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sandrinepal's review against another edition
Meh. I guess [autho:Steven Saylor] needs to pay his bills just like the rest of us, but this was really sub-par.
escan's review against another edition
4.0
Ok, the first 75% was 3 stars, while the last 25% was like... 4.5 stars. This was maybe the darkest Gordianus book (although I haven't read [b:The Throne of Caesar|34953088|The Throne of Caesar (Roma Sub Rosa #13)|Steven Saylor|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1515143053l/34953088._SY75_.jpg|58392880] yet), far outstripping [b:Arms of Nemesis|102712|Arms of Nemesis (Roma Sub Rosa, #2)|Steven Saylor|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1316126310l/102712._SY75_.jpg|1609422] in terms of lives at stake and outdoing [b:Rubicon|102711|Rubicon (Roma Sub Rosa, #7)|Steven Saylor|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1171486247l/102711._SY75_.jpg|2804176] when it comes to tension throughout the book. I don't really have an explanation for why the first part didn't really do it for me the same way most of the previous books have, but the sheer fear and despair I felt throughout the final quarter really made up for it, and will form my lasting impression of the book.
juliwi's review against another edition
3.0
From an early age on I have been fascinated by Ancient Greek, its legends and the rise and fall of the Roman Empire. I must have devoured countless of books about it so when the chance came to take a peak at another series focusing on the latter I of course said yes. Thanks to Constable for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Central to Saylor's Wrath of the Furies are two characters: Gordianus, a young Roman hiding out in Alexandria at the beginning of the novel, and Antipater, once a poet and now in mortal danger from Mithridates. The narrative switches between these two narrators, with the focus lying mainly on Gordianus. Part of Antipater's story is told through fragmented diary entries which give the reader a sense of what kind of a man both Antipater and Mithridates are, as well as making it clear that the Mediterranean is indeed in the middle of an intense conflict. Gordianus' side of the narrative is told through pretty straight-forward third person narrative, although occasionally it feels like it's told in hindsight. A highlight of this book is its mobility between the different nations and peoples that lived in the Mediterranean around that time. Whether it's Alexandria, Rome or Egypt, Saylor creates exciting surroundings and describes them beautifully. The fact that one of the few female characters we have is Bethesda and that she is a slave was a bit of a let down, but her character was one of my favourites nonetheless.
I enjoyed reading Wrath of the Furies and Saylor's writing was pleasantly straightforward. However, as a lover of myths and legends I occasionally missed the more epic tone or the sense that this was still present at the time. However, it made for interesting historical reading. I'd recommend it to fans of Historical Fiction.
For full review: http://universeinwords.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/review-wrath-of-furies-by-steven-saylor.html
Central to Saylor's Wrath of the Furies are two characters: Gordianus, a young Roman hiding out in Alexandria at the beginning of the novel, and Antipater, once a poet and now in mortal danger from Mithridates. The narrative switches between these two narrators, with the focus lying mainly on Gordianus. Part of Antipater's story is told through fragmented diary entries which give the reader a sense of what kind of a man both Antipater and Mithridates are, as well as making it clear that the Mediterranean is indeed in the middle of an intense conflict. Gordianus' side of the narrative is told through pretty straight-forward third person narrative, although occasionally it feels like it's told in hindsight. A highlight of this book is its mobility between the different nations and peoples that lived in the Mediterranean around that time. Whether it's Alexandria, Rome or Egypt, Saylor creates exciting surroundings and describes them beautifully. The fact that one of the few female characters we have is Bethesda and that she is a slave was a bit of a let down, but her character was one of my favourites nonetheless.
I enjoyed reading Wrath of the Furies and Saylor's writing was pleasantly straightforward. However, as a lover of myths and legends I occasionally missed the more epic tone or the sense that this was still present at the time. However, it made for interesting historical reading. I'd recommend it to fans of Historical Fiction.
For full review: http://universeinwords.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/review-wrath-of-furies-by-steven-saylor.html
jbleyle63's review against another edition
3.0
[3.5 stars] I continue to enjoy these early exploits of Gordianus the Finder and especially the historical settings. This volume features the return of a key character from "The Seven Wonders" and resolves his fate. My only quibble with this one is that Gordianus and Bethesda's numerous romantic encounters become a bit tiresome in this one and could have been judiciously edited for pacing.
assaphmehr's review against another edition
5.0
A neat little adventure of Gordianus, detailing a particularly gruesome event in the Mithridatic Wars.
