What do you think?
Rate this book
Agricola #2
Warrior
SIMON TURNEY'S THRILLING NEW ROMAN EMPIRE NOVEL
COMMANDER
AVAILABLE NOW!
A thrilling Roman historical adventure in a series based around one of the most renowned and intriguing figures of Ancient Rome.
In Nero's Rome, ambition is a dangerous thing...
Agricola has won renown for his military 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. Roman politics are on a knife-edge - often literally. The Emperor Nero is unpredictable, the manner of his rule unstable.
Agricola soon finds himself posted to the troublesome province of Asia Minor. The local governor is ambitious and dangerous. Falling foul of such a man could mean certain death... and yet a rebellious young warrior like Agricola cannot stay silent for long.
When Agricola experiences personal tragedy, he 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.
'You should be reading Simon Turney.' Anthony Riches
A thrilling Roman historical adventure in a series based around one of the most renowned and intriguing figures of Ancient Rome.
In Nero's Rome, ambition is a dangerous thing...
Agricola has won renown for his military 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. Roman politics are on a knife-edge - often literally. The Emperor Nero is unpredictable, the manner of his rule unstable.
Agricola soon finds himself posted to the troublesome province of Asia Minor. The local governor is ambitious and dangerous. Falling foul of such a man could mean certain death... and yet a rebellious young warrior like Agricola cannot stay silent for long.
When Agricola experiences personal tragedy, he 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.
'You should be reading Simon Turney.' Anthony Riches
381 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 13, 2025
168 people are currently reading
95 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
March 10, 2025
Warrior is the second book in what is now to be a four book series about the renowned Roman soldier and statesman, Agricola. I really enjoyed the first book, Invader, and the third book, Commander, is due out in December.
Agricola is back in Rome seeking advancement, a task that requires acquiring the patronage of influential men. That’s not easy when Rome is a place of division and competing factions as the Emperor Nero’s actions become increasingly crazed. When Agricola does land the position of quaestor (for which read auditor) in the province of Asia Minor he finds himself taking a prinicipled stance against its self-serving Governor, Otho Titianus. Unfortunately, he’s made a dangerous enemy whose desire for revenge will threaten Agricola’s family and livelihood in the years to come.
Soon, however, the tide turns against Nero but without a successor it becomes a free-for-all amongst those who have ambitions to become Emperor, and changing sides becomes not just a frequent occurrence but something of an art form. Agricola makes his choice and with his friend, the Silurian warrior Luci – no longer a slave but a freedman – he finds himself back in the fray as civil war erupts.
It wouldn’t be a Simon Turney book without some exciting battle scenes and Warrior doesn’t disappoint. Particularly striking is the hour by hour description of the Second Battle of Bedriacum which thrillingly depicts the ebb and flow of battle, and in which even the moonlight plays a role. It’s brutal stuff. ‘Hours of periodic mincing and grinding of human flesh into the machinery of empire. Six hours of bloodied rags and broken bones and curses and oaths at a distance, only to begin the cycle again with the roar of the name of the emperor who, in both cases, was nowhere near the battle.’ (By the way, the author describes this as the most interesting battle he’s written about. It was a pivotal moment in the civil war and paved the way for Vespasian to become Emperor.)
The author’s Historical Note demonstrates the depth of research that has gone into the book. It involves navigating the different versions of events in the historical sources and filling in the inevitable gaps with a combination of immense knowledge of the period, informed speculation and a healthy dose of writer’s imagination. The story may be shot through with historical detail but it doesn’t make it any less of a page-turner. And you learn such interesting things along the way, such as the fact that having children could give a man a boost up the career ladder.
Warrior is a thrilling story of vaunting ambition, personal vendettas and treachery set against the backdrop of a turbulent year in the history of Rome. What’s next for Agricola as he returns to Britannia? We’re promised ‘a legion in revolt, an island torn apart by war and a governor struggling to control it’. Like Agricola, I can hardly wait.
