The Furies of Rome

It is late 58 A. D., and Vespasian and Sabinus’ mother has just crossed the Styx.  Although in mourning, they are scheming about how to pass information on to Paulinus in Brittania, while staying on the good side of Nero.

Later, Nero is persuaded by his mistress, Seneca and Pallas to eliminate his mother.  Agrippina is seen as a threat to Nero’s power.  So an elaborate scheme is made to have her drown on a ship at sea after apparently reconciling with Nero.  However, she manages to swim to safety.  Nero then orders that she be executed.  Vespasian has to be a witness to the execution.

Later, when Vespasian is under threat, it is his lover, Caenis that has knowledge and materials that alleviate that threat.    Shortly afterwards when summoned by Nero, Vespasian’s fear is palpable, but fortunately it is not serious.  He is to be sent to Britannia.  Caenis also travels there as an agent of Seneca, who wants her to withdraw his funds from there before Nero pulls out of the province.

One couple Caenis demands repayment from is Prasutagus and Boudicca.  They quickly come to the realisation that Boudicca is a powerful woman.  In a short time other financiers are also demanding their money.  This begins to cause unrest.  In desperation, Procurator Decianus goes to Boudicca and steals her money, whips her and has her daughters raped.  Little does he know that Boudicca will lead a dangerous uprising against the Romans.

With her massive army, Boudicca wreaks havoc, death and destruction on Roman Britain.  With over sixty thousand armed warriors, what chance does Governor Paulinus and his small Roman army have?

Author Robert Fabbri outlines the final battle for Boudicca and her vast army and how the Romans prevailed.  However, Boudicca’s uprising would force Nero to leave his army in Britain.  But what of the future of Vespasian and Nero?  That is obviously to come in the next book.  I look forward reading it.