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Eagles of the Empire #16
Day of the Caesars
The Roman army will stop at nothing to defeat rebellion in its territories, though treachery ever threatens the security of the Empire. The 16th novel in Simon Scarrow's bestselling Eagles of the Empire series, not to be missed by readers of Conn Iggulden and Bernard Cornwell. 'A new book in Simon Scarrow's long-running series about the Roman army is always a joy' The Times
Veteran soldiers of the Roman army Prefect Cato and Centurion Macro have fought side by side in battles, skirmishes and sieges across the vast Roman Empire, from Britannia to Egypt, from Spain to Syria. Proven to be heroic in battle and loyal to the death to each other and to their men, they are selected for the most dangerous missions, and given command of troops whose lives as well as the fate of the Empire depend on their military might and vision. As the reign of Emperor Claudius ends, turmoil in Rome spreads unease across the globe, giving heart to the enemy. There could be no more deadly time to be far from home, even for the army's most experienced officers...
447 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 16, 2017
296 people are currently reading
1250 people want to read
About the author
Simon Scarrow
172 books2,161 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 - 30 of 153 reviews
July 1, 2024
Cato and Macro have gotten themselves involved with Imperial Roman politics and a conspiracy to bring back the Republic ruled by aristocrats not Caesars. The conspirators use less than honorable means in their attempt to seize power and it all centers on Cato. Cato has made a sacred oath to protect the Emperor Nero against all opposition including the conspirators. The action in this story all revolve around crushing the conspirators who have also kidnapped Cato's son and framed him for murder in an attempt to bring him to their side. What made this book enjoyable for me was how Macro and Cate persevered against the odds against them.
April 21, 2023
Third book of Madeira holiday completed. Always good to find a Cato and Macro story. This one takes up after the death of Claudius. Involving Emperor Nero and his step brother Britannicus.
Cato and Macro are pulled into supporting Nero. Cato’s son is kidnapped for leverage. Cato finds out more about his late wife and even Macro finds a love interest.
Good pace and dialogue as well as fight scenes. I for one will never tire of the pair. Can’t beat a Scarrow.
Ok onto the next book.
Cato and Macro are pulled into supporting Nero. Cato’s son is kidnapped for leverage. Cato finds out more about his late wife and even Macro finds a love interest.
Good pace and dialogue as well as fight scenes. I for one will never tire of the pair. Can’t beat a Scarrow.
Ok onto the next book.
August 2, 2018
The series has degenerated a bit too much into intrigue for my liking, Cato and Macro were much more entertaining when they were soldiering.
December 29, 2018
This thrilling Roman historical adventure is the 16th instalment of the wonderful "Eagles of the Empire" series, featuring our two astounding lead characters Prefect Cato and Centurion Macro.
At the beginning of the book you'll find four well-drawn maps of Italia, of the Sinus Cumanus in AD 54, of Rome in the Age of Emperor Nero, as well as the Chain of Command of the Praetorian Guard, and not to forget a fantastic Cast List of characters who'll feature within this glorious tale.
At the end of the book you'll notice a superb documented Author's Note explaining the important issues concerning this gripping story, while the book itself contains wonderful storytelling by the author, supplemented with a great cast of real lifelike characters.
The book is set in Rome in the year AD 54 after the death of Emperor Claudius, and the fight for the throne that will start between the factions of Claudius's natural son, Britannicus, and the son of Claudius's wife, the Empress Agrippina, Nero.
In this tale our main characters Prefect Cato and Centurion Macro will be dragged in a world of turmoil and intrigue after the death of Emperor Claudius.
Deadly plots are being hatched, betrayal and power games are being played out by powerful and shadowy figures, and all that in order to gain the upper hand for that ultimate goal, that is the throne, power and title of Emperor.
What will follow in this stunning eventful book is an action-packed story of cunning and intrigue in the highest echelons of Roman power, where especially Cato, certainly with some great help from his ally and friend Macro, must somehow seem to overcome this treacherous and dangerous deadly world, and where the right decision will mean survival and the wrong one death.
Very much recommended, because this marvellous book concerning this series is for certain: "Another Cato & Macro Triumph"!
At the beginning of the book you'll find four well-drawn maps of Italia, of the Sinus Cumanus in AD 54, of Rome in the Age of Emperor Nero, as well as the Chain of Command of the Praetorian Guard, and not to forget a fantastic Cast List of characters who'll feature within this glorious tale.
At the end of the book you'll notice a superb documented Author's Note explaining the important issues concerning this gripping story, while the book itself contains wonderful storytelling by the author, supplemented with a great cast of real lifelike characters.
The book is set in Rome in the year AD 54 after the death of Emperor Claudius, and the fight for the throne that will start between the factions of Claudius's natural son, Britannicus, and the son of Claudius's wife, the Empress Agrippina, Nero.
In this tale our main characters Prefect Cato and Centurion Macro will be dragged in a world of turmoil and intrigue after the death of Emperor Claudius.
Deadly plots are being hatched, betrayal and power games are being played out by powerful and shadowy figures, and all that in order to gain the upper hand for that ultimate goal, that is the throne, power and title of Emperor.
What will follow in this stunning eventful book is an action-packed story of cunning and intrigue in the highest echelons of Roman power, where especially Cato, certainly with some great help from his ally and friend Macro, must somehow seem to overcome this treacherous and dangerous deadly world, and where the right decision will mean survival and the wrong one death.
Very much recommended, because this marvellous book concerning this series is for certain: "Another Cato & Macro Triumph"!
November 10, 2017
Review
Macro and Cato return again, 16 books in and the boys have grown, matured and changed. The new relationship with Cato as superior is well embedded and Macro is starting to take on the mantle of the soldier coming to end of his career, jaded (well as much as Macro ever could be), and sick of the politics and BS that defines how his life may end.
Full review:
https://parmenionbooks.wordpress.com/...
January 6, 2018
Not very good, really. It starts well, but then gets bogged down into repetitive plotting and dialogue.
Many of the fight scenes are interesting for about half a page, then again, repetitive. Nothing much really revealed about how Romans fight.
Very episodic in parts, a somewhat clumsy assemblage of ideas, perhaps Scarrow was under pressure from his publisher. Often the case.
Notes and quotes:
39.0%
"... Keep the mob happy and the question of how they were ruled would remain a matter of supreme indifference to them. Keep the upper echelons of society living in fear and they would be cowed into a show of indifference."
40.0% .... one of the things I really like about Scarrow is that he doesn't constantly repeat himself just to extend the page count. So many other authors suck at this. ...
Scarrow sums up 3 chapters ...
Cato collected his thoughts and gave an account of everything from the arrest until the point Macro ran into him, literally.
Note: This great habit is totally abandoned by mid-book 😢
50.0% .... Hahahaaaaha! Scarrow takes a swipe at Mango Mussolini!
"Haven’t you heard? It’s a new golden age. A new emperor. Now Nero’s in charge, says he’s going to make Rome great again."
63.0% .... far too much political chit chat here, very dull and unconvincing
70.0% ... uh oh. Lots of plot/dialogue repetition here. Very sad
Many of the fight scenes are interesting for about half a page, then again, repetitive. Nothing much really revealed about how Romans fight.
Very episodic in parts, a somewhat clumsy assemblage of ideas, perhaps Scarrow was under pressure from his publisher. Often the case.
Notes and quotes:
39.0%
"... Keep the mob happy and the question of how they were ruled would remain a matter of supreme indifference to them. Keep the upper echelons of society living in fear and they would be cowed into a show of indifference."
40.0% .... one of the things I really like about Scarrow is that he doesn't constantly repeat himself just to extend the page count. So many other authors suck at this. ...
Scarrow sums up 3 chapters ...
Cato collected his thoughts and gave an account of everything from the arrest until the point Macro ran into him, literally.
Note: This great habit is totally abandoned by mid-book 😢
50.0% .... Hahahaaaaha! Scarrow takes a swipe at Mango Mussolini!
"Haven’t you heard? It’s a new golden age. A new emperor. Now Nero’s in charge, says he’s going to make Rome great again."
63.0% .... far too much political chit chat here, very dull and unconvincing
70.0% ... uh oh. Lots of plot/dialogue repetition here. Very sad
April 14, 2024
4.5 stars
December 31, 2023
Normally a summer read series for me is this one, but I find myself needing to hit targets before years end, so needs must n all that 😊 plus I need some easy reads right now…
The one thing that jumps out at me right away is that this series is now in the same time-line as the Robert Fabbri series on Vespasian which I’ve nearly completed (one book left)…. Oh to be reading a diffo Roman period as it’s slightly repetitive/blurred for me, never mind….. I did pick this series up originally as it started in Britannia but it has diverted somewhat as we’ve gone deeper with Macro & Cato now part of the Praetorian guard and at the heart of Roman politics rather than the cut n thrust of Legionaries in battle.
I did prefer them in the legion’s jus doing soldiering if im honest.
It is what it is. Maybe a series I should have banked after they completed their adventures in Britannia for a second time where their adventures returned giving the series a bit of a much needed boost.
As to the story, well it’s about the ascendancy to the throne of Nero above his brother Britannicus & all that went with it in terms of the politico but as seen through the eyes/experiences of Macro & Cato & the supporting cast.
As ive said, ive been here before with another series which went into far more depth as it was the nub of the story, so it’s a middle of the road 3 stars for me. Its not bad, in fact if I hadn’t already read about this period it would have likely scored higher, jus too much déjà vu along the way for moi.
The one thing that jumps out at me right away is that this series is now in the same time-line as the Robert Fabbri series on Vespasian which I’ve nearly completed (one book left)…. Oh to be reading a diffo Roman period as it’s slightly repetitive/blurred for me, never mind….. I did pick this series up originally as it started in Britannia but it has diverted somewhat as we’ve gone deeper with Macro & Cato now part of the Praetorian guard and at the heart of Roman politics rather than the cut n thrust of Legionaries in battle.
I did prefer them in the legion’s jus doing soldiering if im honest.
It is what it is. Maybe a series I should have banked after they completed their adventures in Britannia for a second time where their adventures returned giving the series a bit of a much needed boost.
As to the story, well it’s about the ascendancy to the throne of Nero above his brother Britannicus & all that went with it in terms of the politico but as seen through the eyes/experiences of Macro & Cato & the supporting cast.
As ive said, ive been here before with another series which went into far more depth as it was the nub of the story, so it’s a middle of the road 3 stars for me. Its not bad, in fact if I hadn’t already read about this period it would have likely scored higher, jus too much déjà vu along the way for moi.
December 22, 2017
I’ll open by saying I love the Macro/Cato series, Mr Scarrow has done a wonderful job putting the Boys in danger and having the find a way out. With the Boys coming back to Rome I was curious to see how they’d “participate” in the transition from Claudius to Nero/Britannicus. Have to say Mr. Scarrow didn’t fail.
Rather than being a typical legionnaire story with political undertones, I knew this one would be political with sword undertones and it was. Rather than having Nero being in power absolutely, Mr. Scarrow weaves a tight story where a Britannicus faction is trying to overthrow Nero and his supporters. We all know which faction Cato and Macro support (they’re soldiers rather than politicians) and Mr. Scarrow pulls at this with good political intrigue that causes the Boys to be defensive and at points on the run! The real fun
Art is that we really don’t know if Macro and Cato can survive the political pulling and intrigue of the two factions until the end. A really outstanding book here! I loved everything here and am looking forward to whatever happens next!
