Enjoyable Roman Military Mystery

Simon Scarrow is a new author for me. I enjoyed the first volume of his Macro and Cato series even though I felt something was missing but I can't actually put a finger on what. Maybe it was the lack of a conclusion, the ending being a setup for the next book, which is not available on Audible. It doesn't make sense to go on to Book 3 when there would be huge gaps in the major storyline.

That said, Macro the Centurion and Cato the Optimo are an appealing duo. I learned a great deal about the structure of the Roman military and Roman politics. The battle scenes are well orchestrated and are violent without being ghoulish. There are a few too many F-bombs considering the word didn't exist at the time but they don't feel inappropriate for the military setting.

David Thorpe is the wonder narrator. He captures each character perfectly.

I won't continue with this series until Book 2 is available.

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Enthralling Historical Drama

This historical fiction explores life as a soldier in the Second Legion of the Roman Army stationed in German in 42 A.C.E. It is a familiar theme of an experienced centurion (sergeant) Macro taking a teenaged recruit named Quintus Licinius Cato, an educated freedman, who was appointed by Emperor Claudius to a rank he has no knowledge or experience to hold. Cato must grow up quickly to survive. While the story unfolds Scarrow provides a great deal of information about the Roman Army and its campaigns. This first novel in the series is first set in Germany then the Second Legion is part of the campaign of the conquest of Britain. Scarrow provides the reader with a view of the everyday life of an average Roman soldier.

Scarrow has a good understanding of the genre and of ancient Rome. The characters are interesting and the plot twist and turns with lots of suspense. Scarrow does a decent job with the battle scenes. The book is a fun adventure with some mystery and political intrigue tossed in. David Thorpe does a good job narrating the book.

8 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

I've got a new series

If you enjoy Bernard Cornwell or Patrick O'Brian you'll enjoy Simon Scarrow. Good story that pulls you along with the main characters. Some of the narrators choice of voices aren't what i'd have chosen, but fit the British background of the narrator (and auther).

3 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Story Develops Nicely

Though it took a few chapters to draw me in, I ended up enjoying this story. The setting in a Roman legion is interesting, but this would work equally well in almost any army of any period. The reader did a great job with varying his voices so that you can recognize each character immediately. Very entertaining.

7 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Will not continue series until book 2 is available

Would you consider the audio edition of Under the Eagle to be better than the print version?

Never read the print edition

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Yes, the plot was great and well written.

Which character – as performed by David Thorpe – was your favorite?

Macro was my favorite character and how he would respond to Cato's untested legion ways.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, I consumed this book quickly - 2 days.

Any additional comments?

Great start...I will not continue series until book 2 is available

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I'm Not Sure Who Made The Decision...

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Who is the overpaid moron that decided it was a good idea to introduce a series, but not get the licenses for ALL of the books in the series?
I listened to book one, Under The Eagle and thoroughly enjoyed it, but when I went to get book 2, I got a notice that Audible does not have the license rights to sell that book in the US.
I will not listen to anymore until I can listen to ALL of them.

5 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Roman Army? Where?

What disappointed you about Under the Eagle?

It was very generic. There are long stretches where you'd be hard pressed to remember its about the Roman Army.

What do you think your next listen will be?

Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry. He never disappoints.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of David Thorpe?

I have a well documented audio crush on Ray Porter, so I'd go with him.

What character would you cut from Under the Eagle?

None of them. It was an adequate story. Poorly narrated--- his Roman soldiers were overdone caracitures of English thugs. So bad they became almost comical.

Any additional comments?

I was looking for something more authentic and more about the army, and the esprit de corps. This was a tedious "mystery" with such poorly fleshed out characters there wasn't anyone to like.

8 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Narrator sounded like Mony Python sometimes

Hood enough story. A little far fetched at times. my main beef was that the narrator sounded like a Monty Python character with some of the voices. Especially Bestia. It was pure Michael Palin at his ridiculous best.

1 personne a trouvé cela utile

It's a bit like the life of Brian Monty Python movie

Injecting British colloquialisms into a Roman story is a good way to relate it to modern times I suppose. I'm sure the Romans talked as rough as any military folks could.

1 personne a trouvé cela utile

Enjoyable historical fiction.

I always enjoy having historical charters recast into plausible yet obviously fictitious stories. Add on to that a couple of likable main characters as the centre piece for this book, and you have the start of an enjoyable franchise.

There was nothing earth-shattering in this story, but it does give good solid entertainment value for your money. The performance seemed well suited for the story and characters, and certainly added to the overall enjoyment of the experience.

To sum up, if you like historical fiction, and in particular the Roman period, then give this story a try. You shouldn't be disappointed!

3 personnes ont trouvé cela utile