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Eagles of the Empire #9
The Gladiator
Book by Simon Scarrow
498 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
219 people are currently reading
1810 people want to read
About the author
Simon Scarrow
171 books2,159 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 190 reviews
April 30, 2025
Macro and Cato find themselves in Crete where an earthquake and tidal wave give the massive slave population an opportunity for freedom and revenge. The slaves find a leader in the gladiator Ajax who seeks revenge on the Romans that enslaved him and his fellow slaves. My sympathies were with the enslaved people brutalized by a system that exploited them and made them do humiliating things for their masters. Macro and Cato fight to reestablish this order of things that has many parallels with our old South except for slavery not being based on skin color. The slaves are a dangerous force to be reckoned with since they laugh in the face of death and having nothing to lose. What leads to their downfall is that everyone including Ajax let revenge cloud their judgement and they don't have real military organization. The reader will admire the resourcefulness of Macro and Cato but they will not like the cause they are fighting for.
January 7, 2022
Read this book in 2009, and its the 9th volume of the wonderful "Eagle" series, featuring Cato & Macro.
In this tale Cato and Macro are returning home to Rome from their campaign against the Parthians, but when nearing home soil their transport ship will encounter a tidal wave and nearly get capsized.
Cato and Macro and the rest of the ship can just make to the port of Matala in Crete, and there they will find a devastated town.
This devastation is the result of an earthquake, and not long after its aftermath the island's slaves begin a revolt, while at the same time local bandits, lead by a gladiator, are taking advantage of the slave rebellion, and urging the Cretans to overthrow the Romans.
Many of the island's troops are either dead or wounded by the earthquake, the local Governor of the Province call on Cato and Macro for their help in suppressing this revolt.
What is to follow is an amazing and thrilling Roman adventure, in which our friends, Cato and Macro, will excel in their determination and resourcefulness to stop this revolt, and with luck but also with cunning and true leadership on their side when fighting these rebels, they will be able to quell this rebellion and bring peace to this Province.
Highly recommended, for this is another excellent addition to this great series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Superb Roman Eagle Gladiator Adventure"!
In this tale Cato and Macro are returning home to Rome from their campaign against the Parthians, but when nearing home soil their transport ship will encounter a tidal wave and nearly get capsized.
Cato and Macro and the rest of the ship can just make to the port of Matala in Crete, and there they will find a devastated town.
This devastation is the result of an earthquake, and not long after its aftermath the island's slaves begin a revolt, while at the same time local bandits, lead by a gladiator, are taking advantage of the slave rebellion, and urging the Cretans to overthrow the Romans.
Many of the island's troops are either dead or wounded by the earthquake, the local Governor of the Province call on Cato and Macro for their help in suppressing this revolt.
What is to follow is an amazing and thrilling Roman adventure, in which our friends, Cato and Macro, will excel in their determination and resourcefulness to stop this revolt, and with luck but also with cunning and true leadership on their side when fighting these rebels, they will be able to quell this rebellion and bring peace to this Province.
Highly recommended, for this is another excellent addition to this great series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Superb Roman Eagle Gladiator Adventure"!
April 16, 2015
I picked this book up at The Works on a sale, not realising that there are 8 books before it, and there are more after too. I have around 13 more books to read to catch up on the series, and if they're are all like this one, they shall be a pleasure to read. Simon Scarrow's gripping plot in this is very easy to read. That is, it pulls you right into the action from the first few pages. Also, as someone who hasn't read the other books, I found it easy to follow what was happening. It is a fantastic story in its own right, but I look forward to reading the other books to get a sense of where this plot fits with the others.
September 12, 2014
Yet another Scarrow book where he insists on crowbarring a siege into the novel, where the plucky heroes are terribly outnumbered by their dastardly ragtag rebel enemy.
Fortunately for Scarrow, that portion of the story only takes up just under a third of the book, so there's plenty of other action to distract from that annoying niggle, including some sloppy garrison troops, a kidnapping and a clever climactic battle victory.
