More gore, more war - but at least now we definitely know that Tavi is really Gaius Octavian, son of Septimus, son of Sextus, son of Quintus, I suppose. I had been pretty sure of that since book one, but they hadn't given out enough details to figure out how he came to be an apprentice shepherd at a rural hold.
With a little more info on their military system, all becomes clear. It seems that (now in book three it can be told) they have a universal draft, not just men. Women fulfill their obligation by working as domestics for the legions. So that is how Isana and her sister came to be on the scene. Septimus, of course, falls for Isana and actually marries her - what? you mean you hadn't figured out that Tavi is Isana's son, not her nephew?
Anyway, in the final passages of that war, Septimus sends his BFF (and the greatest swordsman the world has ever known) Araris Valerian off to guard the pregnant Isana and her sister. In their flight, the sister is killed, Tavi is born, and Araris turns himself into the half-wit slave Fade to stay at hand to guard Isana and Tavi.
All that, however, is ancient history. In this story, Tavi sort of accidentally becomes the commanding officer of a rookie legion and leads them to victory against the Canem (sure am glad I know some Latin). The Canem are big, vicious dog critters who are in league with the evil villain who wants to take the throne from Gaius Sextus. Well, one of the evil villains who wants to take the throne from Gaius Sextus. But it turns out that they were actually leaving their homeland, lock, stock, wives and puppies, because of some nameless threat.
So, book four is set up and ready to go.
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