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Tales of Ancient Rome #2
The Golden Dice
"An enthralling tale of political intrigue, romance, and corruption." – M. Louisa Locke, author of Maids of Misfortune
The dramatic sequel in the A Tale of Ancient Rome series by bestselling author Elisabeth Storrs
During a bitter siege between Rome and the Etruscan city of Veii, three women follow different paths to survive.
Caecilia, Roman born but Etruscan wed, forsakes Rome to return to her husband, Vel Mastarna, exposing herself to the enmity of his people while knowing the Romans will give her a traitor’s death if Veii falls.
Semni, a reckless Etruscan servant in the House of Mastarna, embroils herself in schemes that threaten Caecilia’s son and Semni’s own chance for love.
Pinna, a destitute Roman prostitute, uses coercion to gain the attention of Rome’s greatest general at the risk of betraying Caecilia’s cousin.
Each woman struggles to protect herself and those whom she loves in the dark cycle of war. What must they do to challenge Fate? And will they ever live in peace again?
The dramatic sequel in the A Tale of Ancient Rome series by bestselling author Elisabeth Storrs
During a bitter siege between Rome and the Etruscan city of Veii, three women follow different paths to survive.
Caecilia, Roman born but Etruscan wed, forsakes Rome to return to her husband, Vel Mastarna, exposing herself to the enmity of his people while knowing the Romans will give her a traitor’s death if Veii falls.
Semni, a reckless Etruscan servant in the House of Mastarna, embroils herself in schemes that threaten Caecilia’s son and Semni’s own chance for love.
Pinna, a destitute Roman prostitute, uses coercion to gain the attention of Rome’s greatest general at the risk of betraying Caecilia’s cousin.
Each woman struggles to protect herself and those whom she loves in the dark cycle of war. What must they do to challenge Fate? And will they ever live in peace again?
506 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 7, 2013
264 people are currently reading
1042 people want to read
About the author
Elisabeth Storrs
5 books148 followersElisabeth Storrs has a great love for the history - both trivia and the serious stuff. She is the award-winning author of the A Tale of Ancient Rome saga which was endorsed by Ursula Le Guin, Kate Quinn and Ben Kane. Now she’s hurtling centuries forward with FABLES & LIES, a novel set in WW2 Germany about the Aryan myth, crazy Nazi archaeology, and a race to save Trojan Treasure during the fall of Berlin. She is the founder and program director of the Historical Novel Society Australasia, and a former Deputy Chair of Writing NSW. In 2020, Elisabeth headed the team that introduced the $150,000 ARA Historical Novel Prize to the ANZ literary calendar. She lives in Sydney with her husband in a house surrounded by jacarandas. She is also a member of the History Girls.
The Wedding Shroud was endorsed by Ursula Le Guin and judged runner-up in the 2012 Sharp Writ Book Awards for general fiction. The Golden Dice, was judged runner-up in the 2013 Sharp Writ Book Awards, and was a first place category winner in the Chaucer Award as was the third volume, Call To Juno, which was an Editor's Choice in the Historical Novels Review and endorsed by Kate Quinn. It also was a first place category winner in the Chaucer Award in 2017.
The Wedding Shroud was endorsed by Ursula Le Guin and judged runner-up in the 2012 Sharp Writ Book Awards for general fiction. The Golden Dice, was judged runner-up in the 2013 Sharp Writ Book Awards, and was a first place category winner in the Chaucer Award as was the third volume, Call To Juno, which was an Editor's Choice in the Historical Novels Review and endorsed by Kate Quinn. It also was a first place category winner in the Chaucer Award in 2017.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
October 6, 2013
The Golden Dice is the second novel in Storr’s series about the Etruscans and their conflicts with the Romans during the early period of Roman history. At the heart of this novel is the marriage and love between the Roman Caecilia and the Etruscan general Vel Mastarna. In the earlier novel, The Wedding Shroud, Storr showed how this unlikely union came about and moved it from fear and distain to a powerful bond of complicated passion. Although this marriage still has its strains and doubts, the conflict of the story no longer arises from the relationship between Caecilia and Vel, but rather from external forces brought on by the long war between Rome and the Etruscan city of Veii. The dangers to Vel and Caecilia come from the Roman army outside the walls and from within the highest ranks of Veii’s nobility, whose distrust of the Roman woman provides an excellent excuse for undermining her powerful husband. The reader’s view into this world is widened in this book to include multiple women as narrators: Caecilia, Pinna and Semni. Since Pinna and Semni are from the lower ranks in their respective cities, Storr is able to build a vivid picture of Etruscan and Roman life from both ends of the social spectrum instead of only through Caecilia’s privileged point of view. While Semni in Veii is of the artisan class, Pinna is a Roman whore who cleverly parlays information into an escape to a better but tenuously held position in life. Her crafty role shows us a very different woman than Caecilia’s somewhat stern and morally unambiguous one. We can walk the streets of Rome and the solders’ camps with Pinna and see the war from the “enemy” side, even while our sympathies lie with Vel and Caecilia. In this way, Storr develops our understanding of the expansionist and self-preserving motivations of both sides with good subtlety. Storr’s books contain a wealth of detail about Etruscan and Roman life. Once in a while I found obscure word choice or an overload of detail slowing my reading, but for the historically curious, Storr’s thoroughly researched books offer a rewarding read. If you want to learn about this early period of Rome’s conquests and the remarkable, luxuriant lives of the Etruscans while being engaged with a compelling story, I recommend Storr’s series.
February 25, 2018
Much better than vol.1 in the series, which I consider more of a historical romance. This novel has three heroines and alternates between their stories: Caecilia, wife of the Etruscan general, Vel Mastarna, and her life and family, several years on; Pinna, a Roman prostitute, who desires to raise herself from that lifestyle and wishes to follow a Roman general, Camillus; and a servant in Caecilia's household, demoted from her position as a potter and who seeks revenge on Caecilia, by way of her oldest son. In the midst of these stories Rome and the Etruscans are fighting a war; Caecilia, by marrying a Etruscan, is ostensibly the cause of war between the two city-states and although the marriage was none of Caecilia's doing--a political match, supposedly to bring peace, has led to war.
July 4, 2013
In "The Golden Dice," Caecilia has matured significantly, and has borne another son. She's made her choice. She is committed to Veii and her husband, Mastarna. Unfortunately, peace remains elusive, and Mastarna spends much time fighting the Romans, even as political intrigue continues unabated in Veii, as well.
The characters Storrs creates are magnetic, especially the compelling Mastarna, but in this book, he is joined by a more courageous, willing-to-gamble Caecilia and more characters as well that I have found unforgettable. There is Arruns, the brutal yet somehow enchanting guard with the snake tattoo. I can easily see why Semni wants him so, and I found their scenes together mesmerizing. There's Tarchon, Mastarna's son, who is led astray, and Drusus, who becomes a lightning rod. But two of the most compelling characters, fleshed out gorgeously in this volume, are Pinna, poorest of the poor prostitutes, and Semni, the artistic, independently-minded, slave. Pinna, especially, I sympathized with. Storrs brings the pathetic life of a low prostitute, one who plies her trade at gravesites, to vivid life, and I do so want her lot to improve. She has the guts to set her sights high, and I like that!
Pinna and Semni become major characters in The Golden Dice, and I love them both. They add great dimension to the story.
The religion, traditions, customs, and lifestyle of the Etruscans are told in vivid detail in this book, which I actually read first, before "The Wedding Shroud." I had no trouble at all doing this. "The Golden Dice" works well as a stand-alone novel. With Caecilia having chosen her side and standing firm with the Etruscans, one wants them to triumph over Rome. Yet Storrs creates equally compelling Romans, in the character of Camillus, the captivating general, Drusus, and Marcus. Each character, in his-her own way, draws the reader into their thrall.
Eagerly awaiting Book Three.
The characters Storrs creates are magnetic, especially the compelling Mastarna, but in this book, he is joined by a more courageous, willing-to-gamble Caecilia and more characters as well that I have found unforgettable. There is Arruns, the brutal yet somehow enchanting guard with the snake tattoo. I can easily see why Semni wants him so, and I found their scenes together mesmerizing. There's Tarchon, Mastarna's son, who is led astray, and Drusus, who becomes a lightning rod. But two of the most compelling characters, fleshed out gorgeously in this volume, are Pinna, poorest of the poor prostitutes, and Semni, the artistic, independently-minded, slave. Pinna, especially, I sympathized with. Storrs brings the pathetic life of a low prostitute, one who plies her trade at gravesites, to vivid life, and I do so want her lot to improve. She has the guts to set her sights high, and I like that!
