The first Christian emperor faces ruthless enemies on his journey to power.
“Exciting and original” – SJA Turney, author of Praetorian.
Cool mist settles over the legion advancing toward the Persian army. Constantine, the son of an emperor, the Roman officer leading the attack, tells his men to halt – something is wrong.
Before long, the battle rages. He frees a slave named Juliana. She is … a slave named Juliana. She is half Persian and half Roman. As they are pursued to Britannia over land and sea, he learns that she can see the future – his future.
It is 306A.D., long before Constantine the Great converted to Christianity and became the first Christian emperor.
To ensure he survives, he must eliminate his enemies. But who must die first? The priestess, Sybellina, who joined them in Rome and practices dark and seductive magic? Or the brutal legion commanders who surround his father? Or, as Juliana suspects, are those who want him dead even closer?
A gripping historical novel about Constantine’s bloody rise to power, the woman who helped him, and the real reason he supported a persecuted Christian minority, a decision which changed the world into the one we know.
Reader’s reviews:
“★★★★★ I absolutely loved Julianna. I couldn’t wait for the story to swing back to her each time!” – Vine Voice, Verified Amazon Reviewer.
“★★★★★ This is without doubt one of the best historical novels I have read (and I read a lot !) Excellent characterisation, gripping story, very well written.“ – Verified Amazon Reviewer.
“★★★★★ Characters are well drawn and realistic in not being “perfection personified” story keeps moving at appropriate pace, landscapes well described” – A. Morgan, Verified Amazon Reviewer.
“★★★★★ I would recommend this book to anyone who has a liking for stories of the Roman Empire” – D. Ballantyne, Verified Amazon Reviewer.
“★★★★★ Author Laurence O’Bryan paints scenes with highly descriptive writing that puts you in the scene, making you feel you are right there witnessing the action.” – Robert Lalonde, Verified Amazon Reviewer.
“★★★★★ Brilliant book, that pulled me right in from the start. The characters are wonderful, full of life. I was swept up in this tale about Constantine.” Verified Amazon Reviewer.
“★★★★★ I have read many books and studied history for decades. This historical novel is comparable to the best such as Dear and a Glorious Physician by Taylor Caldwell.” – Augustine Redux, Amazon Reviewer.
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Ever wonder how Constantine got to the throne? Wonder no more! I knew he served in England, but I never realized how convoluted his early story was. And this is only part one; we have a way to go before he sees the mystical dream of the cross before the Battle of Milvian Bridge. Although he was the oldest son of the Western Emperor Chlorus, Constantine was not the favored one, for his father had put aside Constantine’s mother Helena and married an aristocrat, Theodora. The new empress wanted her own son to be the heir—though at the time of this story he was only a child—and did everything in her power to quash Constantine and his mother. Initially, Chlorus sent Constantine east to serve under the nasty and brutish junior Emperor Galerius, which is where the story begins. Constantine survived the nefarious court and returned to his father, expecting to be welcomed back. He was in for a rude awakening!
“His father exploded. ‘You’re starting the wrong way with me, Constantine. I didn’t plan to tell you this now, but I perhaps I should.’ He stood over Constantine, daring him to rise up against him. His finger poked Constantine’s shoulder. ‘After the festival is over you will go to Treveris. There you will be appointed a Prefect of the city and you’ll learn the art of administration. Then perhaps you’ll understand why we appreciate our governor at Massilia.’ His tone had turned dismissive.
‘What!’ Constantine spat out the word.
His father stepped back and was examining him coolly, his hand by his dagger. Constantine tried to calm himself. He could die here if he pushed things too far. He’d heard stories of fathers who’d killed their sons during minor disagreements.”
With all this background, Constantine is not the central figure in this novel. Our protagonist is the fictional Juliana (we learn that in the Historical Background), a slave girl rescued by Constantine and purchased by his friend Lucius. Juliana is a bit stand-offish and very protective of her own dignity and chastity. She travels with the royal party all the way to Britain, acknowledged by Constantine but rarely speaking to him—at least at first. Much of the drama is seen through her eyes. Just to complicate matters, an alluring priestess/spy/enchantress named Sybellina visits Chlorus’s court, who drives much of the action and has her own agenda; Juliana quickly gets on her bad side when she refuses to cooperate with her.
So what we have is a young Constantine who hasn’t found himself yet, his friend Lucius, a Christian surreptitiously pushing his religious agenda, an ailing emperor of the West who wants to do the right thing but who squirms under the influence of his wicked empress, a scheming priestess whose motives are difficult to fathom, and a slave girl whose background activities influence events. There’s a lot of jumping between scenes and a few diversions, complex plot lines and multi-layered intrigues. Surviving his second major threat, Constantine has nowhere to go but forward!
Review of “The Sign of the Blood” by Laurence O’Bryan
“The Sign of the Blood” by Laurence O’Bryan is a gripping and tantalising tale skilfully interwoven with Roman history around the time of the rise of the emperor Constantine. Meticulously researched, this book is a masterpiece of storytelling. The reader is thrust into this period with all of its colour, cruelty and complexity. With all its twists and turns the plot is absolutely enticing from the first to the last page. The multifaceted role of slaves in the Roman Empire is particularly well explored. Although the copy editor missed a number of “typos” this by no means detracts from the story. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.
***** 5 Star
Review by John Spencer