Sandy and Gritty - Rated 
This is the first Wallace Breem book I've read and I must say it was a pleasant experience. I found his dialogue a little difficult at times - it is full of interruptions which, I admit, reflects the reality of conversation between people, but makes for uncomfortable reading. The story - the rescue of the eponymous Legate's daughter - is almost inconsequential, while the greater events that seem to almost flicker in the background are never really explored. As such it reflects the rather lowly status of the hero of the story, Curtius Rufus, who is often kept in the dark and is always unsure as to what the big picture might be. The whole thing leaves the reader feeling a little unsatisfied, while the ending is somewhat ill-defined.
All of which makes for a thoroughly great read. The book reflects real life - unsatisfactory and uncertain. There is no real happy ending as such, merely a continuation of life. The reader is left hanging and wanting more. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more of this author's work
Intrigue in ancient Rome - Rated
Let me start of by saying that this is a very different book from 'Eagle in the snow'. Whereas the latter is more concerned with battle, courage and steadfastness against all odds, 'The Legate's daughter' is about diplomacy, deceit and intrigue in the last years of Augustus' reign, and about the relationships between men and women too.
In 'Eagle in the snow' the straightforward language also reflects the character of the men (there's few women in that book) figuring in the book: soldiers all, who mean what they say and say what they mean. Not so here: in 'The Legate's daughter' nothing is what it seems, and men and women speak in veiled terms, and as a reader you must really keep your wits about you to keep up with the story.
Having said that, this is without a shadow of a doubt a very fine historical novel, as was (is) 'Eagle in the snow'. It's so sad Breem never had the time to write some more!
A wonderful book - Rated 
Sadly Wallace Breem wrote too few books. But of those he did write, this is one of my favourites.
It tells the story of man, an ex-centurion desperately adrift in Roman society, who can't keep a job, drinks and gambles too much, and is running out of money.
The he's handed a mission, but not just any mission.... Sound familiar? Sure, but in Breem's hands what could be hackneyed is wonderful.
Our hero is off on a mission to rescue a young woman kidnapped by pirates. But in fact the mission has greater significance.
It's a lovely tale and Breem deftly conjures up late first century Rome, with its rich aristocrats in their villas on the Palatine or Esquiline Hills and poor masses in the over-crowded tenements in the stinking slums of the Subura. If you love Roman history, do read this.
Could've been better - Rated 
I bought this book on the strength of Breem's epic Eagle In The Snow and looked forward to it so much. Alas, it's nowhere near as good as it lacks all the key things that EITS has. Yes, it's superbly written and you'll feel thoroughly sandblasted after reading about marching through the desert as the portrayal is so vivid, but these are none of the set piece battles I expected, nor has it got the same edginess that EITS had. Finally, the characters just don't seem as real. The overall feeling is that it seems rushed and I often had the feeling that I was reading an abridged book.
That said, it's still worth a read and it remains one of the better books I have read about the Roman period. Furthermore, it makes a refreshing change to read about Romans in North Africa as opposed to Britain, Gaul or the Rhine. I'd recommed it to fans of the genre, but it's not in the same league as Eagle In The Snow or Imperial Governor.
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