While Rome Burned

The Sertorius Scrolls #6

by Vincent B. Davis II

Rome is burning.
88 B.C. After years of service to Rome, Quintus Sertorius has exchanged the bloodshed of the battlefield for the tranquility of his farm. He dedicates himself to his pregnant wife with the same vigor he displayed in the legion. But soon the bells of war toll again, and there is nowhere in Italy safe from its destruction. As rebel armies close in, Sertorius realizes his wife and child are in danger. The fate of his homeland is at stake, and he cannot ignore the call to arms.

But while the Republic unravels, politicians exploit the chaos to bolster their power. As tensions spiral toward collision, the enigmatic general Lucius Cornelius Sulla orchestrates his rise to ultimate power. Men like Gaius Marius are determined to take supremacy for themselves.

The horizon darkens with the threat of Rome’s first civil war.

Sertorius finds himself torn between the need to protect his wife and child and his duty to save Rome from consuming itself. Is it too late?

For fans of Colleen McCullough, Conn Iggulden, and Ben Kane, While Rome Burned is the sixth book in the riveting Sertorius Scrolls historical fiction series. Whether read as a standalone or with the rest of the series, While Rome Burned will keep the pages turning and remain in readers’ hearts and minds long after they finish reading.

Grab your gladius and join Sertorius on his quest to save Rome!

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction

386 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 23, 2024

About the author

Vincent B. Davis II writes historical fiction books to keep the past alive through the power of storytelling. He is also an entrepreneur, speaker, and veteran who is a proud graduate of East Tennessee State University and was honorably discharged from the US Army in 2022. Armed with a pen and an entrepreneurial spirit, Vincent quit his day job and decided it was as good a time as any to follow his dream. He went on to publish six historical fiction novels, four of which have now become Amazon International Best Sellers.

Vincent is also a devoted and depressed Carolina Panthers fan and a proud pet parent to his rescue pups, Buddy and Jenny. Join Vincent in celebrating the past through the pages of his books. His newsletter, The Legion, is more than just another author email list. It’s a community of readers who enjoy free additional content to enhance their reading experience—HD Maps, family trees, Latin glossaries, free eBooks, and more. You can join the community and snag your freebies at https://vincentbdavisii.com/join-the-....

Vincent also loves connecting with his readers through social media. Find him on Facebook or Instagram @vbdavisii, vincentbdavisii.com, or email him at Vincent@thirteenthpress.com.

Reviews

[Sumit · Rating 4 out of 5]

“𝙄 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙧. 𝙍𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙞𝙛 𝙬𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙞𝙛𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙨, 𝙖𝙩 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙄𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙮 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙛𝙚. 𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙞𝙜𝙣 𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙣 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙗𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙢𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙥𝙖𝙨𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙯𝙚𝙣𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙩 𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙠 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣. 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩’𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙄 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙧𝙚. 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝘼𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙖 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙏𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙖 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙛𝙚. 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙛𝙚.”

🔥While Rome Burned by Vincent B. Davis II - 6th in The Sertorius Scrolls series - set before the end of the Roman Republican period, tells the story of a Roman general Quintus Sertorius.




88 BC. For the sake of his wife and his new child, Quintus has left his military service and retired to his farm, but when the bells of war toll again, he cannot ignore the call to arms. Meanwhile, Rome's first civil war darkens the horizon, as General Sulla and politician Marius exploit the chaos and collide to take supremacy for themselves. Quintius finds himself torn between the need to protect his family and his duty to save Rome from consuming itself.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙮𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙢 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙛𝙡𝙖𝙬𝙚𝙙, 𝙘𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙡𝙮. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙬𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙫𝙚𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙩𝙤𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙪𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣. 𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙚, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙪𝙥𝙤𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙝 𝙍𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙩 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙. 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩’𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙮 𝙄 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙍𝙤𝙢𝙚, 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩’𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙮 𝙄 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙄 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙮 𝙛𝙖𝙧𝙢.


🔥The story is based on the end of Rome's Social war and the beginning of Rome's first Civil war and explores Quintius' role in it. Vincent had done his research work expertly to bring this period to life. You will get first-hand knowledge about Roman society, politics, the army, and how the Roman Republic works. The constant political intrigues, betrayals, and cinematic battle scenes keep me hooked.

🔥Like all the books in the series, it was also structured as a memoir, written in Quintus's 1st-person narrative, and for a change, narratives of his son Gavius, friend Lucius, and wife Arrea are added. As we read, we delve into their mind, experience what they were going through, and see them mature. From the historical note given at the end of the book we also learn about their real historical accounts.

🔥The characters of Quintus and his son Gavius are meticulously written, complimenting each other. On one side we have retired Quintius who again joined the army to end the Social War but entangled himself in the chaos of civil war; on the other side, we have Gavius, brainwashed by Sulla who led the army to the gates of Rome. Other characters like Quintus's wife Arrea and his friend, former gladiator Baraca are worth mentioning.

🔥I feel the last half of the book is hurriedly written and it ends abruptly, making the father-son duo stand against each other. I hate this kind of cliffhanger. Now I have to wait god knows how long to know what's going to happen in their lives.

Overall, it was an engaging read from start to finish. Perfect for fans of Colleen McCullough, Conn Iggulden, and Ben Kane. If you're into Roman history then do read it. Highly recommended.

𝙈𝙮 𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨(4.5/5)

[W. Kelly McDowell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel that the writing suffers when not describing battle or other action scenarios.

[Rebecca Augustine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting Times for Ancient Rome ...

... and Sertorius and his family. In fact, the times seem eerily similar to our own! While the novel may end on an uncertain note, one only needs to read history to find out for sure, "Does Sulla win the Day and become dictator of Rome?"

[CJ Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

*SPOILER WARNING*

This review contains major spoilers. Personally, I like to know exactly what I’m getting into before I buy a book, so I often seek out spoiler-filled reviews. If you’re the same way, then this one’s for you.

I had the pleasure of meeting Vincent B. Davis II at the Montrose Writers' Conference on two separate occasions. The second time, I was fortunate enough to see his books featured for sale alongside those of the other presenting authors. He quickly became one of my favorite speakers, sharing valuable insights on character development, world-building, and the craft of structuring a novel.

And I can confidently say that his novel more than lives up to the lessons he taught, especially when it comes to writing great characters.

My review won’t focus too heavily on the plot, which largely sets the stage for the first Roman Civil War, better known as Sulla’s Civil War. The final chapters depict Sulla’s ruthless seizure of power through his raid on Rome, culminating in the dictatorship on the verge of being established. For that reason alone, I’m both hopeful and fairly certain this won’t be the last book in the series. After finishing, I did some research and learned that history doesn’t end with Sulla’s victory. He eventually loses his grip on Rome.

That said, this book itself offers no happy ending. The conclusion hit me like a brick. All my favorite characters survived, but none of them were left unscathed. There’s no “happily ever after” here, because in the end, Sulla—the villain—emerges triumphant.

And all I want is for Quintus and his small, close-knit family to find some happiness in the midst of war-torn Rome. Is that really too much to ask?

Even though I came into this book knowing nothing about Sulla’s Civil War, I had no trouble following the events or understanding the stakes. If you’ve seen Arcane Season 1, you’ll recognize a similar appeal: every choice a character makes sets off a chain reaction of decisions and consequences, each one compounding until it all spirals into tragedy at the end. This book works in much the same way. There are virtually no true “side characters.” Each figure carries their own beliefs, ambitions, and moral codes, and it’s those convictions that drive their choices—choices that alter the course of the story, set off direct consequences, and force others to react, spiraling everything into chaos. And yet the chaos feels inevitable, born not only from the characters themselves, but from a culture that rewards or punishes them, for better or worse. You’re not reading a dry history lesson; you’re witnessing what happens when powerful figures collide, endlessly clashing, unable—or unwilling—to decide what’s best for the people of Rome, if they even care about their subjects at all.

Now for my favorite part of the book: the characters. There are many to choose from, but for the sake of this review, I’ll focus on the three main ones.

Quintus Sertorius-I’m glad I picked up this book in the series. I’m sure I would have admired his character even in his younger years, but what truly hooked me was the moment his daughter was born—the deep love he showed for both his child and his wife. From that point on, I wanted nothing more than the best for him and his family. It’s rare to find a strong father figure in literature who isn’t killed off for the sake of the plot, rarer still for that father figure to stand at the heart of the story as its hero.

What I admired most about Quintus is his self-awareness. He constantly measures his actions against those he considers corrupt, striving to make the best choices he can within his circumstances, yet always fearing he might be no better than them.

At the same time, he remains a traditionalist at heart, clinging to values that the society around him dismisses as naïve, outdated, and worthless. There are moments in the book where Quintus is punished precisely for having faith in humanity. He refuses to bribe or flatter influential figures for the sake of votes, instead trusting that the people of Rome will see through the corruption and choose leaders who seek office not for wealth or status, but simply to do what is right—for the sake of what is right. As a result, he lost the election. Yet, despite every setback he faces because of his beliefs, he refuses to abandon his code. Even in a Rome defined by cutthroat ambition and selfishness, he remains determined to live honestly, resisting the cultural pressures that urge him to compromise. A hero like that feels more relevant in our own time than ever.

