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Cesar the Bravo
Cesar, a sometimes-condottiero and a bravo by trade, has earned a reputation as one of the best swords for hire in the city of Plenum. If you need a foe humiliated before a cheering crowd, he's your man!
There's good money to be made—at least enough to pay for fine clothes and cheap wine—but Plenum is a dangerous city filled with corrupt nobles vying for power, crooked merchants and conmen looking for marks, and every manner of hired muscle looking to cozy up or make a name for themselves... not to mention the occasional rampaging demon loose in the streets!
At the heart of power in Plenum is the an exclusive aristocratic body of mages who hold a monopoly on magic. Cesar finds himself inexorable drawn into the city's power struggles, as one of the most pre-eminent members of that esteemed collective finds he has a use for the bravo!
There's good money to be made—at least enough to pay for fine clothes and cheap wine—but Plenum is a dangerous city filled with corrupt nobles vying for power, crooked merchants and conmen looking for marks, and every manner of hired muscle looking to cozy up or make a name for themselves... not to mention the occasional rampaging demon loose in the streets!
At the heart of power in Plenum is the an exclusive aristocratic body of mages who hold a monopoly on magic. Cesar finds himself inexorable drawn into the city's power struggles, as one of the most pre-eminent members of that esteemed collective finds he has a use for the bravo!
308 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 12, 2025
About the author
Ken Lizzi
34 books11 followersKen Lizzi is an attorney and the author of an assortment of published short stories. His novels include "Reunion", "Under Strange Suns", "Thick As Thieves", the "Semi-Autos and Sorcery" series, and the "Falchion's Company" series. When not traveling - and he'd rather be traveling - he lives in Texas with his lovely wife Isa and energetic daughter V.V. He enjoys reading, homebrewing, exercise, and visiting new places. He loathes writing about himself in the third person.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
April 6, 2026
"Cesar the Bravo" by Ken Lizzi (published by Cirsova, 2025) is a collection of five short stories and a complete novel featuring Cesar, a sword for hire (or rather, a duelist - a bravo) set in a fantasy-inspired Renaissance Italy...but with demons and wizards. The tales are pure adventure pulp (pre-musketeer feel) with entertaining, mercenary plots and dilemmas.
The short stories were all previously published and I enjoyed them quite a bit. The prose, expressed in the dramatic flair of our hero's first person narrative, is a little purplish at times and the fight scenes are detailed and elaborate. But Cesar is a sympathetic popinjay (always concerned with his appearance, impression - and drinking wine!) whose antics and crises holds the reader's attention.
Except for the novel titled "Witch Hunt." This adventure is new to the collection and served as an anchor for the Kickstarter that funded this project. I backed the campaign and received the e-book. And while I'd rate the other 5 short stories at 4 stars, I have to admit I thought this entry could have been a novella. A lot of exposition, extended dueling scenes, and a running first person commentary that, for me, got tiresome. I skimmed quite a bit.
Still, something different and worth checking out. If you enjoy swashbuckling adventures set within this milieu, I'd also recommend "Enter the Pistollera" by Jasiah Witkofsky (2023 from Nordic Press).
Final notes: The cover art is by Wistmoor Studios, which has been a go-to source for artwork and illos for Cirsova the past few years. And also this year 2026, congrats to P. Alexander for 10 years of publishing. Check out more of their offerings at cirsova.wordpress.com.
The short stories were all previously published and I enjoyed them quite a bit. The prose, expressed in the dramatic flair of our hero's first person narrative, is a little purplish at times and the fight scenes are detailed and elaborate. But Cesar is a sympathetic popinjay (always concerned with his appearance, impression - and drinking wine!) whose antics and crises holds the reader's attention.
Except for the novel titled "Witch Hunt." This adventure is new to the collection and served as an anchor for the Kickstarter that funded this project. I backed the campaign and received the e-book. And while I'd rate the other 5 short stories at 4 stars, I have to admit I thought this entry could have been a novella. A lot of exposition, extended dueling scenes, and a running first person commentary that, for me, got tiresome. I skimmed quite a bit.
Still, something different and worth checking out. If you enjoy swashbuckling adventures set within this milieu, I'd also recommend "Enter the Pistollera" by Jasiah Witkofsky (2023 from Nordic Press).
Final notes: The cover art is by Wistmoor Studios, which has been a go-to source for artwork and illos for Cirsova the past few years. And also this year 2026, congrats to P. Alexander for 10 years of publishing. Check out more of their offerings at cirsova.wordpress.com.
Displaying 1 of 1 review