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A fascinating look at military justice in the Roman Army. And another in a great collection of adventure stories that enthrall.
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
The 5th book in the series sees the two main characters still in Britain. More of the same as per previous couple of books, but this time Cato is a wanted man.
Enjoyable book and i will continue with the series.
Enjoyable book and i will continue with the series.
“The Eagle's Prey” is Simon Scarrow's solid fifth volume in his "Eagle" series focused on roman military adventures in the early first century, AD. This is not the best of Scarrow's series, but it's an entertaining story of well-written action sequences held together by a reasonably solid, if not unique and totally cohesive, plot.
If you're new the adventures of now-Centurions Macro and Cato, you should look to “Under the Eagle” (#1) and “The Eagle's Conquest” (#2) for the best in terms of character introduction and genuinely fun and detailed action/adventure. This book stands alone in a self-contained story with brief character introductions, but can't be enjoyed fully without having the foundation of the first two "Eagle" books.
In "Prey", Macro and Cato are Centurions assigned to the 2nd Legion of the Roman Army. Led by Legate Vespasian (future Emperor), the 2nd is tasked with subduing native peoples in Britain in the mid first century, AD. Both are in their second seasons of campaigning on the Isle and look forward to the endgame in putting down what appears to be their primary foe in the barbarian Caratacus. Both Cato and Macro end up implicated in the 2nd's failure to contain Caratacus, and find themselves fighting an upstream battle against their superiors in a three-part conflict that's a running theme throughout Scarrow's series: 1) do what's moral and right; 2) do what's proper as a Roman legionary and for Rome; 3) minimize the personal and professional damage while often going against the grain.
“Prey” is a fine book…the story moves along swiftly and the characters have that familiarity like a cousin that was close when you were younger but whom you now only see 3 or 4 times a year. That familiarity is borne from their growth throughout Scarrow’s series, but also because their characterizations are a bit flat and predictable.
All of the “Eagle” books have a tv-movie feel. Think about the original “Star Trek” or “Star Trek – The Next Generation”…they were both cutting edge in their own rights, but at the end of the day they were built on TV budgets and to fit in TV schedule lengths. Compared against the stronger or newest Star Trek films, they appear a little shallower in production and storyline. Following the analogy, I'd compare of Scarrow’s “Eagle” to TV Star Trek as compared to deeper and more emotive film “Gladiator”.
I’ve found that I genuinely enjoy picking up the next story in the ongoing saga of Cato and Macro. I look forward to peeling back the next layer of their personalities, and uncovering the next chapter in their journeys in the Roman Army. Overall, I recommend this book.
If you're new the adventures of now-Centurions Macro and Cato, you should look to “Under the Eagle” (#1) and “The Eagle's Conquest” (#2) for the best in terms of character introduction and genuinely fun and detailed action/adventure. This book stands alone in a self-contained story with brief character introductions, but can't be enjoyed fully without having the foundation of the first two "Eagle" books.
In "Prey", Macro and Cato are Centurions assigned to the 2nd Legion of the Roman Army. Led by Legate Vespasian (future Emperor), the 2nd is tasked with subduing native peoples in Britain in the mid first century, AD. Both are in their second seasons of campaigning on the Isle and look forward to the endgame in putting down what appears to be their primary foe in the barbarian Caratacus. Both Cato and Macro end up implicated in the 2nd's failure to contain Caratacus, and find themselves fighting an upstream battle against their superiors in a three-part conflict that's a running theme throughout Scarrow's series: 1) do what's moral and right; 2) do what's proper as a Roman legionary and for Rome; 3) minimize the personal and professional damage while often going against the grain.
“Prey” is a fine book…the story moves along swiftly and the characters have that familiarity like a cousin that was close when you were younger but whom you now only see 3 or 4 times a year. That familiarity is borne from their growth throughout Scarrow’s series, but also because their characterizations are a bit flat and predictable.
All of the “Eagle” books have a tv-movie feel. Think about the original “Star Trek” or “Star Trek – The Next Generation”…they were both cutting edge in their own rights, but at the end of the day they were built on TV budgets and to fit in TV schedule lengths. Compared against the stronger or newest Star Trek films, they appear a little shallower in production and storyline. Following the analogy, I'd compare of Scarrow’s “Eagle” to TV Star Trek as compared to deeper and more emotive film “Gladiator”.
I’ve found that I genuinely enjoy picking up the next story in the ongoing saga of Cato and Macro. I look forward to peeling back the next layer of their personalities, and uncovering the next chapter in their journeys in the Roman Army. Overall, I recommend this book.
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
The 5th book in the series sees the two main characters still in Britain. More of the same as per previous couple of books, but this time Cato is a wanted man.
Enjoyable book and i will continue with the series.
Enjoyable book and i will continue with the series.
Rollicking good yarn. I am starting to feel a measure of sympathy for the Brits.