Agricola is back in Rome seeking advancement, a task that requires acquiring the patronage of influential men. That’s not easy when Rome is a place of division and competing factions as the Emperor Nero’s actions become increasingly crazed. When Agricola does land the position of quaestor (for which read auditor) in the province of Asia Minor he finds himself taking a prinicipled stance against its self-serving Governor, Otho Titianus. Unfortunately, he’s made a dangerous enemy whose desire for revenge will threaten Agricola’s family and livelihood in the years to come.
Soon, however, the tide turns against Nero but without a successor it becomes a free-for-all amongst those who have ambitions to become Emperor, and changing sides becomes not just a frequent occurrence but something of an art form. Agricola makes his choice and with his friend, the Silurian warrior Luci – no longer a slave but a freedman – he finds himself back in the fray as civil war erupts.
It wouldn’t be a Simon Turney book without some exciting battle scenes and Warrior doesn’t disappoint. Particularly striking is the hour by hour description of the Second Battle of Bedriacum which thrillingly depicts the ebb and flow of battle, and in which even the moonlight plays a role. It’s brutal stuff. ‘Hours of periodic mincing and grinding of human flesh into the machinery of empire. Six hours of bloodied rags and broken bones and curses and oaths at a distance, only to begin the cycle again with the roar of the name of the emperor who, in both cases, was nowhere near the battle.’ (By the way, the author describes this as the most interesting battle he’s written about. It was a pivotal moment in the civil war and paved the way for Vespasian to become Emperor.)
The author’s Historical Note demonstrates the depth of research that has gone into the book. It involves navigating the different versions of events in the historical sources and filling in the inevitable gaps with a combination of immense knowledge of the period, informed speculation and a healthy dose of writer’s imagination. The story may be shot through with historical detail but it doesn’t make it any less of a page-turner. And you learn such interesting things along the way, such as the fact that having children could give a man a boost up the career ladder.
Warrior is a thrilling story of vaunting ambition, personal vendettas and treachery set against the backdrop of a turbulent year in the history of Rome. What’s next for Agricola as he returns to Britannia? We’re promised ‘a legion in revolt, an island torn apart by war and a governor struggling to control it’. Like Agricola, I can hardly wait.
April 8, 2025
Halfway through the first volume of this new exciting series, I was already up for the second. So here is my enthusiastic review for "Agricola, warrior".
Get me started off on Ancient Rome - a topic I'm so steamy about - and I can easily talk twenty to the dozen. So, well aware of this little idiosyncrasy of mine, I promise I'll make it short this time.
This book can be read independently from the first one. True to form, Turney keeps up with his talent for crafting compelling historical fiction.
In my opinion, the subtitle may prove somehow misleading: Agricola is two thirds of the time not on the battlefield. He is dipping a cautious finger into the political cauldron of Rome. So why "warrior"? In fact, it becomes clear later on in the unfolding of the events, and more to the point, Turney sheds light on this in his compelling historical note. Anyway, those who like their fair share of epic battles of old -I must say, though, I prefer by far the political twists and turns- won't be disappointed. Agricola has not burnt his finger so much so that he can't hold his gladius again!
Bearing in mind that this is a novel, not a scholarly biography, here is my own editing, because as it happens, I'm afraid no writer is perfect!
1. Page 39: "the toga with the purple border" mentioned by Turney is known as the "toga praetexta". It can only be worn by curule magistrates (and the Emperor, needless to say). In other words, being a quaestor, Agricola is simply not entitled to it. Freeborn boys before coming of age wear the toga praetexta as well.
2. I'd rather the word "volcano" was avoided, as at the time, the Romans have absolutely no idea whatsoever what a volcano is. It will be a little clearer to them in 79 AD when they realize that Mount Vesuvius is actually not your average mount... By the way, volcano derives from Vulcan, the Roman god of fire and metalworking.
3. Page 53 (and too many following pages!): There is at the time no week whatsoever in the Roman calendar, made up of days and months only.
