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A review by assaphmehr
Germanicus by David Wishart
5.0
After enjoying Ovid so much, I'm binge reading the Marcus Corvinus series.
What to Expect
Picking up about a year after the events in Ovid, Wishart continues with a similar tale of treachery and intrigue, this time regarding the death of Germanicus (who was the heir apparent to the emperor Tiberius). Again, the protagonist Corvinus is doing his best after the fact to unravel backroom deals, treachery, betrayals, plots, and underhanded killings at Rome's highest levels.
While this is the second novel in the series and there is some continuity in Corvinus' life from the first, there is no pressing need to read them in order. It's a matter pf preference.
What I liked
Wishart's writing is exceedingly well researched, and he presents all the personas of the period - from the very top to those lesser known figures who made the city and the empire work - as living characters. He goes beyond the 'bare facts' as they are known from (nearly) contemporary reports, and weaves them together into a plausible tale of intrigue that places people and events in a logical causal chain. I personally love going down the rabbit hole of historical research (as broader understanding increases my enjoyment), but it's not needed to follow and enjoy the story.
Stylistically, Wishart uses a modern language to bring the characters to life. He's also using a time-honoured trope of representing the Roman patriarchy similar to British aristocracy. The result is a novel that reads as a cross between Sam Spade and Downton Abbey, on a backdrop of ancient Rome. And it works!
What to be aware of
Though Wishart's prose is excellent, he avoids all Latin terms to the point where it's a bit much (like referring to a toga as a mantle, or to the Forum as Market Square). While I understand the reasoning, this is still ancient Rome - I find this affectation a bit diluting his otherwise excellent prose.
Summary
The novel was a pleasure to read. If you liked works by Lindsey Davis, Steven Saylor, Ruth Downie and the like, you really need to read Wishart as well. I am now planning to binge-read the rest of the series.
--
[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
Picking up about a year after the events in Ovid, Wishart continues with a similar tale of treachery and intrigue, this time regarding the death of Germanicus (who was the heir apparent to the emperor Tiberius). Again, the protagonist Corvinus is doing his best after the fact to unravel backroom deals, treachery, betrayals, plots, and underhanded killings at Rome's highest levels.
While this is the second novel in the series and there is some continuity in Corvinus' life from the first, there is no pressing need to read them in order. It's a matter pf preference.
What I liked
Wishart's writing is exceedingly well researched, and he presents all the personas of the period - from the very top to those lesser known figures who made the city and the empire work - as living characters. He goes beyond the 'bare facts' as they are known from (nearly) contemporary reports, and weaves them together into a plausible tale of intrigue that places people and events in a logical causal chain. I personally love going down the rabbit hole of historical research (as broader understanding increases my enjoyment), but it's not needed to follow and enjoy the story.
Stylistically, Wishart uses a modern language to bring the characters to life. He's also using a time-honoured trope of representing the Roman patriarchy similar to British aristocracy. The result is a novel that reads as a cross between Sam Spade and Downton Abbey, on a backdrop of ancient Rome. And it works!
What to be aware of
Though Wishart's prose is excellent, he avoids all Latin terms to the point where it's a bit much (like referring to a toga as a mantle, or to the Forum as Market Square). While I understand the reasoning, this is still ancient Rome - I find this affectation a bit diluting his otherwise excellent prose.
Summary
The novel was a pleasure to read. If you liked works by Lindsey Davis, Steven Saylor, Ruth Downie and the like, you really need to read Wishart as well. I am now planning to binge-read the rest of the series.
--
[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.