Moments in Time by JA Gordon

This is the first in a series of books called "The Chronicles of Time" by this author. The story is set in Upper Germania, at the time of the Roman Emperor Nero. The main character is Graecus, a Roman Centurion of Greek ancestry who commands a century guarding the countryside on the outskirts of the Empire.

Graecus find himself in a number of testing situations when he is ordered to look after a visitor who is high in the Emperor's circle. When Graecus loses good men in an attack on the century's camp, 2 of them caused by the visitor's cowardice, and sees that the visitor's actions have also put Graecus' adopted son at risk, he begins to fear for the future of the Empire should such men be in power in Rome.  

When it appears that his adopted son might also be in direct danger from powers in Rome, Graecus decides that the only course he can take is to lie low, be an able soldier and rely on the men he trusts.

Eventually, however, he and his century are called to action. The tribes of Britannia are rebelling against the increasingly harsh regime imposed from far off Rome, and Graecus and his men are sent to reinforce the legions there. On the journey to Britannia Graecus saves the life of a seaman and the effect will have a far reaching effect on his life.  

When I began this book, I wasn't at all sure if I was going to get on with it but, as I read on, it began to grow on me. The author knows a lot about this period and has a neat way of teaching the reader without being in the least patronising or burdening the story. The only thing I'm still not sure of how the tale begins. We are in a study or treatment room and the subject is being hypnotised into regression into a past life - Graecus's life. Why this device is being used, I'm not sure but maybe I'll learn in the next book, "The Weight of Time".  

This book is published by Derwen Publishing, which is a small publishing house specialising in partnership publishing, so it won't be available in your local library. Buy via Amazon, Ebook or order from your bookseller. ISBN 978-1-907084-00-3.