4. Page 74: "Augustus [...] had founded the fire-fighting teams city-wide [...]". To be perfectly honest, in 19 BC, Augustus became consul for life (and censor for five years), and no one else but him could from then on be called Imperator. While he was on some official visit in the East, Marcus Egnatus Rufus took it upon himself to run for a consulship on his own volition. The man was very popular as he had turned his team of slaves into an efficient fire brigade dedicated to the people of Rome. That of course didn't go down well with Augustus, who had the cheeky contender executed, and then set up his own famous 7,000 vigiles. Never a good idea to rub up against Augustus!
5. Page 99: Last time ever for proscription in Rome was in 43 BC, when Octavian, Antony and Lepidus set up their triumvirate. Among the famous victims was Cicero. There was no proscription in 69 AD.
Get me started off on Ancient Rome - a topic I'm so steamy about - and I can easily talk twenty to the dozen. So, well aware of this little idiosyncrasy of mine, I promise I'll make it short this time.
This book can be read independently from the first one. True to form, Turney keeps up with his talent for crafting compelling historical fiction.
In my opinion, the subtitle may prove somehow misleading: Agricola is two thirds of the time not on the battlefield. He is dipping a cautious finger into the political cauldron of Rome. So why "warrior"? In fact, it becomes clear later on in the unfolding of the events, and more to the point, Turney sheds light on this in his compelling historical note. Anyway, those who like their fair share of epic battles of old -I must say, though, I prefer by far the political twists and turns- won't be disappointed. Agricola has not burnt his finger so much so that he can't hold his gladius again!
Bearing in mind that this is a novel, not a scholarly biography, here is my own editing, because as it happens, I'm afraid no writer is perfect!
1. Page 39: "the toga with the purple border" mentioned by Turney is known as the "toga praetexta". It can only be worn by curule magistrates (and the Emperor, needless to say). In other words, being a quaestor, Agricola is simply not entitled to it. Freeborn boys before coming of age wear the toga praetexta as well.
2. I'd rather the word "volcano" was avoided, as at the time, the Romans have absolutely no idea whatsoever what a volcano is. It will be a little clearer to them in 79 AD when they realize that Mount Vesuvius is actually not your average mount... By the way, volcano derives from Vulcan, the Roman god of fire and metalworking.
3. Page 53 (and too many following pages!): There is at the time no week whatsoever in the Roman calendar, made up of days and months only.
4. Page 74: "Augustus [...] had founded the fire-fighting teams city-wide [...]". To be perfectly honest, in 19 BC, Augustus became consul for life (and censor for five years), and no one else but him could from then on be called Imperator. While he was on some official visit in the East, Marcus Egnatus Rufus took it upon himself to run for a consulship on his own volition. The man was very popular as he had turned his team of slaves into an efficient fire brigade dedicated to the people of Rome. That of course didn't go down well with Augustus, who had the cheeky contender executed, and then set up his own famous 7,000 vigiles. Never a good idea to rub up against Augustus!
5. Page 99: Last time ever for proscription in Rome was in 43 BC, when Octavian, Antony and Lepidus set up their triumvirate. Among the famous victims was Cicero. There was no proscription in 69 AD.
February 14, 2025
This second book in the series see Agricola back in Rome with a growing family, before being sent out to Asia Minor. The province is currently under the control of Otho Titianus who turns out to be venal & corrupt but with the ear of the Emperor via his brother. Agricola has to decide what kind of man he is - will he follow his dead father's lead & stand up to corruption?
His decision will reverberate through the next few years as he returns to Rome. Nero's power is fading but his removal will provoke a power struggle between the legions & the 'Year of the Four Emperors'. No longer fighting those outside the Empire, Roman soldiers will face each other on the field of battle.
Wow, what a follow-up to the first book. I really enjoyed this one as I love the machinations & (literal) backstabbing of Roman politics & there was plenty of skulduggery thanks to the Otho brothers. Agricola is learning patience & the value of leaving the field to fight another day, still with manumitted Luci (now Lucius Julius) at his side. The story also has plenty of action even if I could do without the horses being injured in battle. Apparently there will be a third book in the series - bring it on I say! 4.5 stars (rounded down)
TWs: slavery, battle scenes, death, injury, animal death.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Head of Zeus/Aries Fiction, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
His decision will reverberate through the next few years as he returns to Rome. Nero's power is fading but his removal will provoke a power struggle between the legions & the 'Year of the Four Emperors'. No longer fighting those outside the Empire, Roman soldiers will face each other on the field of battle.
Wow, what a follow-up to the first book. I really enjoyed this one as I love the machinations & (literal) backstabbing of Roman politics & there was plenty of skulduggery thanks to the Otho brothers. Agricola is learning patience & the value of leaving the field to fight another day, still with manumitted Luci (now Lucius Julius) at his side. The story also has plenty of action even if I could do without the horses being injured in battle. Apparently there will be a third book in the series - bring it on I say! 4.5 stars (rounded down)
TWs: slavery, battle scenes, death, injury, animal death.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Head of Zeus/Aries Fiction, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
April 24, 2025
Another good read, this time we follow Agricola through the turbulent years of Nero and the rise of the 4 Emperors. Enjoyed the action and the political bickering, however I did receive the impression at times that the story got a backseat and it felt a bit dry and more like a non-fiction entry.
That is not necessarily a bad thing, it was quite interesting, but I read fiction for an exciting story and the dry parts interrupted the general pacing and flow of the story. Hence 4/5.
That is not necessarily a bad thing, it was quite interesting, but I read fiction for an exciting story and the dry parts interrupted the general pacing and flow of the story. Hence 4/5.
April 2, 2025
I shouldn’t have requested this book: I went through a life phase where I binged on Roman warfare stories and then stopped and never went back. Until I saw this advertised on Netgalley. My interest was piqued and I felt I was ready for the genre again. I found the book quite generic to the genre and disliked the main character. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.
February 3, 2025
“Agricola: Warrior,” Simon Turney's second novel about Gnaeus Julius Agricola, tracks one man's rise during Rome's collapse. As Nero's reign crumbles and four emperors battle for power, Agricola navigates between survival and principle.
When the Great Fire devours Rome, when conspirators plot against Nero, when civil war erupts, Agricola must choose sides. Each historical crisis forces him to weigh ambition against honor and personal loyalty against political advantage.
Politics teaches Agricola what battlefields could not. Through him, we see power erode character ideals and bow to necessity. Yet, Agricola charts a different course in his defiance of corrupt governors and his unlikely friendship with Luci, a formerly enslaved British person. His wife Domitia matches political cunning with moral purpose, turning the constraints of her gender into tactical advantages.
Turney's precise prose serves both history and story. His battle scenes capture the chaos and brutality of Roman warfare while maintaining tactical clarity. At the Second Battle of Bedriacum, he balances the strategic movements of armies with visceral details of combat. Readers experience the commander's view of troop deployments and the soldier's terror on the front lines. The military segments show how battles turn on tactical decisions and individual acts of courage or desperation. Beyond the clashing of armies, Turney reveals the exhaustion of long marches, the challenge of maintaining supply lines, and the bonds formed between soldiers. The violence of political ambition proves as devastating as any battlefield defeat.
The moral terrain of imperial Rome emerges in sharp relief through Agricola's experiences in Asia and his confrontations with corruption. Questions of power, justice, and responsibility play out in choices that reshape careers and kingdoms. Political schemes that could feel distant instead cut to the core of human nature and leadership.
Turney makes complex Roman politics accessible without oversimplifying. His straightforward, purposeful storytelling and well-paced narrative turn potential confusion—shifting loyalties, political schemes, and military campaigns—into compelling drama. Even readers unfamiliar with the period will be caught up in Agricola's story.
“Agricola: Warrior” reconstructs not just the political and personal realities of imperial Rome but the timeless challenge of maintaining principle in a world that rewards compromise. Turney demonstrates how historical fiction can illuminate the past and present without compromising.
This review is of an advance reader copy provided by NetGalley and Head of Zeus. It is currently scheduled for release on February 13, 2025.
When the Great Fire devours Rome, when conspirators plot against Nero, when civil war erupts, Agricola must choose sides. Each historical crisis forces him to weigh ambition against honor and personal loyalty against political advantage.
