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saramar's review against another edition
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
carolinamm's review against another edition
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
prodoehl's review
5.0
Another engaging, fascinating book by Steven Saylor. This is part of a series. Though you can read them out of order, it is a bit more meaningful when you follow them chronologically. Still, on it's own, this book reads well. We all know what happens to Julius Caesar, he dies. Still, what is happening around the build up to his death, and what is happening concurrently, is just as engrossing. In case you didn't know, as amazing as Rome's architecture was, and so many other interesting parts of its culture, it was also brutal and bloody. Still, I enjoyed being transported to the past, and watching the events as they unfolded.
archytas's review
4.0
I've been waiting a long time for this book. Not because I am that invested in the Ides of March - other Roman events have always interested me more - but simply because I have missed a good full-length Gordianus book badly. Saylor is unmatched in his capacity to plot around major historical events, weaving tension about what the reader knows is coming (history) and what the reader doesn't (mystery resolution) with the heart of tension (the lives and safety of Gordianus and his family). His plots are always thematic, designed to explore what this slice of history can tell us. All those skills are on fine display here.
This book is a bit of a technical triumph - there are so many moving pieces necessary to get everyone into place, and then to drive it forward. Saylor has obviously been planning the general direction for a while, especially in ensuring Gordianus' son Meto is close to JC. None of it feels forced however, and the very-non-partisan Gordianus having a partisan son is a great source of character development, as our detective ages and deals with the dilemmas of parents whose children are fully grown. The crime plot is inspired, and again, the technical aspects are so well done as to be unnoticed.
The next bit discusses themes that err on the spoilery side *********************
What I don't know is whether Saylor predicted the rise of #MeToo and female anger in writing this, because damn the last quarter of the book feels intense in the current environment. Female fury is a fairly common theme in Roman/Greek literature, but this somehow felt much more contemporary. I found it harder to read, more personal and more engaging than I expected. It would have been easy to put a foot wrong here, but I don't think Saylor does. I had a nagging sense of, something. There is no sense of easy resolution here, just a lot of damage all round, and maybe given our current global conversation, that felt a little like a cop-out. Greek and Roman myths are foundational to Western society as well, and these tales are part of how we view both misogyny and the potential power of very pissed off women. Maybe, I just wanted all that unpacked a bit more slowly and deeply, but that's very about timing.
I'm glad, for whatever reason, that Saylor went there. I'm hoping there is more to Gordianus' story to come.
This book is a bit of a technical triumph - there are so many moving pieces necessary to get everyone into place, and then to drive it forward. Saylor has obviously been planning the general direction for a while, especially in ensuring Gordianus' son Meto is close to JC. None of it feels forced however, and the very-non-partisan Gordianus having a partisan son is a great source of character development, as our detective ages and deals with the dilemmas of parents whose children are fully grown. The crime plot is inspired, and again, the technical aspects are so well done as to be unnoticed.
The next bit discusses themes that err on the spoilery side *********************
What I don't know is whether Saylor predicted the rise of #MeToo and female anger in writing this, because damn the last quarter of the book feels intense in the current environment. Female fury is a fairly common theme in Roman/Greek literature, but this somehow felt much more contemporary. I found it harder to read, more personal and more engaging than I expected. It would have been easy to put a foot wrong here, but I don't think Saylor does. I had a nagging sense of, something. There is no sense of easy resolution here, just a lot of damage all round, and maybe given our current global conversation, that felt a little like a cop-out. Greek and Roman myths are foundational to Western society as well, and these tales are part of how we view both misogyny and the potential power of very pissed off women. Maybe, I just wanted all that unpacked a bit more slowly and deeply, but that's very about timing.
I'm glad, for whatever reason, that Saylor went there. I'm hoping there is more to Gordianus' story to come.
traveller1's review
5.0
Fantastic read. I always enjoy a new Saylor, but this deeply impressed me. The account of the assassination of Caesar. I was wondering how it would be dealt with. Majestically is the answer. The greatest act of political stupidity in recorded history. The prose moving towards the certainty of death, with the players acting out their role. I found I could not read parts of the novel as they were too intense. Seeing the assassins conspire before the day. Steven Saylor's greatest novel.
silverstarswept's review
4.0
The Throne of Caesar is, for me, a rather reflective read. It's very much the culmination of the entire Roma Sub Rosa series, and it does an excellent job at tying together all - or most - of the threads from the other books. From the very first scene, almost a mirror of the first scene of [b:Roman Blood|102720|Roman Blood (Roma Sub Rosa, #1)|Steven Saylor|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388555429l/102720._SY75_.jpg|2569207], in which Cicero's then-slave, now-freedman Tiro pays a visit to a severely hungover Gordianus, to the very last, in which Gordianus starts dictating that very scene for the start of his memoirs, readers are reminded of everything they've been through with Gordianus.