Rather than being a typical legionnaire story with political undertones, I knew this one would be political with sword undertones and it was. Rather than having Nero being in power absolutely, Mr. Scarrow weaves a tight story where a Britannicus faction is trying to overthrow Nero and his supporters. We all know which faction Cato and Macro support (they’re soldiers rather than politicians) and Mr. Scarrow pulls at this with good political intrigue that causes the Boys to be defensive and at points on the run! The real fun
Art is that we really don’t know if Macro and Cato can survive the political pulling and intrigue of the two factions until the end. A really outstanding book here! I loved everything here and am looking forward to whatever happens next!
January 3, 2018
I always enjoy this series, and this time Cato and Macro are up to their necks in it in the streets of Rome. 3.5 stars. The Hb has 367 pages.
February 16, 2019
Mais uma incrível aventura dos dois amigos tal como o autor nos habituou. Uma boa história e bem contada, com assim deve ser. Mais uma vez: obrigado Simon.
September 8, 2018
Another great addition to Cato and Macro's story. Sixteen books in and no sign of running down!
October 7, 2019
Another great book from my favourite author! I just wish he could write quicker! Despite this being book 16 in the series I never tire of reading of the adventures of Cato and Macro.
August 22, 2018
Cato & Macro stick in again
Fantastic historical adventure for our two heros. This time in the Eternal City itself. Loved the intrigue and machinations in the turmoil of Nero's reign.
The reason I have it a 4 star was that the very end of the climax was a bit predictable.
Still it is a great read.
Fantastic historical adventure for our two heros. This time in the Eternal City itself. Loved the intrigue and machinations in the turmoil of Nero's reign.
The reason I have it a 4 star was that the very end of the climax was a bit predictable.
Still it is a great read.
April 28, 2018
I hammered through this rollicking read! Pacy, action filled and well written. Good action scenes. Please keep them coming Mr Scarrow! Loved it
July 31, 2023
En lo personal creo que he venido diciendo que no me gusta mucho leer de intrigas pero en un periodo como el que vivía el Cato es inevitable verse envuelto.
Lo que si es que al fin Cato decidió ser más audaz de lo que ha estado haciendo en los otros libros (intrépido diría) pero ahora enfocado en su persona y no en los demás.
Eso sí, la acción te mantiene entretenido y pegado al libro.
Lo que si es que al fin Cato decidió ser más audaz de lo que ha estado haciendo en los otros libros (intrépido diría) pero ahora enfocado en su persona y no en los demás.
Eso sí, la acción te mantiene entretenido y pegado al libro.
August 22, 2022
Luoghi e azioni descritti alla perfezione, la cura dei dettagli ti immerge sia nella lettura che nell' azione
May 28, 2023
Another amazing instalment in the Cato and Macro series. Truly one of the best series I’ve read
August 26, 2024
Very good book, twist was great, felt the ending was slightly rushed in some ways.
August 6, 2018
Natuurlijk 4*, deze verhalen boeien altijd. Hup Cato en Macro, pak die boeven!
Ik denk dat ik ook de Wellington serie van Scarrow op de wish list zet.
Ik denk dat ik ook de Wellington serie van Scarrow op de wish list zet.
August 25, 2025
This series never disappoints
March 14, 2022
Listend to on Audiable, another fantastic installment with Cato and Macro and have to mention Mr Keeble for bringing the whole thing alive as usual.
November 20, 2022
Cato a Macro, tak jako vždy…temtokrát se skoro až detektivní zápletkou.
October 6, 2019
Casi sin darse uno cuenta hemos llegado a la decimosexta entrega de la serie de Águila. A estas alturas poco se puede comentar ya, es evidente que Scarrow ya no sorprende ni para bien ni para mal. Si estás leyendo esto ya sabrás que en esta saga hay dos lineas argumentales, una sigue a Cato y Macro en sus andanzas con las distintas legiones en la guerra perpetua en la que vivió Roma toda su existencia. La otra se fija más en las intrigas palaciegas y en los tejemanejes de los secretarios imperiales empeñados en usar a nuestros protagonistas como agentes.
