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Arena

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Arena

By: Simon Scarrow, T. J. Andrews
Narrated by: David Thorpe
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About this listen

Arena is a Sunday Times best-selling novel from Simon Scarrow, author of Invictus, Centurion and The Gladiator, and T.J. Andrews. Perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell.

It is AD 41. The city of Rome is a dangerous place.

Optio Macro of the Second Legion, recently decorated for courage on the battlefield, can't wait to leave the teeming city behind. He's dismayed when he's compelled to stay in Rome to train Marcus Valerius Pavo, a young gladiatorial recruit.

Though fearless Pavo has fought for his life before, he's a novice in the arenas. But he's a driven man, with a goal dearer than survival - to avenge his father's death at the hands of a champion gladiator. Will he live to face his nemesis?

©2013 Simon Scarrow (P)2013 Headline Publishing Group Ltd Fiction Historical Fiction Rome

Critic Reviews

"Ferocious and compelling." ( Daily Express)
All stars
Most relevant  
Loved it, fits in seamlessly with Eagles of the Empire. Well written and narrated. Highly recommended

Another fantastic epic

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Great story, well read, highly recommend, will be be continuing on with the following books

well worth the listen

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One of the only books I have ever returned to audible

The story is repetitive to the extreme (get in a jam...escape) over and over and over again where it got to the point that I no longer cared if the hero was killed off or not. The story itself rarely progressed to new heights..

The narrator chose (or was directed) to adopt a characterization between a bad Terry Thomas impersonation or Dick Dasterdly for the villain that was laughable and made the story more melodramatic than necessary.

I gave 1 star only because zero stars is not an option. I love the usual Cato and Macro stories but this co written work is a major mistake.

If you are expecting the usual quality...don’t bother

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