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Dark Eagle #7
Dark Eagle VII: Panthera
Deep in the heart of unknown Africa, a forgotten secret stirs...
On the scorching fringes of the Roman Empire in Egypt, a patrol uncovers a half-dead man staggering out of the desert — emaciated, raving, and clutching a necklace of staggering solid gold, encrusted with jewels. A Roman eagle tattooed on his arm hints at a legion long thought lost, and with his final breath, he utters a single Panthera.
To the centurion, it’s a mystery best left to Rome. But to Emperor Claudius, it’s a warning. He knows exactly what lies beyond the Empire’s southern edge — and what that name could mean.
Summoning the secretive and deadly Occultum, Claudius launches a mission shrouded in secrecy, leading into the untamed heart of Africa. There, in lands uncharted and ruled by ancient powers, the truth awaits — and it could shake Rome to its core.
Panthera - Dark Eagle - Book VII
A gripping historical thriller of danger, deception, and the hidden shadows of empire.
On the scorching fringes of the Roman Empire in Egypt, a patrol uncovers a half-dead man staggering out of the desert — emaciated, raving, and clutching a necklace of staggering solid gold, encrusted with jewels. A Roman eagle tattooed on his arm hints at a legion long thought lost, and with his final breath, he utters a single Panthera.
To the centurion, it’s a mystery best left to Rome. But to Emperor Claudius, it’s a warning. He knows exactly what lies beyond the Empire’s southern edge — and what that name could mean.
Summoning the secretive and deadly Occultum, Claudius launches a mission shrouded in secrecy, leading into the untamed heart of Africa. There, in lands uncharted and ruled by ancient powers, the truth awaits — and it could shake Rome to its core.
Panthera - Dark Eagle - Book VII
A gripping historical thriller of danger, deception, and the hidden shadows of empire.
350 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 15, 2025
About the author
K.M. Ashman
59 books238 followersKevin Ashman is the author of twenty-six novels including the best-selling Roman Chronicles and highly ranked Medieval Sagas.
Always pushing the boundaries he found further success with the India Sommers Mysteries as well as three other stand-alone projects, Vampire, Savage Eden and the dystopian horror story, The Last Citadel. These cross-genre books have now been added to by the two Sci-fi novels, The Legacy Protocol and The Seventh God.
Kevin was born and raised in Wales in the United Kingdom and now writes full time having been signed by a major publishing company. He is married with four grown children and enjoys cycling, swimming and watching rugby as his hobbies.
Recent works include the Blood of Kings trilogy and the follow-up books, Warrior Princess and The Blade Bearer.
The most recent project is a five-book series about the Templars during the 12th century. Templar Steel, Templar Stone, Templar Blood and Templar Fury are already on sale and Templar Glory is due for release in Oct 2021.
An exciting project is also underway, a three-book series chronicling the years leading up to and beyond the Battle of Hastings.
Always pushing the boundaries he found further success with the India Sommers Mysteries as well as three other stand-alone projects, Vampire, Savage Eden and the dystopian horror story, The Last Citadel. These cross-genre books have now been added to by the two Sci-fi novels, The Legacy Protocol and The Seventh God.
Kevin was born and raised in Wales in the United Kingdom and now writes full time having been signed by a major publishing company. He is married with four grown children and enjoys cycling, swimming and watching rugby as his hobbies.
Recent works include the Blood of Kings trilogy and the follow-up books, Warrior Princess and The Blade Bearer.
The most recent project is a five-book series about the Templars during the 12th century. Templar Steel, Templar Stone, Templar Blood and Templar Fury are already on sale and Templar Glory is due for release in Oct 2021.
An exciting project is also underway, a three-book series chronicling the years leading up to and beyond the Battle of Hastings.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 23, 2025
Great series and characters as the Occultum are sent to Africa to find a legion of people who disappeared while on a mission what happened .
What they find is shocking and betrayal of people that put them in danger .
The team are arrested on there return except Sica ,can' wait for next book to see why and the outcome got to wait a year !!
Very well written and characters are good highly recommend
What they find is shocking and betrayal of people that put them in danger .
The team are arrested on there return except Sica ,can' wait for next book to see why and the outcome got to wait a year !!
Very well written and characters are good highly recommend
September 13, 2025
Excellent,
What an excellent read it flows endlessly into an explosive climax. It carries the reader into the wild African landscape battling through deserts, jungles and swamps, it has some disturbing element's but goes well with the story. Desperately waiting for the next instalment.
Ray.
What an excellent read it flows endlessly into an explosive climax. It carries the reader into the wild African landscape battling through deserts, jungles and swamps, it has some disturbing element's but goes well with the story. Desperately waiting for the next instalment.
Ray.
January 19, 2026
Another page turner by K. M. Ashman
Just finished this book, but it leaves the reader wanting more, so right Another page turner by K. M. Ashman three next book in the series because that’s how good this series is. Kudos to the author. If you enjoy books about the Roman Legions get this book. Better yet get the series you won’t be disappointed.