A mi, siendo sinceros, me gusta más la primera, pero es obvio que no es viable escribir 16 libros hablando exclusivamente de batallas, asedios e invasiones. En este caso tenemos una mezcla, porque la tormentosa sucesión del emperador Claudio arranca como una serie de conspiraciones políticas pero acaba con un baño de sangre y unas cuantas minibatallas, lo que lo hará atractivo para los lectores que gusten de cualquiera de las dos modalidades.
Scarrow sigue en su linea, una prosa sencilla, directa y que busca entretener ante todo. En este volumen aparecen algunas lagunas y giros argumentales un poco forzados, pero en general es un libro entretenido que sin ser de los mejores de la saga cumple perfectamente con lo que esperamos los seguidores de la misma.
A mi, siendo sinceros, me gusta más la primera, pero es obvio que no es viable escribir 16 libros hablando exclusivamente de batallas, asedios e invasiones. En este caso tenemos una mezcla, porque la tormentosa sucesión del emperador Claudio arranca como una serie de conspiraciones políticas pero acaba con un baño de sangre y unas cuantas minibatallas, lo que lo hará atractivo para los lectores que gusten de cualquiera de las dos modalidades.
Scarrow sigue en su linea, una prosa sencilla, directa y que busca entretener ante todo. En este volumen aparecen algunas lagunas y giros argumentales un poco forzados, pero en general es un libro entretenido que sin ser de los mejores de la saga cumple perfectamente con lo que esperamos los seguidores de la misma.
December 20, 2017
Brilliant!
I think this may be my favourite addition to the series yet! For me, the best aspect of this series has not been the battles (don't get me wrong, I always really enjoy novels set in the Roman legions and Simon Scarrow is still the best writer of battle scenes I have encountered), the best plot of this series for me has always been the underlying shadow war between the Emperor's advisors for power.
This story definitely delivered on this plot coming to the fore and it felt as though the stakes were correspondingly much higher for the characters than in any previous story and, as always, Simon Scarrow manages to keep us guessing in regards to the intrigue and plotting of the aristocrats and freedmen surrounding the emperor.
Couple of slight gripes though:
** SPOILERS**
1. The characters of Nero, Britannicus and Claudius. First off Claudius. At one point in the story, we are informed Claudius secretly supported the Republican cause before dying. I see this as a subtle nod to Robert Graves's wonderful 'I Claudius'. The problem I have is that Scarrow has never really given us any overt hint that the Claudius in this story is the quietly intelligent scholar of the Graves novels. Even just a small well-placed comment by Claudius to one of the main characters in a previous story would have helped here, or even a Cato flashback to when he was growing up in the palace and witnessed proof of Claudius being more intelligent than was presented in the series so far.
Likewise, I had trouble with the motives of Britannicus in this story. We are repeatedly told that he also believes in the Republic and will restore it after taking the throne. My problem is that, as he is stated to be very intelligent so often, I don't believe he would support a return to the Republic. Rome by this point in history was just too powerful for a group of aristocrats to share rule peacefully without civil war eventually breaking out again and I couldn't quite believe Britannicus wouldn't have recognised this within the story.
My final minor irritation is the way Nero is portrayed towards the end of the story in one particular scene. We get multiple descriptions of him loving the sight of a part of Rome burning, clearly hinting at the claim that Nero ordered the Great Fire. My annoyance here is that Scarrow is simply too overt at hinting this, it almost seems as though Nero is going to run straight off and start fires round the city within the next few days. The Great Fire of Rome did not take place until AD 64 - 10 years after this story is set. Either Nero had a hell of a lot of patience following this story, or Simon Scarrow was a bit too eager to hint at what is to come much later down the line in the series.
