Synopses & Reviews
The epic first installment in a new series set at the end of empire in the reign of the Emperor Constantine, The War at the Edge of the World follows newly promoted centurion Aurelius Castus into the tumultuous battle for the future of Rome. Once a soldier in an elite legion from the Danube, now stuck in Britain's provincial backwater, Castus believes his glory days are over. But fate is about to intervene. When the king of the Picts, the savage people beyond Hadrian's Wall, dies in mysterious circumstances, Castus is selected to command the bodyguard of a Roman envoy sent to negotiate with the barbarians. But the diplomatic mission ends in bloody tragedy. Castus and his men are soon fighting for their lives and the legionary discovers that nothing about his doomed mission was ever what it seemed.
Review
“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, #1
New York Times-bestselling author
“Twilight of Empire - War at the Edge of the World is an impressive debut by Ian James Ross. Set in a little-known era of the Roman Empire - the early 4th century AD - it throws us head first into a chaotic world in which emperors rise and fall, fortunes change and a man does not know who to trust. This is a thumping good read, well crafted, atmospheric and thoroughly enjoyable. A real page-turner. Wheres the next volume, please?”—Ben Kane, best-selling author of Hannibal: Clouds of War
“Ian James Ross blazes into the world of Empire and legions with the verve and panache of an old hand. The world of Roman fiction is a crowded place, but theres no doubt this one is up there with Harry Sidebottom and Ben Kane and is destined for the premier league.”—M.C. Scott, author of Rome: The Art of War
“Lifts the curtain on a neglected but fascinating period of Roman history with a deft hand and a keen eye. Highly recommended.”—Anthony Riches, author of The Eagles Vengeance
Review
"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, #1 New York Times-bestselling author Twilight of Empire
Review
"War at the Edge of the World is an impressive debut by Ian James Ross. Set in a little-known era of the Roman Empire - the early 4th century AD - it throws us head first into a chaotic world in which emperors rise and fall, fortunes change and a man does not know who to trust. This is a thumping good read, well crafted, atmospheric and thoroughly enjoyable. A real page-turner. Where's the next volume, please?" Ben Kane, best-selling author of Hannibal: Clouds of War
Review
"Ian James Ross blazes into the world of Empire and legions with the verve and panache of an old hand. The world of Roman fiction is a crowded place, but there's no doubt this one is up there with Harry Sidebottom and Ben Kane and is destined for the premier league." M.C. Scott, author of Rome: The Art of War
Review
"Lifts the curtain on a neglected but fascinating period of Roman history with a deft hand and a keen eye. Highly recommended." Anthony Riches, author of The Eagle's Vengeance
Review
"Ross has done a wonderful job of bringing this vanished world to plausible life while telling an exciting story full of characters who are simultaneously both essentially human and distinctly formed by their time and place. Fans of historical military sagas in the style of Bernard Cornwall will find to be an exciting beginning to a promising series." Forward Reviews
Synopsis
A veteran soldier defends the receding borders of the Roman Empire in the first installment to a thrilling new series
About the Author
Ian James Ross has been researching and writing about the later Roman world and its army for over a decade. He spent a year in Italy teaching English, but now lives in Bath, England.