Warrior of Rome

The First Emperor #2

by Terry Cloutier

43 BC, ROME: As Gaius Octavius Thurinus—now known as Gaius Julius Caesar—crosses the Rubicon and marches on the Eternal City with eight legions at his back, the Roman Senate comes to their senses and agrees to make him consul. Not yet twenty years old, Octavius becomes the youngest consul in the history of the Roman Republic—but his ambitions won't stop there. Using his newly acquired Senatorial powers, Octavius reverses the amnesty protecting the Liberators from prosecution for Julius Caesar’s murder, setting up an inevitable clash with the faction's main leaders, Brutus and Cassius, who are growing more powerful in the east by the day.

Meanwhile, in the northwest, still smarting after his humiliating retreat from Mutina, Marcus Antonius, along with Marcus Lepidus, begin marshaling their forces for a push on Rome to oust that arrogant Thurinus boy and his loyal friend, Marcus Agrippa. Vastly outnumbered and squeezed by enemies from two directions, Octavius must choose between the lesser of two evils if he wishes to survive—ultimately forming a political union that will change the course of history.

But all men are mortal after all—formed of blood, bones, and tears—and no agreement lasts forever.

387 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 31, 2024

About the author

Terry Cloutier is the bestselling author of the Wolf of Corwick Castle series, The First Emperor series, and The Past Lives Chronicles. The tenth book in the Wolf of Corwick series, titled The Wolf at Bay, will be released on March 31st, 2026, with book 11, The Wolf Unleashed, slated for release in the summer of 2026. Terry resides in Canada with his wife and their two dogs. You can contact Terry through Facebook or his website www.terrycloutier.com. He'd love to hear from you.

Reviews

[Liviu]

The immediate sequel to the excellent Impostor of Rome, the novel continues the story of Marcus Agrippa (with a twist) from the march on Rome in 43 to the battle at Philippi, the Perusia affair, and its aftermath. While energetic and compelling one to turn the pages, Warrior of Rome is somewhat scattered and feels more like a sequence of events than a coherent story, despite still being a first-person narration - I am definitely interested in the promised sequel, Statesman of Rome, but not at the drop everything to read it on publication this time - maybe the expectations here were a bit too high.

Overall, very good and carries the storyline well but the first book was better

[Thomas W Shepherd]

Superb Historical Fiction Set in Ancient Rome

Terry Cloutier takes us back to Rome at the end of the Republic and gives readers a chance to be there as Gaius Octavius Caesar rises from obscurity to become the first Emperor of Rome. We see the struggles and breathe the incense of ritual offerings on the eve of battle. But most importantly we march with the legions and get to know the officers and men as flesh and blood rather than oil paintings in a museum. Filled with lust and love, power and politics, and most of all the deadly clash of arms, Warrior of Rome kept me reading past my bedtime, which is a major accomplishment for a guy in his late 70s.

Highly recommend.

[Anthony Player]

This series is so good, not my usual genre upon first starting the book; starts in the real world today and my first thought was "this will be rubbish as all time travel books start like this" but I was proved wrong quickly and got right into the story and read it in one sitting as I could not stand to miss the action which is multi-layered. Not just bash crash fighting but proper character in sights and so much so that I was hating the villian very quickly into the story.
This is my favourite read of the past few years and Terry Cloutier needs to get on with the next book right now!

[Sierra Serinese]

Best of the best Augustus novels

I read many(100s) Roman novels but this my favorite. It has everything one would expect from an ancient Rome story. Great original story telling of famous Romans, vivid scenes, intelligent writing, an unique way to spin the tale. Cant get enough

[David]

Brilliant

What a read couldn't put it down fantastic sequel . What fantastic characters great battle scenes. Can't wait for the next one.

[Stephen Aitken]

Excellent read, true history from a different perspective Agrippa was at Octavians side for many years so hopefully more to come

[Brian Seare]

Intrigue

Another story of intrigue and battle which ends in victory also betrayal. How the next chapter of this excellent series ends ,which I cannot wait to read.

[B]

4.5/5.

[Laurie Stuart]

After not being shore about starting Reading Terry Cloutier's Series The First Emperor I'm very happy I started I've just finished Warrior of Rome I & like Book 1 Imposter of Rome the Story kept on keeping on it's a Different style of story telling I would recommend readers have a look at this Series
Laurie Stuart