Simon Turney carries on the career of Agricola in Agricola Warrior. Agricola has returned from his early army career in Britannia and becomes quaestor of Asia. There he gains the enmity of Otho the governor who causes the death of his small son. Recalled to Rome, he has to negotiate life in Rome under Nero. Then comes the time of the four emperors with Agricola losing his family to enemies except his wife and daughter. He supports Vespasion in Italy and is held in high honor. At the end he is sent to Britain. Tacitus and others cover the later part of his life but this section has very little coverage so Turney can have free rein with his life. Excellent historical novel.

Agricola: Warrior by Simon Turney. Brilliant as ever by the masterful Turney. Book covers the much written about Year of the 4 Emperors, yet feels fresh and exciting. Cant wait for book 3

Warrior is the second book in what is now to be a four book series about the renowned Roman soldier and statesman, Agricola. I really enjoyed the first book, Invader, and the third book, Commander, is due out in December.

Agricola is back in Rome seeking advancement, a task that requires acquiring the patronage of influential men. That’s not easy when Rome is a place of division and competing factions as the Emperor Nero’s actions become increasingly crazed. When Agricola does land the position of quaestor (for which read auditor) in the province of Asia Minor he finds himself taking a prinicipled stance against its self-serving Governor, Otho Titianus. Unfortunately, he’s made a dangerous enemy whose desire for revenge will threaten Agricola’s family and livelihood in the years to come.

Soon, however, the tide turns against Nero but without a successor it becomes a free-for-all amongst those who have ambitions to become Emperor, and changing sides becomes not just a frequent occurrence but something of an art form. Agricola makes his choice and with his friend, the Silurian warrior Luci – no longer a slave but a freedman – he finds himself back in the fray as civil war erupts.

It wouldn’t be a Simon Turney book without some exciting battle scenes and Warrior doesn’t disappoint. Particularly striking is the hour by hour description of the Second Battle of Bedriacum which thrillingly depicts the ebb and flow of battle, and in which even the moonlight plays a role. It’s brutal stuff. ‘Hours of periodic mincing and grinding of human flesh into the machinery of empire. Six hours of bloodied rags and broken bones and curses and oaths at a distance, only to begin the cycle again with the roar of the name of the emperor who, in both cases, was nowhere near the battle.’ (By the way, the author describes this as the most interesting battle he’s written about. It was a pivotal moment in the civil war and paved the way for Vespasian to become Emperor.)

The author’s Historical Note demonstrates the depth of research that has gone into the book. It involves navigating the different versions of events in the historical sources and filling in the inevitable gaps with a combination of immense knowledge of the period, informed speculation and a healthy dose of writer’s imagination. The story may be shot through with historical detail but it doesn’t make it any less of a page-turner. And you learn such interesting things along the way, such as the fact that having children could give a man a boost up the career ladder.

Warrior is a thrilling story of vaunting ambition, personal vendettas and treachery set against the backdrop of a turbulent year in the history of Rome. What’s next for Agricola as he returns to Britannia? We’re promised ‘a legion in revolt, an island torn apart by war and a governor struggling to control it’. Like Agricola, I can hardly wait.

This second book in the series see Agricola back in Rome with a growing family, before being sent out to Asia Minor. The province is currently under the control of Otho Titianus who turns out to be venal & corrupt but with the ear of the Emperor via his brother. Agricola has to decide what kind of man he is - will he follow his dead father's lead & stand up to corruption?

His decision will reverberate through the next few years as he returns to Rome. Nero's power is fading but his removal will provoke a power struggle between the legions & the 'Year of the Four Emperors'. No longer fighting those outside the Empire, Roman soldiers will face each other on the field of battle.

Wow, what a follow-up to the first book. I really enjoyed this one as I love the machinations & (literal) backstabbing of Roman politics & there was plenty of skulduggery thanks to the Otho brothers. Agricola is learning patience & the value of leaving the field to fight another day, still with manumitted Luci (now Lucius Julius) at his side. The story also has plenty of action even if I could do without the horses being injured in battle. Apparently there will be a third book in the series - bring it on I say! 4.5 stars (rounded down)

TWs: slavery, battle scenes, death, injury, animal death.

