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The Accursed
Ina city held together by fear, one man fights for the truth ...
Rome, 64 AD: ruled by the crazy emperor Nero and devastated by raging fires, the city struggles to rise from the ashes. But now a new threat - darker even than the emperor's crumbling sanity, begins to plague the Roman people. And Quintus Julius Marcellus is the only man who can stop it.
Someone - or something - is killing Rome's elite citizens ina terrifyingly brutal and violant way. It's the hardest case Julius has ever faced - and if he doesn't solve it to the emperor's liking, it could be his last.
The odds are stacked against success as Julius is drawn into a whirl of political intrigue, battling jealous rivals, Nero's paranoia, and - as if that weren't enough - struggling against the unbeatable force of falling in love ...
Rome, 64 AD: ruled by the crazy emperor Nero and devastated by raging fires, the city struggles to rise from the ashes. But now a new threat - darker even than the emperor's crumbling sanity, begins to plague the Roman people. And Quintus Julius Marcellus is the only man who can stop it.
Someone - or something - is killing Rome's elite citizens ina terrifyingly brutal and violant way. It's the hardest case Julius has ever faced - and if he doesn't solve it to the emperor's liking, it could be his last.
The odds are stacked against success as Julius is drawn into a whirl of political intrigue, battling jealous rivals, Nero's paranoia, and - as if that weren't enough - struggling against the unbeatable force of falling in love ...
391 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
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9 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 4, 2015
** Minor spoiler below **
This wasn't at all what I expected, but it was an unchallenging read and a bit of escapism.
What sounds like a murder mystery quickly becomes a supernatural tale that introduces an early form of vampirism. Once you suspend disbelief a little you can sit back and enjoy it well enough.
This wasn't at all what I expected, but it was an unchallenging read and a bit of escapism.
What sounds like a murder mystery quickly becomes a supernatural tale that introduces an early form of vampirism. Once you suspend disbelief a little you can sit back and enjoy it well enough.
January 6, 2015
i was looking for historical novel about rome... plot line too fanciful for me... not particularly well written... didn't finish it...
September 16, 2020
Story is set in times of Emperor Nero. Fictional work that contains mystery, paranormal occurrences, occult and that sort of babble. Not what I expected, however, those rare moments in between fiction where Rome's politics, social divide, cultural norms, polytheism etc. were described, felt if not accurate then at least fit my expectations.
!SPOILERS!
I truly enjoyed reading of the Ancient times setting. Honey-cakes, garum, lyre, tunic, perverse culture etc. Mercurius's loyalties at the end of the story came as a surprised. Quite some love making and wide range of characters. I liked the descriptions given by author as to why Nero did this or that. Want a new palace in better location and exuberantly outside of your budget? Burn down the capital of your empire! Are you feeling more bummed out today than other days? Spit out the most extravagant and unimaginable nonsense to curse your subjects! Same as with Mercurius and Julius. The behind the scenes political plotting as to better one's own position and undermine others.
I felt no sympathy or connection to Julius. He just feels so bland, his past is told by bits over the length of book, and its not enough. What's more the continuous explanation of Julius's is really annoying. As if they exist just for relevance's sake.
The main impact of story was far more on the mystery and romance than detective work. I understand that author too needs to pay bills, however, book feels unfinished. I don't intend to search for continuation of this story, if there is such, so it just works to leave bad impression of the whole work. Also, the whole alternative vampire/were-vampire/guts-sucking-vampire plot isn't for me.
Conclusion 2/5. I'm sure there is an audience for mystery, romance, e.g. cult fame of "Twilight" Just that I didn't like this book. Cover feels misleading, story bland and unfinished. For it to be an erotic, too little erotic, for it to be detective, too little detective work, and mystery, romance isn't in my taste.
!SPOILERS!
I truly enjoyed reading of the Ancient times setting. Honey-cakes, garum, lyre, tunic, perverse culture etc. Mercurius's loyalties at the end of the story came as a surprised. Quite some love making and wide range of characters. I liked the descriptions given by author as to why Nero did this or that. Want a new palace in better location and exuberantly outside of your budget? Burn down the capital of your empire! Are you feeling more bummed out today than other days? Spit out the most extravagant and unimaginable nonsense to curse your subjects! Same as with Mercurius and Julius. The behind the scenes political plotting as to better one's own position and undermine others.
I felt no sympathy or connection to Julius. He just feels so bland, his past is told by bits over the length of book, and its not enough. What's more the continuous explanation of Julius's is really annoying. As if they exist just for relevance's sake.
The main impact of story was far more on the mystery and romance than detective work. I understand that author too needs to pay bills, however, book feels unfinished. I don't intend to search for continuation of this story, if there is such, so it just works to leave bad impression of the whole work. Also, the whole alternative vampire/were-vampire/guts-sucking-vampire plot isn't for me.
Conclusion 2/5. I'm sure there is an audience for mystery, romance, e.g. cult fame of "Twilight" Just that I didn't like this book. Cover feels misleading, story bland and unfinished. For it to be an erotic, too little erotic, for it to be detective, too little detective work, and mystery, romance isn't in my taste.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews