In Scarrow’s latest offering in the now well-established and well-loved Eagles series, Revenge of Rome, we pick up the adventures of Roman soldiers, Macro and Cato, in the aftermath of the Boudican rebellion in Britain. As a continuation of the events of the last novel, Rebellion, this latest instalment does a fine job of closing out the story of Boudicca’s rebellion, while also being able to be read as a standalone novel. Having lost some supplementary characters as casualties of the war during the previous novel, such as Macro’s mother and Macro and Cato’s one time friend, one time enemy, Apollonius, this story feels more like the earlier novels in the series. The action is mostly centred around Macro and Cato, and this brings back the feel of a traditional tale of ‘Roman soldiering’, where the story focussed mainly on the two friends and their attempts to make sure that Rome was kept safe.

Where the novel really shines is that the antagonist to Macro and Cato is not outright villainous. If anything, it is Boudicca who has been treated appallingly by the occupying Roman legions. Forced to flee from the Roman victors at the Battle of Watling Street at the end of Rebellion, this novel focusses on Boudicca’s efforts to keep her failing rebellion alive. Boudicca is a well-drawn and layered character with whom it is easy to sympathise. Denied her rightful inheritance as Queen of the Iceni and then assaulted alongside her daughters at the hands of the Romans, the reader almost wills Boudicca’s rebellion to succeed. While the tides of history are set firmly against Boudicca and her rebellion, the reader cannot fail to see the justice of her cause, and neither can Macro and Cato. This makes for an interesting dynamic where we are told of the long-established relationship between Boudicca and the two Romans, when Boudicca had fought alongside Macro and Cato as allies some twenty years before (long-time readers of the series will remember this, but new readers may wish to read When the Eagle Hunts for Boudicca’s first appearance). Despite her right to feel aggrieved at her treatment by the Romans, we see that her desire for retribution continues to weigh upon Boudicca. Throughout, we see her commit some truly shocking and brutal acts on the leaders of her fellow Britons: in one particularly memorable scene, she demands allegiance to her cause from one of her long-time allies, who is a chief of the Trinovantes. Upon his refusal, she has him beheaded. This is not just an act of extreme brutality but leaves the reader in no doubt that, for the Queen of the Iceni, this is a war of personal vengeance.

This emotional backdrop is also accompanied by features which will be familiar to long-term readers and will equally delight those new to the series. After his semi-retirement in the last instalment, Macro is back in the legions and is hilariously haranguing the new recruits he is charged with training. This is vintage Macro and takes readers back to their first introduction to the gruff but kind-hearted centurion. When the recruits get a taste of battle, the scenes are frantic and well written, and neither of Scarrow’s heroes are immune to receiving the wounds which must have been an ever-present threat for those serving in the legions. In fact, both Macro and Cato end up with new war wounds to add to their ever-growing collection. The action ranges widely from ambushes on both Roman and Iceni forces, to an amphibious landing and siege, and even the unusual sequence where Roman soldiers are besieged aboard a beached trireme.

Many readers will be aware of the outcome of the Boudican rebellion, but this will not lessen their enjoyment of the novel. In fact, Scarrow has provided a character who has been central to Boudicca’s life up until now with a new storyline going forwards and made sure that they are going to be an addition to future novels. Although this addition does play a bit fast and loose with history. It will provide a new relationship and a new role for one of the series’ main characters going forwards.

Overall, this is a fine addition to the series, and while it seemingly closes off the adventures of Macro and Cato in Britannia, it leaves the reader excited for where Scarrow may take the brothers in arms for their next adventure. This book should look to have a target audience of Key Stage 4 and above. While the action and adventure will appeal to many, the depictions of both warfare and some truly gruesome wounds received during that conflict would be better suited to the older age range in a school. In terms of its use as a classroom resource, while this is a fairly accurate portrayal (notwithstanding the alternations mentioned above), this novel would be best used as additional reading or certain scenes could be deployed in the classroom to get a ‘feel’ for the era and the interactions between Roman and non-Roman. I feel it would make a good resource to use when discussing Claudius’ conquest of Britain on the GCSE Classics syllabus.