In 255 AD, the Roman Empire plunged into an irreversible process of decay and corruption. In this fragile moment, the Empire's enemies constantly threatened to invade its borders. But no people were more feared than the Persians, led by Shapur, who proclaimed himself the "King of Kings" and whose main goal was the destruction of Rome. To try to halt their opponents' advance, the emperors Gallienus and Valerian sent one of their protégés, General Ballistus, to the city of Arete in Syria, on the Empire's eastern border. After all, it appeared the Persians planned to begin their invasion there. Ballistus—who, despite his barbarian origins, had managed to build a successful career in Rome—received the risky mission of holding back the invaders and saving the nation that welcomed him from destruction, relying only on the help of a small and disorganized contingent of soldiers. To accomplish his mission, Ballistus would need the help of his valuable servants and friends: Demetrius, his secretary, a young Greek scholar; Maximus, his bodyguard, a skilled ex-gladiator; and Calgacus, his sharp-tongued personal servant. However, before facing his enemies, he must overcome an invisible evil: a traitor, who could cost him the war and his life. A historical novel that portrays the decline of the Roman Empire with absolute fidelity, Fire in the East, the first volume in the Warriors of Rome historical fiction series, is a must-read for fans of the genre. A plot filled with adventure, suspense, and seduction, it will transport the reader to the arid lands of Syria, surprising them until the very last page.
