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Invader #1
Death Beach
The invasion of Britannia has been bloody and relentless, and still the barbaric island people have not been fully conquered. With grievous losses amongst the Second Legion's men in a campaign of coordinated enemy attacks, the approaching winter could be catastrophic. When a unit of battle-hardened soldiers is dispatched to rout the native warriors, amongst them is Figulus, an optio whose local knowledge makes him doubt the Commander's confidence in a speedy and successful mission.
The unit is deep in enemy territory when it makes a horrifying discovery: of the maimed bodies of brutally tortured Roman prisoners. It's clear what a dreadful fate awaits Figulus and his comrades unless they can outwit and repulse the Britons...
The unit is deep in enemy territory when it makes a horrifying discovery: of the maimed bodies of brutally tortured Roman prisoners. It's clear what a dreadful fate awaits Figulus and his comrades unless they can outwit and repulse the Britons...
84 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 5, 2014
32 people are currently reading
356 people want to read
About the author
Simon Scarrow
171 books2,169 followersSimon Scarrow is a UK-based author, born in Nigeria, and now living in Norfolk. He completed a master's degree at the University of East Anglia, and, after working at the Inland Revenue, went into teaching as a lecturer at City College, Norwich.
He is best known for his "Eagle" series. This is Roman empire military fiction, starting with the second invasion of Britain, and continuing with subsequent adventures in every corner of the empire. The stories are told through the eyes of two centurions, Macro and Cato. To date there are eighteen books in the series.
Scarrow has also written a series of four novels on the Napoleonic wars, focusing on the lives of Wellington and Napoleon.
He is best known for his "Eagle" series. This is Roman empire military fiction, starting with the second invasion of Britain, and continuing with subsequent adventures in every corner of the empire. The stories are told through the eyes of two centurions, Macro and Cato. To date there are eighteen books in the series.
Scarrow has also written a series of four novels on the Napoleonic wars, focusing on the lives of Wellington and Napoleon.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 9, 2014
Invader: Death Beach is a quick, easy read. For fans of Scarrow's Macro & Cato series it is a must-read - although neither of the two characters do not appear in the story. This novella takes place on the heels of the two Roman's adventures with the 2nd Legion and the conquest of Britannia.
With the Britons supposedly conquered the scattered Roman outposts are in the uneasy role of keeping the peace. They are to support friendly chieftains and, in typical Roman fashion, ruthlessly crush any tribes foolish enough to rebel. The Druids, of course, are intent on stirring up trouble, so the situation is anything but quiet. It is in this setting that Figulus, a Romanized Gaul serving with the Legions, and the rest of his cohort are sent to a remote island to root out the remnants of a rebel force. They are betrayed and face a surprisingly hard fight.
The book is a solid read. Entertaining for the brutal battles and the immersion of the story. Reading, I could almost feel the cold, miserable rain. The book, however, lacks some of the spark of the Macro & Cato stories. I wanted to see something akin to the humorous interplay between those two. In this story the only "real" character is Figulus. The others are unfortunately undeveloped. Maybe that's to be expected in such a short book.
Long story short, III stars out of V. If you like Roman Legions bringing ... civilization ... to Barbarous regions at the point of a gladius you'll probably enjoy.
With the Britons supposedly conquered the scattered Roman outposts are in the uneasy role of keeping the peace. They are to support friendly chieftains and, in typical Roman fashion, ruthlessly crush any tribes foolish enough to rebel. The Druids, of course, are intent on stirring up trouble, so the situation is anything but quiet. It is in this setting that Figulus, a Romanized Gaul serving with the Legions, and the rest of his cohort are sent to a remote island to root out the remnants of a rebel force. They are betrayed and face a surprisingly hard fight.
The book is a solid read. Entertaining for the brutal battles and the immersion of the story. Reading, I could almost feel the cold, miserable rain. The book, however, lacks some of the spark of the Macro & Cato stories. I wanted to see something akin to the humorous interplay between those two. In this story the only "real" character is Figulus. The others are unfortunately undeveloped. Maybe that's to be expected in such a short book.
Long story short, III stars out of V. If you like Roman Legions bringing ... civilization ... to Barbarous regions at the point of a gladius you'll probably enjoy.
January 1, 2022
Well, this is not a good sign. This, my first of the year, was decidedly lackluster. "Okay" is about the highest praise that I can give it. I didn't feel a thing for any of the characters. I guess I've become spoiled with the fabulous characters of Douglas Jackson and Bernard Cornwell.
November 16, 2019
By the fourth novel the whole story turned childish. I am disappointed considering I liked the Revolution series very much.
and…….
I don’t think expressions like“for fuck's sake”, “bollocks” , “wanker”, “what the fuck”, "lady”,“gentlemen”, “fuck off”, etc. belong as a part of a conversation for the time period. I not saying this because I think that the people had better manners or that I am offended to read about it, I say this because it sound ridicules. You have the feeling that you are in a modern British pub and not in the times of the Roman Empire.
and…….
I don’t think expressions like“for fuck's sake”, “bollocks” , “wanker”, “what the fuck”, "lady”,“gentlemen”, “fuck off”, etc. belong as a part of a conversation for the time period. I not saying this because I think that the people had better manners or that I am offended to read about it, I say this because it sound ridicules. You have the feeling that you are in a modern British pub and not in the times of the Roman Empire.