For those unfamiliar with the series so far, this book sees the return of one of the protagonists from The Eagle's Prophecy who, much like our heroes, finds his path accidentally but fortuitously allows him to wreak a path of bloody vengeance against everyone that comes his way.
This is actually one of the better books in the series so far as there's relatively little of the trudging rehashing, turgid gnashing of teeth or spell of repetition that made the previous books so frustrating.
It's still not on a par with a number of other Roman fiction authors I've read but it's a good, enjoyable way to spend your time I guess.
Slightly disappointed that the story has to roll over into another book as I've a sinking feeling that Scarrow may waste what has been a good plotline so far and, along with the obligatory siege he's undoubtably going to force into the plot of the next book, may well turn it into a stale affair where everything goes out not with a bang but a bloody whimper, in both senses of the word.
Fortunately for Scarrow, that portion of the story only takes up just under a third of the book, so there's plenty of other action to distract from that annoying niggle, including some sloppy garrison troops, a kidnapping and a clever climactic battle victory.
For those unfamiliar with the series so far, this book sees the return of one of the protagonists from The Eagle's Prophecy who, much like our heroes, finds his path accidentally but fortuitously allows him to wreak a path of bloody vengeance against everyone that comes his way.
This is actually one of the better books in the series so far as there's relatively little of the trudging rehashing, turgid gnashing of teeth or spell of repetition that made the previous books so frustrating.
It's still not on a par with a number of other Roman fiction authors I've read but it's a good, enjoyable way to spend your time I guess.
Slightly disappointed that the story has to roll over into another book as I've a sinking feeling that Scarrow may waste what has been a good plotline so far and, along with the obligatory siege he's undoubtably going to force into the plot of the next book, may well turn it into a stale affair where everything goes out not with a bang but a bloody whimper, in both senses of the word.
August 10, 2012
The Gladiator... Macro and Cato are still quite a double act (Cato being the straight guy, with Macro not usually intending to be funny *laughing just thinking about it*). I won't ruin the plot so far, but they're each strong enough character's to carry a chapter on their own. They are Optio/Centurion's/Prefect's/Tribune *smiling*, depending on what fate has carved for them. Here they are stranded in a different scenario and up against the odds once again. This time against a former slave, a former Gladiator, and an entire army of risen men and women. The Gladiator has battle knowledge, a really good strategist, and this is not what they need. But it appears to be more personal, especially where Macro and Cato are concerned. Oh, and Cato's has a young love to consider, and vice versa. Truly good characters and well written... So far, so good, though the start I didn't find to be the best entrance into the book, it was necessary.
It's somehow different to the others in the Eagle series. It's not just the beginning (though that is part of it), it's also the placing (a small island), the secondary characters and Catos' betrothed. Maybe even a different style to Scarrow's writing in this one, but a major factor is that Macro and Cato are seperated in many a chapter (most of the book). That said, I'd still recommend it and have to give it 4 stars.
It's somehow different to the others in the Eagle series. It's not just the beginning (though that is part of it), it's also the placing (a small island), the secondary characters and Catos' betrothed. Maybe even a different style to Scarrow's writing in this one, but a major factor is that Macro and Cato are seperated in many a chapter (most of the book). That said, I'd still recommend it and have to give it 4 stars.
December 22, 2015
-Por fin un antagonista que… no, tampoco.-
Género. Novela histórica (en un sentido muy amplio de la palabra).
Lo que nos cuenta. Cuando Macro y Cato, junto a la futura familia política de éste, tratan de volver a Roma, el tsunami generado por un terremoto les hace naufragar en Creta. Pero hay otro problema: esclavos rebeldes en gran número que tienen su propia visión de cómo hay que actuar contra el dominio de la Antigua Roma en la isla. Además, están liderados por alguien relacionado con el pasado de la pareja protagonista y no para bien. Noveno libro de la serie de Quinto Licinio Cato.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com....
Género. Novela histórica (en un sentido muy amplio de la palabra).
