Try free for 30 days

  • The Capsarius

  • Legion XXII, Book 1
  • By: Simon Turney
  • Narrated by: Colin Mace
  • Length: 12 hrs and 37 mins
  • 5.0 out of 5 stars (2 ratings)

1 credit a month to use on any title, yours to keep (you’ll use your first credit on this title).
Stream or download thousands of included titles.
Access to exclusive deals and discounts.
$16.45 a month after 30 day trial. Cancel anytime.
The Capsarius cover art

The Capsarius

By: Simon Turney
Narrated by: Colin Mace
Try for $0.00

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $26.99

Buy Now for $26.99

Pay using voucher balance (if applicable) then card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions Of Use and Privacy Notice and authorise Audible to charge your designated credit card or another available credit card on file.

Publisher's Summary

Warrior and combat medic, Titus Cervianus, must lead a legion and quell the uprisings in Egypt in a new Roman adventure from Simon Turney. Egypt. 

25 BC. Titus Cervianus is no ordinary soldier. A former surgeon from the city of Ancyra, he's now a capsarius—a combat medic. Cervianus is a pragmatist, a scientist and truly unpopular with his legion. The Twenty Second Deiotariana have been sent to deal with uprisings and chaos in Egypt. Yet the Twenty Second is no ordinary legion either. Founded as the private royal army of one of Rome's most devoted allies, the king of Galatia, their ways are not the same as the other legions, a factor that sets them apart and causes friction with their fellow soldiers. 

Marching into the unknown, Cervianus will find unexpected allies in a local cavalryman and a troublesome lunatic. Both will be of critical importance as the young medic marches into the searing sands of the south, finding forbidden temples, dark assassins, vicious crocodiles and, worst of all, the warrior queen of Kush....

©2022 Simon Turney (P)2022 W F Howes

What listeners say about The Capsarius

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The Master has done it again!

Few authors of any genre can do what Simon Turney does. Weaving an unbearabley intense story that feels like he must have been there. The characters are like mates you've known for years, and the action is as brutal as a kick in teeth.

At this point, Simon could write directions to a McDonald's restaurant with crayon on the back of a napkin and I'd buy it. Simply the best. 10/10 every single time!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Todd
  • Todd
  • 17-08-2022

Amazing start

I'm a huge fan of the author. His last series of Marius Mules was fantastic. This is a very promising start. The book kept you interested. While MM focused more on senior commanders, this book focuses more on the rank and file. I'm extremely exited for the next book to come out!

The narrator is very good. But, I miss the Narrator from MM.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Amazon Customer
  • Amazon Customer
  • 07-06-2022

Fantastic start to a series

I’m a huge fan of the Marius mules series and found Capsarius to be an even more engaging and fun listen.

Characters are great, setting is amazing, narration is perfect, all in all this book is 5/5. Can’t wait for next in series.

If you’re a fan of historical fiction, don’t hesitate to spend a credit on this book, It’s fantastic!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Jarrod T.
  • Jarrod T.
  • 27-06-2023

Not his best work

Was worth the listen as I like the author, but definitely not his best work. Story highly unbelievable - the tactics don’t make sense and battle outcomes don’t seem to follow what happened in the battle whatsoever. Then characters get killed off that you know absolutely nothing about because there was zero character development for all but 3 characters, and even those are extremely light.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Jerry and Mary
  • Jerry and Mary
  • 08-04-2023

A different look at the legions

Really enjoyed this look at the legions and the setting in Egypt. A slight mystical aspect from a basically agnostic character in a very mystical country. Just finishing book one,going right to book 2 and hoping this develops into a long series.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for DiAnne
  • DiAnne
  • 27-02-2023

Outstanding!

I enjoyed this book very much. It was quite different from other Roman historical novels that I have read. The mysticism, seen of Ancient Egypt, seen through the eyes of a legionary, was fascinating. I look forward to the next book in the series.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Joanne Crecco-Davis
  • Joanne Crecco-Davis
  • 04-02-2023

Great story, but too short!

Annoyed the heck out of me when it was over in the middle of the story.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Han
  • Han
  • 12-09-2023

Roman military fiction at its finest.

The book follows the journey of a combat medic during the campaign in Kush. The plot is well paced with a mixture of political intrigue, battles, Egyptian culture, Roman military life and structure. The setting of the book is particularly interesting because it not only shines a light on how ancient Egypt was even at this time, but also loosely follows a campaign that isn't well known.

Overall the characters are interesting and quite likeable. They are grounded and not heroic in skill and ability, bar the very stubborn Centurions.

if you are looking for a book with a worms eye view of life as a Roman Legionnaire, this is it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Mr. Anthony D. Bateman
  • Mr. Anthony D. Bateman
  • 15-02-2023

excellent as always

the genius that is Simon turney embarks on a new journey, following a capsariuus more qualified than his senior medicos, down the nile from alexandria to Cairo to thebes and aswan, fighting not only kushites but rival legions, local religion, black clad nomads, and crocodiles.
the research is impeccable, especially the medical requirements of a capsarius' equipment,
a senior tribune leads the xxii, more interested in fame and glory than the welfare of his men.
the last battle on the edge of Egyptian/kushite territory at the 2nd cataract, leads the tribune to strange tactics and dissent in the ranks, a cliffhanger for book 2 into the desert and further south, and I can't wait!!
I'm not 100% with the narration, but 95 is good enough, and he sells the story with vocal tones and accents.

beware Sobek, stop at the first cataract, but definitely do not pass the 2nd!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Elliot Nichols
  • Elliot Nichols
  • 29-01-2023

Truely brilliant

Wonderful story telling with rich characters & deeply embedded history. Can't wait for the next in the series!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Neil Hackett
  • Neil Hackett
  • 09-01-2023

Typical excellence!

I was looking for something to keep me entertained & I was not disappointed.
I agree that some of the narration pauses seem long & unnecessary, however they do not get in the way of the foundation of what could be an excellent series.
More please!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Mr
  • Mr
  • 20-10-2022

Brilliant

Great storyline, great narration, held my interest from start to finish.
Can’t wait for the next in the series.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Amazon Customer
  • Amazon Customer
  • 10-10-2022

Worst narrator I've ever listened to.

The storyline is promising, but honestly u couldn't make it past the first chapter. The narrator is God awful. Takes long pauses at all the wrong times, makes fights seem dull and boring, and generally makes me think he's just taken sleeping tablets and is fighting to stay awake as some kind of joke to see how far he gets into the book.
Don't waste your money or time on this one.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for The Curator
  • The Curator
  • 10-09-2022

Not a bad start

This is a new series. I’ve enjoyed Turvey’s other work and I quite enjoyed this one without loving it. I’ll be interested to see how, in the second book, he manages to keep his foot soldiers in situations where they have pretty constant access to senior officers otherwise someone is going to have to get promoted pretty quickly if there’s to be anything but walk and fight to the stories.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Roger
  • Roger
  • 26-08-2022

Awsome

I really enjoyed this audio book, and cant wait until the next installment.
I thought the narrator was excellent, the story was slow to start but Built and built, the detail is excellent,
Highly reccomended

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for kenneth charles owen
  • kenneth charles owen
  • 23-08-2022

Thank you Simon

Another series under way, can’t wait for the next book and of course Marius’s mules XV.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for dave
  • dave
  • 30-07-2022

Good listening

Kept me entertained all the way through. Similar to Simon scarrow in Reading and layput

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.