Hispania--340 AD. A young girl, Julia, is left an orphan, after both parents are taken by plague. With a faithful servant who dies en route, she travels to Britannia. She is then taken in by her uncle Lucius, City Treasurer, a morose but scrupulously honest man. Her uncle has also taken in as ward, a boy, Marcus Flavius Aquila; the name is a nod to Rosemary Sutcliff, who has used the name in her EAGLE OF THE NINTH. The two children grow up together and become friends after initial dislike. The story involves the usurper, Magnentius; Western Roman Emperor Constantius and varied shady government officials. Marcus is whipped and forced to join the army as a common soldier by Lucius after stealing money from him. We see his basic training under Centurion Milo, gruff and crude but basically good-hearted. We follow Marcus in his postings to Hadrian's Wall to fight Picts and Attacotti, then reassignment to the East [Antioch] to fight Persians. He is present at Nisibis. Lucius is kidnapped and taken by the Attacotti. Both Marcus, who has returned to Britannia, and Julia rush to his rescue, with a vexillation of the army. The detachment finally finds the kidnappers in the North and fights them there. The ending was bittersweet; I did mist over.

This novel was enjoyable. Julia, Marcus, and Uncle Lucius were engaging, as well as Milo. I admired the author for using as a basis for his novel the archaeological find of a young woman's skeleton buried in rich clothing with opulent grave goods from this period found near London in 1999. He created a whole personality and story for the figure and for "what could have been." The author gives details on why he wrote as he did in his Notes. The history seemed well researched. Unbelievable how villainous the historical "baddies" were, especially Paul the Chain! I loved the sardonicism throughout the novel. I thought the writing when the two youngsters were children was juvenile--as fitting the subject, but then as they grew to adulthood, the writing became more mature.

Highly recommended. ( )