Lo que nos cuenta. Cuando Macro y Cato, junto a la futura familia política de éste, tratan de volver a Roma, el tsunami generado por un terremoto les hace naufragar en Creta. Pero hay otro problema: esclavos rebeldes en gran número que tienen su propia visión de cómo hay que actuar contra el dominio de la Antigua Roma en la isla. Además, están liderados por alguien relacionado con el pasado de la pareja protagonista y no para bien. Noveno libro de la serie de Quinto Licinio Cato.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com....
March 29, 2020
Mit dem Neunten Teil der Rom-Serie liefert Simon Scarrow wieder das, in was man sich in den letzten acht Romanen verliebt hat. Das neue Abenteuer von Cato und Macro lässt den Leser wieder in das Römische Reich des 1. Jahrhunderts nach Christus eintauchen und auch im Neunten Buch verzaubert dieser Einblick genauso, wie beim ersten Mal.
Wie immer ist die Geschichte nicht die Originellste und Spannenste, die man jemals gehört hat, aber das muss sie auch nicht sein. Die Bücher leben ja schließlich vom Setting und den mittlerweile ans Herz gewachsenen Charakteren Macro und Cato.
Das Thema, dass Scarrow dieses mal aufgreift ist Sklaverei. Ein Thema, was damals wie heute eine große Rolle spielt. Die Probleme und moralischen Schwierigkeiten, auf die die Protagonisten stoßen, existieren unserer Zeit genauso wie damals, bloß ist Sklaverei mittlerweile modernisiert worden und nennt sich nicht mehr so. Indem Scarrow beide Perspektiven, die der Sklaven und die der Herren, darstellt, macht er klar, dass das Thema doch komplizierter ist, als man es gerne darstellt.
Simon Scarrow ist einfach ein Meister darin, zu zeigen, dass Geschichte allgemein gültig und nicht nur etwas ist, was früher einmal war, sondern etwas, was immer bleibt.
Wie immer ist die Geschichte nicht die Originellste und Spannenste, die man jemals gehört hat, aber das muss sie auch nicht sein. Die Bücher leben ja schließlich vom Setting und den mittlerweile ans Herz gewachsenen Charakteren Macro und Cato.
Das Thema, dass Scarrow dieses mal aufgreift ist Sklaverei. Ein Thema, was damals wie heute eine große Rolle spielt. Die Probleme und moralischen Schwierigkeiten, auf die die Protagonisten stoßen, existieren unserer Zeit genauso wie damals, bloß ist Sklaverei mittlerweile modernisiert worden und nennt sich nicht mehr so. Indem Scarrow beide Perspektiven, die der Sklaven und die der Herren, darstellt, macht er klar, dass das Thema doch komplizierter ist, als man es gerne darstellt.
Simon Scarrow ist einfach ein Meister darin, zu zeigen, dass Geschichte allgemein gültig und nicht nur etwas ist, was früher einmal war, sondern etwas, was immer bleibt.
June 21, 2014
Scarrow has really stepped up his game this one. Started it yesterday and finished today. The best Eagle book so far :) At the end of the last book Cato and Macro were headed back to Rome to be reassigned and for Cato and Julia to get married....awww.
Things don't go to plan as an Earthquake and tidle wave hits Crete just as their ship is floating past it. With many of the people in charge killed and a full on slave revolt, it's up to Macro and Cato to save the day again.
I've said it before and I'll say it again. Cato and Macro have one of the best fictional relationships I've ever come across. They are great characters and even though I should feel sorry for the slaves, as their lives are terrible, well not Ajax -he deserves it, because they are against them I just want them to lose. There is lots of drama and excitment in this one as Macro and Julia are taken captive. Cato gets underestimated more than normal in this book which I didn't like, I think he's proved himself by now!
Although the end of this book is sorta happy, it ends with Cato and Marco heading off on another adventure and that wedding I was looking forward to in the last book seems to have been pushed back again. A great addition to the series but could also be read as a standalone novel.
Things don't go to plan as an Earthquake and tidle wave hits Crete just as their ship is floating past it. With many of the people in charge killed and a full on slave revolt, it's up to Macro and Cato to save the day again.
I've said it before and I'll say it again. Cato and Macro have one of the best fictional relationships I've ever come across. They are great characters and even though I should feel sorry for the slaves, as their lives are terrible, well not Ajax -he deserves it, because they are against them I just want them to lose. There is lots of drama and excitment in this one as Macro and Julia are taken captive. Cato gets underestimated more than normal in this book which I didn't like, I think he's proved himself by now!
Although the end of this book is sorta happy, it ends with Cato and Marco heading off on another adventure and that wedding I was looking forward to in the last book seems to have been pushed back again. A great addition to the series but could also be read as a standalone novel.
September 26, 2016
Although this is deep into a series of novels about Roman soldiers Macro and Cato, it didn't feel as though I'd missed much because the story stands well on its own. The research is good and the situation interesting, involving a massive earthquake that tore Cyprus apart in the middle of the first century AD and a slave revolt.
Overall the story was pretty well done, and rarely goes a direction you expect. Things that are planned almost never go as intended, but overall the good guys generally win. I do have a problem with the way the soldiers speak -- always a concern when writing historical novels, particularly this far in the past. Colloquialisms and patterns of speech that are too modern feel jarring, but no one is exactly sure how people spoke 2000 years ago, either.
A decent novel, part of a series I'm willing to try another book in, but not enormously compelling to me.
Overall the story was pretty well done, and rarely goes a direction you expect. Things that are planned almost never go as intended, but overall the good guys generally win. I do have a problem with the way the soldiers speak -- always a concern when writing historical novels, particularly this far in the past. Colloquialisms and patterns of speech that are too modern feel jarring, but no one is exactly sure how people spoke 2000 years ago, either.
A decent novel, part of a series I'm willing to try another book in, but not enormously compelling to me.
February 22, 2019
I'm reading the Simon Scarrow Eagle series. This nineth book was very good and full of mystery. It takes place on an island near Italy and is part of a slave revolt. While all of the books in this series are very brutal in their description of battle scenes, this one is especially strong in this area and isn't a book for the faint of heart. This could be a stand along book in the series too.
November 5, 2020
Roma İmparatorluğu döneminde geçen oldukça aksiyonlu bir maceraydı. 19 kitaplık bir serinin 9. kitabı imiş. Aradan okumuş oldum . Notum 2.5.
June 28, 2021
I really enjoyed this book, if your a fan of Game Of Thrones then I think you’ll enjoy it as well. Not as complex as GOT but same flavor. Lengthy but easy to read, never was too boring, very well written, author did great job in engaging the reader to finish the book ASAP. I also found it intriguing that the whole time reading I wasn’t sure what “team” I was rooting for, the Romans or the rebellious slaves. The author did a great job of portraying both sides leaving the reader to decide who they wanted to win. I look forward to reading more from this series.
July 22, 2025
Loved this book!
The tactics used by Cato and the storyline were brilliant
Look forward to my next Cato & Macro adventure
The tactics used by Cato and the storyline were brilliant
Look forward to my next Cato & Macro adventure
November 5, 2023
This is a very gritty book which I enjoyed but I could not understand the modern day dialect which didn't fit the times. Needs a follow up to complete the story.
November 29, 2011
After success in the last book, and as this is a series, we do expect success by the end of the novel, it is time to make our way home to Rome and for the heroes to get their rewards. Macro and Cato have been stepping up and giving great needed service to Rome, and Claudius and they deserve accolades.
Instead an earthquake and tidal wave beset them as they are near Crete. It throws the Island into turmoil, seriously hammering the infrastructure and forcing our two Centurions to step up once more.
We see the continuing evolution of Cato as a leader and we also see that Macro, once the Master, now becoming the lieutenant. Something that we knew from book one was a possibility and long overdue.
What comes as an unexpected and pleasant addition is that we have an enemy who we had left behind long ago, emerge. One that gives us plausible cause to believe he is not only present at the recovering Crete, but his actions will and do impact the story.
In all, a very good book and nice to see Cato finally on his path instead of treading water. A definite reread when we have the entire series finished.
Instead an earthquake and tidal wave beset them as they are near Crete. It throws the Island into turmoil, seriously hammering the infrastructure and forcing our two Centurions to step up once more.
