Sherry Christie

The continuation of the story of the broad-stripe tribune Marcus Carinna, who has now taken the name Aquilo. He travels with his trusty ex-gladiator bodyguards and freedman secretary into Germanic territory, called here the Mark, in order to find his woman, the ex-hostage Aurima. He dreams of finding the third lost Eagle from the Varian disaster, which had occurred a generation before. He hopes this deed will restore honor to his family name. Betrayed, he is taken captive and becomes a slave in Aurima's father's tribe until his escape. Hoping to capture him and return him to Rome for trial is the Prefect of the espionage arm of the Praetorians, the slimy Lamia and his henchman, the evil Glabrio [pejoratively called "Bat Ears" for a physical peculiarity] for occurrences that had happened in the first volume. There are ambushes, skirmishes and battles with the Germans. Carinna/Aquilo makes a great personal sacrifice to bring peace between Rome and the tribes. Lamia takes him back to Carnuntum where for the murder of Glabrio, he appears finally before the governor of Pannonia for judgment. The lies and machinations of Lamia are revealed with a just punishment for Lamia. Although I liked the ending, some of the events right before did seem a bit contrived: namely, the incidents involving the two parchments. The Amber Road refers to a trade route to the north. Germanic settlements important to the story are located at the end of paths leading from it. Very good, but not quite as enjoyable as the 1st volume, [Roma Amor: A Novel of Caligula's Rome]. I did appreciate the map showing the area around the Amber Road pointing out various places important to the story--the settlements, the tavern, the bridge. With my interest in etymology, it was fun to compare the author's use of Old Germanic with what I know of modern German.

Highly recommended. I thank the author very much for sending me a copy of her novel.… (more)

"...a man who would be great must have both the 'Roma' and the 'Amor.' But he must be able to balance them; duty to what is eternal with love with what is mortal and flawed. A balance my father found at the end and which I must find in myself." So muses Marcus Licinius Carinna in the poignant last chapter of the novel.

This novel was a pleasant surprise to read! No battles in this one, but a marvelous evocation of Rome through the story of a particular patrician family, the Licinii Carinnae--from the nuclear family to their slaves and servants. Set during the reign of Caligula, who here exhibits his tendencies towards narcissism, arrogance, and even madness. The elder son Publius, convicted of treason through a foolish remark overheard by someone, has been commanded to kill himself. Marcus, his younger brother, returns from military duty as Senior Tribune [Laticlavius?] on the Danube frontier to his home, bringing a hostage and her entourage. Passing a cemetery he hears: "You too, brother." Marcus is shaken and all through the novel thinks of different reasons why Publius' spirit might be whispering to him. Several more times he hears the same whisper with different words. His father denigrates his time in the military and wants him to follow the cursus honorum as his brother would have done. The father wishes him to become a friend to Caligula; subsequently, Marcus is appointed quaestor, a kind of glorified financial clerk, the lowest rung on the cursus, and enters Caligula's confidence. Caligula charges him with discovering if his adopted son is loyal to him or conspires against him. Defamatory satires circulate against Caligula and Marcus is told to find out the identity of the author, a certain "Phoenix." Had that name had been chosen because the emperor's signet ring bore the engraving of a phoenix? He chafes against his father's restrictions but obeys him and the emperor. As a Mithraist and "Soldier of Truth" he tries to discover the truth behind his brother's death--what had motivated the treason charge in the first place and Publius' guilt or innocence. The rest of the novel is filled with drama: assassination attempts, mystery, murder, romance, betrayal, and a bit of fantasy at the Fishpond incident.

I couldn't fault the author: powerful writing, strong characters--especially Marcus himself, Marcus' twin sister Nina and Aurima, the German hostage, gorgeous and vivid, often lyrical, descriptions which pulled me into the Rome of that era. I compliment the author on the excellent proofreading; nothing to distract me from the trajectory and pacing of the story.

Highly recommended. This is a novel to keep and to reread in future.… (more)