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Avenger of Rome
Avenger of Rome
Jan 17, 2026 11:27 PM

Author:Douglas Jackson

Avenger of Rome

If you like Simon Scarrow and Ben Kane, you'll absolutely love this enthralling and action-packed novel of Roman adventure from bestselling author Douglas Jackson.

Readers are loving Gaius Valerius Verrens!

"A triumph of a novel" - 5 STARS

"Impossible to put down." - 5 STARS

"A real unputdownable read" - 5 STARS

"Spellbinding" - 5 STARS

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A SOLDIER'S SWORD WILL DECIDE THE FATE OF ROME

Emperor Nero's grip on power is weakening - more and more fearful of losing his position, his paranoia settles on the figure of the popular Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo, Rome's greatest General who leads the imperial legions in the East. Is he preparing to march against Rome?

Gaius Valerius Verrens is ordered to Antioch on a mission to kill Corbulo, a soldier he worships...Yet Corbulo's eyes are not on Rome, but on a new threat to the Empire's border: the Parthian King, Vologases, is marching to war and with such an army that if not stopped he might overwhelm the entire Roman east.

Valerius marches at Corbulo's side. Outnumbered they make a stand to meet Vologases in an epic contest of military might and ingenuity that will decide the fate of the Empire.

And while he fights for the Empire, and for his own survival on the battlefield, Valerius must decide whether to complete his mission, or risk incurring his Emperor's dangerous wrath.

Gaius Valerius Verrens's adventures continue in Sword of Rome.

Reviews

A splendid piece of story-telling and a vivid recreation of a long-dead world

—— Allan Massie

Light and dark in equal measure, colourful, thoughtful and bracing

—— Manda Scott

Superb battle scenes . . . I was gripped from start to finish

—— Ben Kane

A savagely funny broadside aimed at the industry of suffering… The former journalist now working for a think tank is authoritative on his subject matter but also irreverently amusing when it comes to sacred cows in this delightfully unusual novel.

—— Siobhan Murphy , Metro

Ambitious debut novel, a black-hued satire about asylum-seekers.

—— Olivia Laing , New Statesman

Full of interesting characters

—— Washington Post

With a pared down snappy writing style, Fiend opens an exciting new chapter for modern horror.

—— Big Issue in the North

There is something witty or striking on almost every page

—— Mail on Sunday

Martin Amis's new novel shows a regathering of his artistic energies

—— Guardian

The buzzing sense of fresh, limitless erotic licence is captured brilliantly...he is beginning to write with Old Master assurance on the important subjects... If Amis keeps writing like this about death, he can still prove everyone wrong

—— The Times

The recent death of Iain Banks left a gaping hole in contemporary literature, but nowhere was the loss felt more than in his native Scotland. Banks took ordinary situations and rendered them extraordinary; a talent that fellow Scot Sue Peebles, whose first novel won both the Scottish and Saltire book awards, shares in spades… The "sacred geometry" of ageing and the timeless measuring out of love are what sustain this subtle, beautiful book.

—— Catherine Taylor , Guardian

Deeply humane tale of memory, loss and the struggle to understand a family’s past… It’s a novel of generous warmth

—— Ben Felsenburg , Metro Herald

A beautiful, brilliant novel destined to cement Sue's place as one of the leading lights of the Scottish literary scene

—— Waterstones

Peebles' keen eye for social observation adds a comic touch to the narrative, expertly showing how black humour is used in bleak times.

—— Rowena McIntosh , The Skinny

Peebles writes poetic prose, capturing Aggie's imaginative character and her need to find meaning in the puzzle of circumstances she finds herself in. The insight into dementia and its impact upon a family is poignant, with Aggie desperate to recapture the history of a beloved Gran who is disappearing in front of her eyes. The novel strongly evokes the Scottish countryside, its link to the past and the secrets it keeps. The story may be a slow burner, but keep going because its gentle pace builds up to a satisfying conclusion

—— Penny Batchelor , We Love This Book
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