We see the continuing evolution of Cato as a leader and we also see that Macro, once the Master, now becoming the lieutenant. Something that we knew from book one was a possibility and long overdue.
What comes as an unexpected and pleasant addition is that we have an enemy who we had left behind long ago, emerge. One that gives us plausible cause to believe he is not only present at the recovering Crete, but his actions will and do impact the story.
In all, a very good book and nice to see Cato finally on his path instead of treading water. A definite reread when we have the entire series finished.
August 8, 2012
Wherever Centurions Macro and Cato go their paths are dogged by disaster. This time their doomladen shadow falls on the island of Crete, and while the story was inspired by a holiday that Simon Scarrow took on the island, this episode in the ongoing series is no holiday for those involved, as they get caught up in an earthquake, tsunami and a Spartacus-like slave rebellion. Scarrow touches briefly on the necessity and cruelty of the slavery system in the Roman Empire, but sadly doesn't capitalize on that to create sympathy for the rebels, partly because the leader, Ajax, comes across as a 2 dimensional melodramatic villain, with some very stilted dialogue. This is unusual for Scarrow, who normally draws up very believable characters. What is not unusual is that the scenes between Cato and his beloved Julia are embarrassingly cringeworthy. Please Simon, stick to describing battlefield gore rather than romantic twaddle.
June 23, 2021
Macro and Cato are returning from Palmyra on a ship bound for Rome, fellow passengers include senator Sempronius and his beautiful daughter and the love of Cato, Julia.
Whilst passing Crete, the island is shattered by a devastating earthquake and the ship is almost wrecked by a tidal wave and cheating death the passengers and most of the crew become beached on a Cretan shore. The group trundle to the garrison town of Matala and discover that the island has not only been devastated by the earthquake but also succumbed to a slave rebellion led by an ex gladiator named Ajax, a man who has an almighty grudge against Rome and also, coincidentally, against Macro and Cato. Our heroic duo realise that it won’t be so easy to quell the uprising with this man in charge.
This is a different situation for Macro and Cato because they are not under military orders but have to rely mainly on their own nous and experience, and it makes for a really entertaining story. Once again full marks.
Whilst passing Crete, the island is shattered by a devastating earthquake and the ship is almost wrecked by a tidal wave and cheating death the passengers and most of the crew become beached on a Cretan shore. The group trundle to the garrison town of Matala and discover that the island has not only been devastated by the earthquake but also succumbed to a slave rebellion led by an ex gladiator named Ajax, a man who has an almighty grudge against Rome and also, coincidentally, against Macro and Cato. Our heroic duo realise that it won’t be so easy to quell the uprising with this man in charge.
This is a different situation for Macro and Cato because they are not under military orders but have to rely mainly on their own nous and experience, and it makes for a really entertaining story. Once again full marks.
June 23, 2015
It would have been much better to read this prior to The Legion. Both because I had no idea what was going on in the later book when I read it and this time because I knew what the outcome would be already.
I find that I prefer the books in this series that have a little more of the political in them, rather than the all battle (or lead up to a battle) sequences such as this one. So, not the best in the series in my opinion but still with great characters and lots of good history.
I find that I prefer the books in this series that have a little more of the political in them, rather than the all battle (or lead up to a battle) sequences such as this one. So, not the best in the series in my opinion but still with great characters and lots of good history.
July 30, 2015
This book convinced me to give up on the series. I've read all previous novels and I've got used to the thin plots, poorly-written villains and predictable plot twists. I didn't mind them much, I was reading them mostly for the battles.
However, Gladiator was dull. Rather ridiculous plot, characters acting, well, out of character, decisions that defy even the most primitive logic and descriptions that gave Crete (where the action is supposed to take place) the charming air of "generic Greek island".
However, Gladiator was dull. Rather ridiculous plot, characters acting, well, out of character, decisions that defy even the most primitive logic and descriptions that gave Crete (where the action is supposed to take place) the charming air of "generic Greek island".
October 2, 2010
Another historical fiction about the Roman legionaires Macro and Cato, this one probably takes the most historical license of all of them.
