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Books – The Centurions Series

February 14, 2022

Happy St. Valentine’s Day, everyone! This is the first post of a new series on a non-musical topic….books! As I may have mentioned, I am a somewhat voracious reader and I enjoy a wide range of genres. Among them are historical novels, Westerns, mysteries, thrillers, manga, nonfiction, and science-fiction. I will make occasional posts on series or individual books I’m reading or have read. This initial post will be on a series I started reading back in the late 1980s, and which has remained one of my favorites.

The series is called The Centurions and it is written by Amanda Cockrell, writing under the pseudonym ‘Damion Hunter’. The series is set in the late first century AD, starting in the reign of Emperor Vespasian and continuing through the reigns of Titus and Domitian. It follows a pair of Roman half-brothers named Correus and Flavius – the first slave-born and second legitimate – and their families. Cockrell has clearly done her research and the series feels authentic with well-done characterization. These are real people and it is easy to care about them and their problems.

The series starts in the inaugural book The Centurions with a look at upper-class Roman life as our two main characters prepare to enter the Roman officer corps, and follows them through their first campaign in Germania as they fight against the tribes of the Agri Decumates – a triangular area of land between the Danube and Rhine rivers that contains the Black Forest. Interestingly, the book spends quite a bit of time with their German opponents and treats them with sympathy and understanding as well. The Romans are clearly the heroes, but the Germans are not one-dimensional villains, and the book takes time to present them in a light that makes it clear why they make the choices they do. There is also a family subplot as Flavius’ promised bride has fallen in love with Correus – a result that nobody (including Correus) wants. Meanwhile, Correus himself manages to become entangled with a captured German girl…which doesn’t help much.

In the second book, Barbarian Princess, Correus has been posted to Britain as part of the historical character Julius Frontinus’ campaign agains the West Britain (read Welsh) tribes. During the campaign, Correus becomes the guardian of a young British princess who is serving as a hostage to the Romans. Once again the British antagonists are presented in a detailed and sympathetic light, although the Romans are the story’s heroes. There is also a subplot of Correus and Flavius mending their sometimes fractured relationship and Flavius’ bride finally getting over her adolescent crush on Correus – which is quite amusing. Lots of everyday life is presented on both sides and gives the reader a fascinating view into Roman and British life. Once again, the historical background is solid and the characters are well-done. The book ends following Correus’ and Flavius’ experience being caught up in the Mt Vesuvius eruption that destroys Pompeii. Fear not – they both survive and the experience ends up strengthens their relationship…and making Correus realize what is and is not worth fearing.

In book three, The Emperor’s Games, Emperor Titus passes away and his brother Domitian becomes Emperor. Flavius is now serving on as a staff officer to the emperor, while Correus is with the Fleet….and hating it. Correus has married his British princess and reclaimed his son by his first wife from his sister, which causes quite a bit of family drama as his sister and wife do not see eye-to-eye. The book focuses largely on Roman corruption, in which Correus’ family is involved when his brother in law becomes part of a pact to kill Domitian and the book’s primary antagonist manages to have himself named Correus’ commanding officer. Speaking of the book’s main antagonist, this is one of the few genuine villains in the entire series – he is an evil, corrupt, and ambitious man who will literally do anything to achieve his aims. Quite a few characters from the previous books, including the Germans and General Frontinus, return as well and Flavius manages to become entangled with the widow of the German chieftain from book 1…which causes quite a few problems. This is in many ways the darkest book of the series, as Correus, Flavius, and their families have to contend with internal problems and enemies. Fortunately, all ends mostly well.

In the fourth and final book of the series, The Border Wolves, Correus and Flavius are involved with Domitian’s campaign against the Dacian king Decebalus. In this book, both brothers achieve the rank of legate, or general – in Correus’ case in spite of his slave birth. This is historically rare, but because of the nature of the Roman army, not entirely impossible. There is also an amusing subplot around Correus’ father courting after his wife passes away. And most of the family’s internal conflicts come to as close as well. The book closes on a high note, as Correus’ father marries again – this time for love. Once again, there are several recurring characters from the earlier books, including Frontinus, the Germans, and some of Correus’ former comrades.

The series took a near twenty-year break after the publication of Book 3, and for a long time it was very difficult to find – especially Book 3. However, Cockrell has republished the series both in print and on Kindle, and the books are very much worth reading. Besides their literary values,. they are well-researched and while they are obviously fiction, the historical background is as accurate as Cockrell could make it. Overall, this is an excellent series, and one that I would highly recommend to anyone who is interested in Rome.

The books currently are available on Amazon in Kindle, Audiobook, and print formats; see the following links for details.

The Centurions Series: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FK9W4WM