Saylor as usual places Gordianus at the edges, observing and participating unwillingly in real historical events. All this with the usual charming writing and amazing research and attention to detail.
It's a novel fans of ancient Rome will not want to miss.
--
[a:Assaph Mehr|14422472|Assaph Mehr|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1445823325p2/14422472.jpg], author of [b:Murder In Absentia|29500700|Murder In Absentia (Felix the Fox, #1)|Assaph Mehr|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1457914061s/29500700.jpg|46845657]: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.
Saylor as usual places Gordianus at the edges, observing and participating unwillingly in real historical events. All this with the usual charming writing and amazing research and attention to detail.
It's a novel fans of ancient Rome will not want to miss.
--
[a:Assaph Mehr|14422472|Assaph Mehr|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1445823325p2/14422472.jpg], author of [b:Murder In Absentia|29500700|Murder In Absentia (Felix the Fox, #1)|Assaph Mehr|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1457914061s/29500700.jpg|46845657]: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.
jgolomb's review against another edition
3.0
Originally posted at UNRV.com
Steven Saylor has built his authorial reputation on modern historical fiction, particularly in the genre of historical mysteries. His “Roma Sub Rosa” series has seen 14 books published beginning in 1991 and continuing through 2015 with his 15th entrant in the series, “Wrath of the Furies: A Novel of the Ancient World”. This story is written primarily from the perspective of a young Gordianus, who grows up to become Gordianus the Finder, the Roman sleuth whose mysteries are set across the Roman Empire in Saylor’s Roma series. "Wrath of the Furies" is the third book of a trio of prequels to the Roma Sub Rosa series, this one set in Alexandria and Ephesus.
And who are these Furies and why do they have wrath? Antipater explains to Mithridates:
" The winged sisters are three in number: Alecto, Megaera, and Tisiphone. They are older than Zeus and the other Olympian gods, having been born from the blood of Uranus when his son Kronos castrated him. They dwell among the dead in Tartarus, but are sometimes drawn to eat and to punish certain kinds of wickedness. Once they find the mortal culprit, they hound him relentlessly, circling him and shrieking, sting him with brass-studded scourges…They have snouts like dogs, bulging, bloodshot eyes, and snakes for hair. Their bodies are as black as coal, and they flit through the air on batlike wings."
Mithridates has the Roman Empire shuddering due to the destructive force of his moving army. He has vowed to kill every Roman he can, but needs to ensure that he has raised the support, rather than ire, of the Furies. All good ancient commanders must heed their mighty gods. Gordianus has accidentally found himself smack in the middle of this Mithridates plot to pay obeisance to the Furies through human sacrifice.
Saylor's narrative style is clean and straightforward. Like his character Antipater, he's not poetic, but the story is entertaining and, I suspect, will be of greatest interest to readers familiar with his characters and the Roma Sub Rosa storylines. Saylor continuously updates the reader as to the Roma Sub Rosa context of returning characters and plot elements. You can absolutely read “Wrath” independently from the rest of the series, but the experience will not be as satisfying. “Wrath of the Furies” is an enjoyable historical mystery and contains 320 pages.
A second narrative perspective comes from Gordianus’ mentor, Antipater of Sidon, Greek poet of great renown who has been acting (mostly) as unwitting undercover spy working for Mithridates, scourge of the Roman empire and hero of Greeks across the Mediterranean. Antipater’s contribution to the story comes in the form of fragments from his diary. He reflects on his current status, and provides a view into the goings on of Mithridates who’s systematically bulldozing his way across the Empire destroying towns and cities and claiming the role of eastern avenger against the Roman Empire.
The story circles a number of mysteries, plots and subplots that run concurrently throughout the narrative:
1) A portion of the aforementioned diary arrives mysteriously at the home where Gordianus is staying in Alexandria. Gordianus travels east, into the thicket of Mithridates violence and hatred, to find his old mentor Antipater who seems to be in a desperate and dire situation in Ephesus.
