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kathydavie's review against another edition
3.0
First in the Romanitas alternate history fiction series revolving around Marcus Novius Faustus Leo, an impediment to taking over the empire.
Do commit the maps in the front of the book to memory---or at least put a bookmark on that page as you'll want to refer to it as Marcus, Una, and Sulein make through way through the countryside.
My Take
This was an interesting read with two separate stories that quickly merge in this Rome that never fell and rules half the world. Full of Roman hubris in what is the equivalent of our 2005, it's enough to make me want to smack 'em around and wonder how its empire survived so long, especially with the slavery.
It was an odd reading that kept throwing me off my stride with the discordancy of the combination of Roman and modern names for cities and places, the Roman familial nomens, and Roman culture with its ancient politics, mores, justice system, and slavery---contrasting with the modernish setting.
It didn't help that McDougall writes some incomprehensible sentences that had me going back over them again and again to try and understand what was happening.
With that whining over with, it is an engrossing read---more ancient Rome with some modern conveniences. My first thought was how clever of McDougall to create this world, but when I look back over it, it's quite simple: ancient Rome overlaid with a few futuristic gadgets. It's as though Rome itself never evolved in its culture or mores.
Una and Sulien's psychic abilities and the slavery dilemma make this a more engaging story than the plotting to place someone else on the throne, and it's the slavery issue that is the inciting event.
I do wish McDougall had explained more about why Marcus is so anti-slave. I can't imagine that his parents were as squeamish about directing the servants.
Nor do I understand how Varius could be so unthinking. After working with Leo for so long, you'd think he'd have a good idea of how brutal politics could be. That he'd have set up an escape route and protections for himself and his family.
The escape of all three provides insight into how this Roman civilization works and provides Marcus with insight into the truth of Roman rule while Una and Sulien are forced to rediscover each other.
I don't understand why neither Sulien nor Una ever think to use their psychic abilities to protect or defend themselves.
I've been over it again and again, and while I completely understand why Dama did as he did, I still am not grasping why the construction issue was such a big deal, why the builder and owner were so obsessed with pushing so hard.
Ooh, McDougall did an amazing job of throwing me off! I did have my doubts about one person, but not the linchpin to it all.
The comments about Virgil and his writing were interesting and have made me curious to read him now. Sounds like he was a typical writer…
No, the whole love attraction between the two main couples isn't believable; it's simply that McDougall decrees it and it is so. Dama was more believable in his passion, and so very compassionate at the end. I do want to know what's happened to him.
Why is the emperor so powerless and such a weak ignoramus?
Wow, it's complex, tricky, and so terrifyingly scary at how easy it is to whisk someone out of the way. Marcus is so incredibly lucky he has such friends. His family certainly isn't of any help.
It almost appears as if McDougall is going somewhere with all the people who are absorbed in Marcus' reappearance and disappearance, but then it just fades away. This could have been interesting and I kept reading, hoping, to no avail.
The Story
One half of the story opens with a funeral and Marcus is numb, wanting to get past the horror of his parents' deaths but caught in a limbo of thought. The letter from Varius comes at the perfect time, until he learns the reasons behind it and must go on the run to save his own life.
The other half of the story has the potential for a funeral and it takes some tricky maneuvering to avoid it as Una and Sulien also make their escape.
The Characters
Sixteen-year-old Marcus Novius Faustus Leo finds something of his parents in himself and is disgusted.
Leo, the emperor's Caeser, his heir, and Clodia are the perfect couple---in public. Each supports the other in their ambitions, as long as it furthers their own. Both are anti-slavery and intend to do something about it. Varius is Leo's private secretary and his executor; Gemella is his beloved wife who serves Clodia.
Drusus is Marcus' cousin; his father is the mad Lucius with his own very private secret. One for which I can't blame him! I think Ulpia is his mistress?? Their uncle and Lucius and Leo's brother, Faustus, is emperor of Rome (Titus Novius Faustus Augustus). Markaria is his daughter and Marcus and Drusus' cousin; she prefers to live on her vineyard in Greece, far from her father. Tulliola is Faustus' second wife and absolutely perfect.
Una is a young slave with psychic abilities in Londonium with but one goal in her life, rescuing her brother, Sulien, from death. He has a valuable psychic ability as well. Rufius was the master to whom their weak-minded mother sold them upon their father/owner's death.
The escaped slave camp at Holzarta...
