Under The Eagle

Good fun book, opens up the series. Vivid (if a little predictable) adventure story set in the world of the roman army. Fair warning of some sexist themes and general caricatures for sake of a light easy read

Title: Under the Eagle by Simon Scarrow - A Missed Opportunity

Under the Eagle by Simon Scarrow is a historical fiction novel set in ancient Rome during the reign of Emperor Claudius. While it may appeal to fans of the genre, I personally struggled to connect with this book and ultimately didn't finish it.

From the outset, I had high hopes for Under the Eagle. The premise promised an exciting and immersive journey into the Roman Empire, filled with action, intrigue, and well-developed characters. However, as I delved deeper into the story, I found myself growing increasingly disengaged.

One of the main issues I encountered was with the pacing. The narrative felt sluggish, lacking the necessary momentum to keep me invested. Instead of being propelled forward by the plot, I often found myself trudging through pages that seemed to meander aimlessly. This lack of urgency left me feeling detached from the story and its characters, preventing me from forming any meaningful connections.

Additionally, I found the characters to be disappointingly one-dimensional. The protagonist, a centurion named Macro, lacked the depth and complexity I had hoped for. He came across as a generic hero archetype, complete with all the expected traits but little in the way of individuality or unique motivations. Without a compelling central figure to root for, the story lost much of its potential impact.

Furthermore, the dialogue felt stilted and unnatural, making it difficult to immerse myself in the world Scarrow had created. The exchanges between characters lacked authenticity and failed to capture the nuances of human interaction. As a result, the dialogue often felt forced and contrived, hindering my ability to engage with the narrative on a deeper level.

While I can appreciate the extensive historical research that went into creating the backdrop of ancient Rome, the historical accuracy alone was not enough to salvage my reading experience. Without a strong narrative and compelling characters to bring the setting to life, the historical detail felt like window dressing rather than a vibrant and immersive world.

In conclusion, Under the Eagle fell short of my expectations. The sluggish pacing, one-dimensional characters, and lackluster dialogue hindered my ability to connect with the story. While historical fiction enthusiasts may find merit in this novel, I would caution potential readers to approach it with tempered expectations.

This is an enjoyable adventure story that smacks slightly of 80's buddy movies, with the new guy and the experienced veteran who unhappily takes him under his wing.[return][return]It's fascinating to read a roman story that doesn't focus entirely on the political chicanery but more on the life of the common soldier. The story flows well with a good build up to the final few action sequences and story twists.[return][return]I certainly intend to pick up the rest of the series and I'm kicking myself that I didn't go down to see the author when he appeared at my local bookseller recently!