Customer Reviews

The Gladiator (Roman Legion 9)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Gladiator is the latest of Simon Scarrow's Under the Eagle series starring two Roman centurions, young Cato and his mentor, Macro. The book pick up right from where the last book of this series as they tried to return to Rome from their encounter with the Pathians. This time they are caught on an island of Crete after a major earthquake, dealing with a major slave revolt led by a former foe from one of the previous books. Like all of his books, Scarrow writes in a fast, engrossing tale of how our two favorite Roman centurions save the day.

Although the book is well written and a definite page turner, it is clearly gear for people who have read Scarrow's earlier books. If you are looking of character development and all that, best read Gone with the Wind or some other great American/British novels. The story got a light fast moving plot line and it definitely put our two heroes into a major trouble. This book continued to evolved Cato into another stage as his girlfriend Julia from the previous book, lies in constant danger. The book also reflect slightly on the trouble institution of Roman slavery during those time although I don't think Scarrow was making any political statement here. Obviously, the author took his cue from Spartacus' Revolt when writing this book. The book ends with a big bang, fast and furious although it may be too confusing for some as the writing here fails slightly. Of course, the ending clearly earmarked Cato and Marco for another adventure that will guarantee another book forthcoming.

If you enjoy this series, buying this book is definite must. If you never read this series, I would strongly recommended that you start from the first book, Under the Eagle and work your way to this one. Otherwise, you will not have the enjoyment that most veteran readers of Cato and Marco. This is not a stand alone book but part of a series.

As someone who read all of Simon Scarrow's Rome series, I have to say that I'm very disappointed with this one.

Although the historical aspect of the book is interesting, as all of Scarrow's books are, the story part of it is severely-lacking. It seems as if it were rushed through, and is very basic.

Characters are also very basic, as are their interactions with each other. Often, the characters are acting as if written by a 10-year old.

The plot is very predictable at times, and cheesy at others.

I did read the book all the way through relatively quickly, but that's because the historical parts were interesting, and, as in the previous Rome novels, I was hoping for some really interesting stuff just around the corner (it never really came).

From the feel of this book, I fear that Scarrow has exhausted this series, which would be a shame. If the next book in the series is also a disappointment, I'm done with the series.

I have read all of the books in the eagle series and this one left me a bit short. The other's focused on the day to day life in the legions whereas this book seems to be moving into the realm of a romantic novel. Worst of all was the predictable outcome with the saving of Julia- call it an anti-climax.

Honestly, it smacks of the old super villan gloating over his captives only to have them escape while he waxes lyrical about what he is going to do to them.

Get rid of the romance, concentrate on the historical fact and make these the good old battle stories they were and you will be back on course.

I have immensely enjoyed Sparrow's Under the Eagle series, however I felt this latest reading was a little "blah", and predictable. I would prefer to follow the centurions through their military exploits and experiences, versus yawning through Cato's romantic interlude. Go back to historical data, and follow Bernard Cornwell's example of "epic battle stories". Very predictable, and leave nature's disaster "tales" - earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, tornadoes/cyclones out of the story, unless documented as such. Regards to Fakenham from America.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book, it continues the story of Cato and Macro taking a credible scenario of gladiatorial revolt following a tsunami.

Anyone that enjoys Conn Iggluden should also enjoy Scarrow.

I hadn't read any of the author's previous work but grabbed this anyway. The name and cover drew my in and I was happy to read it as a standalone novel. The attention to detail in outlining the historical world is pretty interesting and you definately get a good feel for the environment. Some of the dialogue comes off as a little stilted and unbelieveable but it seems to have been done for deliberate shock and effect.

Overall I liked it enough to look into Scarrow's other novels, which I guess means it did the job. However, I would have liked this on my kindle rather than a paperback. Too many books clogging up my place as it is!

After success in the last book, and as this is a series, we do expect success by the end of the novel, it is time to make our way home to Rome and for the heroes to get their rewards. Macro and Cato have been stepping up and giving great needed service to Rome, and Claudius and they deserve accolades.

Instead an earthquake and tidal wave beset them as they are near Crete. It throws the Island into turmoil, seriously hammering the infrastructure and forcing our two Centurions to step up once more.

We see the continuing evolution of Cato as a leader and we also see that Macro, once the Master, now becoming the lieutenant. Something that we knew from book one was a possibility and long overdue.

What comes as an unexpected and pleasant addition is that we have an enemy who we had left behind long ago, emerge. One that gives us plausible cause to believe he is not only present at the recovering Crete, but his actions will and do impact the story.

In all, a very good book and nice to see Cato finally on his path instead of treading water. A definite reread when we have the entire series finished.

Bought for my husband. Came very timely and he likes the book. In fact he is fan of all the Simon Scarrow Roman series

Gladiator

Having finished Centurion (Roman Legion 8) I was eager to continue reading about Macro and Cato, especially since the Warlord miniatures i'd picked up of had an introduction to Gladiator and I was intrigued by this little snippet. I mean the description was so enticing, how couldn't I jump in and read this at the soonest.

For this one Macro and Cato are on Crete following and earthquake and the subsequent tsunami. Forced to land due to damage to the ship, Macro, Cato, and Senator Sempronius (and his daughter) discover that the local cities have been heavily damaged destroying much of the infrastructure and more importantly letting the slaves escape and form into warbands against their former masters; their leader, Ajax, was a nemesis of Macro and Cato (The Eagle's Prophecy) and has survived as a gladiator until now.

This one has lots of action but is choppier than previous books in the Macro and Cato series. Some of this is undoubtably due to the need for Cato to go get additional troops while Macro keeps the slave army at bay (yes, the governor of Crete recognizes the strengths of both men, Macro for putting backbone in men while holding on no matter what, Cato for being the more intellectual and able to handle any bureaucracy that might get in the way of relief). While Mr. Scarrow has separated our heroes before, this time the impact is a slight dragging out of the story. While not a major negative, it does take away from the general flow and tempo. As usual the character development is nicely done. The surprise was in seeing Senator Sempronius show how hard Romans could be, enlightening since he'd played a minor roll in Centurion. Because of this, I'm calling this one a 4 star book because I wasn't fully solid this time.

When I got it I did not realise that this book was well into a series in fact the 9th in the series however it reads well as a stand alone. The only disadvantage is that I want to read the previous books and they are already slightly spoiled as I know that Marco and Cato the two main characters have survived from at least the previous book.

Without trying to give away too much of the plot there is an earthquake followed by a tidal wave that wrecks the boat that Marco and Cato are travelling in and they end up on Crete where the book is set which is devastated by the earthquake which coupled with a slave revolt allows much action.. The book is fast paced and the characters well developed, although I know little of Roman history the book looks well researched and the plot holds together well. I read this in one session as I wanted to know what happened next. The book does not end on a cliff hanger where you need the next book to make any meaning out of it like so many series but sets up nicely for the next book in the series.