Bubba Gee (147 KP) rated Assassin's Creed Brotherhood in Video Games
Jun 19, 2019
Great story and this is where you really take the fight to the Borgia foiling their plot to take control of Rome and Italy as a whole.
Lots of good battles in this and some new weapons added into the mix.
There are some epic scenes and Leonardos war machines make for some interesting missions, taking down early designs on gatling guns and tanks.
Character inclusion is also very much expanded with such historic figures as Niccolo Machiavelli, Dante Alighieri, The Borgias and the return of Leonardo da Vinci.
Epic sequel
David McK (3816 KP) rated Odin's Wolves in Books
Jan 30, 2019
Again presented as the older titular character retelling the tale of his younger years, this sees Sigurds wolf-pack of the sea continue their voyage, moving down now into Europe proper, before experiencing Rome and finally ending the tale in the city of Miklagard (i.e. Constantinople). If you've read any of the precious entries in the series, you'd know pretty much what to expect: however, and somewhat unfortunately, I have to say that I felt this particular entry to out-stay it's welcome somewhat.
The Devil's Elixirs
E.T.A. Hoffmann and Ian Sumter
Book
The charismatic monk Medardus becomes implicated in a deadly mystery against his will. As he travels...
Catilina's Riddle
Book
The year is 63BC, and Gordianus the Finder unexpectedly achieves the dream of every Roman - a farm...
The House By The Cypress Trees
9.0
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Book
Julia Ramos, in Italy to find her birth mother, rescues a dog, is nearly run over by a handsome...
David McK (3816 KP) rated Revenge of Rome (Eagles of the Empire #23) in Books
Apr 21, 2025
Whilst the previous novel - 'Rebellion' - dealt largely with the battles won by Boudica (including the sack of Londinium), this instead follows the 'mopping-up' (for want of a better word) operation against her: something that, truth be told, is often over-looked.
With Cato and Macro deciding to quit Brittania (again) at the end of the tale and with the former resigning his commision, I'll be interested is seeing where any further novels go ...
Murder in the Piazza
8.0
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Book
Maggie White, a downsized American executive stuck in Rome on her husband's expat assignment, is...
David McK (3816 KP) rated Brothers of the Sword (Warrior #5) in Books
Jun 3, 2023
As with the previous three entries, this is presented as the elderly Caratacus, whilst in exile in Rome, recounting his experiences to a Roman historian, with the sub-plot that this may be bringing that historian unwelcome attention from Nero's officials.
As also before - and as required by the fact that this is a novella - it's also a rather short read, complete with it's own 'intro' and 'outro'
Gladiatori Moderni
Book
Bodies, sweat, the direct gaze; strength, courage, doubt; the visual and emotional alphabet of Piero...
Deborah (162 KP) rated Master and God in Books
Dec 21, 2018
The book I read just before this was Kate Quinn's Daughters of Rome, which covers the Year of the Four Emperors, concluding with the accession of Vespasian, so in many ways this linked in nicely from an historical point of view. What I noticed almost straight away though, was how much better Davis' writing is; Rome and the characters really came alive for me in a way they never quite managed in Quinn's work.
Davis' sense of humour is still very much apparent, thought it doesn't come across quite so keenly as in the Falco novels; I think this may be because Falco is in the first person while Master & God is told in the third person, utilising more than one character point of view - including Musca the Fly, that I see several people have commented on!