Pinna and Semni become major characters in The Golden Dice, and I love them both. They add great dimension to the story.
The religion, traditions, customs, and lifestyle of the Etruscans are told in vivid detail in this book, which I actually read first, before "The Wedding Shroud." I had no trouble at all doing this. "The Golden Dice" works well as a stand-alone novel. With Caecilia having chosen her side and standing firm with the Etruscans, one wants them to triumph over Rome. Yet Storrs creates equally compelling Romans, in the character of Camillus, the captivating general, Drusus, and Marcus. Each character, in his-her own way, draws the reader into their thrall.
Eagerly awaiting Book Three.
July 17, 2013
I read Storrs first book, The Wedding Shroud, last year and couldn’t put it down, I’ve just finished her second book, the sequel called The Golden Dice and I’m thrilled to say I couldn’t put this one down either. I was reminded of Mary Renault’s The Persian Boy, a book in which the life and actions of Alexander the Great is told through the eyes of a young Persian eunuch who loved Alexander. Storrs book has the same attention to detail, evocative atmosphere, solid characterisation and narrative momentum that made Renault’s books such a wonderful gateway to immersion in the ancient world.
The Wedding Shroud was published in 2010 by Pier 9, a Murdoch Books imprint, part of their ill fated foray into fiction. The publishing climate took a dive in 2011 and Pier 9 cancelled the publication of the sequel, The Golden Dice, which was the second book of a two book contract. These things happen, I guess.
Publishing is a hit and miss industry with talented writers sinking into oblivion every day, so I was very happy to hear Storrs went on to self-publish The Golden Dice on Amazon’s KDP. Plus she’s found greater success with The Wedding Shroud ebook in America than she did here in Australia. It’s always gratifying to see a talented writer find their reading audience, defy the industry and take control of their career.
A natural story teller, Storrs takes us into the strange and exotic world of the ancient Etruscan civilisation, a civilisation which existed just above Rome in what is now known as Umbria and Tuscany. In The Golden Dice, Rome and the Etruscans are at war, and through the clever use of three female characters the reader gets a feel for both sides, particularly from the women’s point of view.
Reading about this ancient conflict and strongly identifying with the main character Caecilia who through marriage becomes Etruscan, one can’t help but be sad. We know what happened to the Etruscans and who won. The Romans, of course. The Roman’s absorbed them into the Republic around the end of the Fourth Century B.C. founding Roman cities on top of razed Etruscan cities. There are significant gaps in what is known about the Etruscan world but Storrs has done the work and effortlessly brings their world, with their strange religions and customs, to life.
A few years ago I was in Orvieto, an Italian town in Umbria, and visited their Musei Archeologici Faina e Civico which houses a large collection of Etruscan material. I remember being struck by the figures on the vases and amphorae, one in particular where the figures of men depicted with horse tails dancing and having sex were depicted with a breathtaking mix of control and vitality.
Museum visitors often go for the big bang stuff, but the decorations on these vases had a greater impact on me than many of the archaeological wonders I’ve seen over the years. So I was interested to find one of the key female characters in The Golden Dice is a potter called Semni, who loves and takes pride in her work. She’s caught up in the conflict and must abandon the work, but like a true artist, she takes a little of that wild creative sensibility with her as she struggles to survive and find a place for herself in a world under threat of invasion and destruction.
Pinna, a Roman girl, finds herself a prostitute at eleven and by the end of the book has used her intelligence and persistence to make it to being the concubine of a Roman general. A long and dangerous journey for a destitute female in Roman times. Both Semni and Pinna are flawed, make the wrong decisions based on their heart or their desires, just like all of us. I was rooting for these two because they didn’t always do the right thing, even though they wanted to. Flawed but likeable characters are hard to pull off but Storrs does it effortlessly.
The main character from The Wedding Shroud, Caecilia, is also, despite the relatively benign Etruscan view of women as compared to the Romans, constrained by her gender and has to use different tactics to protect herself and her children. The men are busy whacking each other to death on the battlefield and carping on about their honour and warrior manliness, but hey guys, these women are brave and resourceful too. They just have to work around the rules you set.
Often it’s the attention to detail that helps bring a story to life and Storrs ability to render the habits and activities of small children so accurately and unsentimentally stood out for me. In the ancient world the business of bearing and raising children defined a woman’s life and Storrs does not neglect the sheer daily logistics of mothering, an area routinely ignored by so many other novelists. It’s these insights into the lives of ancient women that I find so interesting and refreshing.
There is a satisfying baddie, Caecilia’s brother-in-law, an aristocratic priest who possesses a sinuous malevolence. But the other characters who seek to harm Caecilia are victims of circumstance, flawed young men deeply embedded in the Roman war machine where bravery and brutality were must-haves for young males. If war wasn’t your thing, well, you were a disgrace. No going back to uni and retraining in IT. Their lives were as rigidly prescribed as the women’s, except as men they had the better deal.
The complexity of these characters offers the reader a vivid picture of this long ago world. The pacing, language and Storrs confident voice complete another compelling book from this author. I can’t wait for the next book and hope she continues to develop her talent and collect many new readers along the way.
The Wedding Shroud was published in 2010 by Pier 9, a Murdoch Books imprint, part of their ill fated foray into fiction. The publishing climate took a dive in 2011 and Pier 9 cancelled the publication of the sequel, The Golden Dice, which was the second book of a two book contract. These things happen, I guess.
Publishing is a hit and miss industry with talented writers sinking into oblivion every day, so I was very happy to hear Storrs went on to self-publish The Golden Dice on Amazon’s KDP. Plus she’s found greater success with The Wedding Shroud ebook in America than she did here in Australia. It’s always gratifying to see a talented writer find their reading audience, defy the industry and take control of their career.
A natural story teller, Storrs takes us into the strange and exotic world of the ancient Etruscan civilisation, a civilisation which existed just above Rome in what is now known as Umbria and Tuscany. In The Golden Dice, Rome and the Etruscans are at war, and through the clever use of three female characters the reader gets a feel for both sides, particularly from the women’s point of view.
Reading about this ancient conflict and strongly identifying with the main character Caecilia who through marriage becomes Etruscan, one can’t help but be sad. We know what happened to the Etruscans and who won. The Romans, of course. The Roman’s absorbed them into the Republic around the end of the Fourth Century B.C. founding Roman cities on top of razed Etruscan cities. There are significant gaps in what is known about the Etruscan world but Storrs has done the work and effortlessly brings their world, with their strange religions and customs, to life.
A few years ago I was in Orvieto, an Italian town in Umbria, and visited their Musei Archeologici Faina e Civico which houses a large collection of Etruscan material. I remember being struck by the figures on the vases and amphorae, one in particular where the figures of men depicted with horse tails dancing and having sex were depicted with a breathtaking mix of control and vitality.
Museum visitors often go for the big bang stuff, but the decorations on these vases had a greater impact on me than many of the archaeological wonders I’ve seen over the years. So I was interested to find one of the key female characters in The Golden Dice is a potter called Semni, who loves and takes pride in her work. She’s caught up in the conflict and must abandon the work, but like a true artist, she takes a little of that wild creative sensibility with her as she struggles to survive and find a place for herself in a world under threat of invasion and destruction.
Pinna, a Roman girl, finds herself a prostitute at eleven and by the end of the book has used her intelligence and persistence to make it to being the concubine of a Roman general. A long and dangerous journey for a destitute female in Roman times. Both Semni and Pinna are flawed, make the wrong decisions based on their heart or their desires, just like all of us. I was rooting for these two because they didn’t always do the right thing, even though they wanted to. Flawed but likeable characters are hard to pull off but Storrs does it effortlessly.
The main character from The Wedding Shroud, Caecilia, is also, despite the relatively benign Etruscan view of women as compared to the Romans, constrained by her gender and has to use different tactics to protect herself and her children. The men are busy whacking each other to death on the battlefield and carping on about their honour and warrior manliness, but hey guys, these women are brave and resourceful too. They just have to work around the rules you set.
Often it’s the attention to detail that helps bring a story to life and Storrs ability to render the habits and activities of small children so accurately and unsentimentally stood out for me. In the ancient world the business of bearing and raising children defined a woman’s life and Storrs does not neglect the sheer daily logistics of mothering, an area routinely ignored by so many other novelists. It’s these insights into the lives of ancient women that I find so interesting and refreshing.
There is a satisfying baddie, Caecilia’s brother-in-law, an aristocratic priest who possesses a sinuous malevolence. But the other characters who seek to harm Caecilia are victims of circumstance, flawed young men deeply embedded in the Roman war machine where bravery and brutality were must-haves for young males. If war wasn’t your thing, well, you were a disgrace. No going back to uni and retraining in IT. Their lives were as rigidly prescribed as the women’s, except as men they had the better deal.
The complexity of these characters offers the reader a vivid picture of this long ago world. The pacing, language and Storrs confident voice complete another compelling book from this author. I can’t wait for the next book and hope she continues to develop her talent and collect many new readers along the way.
August 18, 2013
There was a comment I read somewhere in Goodreads comparing The Wedding Shroud's Caecilia with Bella Swan of Twilight. I couldn't disagree more. And disagree violently, I will. From what I've read on Ancient Rome (and I've read lots), proper Roman women were supposed to be virtual wallflowers—simple, hardworking and most of all, subservient to their men. Having brought up in this stringent world, it was expected of Caecilia to be confused and conflicted when she was thrust into the colorful, "loose" world of the Rasenna. Imagine the horror she felt, the depression, as she was confronted with the reality that she was supposed to go against every fiber of who she thought she was. And Caecilia was forced to change her values because she was not married to just any Etruscan, she was married to a noble. Caecilia is an unforgettable heroine, and one of my all-time favorites.
Ms. Storrs deftly continues her beautiful, indelible story in The Golden Dice. She is a great storyteller, with a knack for choosing the right words that never fail to strike the right note in the Ancient Rome lover's heart. I love stories set in the late Roman republic, but now I feel exhilarated to explore a new Ancient Roman world. I can't wait to read the next installment in this (trilogy? series? please, please say series).
I couldn't thank the heavens enough for self-publishing. Ms. Storrs, please don't stop writing.
Ms. Storrs deftly continues her beautiful, indelible story in The Golden Dice. She is a great storyteller, with a knack for choosing the right words that never fail to strike the right note in the Ancient Rome lover's heart. I love stories set in the late Roman republic, but now I feel exhilarated to explore a new Ancient Roman world. I can't wait to read the next installment in this (trilogy? series? please, please say series).
I couldn't thank the heavens enough for self-publishing. Ms. Storrs, please don't stop writing.
July 10, 2015
This was a fabulous sequel to the Wedding Shroud. I loved the additions of Semni and Pinna. Pinna's story keeps the reader informed about what's going on in Rome and both her and Semni's stories offer the reader another side of Rome and Veii beyond the upper classes.
Cross-posted on Gemna's Book Gems
Cross-posted on Gemna's Book Gems
October 30, 2022
7 години след първата част - “The Wedding Shroud” - в периода 399 - 397 г. пр. н. е. войната между Рим и етруския град-държава Веи е в разгара си.
Цецилия е отхвърлила Рим, за да се върне при съпруга си във Веи, но войната и интригите на новия крал не дават много време за семейна идилия.
Генерал Вел Мастарна се опитва да оцелее, да предпази семейството си, да озапти Рим и да не позволи нов тиранин да използва хаоса, за да се възкачи начело на Веи.
Бившата проститутка Пина се е измъкнала от ужаса на предишния си живот, изнудвайки римски офицер с мрачната му за него време тайна, като междувременно се сближава все повече с ефективния, харизматичен и съвършено безмилостен римски генерал Камилий.
Втората част определено е по-добра от началото на трилогията. Списъкът с герои е поразширен, психологизмът е повече, битките и държавните интриги са повече. Пълни ангели, така желани от някои sensitivity readers, липсват. Войните, несправедливостите от различен калибър и историята могат да са по-мръсни и от канавка с боклуци, а щастието се постига с цената на много и изтощителна борба и поне мъничко чист късмет, като да хвърлиш правилно златните зарове на етруския генерал Вел Мастарна. Резултатите са несигурни и уви, недълговечни, а Фортуна безстрастно плете нишката на съдбата на хора, нации и епохи, без да се съобразява с ничии предпочитания.
Цецилия е отхвърлила Рим, за да се върне при съпруга си във Веи, но войната и интригите на новия крал не дават много време за семейна идилия.
Генерал Вел Мастарна се опитва да оцелее, да предпази семейството си, да озапти Рим и да не позволи нов тиранин да използва хаоса, за да се възкачи начело на Веи.
Бившата проститутка Пина се е измъкнала от ужаса на предишния си живот, изнудвайки римски офицер с мрачната му за него време тайна, като междувременно се сближава все повече с ефективния, харизматичен и съвършено безмилостен римски генерал Камилий.
Втората част определено е по-добра от началото на трилогията. Списъкът с герои е поразширен, психологизмът е повече, битките и държавните интриги са повече. Пълни ангели, така желани от някои sensitivity readers, липсват. Войните, несправедливостите от различен калибър и историята могат да са по-мръсни и от канавка с боклуци, а щастието се постига с цената на много и изтощителна борба и поне мъничко чист късмет, като да хвърлиш правилно златните зарове на етруския генерал Вел Мастарна. Резултатите са несигурни и уви, недълговечни, а Фортуна безстрастно плете нишката на съдбата на хора, нации и епохи, без да се съобразява с ничии предпочитания.
October 3, 2013
*Please note this review will contain spoilers for The Wedding Shroud*
The Golden Dice is the much anticipated sequel to one of my favourite historical fiction novels of all time, The Wedding Shroud by Australian author Elisabeth Storrs. Set in ancient Rome, The Golden Dice picks up seven years after the conclusion of the preceding book. This time the story follows not only that of Caecilia, the Roman woman married to Etruscan husband Vel Mastarna, but introduces two new female heroines; Semni and Pinna.
The ending of The Wedding Shroud was a little ambiguous, but I chose to believe that Caecilia found her way back to Mastarna. Yay! I was right. Not only did she return to him, but this time she marries him by her own choice. It’s clear over the seven years since then their bond has strengthened as has their family which has nurtured two young boys and soon after, a daughter- despite the war that takes him away and only returns him at winter. Caecilia seems to have settled into life as an Etruscan, though there’s still some unrest among the people, some of who still believe she’s a traitor. It becomes clear early into the story that there’s some tension between Caecilia and Mastarna which created uneasiness in me as a reader as I wasn’t quite sure where this was going to head. I found myself distrusting Mastarna at times, which I suppose was the purpose.
I really appreciate the author’s decision to complement Caecilia’s struggles with the introduction of young women, Semni and Pinna- both of whom I grew to sympathise and admire. Pinna became a ‘night moth’ at just eleven years of age and her street smart sense manages to get her out of the grimy life of prostitution and into the role of concubine to Marcus (Caecilia’s cousin). She holds powerful information about her ‘lover’ that ensures she lives a life of luxury and security. She does not count on however, to fall in love with the General- Marcus’s superior. Drusus, the man Caecilia once had affections for (and Marcus’s best friend) is certainly seen in a different light in The Golden Dice. He’s bitter, cruel and really quite horrible and I had no empathy for him this time around. Marcus, blinded by his feelings for Drusus is just as infuriating though I did feel some sympathy for him.
Semni is a young Etruscan woman who is married to a man she does not love but who provides her with stability and the security of a job as an artist in Caecilia’s household. Semni is a character who is quite difficult to like; she’s self-destructive, impulsive and selfish. She has affairs with little thought of the consequence. She finds herself pregnant to someone other than her husband and is thrown out on the streets. She stays with her sister for some time, only to betray her sister’s trust. While Semni is attracted to the Phoenician warrior, Arruns who guards Mastarna and his family, the Phoenician is not too fond of young, promiscuous Semni- despite her best attempts at seducing him. Their relationship is only altered when Arruns delivers Semni’s baby in the midst of the war and a peculiar bond forms between them. I think Arruns tries very hard not to like Semni, a girl who is very flawed, but he seems to be drawn to her strengths that occasionally shine through.
The women seem to cross paths- either directly or indirectly- and I thought the author did well to provide so many different perspectives of the character’s lives and the war and what was at stake. I must admit it did take some time for me to really become immersed in the story but once I did I couldn’t stop turning the pages. What I didn’t expect when starting to read this book is to find that near the end was the expectation of a third book in the series. There were some plotlines that remain unresolved, though the ones that were tied up felt satisfactory. Now I can’t wait until the next instalment of the series!!
From love to war, passion to duty and some unseemly issues such as incest, paedophilia, rape, betrayal and conspiracies, The Golden Dice brings to life ancient Rome and their conflict with the Etruscans. The Golden Dice certainly gives The Wedding Shroud a run for its money. I enjoyed this one equally as much and I look forward to finding out what Caecilia, Pinna and Semni have in store for them next.
The Golden Dice is the much anticipated sequel to one of my favourite historical fiction novels of all time, The Wedding Shroud by Australian author Elisabeth Storrs. Set in ancient Rome, The Golden Dice picks up seven years after the conclusion of the preceding book. This time the story follows not only that of Caecilia, the Roman woman married to Etruscan husband Vel Mastarna, but introduces two new female heroines; Semni and Pinna.
The ending of The Wedding Shroud was a little ambiguous, but I chose to believe that Caecilia found her way back to Mastarna. Yay! I was right. Not only did she return to him, but this time she marries him by her own choice. It’s clear over the seven years since then their bond has strengthened as has their family which has nurtured two young boys and soon after, a daughter- despite the war that takes him away and only returns him at winter. Caecilia seems to have settled into life as an Etruscan, though there’s still some unrest among the people, some of who still believe she’s a traitor. It becomes clear early into the story that there’s some tension between Caecilia and Mastarna which created uneasiness in me as a reader as I wasn’t quite sure where this was going to head. I found myself distrusting Mastarna at times, which I suppose was the purpose.
I really appreciate the author’s decision to complement Caecilia’s struggles with the introduction of young women, Semni and Pinna- both of whom I grew to sympathise and admire. Pinna became a ‘night moth’ at just eleven years of age and her street smart sense manages to get her out of the grimy life of prostitution and into the role of concubine to Marcus (Caecilia’s cousin). She holds powerful information about her ‘lover’ that ensures she lives a life of luxury and security. She does not count on however, to fall in love with the General- Marcus’s superior. Drusus, the man Caecilia once had affections for (and Marcus’s best friend) is certainly seen in a different light in The Golden Dice. He’s bitter, cruel and really quite horrible and I had no empathy for him this time around. Marcus, blinded by his feelings for Drusus is just as infuriating though I did feel some sympathy for him.
Semni is a young Etruscan woman who is married to a man she does not love but who provides her with stability and the security of a job as an artist in Caecilia’s household. Semni is a character who is quite difficult to like; she’s self-destructive, impulsive and selfish. She has affairs with little thought of the consequence. She finds herself pregnant to someone other than her husband and is thrown out on the streets. She stays with her sister for some time, only to betray her sister’s trust. While Semni is attracted to the Phoenician warrior, Arruns who guards Mastarna and his family, the Phoenician is not too fond of young, promiscuous Semni- despite her best attempts at seducing him. Their relationship is only altered when Arruns delivers Semni’s baby in the midst of the war and a peculiar bond forms between them. I think Arruns tries very hard not to like Semni, a girl who is very flawed, but he seems to be drawn to her strengths that occasionally shine through.
The women seem to cross paths- either directly or indirectly- and I thought the author did well to provide so many different perspectives of the character’s lives and the war and what was at stake. I must admit it did take some time for me to really become immersed in the story but once I did I couldn’t stop turning the pages. What I didn’t expect when starting to read this book is to find that near the end was the expectation of a third book in the series. There were some plotlines that remain unresolved, though the ones that were tied up felt satisfactory. Now I can’t wait until the next instalment of the series!!
From love to war, passion to duty and some unseemly issues such as incest, paedophilia, rape, betrayal and conspiracies, The Golden Dice brings to life ancient Rome and their conflict with the Etruscans. The Golden Dice certainly gives The Wedding Shroud a run for its money. I enjoyed this one equally as much and I look forward to finding out what Caecilia, Pinna and Semni have in store for them next.
January 20, 2016
I’ve been reading some rather grim books lately, so The Golden Dice was a welcome change! Elisabeth Storrs writes historical fiction set in the days of Ancient Rome, and since I really enjoyed The Wedding Shroud (see my review), I was keen to read the sequel…
Just last week I met a woman whose husband was of German-Russian parentage and we had a brief discussion about how unusual that was, given the enmity that both sides might still harbour for WW2 atrocities. It reminded me of neighbours I once had, a Palestinian happily married to an Israeli. It takes a remarkable love to rise above political and cultural hostilities like that, but it’s also interesting to consider the circumstances in which such a couple might meet, how their initial reservations might be overcome, and how their ongoing relationship is negotiated in their community, whichever it might be.
In The Wedding Shroud Elisabeth Storrs considered the introductory phase of such a relationship. The central character Caecilia is a Roman noblewoman who is used to barter peace through a diplomatic marriage with Vel Mastarma of the neighbouring Etruscans. In her absorbing first novel Storrs showed how the barriers between them eventually fell, though not without cost. In this sequel, The Golden Dice, she dissects this relationship as the peace breaks down and Caecilia’s love for her husband is tested against her conflicted loyalty to Rome. Time and again I found myself thinking of Helen of Troy, a woman who also transgressed ideas about loyalty to kin and country for the sake of a man, and who must have engendered hostility in both her homeland and her adopted home.
The setting for the story, Ancient Rome and Etruria, is an exotic choice for historical fiction, but the elements of the story are universal. Through the lives of three women, Caecilia the aristocrat, Semni the would-be artist, and Pinna, a whore seeking to transcend her lowly status, Storr fills her canvas with the complexities of human emotion: love, trust, and loyalty; hate, envy, and revenge. With each of the characters, male and female, she dissects contrasting values, using the cultural differences between Etruria and Rome to show the psychological torment of conflicting loyalties.
To read the rest of my review please visit http://anzlitlovers.com/2013/08/17/th...
Just last week I met a woman whose husband was of German-Russian parentage and we had a brief discussion about how unusual that was, given the enmity that both sides might still harbour for WW2 atrocities. It reminded me of neighbours I once had, a Palestinian happily married to an Israeli. It takes a remarkable love to rise above political and cultural hostilities like that, but it’s also interesting to consider the circumstances in which such a couple might meet, how their initial reservations might be overcome, and how their ongoing relationship is negotiated in their community, whichever it might be.
In The Wedding Shroud Elisabeth Storrs considered the introductory phase of such a relationship. The central character Caecilia is a Roman noblewoman who is used to barter peace through a diplomatic marriage with Vel Mastarma of the neighbouring Etruscans. In her absorbing first novel Storrs showed how the barriers between them eventually fell, though not without cost. In this sequel, The Golden Dice, she dissects this relationship as the peace breaks down and Caecilia’s love for her husband is tested against her conflicted loyalty to Rome. Time and again I found myself thinking of Helen of Troy, a woman who also transgressed ideas about loyalty to kin and country for the sake of a man, and who must have engendered hostility in both her homeland and her adopted home.
The setting for the story, Ancient Rome and Etruria, is an exotic choice for historical fiction, but the elements of the story are universal. Through the lives of three women, Caecilia the aristocrat, Semni the would-be artist, and Pinna, a whore seeking to transcend her lowly status, Storr fills her canvas with the complexities of human emotion: love, trust, and loyalty; hate, envy, and revenge. With each of the characters, male and female, she dissects contrasting values, using the cultural differences between Etruria and Rome to show the psychological torment of conflicting loyalties.
To read the rest of my review please visit http://anzlitlovers.com/2013/08/17/th...
February 2, 2014
The Golden Dice by Elisabeth Storrs is a sequel to the highly successful The Wedding Shroud. The story of Caecilia and Mastarna’s controversial marriage continues with the Romans and Etruscans more divided and at odds than ever before. After having clearly made her choice to remain with her husband and abandon her Roman roots, Caecilia is at the centre of a storm of spite coming from Roman family, friends, and citizens. Unfortunately, she is still not accepted by everyone in her new city of Veii and soon finds herself betrayed and having to make an impossible choice.
Where this novel excels is the magnificent characters and their detailed back-stories and ever-evolving development. They always surprise, changing from bad to good, trustworthy to treacherous, lovable to abhorrent. Elisabeth Storrs’ spectacular research into the ancient Etruscan and Roman cultures, brings the tale to vibrant life, lending credibility and authenticity. From Pinna, the poor prostitute, to Semni the dedicated or not so dedicated slave, the characters compelled me to read, read, read. I struggled to put this book down.
Although The Golden Dice could stand alone, I highly recommend reading The Wedding Shroud first to get a grip of the story from its origins. Read these books and definitely make use of the Glossary and Character List to make sure you follow every detail of this immensely rich story. You’re going to love it.
Where this novel excels is the magnificent characters and their detailed back-stories and ever-evolving development. They always surprise, changing from bad to good, trustworthy to treacherous, lovable to abhorrent. Elisabeth Storrs’ spectacular research into the ancient Etruscan and Roman cultures, brings the tale to vibrant life, lending credibility and authenticity. From Pinna, the poor prostitute, to Semni the dedicated or not so dedicated slave, the characters compelled me to read, read, read. I struggled to put this book down.
Although The Golden Dice could stand alone, I highly recommend reading The Wedding Shroud first to get a grip of the story from its origins. Read these books and definitely make use of the Glossary and Character List to make sure you follow every detail of this immensely rich story. You’re going to love it.
May 28, 2016
First Reading January 9th-13th 2014
Second Reading May 24th-27th 2016
This book looked good, but I was NOT expecting this when I bought it. I won't lie, I paid under $5 for this book and it is worth every penny.
Amazingly and beautifully written, detailed and researched, there is passion and depth on every page. From the very first page you're in and your hooked. A saga of early Rome, not yet the hedonistic, pleasure seeking culture we see in later years, we meet 3 women in different social standings but facing so much of the same journey: love, husbands, strength and survival.
This author creates realistic scenery and immerses you into each location and event as though you are waiting to enter the room yourself, you can tell she loves the subject matter and has spent time fleshing all the corners out so it resonates with life. I"m already waiting with baited breath for the sequel to this book, while heading to get my hands on first in this series, The Wedding Shroud.
Go get a comfy spot, something to drink and settle in for a page turner!
Second Reading May 24th-27th 2016
This book looked good, but I was NOT expecting this when I bought it. I won't lie, I paid under $5 for this book and it is worth every penny.
Amazingly and beautifully written, detailed and researched, there is passion and depth on every page. From the very first page you're in and your hooked. A saga of early Rome, not yet the hedonistic, pleasure seeking culture we see in later years, we meet 3 women in different social standings but facing so much of the same journey: love, husbands, strength and survival.
This author creates realistic scenery and immerses you into each location and event as though you are waiting to enter the room yourself, you can tell she loves the subject matter and has spent time fleshing all the corners out so it resonates with life. I"m already waiting with baited breath for the sequel to this book, while heading to get my hands on first in this series, The Wedding Shroud.
Go get a comfy spot, something to drink and settle in for a page turner!
July 26, 2014
This is good book based at a time I know little about; 398 BC, when Rome was only a city state, and not a world controlling monster, but a walled city in conflict with other city states. not being a fan of romance I was never likely to love it. but, to my surprise, it was better than I expected. it had a gritty, raw nature to it that would appeal to the male reader. though at times the story went a bit flat, the ending was absolutely compelling. I did struggle with some of the characters but was because I hadn't read the first book. i am sure this reduced my enjoyment of story. still a lot to like about this book.
May 31, 2016
I really enjoyed the first of Ms Storr's books. I am bothered by the fact that so little is known about the Etruscans, making this really Historical Fantasy rather than Fiction. It seems well researched insofar as that is possible but it's a bit like trying to reconstruct the story of Christ from writings a hundred years later - it's not very reliable where anything is known and far, far more is unknown. I enjoyed the story despite this nit-picking, however; she's a good writer. I have now begun the latest in the series - is it the last? One thing is known - the Etruscans disappeared (assimilated into Rome?) around the C4th BC.
February 20, 2014
Caecilia was a young Roman woman, wedded to an Etruscan in a political move. The two peoples have been at war for generations and Caecilia had to put her fear and disgust at the more liberal Etruscan ways aside. To her surprise, she and her husband managed to find common ground and although he divorced her and was to send her back to Rome, Caecilia chose to return to Vel Mastarna for a real marriage, wanted by both of them.
It is is now seven years since she has made that decision and she has presented Vel Mastarna with three healthy sons. However her position as Vel Mastarna’s wife is still a precarious one, especially with the changing political situation and the voting of a King to rule over Veii, one who would happily see her husband slaughtered in battle and Caecilia returned to her people in Rome for appropriate punishment befitting a traitor.
Semni is a young servant girl who finds herself in trouble and homeless with her young son. Taken in by a servant in the House of Mastarna she knows a terrible secret that would horrify Vel Mastarna and his wife if they were to find out what she knows. Semni may be the one person who can help save Vel Mastarna’s heir, if she can decide to let go of gratitude and do what is right.
Pinna is a tomb whore who overhears something that she uses to change her life forever. She’s able to blackmail her way into a war campaign as a courtesan, although she and her army protector have no real relationship. He loves another whom he cannot have and Pinna is drawn to the powerful General who calls upon her to ease his stress headaches and listen to his problems. Although sworn to one man in a false promise, Pinna can’t help but want another and it could threaten her very life. If she were to be exposed as a former tomb whore, she’d never see the general again. Her security hangs by a thread.
The Golden Dice weaves three tales of very different women together, some of whom have crossed paths and some of whom are connected to the others by tiny threads. Readers of The Wedding Shroud, the first in this series are familiar with Caecilia, the young woman who was forced to marry an enemy Etruscan. That young girl is now a grown woman, mother of three and concerned wife. Her husband Vel Mastarna is usually home from campaigning throughout the winter however now the growing tensions look as if he will be away all of the year. Caecilia fears that the changing political situation in Veii will not only leave her a widow but also threatened with extradition where she would certainly face torture and death for betraying the Roman people. Although she has adopted her new homeland as her own, she’s well aware that many locals don’t feel the same way about her. She’s still Roman in many eyes and the regard her with suspicion and contempt. Caecilia is certainly a changed character in some ways in this novel, she has certainly grown up and has adapted to some of the Etruscan ways that she found so difficult when she first went there but it’s not easy for her. Rome was her home and she doesn’t want to see it invaded and destroyed but nor does she want Veii to suffer any damage. Her loyalties are to her husband and her sons and she faces threats from every direction whilst Vel Mastarna is away campaigning and fighting battles.
I really enjoyed the other two stories that were woven into Caecilia’s story. Semni is young, married to a man who didn’t excite her and occasionally over-indulged in some of the Etruscan pleasures. When this comes back to haunt her she finds herself potentially homeless with her tiny son. Semni has long had her eye on Arruns, Vel Mastarna’s bodyguard who he has left behind to guard his family but Arruns has made it clear that he has no time for foolish games and that he has a powerful duty and loyalty. Semni has to prove to Arruns that she is worthy of his time and that her days of silly dalliances are behind her and that she has a strong and mature loyalty to the House of Mastarna. I thought these two were great together, they certainly made for some wonderful scenes. Arruns is a powerful giant with a snake tattoo winding around his whole body. He’s feared but Semni finds him fascinating. She is however, quite silly and does need to get her priorities sorted if she wants him to be in her life and a father to her son.
It was interesting reading Pinna’s story because she is with ‘the other side’ being a part of the Roman camp. All she hears is negative things about Caecilia and Vel Mastarna including from some people who have a personal connection to them. Caecilia and Semni are either Etruscan or living as one so Pinna balances out the story and the war, providing the other side of the battle, a voice for the opposition. It made it hard at times, because I love Caecilia and Vel Mastarna as a couple and want them to be victorious but I also quite like Pinna and her story is fascinating. She’s a product of how Rome can go wrong – her father lost his freedom and Pinna and her mother were forced into prostitution to get by. Pinna started at the age of 11, which is horrifying but not uncommon of the time when everyone did everything at a much younger age. She serves to show us what Caecilia’s cousin Marcus and former admirer Drusus are up to.
The Golden Dice is an excellent follow up to The Wedding Shroud, giving us a story rich in colour and history with some clever characters. The end of this one leaves so much yet to happen and I can’t wait for the third book to discover what comes next.
It is is now seven years since she has made that decision and she has presented Vel Mastarna with three healthy sons. However her position as Vel Mastarna’s wife is still a precarious one, especially with the changing political situation and the voting of a King to rule over Veii, one who would happily see her husband slaughtered in battle and Caecilia returned to her people in Rome for appropriate punishment befitting a traitor.
Semni is a young servant girl who finds herself in trouble and homeless with her young son. Taken in by a servant in the House of Mastarna she knows a terrible secret that would horrify Vel Mastarna and his wife if they were to find out what she knows. Semni may be the one person who can help save Vel Mastarna’s heir, if she can decide to let go of gratitude and do what is right.
Pinna is a tomb whore who overhears something that she uses to change her life forever. She’s able to blackmail her way into a war campaign as a courtesan, although she and her army protector have no real relationship. He loves another whom he cannot have and Pinna is drawn to the powerful General who calls upon her to ease his stress headaches and listen to his problems. Although sworn to one man in a false promise, Pinna can’t help but want another and it could threaten her very life. If she were to be exposed as a former tomb whore, she’d never see the general again. Her security hangs by a thread.
The Golden Dice weaves three tales of very different women together, some of whom have crossed paths and some of whom are connected to the others by tiny threads. Readers of The Wedding Shroud, the first in this series are familiar with Caecilia, the young woman who was forced to marry an enemy Etruscan. That young girl is now a grown woman, mother of three and concerned wife. Her husband Vel Mastarna is usually home from campaigning throughout the winter however now the growing tensions look as if he will be away all of the year. Caecilia fears that the changing political situation in Veii will not only leave her a widow but also threatened with extradition where she would certainly face torture and death for betraying the Roman people. Although she has adopted her new homeland as her own, she’s well aware that many locals don’t feel the same way about her. She’s still Roman in many eyes and the regard her with suspicion and contempt. Caecilia is certainly a changed character in some ways in this novel, she has certainly grown up and has adapted to some of the Etruscan ways that she found so difficult when she first went there but it’s not easy for her. Rome was her home and she doesn’t want to see it invaded and destroyed but nor does she want Veii to suffer any damage. Her loyalties are to her husband and her sons and she faces threats from every direction whilst Vel Mastarna is away campaigning and fighting battles.
I really enjoyed the other two stories that were woven into Caecilia’s story. Semni is young, married to a man who didn’t excite her and occasionally over-indulged in some of the Etruscan pleasures. When this comes back to haunt her she finds herself potentially homeless with her tiny son. Semni has long had her eye on Arruns, Vel Mastarna’s bodyguard who he has left behind to guard his family but Arruns has made it clear that he has no time for foolish games and that he has a powerful duty and loyalty. Semni has to prove to Arruns that she is worthy of his time and that her days of silly dalliances are behind her and that she has a strong and mature loyalty to the House of Mastarna. I thought these two were great together, they certainly made for some wonderful scenes. Arruns is a powerful giant with a snake tattoo winding around his whole body. He’s feared but Semni finds him fascinating. She is however, quite silly and does need to get her priorities sorted if she wants him to be in her life and a father to her son.
It was interesting reading Pinna’s story because she is with ‘the other side’ being a part of the Roman camp. All she hears is negative things about Caecilia and Vel Mastarna including from some people who have a personal connection to them. Caecilia and Semni are either Etruscan or living as one so Pinna balances out the story and the war, providing the other side of the battle, a voice for the opposition. It made it hard at times, because I love Caecilia and Vel Mastarna as a couple and want them to be victorious but I also quite like Pinna and her story is fascinating. She’s a product of how Rome can go wrong – her father lost his freedom and Pinna and her mother were forced into prostitution to get by. Pinna started at the age of 11, which is horrifying but not uncommon of the time when everyone did everything at a much younger age. She serves to show us what Caecilia’s cousin Marcus and former admirer Drusus are up to.
The Golden Dice is an excellent follow up to The Wedding Shroud, giving us a story rich in colour and history with some clever characters. The end of this one leaves so much yet to happen and I can’t wait for the third book to discover what comes next.
April 6, 2015
The Wedding Shroud was one of the most interesting historical romances that I have read in quite some time. So I wasted no time in picking up its sequel.
In this instalment we see Cecelia in a new light. She has taken control of her own life and married Mastarna by her own choice. She is now a wife and a mother who is well settled in the Entruscan lifestyle. Still, there are people who believe her to be a traitor and distrust her. The bond between Cecelia and Mastarna has become stronger over the years yet there’s an undercurrent that makes you feel shaky about their relationship. Elisabeth Storrs introduces to two new and strong characters – Semni and Pinna. Both have a connection and a lot on stake at the war. They each tackle things in their own ways but their goals are the same – to keep themselves and their beloveds safe. Three women, one war and the hand of fate…
Ofcourse after an interesting beginning to the series, I was expecting a lot of fireworks from this one and my expectations were met full on. I loved the fact that the author introduced two new characters here who share the center stage with Cecelia. Their ranks are of course lower than that of Cecelia and it was interesting to get a second and third perspective of everything. I liked Pinna – she comes off the street and is now the concubine or Marcus and so he also has knowledge of some secrets that afford her a comfortable lifestyle. However, she falls for another man unexpectedly who happens to be Drusus, the man Cecelia once had cared for. Pinna is a true fighter by her spirit. Semni on the other hand tested my patience often with her self-destructive nature – if only she would do the right thing, right away! I just could not make myself to like her. Drusus was a surprise element in the book. He turned out to be the other person who I loved to hate in this book as he turns out to be this hostile and cruel man.
The plot continues to thicken and the author keeps the readers indulged with her remarkable narration style. She pays a lot of attention to details and everyday nuances of her characters that help make this world more and more real. Pinna being in the Roman camp helped as it gave us the view to both the camps. Filled with politics, exploitation, deceit and romance, this novel is a complete page turner. I can hardly wait for the next book in the series – Call to Juno.
In this instalment we see Cecelia in a new light. She has taken control of her own life and married Mastarna by her own choice. She is now a wife and a mother who is well settled in the Entruscan lifestyle. Still, there are people who believe her to be a traitor and distrust her. The bond between Cecelia and Mastarna has become stronger over the years yet there’s an undercurrent that makes you feel shaky about their relationship. Elisabeth Storrs introduces to two new and strong characters – Semni and Pinna. Both have a connection and a lot on stake at the war. They each tackle things in their own ways but their goals are the same – to keep themselves and their beloveds safe. Three women, one war and the hand of fate…
Ofcourse after an interesting beginning to the series, I was expecting a lot of fireworks from this one and my expectations were met full on. I loved the fact that the author introduced two new characters here who share the center stage with Cecelia. Their ranks are of course lower than that of Cecelia and it was interesting to get a second and third perspective of everything. I liked Pinna – she comes off the street and is now the concubine or Marcus and so he also has knowledge of some secrets that afford her a comfortable lifestyle. However, she falls for another man unexpectedly who happens to be Drusus, the man Cecelia once had cared for. Pinna is a true fighter by her spirit. Semni on the other hand tested my patience often with her self-destructive nature – if only she would do the right thing, right away! I just could not make myself to like her. Drusus was a surprise element in the book. He turned out to be the other person who I loved to hate in this book as he turns out to be this hostile and cruel man.
The plot continues to thicken and the author keeps the readers indulged with her remarkable narration style. She pays a lot of attention to details and everyday nuances of her characters that help make this world more and more real. Pinna being in the Roman camp helped as it gave us the view to both the camps. Filled with politics, exploitation, deceit and romance, this novel is a complete page turner. I can hardly wait for the next book in the series – Call to Juno.
August 18, 2017
I approached this sequel with some hesitation since I didn't care for the protagonist, Caecilia, in the first book. (That I liked the story in spite of her says a lot about the plot and writing.) This book makes Caecilia matured. She is more emotionally stable and wise, as if she finally grew into all the praise heaped on her previously. Her conflicts and motivations are more complex and believable.
The Golden Dice tells its story through from the POV of three women: Caecilia, whose story we got in the first book; Senni, a servant and craftswoman who can't seem to think past her crotch most of the time; Pinna, a pragmatic whore who parlays the secrets of important Roman men into chances to better her life, but who can never quite escape the tangles of those secrets. Using these three characters, we get the sights, sounds and feelings about war from both sides with equal sympathies. While the societies are still very much male-dominated, the voices of these women bring insight and balance to events.
I had a hard time with the first half of the book, which I felt was too long and tedious. The pacing in the second half, once we get past all the angst about M/M sex and Senni's apparent mympho tendencies, more than made up for the first half, so I'm glad I stayed with it.
So, while I feel some judicious pruning could have improved and evened out the pacing, the characters were better developed and the dialogue much improved in this second book. Of course the historical detail in both books is wonderful and rich. I think this is one of those rare instances where the sequel was more interesting than the debut of a series and am rating it higher because of the character development and strengths of the last third of the book.
As an aside, I'm not keen on the cover art for either of the two books. The graphics seem more fluffy romance than historical novel. Had I seen the covers before being told about the books, I probably wouldn't have bothered to look further. It's not a big deal once you're into the book, but could impact buying decisions.
The Golden Dice tells its story through from the POV of three women: Caecilia, whose story we got in the first book; Senni, a servant and craftswoman who can't seem to think past her crotch most of the time; Pinna, a pragmatic whore who parlays the secrets of important Roman men into chances to better her life, but who can never quite escape the tangles of those secrets. Using these three characters, we get the sights, sounds and feelings about war from both sides with equal sympathies. While the societies are still very much male-dominated, the voices of these women bring insight and balance to events.
I had a hard time with the first half of the book, which I felt was too long and tedious. The pacing in the second half, once we get past all the angst about M/M sex and Senni's apparent mympho tendencies, more than made up for the first half, so I'm glad I stayed with it.
So, while I feel some judicious pruning could have improved and evened out the pacing, the characters were better developed and the dialogue much improved in this second book. Of course the historical detail in both books is wonderful and rich. I think this is one of those rare instances where the sequel was more interesting than the debut of a series and am rating it higher because of the character development and strengths of the last third of the book.
As an aside, I'm not keen on the cover art for either of the two books. The graphics seem more fluffy romance than historical novel. Had I seen the covers before being told about the books, I probably wouldn't have bothered to look further. It's not a big deal once you're into the book, but could impact buying decisions.
October 27, 2013
Caecilia and Vel Mastarna are back in the riveting tale, THE GOLDEN DICE. Rome and Veii once again at war, Caecilia is internally torn between her beloved place of birth, Rome, and her adopted Veii, where she has now laid new roots, created a family and found love. Going deep into evoking all of Caecilia's sentiments, we feel her turmoil. This part of the story is great reading in itself, but I loved that Storrs spiced it up with a twist by including new characters that helped the story shift direction.
Although this truly is Caecilia's story, Storrs features two new ladies in the plot- and their stories are equally riveting. Imagine a potter- artist type- who becomes Caecilia's servant; enter Semni. To that mix, add a 'night moth' (prostitute) named Pinna on the path to changing her lifestyle...this alternating between characters makes for a gripping read that does not allow you to put this book down.
Storrs' prose is superb and it is this quality of writing that makes such a raw novel exquisite and refined even though- because let's face it- this particular time and era with all its harsh realities and crude situations can
often repulse. Not so in THE GOLDEN DICE. There are certain decisions and situations especially where Pinna and Semni are concerned, that can definitely push the limits- yet the reader is not turned off by these women. I actually found myself on their side and totally for their cause.
Besides engaging characters, THE GOLDEN DICE's setting is incredibly real. Storrs creates an environment that evokes the times with impeccable details. THE WEDDING SHROUD (read my review here) really marked me in this aspect. My first time reading about Veii in opposition to Rome, I was fascinated by Etruscan life and baffled by how two ancient places so close in regions could be so different. Storrs continues to amaze in THE GOLDEN DICE by revealing even newer and more mystifying historical elements that can't help but entice and swallow you up into complete plausibility. This book is even better than the first!
October 5, 2013
I'm glad Elisabeth Storrs was able to self-publish this after the second part of her book deal fell through, and she did it very professionally too (except for the covers, which look as if the books are bodice-ripping Restoration romances). Fans of The Wedding Shroud will be very happy with this sequel. Caecilia is now much more mature, a wife and mother. Storrs also tells the story through two new characters -- Semni, a skilled potter who ends up as a servant in Caecilia's house, and Pinna, a Roman girl who turned to prostitution out of poverty wen she was 11. These new characters are very well drawn, flawed and believable. Semni is particularly obnoxious, but you get a sense as the plot develops that she is going to grow out of her selfishness.These different viewpoints help Storrs to continue to explore the differences in the position of women in these ancient societies.
Storrs manages to keep a lot of balls in the air -- a complex political situation, and complex relationships between the many major characters. I found the ending a bit disappointing -- it just stops, with the obvious implication that "You'll have to read the sequel." Like her first novel it's a good read though, and I don't ask anything more from this kind of novel. Surely she should be able to get a publisher interested in the next volume?
Storrs manages to keep a lot of balls in the air -- a complex political situation, and complex relationships between the many major characters. I found the ending a bit disappointing -- it just stops, with the obvious implication that "You'll have to read the sequel." Like her first novel it's a good read though, and I don't ask anything more from this kind of novel. Surely she should be able to get a publisher interested in the next volume?
February 17, 2014
Elisabeth Storrs seamlessly weaves the stories of three women of very different backgrounds into this compelling novel about the wars between ancient Rome and the Etruscans. From the very first chapter we are transported into a time so different from ours with details that are readily appreciated and never confusing. Caecilia is the central character, a Roman married to an Etruscan warrior who leads an army against Rome. Strong and stoic, Caecilia must decide where her loyalties lie. Then we have Semni, a young Etruscan woman unwittingly caught up in a plot against Caecilia's family. And finally, there's Pinna a Roman whore who strives for a better life. Each woman captures our attention in successive chapters as the plot unfolds.
Storrs also gives us a cast of intriguing male characters including Vel Mastarn, Caecilia's husband, Arruns a Phoenician warrior who serves Mastarna, Marcus, Caecilia's cousin who vows to destroy her, Camillus, the Roman general determined to conquer the Estruscans. The mix of personalities, tangled relationships and dramatic twists and turns made The Golden Dice a real 'page-turner' for me. It's not often these days that I read a novel without being critical of some element that detracts from the story, however, I never made a single note in The Golden Dice and the ending left me wanting more!
A note for those like me who have not read The Wedding Shroud, the first in Elisabeth's Tales of Ancient Rome, The Golden Dice readily stands on its own. A truly wonderful historical novel - highly recommended.
Storrs also gives us a cast of intriguing male characters including Vel Mastarn, Caecilia's husband, Arruns a Phoenician warrior who serves Mastarna, Marcus, Caecilia's cousin who vows to destroy her, Camillus, the Roman general determined to conquer the Estruscans. The mix of personalities, tangled relationships and dramatic twists and turns made The Golden Dice a real 'page-turner' for me. It's not often these days that I read a novel without being critical of some element that detracts from the story, however, I never made a single note in The Golden Dice and the ending left me wanting more!
A note for those like me who have not read The Wedding Shroud, the first in Elisabeth's Tales of Ancient Rome, The Golden Dice readily stands on its own. A truly wonderful historical novel - highly recommended.
September 29, 2013
The Golden Dice is a wonderfully satisfying sequel to Elisabeth Storrs' The Wedding Shroud. In this book, the story of Lady Caecilia, the Roman married to the Estruscan Vel Mastarna, is intertwined with that of two other women, Pinna, and Semni. All three women's lives are dramatically changed by the interminable war that broke out in 405 B.C. between Rome and the Etruscans.
Caecilia, now a mother and an assured Etruscan wife, finds her place in her adopted country increasingly precarious, while for Pinna, a former grave whore from Rome, the fragile security she's achieved traveling with the Roman army as the concubine of Caecilia's cousin, Marcus, is threatened by her love for a famous Roman general. The dreams that Semni, an Etruscan potter, had of becoming a respected artist are dashed by the conflict, and she struggles with her new status as a servant in Lady Caecilia's household.
In The Golden Dice, Storrs deftly weaves an enthralling tale of political intrigue, romance, corruption, and religious and cultural prejudice. What I liked most of all, however, was the beautifully nuanced stories she has written about how individual women tried to control their own destinies within the limited options available to females in this fascinating time and place. I highly recommend this excellent work of historical fiction.
Caecilia, now a mother and an assured Etruscan wife, finds her place in her adopted country increasingly precarious, while for Pinna, a former grave whore from Rome, the fragile security she's achieved traveling with the Roman army as the concubine of Caecilia's cousin, Marcus, is threatened by her love for a famous Roman general. The dreams that Semni, an Etruscan potter, had of becoming a respected artist are dashed by the conflict, and she struggles with her new status as a servant in Lady Caecilia's household.
In The Golden Dice, Storrs deftly weaves an enthralling tale of political intrigue, romance, corruption, and religious and cultural prejudice. What I liked most of all, however, was the beautifully nuanced stories she has written about how individual women tried to control their own destinies within the limited options available to females in this fascinating time and place. I highly recommend this excellent work of historical fiction.
