Rome: The Coming of the King

Rome #2

by M.C. Scott

Sebastos Pantera, known to his many enemies as the Leopard, is the spy the Emperor Nero uses only for the most challenging and important of missions. Hunting alone, trusting no-one, he must find the most dangerous man in Rome's empire and bring him to bloody justice.But his prey is cunning, subtle and ruthless. Saulos has pledged to bring about the destruction of Rome and her provinces and now fate, good luck and planning have given him the means to do so.It will take the strategies of a master hunter to combat the brilliance of Saulos' plan, but Pantera has a new ally, a king in the making who could change the future of his people; a man he can finally trust. If they work together, they could bring a province back from the edge of ruin. But first, they must attempt the impossible; an assault on an invulnerable fortress, where failure means death to them both.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Roman, Adventure, Ancient

496 pages, Paperback

First published May 12, 2011

About the author

aka Manda Scott

ABOUT M.C. SCOTT

MC Scott.... qualified as a veterinary surgeon from Glasgow University and spent fifteen years in Newmarket and Cambridge specialising in anaesthesia and intensive care, before turning to writing as an alternative, less sleep-deprived, profession. Of the ten novels so far published, the first four were contemporary crime thrillers. The first, 'Hen's Teeth' was short listed for the Orange prize in 1997; the third, 'Stronger than Death' was awarded an Arts Council of England prize for Literature and the fourth, 'No Good Deed', was nominated in the 'Best Crime Novel' category of the prestigious US Edgar Awards in 2003.

In 2001, the first of the internationally bestselling 'Boudica: Dreaming' series was published: 'Boudica: Dreaming the Eagle'. The last, 'Boudica: Dreaming the Serpent Spear' was published in 2006. Together, these four novels explore the life and times of Boudica, the war-leader of the Eceni who lead the revolt against Rome in 61 AD.

In 2007, 'The Crystal Skull' was published –a stand-alone contemporary thriller with a Tudor thread, which visited the Mayan end-of-world concepts (which suggest the world will end on 21/12/2012) and the myths and legends surrounding the thirteen crystal skulls which, when brought together, will either transcend the end of this age – or bring it about.It has been translated into 23 different languages, from Slovenian and Slovakian to Chinese.

The latest novel, 'Rome: The Emperor's Spy', was published on 1st January 2010.

This is a historical spy thriller set in the same universe as the Boudica cycle – three of the surviving characters from the Boudica: Dreaming books are key to the plot. A faster, sharper, harder text which examines the early decades of Christianity, it concludes that the fire was lit by the man we have come to know as St Paul, who, as a Roman agent had been sent to bring the Hebrews into the Imperial fold, but who went native, and began to believe his own fiction.

The Emperor's Spy is first in a series of at least four novels following the life of Sebastos Abdes Pantera, the spy known as the Leopard, and those who endeavour to help him.

The sequel, Rome: The Spy's Revenge, will be published in March 2011. The paperback of The Emperor's Spy will be released in January 2011

M.C. Scott runs shamanic dreaming workshops which teach the basis of the dreaming described in the Boudica series.

Reviews

[Clemens Schoonderwoert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book in 2012, and its the 2nd volume of the "Rome" quartet of books.

The year is now AD 65, and Sebastos Pantera, the Emperor's Spy, after having undertaken his last lethal mission, is now sent to hunt down and bring justice to a man called, Saulos.

This Saulos is a man with a hatred for Rome and all for what Rome stands for, and he'll do anything to bring an entire Roma province to destruction.

Beside being ruthless, this Saulos is also very clever, and with a vision of total victory, he will be certainly a dangerous and deadly match to Sebastos Pantera.

The third important figure in this tale is the huntress, Iksahra, feared by men but loved by her beasts, she has to decide which side to support if she to avenge her father's death.

What is to follow is a terrific suspenseful Roman adventure, in which Pantera will have to deal with this Saulos in his own clever and lethal way, and at the same time try to save a Kingdom from this Saulos and his devastating mission, and so save Rome from further dangerous trouble in the end.

