I can’t wait to read Arms of Nemesis! The Story It’s a great way to learn about the history of Rome - making it stick in a way that a schoolroom history class never could - although, the more formal study does round it out and include the a broader spectrum of cause-and-effect.! It’s all about the crazy politics, the patronage system, family life, career expectations, and the food and how one dined. Then when we learn more about his personal habits. It was frustrating for Cicero and Gordiano to have young Sextus as a client he was amazingly belligerent and uncooperative.

The corruption is related as part of Gordiano’s considerations as he investigates, enlightening us as to the not-so-fabulous features of Roman life. I enjoyed Saylor’s “info dump” - well-disguised as a walk through early morning Rome to Cicero’s house as Gordiano enjoys being alive and in Rome, appreciating the life around him, and having his own thoughts as well. Rome wakes with a self-satisfied stretching of the limbs and a deep inhalation, stimulating the lungs, quickening the pulse. He provides a sense of the Romans and how they live their daily lives. From the early waking to the crowds in the streets, the markets, the food, the, ahem, fragrances. I just love it! Saylor is so incredibly descriptive of the life in Rome. Nothing much has changed in how man behaves. It was fun to read and observe the parallels between then and now. It’s a typical storyline that includes the investigator getting too close and being threatened with beatings and messages and death, chases and escapes, but it feels completely different when set in ancient times. The manner of law for that time is certainly enough to make me appreciate our current system! I am grateful to live today! It’s a fascinating look from the average man’s perspective of a period in Roman history when the great generals were more interested in filling their treasure chests and placating their soldiers, when Sulla worked to ensure the stability of his dictatorship, and others suffered for his ambitions. With the same historic characters, but at an earlier time with Cicero and Sulla. I had just finished reading King’s Gambit (SPQR, I) by John Maddox Roberts which is set in ancient Rome, and here I am plunging into, yup, ancient Rome.

I seem to be in a very interesting rut! I keep reading novels that are set in the same places. Other books in this series include įirst in the Roma Sub Rosa ancient Roman mystery series featuring Gordianus, a disreputable Finder. Roman Blood It is part of the Roma Sub Rosa #1 series and is a in Hardcover edition on Apand has 387 pages. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review.

Roman blood by steven saylor