2) Gordianus is cooling his heels in Alexandria which, for the moment, is not a target for Mithridates and so is a relative safe haven for Romans in the outskirts of the Empire. Gordianus must uncover, and perhaps eliminate, the plot of the great Mithradites to destroy all Romans residing in the outer territories of the Empire.
3) Pushed into a role of spy himself, Gordianus must also determine the fate and location of several secondary characters of varying levels of interest.
Antipater provides the more interesting elements of the plot as he writes in his diary from within Mithridates coterie. At times, he’s relegated to dining tables with the jugglers and entertainers who are available at the King’s beck and call, and sometimes called into consultation with the great king.
Antipater describes in great detail the environment of life from the edges of the King’s court, including the horrifically grim death of a Roman general bound with his mouth forced open and fed molten gold. And yes, this is all too familiar for fans of “Game of Thrones” who read (or saw) Khal Drogo kill the despicable Viserys Targaryen in a very similar manner, however Saylor’s retelling is completely based in fact.
What’s less factual is the storytelling tone and language. Everyone speaks in a fairly modern manner, replete with terms that were clearly originated well after the time frame in which this story is placed. Antipater describes himself acting like an ‘automaton’, using a term that wasn’t first spoken until the early 17th century (so sayeth Websters, at least). Considering Saylor’s reputation for historical authenticity, I was disappointed in the contemporary stylings of dialogue and narration; though do acknowledge that it may be purposeful as he targets his appropriate reading audience.
Considering that Antipater reminds us (every few pages) that he’s a poet of only the highest caliber, his diary fragments are rather less than poetic. They move the story well, and provide the most interesting elements of the narrative, but the language used is merely descriptive and mundane. I would’ve preferred to see Antipater's character and personality developed through the language within the diary. His profession is certainly not apparent outside of his own braggadocio.
Steven Saylor has built his authorial reputation on modern historical fiction, particularly in the genre of historical mysteries. His “Roma Sub Rosa” series has seen 14 books published beginning in 1991 and continuing through 2015 with his 15th entrant in the series, “Wrath of the Furies: A Novel of the Ancient World”. This story is written primarily from the perspective of a young Gordianus, who grows up to become Gordianus the Finder, the Roman sleuth whose mysteries are set across the Roman Empire in Saylor’s Roma series. "Wrath of the Furies" is the third book of a trio of prequels to the Roma Sub Rosa series, this one set in Alexandria and Ephesus.
And who are these Furies and why do they have wrath? Antipater explains to Mithridates:
" The winged sisters are three in number: Alecto, Megaera, and Tisiphone. They are older than Zeus and the other Olympian gods, having been born from the blood of Uranus when his son Kronos castrated him. They dwell among the dead in Tartarus, but are sometimes drawn to eat and to punish certain kinds of wickedness. Once they find the mortal culprit, they hound him relentlessly, circling him and shrieking, sting him with brass-studded scourges…They have snouts like dogs, bulging, bloodshot eyes, and snakes for hair. Their bodies are as black as coal, and they flit through the air on batlike wings."
Mithridates has the Roman Empire shuddering due to the destructive force of his moving army. He has vowed to kill every Roman he can, but needs to ensure that he has raised the support, rather than ire, of the Furies. All good ancient commanders must heed their mighty gods. Gordianus has accidentally found himself smack in the middle of this Mithridates plot to pay obeisance to the Furies through human sacrifice.
Saylor's narrative style is clean and straightforward. Like his character Antipater, he's not poetic, but the story is entertaining and, I suspect, will be of greatest interest to readers familiar with his characters and the Roma Sub Rosa storylines. Saylor continuously updates the reader as to the Roma Sub Rosa context of returning characters and plot elements. You can absolutely read “Wrath” independently from the rest of the series, but the experience will not be as satisfying. “Wrath of the Furies” is an enjoyable historical mystery and contains 320 pages.
A second narrative perspective comes from Gordianus’ mentor, Antipater of Sidon, Greek poet of great renown who has been acting (mostly) as unwitting undercover spy working for Mithridates, scourge of the Roman empire and hero of Greeks across the Mediterranean. Antipater’s contribution to the story comes in the form of fragments from his diary. He reflects on his current status, and provides a view into the goings on of Mithridates who’s systematically bulldozing his way across the Empire destroying towns and cities and claiming the role of eastern avenger against the Roman Empire.
