** 103,000 word historical romance **Quintus Furius Varus is one of the best lanistas in Rome. Tall and strong in build, fearsome in manner, and sharp of wit, he trains the best gladiators bound for the arenas of Rome. When Senator Servius Augendus seeks personal guards, he attends the Ludus Varus for purchase of the very best. He puts to Quintus an offer he cannot refuse, and Quintus finds … finds himself in Neapolis, contracted as a trainer of guards instead of gladiators.
Kaeso Agorix was taken from his homelands of Iberia and delivered to Rome as a slave. Bought by a senator to be trained as a guard, his fate is handed to the man who would train him. Absent free will, Kaeso knows his life is no longer his own, though he soon realises the gods have favoured him when he learns his new master has a kind heart.
Quintus and Kaeso forge a bond that far exceeds the collar at Kaeso’s neck, and together they discover the senator’s move for promotion has an ulterior motive. Thrown into a world of politics and conspiracy, of keeping enemies close, they move against time to save Rome before traitors and the gods themselves see to their end.
And in doing so, see the dawn of the nova praetorian—the new guard—rise.
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Audiobook review
A historical romance from one of my favourite historical periods – Roman times, coupled with an absolutely epic performance by Joel Leslie! What’s not to love??
This story is a product of is time – one of the MC’s is a slave, there is blackmail, political back-stabbing and political villainy; but there are shining moments, like the fairness of Quintus, the affection and bond between Quintus and Kaeso and the backdrop of general Roman life (which appealed to my inner history geek 🙂
The narration was nothing short glorious! Joel Leslie is one of the best audiobook performers in the business. He has the knack of knowing how to channel the characters, first by getting the right accent, then their personalities and then their emotions. This is all tied together in the overall tone of the story – in this case, a more somber tone – since some of the topics are serious.
Throughout Joel Leslie’s performance I could visualise the gladiator training area, I could ‘see’ the villas of the senators, feel the decadence of the time. I could also feel the treachery, and the love and affection between the 2 MCs.
This is a well crafted story, with a tour de force performance by Joel Leslie!
N.R. Walker always brings truth into her writing as her outstanding knowledge and her commitment to research is 100%.
Rome a place I have visited with its ruins that tell of a life before a life I have read in the wonderful book.
Quintus Furius Varus is aLanista one of the best he trains Gladiators to be the best for the arenas of Rome.
Karso Agorix was taken for his homelands forcibly taken to Rome where he is put into slavery .
His master is Quintus and Quintus has a beautiful heart so Karso is lucky…
The two men see eye to eye and an usual friendship or perhaps more grows between them.
This book takes you on a journey that is real at that time anyway I see it as real now as I was taken on this journey where each man found who they were , who they needed and their love grew , but the dangers of what was happening of what implication to them was extremely frightening .
Much more than five stars much more…..
I love historical romance, and this book was absolutely fabulous. From gladiators and guards to senators and domini I dived into ancient world of training and fighting, politics and blackmail, passion and love between two men whose life was poised on the edge of a dagger. One thing this book showed wonderfully is the diversity of characters. Side by side we are shown two men with a total opposite attitude towards servitude and slavery. The difference is astounding, and it proves that the old saying – You catch more flies with honey than vinegar – holds true no matter what time and age you live in.
I liked Quintus. He is Dominus to his own ludus. He is well-respected, loyal and kind master. He leads a simple life and has no desire for more riches than he already has but Fate intervenes and puts him on the path of unwilling greatness and the love that will last forever. Kaeso is a captured Iberian purchased by a Senator to be a slave. He is defiant and brave yet smart enough to survive. He is the driving force behind Quintus’ change of view, his compass and I loved him for it. While the physical attraction is immediate between them, the relationship happens gradually with them becoming friends first, even confidants till the time they finally succumb to the urge to have each other in all ways.
This book had a betrayal plot that twisted and turned, new facts pointing in different directions, and making Quintus and Kaeso doubt people around them not knowing who was ally and who was a traitor. The outcome was easy to figure out but the execution was marvelous. The blood and gore of battles satisfied a hidden grizzly in me, I loved how fierce and courageous Kaeso was, how cool under pressure Quintus was – a true leader and how they both fought even when death seemed imminent. The love words between them flowed and tasted so good and sweet that they turned me into a total marshmallow!
The ending was very satisfying, so happy it made me feel light on my feet! It shows that honorable decent men get to be happy, that men are worth both their words and their deeds. That in times of hardship it matters who stands by your side, and that both Quintus and Kaeso chose wisely. I loved this book and highly recommend it!
4.5*
Gratitude Ms. Walker for this story.
If only saying gratitude instead of thank you wouldn’t be looked at as being weird, I’d be using it in my every day life.
I was a big fan of the Spartacus series that aired on Starz a few (many) years ago- I even bought the dvds, so I was really excited when Ms. Walker announced this book! It’s so different than any other m/m romances I’ve read. Sure, at heart the underlying story is the same as any other romance- 2 people falling in love and overcoming obstacles on the way to their hea, but the backdrop of the Roman Empire, the gladiators, the class system, the political upheaval, made this book so unique and original. Add in two endearing characters in Quintus and Kaeso and I was completely hooked!
What else can I say other than I loved every delicious minute of this read! It was my first read by this author and I was completely hooked from page one. I have never read any historical fiction and was asked to read this as part of a read-along. OMG!!!! Excellent character and world development, steamy sex and just overall yumminess made Nova Praetorian a fantastic read!!