Dacian Wildcat Series
One boy’s journey through the Roman world.
Castor’s Ordeal - Ten-year-old Castor is determined to care for and protect those around him. When war sweeps through his small village in the Carpathian Mountains, he and his people are captured and forced on a brutal march to the distant coastal city of Tomis. Along the way, Castor must discover what it truly means to be an Apuli man—protecting those in his care, no matter the cost. (survival)
Castor’s New Life - Living in the coastal city of Tomis, far from his Dacian mountain home, Castor finds himself surrounded by people who were once his enemies. Separated from friends and family, he is told he must learn to live as a Roman. Struggling to adapt, Castor wonders if he can ever accept this new life—or if he even has a choice. (adjustment/new life)
Castor’s Strife - Returning from Rome, Castor and his family settle in the newly established capital of Sarmizegetusa. Though he longs for the familiar mountains of his old village, the city—crowded with Roman soldiers—does not feel like home. As Castor waits for his father’s return, his grandfather seems determined to make life even harder. (caught between two cultures)
Castor’s Plan - Darius places Castor under the guidance of one of the province’s finest trainers, determined to shape him into a skilled young warrior. But Castor has plans of his own. While others push him toward military success, he quietly works toward a very different goal—one he must pursue despite those trying to hold him back. (strategy, training, and hidden intent)
Castor’s Journey - Left behind in Tomis, Castor sets out with Hector and Brahn to find the father he last saw in Rome. His search leads him through gladiator schools, dangerous streets, and even the Emperor’s household. Driven by determination, Castor refuses to give up—but his obsession may come at a cost. (flight, friendship, painful difference between finding what you want and finding what is true)
Castor’s Fate - Returning home, Castor hopes to reunite with his family. Instead, his uncle enrolls him in a military program for future officers, keeping him under strict control. Forced onto a path he never chose, Castor resolves to make the most of it—building allies and preparing for whatever fate awaits him. (acceptance, mentorship, and earned choice)
Castor’s Ordeal: The Storybook - Castor is only ten winters old when Roman soldiers destroy his mountain village and drive his people into captivity. Forced onto a harsh road far from home, the young Dacian must rely on courage, instinct, and an unbreakable will to protect what remains of his family. Castor’s Ordeal is a powerful historical story about resilience, identity, and the strength to endure when childhood ends too soon.
Each story deals with certain aspects of Roman life:
Book 1 - Dacia versus Roman lifestyle
Book 2 - Roman lifestyle, home, foods, clothing, etc.…
Book 3 - Officials of a Roman province, hierarchy, patriarchal control
Book 4 - Roman military strategies
Book 5 - Gladiatorial schools and distance between Rome and Dacia
Book 6 - Garrison life
