Defender of the Wall: Dragon of the North trilogy, Book 1
As the fourth century wanes, Roman-occupied Britain maintains an uneasy peace with the Votadini tribe north of Hadrian’s Wall—in part, because the tribe’s prince, Cunedag, is being fostered by a Roman governor of Britannia Secunda. By 398 AD, twenty-year old Cunedag is a Romanized cavalry officer stationed along the Wall. Torn between his allegiance to Rome and the desire to reunite with his family in Din Eidyn (Edinburgh), he vows to never forget his culture or homeland. His victories against barbarian invaders firmly establish him as a military leader of courage and resourcefulness. But Roman rule in Britain is beginning to unravel. And a massive rebellion of Picts is sweeping southward. Now Cunedag must make some momentous decisions that will transform his life forever, and define his legacy for generations to come.
With an abundance of battlefield action woven into the narrative, Defender of the Wall introduces readers to this wildly turbulent period of British history. Cunedag’s character is nicely developed as a fierce and loyal commander with some inner conflicts—he is, after all, Votadini-born but raised as a Roman. Although only a few details are known of his life, genealogies, poems and legends suggest Cunedag was a formidable warrior king—as he’s portrayed in the book’s prologue. A few more details about Hadrian’s Wall and the everyday life of those who lived in its shadow might have added an extra layer of local color to all the tumultuous goings-on. However, a map and glossary of place names made it easy to visualize where events take place, and a plot full of twists-and-turns kept me madly turning pages.
An intriguing and engaging military novel that’s brimming with history, legend, and loads of adventure.
