I read the Emperor series a few years back, and I do not remember a lot from it. I read the Conqueror last year and that stuck with me though: as awesome as Emperor was, I just enjoyed Conqueror even more. So yeah, my memory of exactly what happened at the end of the last Emperor book is not too good: I do remember feeling that Brutus was completely justified in killing Caesar, and not only because Caesar slept with his mom (which I guess I at the time thought was reason enough because I used to believe in the bro code, but now I just think it was a douchey thing to do since Brutus' relationship with his mom was rather complicated).

Which is why this book is kinda sad. I liked finishing off with Caesar being dead and Brutus having done what wasn't easy but what he believe is right. Now, in this one, we see that despite all their efforts, they never changed anything. Octavianius isn't the most interesting main character (then again, he IS trying to kill a character we got to know during the course of four other books), but Agrippa and Maecenas were likeable enough to make up for it, HOWEVER, I still had a hard time rooting for them because, well, if they succeeded what had the Liberators actually achieved? Nothing.

Of course, history tells us that this is what happened, so I can't exactly blame the author or anything. I guess it's true that happy ending are just stories that haven't finished yet.

Anyway, it's always nice to read a historical novel by Conn Iggulden. I don't read much in that genre usually, so I guess some education isn't hurting me (and if it is, it's not killing me, so it will only make me stronger: MOWAAHAHAHAHA). ( )

Another good book from a great series by a brilliant author. ( )

This book faced an uphill climb for me.

1. It's about Ancient Rome. It's in the era overwritten for me. The book would have have something special or a special author. Fortunately, Conn is one special author and gives depth and breath to a just boring names on a page.

2. This is the fifth book of the series ... and I read book #4 over five years ago. He would have to write from basically a dead stop. The book started with promise and slipped to the end.

3. I already knew the ending of the story.

Conn is a wonderfully talented writer, and a lesser writer I would have put the book down long ago. I thought the book would focus more on Brutus ... instead it was more about Octavian and Marc Anthony.

Conn Iggulden has written epic historical fiction on Genghis Khan and Julius Caesar. I hope he finds the urge to start a new series which I would gladly jump aboard and read. ( )

Conn Iggulden's cavalier approach to historical fact in the first four books of the series catches up with him here. Having anachronistically made Octavian one of Caesar's commanders during the subjugation of Gaul, he has to wind time backwards here and make him 20 in the aftermath of Caesar's assassination 15 years later. The real Octavian was a toddler during the Gallic wars, and so Iggulden has painted himself into a corner.

The novel itself suffers from the absence of Caesar from the stage. Octavian is simply not as interesting, and the complex--if again anachronistic--Brutus is too rarely on stage. As ever, though, Iggulden excels in the battle scenes, and although we know the outcome of the Battle of Philippi, the depiction of the conflict is electric.

I'll be interested to read his "Conqueror" novels, where my knowledge is so scanty that I am less likely to be distracted by historical inaccuracy. ( )

I am an avid fan of Iggulden, and I don't feel this book compared to his usual robust style. The plot line felt rushed, the characters shallow, and the main conflict got interesting only at the 2/3 mark. His historical afterward was so compelling at the end that I felt even more baffled that his research and fun facts didn't make themselves known in the actual book this time. ( )