The Eagle's Prey by Simon Scarrow

Book Review

I enjoyed the book. I had read others in the series, and enjoy the developing friendship between Cato and Macro. It is very unequal at first, but grows stronger and better. In this, the two are separated when Cato escapes, and Macro has to try to think, be more like Cato, to negotiate his way through treacherous intrigue and ferociously competitive jockeying for position.

The details seemed true to me, historically accurate, as far as I can see. I have been to museums and sites of Roman ruins, and I believed the settings completely.

The adventure, the political intrigue, the instances of camaraderie all work as topics for fiction for me. I thought the writing was crisp, and the plot action packed and exciting.
I took it on holiday, it was a good read and immediately accessible. I can live with a few flaws; it does stretch credibility that our heroes always happen to be in the right place at the right time, but with a long running series featuring the same characters, you get that. It happened to Holmes and Watson too! Also, you just knew that either one of them was going to draw the short straw. I'd like to know what happened to some of the more important minor characters, like Figulus, and I felt that an army as efficient as the Romans would have dealt with the barmy commander before he endangered the lives of the men under his command, but maybe that shows how little I know about real life in an army!

Jayne

Much to my surprise I also enjoyed it. At the library this author is very popular, but mainly with men so I didn't expect it to be my sort of thing. I didn't like it at first as it was just a description of fighting but I persevered and then enjoyed the story. It also helped that I have just been to the sites of two Roman camps, one at Corbridge, Northumberland and one at Housesteads Roman Fort, Hadrian's Wall, so I could visualize the setting. I will probably try and read the whole series in order, when time permits!

Pauline

Of the group members who read the book most were, like me, pleasantly surprised. The book got a score of 6½ for both enjoyment and the quality of the writing.