The Emperor's Exile (Eagles of the Empire 19): The thrilling Sunday Times bestseller

Excellent read

This eventful Roman adventure is already the 19th instalment of the wonderful "Eagles of the Empire" series, from the formidable author, Simon Scarrow.At the beginning of the book you'll find a well-drawn map of Sardinia in the 1st Century AD, as well as a Cast List with real great historical and wonderful fictional characters who are featuring in this historical novel of Roman power and control.Its another action-packed Roman adventure, but I miss the usual banter between Cato and Macro after Macro and Petronella's departure, and although the new one, an individual called Apollonius is doing his best to fill in the void, still in my view its different and not so sparkling and enjoyable as it is (was) between Cato and Macro.Storytelling is for certain of a superb quality, all the characters are lifelike and believable, while the deadly atmosphere in Sardinia, with also the killing pestilence in their midst, comes splendidly off the pages.This book is set in the year, AD 57, during the reign of Emperor Nero, and Prefect Cato and Senior Centurion Macro have returned to Rome from the Eastern campaign with General Corbulo, only to find an Imperial Court uneasy and hostile towards their achievements as well as towards Nero and his mistress, Claudia Acte.Prefect Cato is stripped from his title of Prefect of the Praetorians, due to his actions in the East with General Corbulo, and as a consequence he's sent by Senator Seneca to Sardinia to escort Claudia Acte to her place of exile, but before that happens he and Macro will say their goodbyes, and part ways with Macro and Petronella heading for Britannia, to live and work there, leaving Cato with his important mission to Sardinia, with a select group of Centurions and the spy/assassin, Apollonius, to bring Roman law and order to this place, a place that's also ravaged by a deadly disease.What is to follow is a Roman adventure with plenty of action, no doubt about that, but its also a book with a similar theme as in "Invictus", in what the local tribal revolt is concerned, but now adding to it is a deadly pestilence and with only Cato in the headlines an a supporting role for Apollonius, so that overall this engaging book is somewhat inferior to its predecessors in intensity, interaction, warfare and (real) historical battles against fearsome opponents like the Parthians, or the tribes from Germania, or the Celts from Britannia, and I can only hope that the author will return to that kind of formula again.Really recommended, for this is another very good addition to this fantastic series, but not the very best in my opinion, and to come back to this episode I want to call it: "Heroic Cato In Exciting Sardinian Outing"!

If you are looking for big battles with large armies and Roman Legions fighting hordes of Barbarians, Germanic tribes or Parthians hordes, then this is not the novel for you. But, if like me, you have followed the adventures, battles, missions and campaigns that the two main characters undertake in the previous novels, then this tale is just as enjoyable. Yes, it was sad that Macro is only in the book for a short period but I have a feeling he will return and be involved in the next adventure alongside Cato. However, for this adventure, Marco is replaced by a sort of Roman James Bond. I was a bit dubious about this character at first but he certainly grew on me as the narrative progressed. So, instead of big battles, in this tale we see the other side of running an Empire and the problems that can arise. Cato and Apollonius are charged by the Emperor to sort out a rebellion on the island of Sardinia. Not only do they have to sort out a rebellion, they have to look after the Emperor's exiled mistress and prevent a plague from spreading throughout the island. How they tackle these problems makes for great reading and although I would prefer to read about their role in big battles, it made a very interesting and entertaining read. I would recommend this novel for anyone following Cato and Macro and in fact, for anyone interested in Roman period historical novels.

Great resd

Simon Scarrow has a lovely style that draws you into the story until you cannot put it down. Once again our hero Cato has a problem to solve. However, his mentor and friend Macro has gone into a well earned retirement in Britannia. Cato is blamed for the losses that his praetorian legion sustained in the East and is given what amounts to a punishment detail. He is to escort Emperor Nero's feisty ex -mistress Claudia to her guilded exile in Sardinia. However Sardinia is rocked by a rebellion of indigenous tribesman, complicated by an outbreak of plague which is racing across Sardinia. Can Cato crush the rebellion before the plague decimates his men? The situation is realistically described. My only quibble is that Claudia's change of character is a bit too swift to be believable, but that doesn't spoil the excellent story, written by a master of his craft.

While still very readible and enjoyable, Book Number 19 suffers because of Macro's absence and I would have liked to know what he was getting up to. Also there a certain degree of deja-vu because with Cato doing stuff he had done, more or less, before. - eg taking command of a new garrison and putting down troublemaking locals. Also what happened to the darker side of Cato's nature hinted at by Macro in the previous book in the Series. But on the whole, well worth reading and I will look forward to number 20.

A great way to learn of Roman history through the eyes of well drawn and believable characters who draw you into their world.

Book arrived in excellent condition

This book is somewhat ironic because this is 2021. While Macro and his wife Petronella move to Britannia, Cato is left in Rome to deal with the fallout of the first failed invasion of Armenia. Then he gets orders to escort one of Nero's former mistresses to Sardinia where there is an epidemic and an insurrection. Does anyone else beside me see the irony? A civil unrest, a pestilence, and a series of 3-4 morally and politically weak rulers?While Scarrow does not use allegory, he does border a little on alternate history. The "real" Claudia Acte did survive well past Nero while the "literary" Claudia Acte experiences a different fate. No spoilers here so you will have to find out what happens to her.

Some people have given this a less than five rating, often stating there's to little fighting. Ultimately this is the story of two good friends Cato and Macro. There's has been plenty of fighting in previous books and still some in this one. But this series is much more than just Romans fighting barbarians. I've found this latest in the series to be just as interesting. Macro has gone to Britannia to retire with his loved one, the year is 57 C.E., just three or so years to the British rebellion under Queen Boudicea. Our heroes have already met this distinguished person in an earlier volume. My thinking is perhaps the series will come to an end with one eyed Cato going to Britannia to meet Macro just before the rebellion and the Battle of Watling Street. Just a guess on my part, but I look forward to further books in the series.

Still enjoy Cato And Macro's tales, even without Macro!! Looking forward the trip to Brittania. Going to try the New book set in the second world war Berlin.

A good read perhaps not so exciting as those earlier in the series

Es el que menos me ha gustado de todos los que he leído, la trama es bastante previsible y excesiva en algunos aspectos.