Review "Skystone" By Jack Wythe

"Skystone" is the first book in Mr. Wythe's King Arthur series. But this first book doesn't contain Arthur or any of his companions - it is focused several generations before Arthur's birth - on the last of the Romans in Britain.

The two primary characters in the book are Caius Brittanicus, a Roman General, and Publius Varrus, his Primus Pilus. (The Primus Pilus is the highest ranking non-officer in a Roman Legion - so the Primus Pilus would be the equivalent of a Command sergeant-Major in a United States Army Brigade.] The two men become close friends over the course of their military career. This book is set in the last days of the Roman Empire, as the corruption and lack of discipline and loyalty make the Empire ripe for collapse. Caius can see the end coming, and gathers his friends and family around him to found a colony in Britain. He sees the end of the Empire approaching, and the dark years that will follow it, and begins to seriously prepare for it.

The title of the book refers to Varrus' quest to find fallen meteorites. His grandfather found one once and made an amazing sword and dagger out of them so Varrus wants to do the same. [You get one guess what sword he is going to make.]

Overall, I enjoyed the book. Since I enjoy both historical fiction about the Romans and King Arthur stories, this is not surprising. So far, the series is not as good as Mary Stewart or Bernard Cornwell, but it is still early. If you are more interested in the Roman time period I would urge you to read Colleen McCollough's Roman series - it is the standard of excellence in historical fiction.