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Invader #4
Imperial Agent
The fourth novella in the gripping INVADER series, set in Roman Britain, AD 44, from Sunday Times bestselling authors Simon Scarrow and T. J. AndrewsIn the winter of AD 44, Rome's plan to install a friendly king in the most hostile area of Britannia is facing a new threat. There are rumours of a traitor close to the new king, and a new enemy is gathering strength beyond the marshes. As the king continues with his plans to Romanise his subjects, Horatius Figulus, a junior officer in the Second Legion, is charged with training up the new royal bodyguard. But when a trap is sprung on the Roman army, a secretive Druid sect seizes power and takes the king hostage.Now Figulus must infiltrate the enemy ranks, release the king and track down the elusive leader of the Druids - before the whole of Britannia descends into bloody chaos...
- GenresHistorical Fiction
108 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 16, 2015
20 people are currently reading
185 people want to read
About the author
Simon Scarrow
173 books2,170 followersSimon 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 29, 2015
Ten years or so after the Roman invasion and conquest of Britannia, the Britons are still fighting. Although the Romans have co-opted some tribes, and propped up puppet kings in others, the proud warriors of Briton and the shadowy Druids will not submit.
Into this cauldron of seething resentment and open hostility is dropped the good natured Optio from Gaul, Figulus. The Gaul is tasked with protecting a client king that Rome is propping up over a tribe of Britons. He and his men are training a new cadre of warriors to serve as body guards for the puppet king. Unfortunately, Figulus is challenged at every turn - not enough support from his superiors, hostility from the natives, treachery from an unexpected source, and a fanatic Druid who is stirring up trouble. Of course, being the hero, Figulus staves off one disaster after another and comes out on top.
The book was fun. To be fair, I like historical fiction focused on the Romans. They are quasi-civilized and you can almost imagine yourself living in the time. Figulus, as a Gaul rather than a true Roman offered a slightly new twist which was nice. As with most Scarrow books, the writing is good, and the action is quick, so there is much to like. There is, however, some stuff to not like. I did not care for the multiple (well, two) near miraculous rescues that Figulus had. The author should never rescue his main character(s). The other thing that bugged me is the nature of these little books. Rather than package them up as one big novel, they are released in short novellas. Just give me the whole damn book, thank you very much!
III stars out of V. If you like your Roman fiction, go for it.
Into this cauldron of seething resentment and open hostility is dropped the good natured Optio from Gaul, Figulus. The Gaul is tasked with protecting a client king that Rome is propping up over a tribe of Britons. He and his men are training a new cadre of warriors to serve as body guards for the puppet king. Unfortunately, Figulus is challenged at every turn - not enough support from his superiors, hostility from the natives, treachery from an unexpected source, and a fanatic Druid who is stirring up trouble. Of course, being the hero, Figulus staves off one disaster after another and comes out on top.
The book was fun. To be fair, I like historical fiction focused on the Romans. They are quasi-civilized and you can almost imagine yourself living in the time. Figulus, as a Gaul rather than a true Roman offered a slightly new twist which was nice. As with most Scarrow books, the writing is good, and the action is quick, so there is much to like. There is, however, some stuff to not like. I did not care for the multiple (well, two) near miraculous rescues that Figulus had. The author should never rescue his main character(s). The other thing that bugged me is the nature of these little books. Rather than package them up as one big novel, they are released in short novellas. Just give me the whole damn book, thank you very much!
III stars out of V. If you like your Roman fiction, go for it.
May 26, 2024
4.5 stars
December 26, 2024
Figulus and his men are led into a trap, thanks to the traitor in their midst. The king and some of Figulus's friends are captured and he goes on a mission to rescue them but is in turn captured, to be tortured to death tomorrow like the others. Too late he learns who the traitor is (the last person you'd expect). The extra Roman garrison arrive and attack their fort prison and after a bloody fight, beat the British while Figulus saves Tenagasus, the Roman's puppet leader and then he decides to head alone into the foggy marshes to try and save his friends and kill the evil druid Calumus and the traitor.
October 15, 2020
Essentially a standalone single novel in the Cato and Macro series (with no Cato and Macro) in five parts, on to the fifth and final part. If you've read the Cata and Macro books this is familiar territory and style.
September 24, 2021
"Semplicemente sono bravo a uccidere Britanni".
"No, siamo soldati. uccidiamosul campo di battaglia e non per il piacere di farlo".
Solo Helva rifiutava di arrendersi a quella macabra depressione.
"No, siamo soldati. uccidiamosul campo di battaglia e non per il piacere di farlo".
Solo Helva rifiutava di arrendersi a quella macabra depressione.
September 5, 2020
Cracking read.
July 9, 2025
‘Imperial Agent’, a spin-off from the Eagle series, continues the course of events in Britain after Cato and Macro’s departure.
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 better than the first two Invader books but not as much as the third. Like the previous novella, though, this story has more depth than the first two, keeping me engaged throughout. The Romans set up a king, who's really a puppet ruler, which would be fine if not for some deeply dangerous druids who want rid of him and the occupying Romans.
The king's daughter adds more colour to the predominantly male cast. The author may not feature female characters often in his books, yet when he does, they’re always vivid and often add some welcome titillation to a story.
Battles scenes are exciting, spoilt only be the overuse of 'then', as in 'then he did this, then that happened,' etc. Cut or replace every 'then' and it'd be much stronger prose.
‘Telling’, not ‘showing' is another minus point. When, for example, a character is described as being ‘clearly irritated,’ the reader isn't ‘shown’ anything.
Still, it’s an entertaining read and I’ll be checking out the final book in the series.
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 better than the first two Invader books but not as much as the third. Like the previous novella, though, this story has more depth than the first two, keeping me engaged throughout. The Romans set up a king, who's really a puppet ruler, which would be fine if not for some deeply dangerous druids who want rid of him and the occupying Romans.
The king's daughter adds more colour to the predominantly male cast. The author may not feature female characters often in his books, yet when he does, they’re always vivid and often add some welcome titillation to a story.
Battles scenes are exciting, spoilt only be the overuse of 'then', as in 'then he did this, then that happened,' etc. Cut or replace every 'then' and it'd be much stronger prose.
‘Telling’, not ‘showing' is another minus point. When, for example, a character is described as being ‘clearly irritated,’ the reader isn't ‘shown’ anything.
Still, it’s an entertaining read and I’ll be checking out the final book in the series.
July 4, 2015
Penultimate(?) entry in Simon Scarrow's 'Invader' series, set during the Roman conquest of Brittania as are some of his more famous Cato and Macro books.
Unlike the full sized stories, however, these short stories tend to be more episodic in nature with their own distinct start, middle and end - a requirement, perhaps, of the format (if that's not too strong a word).
This is no different than the previous 3 ( Invader: Death Beach, Invader: Blood Enemy and Invader: Dark Blade) in being so, with the Dark Moon sect of the Druids again causing trouble for Figulus and his men, and even managing to (temporarily) defeat them in battle.
I have to say, though, that I spotted the identity of the traitor from a mile off!
Unlike the full sized stories, however, these short stories tend to be more episodic in nature with their own distinct start, middle and end - a requirement, perhaps, of the format (if that's not too strong a word).
This is no different than the previous 3 ( Invader: Death Beach, Invader: Blood Enemy and Invader: Dark Blade) in being so, with the Dark Moon sect of the Druids again causing trouble for Figulus and his men, and even managing to (temporarily) defeat them in battle.
I have to say, though, that I spotted the identity of the traitor from a mile off!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews