greyforest's review against another edition
4.0
This was a really good novel set in Rome! I am a huge fan of Rome, the history, mythology, culture, as well as the movies, video games, shows, and books based in it. Under the Eagle is fantastic, very likable main characters, great action, great mysteries and politics, if you're a fan of Rome and of military novels, big battles, and some political intrigue and backstabbing, check this out.
rwebster6's review against another edition
5.0
A really good story, Cato is a likeable character. For some reason I imagine him looking like a young Nicholas Lyndhurst, which if anything added to my enjoyment.
majkia's review against another edition
4.0
Entertaining and often quite funny story of the Roman Legions in Gaul and Britain.
gemmaduds's review
5.0
After reading historic Roman fiction by Harry Sidebottom and being completely entranced by it, I figured that the next step would be one of our bestselling authors - Scarrow's books have always had brilliant reviews by our customers and I wanted to try for myself.
I loved it!
Macro and Cato are awesome characters - I especially love the brutality of Macro's wit and the way that we can watch Cato grow within the army before our very eyes. I found myself submerged right into the midsts of the Roman army, could feel the grit and terror.
The twists are pretty good, and the ending is not a disappointing one either.
I loved it!
Macro and Cato are awesome characters - I especially love the brutality of Macro's wit and the way that we can watch Cato grow within the army before our very eyes. I found myself submerged right into the midsts of the Roman army, could feel the grit and terror.
The twists are pretty good, and the ending is not a disappointing one either.
jgolomb's review against another edition
4.0
Simon Scarrow's "Under the Eagle" is the first in a terrific series of novels on the Roman Military. The series follows two soldiers - Macro and Cato - fighting under Vespasian in the mid-first Century AD.
"Under the Eagle's" action is terrific and Scarrow has done a very good job of making each battle sequence unique. It's perhaps the best in Scarrow's series, but I've found the second, "The Eagle's Conquest", equally as enjoyable.
The core components of the story consist of the introduction of the characters, their initial bonding during an action-packed fight in Europe, and then, as the war front moves to Britain, a series of exciting battles orbiting the search and discovery of war loot buried in Britain by Julius Caesar about a century earlier.
"Under the Eagle" introduces our two main characters. Macro is the older battle-hardened Centurion. He fights hard and drinks harder. Cato is a freed slave who grew up in the palaces on the Palatine Hill in Rome. He's young, lanky, bookish and completely unfamiliar with a military lifestyle. Coming from different worlds, Macro and Cato clash. And the story launches it most persistent theme by defining the growth of each character individually and the growth of their relationship.
It's a "buddy" book, with action, adventure, and fun interplay between characters set in the dramatic locations of a peaking Roman Empire.
The characters are a bit thin and superficial, but are drawn from familiar military examples. In Scarrow's world, while the weapons, strategies, tactics and politics are very Roman, the character-types are pretty timeless. You could conceivably modify the language slightly and picture Macro and Cato in WWII, Vietnam, or even on an alien world.
If you're looking for military action, then this book is for you. It's a fast and engaging read. It's not the deepest of military dramas, so if you're looking for something more substantial, I'd recommend Wallace Breem's "Eagle in the Snow", or Robert Graves' "I, Claudius".
Consider "Eagle" a solid snack, compared to the full meal you'd get with Breem or Graves. Another analogy would place "Eagle" as a summer blockbuster, but you shouldn't expect it to win many Oscars.
All in all...I highly recommend this book and series.
"Under the Eagle's" action is terrific and Scarrow has done a very good job of making each battle sequence unique. It's perhaps the best in Scarrow's series, but I've found the second, "The Eagle's Conquest", equally as enjoyable.
The core components of the story consist of the introduction of the characters, their initial bonding during an action-packed fight in Europe, and then, as the war front moves to Britain, a series of exciting battles orbiting the search and discovery of war loot buried in Britain by Julius Caesar about a century earlier.
"Under the Eagle" introduces our two main characters. Macro is the older battle-hardened Centurion. He fights hard and drinks harder. Cato is a freed slave who grew up in the palaces on the Palatine Hill in Rome. He's young, lanky, bookish and completely unfamiliar with a military lifestyle. Coming from different worlds, Macro and Cato clash. And the story launches it most persistent theme by defining the growth of each character individually and the growth of their relationship.
It's a "buddy" book, with action, adventure, and fun interplay between characters set in the dramatic locations of a peaking Roman Empire.
The characters are a bit thin and superficial, but are drawn from familiar military examples. In Scarrow's world, while the weapons, strategies, tactics and politics are very Roman, the character-types are pretty timeless. You could conceivably modify the language slightly and picture Macro and Cato in WWII, Vietnam, or even on an alien world.
If you're looking for military action, then this book is for you. It's a fast and engaging read. It's not the deepest of military dramas, so if you're looking for something more substantial, I'd recommend Wallace Breem's "Eagle in the Snow", or Robert Graves' "I, Claudius".
Consider "Eagle" a solid snack, compared to the full meal you'd get with Breem or Graves. Another analogy would place "Eagle" as a summer blockbuster, but you shouldn't expect it to win many Oscars.
All in all...I highly recommend this book and series.
m_j_webb's review against another edition
4.0
Enjoyable adventure which bodes well for the series of five books I have purchased. Good holiday read.
schez's review against another edition
4.0
A lot more fun then expected - Not something I would independently pick up to read. It was recommended and then I was handed a copy so I couldn't decline.
Really enjoyed the conversations and interaction between Cato and Macro... Actually had to laugh out loud at some bits.
Page turning, action packed, epic battle scenes... Great start to a series.
Hoping to borrow the next books:)
Really enjoyed the conversations and interaction between Cato and Macro... Actually had to laugh out loud at some bits.
Page turning, action packed, epic battle scenes... Great start to a series.
Hoping to borrow the next books:)
heleneve28's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
paulopaperbooksonly's review against another edition
4.0
It is the year 42 AD, and Centurion Macro, battle-scarred and fearless, is in the heart of Germany with the Second Legion, the toughest in the Roman army. Cato, a new recruit and the newly appointed second-in-command to Macro, will have more to prove than most. In a bloody skirmish with local tribes, Cato gets his first chance to prove that he’s more than a callow, privileged youth. As their next campaign takes them to a land of unparalleled barbarity – Britain – a special mission unfolds, thrusting Cato and Macro headlong into a conspiracy that threatens to topple the Emperor himself.
Well this was an interesting reading but with several points that I really hope that are not present in latter books… (because I bought two more).
First the historical innacuracies… The Grass Crown incident being given to Cato for once. The Drill Centurion sounds like Drill Sergeant. The Surgeon treating for infection (anachronism). The all language used by roman soldiers sounded like british soldiers from a BBC comic television series… Bloody Hell. How british is this?
The characters are flat and two dimensional. There are some stereotypes like a geeky upper class new recruit, the hard veteran, the bully leggionarie. Ine all love affair. I think he will improve… Or else the publishers would just cut him off right? Yes… In the end I think the plot it’s straightforward and keeps you reading page after page.. In the end the climax is not in the main plot but the battle that occurs before. The one thing that saves this book is the all views the author gives us, the want to read more and more and because it’s Ancient Rome. I will read another book someday…
Not an full review but I feel rather tired… If I would advice you to read it? Hmm… There are better books out there set in Ancient Roma but this is not the worst… Try and then come back…
Well this was an interesting reading but with several points that I really hope that are not present in latter books… (because I bought two more).
First the historical innacuracies… The Grass Crown incident being given to Cato for once. The Drill Centurion sounds like Drill Sergeant. The Surgeon treating for infection (anachronism). The all language used by roman soldiers sounded like british soldiers from a BBC comic television series… Bloody Hell. How british is this?
The characters are flat and two dimensional. There are some stereotypes like a geeky upper class new recruit, the hard veteran, the bully leggionarie. Ine all love affair. I think he will improve… Or else the publishers would just cut him off right? Yes… In the end I think the plot it’s straightforward and keeps you reading page after page.. In the end the climax is not in the main plot but the battle that occurs before. The one thing that saves this book is the all views the author gives us, the want to read more and more and because it’s Ancient Rome. I will read another book someday…
Not an full review but I feel rather tired… If I would advice you to read it? Hmm… There are better books out there set in Ancient Roma but this is not the worst… Try and then come back…