Highly recommended, for this is another excellent addition to this amazing 4 part series, and that's why i like to call this episode: "A Brilliant Rome Sequel"!

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book Two in the fantastic historical fiction series Rome by M.C. Scott (aka Manda Scott).
The first book in the series, Rome: The Emperor's Spy, went down as the best historical fiction I read in 2012 and I think this one may challenge for my favourite historical fiction of 2013. It certainly will be hard to beat.

The series really started way back with the name Manda Scott (not M.C. Scott) and the book Boudica: Dreaming the Eagle.
This was a series that could be classed as historical fantasy more than historical fiction for all the dreaming and predictions and prophesying. I always tried to palm these dreaming sequences off as 'coincidence'. I wanted so badly to believe that the book was straight, non fantasy, historical fiction that I came up with all manner of rational explanation for the dreaming predictions and their supernatural climaxes. But it is hard to palm it all off. Try as I might.
The author is a disciple of Shamanic Dreaming and you must wade through it, thick as honey, if you plan on reading her Boudica series.

There were four books in that series. Boudica: Dreaming the Eagle, Boudica: Dreaming the Bull, Boudica: Dreaming the Hound and Boudica: Dreaming the Serpeant Spear and it is in these books that you will first meet Sebastos Pantera and his back story.
However, in my opinion, which is the opinion of someone who started the Boudica series but never finished it (it was the dreaming, I am too much of a cynic on that kind of thing), you do not have to read the Boudica series to follow and enjoy the authors new Rome series.

Both books, The Emperor's Spy and this one The Coming of the King, involve the charismatic character Sebastos Pantera 'The Leopard'. His history entrenched heavily within the Dreamers of Britain (the Boudica background I mentioned), he is haunted by a past that makes him both a ruthless, methodical killer and an emotionally wounded survivor. He balances them well and there is no doubt that his past has made him better at what he does.

In The Coming of the King we find Pantera, Mergus and Hypatia travelling to the far Reaches of the Roman Empire in the First Century AD. During the Reign of Emperor Nero.
They will find themselves following their elusive enemy to Judaea where the Hebrew Wars are brewing and some small catalyst, any small catalyst, will explode and engulf the towns of Jerusalem and Caesarea and possibly take our heroes with it. This time it will not only be by fire, this time it will be by the sword and the volatile politics that surround the sacred sites of Judaea.
There is no shortage of battles and exciting street fighting in The Coming of the King and, as with The Emperor's Spy, the characters are memorable and multifaceted.
She does good characters, Manda Scott, she is one of the best at that.


I must confess, The Emperor's Spy and The Coming of the King are perhaps an alternate history for some people. I do not know enough about the bible stories to know when the author is rewriting biblical history, so to me it just makes good historical fiction. But there will be readers who will be challenged negatively by the author having rewritten some of the story from the bible.
Of course there will be devout followers of the bible stories who will enjoy the challenge too.
I will not go into it too much or it will ruin plot lines for you if you plan on starting this series.
It is also worth noting while dreaming and predictions are found in this series, they are mild enough that my penchant for rationalising is satisfied. I never felt these first two Rome books were fantasy.
I could explain the dreaming and predictions away on coincidence quite easily. Which makes me a happy cynic.

Just as I did with book one, I raced through this book. They are highly readable, highly addictive books and I cannot wait to read the third instalment, Rome: Eagle of the Twelfth and then the fourth book in the series Rome: The Art of War which is released March 28.
I am not sure what to expect from these two books (#3 & #4) as they seem to have left Pantera and gone down a different path.
I would hope Pantera is still in them as his story is far from wrapped up. If he is in them, I suspect it is not as a main character. It does not truly matter to me though. I find that Scott is such a good writer that it does not put me off the series if the character is wholly a new one.
I am sure she will entertain me no matter who he is.

