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A review by rhodered
The Third Nero by Lindsey Davis
3.0
Simultaneously loved it and was bored. The problem in this one is way too many characters and too much backstory. I couldn’t relax into the story easily.
The backstory became ridiculous after awhile, with the author inventing increasingly tortured reasons for characters to be telling each other histories of various regions that anyone in that time would have already known. (At one point the reason was mansplaining, which at least gave me a laugh.)
As for the characters, many are drop-ins from past books in the series, ranging from slaves to extended family members to spies, politicians and musicians. Others are new, including yet more slaves, spies, foreigners (and their extended households), musicians, soldiers, torturers, poisoners, emperors, etc. I love how full Rome feels, but it’s too many people to keep track of and I can’t imagine how anyone new to the series could handle it.
But then this is Lindsey Davis. Even at her worst, she shines. The way she details people’s foibles.... over the years her cynically humorous worldview has very much influenced my own IRL. (Especially every time I have the workmen in to do a bit of renovation.)
Plus, yet again, she uses Flavia Albia’s gender to show us a side of Rome Falco could never see — the woman’s perspective. This book feels very current in that awareness. Flavia deals with near continual sexual harassment for example, while a talented female assassin is infuriated by the glass ceiling.
If you are a fan of the series, you’ll enjoy this despite its flaws, mainly a story that stumbles to pull you in, because it’s Lindsey Davis and Flavia Albia and they’re a good deal more than most books have got.
The backstory became ridiculous after awhile, with the author inventing increasingly tortured reasons for characters to be telling each other histories of various regions that anyone in that time would have already known. (At one point the reason was mansplaining, which at least gave me a laugh.)
As for the characters, many are drop-ins from past books in the series, ranging from slaves to extended family members to spies, politicians and musicians. Others are new, including yet more slaves, spies, foreigners (and their extended households), musicians, soldiers, torturers, poisoners, emperors, etc. I love how full Rome feels, but it’s too many people to keep track of and I can’t imagine how anyone new to the series could handle it.
But then this is Lindsey Davis. Even at her worst, she shines. The way she details people’s foibles.... over the years her cynically humorous worldview has very much influenced my own IRL. (Especially every time I have the workmen in to do a bit of renovation.)
Plus, yet again, she uses Flavia Albia’s gender to show us a side of Rome Falco could never see — the woman’s perspective. This book feels very current in that awareness. Flavia deals with near continual sexual harassment for example, while a talented female assassin is infuriated by the glass ceiling.
If you are a fan of the series, you’ll enjoy this despite its flaws, mainly a story that stumbles to pull you in, because it’s Lindsey Davis and Flavia Albia and they’re a good deal more than most books have got.