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Condemned
Journey of From Gladiator to Praetorian Guard
Set against the vibrant and tumultuous backdrop of ancient Rome, this narrative follows Marcus Tullius Cicero, known as Spiculus, as he transforms from a condemned gladiator slave to a prominent Praetorian guard under Emperor Nero. This gripping tale delves into themes of survival, identity, power, freedom, and the supernatural.
Spiculus's journey begins in the brutal gladiatorial pits, where he discovers his unique mystical abilities. Unexpectedly freed and elevated to the elite Praetorian Guard, he navigates the complexities of Roman society, political intrigue, and his own past. As he rises in rank, Spiculus grapples with the moral dilemmas of power and servitude, especially when he is gifted a grand estate.
The narrative intricately weaves personal transformation with political symbolism, exploring the delicate balance of power within the imperial court. Spiculus's supernatural abilities add a unique layer to the historical setting, as he confronts metaphysical struggles and forms alliances with mysterious figures.
Amidst a catastrophic fire that devastates Rome, Spiculus emerges as a symbol of hope and resilience, healing the afflicted and confronting the shades of the dead. His journey is one of redemption, identity, and the complexities of power dynamics in ancient Rome.
Set against the vibrant and tumultuous backdrop of ancient Rome, this narrative follows Marcus Tullius Cicero, known as Spiculus, as he transforms from a condemned gladiator slave to a prominent Praetorian guard under Emperor Nero. This gripping tale delves into themes of survival, identity, power, freedom, and the supernatural.
Spiculus's journey begins in the brutal gladiatorial pits, where he discovers his unique mystical abilities. Unexpectedly freed and elevated to the elite Praetorian Guard, he navigates the complexities of Roman society, political intrigue, and his own past. As he rises in rank, Spiculus grapples with the moral dilemmas of power and servitude, especially when he is gifted a grand estate.
The narrative intricately weaves personal transformation with political symbolism, exploring the delicate balance of power within the imperial court. Spiculus's supernatural abilities add a unique layer to the historical setting, as he confronts metaphysical struggles and forms alliances with mysterious figures.
Amidst a catastrophic fire that devastates Rome, Spiculus emerges as a symbol of hope and resilience, healing the afflicted and confronting the shades of the dead. His journey is one of redemption, identity, and the complexities of power dynamics in ancient Rome.
407 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 14, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 7, 2025
This book was interesting and unlike anything that I have read before.
First of all, I am unaware if this is a debut novel, but the writing compared to that of a more experienced writer and was well done.
I really enjoyed following the main character. His back story and family were interesting to learn about. The story about how the main character came to be at the arena was a bit confusing. It seemed as though there was information left out or maybe that was intentionally done by the author. Either way, it was very unclear in my opinion and it left me a bit frustrated honestly. Although I really enjoyed the main character, I felt like none of the other characters were really fleshed out. None of them seemed to have any depth. There also got to be a lot of characters at one point and at times I found it difficult to distinguish between them.
I also found the magic system unique. It's unlike anything I have read in a fantasy book.
This book took me longer than books of this size normally take me to read. It felt like the middle one hundred to one hundred and fifty pages really lingered on. Because of this, I feel like the book could have been shortened by fifty to one hundred pages. This also made it quite boring for me and greatly affected the rating. I remember the beginning and ending of this book so vividly, but the middle has already escaped me due to its lingering content.
Overall, I thought this book had an interesting concept and plot line. Although I found it difficult to get through the middle portion of the book, I really enjoyed the main character and his story throughout the book.
First of all, I am unaware if this is a debut novel, but the writing compared to that of a more experienced writer and was well done.
I really enjoyed following the main character. His back story and family were interesting to learn about. The story about how the main character came to be at the arena was a bit confusing. It seemed as though there was information left out or maybe that was intentionally done by the author. Either way, it was very unclear in my opinion and it left me a bit frustrated honestly. Although I really enjoyed the main character, I felt like none of the other characters were really fleshed out. None of them seemed to have any depth. There also got to be a lot of characters at one point and at times I found it difficult to distinguish between them.
I also found the magic system unique. It's unlike anything I have read in a fantasy book.
This book took me longer than books of this size normally take me to read. It felt like the middle one hundred to one hundred and fifty pages really lingered on. Because of this, I feel like the book could have been shortened by fifty to one hundred pages. This also made it quite boring for me and greatly affected the rating. I remember the beginning and ending of this book so vividly, but the middle has already escaped me due to its lingering content.
Overall, I thought this book had an interesting concept and plot line. Although I found it difficult to get through the middle portion of the book, I really enjoyed the main character and his story throughout the book.
November 2, 2025
An Amazing Retelling
This book was an amazing retelling of Spiculus' story. It was captivating and I loved the touch of magic, the only thing I've got to say about it is that I wish we learned more about the magic system in this book. I will still be reading future books.
This book was an amazing retelling of Spiculus' story. It was captivating and I loved the touch of magic, the only thing I've got to say about it is that I wish we learned more about the magic system in this book. I will still be reading future books.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews