Listen free for 30 days

Listen with offer

  • The Mask of Command

  • Twilight of Empire, Book 4
  • By: Ian Ross
  • Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
  • Length: 13 hrs and 53 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (160 ratings)
Offer ends May 1st, 2024 11:59PM GMT. Terms and conditions apply.
£7.99/month after 3 months. Renews automatically.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
The Mask of Command cover art

The Mask of Command

By: Ian Ross
Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
Get this deal Try for £0.00

Pay £99p/month. After 3 months pay £7.99/month. Renews automatically. See terms for eligibility.

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £16.99

Buy Now for £16.99

Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.

Listeners also enjoyed...

Battle Song cover art
The Fort cover art
Marius' Mules I: The Invasion of Gaul cover art
A Time for Swords cover art
Warrior: The Epic Story of Caratacus, Warrior Briton and Enemy of the Roman Empire cover art
The Ill-Made Knight cover art
Legionary cover art
Clash of Empires cover art
Blood on the Crown cover art
The Great Game cover art
Tyrant cover art
Lord Edward's Archer cover art
The Dragon Sword cover art
Under the Eagle cover art
Vindolanda cover art
Viking Slave cover art

Summary

When an act of murder throws the western provinces into turmoil, Aurelius Castus is ordered to take command of the military forces on the Rhine. But he soon discovers that the frontier is a place where the boundaries between civilisation and barbarism have little meaning.

At the very heart of the conflict are two boys. One is Emperor Constantine's young heir, Crispus. The other is Castus' own beloved son, Sabinus. Only Castus stands between them and men who would kill them.

©2016 Ian Ross (P)2017 W F Howes Ltd

Critic reviews

"Well-crafted, atmospheric and thoroughly enjoyable." (Ben Kane)
"Hugely enjoyable. The author winds up tension into an explosion of fast-paced events." (Conn Iggulden on Swords Around the Throne)

What listeners say about The Mask of Command

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    135
  • 4 Stars
    20
  • 3 Stars
    5
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    127
  • 4 Stars
    15
  • 3 Stars
    2
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    116
  • 4 Stars
    24
  • 3 Stars
    3
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Another great listen 10/10

Good story that followed on nicely from the previous audio books. It tied a lot of things together and the characters are still very believable. As with all audio books, it's so important to have someone good reading the story and I believe that Ian Ross has found the right guy with Jonathan Keeble because he is excellent.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Brilliant.

Great story, elegantly written and engaging. Jonathan Keebler’s narration is superb! Close your eyes and listen and you are part of this amazing story.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent story, well narrated by Jonathan Keeble.

Interesting insight into the late Roman Empire on it's northern border. Good story with excellent action scenes.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

poor castus

our hero once again suffers personal loss, and outrage at Rome's elite. an excellent tale of war intrigue and affairs of the heart, written with detail of the age, and once again enhanced by the narration of Jonathan keeble.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Ld
  • 13-01-24

Good story and narration

Good continuation of the Twilight of the Empire series. Enjoyed listening and looking forward to the next one

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Another triumph

Once again, Ian Ross has further developed the adventures of Aurelius Castus against the historic background of the Roman emperial struggles in Gaul.
Ross creates a well developed story full of characters and villains.
To define the work of Jonathan Keeble as narration does no justice to his work. Keeble brings the book to life. His nuances of the locations, actions, and intimate moments are superb . The changes in emphasis place the reader in the midst of the action.
The book is first rate. That coupled with the work of Keeble makes it superb over and over again.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Superb

The fourth in a superb series,read and be enthralled,outstanding. Castus' professional and personal journey continues, great historical detail,just superb.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellently written and narrated

I thoroughly enjoyed this from start to finish. Perfect for making my commute a pleasure!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Really sorry this book has finished

Wonderfully exciting Roman intrigues and battles around AD320. Stunning narration from Jonathan Keeble that adds so much to the story. I highly recommend this book.

If you read Simon Scarrow then you’ll love this book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Another gripping tale, full of twists and turns

This series of books set towards the dying days of the Roman Empire, continues to excite. With fine portrayals performed superbly by the narrator and well rounded characters, I look forward to the next instalment.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!