Probably intentional on the author's part but this "guys' novel" read like a modern testosterone-fueled military thriller but set in 3d century Rome, Persia, and the steppe country. A small band of Special Forces, er, in this context, frumentarii, sets out to rescue a young Persian prince from an impregnable fortress/prison. There is a traitor among the ten misfits of different backgrounds, each hand-picked and highly skilled in secret warfare techniques. One speaks Persian fluently and at one time did a tour of duty there. The fifth columnist, blackmailed by the Head of the frumentarii, sets out to sow dissension among his brethren and to destroy the mission however he can. He brings about the deaths of some of the members of the group. Due to the violent death of their leader early on, the second-in-command, the inexperienced Roman army junior officer, Valens, takes over. How will he bear the burden of command and its responsibility?

Every cliché of espionage-thriller novels was used except the setting. In spite of that, the novel read enjoyably, smoothly, and quickly. There was a note of suspense and mystery--who was the traitor? Excitement ran through nearly every page. With the introduction of a female character, I cringed at the thought of love interest but the author avoided that banality; Lucia served her purposes--"damsel in distress" and later guide, then was written out of the story. The greeting "Health and great joy" irritated me every time it appeared. Did the author intend to show the characters were speaking Greek then?

Recommended. ( )