This book is the third in the Gladiator trilogy. I, personally, liked it but didn't really understand it as I haven't read the first two. Don't follow my example and go and read the first two before you let your eyes stray in this direction.

It is set in Italy, the Roman Empire, in 59 BC. Marcus is a retired gladiator at the age of 12! He is working for Julius Caesar as a body-guard. Meanwhile, one of his mates (called Brixus) from the gladiator-school escapes into the mountains to try and stir up another rebellion in the name of Spartacus, who died just the year before. Marcus is holding a secret that could cost him his life: he is the son of Spartacus. Ironically, Marcus is very close to Caesar, but he also wants to fulfil his father's wish to stamp out slavery. He goes with Caesar to crush the rebellion and finds himself torn between his master and his father. Can he stop endless slaughter and try to negotiate with the rebels before all hell breaks loose?

Based on real characters, this epic novel is full to the brim with liveliness and great battles. This suspense-packed cluster of pages will make your knees jitter with excitement and you won't be able to put it down!

However, the picture of the Republican soldier at the end is not entirely correct because only centurions had plumes and greaves, and the armour would have been plate armour by the Latin name of 'lorica segmentica'. Considering its targeted age-group is 11+, I think the author could have been more accurate so I
would give it a rating of 8/10.

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