Dama was a young slave when he was crucified and then rescued by Delir, a compassionate merchant who has been collaborating with Leo and Clodia. Lal is Delir's fourteen-year-old daughter. Ziye is Delir's lover. Tobias, Pyrrha is freaking out while her daughter Iris slaves away to care for her idiot mother, Tiro, and Marinus are escaped slaves. Palben is a young mechanic in Wolf Step/Athabia who keeps an ear open for news and sends supplies up to the camp.
Cleomenes is the centurion on duty when the body is discovered. Tasius is a spy sent to find Marcus with later help from Ennius and Ramio. Laevinus and Renatus are vigiles, Cleomenes' superiors, and corrupt.
Catavignus is a well-known but weak-minded physician who learns of Sulien's abilities. Tancorix is the willful, ugly daughter who blossoms. Prisca is her conniving mother. Epimachus will be Tancorix's husband. The ruthless, sweet-talking Gabinius is a merchant who worked his way up into wealth and a chance at power; now he's worried about the anti-slavery movement. Helvia is his wife.
Mixigana is a treaty between Rome and Nionia (Japan) which affects the Terranovans (the Americas). Sinoans are Chinese.
The Cover
Jesus, the cover is gloomy, eerie, and just plain scary and plays up the contrast within Romanitas of ancient Roman cruelty and a modern, well-lit city against its blackened cloudy sky.
I don't know the meaning of the title---it's the "itas" that's throwing me off in Romanitas. My inclination is to assume that it's an affectionate diminutive, and if I'm right, it makes sense as everyone likes young Marcus, and he does represent Roman authority.
Do commit the maps in the front of the book to memory---or at least put a bookmark on that page as you'll want to refer to it as Marcus, Una, and Sulein make through way through the countryside.
My Take
This was an interesting read with two separate stories that quickly merge in this Rome that never fell and rules half the world. Full of Roman hubris in what is the equivalent of our 2005, it's enough to make me want to smack 'em around and wonder how its empire survived so long, especially with the slavery.
It was an odd reading that kept throwing me off my stride with the discordancy of the combination of Roman and modern names for cities and places, the Roman familial nomens, and Roman culture with its ancient politics, mores, justice system, and slavery---contrasting with the modernish setting.
It didn't help that McDougall writes some incomprehensible sentences that had me going back over them again and again to try and understand what was happening.
With that whining over with, it is an engrossing read---more ancient Rome with some modern conveniences. My first thought was how clever of McDougall to create this world, but when I look back over it, it's quite simple: ancient Rome overlaid with a few futuristic gadgets. It's as though Rome itself never evolved in its culture or mores.
Una and Sulien's psychic abilities and the slavery dilemma make this a more engaging story than the plotting to place someone else on the throne, and it's the slavery issue that is the inciting event.
I do wish McDougall had explained more about why Marcus is so anti-slave. I can't imagine that his parents were as squeamish about directing the servants.
Nor do I understand how Varius could be so unthinking. After working with Leo for so long, you'd think he'd have a good idea of how brutal politics could be. That he'd have set up an escape route and protections for himself and his family.
The escape of all three provides insight into how this Roman civilization works and provides Marcus with insight into the truth of Roman rule while Una and Sulien are forced to rediscover each other.
I don't understand why neither Sulien nor Una ever think to use their psychic abilities to protect or defend themselves.
I've been over it again and again, and while I completely understand why Dama did as he did, I still am not grasping why the construction issue was such a big deal, why the builder and owner were so obsessed with pushing so hard.
Ooh, McDougall did an amazing job of throwing me off! I did have my doubts about one person, but not the linchpin to it all.
The comments about Virgil and his writing were interesting and have made me curious to read him now. Sounds like he was a typical writer…
No, the whole love attraction between the two main couples isn't believable; it's simply that McDougall decrees it and it is so. Dama was more believable in his passion, and so very compassionate at the end. I do want to know what's happened to him.
Why is the emperor so powerless and such a weak ignoramus?
Wow, it's complex, tricky, and so terrifyingly scary at how easy it is to whisk someone out of the way. Marcus is so incredibly lucky he has such friends. His family certainly isn't of any help.
It almost appears as if McDougall is going somewhere with all the people who are absorbed in Marcus' reappearance and disappearance, but then it just fades away. This could have been interesting and I kept reading, hoping, to no avail.
The Story
One half of the story opens with a funeral and Marcus is numb, wanting to get past the horror of his parents' deaths but caught in a limbo of thought. The letter from Varius comes at the perfect time, until he learns the reasons behind it and must go on the run to save his own life.
The other half of the story has the potential for a funeral and it takes some tricky maneuvering to avoid it as Una and Sulien also make their escape.
