Rings of Iron: A Novel of the Second Punic War

In its darkest hour, courage alone can save Rome. But will there be enough?

In the turbulent wake of Rome's most harrowing defeats at Lake Trasimene and Cannae, the once indomitable Republic finds itself teetering on the brink of despair.Rings of Iron is a tale woven through the mudof battlefields and the marble corridors of power, where destiny is shaped by the iron will of those who dare to reshape a crumbling world.

Scipio, a young Roman noble, emerges from the shadows of his storied lineage, driven by a desire to forge his own path amidst the ruins left by Carthage's genius general, Hannibal Barca. With every crushing loss, Scipio's resolve is tested, his strategic brilliance honed against the cunning of a formidable foe. As he faces the remnants of Rome's once-great legions, Scipio must rally the broken and the beaten to believe in the impossible.

Aemilia, bound by duty and honor, finds herself in the crosshairs of political intrigue, as the populist demagogue Varro stokes and exploits the city's fear to his own ends. As Rome's enemies press in and the Republic's foundations shake, Aemilia must stand firm or watch her world crumble.

Their stories converge in a Republic divided, where loyalty is questioned, and the shadow of surrender looms. In the midst of war's maelstrom and the whisper of treachery, Scipio and Aemilia must decide if the flawed Rome they know is worth saving. Will they stand and pick up the fallen banner of the Republic, or will they turn away from the insurmountable odds?

Rings of Iron is a chronicle of resilience, a testament to the courage that stands as Rome's final bastion against the encroaching darkness. It is a narrative of those who fought not only on the battlefields but also in the arena of public sentiment, where the fate of a city and its principles hangs by a thread. As the fate of a civilization hangs by a slender thread, two young hearts must find the strength to fight not just for victory, but for the very soul of the Republic.