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anbar 's review for:
How to Rule an Empire and Get Away with It
by K.J. Parker
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
In a city under siege, an actor is forced (pretty much at knifepoint) to impersonate the recently-killed leader so that morale doesn't collapse...and does a pretty good job of it, if he can just keep the secret and keep his head ;P Hey, maybe he can even save the city!
The setting is inspired by (but not a complete copy of) ancient Rome, and it's entertaining to watch the actor Notker (impersonating the once-gladiator Lysimachus) try to keep up his con with, and sometimes despite, his handlers, as events keep complicating and escalating. It helps to have read the first book that covered the start of the siege (Sixteen Ways to Defend a Walled City), though not 100% necessary, I think - you pick up the important parts as you go, much like our protagonist Notker, who wasn't in on the 'inside' stuff covered in that story. Readers who have read the first entry may enjoy getting to see a bit more of a few of its significant characters, who make an appearance here.
Content concerns: war/siege violence occurs, but is not graphically shown; no sex scenes, though mention of certain people having had lovers; only occasional swearing (nothing excessive)
The setting is inspired by (but not a complete copy of) ancient Rome, and it's entertaining to watch the actor Notker (impersonating the once-gladiator Lysimachus) try to keep up his con with, and sometimes despite, his handlers, as events keep complicating and escalating. It helps to have read the first book that covered the start of the siege (Sixteen Ways to Defend a Walled City), though not 100% necessary, I think - you pick up the important parts as you go, much like our protagonist Notker, who wasn't in on the 'inside' stuff covered in that story. Readers who have read the first entry may enjoy getting to see a bit more of a few of its significant characters, who make an appearance here.
Content concerns: war/siege violence occurs, but is not graphically shown; no sex scenes, though mention of certain people having had lovers; only occasional swearing (nothing excessive)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Racism, Violence, Murder, War
Minor: Cursing, Genocide, Infidelity, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, Pandemic/Epidemic