I really don't care. I still like the characters, the plot is still enjoyable, and the overall story arc advances in a direction that I'm interested in.
It's definitely a good read.
I really don't care. I still like the characters, the plot is still enjoyable, and the overall story arc advances in a direction that I'm interested in.
It's definitely a good read.
December 26, 2015
My second Scarrow read in 2 days. Will poor Cato ever get to stand still long enough to marry his beloved? He and Flash Gordon....er, Macro only have fourteen hours to save the earth......
Yup, heroic and impossible derring-do in the hands of a pretty sound historian and gifted writer result in pretty gripping stuff! More, please!
Yup, heroic and impossible derring-do in the hands of a pretty sound historian and gifted writer result in pretty gripping stuff! More, please!
September 2, 2020
Libro que tiene buenos momentos, pero para mí gusto le falta argumento, personajes más redondos y más variados, pocos ingredientes ha incluido para realizar esta novela. Flojo respecto a los demás. Pero aún así no está mal.
November 28, 2014
Erdbeben = Chaos = Aufstand der Sklaven geführt von einem Gladiator der nur eines will => RACHE
August 17, 2017
Fantástico, como nos habituou, e com direito a bónus no final. A saga continua: Siga!
March 18, 2021
Bé, bé
July 30, 2025
‘The Gladiator’ is a Roman adventure that’s full of action and drama, along with a little humour. The plot is strong and is engaging.
The main characters from the previous books, Cato and Macro, endure more hardships and dangers; however, this time they’re not sent on a mission, they end up on one through fate. Fate, in this case, is a shipwreck. I like shipwreck stories, so the tidal wave section in the first chapter was high excitement.
An earthquake caused the tidal wave, so the survivors of the battered ship make it to a land that's in ruins. A side effect to the natural disaster is a slave revolt, led by a gladiator who was one of Cato and Macro’s antagonists in a previous novel.
This novel gripped me from start to finish. It also continues Cato’s love story with a Roman senator’s daughter called Julia, who is a welcome addition to the recurring cast of characters. She spices the story up.
I couldn’t fail to notice during this and the past few books in the series, along with the author’s Napoleon and Wellington quadrilogy, that he overuses the phrase, ‘cleared his/her throat.’ It’s done to locate a character so that you know who’s about speak without the need of dialogue attribution, which I’m in full favour of, but with countless other lead-ins available, it becomes repetitive and predictable. ‘Cato cleared his throat.’ ‘Macro cleared his throat.’ ‘Julia cleared her throat.’ It’s probable that the author doesn’t realise he’s doing it. People do have traits that they’re unaware of. The Scarrow books I’ve read so far are fifteen to twenty years old now, however, so I’m hoping someone’s pointed it out to him by now if he hasn’t realised himself.
The book’s language is contemporary, which makes the narrative flow better than if the author had used archaic turns of phrase. He also uses modern English slang, which some readers won’t like, but at least it’s consistent. I’ve read historical novels where in one scene a character says something like, ‘Keep it in your trousers,’ while in another scene someone else says, ‘Whence came he thus?’
While I admit I would’ve preferred the language to not incorporate modern slang, the characters and third-person narration are engaging enough for this not to make me feel like I’m reading a story set during any period other than the first century AD.
Perhaps my being an Englishman makes the slang words and phrases more palatable. I admit, it did annoy me when, in another historical novel, the author of that book used the odd Americanism – ‘ass’ and ‘butt’, for example – so I can understand why any non-English reader – and certainly non-British – would be distracted by the slang terms.
So, while the slang words and phrases didn’t bother me, three other elements did distract me at times. One being a trait that keeps cropping up in books I’ve read this year by different authors, namely this sort of thing: ‘more loudly’, ‘more closely’, instead of the concise ‘louder’ and ‘closer’. Don’t use two words if one will do.
Adverbs: they ‘tell’, not ‘show’, and should be cut or replaced with a strong verb wherever possible.
