When the Eagle Hunts

Rating:
Summary: The Eagle is firmly established
Review: Scarrow's third installment of Cato and Macro in 'When the Eagle Hunts' drops us into Camulodunum (after a quick account of the shipwreck of Valerius Maxientius with unknown female plus children in the Channel) where our familiar heroes are frequenting a seedy tavern as Macro continues his 'courtship' of the forthright Iceni warrior, Boudica. Given the previous two novels this unashamed and blatant use of another venerated historical figure comes as no surprise, even less so the parodied caricature of her as a lustful, forthright and general adventurer.
Still, with good humour we follow them into the tavern and then meet Boudica's mentor and husband-to-be, Prasutagas whose characterisation as a huge warrior with little intellectual capacity is entirely at odds with actual history. Scarrow introduces a minor love triangle with the usually dour Macro falling for the lively Boudica though he refuses to admit it.
The action of the third novel takes off with the Augusta II being sent to Calleva (near the modern town of Silchester) in order to scout the Britons' next move. Whilst down there the sixth cohort under Hortensius is ambushed in a town that has previously been raided by the Durotriges and they fight a rearguard action all the way back to the legion. It is at this point we learn of a shadowy order of Druids who have captured General Plautius wife, Pomponia, and children, Julia and Aelius, and are holding them to ransom in return for the legion's own prisoners.
Macro and Cato are sent undercover deep into the Durotriges territory to attempt a rescue of the prisoners. Their guides are Boudica and Prasutagas - neatly providing us with some amusing asides as each learns to live with the other. We move from farmhouse to secret villages as the four delve ever deeper into southern Britain until they finally catch up with them at a formidable hillfort. Cato attempts a risky rescue via the drains (having previously saved one of the children, Julia) after Macro is felled with a sword blow to the head and in the process of the legion's storming the fort receives a near fatal wound from the sickle of the head Druid. However all ends well and finally Cato gets what he deserves - promotion to centurion and both he and Macro end up in their own personal sickward for a month to cap it all off.
Mr Cornwell doesn't have 'too much to fear' (as he professes on the front covers) but Scarrow's books are an enormously refreshing in the historical genre. The purist can pick multiple holes in their historical accuracy and probably several characterisations that are more parodies, but it simply does not matter.
For Scarrow historical accuracy is not all-important. What is important and where he succeeds admirably is in providing a ripping yarn that has action, adventure, characters you can delight in, and plot lines that are gripping.
I hope the adventures of Cato and Macro continue for a very long time and eagerly await the next installment.

Rating:
Summary: The Eagle is firmly established
Review: Scarrow's third installment of Cato and Macro in `When the Eagle Hunts' drops us into Camulodunum (after a quick account of the shipwreck of Valerius Maxientius with unknown female plus children in the Channel) where our familiar heroes are frequenting a seedy tavern as Macro continues his `courtship' of the forthright Iceni warrior, Boudica. Given the previous two novels this unashamed and blatant use of another venerated historical figure comes as no surprise, even less so the parodied caricature of her as a lustful, forthright and general adventurer.
Still, with good humour we follow them into the tavern and then meet Boudica's mentor and husband-to-be, Prasutagas whose characterisation as a huge warrior with little intellectual capacity is entirely at odds with actual history. Scarrow introduces a minor love triangle with the usually dour Macro falling for the lively Boudica though he refuses to admit it.
The action of the third novel takes off with the Augusta II being sent to Calleva (near the modern town of Silchester) in order to scout the Britons' next move. Whilst down there the sixth cohort under Hortensius is ambushed in a town that has previously been raided by the Durotriges and they fight a rearguard action all the way back to the legion. It is at this point we learn of a shadowy order of Druids who have captured General Plautius wife, Pomponia, and children, Julia and Aelius, and are holding them to ransom in return for the legion's own prisoners.
Macro and Cato are sent undercover deep into the Durotriges territory to attempt a rescue of the prisoners. Their guides are Boudica and Prasutagas - neatly providing us with some amusing asides as each learns to live with the other. We move from farmhouse to secret villages as the four delve ever deeper into southern Britain until they finally catch up with them at a formidable hillfort. Cato attempts a risky rescue via the drains (having previously saved one of the children, Julia) after Macro is felled with a sword blow to the head and in the process of the legion's storming the fort receives a near fatal wound from the sickle of the head Druid. However all ends well and finally Cato gets what he deserves - promotion to centurion and both he and Macro end up in their own personal sickward for a month to cap it all off.
Mr Cornwell doesn't have `too much to fear' (as he professes on the front covers) but Scarrow's books are an enormously refreshing in the historical genre. The purist can pick multiple holes in their historical accuracy and probably several characterisations that are more parodies, but it simply does not matter.
For Scarrow historical accuracy is not all-important. What is important and where he succeeds admirably is in providing a ripping yarn that has action, adventure, characters you can delight in, and plot lines that are gripping.
I hope the adventures of Cato and Macro continue for a very long time and eagerly await the next installment.

Rating:
Summary: Better and Better
Review: The seemingly endless procession of fine British historical novels continues in a gripping manner with the newest addition to Simon Scarrow's fine Macro and Cato series. By now, the reader is fairly well used to the intricacies of the two very different characters, so Scarrow's challenge is to grip a whole new group of readers yet again with his storytelling ability. I was happy to discover that the old traits of the two Legionnaires are still there, but Scarrow resists the natural aging process and keeps the two Roman soldiers as fresh as ever. Along with a fascinating story dealing with history still shrouded in the myst of antiquarian Britain, When the Eagle Hunts is a grreat installment to this fascinating series

When the Eagle Hunts finds our two main characters hunkered down in the winter quarters of the Roman army based in Britain. The Romans are gearing up for a massive assault on the tribes of central Britain as soon as the weather turns, and they have placed 4 legions on the island to make sure it goes smoothly. Macro, the weathered and veteran centurion is itchy for new chances of glory, but he has also fallen in love with a British woman, by the name of Boudica. The cultured but still somewhat delicate optio, Cato, is still a beat uneasy with his position inside the violent world of legions. Both of their lives are changed however when a Roman flotilla carrying the family of the supreme Roman commander on the island is blown ashore. The family is captured by the mysterious Druids, who provide spiritual and military support to the anti-Roman tribes. It is up to Cato and Macro, along with the help of some natives, to infiltrate rebel territory and find the captured family.

The two are really taking a risk, as Britain was still an unknown province at the time. All that was known of the Druids was their fanaticism and their horrific religious practices, often involving human sacrifices. To get through the hidden darknesses of Britain, Macro and Cato have to rely on their own experiences but also have to trust their British guides, including the brave and well educated Boudica. Scarrow is an excellent adventure writer, and the story takes some thrilling turns. The ending is amazing as well, as Scarrow takes full advantage of his proven skill as a full scale battle narrator.

This book is relatively simply, free of the complex political machinations that colored the two prior books. This does not degrade the stories quality, it just gives the story time to concentrate on other various possibilities. The storyline is crisp and precise, I never felt that it wondered or became too confusing. Macro and Cato are given further examination, as their relationship begins to take on new character traits. Scarrow just writes excellent little stories that both educate and entertain. I cannot wait for the next one!

Rating:
Summary: Better and Better
Review: The seemingly endless procession of fine British historical novels continues in a gripping manner with the newest addition to Simon Scarrow's fine Macro and Cato series. By now, the reader is fairly well used to the intricacies of the two very different characters, so Scarrow's challenge is to grip a whole new group of readers yet again with his storytelling ability. I was happy to discover that the old traits of the two Legionnaires are still there, but Scarrow resists the natural aging process and keeps the two Roman soldiers as fresh as ever. Along with a fascinating story dealing with history still shrouded in the myst of antiquarian Britain, When the Eagle Hunts is a grreat installment to this fascinating series

When the Eagle Hunts finds our two main characters hunkered down in the winter quarters of the Roman army based in Britain. The Romans are gearing up for a massive assault on the tribes of central Britain as soon as the weather turns, and they have placed 4 legions on the island to make sure it goes smoothly. Macro, the weathered and veteran centurion is itchy for new chances of glory, but he has also fallen in love with a British woman, by the name of Boudica. The cultured but still somewhat delicate optio, Cato, is still a beat uneasy with his position inside the violent world of legions. Both of their lives are changed however when a Roman flotilla carrying the family of the supreme Roman commander on the island is blown ashore. The family is captured by the mysterious Druids, who provide spiritual and military support to the anti-Roman tribes. It is up to Cato and Macro, along with the help of some natives, to infiltrate rebel territory and find the captured family.

The two are really taking a risk, as Britain was still an unknown province at the time. All that was known of the Druids was their fanaticism and their horrific religious practices, often involving human sacrifices. To get through the hidden darknesses of Britain, Macro and Cato have to rely on their own experiences but also have to trust their British guides, including the brave and well educated Boudica. Scarrow is an excellent adventure writer, and the story takes some thrilling turns. The ending is amazing as well, as Scarrow takes full advantage of his proven skill as a full scale battle narrator.

This book is relatively simply, free of the complex political machinations that colored the two prior books. This does not degrade the stories quality, it just gives the story time to concentrate on other various possibilities. The storyline is crisp and precise, I never felt that it wondered or became too confusing. Macro and Cato are given further examination, as their relationship begins to take on new character traits. Scarrow just writes excellent little stories that both educate and entertain. I cannot wait for the next one!