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jbrueck's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this book, especially because of the time it was set in. I don't read much about Julius Ceasar, but did enjoy this viewpoint.
saramar's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
sandin954's review against another edition
3.0
While the actual mystery plot was a bit of an afterthought, I did enjoy the author's take of what happened when Caesar went to Egypt fresh off his victory at Pharsalus and he did a good job of inserting Gordianus the Finder into the action.
raptorimperator's review against another edition
5.0
Saylor does a good job with a look at Caesar in the court of Cleopatra. Enjoyable read.
awwhh's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
sophiewilliams's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting to see the portrayal of Egypt under Ptolemy and Cleopatra and the addition scheming this added to the mix.
mgcco's review against another edition
4.0
In this second to the last installment of the Roma Sub Rosa series, Gordianus again ventures outside of Rome--this time to find a cure for his wife's illness.
Egypt, as painted by Saylor, is quite fascinating--I'm now counting Alexandria as one of my future travel destinations. But I didn't find Egypt as novel as reading about Massilia. Maybe its because I've read too many books (or seen too many tv shows) about Cleopatra and the Ptolemies. Maybe it's just me.
There were quite a number of interesting facets to Cleopatra's personality that were not explored too much in this book--such as her intelligence and leadership qualities. Maybe I'll read more about it in "The Triumph of Caesar." After all, I totally agree with what Saylor said about Cleopatra: "As one of history's losers, Cleopatra was vilified and marginalized by those who triumphed over her."
I was quite happy with the reconciliations in this book. I do hope that the final reconciliation in "The Judgement of Caesar" will be explained more fully in the next book. I'm sure it will, though :)
Egypt, as painted by Saylor, is quite fascinating--I'm now counting Alexandria as one of my future travel destinations. But I didn't find Egypt as novel as reading about Massilia. Maybe its because I've read too many books (or seen too many tv shows) about Cleopatra and the Ptolemies. Maybe it's just me.
There were quite a number of interesting facets to Cleopatra's personality that were not explored too much in this book--such as her intelligence and leadership qualities. Maybe I'll read more about it in "The Triumph of Caesar." After all, I totally agree with what Saylor said about Cleopatra: "As one of history's losers, Cleopatra was vilified and marginalized by those who triumphed over her."
I was quite happy with the reconciliations in this book. I do hope that the final reconciliation in "The Judgement of Caesar" will be explained more fully in the next book. I'm sure it will, though :)
jcpinckney's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
inesbeato's review against another edition
4.0
10º volume da série Roma Sub Rosa. Já são muitas as aventuras e desventuras que tenho acompanhado de Gordiano e várias as personagens que aprendi a adorar livro após livro.
Neste “A Sentença de César”, chegamos finalmente ao período da história onde duas das suas personagens mais carismáticas e enigmáticas, César e Cleopatra, se cruzam pela primeira vez. Esta obra começa com o assassinato de Pompeu às ordens do rei Egípcio Ptolomeu XIII, irmão de Cleopatra, e a partir daí vai-se desenrolando a estadia de Gordiano em Alexandria, tendo sempre como pano de fundo e acompanhando de perto os acontecimentos reais que se foram sucedendo durante a passagem de César pelo Egipto, desde o primeiro encontro com Cleopatra em que esta entra no palácio escondida num grande tapete até à viagem de ambos pelo Nilo, já depois de anunciada a sua gravidez.
Foi um livro muito interessante de ler, mais focado desta vez no conteúdo histórico daquele período do que propriamente na vida privada de Gordiano, que depois de um volume em que mal o reconheci, voltou a agir e comportar-se da forma a que sempre me havia habituado.
Mais uma vez, Steven Saylor oferece uma grande lição de história através do olhar de um personagem perspicaz, inteligente e adorável, onde figuras fictícias e verdadeiras se interligam de forma magistral.
Neste “A Sentença de César”, chegamos finalmente ao período da história onde duas das suas personagens mais carismáticas e enigmáticas, César e Cleopatra, se cruzam pela primeira vez. Esta obra começa com o assassinato de Pompeu às ordens do rei Egípcio Ptolomeu XIII, irmão de Cleopatra, e a partir daí vai-se desenrolando a estadia de Gordiano em Alexandria, tendo sempre como pano de fundo e acompanhando de perto os acontecimentos reais que se foram sucedendo durante a passagem de César pelo Egipto, desde o primeiro encontro com Cleopatra em que esta entra no palácio escondida num grande tapete até à viagem de ambos pelo Nilo, já depois de anunciada a sua gravidez.
Foi um livro muito interessante de ler, mais focado desta vez no conteúdo histórico daquele período do que propriamente na vida privada de Gordiano, que depois de um volume em que mal o reconheci, voltou a agir e comportar-se da forma a que sempre me havia habituado.
Mais uma vez, Steven Saylor oferece uma grande lição de história através do olhar de um personagem perspicaz, inteligente e adorável, onde figuras fictícias e verdadeiras se interligam de forma magistral.
krisz's review against another edition
1.0
Ha SS minden könyve ilyen, akkor semmit nem fogok tőle olvasni. Rettentően unalmas. A 60. oldalig bírtam, utána átváltottam gyorsolvasásra :( A lányom rákérdezett, milyen a könyv – akkor a 112. oldalnál jártam –, és azt kellett válaszolnom, nem tudom, mert még mindig nem kezdődött el.
Egész egyszerűen Gordianus napjairól olvashatunk ebben a könyvben, és hogy mi történik körülötte, de nincs semmi nyomozás, semmi bűntény…
***
Na, a 198. oldalon kezdődött az a fejezet, amelyben megtörténik a gyilkossági kísérlet. Nem is tudom eldönteni, örüljek-e neki, vagy sem…
Összességében inkább történelmi regénynek lehetne hívni ezt a könyvet, mint kriminek, de a leírások így is unalmasak, és egyetértek a többi értékelővel, aki a feleség varázslatos újra felbukkanását hiteltelennek és fölöslegesnek tartja. Mennyire szeret az a nő, aki nem tudatja a családjával, hogy él, jól van, és aki nem akar velük lenni fél évig?
Az is zavart, hogy egyes nevek helyesírása a magyar szabályokat követi (Ptolemaiosz), másoké az angolt (Gordianus), teljesen logikátlanul :(
Egész egyszerűen Gordianus napjairól olvashatunk ebben a könyvben, és hogy mi történik körülötte, de nincs semmi nyomozás, semmi bűntény…
***
Na, a 198. oldalon kezdődött az a fejezet, amelyben megtörténik a gyilkossági kísérlet. Nem is tudom eldönteni, örüljek-e neki, vagy sem…
Összességében inkább történelmi regénynek lehetne hívni ezt a könyvet, mint kriminek, de a leírások így is unalmasak, és egyetértek a többi értékelővel, aki a feleség varázslatos újra felbukkanását hiteltelennek és fölöslegesnek tartja. Mennyire szeret az a nő, aki nem tudatja a családjával, hogy él, jól van, és aki nem akar velük lenni fél évig?
Az is zavart, hogy egyes nevek helyesírása a magyar szabályokat követi (Ptolemaiosz), másoké az angolt (Gordianus), teljesen logikátlanul :(