The Characters
Sixteen-year-old Marcus Novius Faustus Leo finds something of his parents in himself and is disgusted.
Leo, the emperor's Caeser, his heir, and Clodia are the perfect couple---in public. Each supports the other in their ambitions, as long as it furthers their own. Both are anti-slavery and intend to do something about it. Varius is Leo's private secretary and his executor; Gemella is his beloved wife who serves Clodia.
Drusus is Marcus' cousin; his father is the mad Lucius with his own very private secret. One for which I can't blame him! I think Ulpia is his mistress?? Their uncle and Lucius and Leo's brother, Faustus, is emperor of Rome (Titus Novius Faustus Augustus). Markaria is his daughter and Marcus and Drusus' cousin; she prefers to live on her vineyard in Greece, far from her father. Tulliola is Faustus' second wife and absolutely perfect.
Una is a young slave with psychic abilities in Londonium with but one goal in her life, rescuing her brother, Sulien, from death. He has a valuable psychic ability as well. Rufius was the master to whom their weak-minded mother sold them upon their father/owner's death.
The escaped slave camp at Holzarta...
Dama was a young slave when he was crucified and then rescued by Delir, a compassionate merchant who has been collaborating with Leo and Clodia. Lal is Delir's fourteen-year-old daughter. Ziye is Delir's lover. Tobias, Pyrrha is freaking out while her daughter Iris slaves away to care for her idiot mother, Tiro, and Marinus are escaped slaves. Palben is a young mechanic in Wolf Step/Athabia who keeps an ear open for news and sends supplies up to the camp.
Cleomenes is the centurion on duty when the body is discovered. Tasius is a spy sent to find Marcus with later help from Ennius and Ramio. Laevinus and Renatus are vigiles, Cleomenes' superiors, and corrupt.
Catavignus is a well-known but weak-minded physician who learns of Sulien's abilities. Tancorix is the willful, ugly daughter who blossoms. Prisca is her conniving mother. Epimachus will be Tancorix's husband. The ruthless, sweet-talking Gabinius is a merchant who worked his way up into wealth and a chance at power; now he's worried about the anti-slavery movement. Helvia is his wife.
Mixigana is a treaty between Rome and Nionia (Japan) which affects the Terranovans (the Americas). Sinoans are Chinese.
The Cover
Jesus, the cover is gloomy, eerie, and just plain scary and plays up the contrast within Romanitas of ancient Roman cruelty and a modern, well-lit city against its blackened cloudy sky.
I don't know the meaning of the title---it's the "itas" that's throwing me off in Romanitas. My inclination is to assume that it's an affectionate diminutive, and if I'm right, it makes sense as everyone likes young Marcus, and he does represent Roman authority.
cathodg's review
3.0
I was drawn to this book by the idea that the Roman Empire still existed an had succeeded. But the plot could really take place in any era and under any "power". Other than the fact that slaves exist and are central to the plot you got very little feel for what a modern day Roman Empire might have been like. That said it was a page turner and I was interested to see where the story went.
sergeus's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
4.25
This book was not what I expected and I enjoyed it a lot.
Despite the prevalence in the branding and being the hook that drew me in, the historical fiction setting of Imperial Rome that survived to the modern day is truly treated like a setting. It's the venue for these characters and this story, not a one trick pony that tries to carry the whole book.
And based on the glossary at the back it is a well considered setting!
Una and Sulien are great protagonists, and I loved seeing some secondary characters tie up some loose ends.
It was surprising to see an omniscient but still very personal narration style. Jumping around between everybody's head in most scenes was at risk of being confusing, but instead it gave me a better feel for each character. And for Una, also helped give the reader a small taste of what she was sensing.
Well worth reading, I'd recommend it.
Despite the prevalence in the branding and being the hook that drew me in, the historical fiction setting of Imperial Rome that survived to the modern day is truly treated like a setting. It's the venue for these characters and this story, not a one trick pony that tries to carry the whole book.
And based on the glossary at the back it is a well considered setting!
Una and Sulien are great protagonists, and I loved seeing some secondary characters tie up some loose ends.
It was surprising to see an omniscient but still very personal narration style. Jumping around between everybody's head in most scenes was at risk of being confusing, but instead it gave me a better feel for each character. And for Una, also helped give the reader a small taste of what she was sensing.
