The battle of the Teutoburg Forest in September AD 9 saw three Roman legions annihilated by German tribes in a masterful ambush. While the defeat was a considerable setback for Rome, such humiliations were never taken lying down. By the time five years had passed, an experienced general - Germanicus - and a massive army were in place on the frontier, ready to cross the Rhine in search of revenge. Recovery of the three lost eagle standards was paramount. So too was tracking down and killing Arminius, the chieftain who had masterminded the Teutoburg massacre. Before the campaign could get underway, events took an unexpected direction with the emperor Augustus' sudden death in autumn AD 14. An air of unease settled over the entire empire, and simmering grievances held by the soldiers of the Rhine garrisons flared into open mutiny. Restoring law and order would test Germanicus' skills to the limit, and make his task in the wilds of Germania that much harder. Although Hunting the Eagles is a work of fiction, it is peopled by historical characters and is based on real events in north-western Germany during the years AD 14 and 15. I hope, like me, you too will want to lose yourself in this remarkable story, and to march step by muddy step with the Roman legionaries as they fight for their lives against Arminius and his bloodthirsty horde.
The portrayal of the characters was sublime. Totally believable. The battle scenes were vivid and were very real in the telling. It was like being there, without the threat of being brutally maimed or killed, of course!...Eagles at War is now definitely on my 'to be read' list. Myths, Legends, Books & Coffee Pots Kept me riveted to the page for every word. You will honestly struggle to find any more real characters in any Roman book. I highly recommend this and all Ben Kane's books, if you have not read his work... why?? please go do so. Parmenion Books A triumph Sunday Express Excellent...another compelling, dark tale The Times Hunting the Eagles is a fantastic novel, a triumph of Roman historical fiction, as thrilling as you could ask for, while still showing how complicated the situation was, how frenzied, on the borders of the empire. The setting is so well done. Ben Kane's thorough research into the period, warfare and the location really pays off. Hunting the Eagles is not only a terrific follow up to Eagles of War, one of the best books of 2015 in my opinion, but also superb in its own right. For Winter Nights Kane puts you right in fighting slog...it's blood and bravery all the way Northern Echo A thundering second book in the series from a master storyteller Peterborough Evening Telegraph Cruel, relentless and compelling reading Frost Magazine