Review: The Forgotten Legion

The Forgotten Legion by Ben Kane

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Almost a run-of-the-mill Rome-has-wronged-me-one-day-I'll-have-my-revenge-story. Some parts are interesting enough to want to read the next installment. More interested in his Hannibal series, though.





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Review: The Winner's Curse

The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I didn't have high expectations when I flipped the first few pages of The Winner's Curse. From what I read on Goodreads, it was supposed to tell the love story between a Herrani slave and a high-born Valorian mistress. Now if this was set in Ancient Rome/Greece/etc., I would've read it with lowered eyebrows. But then again, maybe not, as love stories of this kind usually end up being maudlin (hello, Christian Historical Fiction). The reviews on Goodreads didn't help, showing memes of balls, love scenes from teen films, and whatnots. All these set in a high fantasy world? I didn't think so.

But I gave the book I try (after all, I gave Red Rising a chance and I enjoyed it), and whoa, the reviewers were right. The love story was tolerable—well more than tolerable, to be fair. No icky moments between mistress and slave. Instead, the whole love thing was understated, like a current that could explode any minute. While there was no "explosion" (and I was actually a little bit disappointed haha), I guess we have Book 2 for that. Thank the Herrani gods for trilogies.

What took my breath away though, was the author's exquisite world-building (thanks Goodreads reviewers for introducing me to this term). It was an excellent "retelling" of the Greco-Roman period (after Rome conquered Greece), a period in history which I'm unabashedly biased toward. I loved the author's little details on the Valorian (Roman) and Herrani (Greek) cultures—these only go to show how much the author loves her history and how she can create an entirely new world out of this fascination.

Final rating: 4.5 stars



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Review: The Sister Queens

The Sister Queens by Sophie Perinot

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I tried to read The Other Boleyn Girl many years ago, but I never got around to finishing it. I don't remember why, but somehow I lost interest in the medieval setting, the neverending intrigues, etc. However, The Sister Queens proved to be a compelling read; it was realistic and nuanced and melodious—without being too grating. Looking forward to more of this author's works.



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Review: The Monster of Florence

The Monster of Florence by Douglas Preston

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



A compelling non-fiction (serial killer horror story) within a non-fiction (Preston and Spezi's horror story). Despite the chilling way Preston wrote about The Monster, I was more horrified with the prospect of having to face what Mr. Preston and Mr. Spezi faced in their beloved Italy. Because of this book, I'm having second thoughts with my dream of living there someday (which is so sad and disturbing, because I love Italy so much). Apparently what happened to them could happen to just about anyone. Sad.



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Review: Red Rising

Red Rising by Pierce Brown

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



In Ancient Rome, the mines are the most feared punishment next to crucifixion. That our Spartacan hero, Darrow, lives in the mines of Mars speaks volumes about where his story will go—and that Mr. P. Brown is an obvious Ancient Roman enthusiast. I say obvious because the Ancient Roman references in Red Rising are as in-your-face as slumdogs in the Subura. The blatant use of these references (praetor, imperator, etc.) left me stunned and disoriented for a while, and midway into the book I felt that it was getting all pompous on me (it didn’t help that I have read a lot on Ancient Rome).

But when I reached 70 percent, I felt that Mr. Brown’s second installment may deserve a read. Then two-thirds into the book—Redemption. Finally.

“Tactics win battles. Strategy wins wars.”—Darrow the Helldiver-turned-Hellraiser.

Brilliant tactic, Mr. Brown (or should I say, Mr. Gold?). Now let’s see your strategy for the rest of the trilogy.



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Review: The Twelve Tasks of Flavia Gemina

The Twelve Tasks of Flavia Gemina by Caroline Lawrence

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Five stars because the author was brave enough to make "shocking" character decisions [considering that this is a children's (or does it qualify as YA?) book]. And I learned more Greek myths. And the origin of the Tarantella (interesting and relevant to the book's theme!). On to The Enemies of Jupiter!



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Review: The Dolphins of Laurentum

The Dolphins of Laurentum by Caroline Lawrence

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Four words: Greek myths, dolphins, forgiveness.

I say the book was amazing because it made me cry. All the while I was thinking of L. B. Smedes' quote: "To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you."

I'm glad that I didn't have to go far into the series before giving one of its books a five-star rating. This book proves that The Roman Mysteries is not just any children's series.



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