Lion of the Sun — Harry Sidebottom

Mesopotamia, AD 260. Betrayed by his most trusted adviser, the Roman Emperor Valerian has been captured by the Sassanid barbarians. The frail old emperor prostrates himself before Shapur, King of Kings. Ballista looks on helplessly, but vows under his breath to avenge those who have brought the Empire to the brink of destruction. But first, he must decide what price he will pay for his own freedom. Ballista, the Warrior of Rome, faces his greatest challenge yet.

Renowned for their skilled blending of action and historical accuracy, Sidebottom's Warrior of Rome novels take the reader from the shouts of the battlefield to the whisperings of the emperor's inner circle. Rich in detail and punctuated by harrowing action, there's no better way to be transported back to the days of the Roman Empire.