Review of The Eagle and the Dragon, a Novel of Rome and China

Post by **Ngozi Onyibor** » 19 Aug 2021, 16:13

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Eagle and the Dragon, a Novel of Rome and China" by Lewis F. McIntyre.]

4 out of 4 stars

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In 53 BC, after Roman soldiers lost to Parthia in battle at Carrhae, less than fifty soldiers out of the five hundred that survived the war escaped execution by a stroke of luck. Instead, they were marched off to a strange land. A century and a half later, Marcia and Marcus, the descendants of one of the surviving soldiers, accompanied Han envoys on a diplomatic trip to Rome as translators. A Roman senator and prominent merchant, Aulus, was tasked with transporting the envoys safely back to Han land and meeting with the Han emperor, Emperor He. Legatus Gaius and his centurion, Antonius, are assigned to oversee the military aspect of the journey.

Aulus embarks on the trip with his newly built ships: Asia, Africa and Europa. Mid voyage, the dreaded pirate Ibrahim hijacked the Europa with Gaius and Antonius on it. Shared interests see the trio forming an unlikely alliance. However, their mission takes a different turn when Marcia's consort accuses her of committing adultery. In Aulus' eagerness to make sure she gets a fair trial as a Roman citizen, he and his team defy Emperor He's protocol, and the consequences are dire.

Set in 98AD, The Eagle and the Dragon, a Novel of Rome and China by Lewis F. McIntyre is an intricate historical tale wrapped around adventure and culture with a romantic bow. While Lewis' picturesque writing style pulls you into the story, his mastery of suspense and timing keeps you hooked. In addition, the location maps he included do a superb job of helping the reader visualize the towns the characters traverse.

History and culture enthusiasts like me will feel at home with this book. Learning about the people and culture of the communities the characters lodged was a thrill. Their experiences and interactions were organic and realistic for the era. Considering how long it took them to send a letter, I couldn't help but appreciate the wonders of modern technology. Although, I wish the author toned down the gory violence a notch.

Characters carry a story, and I adore how the characters lit up the book's pages with their personalities. Lewis did a great job with their development and growth. However, I was most impressed by Marcia's growth. There was no better feeling than seeing her grow from a timid young woman into a confident lady and skilled fighter.

Conclusively, I rate the book 4 out of 4 stars. I love every part of it. At first, the book had many sketchy details. But, I like how they all fell in place in the end. Even though it didn't hamper my reading, I will recommend a second editing bout to fix the errors I gleaned while reading.

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The Eagle and the Dragon, a Novel of Rome and China
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marta baglioni · Post by **marta baglioni** » 21 Aug 2021, 14:27

Quite an engaging plotline! A little gore doesn't bother me and it seems the author did a good job with the historical aspect. I think I'll enjoy this book. Thank you for your great review!

DTamara · Post by **DTamara** » 21 Aug 2021, 19:27

The early AD period is one of the most fascinating ones to learn about, a mix of cultures in a time with fluid borders. This one in particular seems very promising, a well thought out and researched piece of work. With the superb writing, it is bound to an amazing read. Thanks for the review!

Kanchan Bhil · Post by **Kanchan Bhil** » 21 Aug 2021, 23:58

A historic fiction with great characters would be a delight to read. I love how Marcia becomes a confident woman. Thank you for this great review!

ROSEY-ANN · Post by **ROSEY-ANN** » 28 Aug 2021, 14:57

Detailed review!!

Post by **Ngozi Onyibor** » 29 Aug 2021, 09:15

marba wrote: ↑21 Aug 2021, 14:27 Quite an engaging plotline! A little gore doesn't bother me and it seems the author did a good job with the historical aspect. I think I'll enjoy this book. Thank you for your great review!

I hope you do. Thanks for your comment.

Post by **Ngozi Onyibor** » 29 Aug 2021, 09:16

ROSEYANN wrote: ↑28 Aug 2021, 14:57 Detailed review!!

Thanks for your comment.

Post by **Ngozi Onyibor** » 29 Aug 2021, 09:17

Kanchan Bhil wrote: ↑21 Aug 2021, 23:58 A historic fiction with great characters would be a delight to read. I love how Marcia becomes a confident woman. Thank you for this great review!

Marcia's growth is truly impressive. Thanks for your comment.

Muna Chizzy · Post by **Muna Chizzy** » 30 Aug 2021, 02:22

A historical story with a captivating storyline and a good character development is what i need. I would love to know more about the Roman culture. Thanks for the detailed review.

Post by **Ngozi Onyibor** » 03 Sep 2021, 07:54

Muna Chizzy wrote: ↑30 Aug 2021, 02:22 A historical story with a captivating storyline and a good character development is what i need. I would love to know more about the Roman culture. Thanks for the detailed review.

Thank you for taking the time to read and comment.

Astral Magi · Post by **Astral Magi** » 03 Sep 2021, 08:48

Sounds like a riveting read with a ship takeover by a dreaded pirate! I love historical fiction. Thank you for an excellent review

markodim721 · Post by **markodim721** » 03 Sep 2021, 10:24

I like that the character of Marcia has been developed to perfection. Thanks for the reading recommendation.

Abel Nkhwashu · Post by **Abel Nkhwashu** » 21 Dec 2021, 10:23

Quite an engaging plotline! A little gore doesn't bother me and it seems the author did a good job with the historical aspect. I think I'll enjoy this book. Thank you for your great review!

María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda · 21 Dec 2021, 10:27

History and culture enthusiasts like me will feel at home with this book. Learning about the people and culture of the communities the characters lodged was a thrill. Their experiences and interactions were organic and realistic for the era. Considering how long it took them to send a letter, I couldn't help but appreciate the wonders of modern technology. Although, I wish the author toned down the gory violence a notch.

I'm a history and culture enthusiast, and I love learning the minute details about life in different cultures, especially everyday things. I also appreciate great character development which, in my opinion, can make or break a novel. So I'll be happy to add this book to my TBR list! I hope the author considers your comments and polishes the edition. Thank you for your review!

Brenda Creech · Post by **Brenda Creech** » 21 Dec 2021, 10:27

I love historical novels. The earlier the era the better! This book sounds intriguing except for the gory content. I will have to check it out to find out what the 'dire consequences' are! Thanks for the excellent review!