Praetorian

Praetorian is the eleventh installment in Simon Scarrow's Eagles of the Empire series, set in ancient Rome during the reign of Emperor Claudius. Two experienced soldiers, Macro and Cato, receive orders to infiltrate the Praetorian Guard and prevent an assassination plot against the emperor. The narrative follows these undercover operatives as they navigate the complex politics and dangerous rivalries within Rome's elite military unit. Operating under false identities, they must identify conspirators while maintaining their cover among the suspicious and highly trained Praetorians. The story moves through the streets and palaces of Rome, incorporating historical details of the city's military and political landscape in AD 51. Macro and Cato face mounting pressure as they race to protect the emperor while confronting personal enemies from their past. This military thriller explores themes of loyalty, duty, and the power dynamics of ancient Rome, depicting the volatile relationship between political authority and military might in the empire's capital.

Readers found this to be a solid entry in the Cato & Macro series, though not among the strongest. The murder mystery plot marks a departure from the usual military campaigns. Readers liked: - Historical details about Nero's Rome - The fresh setting after many battlefield-focused books - Complex political intrigue - Faithful continuation of the main characters' personalities Readers disliked: - Slower pace compared to previous books - Less action than typical for the series - Mystery plot felt contrived to some - Some found the urban setting less engaging than military campaigns Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (2,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (850+ ratings) Common reader comments: "A nice change of scenery but missing the usual excitement" - Goodreads reviewer "The detective story aspect works better than expected" - Amazon reviewer "Feels more like a transition book" - LibraryThing review

I, Claudius by Robert Graves Chronicles the rise of Emperor Claudius through palace intrigue and assassination plots in ancient Rome, revealing the machinations of imperial politics from an insider's perspective.

The Eagle by Rosemary Sutcliff Follows a Roman centurion's quest beyond Hadrian's Wall to recover a lost legion's eagle standard, depicting Roman military life and honor through military campaigns.

Empire by Steven Saylor Traces the history of Rome through interconnected stories of the Pinarius family, showing the empire's power structure from the streets to the imperial palace.

Under the Eagle by Simon Scarrow Introduces Cato and Macro during their first mission together in Britain, establishing the foundation of their military partnership in the Roman army.

The Silver Pigs by Lindsey Davis Centers on Marcus Didius Falco, an informer in ancient Rome who investigates crimes that lead him into conspiracies involving the imperial family.

🏛️ The Praetorian Guard served as both bodyguards and secret police, wielding immense political power - they could even make or break emperors, as demonstrated when they assassinated Caligula and installed Claudius. 🗡️ Emperor Claudius, featured in the novel, came to power unexpectedly in 41 CE when the Praetorian Guard found him hiding behind a curtain after Caligula's assassination. 📚 Simon Scarrow was a history professor before becoming a full-time writer, and his academic background contributes to the historical accuracy in his Eagles of the Empire series. 🏺 The Praetorian Guard received pay that was three times higher than regular legionaries and served shorter terms - 16 years compared to the standard 25 years. 🗺️ The novel is part of the Eagles of the Empire series, which has sold over 5 million copies worldwide and has been translated into more than 20 languages.