The Silver Eagle
The Silver Eagle, the second in a trilogy, picks up from where the earlier book, The Forgotten Legion, left off. Ten thousand legionaries are now captives of the Parthians, of whom Romulus, Tarquinius the soothsayer and Brennus the ex-gladiator are three of the survivors. Back in Rome, Fabiola, Romulus’ twin sister who was sold into a brothel aged just thirteen, and who subsequently became the lover of Brutus (now in Gaul with Julius Caesar), finds that she, too, must leave Rome and travel to Gaul to find him.
Based around events which finally led to the downfall of the Roman empire and around many of the people who actually lived, worked and fought in the 1st century BC, this book is one of the best I have read on this period. It is full of action with just enough explanation, description, to inform the reader without falling into the trap of producing long, boring tracts. The characters live and breathe – the noise, smell, desperation, moments of joy are all there, and the pages turn themselves.
I simply could not put this book down and feel compelled to read the first book. I also look forward in great anticipation to reading the third. Highly recommended.