Sulla-Every chapter he appeared, I found myself muttering aloud: “Darn you, Sulla,” or “Sulla, you snake.”

Basically, he’s the best kind of villain. No matter what Quintus did, he was always two steps ahead—no, two steps ahead of every character in the novel. He transforms his battalion, Sulla’s Fist, into a ruthless, warmongering cult willing to kill for him, even if it means slaughtering their fellow Romans. Their loyalty to him, and to each other, trumps any sense of duty to the Republic.

That’s what terrified me most about him—the way he molds people as if they were clay.

Cross Sulla, and the punishments are brutal, personal, and inescapable.

You betray him because the prince of your country is held captive by rebels, and your loyalty lies with your prince? The moment Sulla conquers the rebel base, he forces the Numidians to turn on each other—only forty will be pardoned and recruited into Sulla’s Fist. They betray one another, just as they betrayed him.

You incite a mob to attack him because he wouldn’t let you lead a battle against a wealthy nation? He doesn’t even need to strike the consuls himself. His soldiers do it for him, unwilling to be stripped of Sulla's command by someone they deem unworthy. He burns Rome—not because he must, but because you dared to double-cross him.

What I found most diabolical was the way he treated Quintus. He admired the man and wanted him as a soldier, but because Quintus refused to surrender his autonomy to someone he didn’t trust, Sulla turned his attention to Quintus’s son. He ensured Gavius could never truly stay connected with his family—never allowed to visit alone, never permitted to read letters from his father. And the one time he did, it was only to test Gavius’s loyalty. Sulla treated Gavius like a son, yet used him like a weapon.

I have to admire him as a villain. He’s truly formidable, never giving the story a moment of peace. And yet, at the same time, I’m rooting for his downfall.

Gavius-He was my favorite. More than just another of Sulla’s henchmen, he’s a study in what happens to someone dependent on external validation—from Sulla and from all of Rome. He is well-meaning—he loves his mother, his little sister, even his horse—but his obsession with praise and the desire to be remembered as a legend, just like his father, drives him to one terrible decision after another.

All he needed to do was go home: step away from Sulla, spend time with his family, and ground himself in what truly matters.

But he couldn’t. His pride wouldn’t allow it.

I found myself rooting for him the entire time. I wanted him not only to see through Sulla’s manipulation—how Sulla recognized Gavius’s desire for recognition and exploited it—but also to understand that a life spent chasing everyone’s approval is a poisoned existence. And even after everything he’s done, I still want that for him.

His confusion during the siege, questioning why he and his soldiers were called traitors, and the line, “The gods… knew my heart. They knew I only desired what was best for Rome, and for all who sacrificed in her name,” gives me hope that redemption is still possible.

He is the most complex character in this novel, a true tragic figure with a flaw he might still overcome. There is still goodness in him, and I hope the part of him guided by his father's example, and his desire to be a good older brother, will triumph over the part of him that is crippled by the need to be loved by everyone except the family who loves him unconditionally.

All in all, I highly recommend giving this book a read. Having finished it, I can’t wait to dive into the next installment in the series.

[Simon Gunnarsson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just can't with this guy anymore.

The book struggles significantly with historical authenticity. First, there’s a jarring overemphasis on emotional expression—constant crying and hugging—that feels entirely out of place in the Roman world, where stoicism and martial discipline were cultural cornerstones. The tone feels more like modern emotional drama than historical fiction.

Second, the author invents a son for Quintus Sertorius, supposedly with a married slave woman. This not only lacks historical basis but ignores the realities of Roman social structure: senators married for political alliances, not love, and certainly not with slaves. It reads more like wishful fiction than grounded history.

Third, many key characters are portrayed as extremely young—barely out of their teens—while somehow holding high military rank. Even figures like Pompey, who rose unusually fast, were older and more seasoned than the characters depicted here. It undermines believability and it's frankly ridiculous. It's like Robin Williams being an old Peter Pan with the kids, except here Sulla is Peter Pan. If the author is so fond of Crassus, Cisero, Pompey you're writing about the wrong war. Mr Davis even takes parts from later stories in some ridiculous ways, e.g., Crassus becomes rich as a result from the conscriptions and recruits an army in Spain. But here, all of a sudden he appears with his own army, and the author so kindly explains that the name Crassus means rich in Latin, WHICH IS ALSO NOT TRUE.

Fourth, the naming conventions are sloppy. Numidian characters all bear Hellenistic names—like Barkas (a clear nod to Hannibal Barca) or Hesterbal—despite the fact that Numidian royalty and generals had well-documented, culturally appropriate names. It gives the impression that the author either didn’t research or didn’t care.

