Thought this would be right up my street as a classics student and lover of Conn Iggulden and Steven Saylor books about intrigue in Ancient Rome.
Initially, the relationship between the spymaster, Loreticus and his assistant, Pello, reminded me of the Shardlake Elizabethan novels of C J Sansom. Nice short chapters but I found the narrative a bit clumsy and for me it didn't flow eg ' but the testament of his still being alive after so much turmoil offered the best counsel not to try.'
The number of different characters mentioned and references to earlier plots and wars without proper explanations confused me - perhaps all would be come clear later in the book?
This book would not pass my 50 page test (if I'm not enjoying it after 50 pages, ditch it and read something else because life's too short to read everything.)
Initially, the relationship between the spymaster, Loreticus and his assistant, Pello, reminded me of the Shardlake Elizabethan novels of C J Sansom. Nice short chapters but I found the narrative a bit clumsy and for me it didn't flow eg ' but the testament of his still being alive after so much turmoil offered the best counsel not to try.'
The number of different characters mentioned and references to earlier plots and wars without proper explanations confused me - perhaps all would be come clear later in the book?
This book would not pass my 50 page test (if I'm not enjoying it after 50 pages, ditch it and read something else because life's too short to read everything.)