Twilight of Empire

Once a soldier in an elite legion from the Danube, newly promoted centurion Aurelius Castus now finds himself stuck in Britain's provincial backwater. But when the king of the Picts, the savages beyond Hadrian's Wall, dies under mysterious circumstances, Castus is selected to command the bodyguard of a Roman envoy sent to negotiate with the barbarians. What starts as a simple diplomatic mission ends in bloody tragedy, and soon Castus and his men are fighting for their lives-and it isn't long before the legionnaire discovers that nothing about his doomed mission was ever what it seemed.

Once a soldier in an elite legion from the Danube, newly promoted centurion Aurelius Castus now finds himself stuck in Britain's provincial backwater. But when the king of the Picts, the savages beyond Hadrian's Wall, dies under mysterious circumstances, Castus is selected to command the bodyguard of a Roman envoy sent to negotiate with the barbarians. What starts as a simple diplomatic mission ends in bloody tragedy, and soon Castus and his men are fighting for their lives-and it isn't long before the legionnaire discovers that nothing about his doomed mission was ever what it seemed. The first book in Ian James Ross's Twilight of Empire series, War at the Edge of the World is an exciting debut from an author as gifted at telling a story as he is at bringing the Late Roman Empire to life.

In this thrilling sequel to War at the Edge of the World, a centurion's promotion sends him to the royal court, a place more dangerous than a battlefield. Rome is in peril and the old order is changing. Centurion Aurelius Castus has been summoned back from his post in Britain to find himself caught up in a treacherous conspiracy threatening to bring down Emperor Constantine. Rewarded for saving the emperor's life in battle, Castus is promoted to the Corps of Protectores, the elite imperial bodyguard-the swords around the throne. But he soon discovers the court can be as dangerous as the battlefield; behind the gilded facade of empire, there are spiraling plots, betrayals, and seductions. A nest of traitors. And one relentless enemy who threatens the future of Rome . . . Swords Around the Throne is the thrilling sequel to War at the Edge of the World and brilliantly brings the Late Roman Empire to life. Praise for Swords Around the Throne "Hugely enjoyable. The author winds a tension spring to an explosion of fast-paced events. If you like Scarrow you'll love this." -Conn Iggulden "Lifts the curtain on a neglected but fascinating period of Roman history with a deft hand and a keen eye. Highly recommended." -Anthony Riches

Rome is in peril and the old order is changing. Centurion Aurelius Castus has been summoned back from his post in Britain to find himself caught up in a treacherous conspiracy threatening to bring down Emperor Constantine. Rewarded for saving the emperor's life in battle, Castus is promoted to the Corps of Protectores, the elite imperial bodyguard-the swords around the throne. But he soon discovers the court can be as dangerous as the battlefield; behind the gilded facade of empire, there are spiraling plots, betrayals, and seductions. A nest of traitors. And one relentless enemy who threatens the future of Rome. Swords Around the Throne is the thrilling sequel to War at the Edge of the World and brilliantly brings the Late Roman Empire to life.

War is on the horizon for the Roman Empire, and only Maxentius, tyrant of Rome, stands between the emperor Constantine and supreme power in the west. Aurelius Castus is now a tribune in Constantine's army. But this great honor brings new challenges, and Castus is tormented by suspicions that his young wife has been unfaithful. As Constantine becomes increasingly devoted to Christianity, he is forced to ask himself whether he is following the wrong man. The approaching war will decide the fate of the empire, but Castus's own battle will carry him much further-into the shadowy realms of treachery at the heart of Rome itself.