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A review by escan
Catilina's Riddle by Steven Saylor
5.0
Gordianus spent a not insignificant portion of this book like "I love all my children equally: Eco, Diana, and *looks at smudged writing on his hand* Meat."
Really though, the family dynamics in this novel were one of the things I loved most about it: the contrast between the older, more level-headed Eco and the angsty teenager Meto was really interesting. In fact, Meto as a whole was one of the most interesting parts of the novel for me - the way he desperately wants his father's approval but also needs to step out into the world and forge his own path, his struggle with feeling like he doesn't belong in his own family or in Roman society, and his relationships with his siblings (turning to Eco for guidance when he feels like he can't ask his father, and bickering with Diana to no end but also being her fiercest protector) all feel perfectly real.
I also really enjoyed the fact that the novel answers the question on everyone's minds, namely what if Catilina was really hot. On a serious note, I did love the portrayal of Catilina as a largely decent man (as much as anyone else in Roman politics, anyway) and it was interesting to see such an anti-Cicero take on the whole affair.
There were a lot of moments where I genuinely couldn't put the book down, where the tension and the sense of danger was so high that I felt I might actually die if I didn't reach the end of the section before stopping - unfortunately, I do feel that these were kind of interspersed with bits that were just a bit... dull. There was a lot of rumination about the nature of Roman politics and the day-to-day running of a farm and the like, and I feel that the book could probably have got by with about 20% less of that. I'm very glad that in the end
All in all, it was a pretty great book. It had murder, it had intrigue, it had family relationships, it had an interesting take on an interesting affair, and it had the return of which I was very pleased about!
Edit: This one has really grown on me!
Really though, the family dynamics in this novel were one of the things I loved most about it: the contrast between the older, more level-headed Eco and the angsty teenager Meto was really interesting. In fact, Meto as a whole was one of the most interesting parts of the novel for me - the way he desperately wants his father's approval but also needs to step out into the world and forge his own path, his struggle with feeling like he doesn't belong in his own family or in Roman society, and his relationships with his siblings (turning to Eco for guidance when he feels like he can't ask his father, and bickering with Diana to no end but also being her fiercest protector) all feel perfectly real.
I also really enjoyed the fact that the novel answers the question on everyone's minds, namely what if Catilina was really hot. On a serious note, I did love the portrayal of Catilina as a largely decent man (as much as anyone else in Roman politics, anyway) and it was interesting to see such an anti-Cicero take on the whole affair.
There were a lot of moments where I genuinely couldn't put the book down, where the tension and the sense of danger was so high that I felt I might actually die if I didn't reach the end of the section before stopping - unfortunately, I do feel that these were kind of interspersed with bits that were just a bit... dull. There was a lot of rumination about the nature of Roman politics and the day-to-day running of a farm and the like, and I feel that the book could probably have got by with about 20% less of that. I'm very glad that in the end
Spoiler
Gordianus and his family move back to Rome, because frankly the country life was a bit too boring for me, even with a neighbour plotting to kill you!All in all, it was a pretty great book. It had murder, it had intrigue, it had family relationships, it had an interesting take on an interesting affair, and it had the return of
Spoiler
RufusEdit: This one has really grown on me!