[Gill Stollery]

A great book, I really enjoyed it

[S.J.A. Turney · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Rome series (a general series note to give you an idea of my impression of Manda’s writing and this series in particular.) All good historical fiction is written in an absorbing fashion, such that the reader enjoys every turn of the page. Often, an embellishment is added – just a word, a speech, a turn of phrase, even a physical description – that is so well-written and gorgeous in its own right, that it makes the whole novel. The Rome books in particular, and Manda’s writing in general, takes that embellishment and stretches it to cover the whole book. The entire tale is an embellishment. The whole of every one of the Rome books I’ve read is so beautifully constructed, finely crafted and gracefully, magnificently worded, that the whole book is one long triumph of the writer’s art.

Rome: The Coming of the King is more than just a worthy follow-up to Manda’s first Rome novel. It is a crescendo. Carrying over the protagonist and antagonist and a few of the supporting cast from The Emperor’s Spy, the second in the series sees an escalation in the scale of the story. The first book saw a vile villain trying to burn Rome and destroy Jerusalem in order to fulfil his own, earth-shaking ambitions. Having partially succeeded in his task, that villain now returns to complete the job, centring all the action this time on Judea.

With a searing tale of political discord and religious zealotry, Coming of the King takes us to the searing deserts of Africa, sizzling, fomenting Caesarea, ancient, troublesome and majestic Jerusalem, and even to powerful, unassailable Masada, fortress on the rock.

As Saulos, having escaped justice at the hands of Pantera in the first book, insinuates himself within the highest circles of power (both secular and religious) in Jerusalem, accompanied by a desert nomad and her fearsome beasts, Rome’s greatest spy and his companions travel to the east to try and bring him down.

While the villain sets endless obstacles in their way, rouses the people against them, and climbs ever higher on the rungs of power, Rome’s indomitable agents face death, torture and the collapse of everything they know.

Manda’s descriptions of a land torn between the pragmatic Roman oppressor and an ancient and insular religious code – a land rife with sedition and violence – are evocative and exotic. It is hard not to ‘feel it as you read it’. As with the first Rome book, her treatment of the animals is exquisite, and the spiritual/quasi-religious side of the tale, while stronger than before and delving more into the world of the unknown, still fits well enough into the milieu that it does not seem outlandish or out of place.

In short, I thought the first Rome book was superb. I think the second is even better!

[Irene Soldatos · Rating 4 out of 5]

As The Guardian quote on the cover says: "Truly epic".
As with the other books in the series, this one also offers an alternative take on history, in this case on how the Judean revolt might have been instigated. Fascinating stuff. There's spies, and intrigue, and violence, and daring, impossible feats, all vividly imagined. The only reason I didn't give it the full five stars was that I found I didn't connect with several of the characters in the same way that I connected with others in the previous books of the series, but this is a purely personal and subjective matter, and I'm sure that where I failed to find a connection, others will do so easily.

Let me also just say this: If you like your violence realistic, Manda Scott does this very very well. And doesn't shy away from it. One of the many reasons, but for me an incredibly important reason, why I'm enjoying these books so much.

Well, off to buy the next instalment... :-)

[Deborah Pickstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could read Manda Scott for ever! There is nothing about her historical novels that I don't like - except there aren't enough of them! Certainly, this series is a new take on the emergence of Christianity. I come to each book with trepidation (don't know why, really) that it will fail to please - mainly because of leaving beloved characters behind, I think - I become so caught up in their 'lives' that it's hard to let go. Yet, by the end of each book I am instead consumed with a desire to know....what happens next?

[Shane Findlay · Rating 2 out of 5]

I appreciated the research that went into this novel. However, I’ve discovered the author is a much better writer than a storyteller. 2⭐️

[Julia Mackenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A re-read that got me through several hours of labour!

[Dries · Rating 1 out of 5]

This story is so full of holes it defies any rational thought. Suddenly for no apparent reason everyone from the king of judea to the high priest of the temple and even the roman governor are in the bad guys employ. everyone ignores Nero's ring as if it does not exist. And why go to the temple priest??? Just go to the roman governor, show the ring and get backing from the legions? This whole story does not compute. I have no clue whatsoever why this gets a high rating.