My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Head of Zeus/Aries Fiction, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Simon Turney never fails to deliver informative, intriguing, and well done historical novel. Well researched, grest historical background
Liked it . Due to health issues cannot will write a proper review at a later time
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mineA more extensive review will follow

Agricola is back in Rome after his successful time in Britannia, he now wants to advance his career in the greatest city in the world, but Rome is a different battlefield from what he’s used. So when he gets a post in the troublesome Asia Minor he has high expectations.
It’s not too long before he realises how corrupt the place is and decides to challenge the person in charge. This creates a difficult situation for him and his life takes a turn for the worse, and at the same time he gains a mortal enemy.
All of this is a start to what turns out to be the beginning of the most dangerous period of his life.
Rome is in utter chaos, and in the space of a year there will four different emperors and Rome will be changed forever.
Agricola must tread carefully if he is to survive. He will have to use all his guile, wits and warrior abilities to prevail.
This is the second book in the Agricola series and it’s stunning, truly stunning.
I’ve read a lot of books about the year of the of the four emperors and this one is as good as any of them, maybe better.
Simon Turney is wonderful at putting a different perspective on a period of history, one that is authentic and sincere. I personally think he one of the finest historical fiction writers around and this novel is a perfect example of his marvellous talent.

“Agricola: Warrior,” Simon Turney's second novel about Gnaeus Julius Agricola, tracks one man's rise during Rome's collapse. As Nero's reign crumbles and four emperors battle for power, Agricola navigates between survival and principle.

When the Great Fire devours Rome, when conspirators plot against Nero, when civil war erupts, Agricola must choose sides. Each historical crisis forces him to weigh ambition against honor and personal loyalty against political advantage.

Politics teaches Agricola what battlefields could not. Through him, we see power erode character ideals and bow to necessity. Yet, Agricola charts a different course in his defiance of corrupt governors and his unlikely friendship with Luci, a formerly enslaved British person. His wife Domitia matches political cunning with moral purpose, turning the constraints of her gender into tactical advantages.

Turney's precise prose serves both history and story. His battle scenes capture the chaos and brutality of Roman warfare while maintaining tactical clarity. At the Second Battle of Bedriacum, he balances the strategic movements of armies with visceral details of combat. Readers experience the commander's view of troop deployments and the soldier's terror on the front lines. The military segments show how battles turn on tactical decisions and individual acts of courage or desperation. Beyond the clashing of armies, Turney reveals the exhaustion of long marches, the challenge of maintaining supply lines, and the bonds formed between soldiers. The violence of political ambition proves as devastating as any battlefield defeat.

The moral terrain of imperial Rome emerges in sharp relief through Agricola's experiences in Asia and his confrontations with corruption. Questions of power, justice, and responsibility play out in choices that reshape careers and kingdoms. Political schemes that could feel distant instead cut to the core of human nature and leadership.

Turney makes complex Roman politics accessible without oversimplifying. His straightforward, purposeful storytelling and well-paced narrative turn potential confusion—shifting loyalties, political schemes, and military campaigns—into compelling drama. Even readers unfamiliar with the period will be caught up in Agricola's story.

“Agricola: Warrior” reconstructs not just the political and personal realities of imperial Rome but the timeless challenge of maintaining principle in a world that rewards compromise. Turney demonstrates how historical fiction can illuminate the past and present without compromising.

This review is of an advance reader copy provided by NetGalley and Head of Zeus. It is currently scheduled for release on February 13, 2025.

The second book in Turney's Roman inspired historical fiction series, and one that increases the stakes from book 1. Well written, and with a focus on Agricola, a figure often put aside in favor of the big names of day such as Nero.

A good second instalment in the series following Agricola across the empire in a time of turmoil in Rome. Turney paints the main character and his close friends/family to be the ultimate ‘good guys’ and so it is very easy for the reader to dislike the ‘bad guys’ with whom Agricola battles against. A really interesting read through a period I have little knowledge about and sets the scene brilliantly for the next book.

I sometimes felt that as I was reading, the book drifted from a story to more of a timeline of events. This did slightly take away the magic of feeling involved in Agricola’s struggles and put me on more of a back seat just watching from a distance. I do know there was lots of ground to cover in this book as is acknowledged by Turney at the end. Overall I really enjoyed the book and the addition of Luci as a steadfast sidekick with deadpan humour chucked in amongst the seriousness for me, is great.

this was a strong Roman historical adventure element that I was looking for and enjoyed the use of Ancient Rome. I was hooked from the first page and enjoyed getting to know the characters in this universe. It was a strong entry in the Agricola world and am excited for more from Simon Turney.

The amazing rise of a Roman legend, continued from the first book with Agricola’s first steps on the Cursus Honorium to his military career after the Year of the Four Emperors. I’m sad there won’t be a third novel.