Politics teaches Agricola what battlefields could not. Through him, we see power erode character ideals and bow to necessity. Yet, Agricola charts a different course in his defiance of corrupt governors and his unlikely friendship with Luci, a formerly enslaved British person. His wife Domitia matches political cunning with moral purpose, turning the constraints of her gender into tactical advantages.
Turney's precise prose serves both history and story. His battle scenes capture the chaos and brutality of Roman warfare while maintaining tactical clarity. At the Second Battle of Bedriacum, he balances the strategic movements of armies with visceral details of combat. Readers experience the commander's view of troop deployments and the soldier's terror on the front lines. The military segments show how battles turn on tactical decisions and individual acts of courage or desperation. Beyond the clashing of armies, Turney reveals the exhaustion of long marches, the challenge of maintaining supply lines, and the bonds formed between soldiers. The violence of political ambition proves as devastating as any battlefield defeat.
The moral terrain of imperial Rome emerges in sharp relief through Agricola's experiences in Asia and his confrontations with corruption. Questions of power, justice, and responsibility play out in choices that reshape careers and kingdoms. Political schemes that could feel distant instead cut to the core of human nature and leadership.
Turney makes complex Roman politics accessible without oversimplifying. His straightforward, purposeful storytelling and well-paced narrative turn potential confusion—shifting loyalties, political schemes, and military campaigns—into compelling drama. Even readers unfamiliar with the period will be caught up in Agricola's story.
“Agricola: Warrior” reconstructs not just the political and personal realities of imperial Rome but the timeless challenge of maintaining principle in a world that rewards compromise. Turney demonstrates how historical fiction can illuminate the past and present without compromising.
This review is of an advance reader copy provided by NetGalley and Head of Zeus. It is currently scheduled for release on February 13, 2025.
February 6, 2025
Agricola is back in Rome after his successful time in Britannia, he now wants to advance his career in the greatest city in the world, but Rome is a different battlefield from what he’s used. So when he gets a post in the troublesome Asia Minor he has high expectations.
It’s not too long before he realises how corrupt the place is and decides to challenge the person in charge. This creates a difficult situation for him and his life takes a turn for the worse, and at the same time he gains a mortal enemy.
All of this is a start to what turns out to be the beginning of the most dangerous period of his life.
Rome is in utter chaos, and in the space of a year there will four different emperors and Rome will be changed forever.
Agricola must tread carefully if he is to survive. He will have to use all his guile, wits and warrior abilities to prevail.
This is the second book in the Agricola series and it’s stunning, truly stunning.
I’ve read a lot of books about the year of the of the four emperors and this one is as good as any of them, maybe better.
Simon Turney is wonderful at putting a different perspective on a period of history, one that is authentic and sincere. I personally think he one of the finest historical fiction writers around and this novel is a perfect example of his marvellous talent.
It’s not too long before he realises how corrupt the place is and decides to challenge the person in charge. This creates a difficult situation for him and his life takes a turn for the worse, and at the same time he gains a mortal enemy.
All of this is a start to what turns out to be the beginning of the most dangerous period of his life.
Rome is in utter chaos, and in the space of a year there will four different emperors and Rome will be changed forever.
Agricola must tread carefully if he is to survive. He will have to use all his guile, wits and warrior abilities to prevail.
This is the second book in the Agricola series and it’s stunning, truly stunning.
I’ve read a lot of books about the year of the of the four emperors and this one is as good as any of them, maybe better.
Simon Turney is wonderful at putting a different perspective on a period of history, one that is authentic and sincere. I personally think he one of the finest historical fiction writers around and this novel is a perfect example of his marvellous talent.
May 14, 2025
This is the second part of what I understand will be a 4-part series, covering and fictionalising the life of esteemed Roman general Agricola.
Agricola is now back in Rome after excelling in military conflict in Britannia. He has a new family but. remains ambitious for advancement. Rome, however, is in a state of anxiety with the Emperor Nero in a highly unpredictable state – no-one is safe.
Agricola finds himself appointed to the role of Quaestor (i.e. auditor) in the province of Asia. He soon discovers the governor is deeply corrupt and expects Agricola to support his habit. Agricola refuses to comply and makes a serious enemy. Life becomes difficult for Agricola and his family, both locally and back in Rome where he is eventually posted. This becomes the Year of the Four Emperors – a year in which blood is spilt is Rome and more widely across the empire.
