is amongst those unaccounted for after the massacre at Camulodunum. Has Cato's comrade and friend made his last stand?

Facing disaster, Cato prepares his next move. Dare he hope that Macro - battle-scarred and fearless - has escaped the bloodthirsty rebels? For there is only one man Cato trusts by his side as he faces the military campaign of his life. And the future of the Empire in Britannia hangs in the balance.

***********

AD 60. The Roman province of Britannia is in chaos. Boudica's warrior horde, emboldened by a surprise victory at Camulodunum, is gaining numbers from other tribes looking to overthrow their Roman overlords... and Londinium is their next target.

Governor Suetonius has been caught off guard by the strength of Boudica's force, and must now race to Londinium with a mounted escort led by Prefect Cato, fully aware that they have little hope of standing against a rebellion on this scale, even if the army following in their wake reaches the city in time. As Suetonius, Cato and their small escort fight their way across country, Cato's worries are increased by his concern for his family in Londinium - and his fears that his old friend Macro may have finally fought his last battle in Camulodunum. What lies in store for this troublesome outpost of the Empire?

Following on closely from the events of the previous Eagles of Empire book, Death to the Emperor, this novel drops Cato and Macro into a Britannia not only in open rebellion, but in a time when it seems the days of Roman rule may be coming to an end... and it starts very much as it means to go on, with a fierce battle to get the blood pumping!

There are some parts of this story that I really cannot talk about, due the the fear of spoilers, but the action mostly follows Cato as he accompanies Governor Suetonius in a desperate mission to get to Londinium before the rebels, what happens when they arrive in the city, and the turbulent events that follow. It is full of atmosphere and gritty scenes that have you standing shoulder to shoulder with the characters, with gripping combat sequences, and fascinating detail of the military and political workings of the Roman army. Scarrow does an excellent job of weaving in delicious threads that delve into all the in-fighting, pillaging, and general mayhem that come with war too, as well as the emotional heft of storylines around friends, loved ones, and thoughts of home. It is a compelling combination that keeps you fully immersed in time and place, and totally invested in every aspect of the story - whether it be the difficulties that come with ruling an empire from Roman side of the equation, or the fall-out from the injustices visited on the native people chafing under the yoke of an unwelcome conqueror. It is not an easy balance to pull off, but Scarrow manages this well, and to thought provoking effect.

Although this is the first of the Cato and Macro books I have read, I felt an immediate connection with the characters, and had no trouble following the story through the Roman landscape of Britannia. In fact, I found myself carried along on an entertaining tide from the knockout beginning right to the cracking ending that promises an intriguing next instalment, which really surprised me since it is the twenty-second book in the series. This comes with all the period piece bells and whistles you could want from a Roman adventure that blends fact and fiction together, and I cannot wait to delve into the other books in the Eagles of Empire series!

Rebellion is available to buy now in hardcover, ebook and audio formats.

Thank you to Headline for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review, and to Ransom PR for inviting me to be part of this blog tour.

About the author:

Simon Scarrow is a Sunday Times No. 1 bestselling author. His books - which have sold over 5 million copies - include his Eagles of the Empire novels featuring Roman soldiers Macro and Cato, most recently DEATH TO THE EMPEROR, THE HONOUR OF ROME, THE EMPEROR'S EXILE and TRAITORS OF ROME, as well as DEAD OF NIGHT and BLACKOUT, the first two novels in the Criminal Inspector Schenke thriller series, and many more.