[Rupert Matthews · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cracking read. Great adventure story, loads of action and some characters that really grip the imagination. Mind you he plays fast and loose with historical fact, which I found a tad annoying. Never mind. Great holiday reading.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a well written story with very believable characters. The world and setting are well realised. I do wonder about altering history and found myself confused about 'the Galilean'. Not sure what the point of altering this was though.

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do enjoy a good epic. Really enjoyed Rome, I was hooked from the first chapter and couldn't put it down. War, treachery, love, scheming, this book has it all.

[Susie Helme · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christian legend and Jewish history in a new, surprising plot
Saulos convalesces among the Berbers after the Fire, the skin on his burned feet growing back. He plots revenge on ‘the entire Hebrew people’. He brings Iksahra to Caesarea, accompanied by her cheetah and four hunting birds, to tend King Agrippa (II)’s beasts.
Pantera arrives with Mergus. The message-birds had told them Saulos was travelling, and he knows they are. They travel with a Sabaean camel train, looking to sell their beasts to Yusaf ben Matthias.
Hypatia has a gift for Berenice from Poppaea.
The story brings the enmity between Pantera and Saulos from Book 1 to Judaea. The task at hand now is to save Jerusalem. Syrians and Hebrews riot nightly over the issue of a synagogue. Rebellion is in the air.
The references to Christian legends and names and events from Jewish history—Yusaf ben Matthias, Menachem ben Jehudah, Ananias ben Ananias—are tantalising, and they are crafted into a new, surprising plot.
Secret letters in code, graffiti symbols scratched into stone, passwords and countersigns, oracles and prophecies, message-doves intercepted by hunting falcons, tunnels with listening spaces inside palace walls—the plot is full of intrigue and drama. It ends on a cliffhanger, leaving us certain to buy Book 3.
The intricate cultural detail and subtlety of writing pulls you in. The understatedness of the language makes it sound believably ancient.
Beautiful writing: ‘[She] smiled at them covertly across the sea of strangers’ faces, and their smiles, covertly returned, had felt like splashes of colour in a grey winter’s day’; ‘a certain kind of individual, having met Pantera, was inclined to follow him closely, if not out of desire or admiration, then in the understanding that where he went, life was always interesting.’; ‘he was walking round and round the gold like a hen who has hatched her first egg and found she has given birth to a harpy.’

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

You will need to have read the previous novel "The Emperor's Spy" to enjoy this one, which picks up a couple of years later. Pantera is still trying to track down Saulos, who was trained by the same person and so knows most of the same tricks. Saulos believes that he has a divine mission to fulfill in Jerusalem, and doesn't care how many people may die in the process - rather like some of the modern fanatics who commit atrocities in the name of a deity who probably would not recognise such people as being their followers. That fanaticism contrasts sharply with the various Jewish and Roman characters who are trying to bring about peace and calm things down so that they can go about their lives without hassle.

The story is based upon events documented by Roman historians such as Josephus, so if you're familiar with the era, then you'll have some idea where the series is heading. Some of the characters are therefore based on historical figures, while a few are invented for the purposes of the novel - there is a list at the end which explains who is who, as well as numerous maps throughout the book to help with the geographical aspect.

There's a lot going on in this book, and at times, it did get a bit difficult to keep track of the various characters, subplots and so on, but I liked it enough that I want to read the next one.

[Chloe | fictionalqueer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book much more than the first. I am much more interested in the eastern Empire and so, as much as I missed Rome a little during this story, I loved reading about Judea! (I found the section about Gaul in the first book particularly slow). I also enjoyed the characters a lot more in this second novel. I grew to love Hypatia - I was indifferent to her in The Emperor's Spy - and I loved her growing w/w relationship with Iksahra (my favourite new character of this book). I loved the focus on Mergus and his relationship with Pantera during the Caesarea section of this book as well. As with the first, I am so impressed with the research Scott has put into this series. I am particularly pleased with the Author's Note at the end which explains which characters are based on real people and I love that so much of this novel's story was based on Josephus' work. I studied Josephus a lot during my masters degree and love to see the events he speaks on brought to life in this fiction. I read this book quickly, and am left much more excited to continue the story than I was after finishing The Emperor's Spy.

