The last of the Roman army have set sail and left Britain forever, abandoning it to civil war and the threat of a Saxon invasion. Aquila, a young Legionnaire, deserted his regiment to stay behind with his family, but his home and all that he loves are destroyed. Years of hardship and fighting follow, and in the end, there is only one thing left in Aquila's life--his thirst for revenge . . .

The action picks up when Rome decides to leave Great Britain. Without Roman "protection", Britain is ripe for invasion. The protagonist of the story, Aquila, a member of the Legion, deserts, and he and his family decide to stay behind. The remainder of the book tells of Aquila's trials and tribulations in repelling the Saxons. I found Aquila not to be a really likeable person, but that is neither here nor there as far as the story goes. "We are the Lantern Bearers, my friend; for us to keep something burning, to carry what light we can forward into the darkness and the wind" This is a book written for YA's. However, teaching YA's, I can tell you that in no way, at least for the current majority, would YA's have an interest in or be able to understand this book's place in history. I enjoyed this book and in the future, on one of my buying "sprees", will look for the other books in this series. 240 pages ( )

This is the end of the Roman occupation of Britain. The Saxons are threatening and the Romans withdraw the last remaining Legions to protect Rome.
Aquilla is a Cavalry man in the Legion as it is withdrawn back to Rome, only he decides that his future doesn't lie in Rome, it lies in Britain. His father is part of the group that is trying to support Ambrosius against the Saxon and has requested support from Roman legions in France. The go between is a bird catcher who carries a lantern. Aquilla returns to his father's villa in time to be with his family as the Saxons attack. The remainder of the book covers his life from there. It is actually fairly open about the fate of women, what happens to both Flavia is off stage, but implied. There is a fair level of co-incidence, but I suppose there is in every life. Some of the supporting characters are particularly well done, Brother Ninian, for instance, plays a pivotal role and helps, again, make a point about the less glorious side of war. The book ends as there has been a battle that stops the Saxons in their tracks, and the next generation are stepping forward to take on the banner that their parents have carried for so long.
It is quite complex a read and while there are glorious battles, it doesn't shy away from the darker side, while not necessarily showing those in full detail. It also captures something of the divided loyalties that come into play when a people are divided and families take different sides. ( )

The third book in Rosemary Sutcliff's Roman Britain series begins with Rome leaving Britain forever. One many, unable to leave his family behind, stays only to see disaster that changes his life forever. Another rousing read from Sutcliff where good eventually triumphs over evil. The main character of this one--Aquila--is a brooding man bent on vengeance. ( )

unacceptable - Christ
fair - Michael