Well worth reading, I'd recommend it.
holies's review
2.0
Sadly the author didn't make the most of its own alternate history setting. Or at least that's what it felt like to me. The only plot point where the modern day Roman Empire concept was the one involving slavery. On the plus side, the characters were interesting enough and the plot moves along nicely. Haven't quite decided yet if I'm going to go on to read the second instalment in the series.
siria's review
2.0
The first of a projected trilogy, Romanitas is an interesting novel, even if it's one that I don't think entirely works. Set in a world where the Roman Empire fell, where Christianity never took hold, slavery is still legal, and where the pax romanum holds sway from America to China, the possibilities are definitely intriguing. McDougall's prose is clear, and often inventive and striking without being purple. (Mostly: there are a couple of metaphors and similes which could have used an editor's touch) Some of her characters fall a little flat, and some of her relationships are a little too by-numbers, particularly the main romantic relationship. Most of them, however, are drawn quite realistically, and she resists the temptation to make them too nice or good in the pursuit of making them sympathetic.
The main place in which the book falls down, though, is the same thing which made me pick it up in the first place. Her extrapolation of the Roman empire forward into the 21st century simply didn't work for me. Perhaps it's merely because I've spent three years studying the empire in college, and a lifetime before that reading about it, but it was very obvious to me that she wasn't a classicist by training. There was no depth to her imagining of a greater Roman empire, no colour to it. For all the visual nature of her writing, there is no clear picture of what the empire has become, what it is; and in a work which hinges around the fact that this is the Roman empire, now, that is a very great failing indeed. The book is called Romanitas, and yet I got very little sense of what that means from the book.
Lastly, on a purely historical level: the empire survived because of Pertinax? Are you kidding?
The main place in which the book falls down, though, is the same thing which made me pick it up in the first place. Her extrapolation of the Roman empire forward into the 21st century simply didn't work for me. Perhaps it's merely because I've spent three years studying the empire in college, and a lifetime before that reading about it, but it was very obvious to me that she wasn't a classicist by training. There was no depth to her imagining of a greater Roman empire, no colour to it. For all the visual nature of her writing, there is no clear picture of what the empire has become, what it is; and in a work which hinges around the fact that this is the Roman empire, now, that is a very great failing indeed. The book is called Romanitas, and yet I got very little sense of what that means from the book.
Lastly, on a purely historical level: the empire survived because of Pertinax? Are you kidding?
christophertd's review
4.0
An engaging read, the main characters are well drawn, flawed and vulnerable. Wasn't so sure about the Emperor - as ruler of a vast empire he seemed rather ineffectual. Perhaps underlings did everything for him?
jonknightknighthunterbooks's review
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
Eh, it's at best fine. Maybe good for a younger teen obsessed with the Roman empire. Some hiking in rough conditions and varying degrees of peril.
The book is set in the equivalent of 2005, with technology having progressed in some ways as it has in our world, but with none of the associated social change. The empire runs on slavery, sexism is rampant, the emperor's rule is absolute, and death by crucifixion is common.
Some people have powers. This is never explored or explained. The kid with miraculous healing powers is left in the control of one ageing doctor running a single clinic. The kid with mental powers is generally believed without much fuss.
The book also suffers from norms having changed since it was published. Every skin tone mentioned is pale, every attraction straight, and one of the few genuinely dangerous people was left disabled by his time on a cross.
The book is set in the equivalent of 2005, with technology having progressed in some ways as it has in our world, but with none of the associated social change. The empire runs on slavery, sexism is rampant, the emperor's rule is absolute, and death by crucifixion is common.
Some people have powers. This is never explored or explained. The kid with miraculous healing powers is left in the control of one ageing doctor running a single clinic. The kid with mental powers is generally believed without much fuss.
The book also suffers from norms having changed since it was published. Every skin tone mentioned is pale, every attraction straight, and one of the few genuinely dangerous people was left disabled by his time on a cross.
rixx's review
2.0
After reading [The Dragon Waiting](https://books.rixx.de/john-m-ford/the-dragon-waiting/), I wanted more Alternate History, and *Romanitas* seemed like an obvious choice. It's, to say it with the [recommendation](https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/h877m0/fantasy_world_based_on_classical_antiquity/fus3igx/), Fatherland but with Rome. In a world with current-time tech, the Roman Empire has never fallen, it never even moved to Byzantium. All of society is just as in the Rome of Tiberius, only with tech. So we have no emancipation, an Imperial family with an Emperor choosing his successor, and of course: slavery and crucifiction, with high-tech iron crosses along major roads.