Just finished this book, but it leaves the reader wanting more, so right Another page turner by K. M. Ashman three next book in the series because that’s how good this series is. Kudos to the author. If you enjoy books about the Roman Legions get this book. Better yet get the series you won’t be disappointed.
August 18, 2025
Awesome reading
I have really enjoyed this book and the rest of the series. There is a lot of action but I really appreciated the camaraderie of the main players. I highly recommend this series and its author.
I have really enjoyed this book and the rest of the series. There is a lot of action but I really appreciated the camaraderie of the main players. I highly recommend this series and its author.
August 21, 2025
Another Great Read
All of the Dark Eagle books are enjoyable and it seems they get better with each in the series. Can’t wait for the next to arrive so we can learn the fate of Seneca and the team.
All of the Dark Eagle books are enjoyable and it seems they get better with each in the series. Can’t wait for the next to arrive so we can learn the fate of Seneca and the team.
September 1, 2025
Another block buster story
He has done it again superb story telling that grips your imagination and takes you along with every step the occultism takes. Can't wait for the final book in this excellent series.
He has done it again superb story telling that grips your imagination and takes you along with every step the occultism takes. Can't wait for the final book in this excellent series.
October 21, 2025
excellent Roman thriller
Doesn't get any better than this novel. Everything is here from great characters, history, gripping plots and fun times. Very well researched and written. Tour de force
Doesn't get any better than this novel. Everything is here from great characters, history, gripping plots and fun times. Very well researched and written. Tour de force
August 27, 2025
confusion
Well written book with plenty of excitement. Different characters are displayed from greed to honorable. Mr. Ashman has again showed his talent in writing!
Well written book with plenty of excitement. Different characters are displayed from greed to honorable. Mr. Ashman has again showed his talent in writing!
December 29, 2025
Good but not enough
This story of the Ocultum was a little bit to fantastic, a very thin line between historical fiction and fantasy, but next book looks interesting.
This story of the Ocultum was a little bit to fantastic, a very thin line between historical fiction and fantasy, but next book looks interesting.
February 8, 2026
Great Read
Enjoyed the plot, characters, and outcome. Great way to describe the depth of Rome’s greed and internal avarice. Looking forward for the next book.
Enjoyed the plot, characters, and outcome. Great way to describe the depth of Rome’s greed and internal avarice. Looking forward for the next book.
January 24, 2026
Gruesome. At times, a thing of nightmares.
June 3, 2026
Sus recursos narrativos ya se sienten más antiguos que Roma, o quizá más desgastados que el calzado del primer legionario.
Nunca había visto una novela utilizar recursos textuales de forma tan repetitiva hasta el punto de que la lectura termine pareciendo mediocre por momentos. No sé si la culpa recae completamente en el autor o también en la traducción; quizá parte de la responsabilidad sea mía por seguir leyendo la saga. Aun así, como ya he mencionado antes, no logro sacármela del sistema del todo hasta terminarla, aunque espero que realmente tenga un final y no continúe extendiéndose innecesariamente.
El libro sigue siendo entretenido, aunque también agotador precisamente por lo mencionado anteriormente. Al menos aquí se intenta ofrecer un tipo de acción diferente al de las entregas previas. Si bien elimina de forma bastante básica y predecible el uso de una legión completa dentro de la trama, tampoco logra manejar correctamente la “cohorte”, ya que a lo largo de la novela se van perdiendo soldados y los números nunca terminan teniendo coherencia. Puede parecer un detalle menor, pero dentro de una novela militar e histórica es un error bastante evidente.
Y es una lástima, porque la historia nos traslada a una región poco explorada dentro de este tipo de novelas y que tenía mucho potencial para desarrollarse mejor: esa África apenas conocida por los romanos. Ojalá en el futuro otro autor aproveche ese escenario con una obra más elaborada y mejor trabajada.
Nunca había visto una novela utilizar recursos textuales de forma tan repetitiva hasta el punto de que la lectura termine pareciendo mediocre por momentos. No sé si la culpa recae completamente en el autor o también en la traducción; quizá parte de la responsabilidad sea mía por seguir leyendo la saga. Aun así, como ya he mencionado antes, no logro sacármela del sistema del todo hasta terminarla, aunque espero que realmente tenga un final y no continúe extendiéndose innecesariamente.
El libro sigue siendo entretenido, aunque también agotador precisamente por lo mencionado anteriormente. Al menos aquí se intenta ofrecer un tipo de acción diferente al de las entregas previas. Si bien elimina de forma bastante básica y predecible el uso de una legión completa dentro de la trama, tampoco logra manejar correctamente la “cohorte”, ya que a lo largo de la novela se van perdiendo soldados y los números nunca terminan teniendo coherencia. Puede parecer un detalle menor, pero dentro de una novela militar e histórica es un error bastante evidente.
Y es una lástima, porque la historia nos traslada a una región poco explorada dentro de este tipo de novelas y que tenía mucho potencial para desarrollarse mejor: esa África apenas conocida por los romanos. Ojalá en el futuro otro autor aproveche ese escenario con una obra más elaborada y mejor trabajada.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews