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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 - 3 of 3 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.
January 18, 2026
Condemned by Brette Wolfe takes place in ancient Rome. We follow Marcus Tullius Cicero, also known as Spiculus, and his life from serving as a condemned gladiator to being promoted by the emperor to serve as a member of the Praetorian Guard. Emperor Nero believes Rome is dying, and he needs Spiculus to help him save the city.
Nobody knows that Spiculus has supernatural powers. He can see the moment someone begins to die. It’s as though a white mist leaves them, and he can also see beings known as ‘shades’. Spiculus thinks he is the only one with these powers, but after meeting Locusta, who can talk to plants, he realises that there is someone else out there like him. Her powers manifest differently.
In the book, there is a great fire that ravages Rome. Spiculus uses his supernatural powers to help those who are suffering and confront the spirits left behind. During the fire, Spiculus loses Locusta and tries to get her back.
I find that the plot is both intriguing and grounded in the themes of survival, identity, power, and freedom. The reader is invested in finding out more about his superpowers, how he got them, and whether there are others like him.
The editing is sharp, and the well-planned chapters give the book a smooth, readable flow. However, I feel the book has a slow start. It takes quite some time before the story gains momentum, and a quicker pace early on would have strengthened the plot.
Unfortunately, so many elements remain unexplained. I come away with more unanswered questions than I expected. How did the emperor intend to save Rome with Spiculus’s help? This is a thread in the book that starts big but ultimately leads nowhere. What happened to Locusta, her shade, and her body? Do they ever find her body so that her shade can return to it?
Overall, I rate this book three out of five for the reasons given. The book offers an intriguing plot. However, the slow start and the fact that not all narrative threads are followed up on hold it back.
This book is suitable for 16–18-year-olds.
My review taken from my account on OnlineBookClub
https://forums.onlinebookclub.org/vie...
Nobody knows that Spiculus has supernatural powers. He can see the moment someone begins to die. It’s as though a white mist leaves them, and he can also see beings known as ‘shades’. Spiculus thinks he is the only one with these powers, but after meeting Locusta, who can talk to plants, he realises that there is someone else out there like him. Her powers manifest differently.
In the book, there is a great fire that ravages Rome. Spiculus uses his supernatural powers to help those who are suffering and confront the spirits left behind. During the fire, Spiculus loses Locusta and tries to get her back.
I find that the plot is both intriguing and grounded in the themes of survival, identity, power, and freedom. The reader is invested in finding out more about his superpowers, how he got them, and whether there are others like him.
The editing is sharp, and the well-planned chapters give the book a smooth, readable flow. However, I feel the book has a slow start. It takes quite some time before the story gains momentum, and a quicker pace early on would have strengthened the plot.
Unfortunately, so many elements remain unexplained. I come away with more unanswered questions than I expected. How did the emperor intend to save Rome with Spiculus’s help? This is a thread in the book that starts big but ultimately leads nowhere. What happened to Locusta, her shade, and her body? Do they ever find her body so that her shade can return to it?
Overall, I rate this book three out of five for the reasons given. The book offers an intriguing plot. However, the slow start and the fact that not all narrative threads are followed up on hold it back.
This book is suitable for 16–18-year-olds.
My review taken from my account on OnlineBookClub
https://forums.onlinebookclub.org/vie...
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 - 3 of 3 reviews