The Pillars of Rome: Republic I (Republic) (original 2010; edition 2008)

Very very very complex book, the names of characters are soooo confusing... But once I got the hang of it (2/3rds way through) really loved it ( )

The story begins with two young rich Roman's and their visit to a Sybil, an old crone, for an oracle - the cryptic prophecy and their different characteristic approaches to it than underpins the unwinding of Ludlow's tale. Aulus is the successful Roman general - whose young wife is captured by the enemy celts and taken by their leader Brennos, who wears the symbol of the eagle - the tailsmen which features in the fateful prophecy. Lucius has sought political power and uses whatever means to defend it blending into the story some of the possible ideological positions of the Roman republic.

Aulus fears the chronicle and Lucius does not - this sets up some tension in the storyline and tragic irony. As the reader you know this inability for them to share in this and their growing differences as characters will lead to their downfall and in fact their growing differences as characters.

Aulus's young wife is made to give birth to the child bourne of the enemy Brennos and though it is left to die in the forrest in survives given special powers by the eagle emulet left to it and stolen by Claudia. The couple who bring him up are poor and the father gets weaved into the final battle of Aulus against the tribe of Brennos - now working together.

The story ends with the young grown son of Brennos, Aquilla leaving the home of his youth to no doubt seek out his own people from the knowledge he has gained from the Shepherd and Claudia feeling impelled to seek out the child and the slaves sniffing out for any advantageous secret golden mile. ( )