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raptorimperator's review against another edition
5.0
Loved this. Great start to the Roma Sub Rosa series. Wished I had read it first.
1outside's review against another edition
4.0
My first Roma Sub Rosa book...I can't say I enjoyed it as much as I enjoy the SPQR series (more sex, less humour probably being the reason) but it featured my dear duo of Tiro & Cicero, made Rufus be in love with Marcus (which I always suspected was the case...) and used the historical facts really well. So mostly successful. Will seek more from this series in my library. :)
eososray's review against another edition
4.0
In this book I have finally found a Roman historical fiction that details a vast portion of the roman political and justice system.
Gordianus the Finder is hired to aid Cicero with the defense of a man accused of patricide. Cicero is a young man at the start of his career and he is determined to make a name for himself. As Cicero prepares to argue his first case, Gordianus must travel through the most disgusting of slums and to the farms in the countryside in order to solve the mystery.
I almost loved this book. It was entertaining and informative, with enough action to keep the story from getting boring and enough accurate history about the laws and living styles of Romans in 80 BC to hold my interest. I didn’t think it was quite good enough to hold its own with the other books on my 5 star shelf but it came close.
Gordianus the Finder is hired to aid Cicero with the defense of a man accused of patricide. Cicero is a young man at the start of his career and he is determined to make a name for himself. As Cicero prepares to argue his first case, Gordianus must travel through the most disgusting of slums and to the farms in the countryside in order to solve the mystery.
I almost loved this book. It was entertaining and informative, with enough action to keep the story from getting boring and enough accurate history about the laws and living styles of Romans in 80 BC to hold my interest. I didn’t think it was quite good enough to hold its own with the other books on my 5 star shelf but it came close.
gilroi's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I occasionally grow excessively tired of historical fiction about ancient Rome; it's all shining columns and glorious empire. What feeds the empire, one never seems to ask, but Steven Saylor breaks the trend. His Rome is dirty, not in a gritty grimdark way, but in the naturalistic bent that claims all cities, modern and pre-modern. His Rome is the center of an empire that knows something is rotten at its heart, but cannot keep itself from consuming the weak, the poor, the enslaved, the displaced. This is a Rome worth reading about, even if, at times, it's a little too neat.
There are certain 'off' historical details, as in any historical fiction; all of them were, I believe, included to further the point of the novel: the vices of imperialism, the way corruption erodes every corner of the world.
There are certain 'off' historical details, as in any historical fiction; all of them were, I believe, included to further the point of the novel: the vices of imperialism, the way corruption erodes every corner of the world.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Incest
leland_hw's review against another edition
4.0
This was a great mystery set in ancient Rome. A murder has occurred under odd circumstances. None other than the murdered man's son is accused of the crime and he faces an atrocious (by modern standards) punishment for parricide. Gordanius the Finder is hired by Cicero to investigate the murder.
I really liked it. I liked the mystery and I liked the main character, Gordanius. He is likable and fair fellow of his time. But what I loved about the book is Saylor's descriptions of Rome and Roman life at all levels of society. The lavish lifestyles of the rich, and of citizens merely trying to scratch a living however they can and also the slaves. I also loved that Saylor took actual events and actual people and wove them into the story expertly. The murder of Sextus Roscius Amerinus was real. And his son Sextus Roscius filius was indeed accused of the crime by a freedman of Sulla's named Chrysogonus. And Cicero did defend the son before the Roman Rostra.
Well done! I'll be reading more in this series for sure.
I really liked it. I liked the mystery and I liked the main character, Gordanius. He is likable and fair fellow of his time. But what I loved about the book is Saylor's descriptions of Rome and Roman life at all levels of society. The lavish lifestyles of the rich, and of citizens merely trying to scratch a living however they can and also the slaves. I also loved that Saylor took actual events and actual people and wove them into the story expertly. The murder of Sextus Roscius Amerinus was real. And his son Sextus Roscius filius was indeed accused of the crime by a freedman of Sulla's named Chrysogonus. And Cicero did defend the son before the Roman Rostra.
Well done! I'll be reading more in this series for sure.
elusivity's review against another edition
3.0
A murder mystery based on Cicero's real trial notes, primarily his rebuttal.
Meticulously researched, vividly brought alive: Rome in its last days, clinging to the title of a Republic despite having had Sulla as dictator for years, and Julius Caesar soon to come. Slaves and freedmen and nobles and politicians, prostitutes and wives and the vissisitudes of lust and love and greed.
The novel itself is full of twists and turns, but the plot and characters are relatively simple to follow. Parts of it could have done with less exposition or lecturing, but over all, an excellent first novel and window into Ancient Rome. Recommended!
Meticulously researched, vividly brought alive: Rome in its last days, clinging to the title of a Republic despite having had Sulla as dictator for years, and Julius Caesar soon to come. Slaves and freedmen and nobles and politicians, prostitutes and wives and the vissisitudes of lust and love and greed.
The novel itself is full of twists and turns, but the plot and characters are relatively simple to follow. Parts of it could have done with less exposition or lecturing, but over all, an excellent first novel and window into Ancient Rome. Recommended!
kitkat24601's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
hekate24's review against another edition
4.0
Fun historical mystery. Marred somewhat by moments of awkward writing. In particular, I refer to the passage around 75% of the way in during which the narrator drones on and on and on and on about the Social Wars and Sulla versus Marius. Prior to this moment the author had seamlessly mixed historical exposition and original plot. Docking half a point for this, I was so annoyed. My wrath, this review can haz it.
There's lots to like about this, though. Cicero is as 'gray and gray morality' as he seems to be in all fictional incarnations in which I've encountered him. It's especially fun to see him as a (reckless, arrogant) young man at very beginning of his career. As narrators go, I rather like Gordianus (his "hangover cure, do you haz one?" intro seemed overdone, but he promptly calmed down, so no real harm dine) and I'm sticking with the series on that account. Tiro was pretty great and Bethesda shows promise; withholding judgement there, because her serene attitude towards slavery and... Well, everything, all seemed a bit too convenient. The mystery itself is engaging, though sometimes feels like a prop for (surprise, shock) the larger social upheaval at hand. Frankly, I think I prefer it that way. Crimes that seem to exist in a vacuum bore me.
Overall, this is a vivid and fast read, for better or for worse. Thankfully, more of the former!
There's lots to like about this, though. Cicero is as 'gray and gray morality' as he seems to be in all fictional incarnations in which I've encountered him. It's especially fun to see him as a (reckless, arrogant) young man at very beginning of his career. As narrators go, I rather like Gordianus (his "hangover cure, do you haz one?" intro seemed overdone, but he promptly calmed down, so no real harm dine) and I'm sticking with the series on that account. Tiro was pretty great and Bethesda shows promise; withholding judgement there, because her serene attitude towards slavery and... Well, everything, all seemed a bit too convenient. The mystery itself is engaging, though sometimes feels like a prop for (surprise, shock) the larger social upheaval at hand. Frankly, I think I prefer it that way. Crimes that seem to exist in a vacuum bore me.
Overall, this is a vivid and fast read, for better or for worse. Thankfully, more of the former!
aliciacaroline's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25