[The Idle Woman · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I saw the second book in Manda Scott’s Rome series in the library, I pounced on it. It picks up the story in 66 AD, a couple of years after The Emperor’s Spy concluded. Nero is emperor; Seneca is dead; the Empress Poppaea is dying in childbed; and our subtle protagonist Pantera is heading south to Judea on the heels of the man who started the Great Fire of Rome. Pantera has wise and loyal allies, but he is the only one with the skills to track down the zealot Saulos. For Saulos, too, was trained as a spy by Seneca and Pantera knows that he is stepping into a cat-and-mouse game with a man as dangerous as himself, made even more lethal by the fiery convictions of faith. As tensions simmer below the surface in Caesarea and Jerusalem, it requires only one spark for the whole of Judea to flare into bitter internecine war. And Saulos, as we’ve seen, loves a good fire…

For the full review, please see my blog:
https://theidlewoman.net/2017/08/09/r...

[Luka · Rating 4 out of 5]

'There may come a time when you have to choose between saving a people or your friends. If it comes to that, remember that death is a release; the dead do not grieve their loss of life, only the living.'

'Presently, with no word spoken, and no glance back to Kleopatra, the two women walked out of the feed room with the great cat at their heels.'

I must say, this was surprisingly great read. There are always characters in books I don't like very much and I don't necessarily vibe to, but it was a whole lot different with this book. Every single character grabbed my attention, even minor ones because M. C. Scott developed their stories very well. Although I'm more into the medieval settings in books, this one made me look forward to more literature dealing with the ancient times.

[Somnath Sengupta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant, this is how historical fiction should be written.

The first book in this series felt a little rough around the edges but you could tell that Scott is a skilled writer. She shines in the second instalment.

Well formed characters, good action sequences when needed & a story which has just the right balance of fiction & actual history.

I could give Scott couple of stars just due to the very detailed historical notes section. She takes the pain of noting which part of her story is fact and which part is fiction. Not every writer in this genre makes this effort.

[Janey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful atmosphere, it really transported me to that time and place - exotic, strange and yet utterly familiar.
I did find it heavy going at times - you have to love the scenery not just the journey, and somehow I didn't quite love it enough, and I was impatient to get on with the plot. When action came, it was certainly gripping and although violent never became pain porn.
So overall very good.

[09/01 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read

Another great read,plenty of action,double dealing. Hero,a and villains. Scott weaves a fascinating tale. Historical figures play their part, a brilliant take on a well or not so well known tale.

[peter david mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uprising in the holy land.

A catastrophic war threatens to disrupt Judea and overthrow Roman rule. Pantera has to find a way to avert disaster. New and familiar unforgettable characters together with a fast paced plot, make this a five star book ideal for historical fiction fans.

[Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read, love the characters and great series

[Scott Gardner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good read , this one on the uprising of Jerusalem , more good blasphemy at work

[Nicky Moxey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enthralling

Is the third in the series out yet? I need it! This has all the intricacy and delicacy of a Dunning, but bypasses all the tedious bits...

[neil p · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real action packed adventure

A real detailed and action packed story. I wish I didn't get the characters confused at times. I will read the sequel soon.

[Roger Kean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought the Boudica quartet was outstanding but I found the first of this trilogy, Rome: The Emperor's Spy less convincing. Perhaps the apparent need to cross-link the new series from Boudica made it more confusing to get into. However, Rome: The Coming of the King is a more linear roller-coaster ride without the sacrifice of any of M.C. Scott's trademark dreamscapes or the palpable sense of mystery which pervades every page. It's also a terrific action-adventure yarn which takes Pantera and his ex-centurion friend Mergus into the furnace of Jewish rebellion as they try to thwart the evil intentions of Saullos (Saint Paul), who has set his heart on the total destruction of Jerusalem. The Chosen of Isis, Hypatia, wreathed in her dreams is joined by the lethal Berber woman Iksahra as the plot threads pull them together with Pantera and a large cast of believable characters.

