An explosion rips through the Colosseum, and as the smoke clears the world is changed forever. A new Emperor, spurred on by a riddling prophecy and armed with a devastating superweapon, stands ready to make his mark on history. Una, Sulien, and a desperate alliance of slaves, refugees and criminals, must resist the full power of the Roman Empire at its most ruthless, or lose everything they have fought for.

In a parallel modern world, the Roman Empire stretches from India in the East to the Great Wall of Terranova in the West. A runaway slave girl with a strange gift sets out to rescue her brother and seize her freedom, while the young heir to the Imperial throne discovers a plot against his life. For all three, the only way to survive may shake the Empire to its roots.A fast-moving, compelling story, brilliantly imagined - CONN IGGULDEN[A] hugely imaginative debut - DAILY MIRRORA thoroughly good read ... vividly imagined ... elegant, lively writing - SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

In a parallel modern world, Rome and Japan stand on the brink of world war. When the Emperor falls ill, his young nephew Marcus Novius Caesar finds himself taking command of the greatest power on Earth. But behind the clash of empires, hidden forces are at work. For Marcus and his allies the price of peace will be higher than they dreamed."A thoroughly good read...vividly imagined...elegant, lively writing" - SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

An explosion rips through the Colosseum, and as the smoke clears the world is changed forever. A new Emperor, spurred on by a riddling prophecy and armed with a devastating superweapon, stands ready to make his mark on history. Una, Sulien, and a desperate alliance of slaves, refugees and criminals, must resist the full power of the Roman Empire at its most ruthless, or lose everything they have fought for.

In a parallel modern world, the Roman Empire stretches from India in the East to the Great Wall of Terranova in the West. A runaway slave girl with a strange gift sets out to rescue her brother and seize her freedom, while the young heir to the Imperial throne discovers a plot against his life. For all three, the only way to survive may shake the Empire to its roots.A fast-moving, compelling story, brilliantly imagined - CONN IGGULDEN[A] hugely imaginative debut - DAILY MIRRORA thoroughly good read ... vividly imagined ... elegant, lively writing - SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

In a parallel modern world, Rome and Japan stand on the brink of world war. When the Emperor falls ill, his young nephew Marcus Novius Caesar finds himself taking command of the greatest power on Earth. But behind the clash of empires, hidden forces are at work. For Marcus and his allies the price of peace will be higher than they dreamed."A thoroughly good read...vividly imagined...elegant, lively writing" - SUNDAY TELEGRAPH