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A review by assaphmehr
The Throne of Caesar by Steven Saylor
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.