December 14, 2023
( Format : Audiobook )
"Betrayed."
Simon Scarrow's series now called Eagles of the Empire, has even one of my favourites since first it began and I eagerly awaited each new instalment of the lives of Centurion Macro and his young Optio, Cato, from being part of the invasion of Brtain with the second legion under Vespasian and Emperor Claudius, then onwards into other parts of the Roman world. The battles were magnificent, the character development of the two friend superb. They were to be cheered on, feared for, real people inside my head.
Unfortunately this rapport has not yet been built with Optio Figulus. He seems a 'nice sort of lad' but for this reader the proportion of slaughter and blood letting to character development is weighted far too strongly towards the former this early in the series to make me keen to know more about him and his future, if he has one, continuing into book two.The
Narrator, Jonathan Keeble, gives an excellent performance. The story is adventurous, exciting, well written - but only two and a half hours in length. Should be longer.
"Betrayed."
Simon Scarrow's series now called Eagles of the Empire, has even one of my favourites since first it began and I eagerly awaited each new instalment of the lives of Centurion Macro and his young Optio, Cato, from being part of the invasion of Brtain with the second legion under Vespasian and Emperor Claudius, then onwards into other parts of the Roman world. The battles were magnificent, the character development of the two friend superb. They were to be cheered on, feared for, real people inside my head.
Unfortunately this rapport has not yet been built with Optio Figulus. He seems a 'nice sort of lad' but for this reader the proportion of slaughter and blood letting to character development is weighted far too strongly towards the former this early in the series to make me keen to know more about him and his future, if he has one, continuing into book two.The
Narrator, Jonathan Keeble, gives an excellent performance. The story is adventurous, exciting, well written - but only two and a half hours in length. Should be longer.
December 22, 2024
Figulus is a Gaul fighting in the Roman Army in their invasion of Britain. Some spoilers. An Optio, he is given a temporary promotion to Centurion, as leader of the Sixth Century on a mission to swap grain for 12 Roman Soldiers, held by a starving British tribe. He suspects there could be trouble, even a trap but is not expecting that they have been betrayed by scout to the Durotrigans, another British tribe who are savage warriors who sees the prisoner for food swap as betrayal. There is a hard fight which his men win, with casualties and deaths, but as he got the Roman prisoners back, he is given the task of bodyguarding an envoy and told if he messes up, he will be made a slave. And if he does well, he will be made a Centurion, a responsibility he does not want. Continued in the second book, BLOOD ENEMY.
August 4, 2018
A good little read; but that's the problem, it was a little read. Why didn't they join up 1 and 2 together so we'll, at least, end up with more pages for our pennies?
October 14, 2020
Solid Simon Scarrow style Roman soldiering. New names, but similar formula to the Cato and Macro series.
September 16, 2021
Spesso trascorrendo anni agli infidi confini dell'impero, il legionario era al contempo soldato, ingegnere e amministratore locale.
August 1, 2024
3.5 stars
November 20, 2024
‘Death Beach’, a spin-off from the Eagle series, continues the course of events in Britain after Cato and Macro left.
One of the secondary characters from the Eagle series, Figulus, now takes on the main role. I always liked him as a supporting character, though he doesn’t make for the best of leads. That’s not to say it was a mistake to elevate him, but I think another stronger character would’ve been better, with Figulus in the second main role.
As for the story, I liked it but would’ve liked more of it. I get that it’s novella, but it felt a little undercooked. Didn’t have the space to build towards something big, and so on.
Still, it’s a good read and I’ll be continuing with the series.
One of the secondary characters from the Eagle series, Figulus, now takes on the main role. I always liked him as a supporting character, though he doesn’t make for the best of leads. That’s not to say it was a mistake to elevate him, but I think another stronger character would’ve been better, with Figulus in the second main role.
As for the story, I liked it but would’ve liked more of it. I get that it’s novella, but it felt a little undercooked. Didn’t have the space to build towards something big, and so on.
Still, it’s a good read and I’ll be continuing with the series.
June 13, 2014
The first in an new e-novel(la) series by Simon Scarrow and TJ Andrews, following in the footsteps of his previous Roman Arena e-books (Barbarian, Challenger, First Sword, Revenge and Champion), which were previously then released as one novel in its own right.
Unlike those previous, however, this time around he does not (or, at least, has not yet) use main characters from his 'main' series of Roman novels (i.e. either Cato or Macro, who also appears in the Arena series), but instead utilises a secondary character from one of hie earlier Eagle books: indeed, I'd all but forgotten that this character (the main one in this series) had been in any previous until it was mentioned near the end!
There's also an element of 'Saving Private Ryan' in the earlier parts of this novella, particularly in the beach landing!
Unlike those previous, however, this time around he does not (or, at least, has not yet) use main characters from his 'main' series of Roman novels (i.e. either Cato or Macro, who also appears in the Arena series), but instead utilises a secondary character from one of hie earlier Eagle books: indeed, I'd all but forgotten that this character (the main one in this series) had been in any previous until it was mentioned near the end!
There's also an element of 'Saving Private Ryan' in the earlier parts of this novella, particularly in the beach landing!
November 13, 2015
A good intro starter story on the fall of Britannia, with believable characters and good action.
Read
January 18, 2016Fun and entertaining.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews