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eastofthesunwestofthemoon's review against another edition
4.0
3 1/2 stars. The novel is well worth reading, but the mystery is not much of a challenge. Fortunately, I love the time period, and Saylor writes well and includes many details that help make it 'come alive.' I'm very pleased that this novel is finally out - I've missed having a new Gordianus the Finder novel for a long while! The stories are OK but I prefer the novels.
escan's review against another edition
4.0
The Throne of Caesar is, for me, a rather reflective read. It's very much the culmination of the entire Roma Sub Rosa series, and it does an excellent job at tying together all - or most - of the threads from the other books. From the very first scene, almost a mirror of the first scene of [b:Roman Blood|102720|Roman Blood (Roma Sub Rosa, #1)|Steven Saylor|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388555429l/102720._SY75_.jpg|2569207], in which Cicero's then-slave, now-freedman Tiro pays a visit to a severely hungover Gordianus, to the very last, in which Gordianus starts dictating that very scene for the start of his memoirs, readers are reminded of everything they've been through with Gordianus.
I think there are references made to most of the books in the series, from the obvious parallels with Roman Blood, to comparisons between the funeral of Caesar and that of Publius Clodius in [b:A Murder on the Appian Way|102724|A Murder on the Appian Way (Roma Sub Rosa, #5)|Steven Saylor|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1339311368l/102724._SY75_.jpg|99041], to mentions of Gordianus' travels with Antipater of Sidon in the prequel book [b:The Seven Wonders|13167035|The Seven Wonders (Ancient World, #1)|Steven Saylor|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1330919220l/13167035._SY75_.jpg|18346277], and this creates a wonderfully, sometimes painfully nostalgic atmosphere (even if I've only spent a little over a month reading this books, it feels like a lot longer!)
The story itself is very different to the earliest-written of Gordianus' exploits: rather than a whodunnit murder mystery, the primary plot here is built on the tension of readers already knowing who was responsible for Caesar's assassination, but watching helplessly as Gordianus fails to see it. There is, however, something of a secondary murder mystery plot which comes into play in the final quarter of the book, with a gruesome but somehow rather satisfying conclusion.
There are things that bother me about the book. I'd hoped for a grand family reunion, with not only Meto home from military service but also Eco, who's been conveniently away on Finder business pretty much ever since A Murder on the Appian Way, and his family present. Instead, we're informed that Eco has moved with his wife and kids to Neapolis, and taken with them the slave boys Androcles and Mopsus, and also Gordianus' most recently adopted son Rupa. I would also have appreciated a little more focus on Meto's emotional reaction to the death of Caesar, although I understand that there wasn't really time or space for it in the narrative - I'm also pretty stressed out by the assertion that Meto is now "Antony's man", considering the end that Antony met!
All in all, however, The Throne of Caesar is an excellent conclusion to an excellent series, and I think it's the final chapter that Gordianus deserved. Now I have to start petitioning Steven Saylor for some books about Gordianus' children!
I think there are references made to most of the books in the series, from the obvious parallels with Roman Blood, to comparisons between the funeral of Caesar and that of Publius Clodius in [b:A Murder on the Appian Way|102724|A Murder on the Appian Way (Roma Sub Rosa, #5)|Steven Saylor|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1339311368l/102724._SY75_.jpg|99041], to mentions of Gordianus' travels with Antipater of Sidon in the prequel book [b:The Seven Wonders|13167035|The Seven Wonders (Ancient World, #1)|Steven Saylor|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1330919220l/13167035._SY75_.jpg|18346277], and this creates a wonderfully, sometimes painfully nostalgic atmosphere (even if I've only spent a little over a month reading this books, it feels like a lot longer!)
The story itself is very different to the earliest-written of Gordianus' exploits: rather than a whodunnit murder mystery, the primary plot here is built on the tension of readers already knowing who was responsible for Caesar's assassination, but watching helplessly as Gordianus fails to see it. There is, however, something of a secondary murder mystery plot which comes into play in the final quarter of the book, with a gruesome but somehow rather satisfying conclusion.
There are things that bother me about the book. I'd hoped for a grand family reunion, with not only Meto home from military service but also Eco, who's been conveniently away on Finder business pretty much ever since A Murder on the Appian Way, and his family present. Instead, we're informed that Eco has moved with his wife and kids to Neapolis, and taken with them the slave boys Androcles and Mopsus, and also Gordianus' most recently adopted son Rupa. I would also have appreciated a little more focus on Meto's emotional reaction to the death of Caesar, although I understand that there wasn't really time or space for it in the narrative - I'm also pretty stressed out by the assertion that Meto is now "Antony's man", considering the end that Antony met!
All in all, however, The Throne of Caesar is an excellent conclusion to an excellent series, and I think it's the final chapter that Gordianus deserved. Now I have to start petitioning Steven Saylor for some books about Gordianus' children!
mbondlamberty's review against another edition
3.0
Not sure my rating isn't affected by the fact that I had to stop reading this in the middle due to a trip.
But at the end of the book, looking back it was a bit gory and some of the subject matter was hard to stomach (e.g. incest). One knows what is going to happen if you know your Roman history and it can't be avoided. It is a good read, but can't say I 'really liked it.'
But at the end of the book, looking back it was a bit gory and some of the subject matter was hard to stomach (e.g. incest). One knows what is going to happen if you know your Roman history and it can't be avoided. It is a good read, but can't say I 'really liked it.'
assaphmehr's review against another edition
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.
tartancrusader's review against another edition
4.0
Here endeth the saga of Gordianus the Finder. And bloody good it was too, both book and series.
thefictionaddictionblog's review against another edition
5.0
In the beginning of The Throne of Caesar, it's just before the Ides of March, 44 BCE. Gordianus the Finder is about to become a senator, and Julius Caesar's getting weird vibes and asks Gordianus to see if anyone's up to anything. I was a bit skeptical of this opening, wondering how on earth a novel about the assassination of Caesar could possibly have any drama or suspense. Here's the 2000-year-old spoiler: He gets stabbed. We know who did it, we know Gordianus doesn't stop it, so where's the suspense?
But it really works, because the novel skillfully blends Gordianus' preparations to become a senator, his investigation in a warning scrawled on Cinna's doorstep, some scandalous poetry, and Gordianus' happy family life. Caesar's warnings seem secondary to all the other things going on. The novel's tension comes from the Finder shopping for a his first senatorial toga, while a world-changing conspiracy unfolds around him, familiar and clear to every reader but completely unknown to Gordianus. And when the inevitable happens, it's actually the least-shocking mob justice in the book...
The book's ending, with Gordianus' daughter Diana offering to record and edit his memoirs of his mysteries, may be a hint that this is the close of Gordianus' adventures.
But it really works, because the novel skillfully blends Gordianus' preparations to become a senator, his investigation in a warning scrawled on Cinna's doorstep, some scandalous poetry, and Gordianus' happy family life. Caesar's warnings seem secondary to all the other things going on. The novel's tension comes from the Finder shopping for a his first senatorial toga, while a world-changing conspiracy unfolds around him, familiar and clear to every reader but completely unknown to Gordianus. And when the inevitable happens, it's actually the least-shocking mob justice in the book...
The book's ending, with Gordianus' daughter Diana offering to record and edit his memoirs of his mysteries, may be a hint that this is the close of Gordianus' adventures.
marystevens's review against another edition
3.0
Not his best. The story of Caesar’s assassination with a sub plot involving the poet Cinna, not much of whose work survives. Gordianus is hired by both Cicero and Caesar to uncover any plots against the Dictator. Saylor waxes lyrical over the poetry of Cinna. Details about the cult of Bacchus.
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