Marcus Protagonistus (he has a real name, but he also has a bad case of protagonist syndrome) is the nephew of the Emperor and is father is heir to the throne until he is murdered, with his wife, just before the beginning of the book. Drink one for orphaned protagonist. It turns out that his death was *not* a car accident – strong "You are a wizard, Marcus" vibes – and he was probably murdered because he wanted to abolish slavery, by people who rely on slaves and don't want Rome to fall. Marcus has to flee and is mildly determined to also abolish slavery.
Guess who the good guys are.
Sorry. Snarky day. The plot continues as you'd guess: He meets the other POV characters, who are escaped slaves with slightly supernatural capabilities – the strong wild girl and the sensitive boy –, token character development happens, the protagonist is sent up the tree of compilcations, pelted with the rocks of despair and conveniently set-up family intrigue, and finally permitted down in imperial success, with plenty of hints that are meant to draw you into the next book.
I'm hard on this book because it lost me very early on – not as much my suspension of disbelief but my entire immersion was gone once it got clear that little thought had gone into the practicalities of this world. There's an appendix with a rough timeline for this empire, but all the juicy (and unlikely) bits are left out. It claims that for a thousand years, succession-by-appointment has not been a problem, for example! The story hinges on the fact that the protagonist, who is part of the imperial family and second-in-line for the throne, is absolutely astonished to find intrigue and assassination attempts, and is in no way prepared for it. The tech level seems to have just … spawned? We see television and security cameras in places, but no very hard propaganda or surveillance. Either no computers at all or completely under-utilised ones. The bit of deeper worldbuilding we get is "Rome wants war because they're running low on slaves".
The characters have their one, maybe two, adjectives and stay flat, too. What really shone in places, though, was the writing. McDougall manages to conjure up atmosphere very well, and the actual interactions between people often felt raw and real and deeply uncomfortable. It's what kept me going despite my lack of immersion.
Marcus Protagonistus (he has a real name, but he also has a bad case of protagonist syndrome) is the nephew of the Emperor and is father is heir to the throne until he is murdered, with his wife, just before the beginning of the book. Drink one for orphaned protagonist. It turns out that his death was *not* a car accident – strong "You are a wizard, Marcus" vibes – and he was probably murdered because he wanted to abolish slavery, by people who rely on slaves and don't want Rome to fall. Marcus has to flee and is mildly determined to also abolish slavery.
Guess who the good guys are.
Sorry. Snarky day. The plot continues as you'd guess: He meets the other POV characters, who are escaped slaves with slightly supernatural capabilities – the strong wild girl and the sensitive boy –, token character development happens, the protagonist is sent up the tree of compilcations, pelted with the rocks of despair and conveniently set-up family intrigue, and finally permitted down in imperial success, with plenty of hints that are meant to draw you into the next book.
I'm hard on this book because it lost me very early on – not as much my suspension of disbelief but my entire immersion was gone once it got clear that little thought had gone into the practicalities of this world. There's an appendix with a rough timeline for this empire, but all the juicy (and unlikely) bits are left out. It claims that for a thousand years, succession-by-appointment has not been a problem, for example! The story hinges on the fact that the protagonist, who is part of the imperial family and second-in-line for the throne, is absolutely astonished to find intrigue and assassination attempts, and is in no way prepared for it. The tech level seems to have just … spawned? We see television and security cameras in places, but no very hard propaganda or surveillance. Either no computers at all or completely under-utilised ones. The bit of deeper worldbuilding we get is "Rome wants war because they're running low on slaves".
The characters have their one, maybe two, adjectives and stay flat, too. What really shone in places, though, was the writing. McDougall manages to conjure up atmosphere very well, and the actual interactions between people often felt raw and real and deeply uncomfortable. It's what kept me going despite my lack of immersion.
karenangela_1's review
1.0
I bought this book because reading the back of it made it seem really interesting. The Roman Empire is still around in the 21st century, still has all the things we associate with the Roman Empire like the Emperor,slavery and crucifiction but also with 21st century technology. In theory it sounds like the basis for a really good story but I didn't think it worked very well.The characters are unlikeable and I really didn't care if they lived or died. This is the first in a trilogy and I certainly won't be looking for the next two parts.
The only reason that I kept on reading it is because I hate to leave a book unfinished,in total this book took me about a month to read as I kept putting it down and reading other books instead. I am hoping that one day I'll be able to give up on a book that is really bad.
The only reason that I kept on reading it is because I hate to leave a book unfinished,in total this book took me about a month to read as I kept putting it down and reading other books instead. I am hoping that one day I'll be able to give up on a book that is really bad.