A review by melanie_books
Tarnished Empire by Danielle L. Jensen

3.0

Before Marcus and the Thirty-Seventh lived in infamy, they were a legion in training, under the Twenty-Ninth and their sadistic legatus. Two years before their fateful voyage to the West, the legion is on the final campaign to conquer Bardeen. As Marcus struggles to lead and protect his men from Legatus Hostus and Senator Grypus, the Thirty-Seventh's primus, Agrippa, seeks to protect Silvara, a laundress in the legion's followers camp. Despite being ordered to stay away, he is drawn to her quiet strength. Little does he know that she intends to take advantage of his kindness for the sake of her people and the rebellion that serves.

I'm not usually into reading novellas and prequels but I'm really glad I read this one. Knowing more of the history of the Thirty-Seventh made the other stories richer. Marcus's leadership of the legion and his willingness to personally sacrifice for them made decisions in the other books make more sense. I enjoyed the unpacking of the brotherhood that the legionnaires feel for one another - and why desertion and betrayal sting so much. Agrippa & Silvara's story was beautiful and heartbreaking and I can only hope that we haven't seen the last of either of them.