In this book, the seventh book in the "Cato" serious, Young Cato and his friend Macro journeys to the lands of Judea, where they are faced with several challenges. The two friends are deployed by Narcissus, the Emperor's secretary, to listen in on events in the eastern frontier of the Roman Empire. The situation follows as senior officers are corrupt and threaten to undermine the safety of the Roman Empire. Unfortunately, an unforgiving local tribesman, Bannus, is giving the Romans even more of a hard time with his attempts to raise an army against the Roman soldiers posted at Judea. Bannus wants his revenge for the death of Jehoshua and the senior officers threaten to weaken the foundation of the army at Judea. Only Macro and Cato can stop them.
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This book is a great book so far, although it is in a boring setting, the desert. I personally think the first book in the series was the best book I have ever read in the series. Nevertheless, Simon Scarrow has kept his good work up. As Cato and Macro get older and the story progresses, there is much less humour and it seems to be a war in the book every five minutes. I do enjoy historical fiction but it seems that the plots have become boring. I am desperate to finish this book and move onto the time when the two characters obtain the power of a Prefect.
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However, I still fully recommend this book, only if you've read the predecessors in the series. I don't like this book, but it deserves a read. Three stars.
-Kelvin