Leonidas, champion gladiator of Rome, is set free from the games by a mysterious benefactor who grants him freedom, a place to live, and a servant—Cassia, a scribe—to look after him.But the benefactor is only so generous—Leonidas must pay his own way and Cassia’s, which means hiring himself out. The sharp-witted Cassia quickly lands him a post as a bodyguard, escorting a retired senator to Ostia.… senator to Ostia.
The trip soon turns deadly, as Leonidas and Cassia find themselves squarely in the middle of intrigue that reaches from the slums of the Subura to the Palatine Hill and the emperor Nero himself.
Book 1 of the Leonidas the Gladiator Mysteries. Events in this book take place before the novella, Blood Debts.
more
Favorite author never disappoints!
This was a good read.
I love historical fiction and especially mysteries, and I have read two books in this series. The appeal of is the time period in history that I am not as familiar and how unlike it is to others. I am also a big, big fan of this author and will eventually get back to this series but am busy reading her other books.
I enjoyed this book!
More, please!!! I don’t say that often, but really, I’d love to read more about Leonidas & his scribe!
I enjoy reading a stories in ancient settings and this book didn’t disappoint.
Loved this book and just left me wanting more.
Interesting setting, ancient Rome. Interesting couple also, a new freedman and a slave. The writing is excellent.
Blood of a Gladiator was an engaging read. The characters were believable and intriguing, especially Cassia. I’d love her to be my assistant. The mystery was well developed and the reveal made sense, but the introduction of characters after the climax was a bit much. I’d definitely recommend it.
A grapping ‘historical’ novel. A great read! I’d give it more stars if they were available.
Blood of a Gladiator book 1 in the Leonidas the Gladiator series by Ashley Gardner is an historical mystery. Set in Rome in the first century AD, the setting and times are well researched. Characters are interesting, intriguing and complicated, auguring a positive response with readers of subsequent books in the series. This as an absorbing read.
Fantastic! I really enjoyed reading about Leonidas and Cassia. I truly like the characters and cannot wait to get more of them. Cassia and her tablets…love it! I enjoyed being along for Leonidas’ journey as he navigated this new world from a gladiator slave to freed man. I got so caught up in this medieval world and these well developed characters. I can’t wait to discover who his benefactor is. I look forward to the next adventure.
I love Ashley Gardner’s mysteries and I also love reading about Ancient Rome, so this was my kind of story. Leonidas and Cassia are fabulous characters, a perfect match for one another, and of course the mystery was excellent. I hope there will be more in this series. Highly recommended.
I read the novella that introduced Leonides and was eager to see a novel come out. It didn’t disappoint from the first page you are drawn into the Rome in which Leonides is thrown into when set free from being a gladiator. Great characters and a page-turner of a mystery that I enjoyed to the end. I’ll be looking for more books with this character as I want to know what happens next.
Ashley Gardner is a very readable and enjoyable writer under several names and series. This is the first novel (preceded by a novella) and a series I look forward to following. Not quite up to the standard of Lindsey Davis or Steven Saylor, who IMHO own the genre, but well worth reading. I like the main characters and she writes about the period and feeling for life at that time very well.
This is the first book of the mystery series of Leonidas The Gladiator. It is set in the time of Nero and is rich in historic detail. You can see and taste the time period. It is an introduction to Leonidas being freed from the games as the finest fighter after 40 bouts. He’s at a loss as to how to live as a free man since he’s been cared for within the gladiator training camp. He soon meets Hesiodos, a servant of his unknown benefactor and his new slave Cassia given to him by his benefactor. This benefactor has also given him a place to live but no money so he must find a way to earn a living. Cassia is a scribe who is cleavor and whip smart who sets about to find him bodyguard jobs. It becomes clear that Leonidas needs her skills to survive, foraging for food and knowing where to find him work. Later it becomes clear they are a team that works well together. Quickly they find themselves embroiled in a murder mystery and rumors of plots against a client Priscus and Nero himself. I found myself drawn into his story by the quest for answers to what was going on in Leonidas’ new life.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.