Blood Enemy

Invader #2

by Simon Scarrow, T.J. Andrews

Britannia is a nightmare campaign setting for the brave soldiers of the Second Legion. Horatius Figulus, a junior officer, has been rewarded for bravery and skill against the island's rebel forces with a mission that could bring him prestige and position. He and his most trusted comrades are to help install a new king in a hostile area. Succeed, and they'll establish an imperative Roman stronghold. Fail, and the whole invasion will be jeopardised. Under constant attack from raiders, plagued by ruthless Druids and up against hostile natives, Figulus and his men will need all their courage and ingenuity to succeed.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction

84 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 14, 2014

About the author

Simon Scarrow is a UK-based author, born in Nigeria, and now living in Norfolk. He completed a master's degree at the University of East Anglia, and, after working at the Inland Revenue, went into teaching as a lecturer at City College, Norwich.

He is best known for his "Eagle" series. This is Roman empire military fiction, starting with the second invasion of Britain, and continuing with subsequent adventures in every corner of the empire. The stories are told through the eyes of two centurions, Macro and Cato. To date there are eighteen books in the series.

Scarrow has also written a series of four novels on the Napoleonic wars, focusing on the lives of Wellington and Napoleon.

Reviews

[Mr. Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another very fun, quick read of a novella. I've always enjoyed historical fiction based in the early Empire period and these books deliver. The action is fast and furious - as is the story. Figulus, after his success in the first book is given another special assignment. He is to escort a puppet king to his lands. It sounds like an easy, carefree assignment away from the battlefields for Figulus and his men - and then they get to the punchline. Not only do they have to escort this puppet king to his lands but they also need to depose his predecessor. A handful of Romans plus some Auxillaries versus a thousand irate Britons. Piece of cake, right?!

Fortunately, Figulus and his small contingent of Legionnaires are up to the challenge. No amount of Barbarian ferocity and Druidic zeal can match the steady discipline of the Roman shield wall. (These Britons will enjoy the fruits of Roman civilization even if it is at the point of a gladius!)

This book was, I think, a better effort than the first. Figulus is fleshed out more, and, with a smaller unit, his supporting characters start to come into their own. Plus, as a fan of the Macro & Cato series it is fun to see some of those characters pop up from time to time - although still not those two. III and a half stars out of V.

[Michael Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Figulus is charged with getting Trenagasus (and his daughter) through enemy country in ancient Britain, so the Romans can have their puppet ruler back on the throne, to help them keep the warring British tribes under their thumb. Word has got through to Quenatacus that he could lose his throne and an ambush is prepared. The evil druids gather their forces but Figulus's Roman troops manage to fight through to the town where Quenatacus rules and there is an all out battle, and of course, the good guys win. Figulus had thought that having put Trenagasus back on the throne his work would be done and he could go back to somewhere warmer than the place they are now with booze and women, but he is needed there as the druids and rebels still want to take the town back and kill Trenagasus, so Figulus is stuck protecting him for the time being.

[Laurence · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not much to it, but fairly competently written collaboration (very much with Simon Scarrow's style stamp).

[Juri · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Era ora che dessimo una lezione a questi bastardi".

[Phil Syphe · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘Blood Enemy’, a spin-off from the Eagle series, continues the course of events in Britain after Cato and Macro left.

One of the secondary characters from the Eagle series, Figulus, now takes on the main role. I always liked him as a supporting character, though he doesn’t make for the best of leads. That’s not to say it was a mistake to elevate him, but I think another stronger character would’ve been better, with Figulus in the second main role.

As for the story, I liked it but would’ve liked more of it. I get that it’s novella, but it felt a little undercooked. Didn’t have the space to build towards something big, and so on.

Still, it’s a good read and I’ll be continuing with the series.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second of Simon Scarrow's 'Invader' novellas, that are an exception from his normal Roman army novels in that they do not follow Macro and Cato.

Instead, what had been secondary characters in his earlier novels take the fore-front: in this, after successfully landing on the beach in the previous novel(la) (think a Roman D-day landing!) Figulus and his men are tasked with escorting and installing a pro-Roman leader in an anti-Roman countryside.

While, admittedly, we're only 2 stories into the Invader series, I have found these (so far) to be less predictable/more diverse than Scarrow and Andrews previous collaboration (the Gladiator series, most of which tended to follow the same format). Not as good as a full-length novel, yes, but still enjoyable enough.

[Frank Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun and fast read. Classic Scarrow!