David McK (3752 KP) rated Tribune of Rome in Books
Jan 30, 2019
... you get the picture.
To that list, we can now also add Robert Fabbri with his planned 'Vespasian' series of books, of which this is the first. In the interest of full disclosure, I'm also going to state that (from the above list of authors) I've read at least one book in their respective series. Of those all - and, including, now, this book - I have to say, I've found Scarrow's novels to be the most entertaining.
As a novel, I found this one could be split into three distinct sections: the beginning was set during Vespasians early years in the Roman country-side and mainly concerning the relationship between him and his brother, before the setting moves to Rome proper when the two brothers get embroiled in Roman politics, and then (in the latter half of the book), following Vespasians early military career. It was probably this latter aspect of the book that is the most enjoyable, even if it does still suffer from seemingly stilted conversations that are used to move the plot along - that, and some 'Oh, come on! As if ...' moments (one in particular!).
While I read some more of this series? Possibly, but also I'm not going to be going out of my way to look for them.
Total Conquest - Online combat and strategy
Games and Entertainment
App
Sound the call to battle and join legions of players online in a battle to control the Roman Empire!...
Garrison Life at Vindolanda: A Band of Brothers
Book
The ink writing-tablets, first indentified at Roman Vindolanda, just south of Hadrian's Wall, in...
Dante and the Limits of the Law
Book
In Dante and the Limits of the Law, Justin Steinberg offers the first comprehensive study of the...
Quo Vadis
Book
Quo Vadis: A Narrative of the Time of Nero, commonly known as Quo Vadis, is a historical novel...
Awix (3310 KP) rated Call of Cthulhu (7th Edition) in Tabletop Games
Jun 10, 2019 (Updated Jun 11, 2019)
This revised edition switches the whole system to a percentile basis, the first big change in many years. It's not a substantial alteration and most of the system is unchanged. It is still a little crunchy compared to some modern narrative-heavy games, and there are a few tricky questions you have to resolve if you want to play an extended campaign, but this is, as ever, an immensely engaging and enjoyable game when played with the right group.
I Am Alive and You are Dead: A Journey Inside the Mind of Philip K. Dick
Book
This is an unforgettable biography of the visionary grand master of science fiction, Philip K. Dick....
Praga Caput Regni
Tabletop Game
Charles IV has been crowned King of Bohemia and ruler of the Holy Roman Empire. From his castle in...
Ovid's Erotic Poems: Amores and Ars Amatoria
Publius Ovidius Naso, Len Krisak and Sarah Ruden
Book
The most sophisticated and daring poetic ironist of the early Roman Empire, Publius Ovidius Naso, is...
A Family of Gods: The Worship of the Imperial Family in the Latin West
Book
Roman politics and religion were inherently linked as the Romansattempted to explain the world and...