The story circles a number of mysteries, plots and subplots that run concurrently throughout the narrative:
1) A portion of the aforementioned diary arrives mysteriously at the home where Gordianus is staying in Alexandria. Gordianus travels east, into the thicket of Mithridates violence and hatred, to find his old mentor Antipater who seems to be in a desperate and dire situation in Ephesus.
2) Gordianus is cooling his heels in Alexandria which, for the moment, is not a target for Mithridates and so is a relative safe haven for Romans in the outskirts of the Empire. Gordianus must uncover, and perhaps eliminate, the plot of the great Mithradites to destroy all Romans residing in the outer territories of the Empire.
3) Pushed into a role of spy himself, Gordianus must also determine the fate and location of several secondary characters of varying levels of interest.
Antipater provides the more interesting elements of the plot as he writes in his diary from within Mithridates coterie. At times, he’s relegated to dining tables with the jugglers and entertainers who are available at the King’s beck and call, and sometimes called into consultation with the great king.
Antipater describes in great detail the environment of life from the edges of the King’s court, including the horrifically grim death of a Roman general bound with his mouth forced open and fed molten gold. And yes, this is all too familiar for fans of “Game of Thrones” who read (or saw) Khal Drogo kill the despicable Viserys Targaryen in a very similar manner, however Saylor’s retelling is completely based in fact.
What’s less factual is the storytelling tone and language. Everyone speaks in a fairly modern manner, replete with terms that were clearly originated well after the time frame in which this story is placed. Antipater describes himself acting like an ‘automaton’, using a term that wasn’t first spoken until the early 17th century (so sayeth Websters, at least). Considering Saylor’s reputation for historical authenticity, I was disappointed in the contemporary stylings of dialogue and narration; though do acknowledge that it may be purposeful as he targets his appropriate reading audience.
Considering that Antipater reminds us (every few pages) that he’s a poet of only the highest caliber, his diary fragments are rather less than poetic. They move the story well, and provide the most interesting elements of the narrative, but the language used is merely descriptive and mundane. I would’ve preferred to see Antipater's character and personality developed through the language within the diary. His profession is certainly not apparent outside of his own braggadocio.
archytas's review against another edition
3.0
I've read every one of Saylor's Gordianus novels, as well as his Roma series, and will continue to do so. This entry, like the other prequels and the short stories, is a relatively light and breezy adventure tale, with the young Gordianus pulling off impossible feats, meeting amazing people, suffering divine prophecies all with a charming, self-deprecating wit and amusing naivete. Which is not to say there is nothing heavy - the graphically described torture and massacre scenes in this book spare no modern sensibility and seem to be Saylor wanting very much to emphasise the brutality of this part of history.
But while it has gore, and pain and terror, the whole book, like the other prequels, lacks the gravitas of the rest of the Gordianus series: a man who seemed real, who wrestled with right and wrong, and the role of an individual, and what it was like to be in history. A series which used Rome to examine what it felt like to be human and to care. A series remarkably like the best of the West Wing. Instead, this feels like Biggles-goes-to-ancient-Egypt. I can enjoy this series for what it is, but oh my god, I miss what it once was.
But while it has gore, and pain and terror, the whole book, like the other prequels, lacks the gravitas of the rest of the Gordianus series: a man who seemed real, who wrestled with right and wrong, and the role of an individual, and what it was like to be in history. A series which used Rome to examine what it felt like to be human and to care. A series remarkably like the best of the West Wing. Instead, this feels like Biggles-goes-to-ancient-Egypt. I can enjoy this series for what it is, but oh my god, I miss what it once was.
traveller1's review
3.0
Enjoyable, but a light read. Our young hero travels from Alexandria to Asia Minor and risks his life by rescuing his former teacher, the poet Antipater. The problem is that the evil king Mithridates, lifelong enemy of Rome, now rules the land, and plans to execute all Roman citizens within his sway.
Gordianus travels in disguise, as a mute Alexandrian. He succeeds in rescuing his teacher, but cannot prevent the execution of his fellow countrymen.
Gordianus travels in disguise, as a mute Alexandrian. He succeeds in rescuing his teacher, but cannot prevent the execution of his fellow countrymen.