Rome's Darkest Hour — William Kelso

Summer 216 BCE. As Rome fights for her very existence, struggling to find an answer to Hannibal’s genius on the battlefield - Flavius, father, patriot and Roman spymaster is sent south on a mission to stop Punic spies from infiltrating the town of Nola. In this dirty and secret war, Flavius will need all his experience and courage to keep this key strategic town from falling into Carthaginian hands.Distinguishing himself at the battle of Cannae, Gisgo, proud warrior prince of Numidia is still broke, all his hopes of recovering his ancestral lands and former wealth, repeatedly dashed by the cruel and inexplicable will of Tanit, Goddess and heavenly protector of Carthage. But as Hannibal takes pity on him and offers Gisgo a new opportunity to regain his fortune, old demons from Gisgo’s past are once again stirring, urging him to take a different path.In northern Spain, Julian, Flavius’s estranged twenty-year-old son, fights for Rome and for his young family. As Hasdrubal, attempts to break out and repeat his brother’s epic journey across the Alps, Julian finds himself taking part in the desperate Roman attempt to halt the Carthaginian advance along the Ebro. Sent into battle, amongst the fierce and treacherous Iberian tribes, Julian and his comrades know that they must prevail, if they are to ever see their homes and families again. As winter turns to spring it soon becomes clear that Rome’s darkest hour will either begin or end at the battle of Dertosa.