DECLARED AN ENEMY OF ROME, ARRIUS MUST NOT ONLY FACE GENERAL ARVINNIUS’S RE-LENTLESS EFFORT TO FIND AND EXECUTE HIM, BUT ALSO THE HOSTILITY AND DISTRUST OF THE NATIVE TRIBES NORTH OF HADRIAN’S WALL.
General Arvinnius gave the tribune a hard look. “Querinius, Arrius is to be taken alive no matter the cost. I want to be present when the treasonous bastard is crucified.”
Now an outcast and a fugitive of Rome, Arrius is not easily accepted by the Selgovi in spite of Ilya and his close friendship with her son, Joric, High Chieftain of the Selgovae Tribe. Arrius works hard to make the tribal clan chiefs understand the inevitable slaughter that is about to happen when the tribe confronts the legions about to march north. In time, he is able to convince the tribesmen to change their individual style of combat to a more unified approach and avoid pitch battles in favor of skirmish and ambush. When Joric is killed early in the conflict, Ilya becomes queen of the Selgovi. By now, Arrius has won the respect and confidence of the tribe. The subsequent invasion by the Roman legions is made more problematic by disaffection among the tribes. When Arrius is captured by Tribune Querinius, it becomes both a rallying cry for the Selgovae Tribe and a turning point in the war. Although the defeat of Querinius is significant, the tribe begins to accept the inevitable that Roman might is too great for the tribes to overcome; consequently, it falls to Arrius to play a key role in the Selgovi withdrawal north into Caledonia where the tribes already there intend to resist the southern migration.
"Historical fiction at its very best, Preston Holtry’s Enemy of Rome provides a powerful and most satisfying conclusion to his Arrius trilogy. With effective dialogue, provocative male and female characters, and exhilarating sections of violence, this well researched book makes us feel as though we are on the inside looking around us rather than merely on the outside looking in. A must-read novel."—John Vance, author of Echoes of November and Awake the Southern Wind
“Preston Holtry has surpassed himself with Enemy of Rome, the final installment of the Arrius trilogy. Based on the first two novels, I expected a thrilling end and Preston did not disappoint! … With realistic characters and unforgettable images of life in the Roman encampment and the tribal villages, Preston weaves a masterful tale, intertwining historical fact and riveting fiction. Be prepared to stay up late as you won’t want to put it down. This is an exciting finale to the trilogy, right to the last page!”— Randall Krzak, author of The Kurdish Connection and Dangerous Alliance
“Enemy of Rome continues the story of the maverick Roman who is at odds with the men who command him… a most believable novel. He transports the reader to the northern frontier in the second century very well. The dramatic ending is satisfying and the writer teases the reader with literary pleasures to come. Preston Holtry has truly joined the ranks of those who write the better books about the Roman Empire.”—Griff Hosker, author of the Anarchy and Dragonheart book series.
"A sprawling, multi-dimensional historical and epic novel in which Mr. Holtry exercises masterful control. He seamlessly weaves together history, adventure, passion, and family dynamics into a fascinating story that is always engaging, intriguing, and illuminating. It is also a helluva lot of fun."—Hank Luce, author of A Darkness in the Pines, Secret of the Nightingale Madonna, Brainways, and Crown of Thorns
