ILONA - Wolf Queen
The Civilis Saga Book #2
By Peter Baggott
Two warnings to return home,
drive Artorius Civilis northward. Torn between duty and family he must resolve
the Legate-less 2nd Augusta before he can return to Rome. Lost in a snowstorm
it leads him to a chance meeting and an unknown prophecy he must fulfil. The
purge of Sejanus’ supporters continues and with only the Civilis family left to
identify him, Victus Claudian must eradicate them all. An informant, an ambush,
a final meeting in a snowy forest, Artorius is the first step, but in Genua,
Naomi hides a growing secret. Abandoned with only his spatha, Artorius faces a
life or death scenario as wolves smell his blood. A two-legged wolf becomes his
saviour, changing his life forever. Marcus and Tia’s love flourishes as they
raise the family estate from slaves to a village. With the New Year, the annual
plague crawls like a snake from the poisonous Tiberis exacting death on all it
touches. Out of duty and honour, Artorius’ friends seek the truth of his final
days. A last resort leads to a small hut where a seer and her daughter, the
Wolf Queen, live, therein lay the answers and many new questions. Power and
greed will lead one to betray Artorius’ family, but another will offer her life
in that betrayal, to win what she seeks. Two sons, born of two families, from
two worlds on a collision course, where survival is paramount. Lainth the
Etruscan goddess of death picks her subjects.
“Prepare
yourself, daughter — the weather brings your man to our door. His life is about
to change forever, and painfully so. Only you can repair his tortured soul and
give him hope…”
Ilona has always heeded her
mother’s wise counsel, for Rosevetha is a seer, an extraordinarily powerful
one. However, Rosevetha is not the only one with gifts. Ilona is the Wolf
Queen — she can talk to wolves, hunt with them, without any fear of being hurt.
Wherever she goes, her wolves are not far behind. But, even Ilona could not
have possibly comprehended the lengths she would have to go to if she is to
save the man she loves.
Centurion Artorius Primus
Pila Civilis had sought shelter from the elements in the home of Rosevetha and
her daughter. However, he got a little more than a comforting fire and hot
food. Instead, he is issued with two warnings — beware of the man with a “V” in
his name and return to Rome with all haste.
Artorius knows well the man
with a “V” in his name, for they are old enemies, and he has every intention of
returning to his family in Rome as soon as there is a break in the weather.
However, fate plays a cruel hand, and his journey is delayed. The seer was
right. The consequences are indeed, life-changing.
From humble beginnings to
life as the partner of a Camp Prefect in the Glorious 2nd, ILONA - Wolf Queen:
The Civilis Saga Book #2, by Peter Baggott, is a historical fiction triumph.
Well, Baggott has done it
again. ILONA — Wolf Queen, was everything I expected and then some. Filled with
non-stop action, and an incredibly impressive narrative, this is the kind of
story that hooks you in from the opening sentence and does not let go
until the very last full stop. I do not exaggerate when I say the pages practically
turned themselves and time ceased to matter while I lost myself in the world
that Baggott has created. Baggott has crafted a tale that is every reader’s
dream — it is a book you can very willingly lose yourself in.
I was expecting big things
from this book after reading Victus: The Civilis Saga Book #1, and I am
pleased to say that I wasn’t disappointed. At times the tension was almost
unbearable as one tragedy after another strikes the House of Civilis. I was
left gasping in disbelief as Baggott struck down his characters with all the drama one usually finds in the books penned by George R. R. Martin.
Was no one safe? This series certainly needs to come with a warning — do not
get attached to any of the characters, there’s a good chance they won’t make
it! This is no criticism. The story warranted the deaths — it is just that I
did not want them to die!
Within the pages of this
remarkable book is a desperately heroic struggle between the House of Civilis
and the evil, despicable and disgraced, Victus Claudian. Victus is an
incredibly dangerous man who is determined to kill every last member of the
Civilis family. Nothing can seemingly stop him. He is a character that made my
skin crawl. Victus has absolutely no regard for life, he rapes and murders,
without mercy. His actions could be mistaken as that of a madman, but Victus
knows exactly what he is doing. Baggot deserves the highest praise in his
portrayal of this truly terrible antagonist.
Baggott also deserves acclaim for
not only his enthralling narrative but for his confident historical
detailing. Here we have an author who knows the history of this period inside
out. Baggott brings this era back to life in all its glorious, as well as its
abhorrent, detail. Baggott certainly has a novelist gift for understanding what
makes history worth reading.
There is a large cast of characters in this book —
at least in the beginning — which Baggott has a masterful control of. He also
has an intuitive understanding that no man is perfect, and even the most moral
sometimes fall from grace. Such insight means that he has written a cast of not
only highly appealing characters but more importantly, believable ones.
I cannot praise this book enough. From the tender
moments between a man and a woman to the horrors of the battlefield, there is
something for everyone between the pages of ILONA - Wolf Queen: The Civilis
Saga Book #2. I cannot wait to get my hands on Book #3 and find out what is to
become of the House of Civilis.
I Highly Recommend.
Review by Mary Anne Yarde.
The Coffee Pot Book Club.
Pick up your copy of
ILONA - Wolf Queen
(The Civilis Saga Book #2)
Peter Baggott
Peter Baggott is a debut
author with a deep interest in Roman history. He has served in three uniformed
employments and is very familiar with Roman tactics which are still used in
everyday life: shield tactics and skills – testudo being much used in the
Police and Prison Service.
Peter chose for his writing this historical genre because of his innate interest in the subject and having been born in the Roman city of Lindvm, modern day Lincoln.
In his teens, on a daily basis, while delivering newspapers, Peter traversed the exposed Roman remains from The Steep to the Newport Arch, the only full Roman archway in Great Britain.
While working in a local hotel close to the ruins he utilised this knowledge to become a self-appointed guide to visitors from far and wide and has continued to keep up to date with local finds. There are many stories surrounding the infamous Legio IX Hispana, who were based in Lindvm, their disappearance has inspired his continuing interest in all things Roman.
Peter has also visited numerous Roman sites, both in the UK and in Europe and has used original Roman historical sources of Tacitus, Suetonius and Dio, Google Maps for distancing and location, Wikipedia and several archaeological online sources. Thus, he tries to keep abreast with new finds upgrading his work accordingly.
Peter chose for his writing this historical genre because of his innate interest in the subject and having been born in the Roman city of Lindvm, modern day Lincoln.
In his teens, on a daily basis, while delivering newspapers, Peter traversed the exposed Roman remains from The Steep to the Newport Arch, the only full Roman archway in Great Britain.
While working in a local hotel close to the ruins he utilised this knowledge to become a self-appointed guide to visitors from far and wide and has continued to keep up to date with local finds. There are many stories surrounding the infamous Legio IX Hispana, who were based in Lindvm, their disappearance has inspired his continuing interest in all things Roman.
Peter has also visited numerous Roman sites, both in the UK and in Europe and has used original Roman historical sources of Tacitus, Suetonius and Dio, Google Maps for distancing and location, Wikipedia and several archaeological online sources. Thus, he tries to keep abreast with new finds upgrading his work accordingly.
Congratulations on your award, Peter!
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