SECOND PLACE in the 2016 Rainbow Awards, Gay Historical!!In this sequel to Dominus, Gaius Fabius Rufus, the victorious general of Rome’s brutal Dacian Wars, finds his loyalties and his affections pulled in different directions. Should he return to Rome and secure his claim to the imperial throne, or remain at his seaside villa and protect his pleasure slave, the fierce Dacian prince, Allerix? … Allerix? Retaliation for the murder of his beloved friend beckons him home, but his desire for justice could put both him and Allerix in mortal danger. As Gaius’s deceptions multiply, another tragedy strikes. Will the Lion of the Lucky Fourth Legion be forced to sacrifice his besotted heart to achieve his aspirations for supreme power?
Every moment since Allerix’s violent capture has tested the young prince’s fortitude and cunning. If he can kill the triumphant emperor who decimated his Dacian nation, revenge and immortality will be his glorious, everlasting rewards. But to realize his scheme for vengeance, he must deceive the Roman master whom he has grown to adore and admire. Can two former enemies—the conqueror and the conquered—find trust and true love, or are the consequences of war destined to tear them apart? Can Gaius and Allerix survive the perilous games of Rome?
Dominus is a plot-packed m/m fantasy set in ancient Rome during the reign of Emperor Trajan (AD 98-117). Games of Rome is the second book in this alternative history saga—a tumultuous journey of forbidden love, humor, friendship, political intrigue, deception, and murder.
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The mysteries opened at the end of Dominus only deepen in this fast-paced second installment. Like the first book, Games of Rome features nuanced characters in complex and dangerous relationships, where figuring out who to trust and who to please means life or death. The story has plenty of intrigue, heartbreak, laugh-out-loud moments, and steam. The audio narration of this series is immensely entertaining, with a talented voice actor who brings the characters and urgency to life.
Disclaimer: I received an audio copy for free and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions are my own.
With the incredible world-building, in-depth character development, and awesome storyline, how could the writer possibly top Dominus book 1? The author does so magnificently! The first book leaves us with a tragic occurrence and several challenges that simply must be addressed in the second book. And JP Kenwood handles it all so beautifully. Gaius is faced with trying to secure his succession to the imperial throne, retaliate for the murder of his long-time friend/lover, and protect his sex slave Allerix who is a Dacian noble. Keeping Allerix is considered treason but Gaius insists on having him for his salacious pleasures! With such precise pacing, the writer keeps us interested at every moment within the book. There are no excessive words or excessive time spent on scenes or points within the narrative that could leave a reader frustrated and annoyed. We readers are given just what we need when we need it. The descriptive text is clean and crystal clear, making it impossible for the audiobook listener to do anything but sit back and enjoy. There was NO hand sewing, crocheting, or knitting going on with this audiobook on the speakers. There was NO sitting back quietly for a listen, either. This audiobook had me pacing within my home. And there were some scenes that got replayed more times than I care to admit! Once again, Hannibal Hills delivers an INCREDIBLE performance bringing the characters of Ancient Rome to life and Nick J. Russo provided a welcomely warm embrace at the very beginning and end of the book (the voices of the modern-day folk) as I am very familiar with his work. This book has earned ten stars! You simply cannot believe how extraordinary this series is!
Games of Rome is the second book in the Dominus series, a historical series set within an alternative timeline of ancient Rome. I highly, highly, highly recommend reading Dominus, the first book in the series, before reading Games of Rome. There are a lot of important plot points and character development that happens in the first book that is carried forward into this book.
One of my favorite elements about Games of Rome, and the Dominus series as a whole, is the INCREDIBLE world building based on accurate historical information. These details really bring the book to life and I love how certain plot elements tie in with major events that actually happened in history. I can tell the author is an expert in this subject and used her expertise to craft this rich and intriguing story. I also adore the characters – their morals and cultural norms definitely reflect the time period they are set in (which can be hard for some readers), but I found this fascinating. All the characters have depth and layers to them, and their emotions and reactions are powerful and tangible. The intensity that flows through this book made it hard to put down. This book has it all – action, drama, political intrigue, suspense, and some delicious steamy moments.
The audiobook is so well done with a wonderful production and narration. It was dueled narrated by Nick J. Russo and Hannibal Hills who both do such a fantastic job. They not only narrated this book, but performed it with a wonderful mix of emotion and energy without overdoing it. I love these narrators voice and felt captivated by their voices and the story. Overall, I was really pleased with this audiobook and enjoyed it immensely.
To love your captor (an audio review)
Slave narratives are often problematic because unless you’re showing the true horrors of being a slave, there’s a question about the depiction. Were there good masters who treated their slaves well? Possibly. But that didn’t change the fact the person was in bondage. That the horrific power imbalance would always exist. That no matter how comfortable the life of the slave, there would never be true freedom. True enjoyment of life.
Okay, all that being said, this is a work of fiction, and I have to say Ms. Kenwood does depict the harshness of slavery during the Roman empire. Allerix was a Dacian prince, ripped from his homeland that’d been decimated. He’s sold into bondage to Gaius Fabius Rufus. (Can I just say there are plenty of characters, many of whom had multiple names so, at times, it was a struggle to keep up? But this is a book of political intrigue, so I did understand.)
Gaius’ best friend has been murdered and Gaius has promised retribution to the guilty party. Problem is that he doesn’t know who committed the dastardly deed, and even the ghost of his dead friend isn’t a lot of help. Didn’t predict there would be a ghost scene, but I’ve learned to roll when it comes to these books. Oh, and let me mention these are very violent books. One scene in particular was a little traumatizing for me – but it was meant to be. A reminder of the life and times of the Romans. A hint of what might happen to Allerix should his plan to kill the emperor to exact revenge be discovered. The man does almost get derailed by his feelings for Gaius. Those problematic ones I was discussing earlier. But it’s clear the men do care for each other – or at least satisfy each other’s physical needs.
There’s one more book in the series and I’m excited to see how things conclude. Of course I’m hoping Allerix is able to kill the emperor, but I know that will leave him in a terrible position. It’ll likely cost him his life. To him, it’ll totally be worth it.
Finally, you might wonder why there are two narrators. Nick J. Russo narrates the beginning and end of the books as a modern-day archeologist digging up Rome’s history. Hannibal Hills narrates the bulk of the book – the past Rome. I enjoy his narration but occasionally the women are a little irritating. I sometimes wondered if that was the narration or the characterization. Possibly a bit of both. Anyway, not enough to take away from the enjoyment of the book. Can’t wait for the next one to see how this saga ends.
Part murder mystery and part slow burn romance, this sequel to DOMINUS Book 1 brings the story forward, and further immerses the reader in the world of Gaius Fabius Rufus’s “family” of servants and pleasure slaves in Rome and Campania in the time of Trajan. I really love these characters and the developing relationship between Gaius and his Dacian slave, Allerix. The ongoing investigation of Gaius’s friend Lucius’s murder is compelling, and as a reader I find myself very invested in how this will resolve in the larger story arc which continues in Book 3. The story of an archeological dig in modern Rome which bookends the main story (and continues from Book 1) is an added treat.