Throughout there is a subtle homoerotic tide, Mergus for Pantera, Hypatia for Iksahra, King Herod Agrippa for any young man… There are many real characters from history woven seamlessly together with the fictional, none so real, perhaps, as Saullos. I wonder what America's Bible Belt thinks of this inversion of the Saint Paul story. And yet, is it an alternative history? It's a personal prejudice, but I have always considered the sainted Paul/Saul of Tarsus responsible for the destruction of pure and original Christianity, so I have no trouble seeing M.C. Scott's Saullos in exactly the way she portrays him. Each to their own.

The Independent newspaper of London said: "A dramatic new version of the past…grippingly sustained." The Coming of the King (the Messiah and a descendant of Jesus, the true king of Jerusalem) is all of that and, with some tremendous location descriptions, a lot more.

[María Orro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tengo muchos problemas con este libro.

No es que no me gustara.
El libro está bien, pero no entiendo muy bien por qué esta señora ha escrito este libro.
Me explico.
El libro es una segunda parte, que sigue la historia del protagonista del anterior. Esto parece obvio, pero lo aclaro porque sigue única y exclusivamente la trama de este señor, porque los demás personajes del libro se esfuman por completo.
Bomba de humo total.
No lo entiendo.
A veces me daba la risa y todo de lo ridículo que era, porque es que ni se mencionan los personajes que faltan. (Miento: en una conversación se comenta algo sobre uno de ellos como si eso lo explicara todo).

Ojo, también aparece y siendo bastante protagonista, un personaje muy secundario de la novela anterior, así un poco porque sí.

Es que no entiendo que se plantee como una segunda parte cuando no tiene nada que ver salvo un protagonista súper plano (que digo yo que para rescatar a este señor casi mejor inventarse otro) y el villano (que más de lo mismo).
No me molestaba mucho en la primera parte que quedaran las cosas tan abiertas porque sabía que había más libros, pero ahora me mosquea un poco viendo por dónde van los tiros.
Es verdad que esta novela queda mucho más cerrada, así que supongo que la tercera no tendrá tampoco nada que ver.

Ahora las cosas buenas.
El personaje de Hypatia me ha gustado bastante, y eso que en el libro anterior no me decía nada.
La trama también me ha gustado y los personajes nuevos no están nada mal.
Aún así, me había gustado mucho más el anterior.
No sé muy bien aún si leeré el siguiente o no. Tengo que pensarlo.

3/5⭐️

[Patrick Raftery · Rating 4 out of 5]

in a book like this, you need a good villain but we have very bad person who we know as St Paul, who acts as the emperor man in judaea, whose control over the king makes him a very dangerous man. So now we need heroes and the real emperor man and friends are those, in these M.C.Scott places them in key areas off the story, witch is done in a way that till the end of the book you don't know if they will make it to the end. I did enjoy this book and feel that the use of St Paul as the evil villain is a masterpiece as will make many writer's green and some others angry in the way St Paul is use, but in reading the story l did think some of it be true and this is wot a good writer does make you think as you read it.

[Carole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gripping story, well drawn characters and many surprises. I imagine the religious right would be pretty unhappy with Scott's interpretation of Hebrew and early Christian history, especially the depiction of Paul/Saulos but it is well founded in research which is all explained in the Author's Notes. Although fiction it is based in detailed historical information and I found it totally engrossing. In fact I spent the whole morning reading as I couldn't tear myself away until I finished the book. Now I shall have to wait until the third book is published sometime this year to spend more time with Pantera, Hypatia, Kleopatra, Mergus and the rest.

[Bernie Charbonneau · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the first novel a few years ago and my local library has not ordered the subsequent volumes to this series so had to order from the book store. I am glad to continue this series. As I recall, I was not overly impressed with the first book but I am in consensus with the majority in saying that this novel was a much better paced and interesting read. This part of Ms. Scott’s epic tale during the early rise of Christianity and Roman rule had more interesting plots going on that kept me turning pages. I definitely look forward to the next volume to this rendering of Roman era dominance in the Holy Land. A strong recommendation for Roman buffs.