La sombra del bosque

The year is 25 BC, and the Asturian tribes inhabiting northern Hispania exist in a precarious peace with Rome. As the Roman governor’s corrupt demands escalate—and knowing that war looms—Virio strives to teach the use of arms to the headstrong Careca, daughter of the settlement’s leader. Yet, his sole concern remains the safety of his wife, Dovidena. She, however, is not only stronger than he imagines but also harbors a secret that could shatter their union... Across the border, Centurion Lucius Severus—mere months away from an honorable retirement—dreams of a future with Voconia, the courtesan with whom he is hopelessly in love. But that happy future is jeopardized by the arrival of the young, ambitious Tribune Marcus Licinius, a man intent on boosting his own prestige at any cost. As battle draws inexorably closer, neither side realizes that an even more formidable and powerful enemy is lurking right beside them. Deep within the impenetrable forest separating the Astures from the Romans, an enigmatic, malevolent creature lies in wait, already hunting for its next victims...