Eagle and the Flame by Adam Lofthouse
Series: Shadow of Rome #1
Genres: Historical Fiction
Rebellion is in the air at the far reaches of empire.
Wall of Hadrian, Britannia, AD 367. Tribune Sixtus Victorinus is scouting north of the Wall when he first sees the smoke. Riding south he finds a province in chaos, the local populace in flight, the soldiers absent.
Britannia is ablaze, overrun with barbarians and Valentia is the word on everyone’s lips. But no one seems to have the first clue what it means...
Victorinus may have let his life run to ruin and drunk his youth away, but now he must forge himself into the soldier he always wanted to be, the hero his children think he is.
Because his family are among the missing, and traitors lurk much closer than he could ever believe.
To save his family, he must first save an empire.
EAGLE AND THE FLAME will sweep you through the tumultuous years of the late Roman Empire.
I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Review
Eagle and the Flame by Adam Lofthouse is a fascinating reimagining of Roman Britain during the late 360s. This is a world defined by shifting power—Roman forts abandoned, soldiers left unpaid and disillusioned, and tribes across Hadrian’s Wall watching keenly as the reach of Rome begins to weaken. While history tells us the true end of Roman Britain lies a few years ahead, Lofthouse captures the tension of an empire in decline, where both soldiers and civilians remain unaware of just how close calamity looms.
At the heart of the story are two compelling figures: Tribune Sixtus Victorinus and Felicius. Sixtus is jaded, disillusioned, and prone to drowning his frustrations in drink, while Felicius represents the disciplined, loyal Roman soldier, still clinging to order and structure. Together, they find themselves unraveling mysterious events along the border and rallying what support they can to prepare for rebellion. The pairing works brilliantly—Sixtus, flawed yet sympathetic, feels human and relatable, while Felicius grounds the story with glimpses of what it truly meant to serve Rome during its waning years.
The novel begins with impact, immediately drawing readers into its turbulent world, and the pacing builds steadily toward a satisfying and dramatic conclusion. The supporting cast, from Sixtus’s ragtag warriors to the people caught in the conflict’s crossfire, are well-sketched and memorable, adding both warmth and tragedy to the tale.
What sets Eagle and the Flame apart is its atmosphere. The sense of place is vivid—from abandoned forts to the looming presence of Hadrian’s Wall, the landscape feels alive and tied to the growing unrest. Readers who enjoy Saxon or Viking-era tales will find this earlier slice of Britannia equally enthralling, as it shows the roots of the upheavals that would soon reshape the island.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable and absorbing read—one that blends history, character, and tension into a story that’s hard to put down. Adam Lofthouse has delivered a strong, gripping novel that left me eager for more from this period and his pen.
Meet the Author
About Adam Lofthouse
Adam has for many years held a passion for the ancient world. As a teenager he picked up Gates of Rome by Conn Iggulden, and has been obsessed with all things Rome ever since. After ten years of immersing himself in stories of the Roman world, he decided to have a go at writing one for himself. He lives in Kent, UK.
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