I think there are references made to most of the books in the series, from the obvious parallels with Roman Blood, to comparisons between the funeral of Caesar and that of Publius Clodius in [b:A Murder on the Appian Way|102724|A Murder on the Appian Way (Roma Sub Rosa, #5)|Steven Saylor|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1339311368l/102724._SY75_.jpg|99041], to mentions of Gordianus' travels with Antipater of Sidon in the prequel book [b:The Seven Wonders|13167035|The Seven Wonders (Ancient World, #1)|Steven Saylor|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1330919220l/13167035._SY75_.jpg|18346277], and this creates a wonderfully, sometimes painfully nostalgic atmosphere (even if I've only spent a little over a month reading this books, it feels like a lot longer!)
The story itself is very different to the earliest-written of Gordianus' exploits: rather than a whodunnit murder mystery, the primary plot here is built on the tension of readers already knowing who was responsible for Caesar's assassination, but watching helplessly as Gordianus fails to see it. There is, however, something of a secondary murder mystery plot which comes into play in the final quarter of the book, with a gruesome but somehow rather satisfying conclusion.
There are things that bother me about the book. I'd hoped for a grand family reunion, with not only Meto home from military service but also Eco, who's been conveniently away on Finder business pretty much ever since A Murder on the Appian Way, and his family present. Instead, we're informed that Eco has moved with his wife and kids to Neapolis, and taken with them the slave boys Androcles and Mopsus, and also Gordianus' most recently adopted son Rupa. I would also have appreciated a little more focus on Meto's emotional reaction to the death of Caesar, although I understand that there wasn't really time or space for it in the narrative - I'm also pretty stressed out by the assertion that Meto is now "Antony's man", considering the end that Antony met!
All in all, however, The Throne of Caesar is an excellent conclusion to an excellent series, and I think it's the final chapter that Gordianus deserved. Now I have to start petitioning Steven Saylor for some books about Gordianus' children!
I think there are references made to most of the books in the series, from the obvious parallels with Roman Blood, to comparisons between the funeral of Caesar and that of Publius Clodius in [b:A Murder on the Appian Way|102724|A Murder on the Appian Way (Roma Sub Rosa, #5)|Steven Saylor|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1339311368l/102724._SY75_.jpg|99041], to mentions of Gordianus' travels with Antipater of Sidon in the prequel book [b:The Seven Wonders|13167035|The Seven Wonders (Ancient World, #1)|Steven Saylor|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1330919220l/13167035._SY75_.jpg|18346277], and this creates a wonderfully, sometimes painfully nostalgic atmosphere (even if I've only spent a little over a month reading this books, it feels like a lot longer!)
The story itself is very different to the earliest-written of Gordianus' exploits: rather than a whodunnit murder mystery, the primary plot here is built on the tension of readers already knowing who was responsible for Caesar's assassination, but watching helplessly as Gordianus fails to see it. There is, however, something of a secondary murder mystery plot which comes into play in the final quarter of the book, with a gruesome but somehow rather satisfying conclusion.
There are things that bother me about the book. I'd hoped for a grand family reunion, with not only Meto home from military service but also Eco, who's been conveniently away on Finder business pretty much ever since A Murder on the Appian Way, and his family present. Instead, we're informed that Eco has moved with his wife and kids to Neapolis, and taken with them the slave boys Androcles and Mopsus, and also Gordianus' most recently adopted son Rupa. I would also have appreciated a little more focus on Meto's emotional reaction to the death of Caesar, although I understand that there wasn't really time or space for it in the narrative - I'm also pretty stressed out by the assertion that Meto is now "Antony's man", considering the end that Antony met!
All in all, however, The Throne of Caesar is an excellent conclusion to an excellent series, and I think it's the final chapter that Gordianus deserved. Now I have to start petitioning Steven Saylor for some books about Gordianus' children!
assaphmehr's review
5.0
I came across Steven Saylor's work when my Kindle suggested Roman Blood (I just finished Lindsey Davis' Falco at the time). I delved right in, and loved it! This is the latest in the series, though I hope not the last.
What to Expect
This is the latest Gordianus novel, and it harkens back a lot over his career. (In a way providing a bit of closure - though I certainly hope it's not the last novel in the series!). Events are set around the backdrop of teh Ides of March, and Saylor deftly moves between the big personalities that dominated them to the lesser known people around them.