November 26, 2015
Caecilia and Pinna . . . taking their chances. Storrs has crafted multiple intertwining plots wound around two super heroines who are entertaining in the complexity of their relationships with husbands, lovers, husband's children, own children, persecutors, all in the swirling melee of betrayals by their country or their culture. Caecilia and Pinna throughout feel like your mother, your wife, your sister, and your daughter, by turns, but mostly feel like they will be survivors despite dire and imminent threats. We will see, I think, in the next installment, Call to Juno, presently underway in Ms. Storrs' imagination, itself a considerable force, I think.
June 30, 2014
A great book!!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It is the second book in a series, and I also enjoyed (and highly recommend) the first book, The Wedding Shroud. I am looking forward to the third book which I believe is currently being written.
The book is a wonderful blend of character development, intrigue, romance, and historical fiction. A good glimpse into this time period of history (Ancient Rome).
Highly recommend! Especially for those who like historical fiction of ancient history.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It is the second book in a series, and I also enjoyed (and highly recommend) the first book, The Wedding Shroud. I am looking forward to the third book which I believe is currently being written.
The book is a wonderful blend of character development, intrigue, romance, and historical fiction. A good glimpse into this time period of history (Ancient Rome).
Highly recommend! Especially for those who like historical fiction of ancient history.
February 17, 2014
Covering a lesser period in Roman history when Rome was little more than a city state I found The Golden Dice an interesting and compelling read. There is quite a bit of detail at times which I felt enhanced the authenticity of the characters and I was very impressed by the level of research that went into the book. I am a big fan of historical fiction and getting harder to impress. No problem with anything by Elisabeth Storrs though.
April 28, 2015
*I received this ARC via Netgalley*
A worthy sequel to her debut novel, The Wedding Shroud, The Golden Dice continues the tale of Caecilia, a half-caste member of Roman society 7 years later. Multidimensional in the depiction of it’s heroine, if a 3D reading experience existed this would be it. The amount of research Ms. Storrs put into this novel and it’s predecessor is impressive, what is even more impressive is Ms. Storrs gift of storytelling.
A worthy sequel to her debut novel, The Wedding Shroud, The Golden Dice continues the tale of Caecilia, a half-caste member of Roman society 7 years later. Multidimensional in the depiction of it’s heroine, if a 3D reading experience existed this would be it. The amount of research Ms. Storrs put into this novel and it’s predecessor is impressive, what is even more impressive is Ms. Storrs gift of storytelling.
August 27, 2013
War erupts between Rome and The Etruscans, and Rome carries the siege through the winter destroying farms and villages, disrupting the trade routes in an attempt to starve out the Etruscans. Political and religious maneuvering within both Roman and Etruscan groups just adds to a difficult situation for the cities and for Cecaelia personally.
February 9, 2014
I am new to Elizsabeth Storrs and thoroughly enjoyed this fascinating insight into Roman history. I thought the story/plot was well conceived, as were the characters and the detail underpinning the settings. I have some catching up to do as this is the second one in the series which I am certainly looking forward to reading.
February 7, 2014
Elizabeth Storrs writes wonderful historic fiction. Well researched, meticulous in the detail, she sweeps you away to the trials and tribulation of an ancient world. This was my first book from her and I have a little catching up to do.Loved the characters and plot, looking forward to reading more.
June 19, 2014
A satisfying read, set in a little-explored time period. I always enjoy stories set in different times or places, where I learn about new societies while I'm enjoying the journey of a well-drawn character. Storrs excellent research shows in her detailed setting and characters development.
February 12, 2015
We are proud to announce that THE GOLDEN DICE-A TALE OF ANCIENT ROME by Elisabeth Storrs is a B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree. This tells a reader that this book is well worth their time and money!
January 23, 2022
4.5 I liked this book better than the first in some ways because the characters are more complex. Caecilia has grown up, and we get to see her well-rounded (to be expected as she ages). The other two women, the Roman prostitute Pinna and Etruscan potter Semni provide subaltern views, and display how women's choices in this world were extremely limited. I found Pinna more appealing than Semni, largely as the latter made many of her own problems, but I think that was the point. These characters aren't meant to be all good or all bad, just human.
As in the first book, descriptions of Etruscan and Roman life show excellent research (one quibble below) that immerses the reader in early 4th century BCE Italy. The stakes have been raised from the personal to the city/international in this second installment. We all know how this is going to end, which is why I find it of particular interest that Storrs chose to write from the Etruscan perspective instead of what will be the victorious Roman one.
It's a challenge to take that view, but I'm glad she did. We don't get enough books featuring Etruscans from the Etruscan POV. I particularly like, throughout books 1 and 2, how the Temple of Juno looms over the city, feeling both protecting but also sometimes ominous, and reminders about the hidden tunnels in the tufa rock beneath. How the city was eventually taken would be listed subsequently in Roman strategems as particularly clever. (And by the end of book 2, we know from whom the Romans will get help on that score!)
I want to especially highlight the author's note at the end. May sound like an odd thing to note, but as an historian, I appreciated Storrs' explanation for her choices and what sources she used--all the more so as the excellent work on Etruscan history isn't as well known as that on Rome. I wish more historical fiction authors would include such a note.
Finally, the reason this isn't a 5 involves two aspects I didn't care for. The first was structural. Book 1 ends with a throw of the dice...but we don't see what rolled up. Book 2 opens *years* later. We eventually find out what the dice throw was, but I wish she'd begun book 2 there. I completely understand a need for "and time passes," to move along an extended (years-long) war, and if I'm not normally a big fan of prefaces, this time, I think a preface, showing what happened immediately following book 1 was in order: then skip ahead. The surprise about what the dice throw was isn't, at least imo, shocking enough to be kept till later in book 2. In fact, I think it might have worked better shown immediately, to help increase a sense of the ominous.
I also had a historical quibble over the portrayal of same-sex relationships. The Romans were fairly hostile to these prior to the intro of Greek culture, but the Etruscans followed Greek patterns. And if we can assume Caecilia would have a Roman view, what's described as an Etruscan-Greek view is a bit skewed, particularly female same-sex pairings. Art suggests no hostility to them any more than to male/male (B. Sandhoff). This was the only off note in the history, which is otherwise quite excellent.
As in the first book, descriptions of Etruscan and Roman life show excellent research (one quibble below) that immerses the reader in early 4th century BCE Italy. The stakes have been raised from the personal to the city/international in this second installment. We all know how this is going to end, which is why I find it of particular interest that Storrs chose to write from the Etruscan perspective instead of what will be the victorious Roman one.
It's a challenge to take that view, but I'm glad she did. We don't get enough books featuring Etruscans from the Etruscan POV. I particularly like, throughout books 1 and 2, how the Temple of Juno looms over the city, feeling both protecting but also sometimes ominous, and reminders about the hidden tunnels in the tufa rock beneath. How the city was eventually taken would be listed subsequently in Roman strategems as particularly clever. (And by the end of book 2, we know from whom the Romans will get help on that score!)
I want to especially highlight the author's note at the end. May sound like an odd thing to note, but as an historian, I appreciated Storrs' explanation for her choices and what sources she used--all the more so as the excellent work on Etruscan history isn't as well known as that on Rome. I wish more historical fiction authors would include such a note.
Finally, the reason this isn't a 5 involves two aspects I didn't care for. The first was structural. Book 1 ends with a throw of the dice...but we don't see what rolled up. Book 2 opens *years* later. We eventually find out what the dice throw was, but I wish she'd begun book 2 there. I completely understand a need for "and time passes," to move along an extended (years-long) war, and if I'm not normally a big fan of prefaces, this time, I think a preface, showing what happened immediately following book 1 was in order: then skip ahead. The surprise about what the dice throw was isn't, at least imo, shocking enough to be kept till later in book 2. In fact, I think it might have worked better shown immediately, to help increase a sense of the ominous.
I also had a historical quibble over the portrayal of same-sex relationships. The Romans were fairly hostile to these prior to the intro of Greek culture, but the Etruscans followed Greek patterns. And if we can assume Caecilia would have a Roman view, what's described as an Etruscan-Greek view is a bit skewed, particularly female same-sex pairings. Art suggests no hostility to them any more than to male/male (B. Sandhoff). This was the only off note in the history, which is otherwise quite excellent.
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