The two points above are minor criticisms. The one big gripe I have is the overuse of ‘then’ to state what happens next. This novel is riddled with ‘thens’, at times making the third-person narrative sound like a child’s voice. ‘Then’ is easy to cut when editing, and it’s not hard to drop it altogether. It ends up being a filler word, notably when using it to start a sentence. The reader knows whatever’s happening is taking place after what’s just happened, so no need to put, ‘Then he …’ and such like.
In most cases, I deduct a star if a book is riddled with ‘thens’ or swamped with adverbs. As someone who appreciates good writing style, these things drive me to distraction. Yet, as mentioned, ‘The Gladiator’ is such a cracking story it overrode these niggling points.
It’s easier to go on and on criticising a book than it is to praise it over and over, and I’ve doubtless not expressed how impressed I am with ‘The Gladiator’ to the extent it deserves, so, in a nutshell, I’ll state this: it’s a great read.
The main characters from the previous books, Cato and Macro, endure more hardships and dangers; however, this time they’re not sent on a mission, they end up on one through fate. Fate, in this case, is a shipwreck. I like shipwreck stories, so the tidal wave section in the first chapter was high excitement.
An earthquake caused the tidal wave, so the survivors of the battered ship make it to a land that's in ruins. A side effect to the natural disaster is a slave revolt, led by a gladiator who was one of Cato and Macro’s antagonists in a previous novel.
This novel gripped me from start to finish. It also continues Cato’s love story with a Roman senator’s daughter called Julia, who is a welcome addition to the recurring cast of characters. She spices the story up.
I couldn’t fail to notice during this and the past few books in the series, along with the author’s Napoleon and Wellington quadrilogy, that he overuses the phrase, ‘cleared his/her throat.’ It’s done to locate a character so that you know who’s about speak without the need of dialogue attribution, which I’m in full favour of, but with countless other lead-ins available, it becomes repetitive and predictable. ‘Cato cleared his throat.’ ‘Macro cleared his throat.’ ‘Julia cleared her throat.’ It’s probable that the author doesn’t realise he’s doing it. People do have traits that they’re unaware of. The Scarrow books I’ve read so far are fifteen to twenty years old now, however, so I’m hoping someone’s pointed it out to him by now if he hasn’t realised himself.
The book’s language is contemporary, which makes the narrative flow better than if the author had used archaic turns of phrase. He also uses modern English slang, which some readers won’t like, but at least it’s consistent. I’ve read historical novels where in one scene a character says something like, ‘Keep it in your trousers,’ while in another scene someone else says, ‘Whence came he thus?’
While I admit I would’ve preferred the language to not incorporate modern slang, the characters and third-person narration are engaging enough for this not to make me feel like I’m reading a story set during any period other than the first century AD.
Perhaps my being an Englishman makes the slang words and phrases more palatable. I admit, it did annoy me when, in another historical novel, the author of that book used the odd Americanism – ‘ass’ and ‘butt’, for example – so I can understand why any non-English reader – and certainly non-British – would be distracted by the slang terms.
So, while the slang words and phrases didn’t bother me, three other elements did distract me at times. One being a trait that keeps cropping up in books I’ve read this year by different authors, namely this sort of thing: ‘more loudly’, ‘more closely’, instead of the concise ‘louder’ and ‘closer’. Don’t use two words if one will do.
Adverbs: they ‘tell’, not ‘show’, and should be cut or replaced with a strong verb wherever possible.
The two points above are minor criticisms. The one big gripe I have is the overuse of ‘then’ to state what happens next. This novel is riddled with ‘thens’, at times making the third-person narrative sound like a child’s voice. ‘Then’ is easy to cut when editing, and it’s not hard to drop it altogether. It ends up being a filler word, notably when using it to start a sentence. The reader knows whatever’s happening is taking place after what’s just happened, so no need to put, ‘Then he …’ and such like.
In most cases, I deduct a star if a book is riddled with ‘thens’ or swamped with adverbs. As someone who appreciates good writing style, these things drive me to distraction. Yet, as mentioned, ‘The Gladiator’ is such a cracking story it overrode these niggling points.
It’s easier to go on and on criticising a book than it is to praise it over and over, and I’ve doubtless not expressed how impressed I am with ‘The Gladiator’ to the extent it deserves, so, in a nutshell, I’ll state this: it’s a great read.