**SPOILER ALERT IF YOU DON'T KNOW ROMAN HISTORY**
This brings me to my final slight worry with this series at this point. My assumption has always been that it will end with the Year of the Four Emperors and the ascension of Vespasian. However, we are still 15 years away from that happening, yet it feels like Cato has reached as high as he can reasonably go while sticking to the historical social ladder of Rome. Both he and Macro have now been sent all over the Empire and are increasingly famous both on the frontier and in Rome. My worry is by the time we get to AD 69, at this rate Cato will be one of the Four Emperors at the rate he is rising! I guess all I am saying is that I hope Simon Scarrow doesn't make his main character too over-powered by filling in every year of his life with famous exploits. My gut tells me that either he is going to have to do a time-jump at some stage, or scale down Cato's exploits a bit so that he is not saving the entire empire in every story.
These are all minor annoyances with the story though, and likely the only reason they're in my head now is because I just finished the novel an hour ago. Please do not be put off by them in any way!
Overall, this is definitely Simon Scarrow and the Eagles series at the very best and the pinnacle of the series so far in my opinion! Cannot wait for the next in the series...
I think this may be my favourite addition to the series yet! For me, the best aspect of this series has not been the battles (don't get me wrong, I always really enjoy novels set in the Roman legions and Simon Scarrow is still the best writer of battle scenes I have encountered), the best plot of this series for me has always been the underlying shadow war between the Emperor's advisors for power.
This story definitely delivered on this plot coming to the fore and it felt as though the stakes were correspondingly much higher for the characters than in any previous story and, as always, Simon Scarrow manages to keep us guessing in regards to the intrigue and plotting of the aristocrats and freedmen surrounding the emperor.
Couple of slight gripes though:
** SPOILERS**
1. The characters of Nero, Britannicus and Claudius. First off Claudius. At one point in the story, we are informed Claudius secretly supported the Republican cause before dying. I see this as a subtle nod to Robert Graves's wonderful 'I Claudius'. The problem I have is that Scarrow has never really given us any overt hint that the Claudius in this story is the quietly intelligent scholar of the Graves novels. Even just a small well-placed comment by Claudius to one of the main characters in a previous story would have helped here, or even a Cato flashback to when he was growing up in the palace and witnessed proof of Claudius being more intelligent than was presented in the series so far.
Likewise, I had trouble with the motives of Britannicus in this story. We are repeatedly told that he also believes in the Republic and will restore it after taking the throne. My problem is that, as he is stated to be very intelligent so often, I don't believe he would support a return to the Republic. Rome by this point in history was just too powerful for a group of aristocrats to share rule peacefully without civil war eventually breaking out again and I couldn't quite believe Britannicus wouldn't have recognised this within the story.
My final minor irritation is the way Nero is portrayed towards the end of the story in one particular scene. We get multiple descriptions of him loving the sight of a part of Rome burning, clearly hinting at the claim that Nero ordered the Great Fire. My annoyance here is that Scarrow is simply too overt at hinting this, it almost seems as though Nero is going to run straight off and start fires round the city within the next few days. The Great Fire of Rome did not take place until AD 64 - 10 years after this story is set. Either Nero had a hell of a lot of patience following this story, or Simon Scarrow was a bit too eager to hint at what is to come much later down the line in the series.
**SPOILER ALERT IF YOU DON'T KNOW ROMAN HISTORY**
This brings me to my final slight worry with this series at this point. My assumption has always been that it will end with the Year of the Four Emperors and the ascension of Vespasian. However, we are still 15 years away from that happening, yet it feels like Cato has reached as high as he can reasonably go while sticking to the historical social ladder of Rome. Both he and Macro have now been sent all over the Empire and are increasingly famous both on the frontier and in Rome. My worry is by the time we get to AD 69, at this rate Cato will be one of the Four Emperors at the rate he is rising! I guess all I am saying is that I hope Simon Scarrow doesn't make his main character too over-powered by filling in every year of his life with famous exploits. My gut tells me that either he is going to have to do a time-jump at some stage, or scale down Cato's exploits a bit so that he is not saving the entire empire in every story.
These are all minor annoyances with the story though, and likely the only reason they're in my head now is because I just finished the novel an hour ago. Please do not be put off by them in any way!