Although the murder of Caesar is not a surprise to any reader, Saylor still manages to twist a captivating yarn by shifting his focus. Besides an unexpected death (not Caesar's), a lot of the book centres on Latin poetry of the time, of morals and politics as they would have appeared to someone watching from outside the inner circles.
What I liked
Saylor's writing is complex, with many layers of meaning and allusions. His knowledge of history and research into the specifics around each episode are beyond comapre. On top of that, Saylor has a great talent in bringing characters to life, and a knack to present a highly plausible "it could have been that way" view of events.
What to be aware of
This is the latest book in the series, and (the older) Gordianus is in semi-retirement. It offers some closure with his first case, with references to the story in Roman Blood. You should start either with Roman Blood (his first big case, and the first one written), or with The Seven Wonders (which is choronologically the first, with Gordianus' early life in Alexandria).
Summary
This series is an absolute pleasure to read, and to learn from. In the plethora of novels sets in first century BCE Rome, these stand out. The amazingly well-researched background and the mysteries Saylor spins around them are some of the most enjoyable reading on the period.
I do believe there will be more novels of Gordianus in his younger days (and maybe even of the elder Gordianus), and I am certainly looking forward to them.
--
[a:Assaph Mehr|14422472|Assaph Mehr|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1518065419p2/14422472.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.
What to Expect
This is the latest Gordianus novel, and it harkens back a lot over his career. (In a way providing a bit of closure - though I certainly hope it's not the last novel in the series!). Events are set around the backdrop of teh Ides of March, and Saylor deftly moves between the big personalities that dominated them to the lesser known people around them.
Although the murder of Caesar is not a surprise to any reader, Saylor still manages to twist a captivating yarn by shifting his focus. Besides an unexpected death (not Caesar's), a lot of the book centres on Latin poetry of the time, of morals and politics as they would have appeared to someone watching from outside the inner circles.
What I liked
Saylor's writing is complex, with many layers of meaning and allusions. His knowledge of history and research into the specifics around each episode are beyond comapre. On top of that, Saylor has a great talent in bringing characters to life, and a knack to present a highly plausible "it could have been that way" view of events.
What to be aware of
This is the latest book in the series, and (the older) Gordianus is in semi-retirement. It offers some closure with his first case, with references to the story in Roman Blood. You should start either with Roman Blood (his first big case, and the first one written), or with The Seven Wonders (which is choronologically the first, with Gordianus' early life in Alexandria).
Summary
This series is an absolute pleasure to read, and to learn from. In the plethora of novels sets in first century BCE Rome, these stand out. The amazingly well-researched background and the mysteries Saylor spins around them are some of the most enjoyable reading on the period.
I do believe there will be more novels of Gordianus in his younger days (and maybe even of the elder Gordianus), and I am certainly looking forward to them.
--
[a:Assaph Mehr|14422472|Assaph Mehr|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1518065419p2/14422472.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.
thefictionaddictionblog's review
5.0
In the beginning of The Throne of Caesar, it's just before the Ides of March, 44 BCE. Gordianus the Finder is about to become a senator, and Julius Caesar's getting weird vibes and asks Gordianus to see if anyone's up to anything. I was a bit skeptical of this opening, wondering how on earth a novel about the assassination of Caesar could possibly have any drama or suspense. Here's the 2000-year-old spoiler: He gets stabbed. We know who did it, we know Gordianus doesn't stop it, so where's the suspense?
But it really works, because the novel skillfully blends Gordianus' preparations to become a senator, his investigation in a warning scrawled on Cinna's doorstep, some scandalous poetry, and Gordianus' happy family life. Caesar's warnings seem secondary to all the other things going on. The novel's tension comes from the Finder shopping for a his first senatorial toga, while a world-changing conspiracy unfolds around him, familiar and clear to every reader but completely unknown to Gordianus. And when the inevitable happens, it's actually the least-shocking mob justice in the book...
The book's ending, with Gordianus' daughter Diana offering to record and edit his memoirs of his mysteries, may be a hint that this is the close of Gordianus' adventures.
But it really works, because the novel skillfully blends Gordianus' preparations to become a senator, his investigation in a warning scrawled on Cinna's doorstep, some scandalous poetry, and Gordianus' happy family life. Caesar's warnings seem secondary to all the other things going on. The novel's tension comes from the Finder shopping for a his first senatorial toga, while a world-changing conspiracy unfolds around him, familiar and clear to every reader but completely unknown to Gordianus. And when the inevitable happens, it's actually the least-shocking mob justice in the book...
The book's ending, with Gordianus' daughter Diana offering to record and edit his memoirs of his mysteries, may be a hint that this is the close of Gordianus' adventures.
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