This novel is definitely fast paced. Each chapter is made up of several first person accounts so you're never in one place for more than a few pages. There are also two timelines which weave together by the end. This technique really worked in terms of pacing, and although it could be a little confusing at times (more through the sheer number of characters), once the main players were established I found this to not be a problem. The plot itself is also compelling - Roman politics with constant plots that threatened the lives of the main characters.
What I didn't like so much was the style of the writing. I found the author a little inconsistent. It seemed like he'd done great research but then would throw in modern English terms (and several 'Americanisms') - someone acting 'cute' during an interrogation, a man wearing pants (rather than trousers) etc. There was also an annoying tendency to describe noises by lengthening words ('the rusty hinges screeeech') which seemed a bit like a kids book, like the author didn't trust the reader to be able to imagine what a rusty hinge sounded like.
My verdict: great entertainment but the language turned it into a theme park version of ancient Rome.
What I didn't like so much was the style of the writing. I found the author a little inconsistent. It seemed like he'd done great research but then would throw in modern English terms (and several 'Americanisms') - someone acting 'cute' during an interrogation, a man wearing pants (rather than trousers) etc. There was also an annoying tendency to describe noises by lengthening words ('the rusty hinges screeeech') which seemed a bit like a kids book, like the author didn't trust the reader to be able to imagine what a rusty hinge sounded like.
My verdict: great entertainment but the language turned it into a theme park version of ancient Rome.