Overall, this is definitely Simon Scarrow and the Eagles series at the very best and the pinnacle of the series so far in my opinion! Cannot wait for the next in the series...
December 6, 2017
I’m the first to admit that my favourites in this series have seen the boys out there on campaign sticking it to some horde of hairy-arsed barbarians – especially us Brits! The cloak and dagger stuff I’m not normally not quite so keen on but this one just got me from the start. How Cato hasn’t quite lost his marbles completely is hard to fathom because Scarrow suddenly seems to have taken an extreme dislike to him and no amount of torture for him personally seems too much. In this we see more of the development of Cato as a man, a harder edge, a more cynical side coming to the fore. But he’s still a genuine hero and a man of honour. Macro, well age is catching up on him but he’s still Macro and we wouldn’t have him any other way! Blunt, direct, violent but has he finally met his match in a woman?
Our heroes are pitched into a Rome heaving with unrest following the death of the Emperor and Nero’s ascension to the purple. The whole place is seething with plot and counter plot and ready to erupt at any moment. Cato and Macro just want to be soldiers but Cato in particular is too valuable for either side to leave him alone and ghosts of the past come back to haunt him. It’s brilliant, fast-paced stuff with no quarter given or asked for and as usual Mr Keeble brings it to life in the manner to which we’ve become accustomed.
Cato tries to think his way through while Macro takes his usual battering ram approach throughout. I do promise you will be cheering him during the “cliffhanger” scene towards the end! I don’t know how long Simon Scarrow plans to keep these two going but I’ll be following them to the end!
Our heroes are pitched into a Rome heaving with unrest following the death of the Emperor and Nero’s ascension to the purple. The whole place is seething with plot and counter plot and ready to erupt at any moment. Cato and Macro just want to be soldiers but Cato in particular is too valuable for either side to leave him alone and ghosts of the past come back to haunt him. It’s brilliant, fast-paced stuff with no quarter given or asked for and as usual Mr Keeble brings it to life in the manner to which we’ve become accustomed.
Cato tries to think his way through while Macro takes his usual battering ram approach throughout. I do promise you will be cheering him during the “cliffhanger” scene towards the end! I don’t know how long Simon Scarrow plans to keep these two going but I’ll be following them to the end!
December 1, 2025
4.5 Stars
Day of the Ceasers is another fun addition to the Eagles of the Empire series which I thoroughly enjoyed.
So far each book has had a unique plot minus one that felt quite similar to an older book, it astounds me how Scarrow can come up with unique plots each and every time with yet the same characters, world and cultures.
This plot more so than most of the others I found to be excellent, very intriguing and tense. There seemed to be a thick fog of tension in this novel which served the plot perfectly, the twists and turns were handled with real finesse with nearly every development feeling both suprising and yet inevitable.
One character I was sure till the end was a traitor and turns out I was completely wrong which is great as it shows although Scarrow plays with cliches and tropes and just when you think your jaws are going to close around one leaving you satisfied he throws you off the chase with a new scent and leaves you ravenous for the next dangling morsel.
The ending is especially satisfying, it was decisive, dramatic, and well-earned. Again I thought I knew how it was going to go before we got there, then when we got there it seemed to be going exactly as I thought and then ... whooops, no you're wrong again.
All of the above is constantly weaved around the satisfying continued growth of Cato and Macro, both as individuals and as brothers in arms. Many times I have felt there hasn't been much growth but when I look back it has just been more subtle than I had expected.
Day of the Ceasers is another fun addition to the Eagles of the Empire series which I thoroughly enjoyed.
So far each book has had a unique plot minus one that felt quite similar to an older book, it astounds me how Scarrow can come up with unique plots each and every time with yet the same characters, world and cultures.
This plot more so than most of the others I found to be excellent, very intriguing and tense. There seemed to be a thick fog of tension in this novel which served the plot perfectly, the twists and turns were handled with real finesse with nearly every development feeling both suprising and yet inevitable.
