A change of scenery - Rated 
Just as our heroes seems to get settled, it's all change! Their arch nemesis Narcissus decides to once again send them on a no win mission, if they die, well they are off his hands, and if they succeed, then mission accomplished! Superb series of historic fiction novels to rival Cornwell et al.
Hmmmm - Rated 
If you've stumbled into Scarrow after reading everything that O'brien, Forrester and Cornwell have to offer then this novel maybe the one where your reservations are finally justified. Trite and unconvincing, I'm heartily sick of Cato's 21st century attitude to the injustices of Rome, at one point he even goes on about Rome's Moral responsibilities to the world!!! Pah! I want to read about big battles with barbarians in distant lands.
I wouldn't mind but it's badly written too.
The best of the series - Rated
Personally I think this is the best of Simon Scarrow's books. The characters are well-developed (the main men Macro and Cato are very likeable), there's an excellent plot and villains to hate, and a bit of a twist at the end. The action is well-described... I couldn't put it down and couldn't wait to pick up the next volume. This would make one hell of a movie.
Shores Anew, But Same Old Heroic Adventure. - Rated
This is the sixth book in Simon Scarrow's excellent Macro and Cato series, and is the first book in the series that is wholly set outside of the ever raining isle of Britain. Personally I think that readers of this series will be happy at the new settings and locations, there is a limited amount of entertainment value in a series being flogged to death constantly fighting the same enemy in the same locations time and time again.
The Eagles Prophecy see our illustrious duo on a mission to rescue to some mysterious scrolls from raiding pirates in the Adriatic, and in the process rescuing Rome from the threat of bribery and constant ransacking of small towns and villages. Macro and Cato, whilst brave to the point of stupidity sometimes have no choice in taking the mission due to the threat of death still hanging over them from the previous book `The Eagle's Prey`.
All the characters in the book hold to the form of previous novels by Scarrow, and the evil and scheming Vitellius makes a welcome return in his own unique way. Sometimes I feel I find myself reading more than I intended just to see if Vitellius gets his just deserts - it is good to have a villainous adversary but I would prefer to see him or maybe some of his lackeys get on the wrong side of Emperor Claudius on occasions.
Another welcome aspect to this book is the addition of some family history of Macro, and indeed the appearance of his mother makes Macro seem to the reader to be a little more human than he may have come across in previous books. I think though as the novel goes on the reader is going to start to get an idea of who Minucius is and the revelation at the end maybe does not surprise the reader as much as what I feel Scarrow intended.
Scarrow's books are not about the Generals or Kings that have made the headlines in history. They are hard, dirty and gritty, and are about the everyday centurion in the Roman army, their struggles to live through to retirement and the bravery of the everyday soldier. I would imagine that if you enjoy the Cornwall `Sharpe' novels you may well enjoy these. However, with Scarrow previously running Roman history programmes, the story is continually enhanced by his knowledge and expertise of the subject.
The best recommendation that I can give the reader of this review is that I have about a hundred unread second hand paperbacks in my cupboard and yet I still went out and bought this book and felt it was money and time well spent ! 5 out of 5.
One of the best in the series - Rated 
In "The Eagle's Prophecy" Macro and Cato, having returned with Vespasian from Britain, find themselves stuck in Rome unable to find news postings to another legion. When the imperial secretary Narcissus learns of their presence he has just the job for them: pirates have been scourging the coasts of Italy, and by sheer luck three very important scrolls have fallen into their hands. Macro and Cato are to join the fleet ordered to destroy these pirates, and retrieve the scrolls. A difficult enough mission as it is, but as luck would have it their old enemy Vitellius has been appointed prefect of the fleet...
I found this a very good adventure novel, not least because of the change of scene: Macro and Cato have to face unfamiliar enemies on unfamiliair ground (or water, of you will). Combined with the skill Scarrow meanwhile has in building an intriguing plot and keeping you in the thick of action almost constantly, this makes for a very welcome addition to the series.
Very well done, I'm looking forward to the further adventures of our 2 centurions!
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