A key theme running through the book is Agricola trying to navigate the treacherous waters of Roman politics, in part to stay alive against powerful enemies, but also to ensure he remains on the right side of the rapid changes in Emperor.
Another very exciting and interesting read and I look forward to the third in the series.
Agricola is now back in Rome after excelling in military conflict in Britannia. He has a new family but. remains ambitious for advancement. Rome, however, is in a state of anxiety with the Emperor Nero in a highly unpredictable state – no-one is safe.
Agricola finds himself appointed to the role of Quaestor (i.e. auditor) in the province of Asia. He soon discovers the governor is deeply corrupt and expects Agricola to support his habit. Agricola refuses to comply and makes a serious enemy. Life becomes difficult for Agricola and his family, both locally and back in Rome where he is eventually posted. This becomes the Year of the Four Emperors – a year in which blood is spilt is Rome and more widely across the empire.
A key theme running through the book is Agricola trying to navigate the treacherous waters of Roman politics, in part to stay alive against powerful enemies, but also to ensure he remains on the right side of the rapid changes in Emperor.
Another very exciting and interesting read and I look forward to the third in the series.
January 9, 2025
A good second instalment in the series following Agricola across the empire in a time of turmoil in Rome. Turney paints the main character and his close friends/family to be the ultimate ‘good guys’ and so it is very easy for the reader to dislike the ‘bad guys’ with whom Agricola battles against. A really interesting read through a period I have little knowledge about and sets the scene brilliantly for the next book.
I sometimes felt that as I was reading, the book drifted from a story to more of a timeline of events. This did slightly take away the magic of feeling involved in Agricola’s struggles and put me on more of a back seat just watching from a distance. I do know there was lots of ground to cover in this book as is acknowledged by Turney at the end. Overall I really enjoyed the book and the addition of Luci as a steadfast sidekick with deadpan humour chucked in amongst the seriousness for me, is great.
I sometimes felt that as I was reading, the book drifted from a story to more of a timeline of events. This did slightly take away the magic of feeling involved in Agricola’s struggles and put me on more of a back seat just watching from a distance. I do know there was lots of ground to cover in this book as is acknowledged by Turney at the end. Overall I really enjoyed the book and the addition of Luci as a steadfast sidekick with deadpan humour chucked in amongst the seriousness for me, is great.
June 12, 2025
My thanks to the Author publisher's and NetGalley for providing me with a Kindle version of this book to read and honestly review.
This is the second book in this excellent series, beautifully written and researched full of details, but never dull. The first book was action packed, from start to finish, whereas in this case the first sixty percent of this story deals with what goes on in running the vast Roman empire, and how our hero upsets some very important people, making serious enemies for life, favourably compared to the Robert Harris 'Cicero' series. Once the action takes over it is descriptive and gripping.
I cannot wait for the next instalment of this quality series.
Completely and utterly recommended.
This is the second book in this excellent series, beautifully written and researched full of details, but never dull. The first book was action packed, from start to finish, whereas in this case the first sixty percent of this story deals with what goes on in running the vast Roman empire, and how our hero upsets some very important people, making serious enemies for life, favourably compared to the Robert Harris 'Cicero' series. Once the action takes over it is descriptive and gripping.
I cannot wait for the next instalment of this quality series.
Completely and utterly recommended.
