Altar of Blood: Empire IX

Centurion Marcus Aquila, in the gripping ninth installment of the *Empire* series, leads the Tungrian soldiers to a battlefield marked by one of Rome's most catastrophic defeats. After finishing their campaign in Parthia, the Tungrians are redirected north to a new, perilous mission in the untamed lands of Germany. Their daunting task is to capture a tribal priestess believed to be the most dangerous figure along Rome’s northern frontier. However, an old adversary is bent on foiling their plans even before they embark on their journey past the Rhine.

Achieving their objective is only part of the challenge. The Tungrians must also reclaim Roman territory by venturing through treacherous wilderness, notorious for thwarting imperial expeditions two centuries earlier. Failure could lead to being captured by the vengeful chief of the Bructeri tribe, resulting in a gruesome sacrificial death on their blood-soaked altar. As Conn Iggulden remarks, few authors manage to blend historical insight and storytelling as effectively as Anthony Riches.