Iron — Kirkus Review

A satisfyingly gritty and complex tale of a noble Roman commander and a valiant Christian woman.

In Cladáin’s historical novel, a Roman general experiences love and betrayal on the far northern frontier.

The second book in the author’s The Iron Between trilogy continues the story of the Roman commander Agricola as he deals with frontier warfare in the immediate wake of Boudica’s failed revolt against Roman rule. Agricola was the hero of the thrilling military climax of the preceding volume, Hammer(2023)—each book is satisfying on its own, although there’s a rewarding sense of momentum in reading them in order. This second installment opens with a scene of domestic rather than foreign violence: the gruesome, chaotic execution of Vitellius in Rome, the third claimant in the city’s “year of the four emperors” that saw rivals executed and Vespasian installed on the throne. Vitellius is barely dead when Agricola (and his adjutant, Quintus) are summoned to an audience with Domitian, Vespasian’s younger son. On his way to this nighttime meeting, Agricola thinks he sees a familiar figure in the mist: Clíodhna, the Celtic woman who was his lover in the aftermath of Boudica’s defeat back in Britannia (the narrative also takes readers into the world of the northern tribes, populated by compelling figures from the rough-hewn Druid priestess Sucaria to Clíodhna herself, a Christian when that belief doubled as a death sentence). He’d assumed Clíodhna had been sent to her death in Rome’s arena, but he can’t pursue her—Domitian’s right-hand man has an urgent assignment for him: He’s to assume command of the disgraced Twentieth Legion and return to Britannia to join the rest of the Roman forces there. Agricola must mete out the harsh punishment of decimation on the legion, and when he’s reunited with Clíodhna, he must pretend she’s his prisoner to save her life—all while contending with his treacherous former commander, Gaius Suetonius Paulinus, erstwhile governor of Britannia.

The author is clearly in his element bringing to life this tense world in which “the gap between living and dying was no more than two hand spans.” The dramatic set piece of this entry is the decimation of the Twentieth Legion, in which one man in every 10 is indiscriminately executed as punishment for the whole; Cladáin is very strong in conveying the brutal military world of ancient Rome (and, on the periphery, the empire’s harsh treatment of the new Jesu religious cult that is gaining momentum), and he very effectively interweaves this element with more personal threads. The relationship between Agricola and his trusted aide Quintus, for instance, grounds both characters and foreshadows the story’s climax. The bond between Clíodhna and Agricola has the greatest impact; she helps him to understand the Celtae in ways no other Roman commander can match, and he treats her with a respect she’s never been given by other Romans. Cladáin evocatively draws a violent world that seems to be at the mercy of the gods: “What they did best,” one character reflects, “be they Roman, of the clans, or even this One True God that Clíodhna followed, was toy with humankind.” The author deftly transforms these elements into a gripping story.

A satisfyingly gritty and complex tale of a noble Roman commander and a valiant Christian woman.

— Kirkus Review

Iron — Historical Fiction at its best

The year of the Four Emperors is drawing to a close. Rome has been through brutal civil war and mutiny.

Praetor Agricola is called to the palace and sees his first love—a woman he thought to be long dead—running through the fog and into the Suburra. Giving chase proves futile, and he sends his second-in-command to find her.

When Gul arrives in Rome with distressing news, Clíodhna has no choice but to agree to return to her home in Caer Leb. Before they leave, however, they are arrested by the Praetorian Guard for sedition and will face lions in the arena.

Mucianus, appointed Governor of Rome in Vespasian’s absence, appoints Agricola as Legate of the Legio XX Valeria Victrix, dispatching him to Britannia to take command.

On hearing of Clíodhna’s arrest, Agricola lies to the Governor to free her from the clutches of the Praetorian Guard, creating enemies and planting a Sisyphus-sized ball before him, which he must roll up a Palatine-sized hill to return her home.

Leaving Rome sees them chased by enemies who will do everything possible to ensure Agricola and Clíodhna pay with their lives.

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Iron Dramatis Personae

Here’s a list of the main characters in Iron.

Historical Figures

Agricola—A Roman soldier and politician who conquered Northern Britain and Wales. Born to a political family of senatorial rank in France, Agricola began his military career as a Banded Tribune under Governor Gaius Suetonius Paulinus. Tacitus claims Agricola invaded Ireland, the central premise of The Iron Between trilogy.

