I had hoped to avoid reading the books in this series out of order. No luck as I got my hands on #4 before I was able to acquire #3. Turns out that while there are hints as to what happened in Volume 3, nevertheless, I'm convinced what I know won't spoil the story.

One of the reasons for this is that the series is character driven with Centurion Macro and newly promoted Centurion Cato providing the glue that holds everything together, while well drawn villains and heroes come and go, these two endure.

The plot here recounts how the Romans with their forces split and their supply lines constantly threatened, recruit and train native Britons to fight under the Roman Eagle, hold the key city of Calleva and protect the Roman ally, King Verica. Two cohorts are formed from the Atrebatans under the leadership of Macro and Cato. The rest of the story follows as the Briton tribes threaten to overrun the City and in the process destroy General Vespasian's forces.

There are two sub-plots in which a cheeky and arrogant Roman Legate plots to become the Governor of the nominally independent territory ruled by King Verica while some of those in Verica's court plot to assassinate him and join the the Briton tribes opposing the Romans.

There are a number of excellently described battles in the book as well as enough suspense to keep the reader turning the pages.

The ending of the book is somewhat bittersweet but true to historical records. I may have to buy rather than mooch Volume 3 so I don't get to far ahead of ongoing narrative. I am certainly enjoying this series. It takes some of the sting out of having finished Cornwell's "Richard Sharpe" series.