One character I was sure till the end was a traitor and turns out I was completely wrong which is great as it shows although Scarrow plays with cliches and tropes and just when you think your jaws are going to close around one leaving you satisfied he throws you off the chase with a new scent and leaves you ravenous for the next dangling morsel.
The ending is especially satisfying, it was decisive, dramatic, and well-earned. Again I thought I knew how it was going to go before we got there, then when we got there it seemed to be going exactly as I thought and then ... whooops, no you're wrong again.
All of the above is constantly weaved around the satisfying continued growth of Cato and Macro, both as individuals and as brothers in arms. Many times I have felt there hasn't been much growth but when I look back it has just been more subtle than I had expected.
January 5, 2018
Rome is in turmoil, Emperor Claudius is dead and his adopted son, Nero, has been declared Emperor. However rumour has it that Claudius was poisioned by his wife/niece Aggripina to disinherit Claudius' natural son, Britannicus, in favour of her own son. As rebellion is in the air Prefect Cato is claimed by both sides as his influence is needed but as he trusted friend Macro is framed for murder and his son is kidnapped Cato struggles to know which side to ally with.
Scarrow is a greatly loved author and this was the first of his books that I have read. Day of the Caesars is the 16th in a long running series about the characters in the Roman Army an, in common with many long running series, there is a lot of detail that has appeared in previous books and which is hinted at in this instalment. For this reason I found it difficult to engage with the book at first, characters appeared fully formed and their relationships and previous experiences were alluded to. However after persevering I became engrossed in the tale which blended fact and fiction seamlessly. Scarrow is a very entertaining writer, the smells and atmosphere of Rome are vivid and the politics that form such a key component of Roman life are explained in a way that does not confuse. The fight scenes are visceral and the characters are actually well-rounded.
Scarrow is a greatly loved author and this was the first of his books that I have read. Day of the Caesars is the 16th in a long running series about the characters in the Roman Army an, in common with many long running series, there is a lot of detail that has appeared in previous books and which is hinted at in this instalment. For this reason I found it difficult to engage with the book at first, characters appeared fully formed and their relationships and previous experiences were alluded to. However after persevering I became engrossed in the tale which blended fact and fiction seamlessly. Scarrow is a very entertaining writer, the smells and atmosphere of Rome are vivid and the politics that form such a key component of Roman life are explained in a way that does not confuse. The fight scenes are visceral and the characters are actually well-rounded.
August 20, 2020
Throughout the series, Cato and Macro keep having to decide which is the lesser of the two evils when dealing with the late Emperor Claudius's freedmen who served as his secretaries. Back then, those secretaries had a lot of power and were more like modern cabinet officials; Pallas controlled the treasury and Narcissus controlled the "correspondence" (another word for espionage). We know from history: 1) Narcissus backed Britannicus and 2) was executed by Nero. Scarrow fills in the fictionalized details. We also know that Britannicus was killed; some suspect poisoning since that was Nero's favorite way of dealing with his adversaries.
At this point, Nero's insanity was not evident because in the early years of his reign, he managed to rule quite well. In the story, I think Cato backed Nero, not necessarily because he liked the new emperor, but because he represented the "legitimate" ruler. We know how that will turn out in 68 AD, but until then Cato has no idea.
Scarrow weaves those threads well. As I mentioned earlier, the thread with his late wife Julia was somewhat disappointing because I liked her and for her to "fake" betray her husband and cause her her husband to doubt her, didn't sit well with me.
At this point, Nero's insanity was not evident because in the early years of his reign, he managed to rule quite well. In the story, I think Cato backed Nero, not necessarily because he liked the new emperor, but because he represented the "legitimate" ruler. We know how that will turn out in 68 AD, but until then Cato has no idea.
Scarrow weaves those threads well. As I mentioned earlier, the thread with his late wife Julia was somewhat disappointing because I liked her and for her to "fake" betray her husband and cause her her husband to doubt her, didn't sit well with me.
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