I love Steven Saylor's "Roma Sub Rosa" mystery series. I started with Catilina's Riddle, which was favorably reviewed in our local newspaper, which rarely comments on historical novels. I loved it, and went back to read the whole series. This is a great series to read in order (beginning with Roman Blood), because the protagonist, Gordianus the Finder, develops quite a bit through the course of the series, as he gradually collects family members, through adoption and otherwise. Saylor really knows his history, from the big political controversies and upheavals to the intimate cultural details about how Romans lived, so I find these novels engrossing on every level.
Who else reads these?
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Steven Saylor
- Margaret
- Bibliomaniac
- Posts: 2440
- Joined: August 2008
- Interest in HF: I can't answer this in 100 characters. Sorry.
- Favourite HF book: Checkmate, the final novel in the Lymond series
- Preferred HF: Literary novels. Late medieval and Renaissance.
- Location: Catskill, New York, USA
- Contact:
Steven Saylor
Browse over 5000 historical novel listings (probably well over 5000 by now, but I haven't re-counted lately) and over 700 reviews at www.HistoricalNovels.info
I've read one or two of these. The one I can remember was set during the time when Caesar and Cleopatra were fighting the civil war against Ptolemy in Egypt, but I've forgotten the title. Are they best read in order?
PATHS OF EXILE - love, war, honour and betrayal in Anglo-Saxon Northumbria
Editor's Choice, Historical Novels Review, August 2009
Now available as e-book on Amazon Kindleand in Kindle, Epub (Nook, Sony Reader), Palm and other formats on Smashwords
Website: http://www.carlanayland.org
Blog: http://carlanayland.blogspot.com
Editor's Choice, Historical Novels Review, August 2009
Now available as e-book on Amazon Kindleand in Kindle, Epub (Nook, Sony Reader), Palm and other formats on Smashwords
Website: http://www.carlanayland.org
Blog: http://carlanayland.blogspot.com
- Margaret
- Bibliomaniac
- Posts: 2440
- Joined: August 2008
- Interest in HF: I can't answer this in 100 characters. Sorry.
- Favourite HF book: Checkmate, the final novel in the Lymond series
- Preferred HF: Literary novels. Late medieval and Renaissance.
- Location: Catskill, New York, USA
- Contact:
They are best read in order, because there is a rich storyline about Gordianus and his family that carries through the series. However, each of them can be read with great pleasure as a stand-alone. The first one I read was Catilina's Riddle, and I read a few others out of order before I went back and read from beginning to end. It didn't diminsh my enjoyment of any of them.
Browse over 5000 historical novel listings (probably well over 5000 by now, but I haven't re-counted lately) and over 700 reviews at www.HistoricalNovels.info
I'm about half way through Roman Blood, the first of the sub-Roma series. I intend to read them in order. I'm not a big fan of mysteries, but I am really enjoying this. The only other Steven Saylor book I read was Roma, which I finished just recently. I loved it and the sequel, Empire, has just arrived in the mail today.
I posted a review of a Gordianus the Finder book The Triumph of Caesar here. I didn't care for the book, but would love to hear a rebuttal or recommendation of others in the series. I liked Saylor's other books and one dull one, doesn't a bad author make.
the Triumph of Caesar
To Faith I fear that I must agree with your judgment on this novel. While I have all of Saylor's other works and really enjoyed them, this one I fear was lacking. I even must admit to getting half way through and then putting it down and I felt really upset doing that, since the rest of the series was so engaging. If possible I suggest looking for a roman series by John Maddox Roberts, they are set in the same period and appeare to be both engagaing and fun to read.I posted a review of a Gordianus the Finder book The Triumph of Caesar here. I didn't care for the book, but would love to hear a rebuttal or recommendation of others in the series. I liked Saylor's other books and one dull one, doesn't a bad author make.
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Faith L. Justice
Author Selene of Alexandria
Website: http://www.faithljustice.com
Blog: http://faithljustice.wordpress.com/
Regards Greg
[quote=""fljustice""]I posted a review of a Gordianus the Finder book The Triumph of Caesar here. I didn't care for the book, but would love to hear a rebuttal or recommendation of others in the series. I liked Saylor's other books and one dull one, doesn't a bad author make.[/quote]
The first books--Roman Blood, Arms of Nemesis, and Catalina's Riddle--are the best. I prefer Gordianus a nobody who isn't rubbing elbows with Caesar--though it's perfectly plausible how he does.
The first books--Roman Blood, Arms of Nemesis, and Catalina's Riddle--are the best. I prefer Gordianus a nobody who isn't rubbing elbows with Caesar--though it's perfectly plausible how he does.