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The Eagles Prophecy (2005)

by Simon Scarrow

Other authors: See the other authors section.

Series: Eagles of the Empire (6)

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4521054,495 (3.96)8
It is spring 45 AD and Centurions Macro and Cato, dismissed from the Second Legion in Britain, are trapped in Rome, waiting for their involvement in the death of a fellow officer to be investigated. It is then that the imperial secretary, the devious Narcissus, makes them an offer they can't refuse; to rescue an imperial agent who has been captured by pirates operating from the Illyrian coast. With him were scrolls vital to the safety of the Emperor and the future of Rome. However, Narcissus also sends Vitellius, an old enemy of the two centurions. The three officers set out from Ravenna with the imperial fleet but the pirates are forewarned and the Romans pay a heavy price. Outnumbered by the enemy, surrounded by rumours of treachery and endangered by Vitellius' desire to redeem himself, Centurions Macro and Cato must find the pirate base to avert a disaster that could destroy the Emperor.… (more)
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Showing 1-5 of 8 (next | show all)
the setting has changed.

after a lot of footwork macro and cato are forced into the wet business: they have to join the marines to root out a pirate base.

it is a refreshing change of setting and understandably most of the veteran readers will dislike it.

( )
  Starlord24 | Dec 21, 2016 |
A good read like the others and I didn't have to wallow up tp my knees in blood. ( )
  delta61 | Nov 8, 2013 |
Great stuff. Scarrow's "Eagles" series is difficult to put down. I find I read one and then must immediately read the next. Here our two rough heroes find themselves all at sea chasing pirates, while their real mission is to recover an item of profound imperial importance. There is also a dash of soap opera with Macro's discovery of his mother and his own background. Good fun. Recommended. ( )
  Traveller1 | Mar 30, 2013 |
This book was a bit of a step back for me. The story is fine as Cato and Macro are in Rome awaiting assignment and still suffering condemnation from their actions in Britain. They are given a task by Narcissis to recover some important scrolls captured by pirates. Their lives depend on a successful completion of this mission.

You are introduced to the Roman Navy in this novel and that is pretty well done. My disappointment in the novel is not the action scenes. Scarrow tells a reasonable battle story. It is the dialog and scenes when in Rome and elsewhere. He does not paint a great picture of life in Rome...more of a whitewash to me and in the long stretches of dialog he lapses into modern British slang which I detest in a historical novel. I found the beginning of the novel quite boring but the pace picks up in the last 100 pages or so in the battle scenes. ( )
  Lynxear | Oct 11, 2011 |
Simon Scarrow's sixth installment of his "Eagle" story follows Centurions Macro and Cato during a transitional phase in the threaded storyline of this Sand and Sandals series. In the last book, "The Eagle's Prey", our heroes were banished from the war front in Britannia, where the majority of the previous five books took place. "Prophecy" centers on Rome's battle against piracy in and around the northeast Italian coast while providing a launch pad for our characters to explore the further reaches of the Roman Empire.

"Prophecy" is built around two primary plot points. The first is Rome's battle with piracy in the Adriatic Sea. The second is a mystery around the discovery of certain scrolls that the pirates have seized and are holding for bid with high-dollar potential buyers.

The story starts in Rome, several months after the episode in Brittania, and provides new scenery for our boys from the Legion. While not many pages were dedicated to their time in Rome, the urban capital makes for a strong change of pace to the overall series storyline.

Furthering that change of pace, Scarrow places the bulk of the story on and around the sea, including numerous naval battles, and the requisite drama associated with the high seas.

Macro and Cato are already well-cast characters. If you're not familiar with the series, you won't be too enlightened by their development, however we do get a peek into Macro's youth.

I enjoyed the book. There's something comforting about returning to characters you know, including Vespasian who teams up again with Macro and Cato. Vitellius returns in his role as leading foil, setting up what will likely be an ultimate battle between he and Vespasian for Rome's leadership in 69 AD.

Scarrow isn't writing historical literature...he's writing historical fiction - it's fun, down to earth, adventurous and exciting. He knows his space well and is comfortable with his characters' place and the enticement to his audience.

I find the entire series a great escape and touch-point to the wold of the Roman Empire. ( )
  JGolomb | Feb 24, 2011 |
Showing 1-5 of 8 (next | show all)
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Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Simon Scarrowprimary authorall editionscalculated
Ostrop, BarbaraTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed

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This book is dedicated to my friend and neighbour Lawrence Coulton, who was killed in an accident while flying for the RAF as I was completing this novel.

Lawrence was one of those rare individuals with a wholly infectious sense of enjoyment.  His company was a huge pleasure for everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.
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The three ships lifted as the gentle swell passed beneath their keels.
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It is spring 45 AD and Centurions Macro and Cato, dismissed from the Second Legion in Britain, are trapped in Rome, waiting for their involvement in the death of a fellow officer to be investigated. It is then that the imperial secretary, the devious Narcissus, makes them an offer they can't refuse; to rescue an imperial agent who has been captured by pirates operating from the Illyrian coast. With him were scrolls vital to the safety of the Emperor and the future of Rome. However, Narcissus also sends Vitellius, an old enemy of the two centurions. The three officers set out from Ravenna with the imperial fleet but the pirates are forewarned and the Romans pay a heavy price. Outnumbered by the enemy, surrounded by rumours of treachery and endangered by Vitellius' desire to redeem himself, Centurions Macro and Cato must find the pirate base to avert a disaster that could destroy the Emperor.

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