The Janus Eagle ― The Fortress of Desolation

Armenia: a land riven by discord, shattered by invasion, and divided into competing factions. A land in which a trapped Queen awaits rescue from a Roman expedition ordered to fail and fall at the last deep in that land. Orders its commander, Flavius Anicius, is determined to avoid.Against the will of Lupicinus, Magister of the East, this Tribune will march both the Twelfth Fulminata Legion and the Senior Sol Legion deep into Armenia to surprise the Persians besieging Artageressa and bring out this Queen both to spite Rome and also redeem a past long since surrendered up to shame and ignominy. It is a march fated to summon up old ghosts and new betrayals as these two legions cross over into a land older than the history of Rome itself; a land riddled with secrets and deep caverns; a land which will twist about the feet of these Romans like quicksand . . .This is the second book on the trilogy The Janus Eagle and follows the fortunes of the Roman expedition under that dark figure known as Flavius AniciusPraise for the Author’s previous novel ‘The Nowhere Legion’:“ His characters are realistic and dark, the action is intense and unrelenting, and the story within a story will keep you turning the pages.”S.Brabant“ . . . bravo to the author for being able to meld that style with the eye to detail that he has for the historical aspects of this novel. ”Michael-M“His writing has an elegance and lyrical quality about it, and more than once I caught myself thinking, "I wish I had written that." And I assure you, that is a rare feat.”R.W. Peake, Author of the ‘Marching With Caesar’ novels.“Hagan delivers battles as gritty as the Persian desert. This is simply the best description I have read of what it was to fight in the Roman army. From the strategic placement of units to the cut and thrust tactics of the legionary the detail and the drama is unleashed in crashing waves of action.”P.A.Gillingwater“The writing is crisp and clear, easily evoking the Late Roman period, the military community and the deserts of the Near East. The landscapes of Syria and Jordan are wonderfully painted in vivid colours. There is a definite sense of suspense and drama in the battle scenes, and bloody realism all the way through.”P. Elliot