Suetonius—Gaius Suetonius Paulinus, known in the histories as Suetonius–not to be confused with the historian of the same name–was governor of Britannia during the Boudican revolt. He is most known for defeating Boudica’s army despite overwhelming odds in favour of the Iceni queen.

Catus Decianus—The Procurator of Britannia during the Boudican revolt; when Nero ordered an investigation into the cause of the rebellion, Decianus fled to Gaul, providing this author with the premise for Hammer, the first book in The Iron Between trilogy.

Domitian—The youngest son of Emperor Vespasian; when Vespasian was declared emperor, Domitian was in Rome and seemed to have taken some responsibility for the state’s government.

Mucianus—The man Vespasian nominated as his deputy during his absence, possibly causing friction with his youngest son, who had assumed the role.

Other Main Characters

Quintus—A fictional Tribune who is my right-hand man for Agricola.

Sucaria—A druidess of the Menapii clan from Gaul who seeks revenge for her son’s death during the Boudican uprising.

Clíodhna—A Christian caught in Rome during the year of the four emperors. On hearing of her father (Genonn’s death), she must return to Ynys Môn, but events overtake her.

Genonn—A druid and father of Clíodhna. When civil war breaks out in Rome, Genonn sets off to rescue his daughter, despite having no idea how.

Fedelm—A druidess, leader of the Elder Council on Ynys Môn, wife of Genonn and mother of Clíodhna.

Calgacos—The bodyguard of Sucaria.

Gul—The bodyguard of Clíodhna.

Double Date

Congratulations to our authors, John De Búrca and Micheál Cladáin, on their double-publication day.

The Music of Swords

It tells the tale of how the fearsome Síor Feargach comes into being. We can’t deny our bias, but neither can we ignore the sheer mastery of our very own storyteller, John De Búrca. The Music of Swords is a masterpiece.

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Iron

It tells the tale of a young Irish woman stranded in Rome during the year of the four emperors. It was a time of civil war and murder. It was a time when Christians were fed to the lions to appease the masses and take their minds off their hunger.

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Publication Day Treat

As a great deal for publication day, get the first book in The Iron Between series for free. A celebration of all that’s great in the Irish Historical Fiction scene—The Last Hammer.

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5⭐️ Review of Hammer

Cathie Dunn – Author of historical fiction

I must admit I’m not overly familiar with the period of the Roman invasion of the British Isles (other than through Nancy Jardine’s fabulous novels), and even less so with the politics of the regional tribes across the isles, but you don’t need much knowledge of it in order to understand the intriguing plot of Hammer. 


We meet Genonn, an ageing druid who wishes for nothing more complicated than retire to the Cuala Mountains (modern day Wicklow – a stunning area!) to live out the rest of his days in peace. But first, he has to track down a warrior, Oengus, accused of killing a clan chief’s two sons 10 years earlier. When he finds him, he discovers that Oengus carries with him the Hammer of the Gods, Lorg Mór, stolen when the boys were killed. Was it proof of Oengus’ guilt?

After a decade of absence, the men return to meet the Elders who are now led by the former wife of Genonn, the mother of his daughter, Cliodhna. The Elders send him to the tribes of what is now south-eastern England to deliver Lorg Mór to Boudica, to help them to victory – and to suss out what these Romans are up to.

Along the way, we have murder, with dangers lurking everywhere as tribes and enemies mistrust each other. We watch Boudica’s triumphs before her final battle, Roman advances, personal betrayal, and – lastly – Genonn’s revenge. 

Told from the points of view of Genonn, and the Roman Agricola, we discover different sides of the conflict that erased many of the ancient British tribes, killing or assimilating them. Not only that, but the ancient ways of life are threatened. 

Hammer is a story full of tension. The pace is a little slow to start with, but picks up soon enough when it sends us on our way. Unexpected twists, changes in loyalty, and a few surprises make this a riveting read. You’ll find intrigues galore, and not just political. Personal vendettas, infiltration, and deception keep you turning the (virtual) pages. 

The characters are clearly defined in their roles, but are often able to look outside their own world to see how the advance of the Roman armies change life in the British Isles beyond any recognition. It is also a time of change in religions, with the old Celtic Gods succumbing to the threat of the Roman Gods – and, in addition, the new movement surrounding the so-called Son of the One True God. A melting pot of trouble!

A gripping adventure, very well researched and written, Hammer is a must-read for fans of historical fiction set in ancient times. Highly recommended.