When the Eagle Hunts (Hardcover)

by Simon Scarrow (Author) "The heaving tumult around the ship was frozen for an instant by sheet lightning..." (more)
Key Phrases: young optio, duty centurion, senior tribune, Second Legion, Lady Pomponia, Sixth Century (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Scarrow's third historical (Under the Eagle; The Eagle's Conquest) continues to chart the first-century Roman invasion of ancient Britain, as it records—skirmish by skirmish—the exploits of Centurion Macro, who commands the Sixth Century of the Fourth Cohort of the Second Roman Legion, and his optio (junior officer), Cato. In the early winter of A.D. 44, a supply vessel carrying the wife and two children of General Plautius is shipwrecked off the British coast. The general's family—with Prefect Valerius Maxentius, their official escort—is taken prisoner by the bloodthirsty Druids of the Dark Moon. A short time later, Maxentius, accompanied by a Druid warrior, approaches the Roman encampment and delivers an ultimatum: unless the Romans release five Druid prisoners, the general's family will be burned alive. In case anyone doubted his seriousness, the Druid summarily beheads Maxentius. Following the Fourth Cohort's great losses fighting its way through a horde of Britons, Plautius dispatches Macro and Cato to rescue his family. Macro and Cato's difficult undertaking is further complicated when their two captive guides turn out to be Macro's former girlfriend and her fiance, a fearsome Druid magician. Despite Scarrow's attempt to invest his characters with personality, they come across as cardboard cutouts, and their anachronistic dialogue is off-putting. But his settings are well described and, however predictable, the plotting is strong, with much of the action reminiscent of Bernard Cornwell's. Albeit a bit slight and sporadic, Scarrow's novel demonstrates improvement in crafting, which bodes well for the expected sequel.
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From Booklist
The Roman conquest of Britain continues as seasoned Centurion Lucius Cornelius Macro and young Optio Quintus Licinius Cato, an educated former slave, embark upon their most dangerous mission yet. During the harsh winter of 44 CE, the wife and young children of General Plautius are held hostage by a tribe of primitive Druids. In addition to the enemy, the Romans must battle against the brutal weather conditions demoralizing their troops. Threatening to burn their prisoners alive if their own captured comrades are not released, the Druids of the Dark Moon give the Romans 30 days to make the exchange. Unwilling to let the Druids dictate terms to Rome, Plautius prepares the Second Legion to advance on the Britons. Racing against time, Macro and Cato scramble to find Lady Pomponia and her children before they are offered as human sacrifices to the Druid gods. This authentic evocation of the mighty Roman Army is cloaked in action, suspense, and history, producing a darn good yarn that will appeal to a variety of readers. Margaret Flanagan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books; 1 edition (February 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312305354
• ISBN-13: 978-0312305352
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #188,807 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better and Better, May 15, 2004

By	Patrick Devenny (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: When the Eagle Hunts (Hardcover)

The seemingly endless procession of fine British historical novels continues in a gripping manner with the newest addition to Simon Scarrow's fine Macro and Cato series. By now, the reader is fairly well used to the intricacies of the two very different characters, so Scarrow's challenge is to grip a whole new group of readers yet again with his storytelling ability. I was happy to discover that the old traits of the two Legionnaires are still there, but Scarrow resists the natural aging process and keeps the two Roman soldiers as fresh as ever. Along with a fascinating story dealing with history still shrouded in the myst of antiquarian Britain, When the Eagle Hunts is a grreat installment to this fascinating series

When the Eagle Hunts finds our two main characters hunkered down in the winter quarters of the Roman army based in Britain. The Romans are gearing up for a massive assault on the tribes of central Britain as soon as the weather turns, and they have placed 4 legions on the island to make sure it goes smoothly. Macro, the weathered and veteran centurion is itchy for new chances of glory, but he has also fallen in love with a British woman, by the name of Boudica. The cultured but still somewhat delicate optio, Cato, is still a beat uneasy with his position inside the violent world of legions. Both of their lives are changed however when a Roman flotilla carrying the family of the supreme Roman commander on the island is blown ashore. The family is captured by the mysterious Druids, who provide spiritual and military support to the anti-Roman tribes. It is up to Cato and Macro, along with the help of some natives, to infiltrate rebel territory and find the captured family.

The two are really taking a risk, as Britain was still an unknown province at the time. All that was known of the Druids was their fanaticism and their horrific religious practices, often involving human sacrifices. To get through the hidden darknesses of Britain, Macro and Cato have to rely on their own experiences but also have to trust their British guides, including the brave and well educated Boudica. Scarrow is an excellent adventure writer, and the story takes some thrilling turns. The ending is amazing as well, as Scarrow takes full advantage of his proven skill as a full scale battle narrator.

This book is relatively simply, free of the complex political machinations that colored the two prior books. This does not degrade the stories quality, it just gives the story time to concentrate on other various possibilities. The storyline is crisp and precise, I never felt that it wondered or became too confusing. Macro and Cato are given further examination, as their relationship begins to take on new character traits. Scarrow just writes excellent little stories that both educate and entertain. I cannot wait for the next one!

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Eagle is firmly established, July 21, 2003

By	ilmk "ilmk" (UK) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This review is from: When the Eagle Hunts (Hardcover)

Scarrow's third installment of Cato and Macro in `When the Eagle Hunts' drops us into Camulodunum (after a quick account of the shipwreck of Valerius Maxientius with unknown female plus children in the Channel) where our familiar heroes are frequenting a seedy tavern as Macro continues his `courtship' of the forthright Iceni warrior, Boudica. Given the previous two novels this unashamed and blatant use of another venerated historical figure comes as no surprise, even less so the parodied caricature of her as a lustful, forthright and general adventurer.
Still, with good humour we follow them into the tavern and then meet Boudica's mentor and husband-to-be, Prasutagas whose characterisation as a huge warrior with little intellectual capacity is entirely at odds with actual history. Scarrow introduces a minor love triangle with the usually dour Macro falling for the lively Boudica though he refuses to admit it.
The action of the third novel takes off with the Augusta II being sent to Calleva (near the modern town of Silchester) in order to scout the Britons' next move. Whilst down there the sixth cohort under Hortensius is ambushed in a town that has previously been raided by the Durotriges and they fight a rearguard action all the way back to the legion. It is at this point we learn of a shadowy order of Druids who have captured General Plautius wife, Pomponia, and children, Julia and Aelius, and are holding them to ransom in return for the legion's own prisoners.
Macro and Cato are sent undercover deep into the Durotriges territory to attempt a rescue of the prisoners. Their guides are Boudica and Prasutagas - neatly providing us with some amusing asides as each learns to live with the other. We move from farmhouse to secret villages as the four delve ever deeper into southern Britain until they finally catch up with them at a formidable hillfort. Cato attempts a risky rescue via the drains (having previously saved one of the children, Julia) after Macro is felled with a sword blow to the head and in the process of the legion's storming the fort receives a near fatal wound from the sickle of the head Druid. However all ends well and finally Cato gets what he deserves - promotion to centurion and both he and Macro end up in their own personal sickward for a month to cap it all off.
Mr Cornwell doesn't have `too much to fear' (as he professes on the front covers) but Scarrow's books are an enormously refreshing in the historical genre. The purist can pick multiple holes in their historical accuracy and probably several characterisations that are more parodies, but it simply does not matter.
For Scarrow historical accuracy is not all-important. What is important and where he succeeds admirably is in providing a ripping yarn that has action, adventure, characters you can delight in, and plot lines that are gripping.
I hope the adventures of Cato and Macro continue for a very long time and eagerly await the next installment.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fantastic read, April 10, 2005

By	Dan "Longsword" (USA, Florida) - See all my reviews

Probably the most exciting adventure for Macro and Cato so far in the series (admittedly that's three books - but if Scarrow can keep improving then fans of historical novels are in for a rare treat).
After the Roman governor of Britain loses his family to some wild druids Macro and Cato are called in to search for them and if possible rescue them. A tall task to ask of anyone, but as ever the lads are game and get stuck into the enemy as only they know how. But this time they have the help of one Prasutagus and his fiery bride to be Boudica.
The adventureis gripping and literally page turning, and hte characrters play off each other like seasoned Quentin Tarantino pros. The dialogueis crisp and credible, and the languageis exactly what you would expect from soldiers. Thisis no prissy Cornwell novel, these guys are three-dimensional with all the failings of real people. That's why the seriesis so successful; despite the fact that we know Macro and Cato are going to get out of whatever hot water they are in, their escapeis never signposted and the readeris kept on tenterhooks right up until whatever qualified victory they achieve at the end.
Frankly, a military adventure series doesn't get any better than this and when you compare it to the swathe of poor quality fiction set in Rome that finds its way into bookshops, Scarrow's books shine out like a jewel in a middle of the midden (to coin a phrase).