April 25, 2025
Year of the 4
Another great book by one of my favourite authors. Thoroughly enjoyed the first book. This one was great and eye opening as I didn't know much about this period of Roman history and agrcolas part in it. But as much as I enjoyed it I felt somewhat cheated. This was a long time period with so many important things going on, I would have preferred it to have been stretch over two books and for them to have a bit more depth. I feel a lot of great history and equally dramatic content has been somewhat skipped over. Having said that, I still enjoyed it and I'm now going straight to Amazon to purchase the next one 👍
Another great book by one of my favourite authors. Thoroughly enjoyed the first book. This one was great and eye opening as I didn't know much about this period of Roman history and agrcolas part in it. But as much as I enjoyed it I felt somewhat cheated. This was a long time period with so many important things going on, I would have preferred it to have been stretch over two books and for them to have a bit more depth. I feel a lot of great history and equally dramatic content has been somewhat skipped over. Having said that, I still enjoyed it and I'm now going straight to Amazon to purchase the next one 👍
March 24, 2025
Solid read
The first half of the book was a little slow in parts, but that is history. As the emperors fall, the pace of the book picks up. The battles, although not full of gory details, still give an insight into how bloody and brutal the civil war at the time was. After reading these novels especially about the Romans you quite often wonder how much more advanced (if any) we would be if we didn't have the Dark Ages.
The first half of the book was a little slow in parts, but that is history. As the emperors fall, the pace of the book picks up. The battles, although not full of gory details, still give an insight into how bloody and brutal the civil war at the time was. After reading these novels especially about the Romans you quite often wonder how much more advanced (if any) we would be if we didn't have the Dark Ages.
August 15, 2025
Now this is enjoyable historical fiction: a fantastic Roman setting, empathetic characters, and an author's deft ability to sketch in the basics for anyone joining midway through this series, as I did. There's a bit too much battle writing near the end, but not enough to dissuade me from luxuriating in this trip back in time.
December 10, 2024
I received a copy from NetGalley.
The amazing rise of a Roman legend, continued from the first book with Agricola’s first steps on the Cursus Honorium to his military career after the Year of the Four Emperors. I’m sad there won’t be a third novel.
The amazing rise of a Roman legend, continued from the first book with Agricola’s first steps on the Cursus Honorium to his military career after the Year of the Four Emperors. I’m sad there won’t be a third novel.
March 24, 2025
This series is turning out to be a wonderful introduction to Agricola, one of Rome's great commanders. While this isn't quite as absorbing as the first book, perhaps because the action has moved to Italy, it is still a good read.
April 9, 2025
Great story
I studied Latin at school and seeing Latin used well, at least in my opinion, in this book I really liked. The use of proper Latin names, and those being spelled properly appealed to to me. Enjoyed this book and can't wait for the next one.
I studied Latin at school and seeing Latin used well, at least in my opinion, in this book I really liked. The use of proper Latin names, and those being spelled properly appealed to to me. Enjoyed this book and can't wait for the next one.
July 31, 2025
Excellent Writer, Exciting, Learn about Real History
Ride with Agricola, Sit on his shoulder during all the happenings, especially the Battles from a very human perspective!
You will Love this Story!! Can't wait for the next installment!
Ride with Agricola, Sit on his shoulder during all the happenings, especially the Battles from a very human perspective!
You will Love this Story!! Can't wait for the next installment!
October 31, 2025
Totally amazing!
This book is so unputdownable, I have read it in one and a half days absolutely brilliant, I have several books that I want to read, but, I have to continue this story, on to Commander now.
Thank You Mr Turney.
This book is so unputdownable, I have read it in one and a half days absolutely brilliant, I have several books that I want to read, but, I have to continue this story, on to Commander now.
Thank You Mr Turney.
December 9, 2025
the legend
I am loving this series on a man I had a bit of knowledge of, but was glanced over during history lessons. Simon Turney has brought h to life. I fully recommend this book to any lovers of Rome or historical fiction
I am loving this series on a man I had a bit of knowledge of, but was glanced over during history lessons. Simon Turney has brought h to life. I fully recommend this book to any lovers of Rome or historical fiction
March 18, 2025
A Year to remember
Another excellent story which includes the demise of four emperors and the triumph of an emperor who was to rule for Another 10 years.
Another excellent story which includes the demise of four emperors and the triumph of an emperor who was to rule for Another 10 years.
May 25, 2025
Very disappointing
I am a Simon Turney fan but this one deserves the bottom drawer. Not sure if I will read the sequel.
I am a Simon Turney fan but this one deserves the bottom drawer. Not sure if I will read the sequel.
September 9, 2025
Can honor survive in the snake pit that is Roman politics?
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews