Book Review – Invader (Agricola #1) by Simon Turney

About the Book

58 AD, Rome. Agricola, teenage son of an impoverished yet distinguished noble family, has staked all his resources and reputation on a military career. His reward? A posting as tribune in the far-off northern province of Britannia.

Serving under renowned general Suetonius Paulinus, Agricola soon learns the brutality of life on the very edges of the empire, for the Celtic tribes of Britannia are far from vanquished.

To take control of the province, the Romans must defeat the ancient might of the druids – and the fury of the Iceni, warriors in their thousands led by a redoubtable queen named Boudicca…

Format: ebook (369 pages) Publisher: Head of Zeus
Publication date: 14th March 2024 Genre: Historical Fiction

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My Review

I’ve become rather a fan of Simon Turney’s books – I think this is the seventh of his books I’ve read – so I was excited when I learnt he’d embarked on a new series about the famous Roman general, Agricola (or Gnaeus Julius Agricola to give him his full name). And Simon knows what he’s talking about because he published a very well-received biography of Agricola in 2022.

It’s the young Agricola we meet in Invader. Although he comes from a noble family, Agricola is conscious that he hasn’t the resources to buy his way to an influential position. He’s going to have to do it by his intellect, courage and determination to succeed, and perhaps a little help from the Gods. Ambitious for himself, he’s also conscious of the need to uphold the honour and reputation of his family. Posted as a military tribune to Roman Britain, he makes the shrewd move of purchasing as a slave a captured Briton, Luci. Agricola hopes he will provide valuable information about the different tribes still threatening, or yet to be subsumed into, the Roman province of Britannia. But can he trust Luci? More importantly, can he catch the eye of those in positions of power?

Alongside the wealth of detail about Roman weaponry, army structure and military tactics you’d expect from an author who has immersed himself in the period, there are thrilling action scenes. These include a daring assault on a fortress on the island of Mona (Anglesey) defended by tribal warriors and druids, and the besieging of a heavily defended and seemingly impregnable hilltop fort in which goats play a crucial part. The battle between the might of the Roman army under the command of Roman General Suetonius Paulinus and the Iceni tribes led by Queen Boudicca (who makes only a fleeting appearance) forms the climax to the book. The author gives Agricola a pivotal role in this bloody, brutal affair with its soundtrack of ‘the roar of a thousand furious and desperate throats, the clang and crash and thud of iron, bronze, wood and flesh’.

As this first book in the series comes to an end, Agricola has gained experience in battle and, through his tactical nous, has proved himself a young man to watch. The next book promises us a return to Rome where his battle will be for preferment and political influence.

Invader is the start to what promises to be a fascinating and exciting new series. One for readers who like their historical fiction history-packed as well as action-packed.

I received an advance reader copy courtesy of Head of Zeus via NetGalley.

In three words: Exciting, authentic, immersive
Try something similar: Death to the Emperor by Simon Scarrow

About the Author

Simon Turney is from Yorkshire and, having spent much of his childhood visiting historic sites, fell in love with the Roman heritage of the region. His fascination with the ancient world snowballed from there with great interest in Rome, Egypt, Greece and Byzantium. His works include the Marius’ Mules and Praetorian series, the Tales of the Empire and The Damned Emperor series, and the Rise of Emperors books with Gordon Doherty. He lives in North Yorkshire with his family.

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