The story of the disastrous defeat of the Roman general Crassus, as viewed from the perspective of three unimportant people.

The young Julius Caesar rapes a slave girl, who subsequently bears twins, a boy and girl. The girl grows to be a classy hooker, her brother a gladiator. The third principal character in the novel is a young Etruscan, who had been taught the wiles of ancient Etruscan divination. Due to various difficulties the gladiator and the Etruscan are forced to flee Rome, and join Crassus' doomed army. The two men survive the embarrassing defeat, and with their comrades, are marched to the eastern borders of the Parthian Empire, where they are stationed far from their home, guarding the territories of their former enemies.

The story is alternatively told from the perspective of each of the three main characters. The plot moves quickly, it is clear and consistent, with a few twists and turns. I would not say great fiction, but certainly entertaining.

What was amusing was the unusual interpretation of historical characters. Caesar, for example, is portrayed less heroically than he usually is (vastly different from McCullough's Caesar). Also the Roman institution of slavery, and its malign social and economic affects, are highlighted and disparaged.

Worth reading, I look forward to the following two novels in the series.