About the Book

AD 60: The hard-won province of Britannia is a thorn in the side of the Roman Empire: its tribes swift to anger and relentless in their bloody harassment of the Roman military. Far from being a peaceful northern enclave, Britannia is a seething mass of bitter rebels and unlikely alliances against the common enemy. Corruption amongst greedy officials diverts resources from the locals who need them. For the military, it's a never-ending fight to maintain a fragile peace. Now it's time to quell the most dangerous enemy tribes. Two of Rome's finest commanders -- Prefect Cato and Centurion Macro -- are charged with a mission as deadly as any they have faced in their long careers. Can they win the day, or could this be the last battle?

Book Synopsis

AD 60. Britannia. The Boudica Revolt begins . . .

Macro and Cato - heroes of the Roman Empire - face a ruthless enemy set on revenge

The Roman Empire's hold on the province of Britannia is fragile. The tribes implacably opposed to Rome have grown cunning in their attacks on the legions. Even amongst those who have sworn loyalty, dissent simmers. In distant Rome, Nero is blind to the danger.

As hostilities create mayhem in the west, Governor Gaius Suetonius Paulinus gathers a vast army, with Prefect Cato in command. A hero of countless battles, Cato wants his loyal comrade Centurion Macro by his side. But the Governor leaves Macro behind, in charge of the veteran reserves in Camulodunum. Suetonius dismisses concerns that the poorly fortified colony will be vulnerable to attack when only a skeleton force remains.

With the military distracted, slow-burning anger amongst the tribespeople bursts into flames. The king of the Iceni is dead and a proud kingdom is set for plundering and annexation. But the widow is Queen Boudica, a woman with a warrior's heart. If Boudica calls for death to the emperor, a bloodbath will follow.

Macro and Cato each face deadly battles against enemies who would rather die than succumb to Roman rule. The future of Britannia hangs in the balance.

'Scarrow . . . has the gift of combining wide knowledge of the period with a page-turning narrative' Sunday Times

SIMON SCARROW: 5 MILLION BOOKS SOLD WORLDWIDE!

Review Quotes

Scarrow . . . has the gift of combining wide knowledge of the period with a page-turning narrative--Sunday Times

PRAISE FOR SIMON SCARROW'S EARLIER BESTSELLING NOVELS

'Ferocious and compelling'

--Daily Express

'A new book in Simon Scarrow's series about the Roman army is always a joy'--The Times

'A rip-roaring read'--Mail on Sunday

'Gripping'--Sunday Express

About the Author

Simon Scarrow is the acclaimed author of multiple Sunday Times bestsellers, including Revenge of Rome and The Gladiator.

He is also the author of many other acclaimed novels including the Sunday Times bestseller A Death in Berlin, and a quartet of bestselling novels about Wellington and Napoleon. With T. J. Andrews he has co-written Warrior, focusing on the rebel chief Caratacus, and Arena, following the career of a gladiator hero, and more.