Fifth, the book repeatedly refers to the Roman Republic as an Empire, even during a period when the Republic was very much intact. This isn't a trivial slip — it's a fundamental misunderstanding of Roman history. At the time of Sertorius, the term Imperium referred to command or authority, not a political structure like the later Empire under Augustus.

In short, the book’s historical foundation is thin and often feels like a loosely applied backdrop rather than a carefully researched setting. It reads more like alternate history or historical fantasy — which would be fine if that were the intent. But when presenting itself as historical fiction, accuracy matters — and here, it’s sorely lacking. The fact that the author can't even come up with his own topics but takes actual


Lastly, from the authors own words: "Vincent B. Davis II writes historical fiction books to keep the past alive through the power of storytelling" which is simply not the case. The author scrambles and distorts history. I feel sad for the readers unfamiliar with Rome getting their introduction with this confusing mess of a dramatized soap opera.

I just don't get it, Sertorius story (and the wars featured) are amazing as it is. Why turn it into this

Oh and one last thing. The author KEEPS spouting the dumb myth that the gladiators fought to death. Just do a Google search man.

[KHELLIAN · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sixth book in the series introduced some interesting concepts with all the same characters that we have become familiar with, together with the introduction of some new ones. Firstly, that war is immensely profitable and secondly that the populace of Rome were susceptible to the lies broadcast by those with charisma and a lust for power. There is a perfect passage in Scroll XIX that states this magnificently, and it is eerily close to what we see today if you have eyes to see. This is the period in Rome's history while it is still a Republic and democracy was the rule, but we come to see it starting to come apart at the seams. Quintus is old school and believes in the Republic but begins to see how it can be gamed with those who have money and by trading political favors. No doubt there will a seventh book as inevitably the story will continue.

[Dean McIntyre · Rating 4 out of 5]

WHILE ROME BURNED (THE SERTORIUS SCROLLS #6) by Vincent B. Davis II -- Even though this is the sixth volume in a series, it can be read as a stand-alone work. In the year 88 B.C., Quintus Sertorius has distinguished himself in past battles under the Roman Republic. He has now retired to his farm, to grow his crops, love his pregnant wife, and raise his family. But the war between Rome and its enemies calls him again to battle, even as the Republic is failing and rebel armies are closing in. He knows his family is in danger and he is torn between his need to care and provide for them and his need to support and honor the needs of Rome. The author excels at describing Rome, its politics, the army, conflicts and intrigues of its leaders, Roman society, and especially the army and Roman warfare. Strong characters, both good and bad. Engaging plot and development.

[HAL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Republic is spelled SACRIFICE

Davis' novel paints a classic picture of desire for retaining freedom admist complex politics and a growing desire for domination. This book leaves off on a dark note with embers of hope hinted at a brighter future. If you like political intrigue, warfare and historical settings, you will enjoy While Rome Burned. Older teens and adults are the targeted readership and Davis delivers both setting and plot in a skillful novel. Enjoy!

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author is correct; you can read it as a stand-alone, although part of a series. Leaving his farm, Sertorius fights rebels and with others in the legions, defeats them utterly. He runs for tribune unsuccessfully. After a brutal and bloody civil war, he flees with family and friends to an uncertain future. A fascinating read, the story told in three voices: Sertorius himself, wife Arrea, and adopted son Gavius. I thank the author for a copy of his novel.

[Adrian Gonzales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing addition

Another amazing addition to the series. Can't wait for the next. Keep them coming. Mr. Davis can tell the story of Rome and the beginning of the end of the Republic with the best of them.

[William Bates · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book and the entire series. Can’t wait for the next book!

[Toni Frizell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great series

All of the Sertorius Scrolls books are fascinating. They provide a historical view into the fall of the Roman Empire. Characters are fascinating and the politics are frightening.

[Gerald F · Rating 5 out of 5]

great historical fiction

Interesting combination of politics, warfare and course treachery .
My favorite novel of this action packed series . Looking forwardtoth3 next chapter

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fearsome end

A fearsome end. A real cliffhanger of an ending. I need the next book to settle my spirit. Hope it is written.

[Gerald Heath · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very readable! I hope there is another!

[Chris Amsberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

riveting

Couldn’t put it down. Need the next book!
I’m hoping there is another book that will carry me into what happens.

[Richard Werner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love reading about how history may have unfolded.
This author captures and weaves human stories around actual history. Look forward to reading more in the series.

[AUDRA LUCKIE · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book

Can’t wait to read the next one. This is a great series. What will happen to sertorius and his family ? How many more books can we expect ?