Book Review – Warrior (Agricola #2) by Simon Turney @AriesFiction

About the Book

In Nero’s Rome, ambition is a dangerous thing…

Agricola has won renown for his military exploits in Britannia. Now returned to Rome with his new family, he seeks to rise further – but life in the greatest city on earth proves more difficult than he expected. Roman politics are on a knife-edge – often literally. The Emperor Nero is unpredictable, the manner of his rule unstable.

Agricola soon finds himself posted to the troublesome province of Asia Minor. The local governor is ambitious and dangerous. Falling foul of such a man could mean certain death… and yet a rebellious young warrior like Agricola cannot stay silent for long.

When Agricola experiences personal tragedy, he seeks revenge. Rome, meanwhile, burns in a great fire… but further tumult is to come in the wake of Nero’s death. Agricola must tread a careful path to stay alive through the Year of the Four Emperors… a year of blood and ruin throughout the empire.

Format: Paperback (400 pages) Publisher: Aries
Publication date: 13th February 2025 Genre: Historical Fiction

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My Review

Warrior is the second book in what is now to be a four book series about the renowned Roman soldier and statesman, Agricola. I really enjoyed the first book, Invader, and the third book, Commander, is due out in December.

Agricola is back in Rome seeking advancement, a task that requires acquiring the patronage of influential men. That’s not easy when Rome is a place of division and competing factions as the Emperor Nero’s actions become increasingly crazed. When Agricola does land the position of quaestor (for which read auditor) in the province of Asia Minor he finds himself taking a prinicipled stance against its self-serving Governor, Otho Titianus. Unfortunately, he’s made a dangerous enemy whose desire for revenge will threaten Agricola’s family and livelihood in the years to come.

Soon, however, the tide turns against Nero but without a successor it becomes a free-for-all amongst those who have ambitions to become Emperor, and changing sides becomes not just a frequent occurrence but something of an art form. Agricola makes his choice and with his friend, the Silurian warrior Luci – no longer a slave but a freedman – he finds himself back in the fray as civil war erupts.

It wouldn’t be a Simon Turney book without some exciting battle scenes and Warrior doesn’t disappoint. Particularly striking is the hour by hour description of the Second Battle of Bedriacum which thrillingly depicts the ebb and flow of battle, and in which even the moonlight plays a role. It’s brutal stuff. ‘Hours of periodic mincing and grinding of human flesh into the machinery of empire. Six hours of bloodied rags and broken bones and curses and oaths at a distance, only to begin the cycle again with the roar of the name of the emperor who, in both cases, was nowhere near the battle.’ (By the way, the author describes this as the most interesting battle he’s written about. It was a pivotal moment in the civil war and paved the way for Vespasian to become Emperor.)

The author’s Historical Note demonstrates the depth of research that has gone into the book. It involves navigating the different versions of events in the historical sources and filling in the inevitable gaps with a combination of immense knowledge of the period, informed speculation and a healthy dose of writer’s imagination. The story may be shot through with historical detail but it doesn’t make it any less of a page-turner. And you learn such interesting things along the way, such as the fact that having children could give a man a boost up the career ladder.

Warrior is a thrilling story of vaunting ambition, personal vendettas and treachery set against the backdrop of a turbulent year in the history of Rome. What’s next for Agricola as he returns to Britannia? We’re promised ‘a legion in revolt, an island torn apart by war and a governor struggling to control it’. Like Agricola, I can hardly wait.

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

In three words: Authentic, dramatic, exciting
Try something similar: Domitian by S. J. A. Turney

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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