Young centurion Marcus Flavius Aquila's father disappeared with the
doomed Ninth Legion in northern Britain. When Marcus takes a post in
Britain, he hopes to hear or discover something of the lost Ninth, but a
wound taken in battle cuts his military career short. After he
recovers, he embarks on a dangerous mission to discover what happened to
the Ninth, and to retrieve their bronze Eagle, the symbol of Roman
power and victory, which may be in the hands of the northern tribes.
This
story of high adventure in the long past is one that I probably would
have enjoyed as a child, but I never crossed paths with it at the time.
The writing is lovely and the pacing is strong. It's a quick read (the
audiobook I listened to was under five hours), full of goodness with
nothing extraneous. For all that, I'd say I liked it but didn't love it.
If historical fiction set in the days of the Roman Empire appeals to
you, I'd say give this a try, no matter your age.
(Reviewed from an e-audiobook borrowed through my library system.)
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