CONN IGGULDEN'S brilliant Emperor series marches on with our hero Julius Caesar conquering Spain and then tackling the tribes of Gaul.

At the end of the second book, The Death Of Kings, Caesar and his "blood brother", Brutus, are busy defeating the Spartacus slave rebellion.

Following this success, the pair and their armies, are sent by the Senate to run the colonies of Spain.

But, after making pots of money mining gold, Caesar, who is still only in his twenties, becomes bored of the province and decides to return to his beloved Rome and stand as a Consul in the Senate.

The story then moves into politics - sounds boring, but in Roman times it wasn't.

Soon, Caesar, Brutus and their legions are called to tackle the troublesome Gallic tribes of the North.

Caesar's new friendships with fellow leaders and his overwhelming ambition, begin to separate him from his great friend Brutus.

Fields Of Swords propels Iggulden into the league of Bernard Cornwell and Valerio Massimo Manfredi. Historical fiction at its best. Roll on the next instalment.

Updated: 08:59 Saturday, January 29, 2005