August 3, 2019
2.5 stars.
In all honesty, it was just meh.
So I know going into a series without reading the previous books may be bad but I was unprepared for how unconnected I was with the main characters in this novel. Right off the bat, Cato and Macro did nothing for me. They were pretty predictable and I couldn’t completely get a feel for them. The action was okay if again predictable and sort of unimaginative.
But the thing that really let me down the most was the writing. I felt that the speech and mannerisms in this book were far too modern for the setting. It’s set in Ancient Rome and yet the characters spoke with modern day slang. It just didn’t fit with the time period and I could not sink into the story as much as I wanted to.
Besides that, I wasn’t rooting for the main heroes. Instead, I was in support of the antagonists. I mean, Cato and Macro are fighting against a slave revolt. Am I supposed to side with the slave masters? Hell nope. I know the presence of slavery in the story was just indicative of the times and I get that. But I don’t understand how the author expected me to root for characters that are fighting against freedom?
Overall, after reading all the rave reviews, I’m just disappointed. There was nothing much to this book and I won’t be continuing the series.
In all honesty, it was just meh.
So I know going into a series without reading the previous books may be bad but I was unprepared for how unconnected I was with the main characters in this novel. Right off the bat, Cato and Macro did nothing for me. They were pretty predictable and I couldn’t completely get a feel for them. The action was okay if again predictable and sort of unimaginative.
But the thing that really let me down the most was the writing. I felt that the speech and mannerisms in this book were far too modern for the setting. It’s set in Ancient Rome and yet the characters spoke with modern day slang. It just didn’t fit with the time period and I could not sink into the story as much as I wanted to.
Besides that, I wasn’t rooting for the main heroes. Instead, I was in support of the antagonists. I mean, Cato and Macro are fighting against a slave revolt. Am I supposed to side with the slave masters? Hell nope. I know the presence of slavery in the story was just indicative of the times and I get that. But I don’t understand how the author expected me to root for characters that are fighting against freedom?
Overall, after reading all the rave reviews, I’m just disappointed. There was nothing much to this book and I won’t be continuing the series.
January 4, 2021
This was a solid entry in the series of Macro and Cato, centurions in the Roman Army.
In this book, our heroes are almost wiped out by a tidal wave that causes tremendous damage to the island of Crete. While they manage to save their ship and make land, many of the island's people don't, including much of the government and leadership.
In the aftermath of the disaster, Marco and Cato find themselves in the middle of a slave revolt led, of course, by a former enemy, turned gladiator and now slave general, Ajax. Ajax was the son of the pirate leader that they had bested and crucified in a past volume who was now coming back to haunt them.
I won't spoil anything, but Cato and company are challenged to overcome their foe, but the ending isn't as neat and tidy as previous books.
Overall, it was a worthwhile read and I found it quite enjoyable.
In this book, our heroes are almost wiped out by a tidal wave that causes tremendous damage to the island of Crete. While they manage to save their ship and make land, many of the island's people don't, including much of the government and leadership.
In the aftermath of the disaster, Marco and Cato find themselves in the middle of a slave revolt led, of course, by a former enemy, turned gladiator and now slave general, Ajax. Ajax was the son of the pirate leader that they had bested and crucified in a past volume who was now coming back to haunt them.
I won't spoil anything, but Cato and company are challenged to overcome their foe, but the ending isn't as neat and tidy as previous books.
Overall, it was a worthwhile read and I found it quite enjoyable.
April 22, 2025
First published in 2009, 'The Gladiator' is the ninth in the 'Eagles of the Empire' series of historical novels set against a background of the Roman Empire of 40-50 AD. In this tale, an earthquake in Crete devastates the island just as the main characters are preparing to make landfall whilst journeying by sea en-route to Rome. The story that follows is as predictable as day and night, with many near death experiences which only the main characters survive - not quite 'and with one might bound they were free' but not far off. This is redeemed by the fact that the tale is told with style and panache with some terrific action scenes and some very likeable characters, alongside the snarling villains. Great fun.
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