The Blood Crows (The Eagle Series)

For nearly ten years, the Roman Empire has fought ceaselessly to strengthen its hold over Britannia. But opposition from native tribes led by the ruthless warrior Caratacus threatens to destroy everything. Prefect Cato and Centurion Macro are summoned by Governor Ostorius to Londinium. Tasked with leading a newly formed cavalry cohort into the heartland of Wales, they must destroy the growing resistance. But with Caratacus hatching increasingly ambitious plans and disorder threatening from within Macro and Cato's own ranks, this final test will push the soldiers to their limits. And if they do not emerge as victors, the Emperor Claudius's rule may be at stake, and the very foundations of the Roman Empire could be shattered irrevocably. 

Front Cover

The Blood Crows is the 12th book of the Eagle Series by Simon Scarrow originally published in 2013. Basically the Eagle Series (first book Under The Eagle published in 2000) is a historical fictional accounts of two officers of the Imperial Roman army, Lucius Cornelius Macro as the experience older born and bred centurion of the legion and Quintus Licinius Cato, born a slave in the imperial palace and gain freedom (and Roman citizenship) upon joining the legion. 

This book sees the return of Marco and Cato back to Britain (the first 5 books are sets in Britain while Book 6 until 11 are sets in Rome and other parts of the Roman Empire. Cato now commands an auxiliary cohort holding the rank of prefect and the first book where Cato officially outranked his friend, mentor and father figure. The Blood Crows also brings back the fighting part of the early series rather than political intrigue like the few before this.

A pretty straight forward 'return back to soldiering' on the outset, our heroes however must also fight the enemies within and not just various still hostile tribes in pacifying Britain under the command of Caratacus.

In this episode, both Cato and Marco were sent to the far out post in Britain as a reward for their services to Rome (or Narcissus to be exact) with the intention to get away from politics as far as possible. Cato finally got his commission and to command and auxiliary cohort from Thrace after the previous prefect died supposedly from accident. Marco was sent together to command a legionary cohort attached together with the auxiliary cohort by the governor. 

I like that while the book is basically about straight fights between the Roman army and Caratacus, there's also an element of political plays behind as not only Marco and Cato have to fight off the British, they are also fighting with the ranks on the Blood Crows itself, which is the nick name of the Thracian cohort under their own commander.

All in all, a pretty interesting read.

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