Scan barcode
aminakara's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
speesh's review against another edition
5.0
First up - Have you ever known a time when Rome wasn't in turmoil? It clearly is the mainstay of people writing Roman-era fiction of course, to have Rome constantly in the afore-mentioned turmoil, but come on! There must have been some dull years? Some quiet times, like when all the stuff got built. Still, the period we're entering into here, is one of the most tumultuous in Rome's history. I'm no expert in Roman history, I'm just going by the number of books I've read set in this period (!). And the little bit I do/did know about it. The time of four, or was it five? Emperors. In quick succession. Good riddance to half of them as well.
Second up, really should be first up: This book, Furies of Rome, is a masterpiece. A master work. The work of a writing master at the peak of his game. A masterpiece after six previous volumes? Outrageous! If you haven't read the previous books in the series, are you in for a treat. If you have and thought they were excellent, this one will take you even further into Rome-heaven. What really did it for me, was the big battle with Queen Boudicca towards the end. That is both a masterpiece of clear, effective, well-planned writing, and a masterly description of a masterpiece of tactical awareness and battle planning from (not Vespasian!), but Paulus. That is worth the entrance fee on its own, really, but it could only be so effective having been set on top of the already fabulous build up. We start in Rome, with some pretty hairy moments for Vespasian as he tries to steer a path to survival through Nero's madness - and the opportunists trying to take advantage of Nero's near total doo-lally-ness. It's a relief, and not just for Vespasian, to be able to get away from the tensions of Rome, to the quiet, calm, backwater that is Britannia. A province that refuses to be governed quietly and with revolting natives all over the show.
Vespasian has developed, not really a thicker skin, but, at least by the end of this book, I detected a more laissez faire kind of attitude. More, what will be, will be. The prophecy that was made at his birth, the meaning of which he has slowly begun to if not figure out, then more than suspect what it is, seems to have given him the 'do your worst, I know what is inevitably going to happen' attitude. I got the idea that, in the final chapter back in Rome (it's not giving anything away, I've checked), he kind of feels that the worst that could possibly have happened to him, has and hasn't. That it's more downhill sailing from here on. That I'm even able to think that, think back on the development of the character as it has happened over seven books, and notice subtle changes, speaks - for me - volumes about the work of Robert Fabbri in being able to do it.
The title also had me thinking. Obviously, the furies could refer to the dangerous women there are in Rome and here, Vespasian faces dangerous women at every turn. The storms and the fury being stirred up by Nero, is another. Then when he gets to Britannia, there's Boudicca, of course. But she is matched, in a subtly different way, by Vespasian's long-time mistress, Caenis. She, really comes good here, showing in full light, the strengths and subtleties that have been hinted at in previous volumes. A fury from Rome, of ever there was one.
There's so much to appreciate and savour in The Furies of Rome, that it would be churlish of me to suggest it's because Vespasian returns to his old Britannia stamping grounds. But I'll suggest it anyway.
I'm still gonna picture Vespasian with a full head of hair though...
See all my reviews here: Speesh Reads
Speesh Reads Facebook Page
Second up, really should be first up: This book, Furies of Rome, is a masterpiece. A master work. The work of a writing master at the peak of his game. A masterpiece after six previous volumes? Outrageous! If you haven't read the previous books in the series, are you in for a treat. If you have and thought they were excellent, this one will take you even further into Rome-heaven. What really did it for me, was the big battle with Queen Boudicca towards the end. That is both a masterpiece of clear, effective, well-planned writing, and a masterly description of a masterpiece of tactical awareness and battle planning from (not Vespasian!), but Paulus. That is worth the entrance fee on its own, really, but it could only be so effective having been set on top of the already fabulous build up. We start in Rome, with some pretty hairy moments for Vespasian as he tries to steer a path to survival through Nero's madness - and the opportunists trying to take advantage of Nero's near total doo-lally-ness. It's a relief, and not just for Vespasian, to be able to get away from the tensions of Rome, to the quiet, calm, backwater that is Britannia. A province that refuses to be governed quietly and with revolting natives all over the show.
Vespasian has developed, not really a thicker skin, but, at least by the end of this book, I detected a more laissez faire kind of attitude. More, what will be, will be. The prophecy that was made at his birth, the meaning of which he has slowly begun to if not figure out, then more than suspect what it is, seems to have given him the 'do your worst, I know what is inevitably going to happen' attitude. I got the idea that, in the final chapter back in Rome (it's not giving anything away, I've checked), he kind of feels that the worst that could possibly have happened to him, has and hasn't. That it's more downhill sailing from here on. That I'm even able to think that, think back on the development of the character as it has happened over seven books, and notice subtle changes, speaks - for me - volumes about the work of Robert Fabbri in being able to do it.
The title also had me thinking. Obviously, the furies could refer to the dangerous women there are in Rome and here, Vespasian faces dangerous women at every turn. The storms and the fury being stirred up by Nero, is another. Then when he gets to Britannia, there's Boudicca, of course. But she is matched, in a subtly different way, by Vespasian's long-time mistress, Caenis. She, really comes good here, showing in full light, the strengths and subtleties that have been hinted at in previous volumes. A fury from Rome, of ever there was one.
There's so much to appreciate and savour in The Furies of Rome, that it would be churlish of me to suggest it's because Vespasian returns to his old Britannia stamping grounds. But I'll suggest it anyway.
I'm still gonna picture Vespasian with a full head of hair though...
See all my reviews here: Speesh Reads
Speesh Reads Facebook Page
mw2k's review
4.0
Just like the previous six in this series. Very well-researched and competent historical fiction. This is the second book in the series where the action returns to Britannia, and there's an undercurrent swirling through this book - as there was during the one that featured Claudius' invasion in 43 AD - that the Romans completely and utterly wasted their time in that land. That it was all for nothing. An invasion to enrich a privileged few while hundreds of thousands languished and died. A common theme through history alas, and the author has definitely hinted at the futility of it all in this book.
traveller1's review
4.0
Another few years in the life of the future emperor Vespasian. This time, he is mixed up with Nero, and the British revolt. Fabbri adds some interesting speculations about the Revolt and Vespasian's life. He also paints Seneca in a rather unflattering fashion. The action is fast and detailed, the final battle of the Revolt is compelling. The grimmest part of the novel is Nero, his innate evil is all too visible. A great read. Recommended.
More...