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Empires End
Rome is breaking apart. In the year 260, drought haunts the people, barbarians batter the frontiers, and whispers of treachery bubble from the shadows. The spells that once shielded the empire have been unraveled by an unknown force – leaving Rome exposed to ruin.
Nikolas, a young imperial wizard, dreams of a quiet life in a library. But an emperor desperate to avoid collapse enlists him and his brilliant classmate, Livia, in a high-stakes mission to root out their mysterious enemy and restore Rome’s wards.
Their journey reveals more than broken magic. A conspiracy reaches into the highest echelons of the empire, one that threatens to turn the world upside down.
Hunted by powers they barely understand, Nikolas and Livia must make a decision that will echo throughout history – save the people of Rome or disappear to live another day.
Nikolas, a young imperial wizard, dreams of a quiet life in a library. But an emperor desperate to avoid collapse enlists him and his brilliant classmate, Livia, in a high-stakes mission to root out their mysterious enemy and restore Rome’s wards.
Their journey reveals more than broken magic. A conspiracy reaches into the highest echelons of the empire, one that threatens to turn the world upside down.
Hunted by powers they barely understand, Nikolas and Livia must make a decision that will echo throughout history – save the people of Rome or disappear to live another day.
366 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 19, 2026
About the author
Zach Floro
1 book4 followersZach Floro is a historical fantasy author who is fascinated by myth, magic and the possibilities of what history could be. A lifelong daydreamer and lover of history, he blends elements of our past with magic and lore to create a fantastical world that seems just real enough to be believable. He lives in Ohio with his wife, son and loyal dog, Coco. Empires End is his debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 17, 2026
"Rome is breaking apart. In the year 260, drought haunts the people, barbarians batter the frontiers, and whispers of treachery bubble from the shadows. The spells that once shielded the empire have been unraveled by an unknown force – leaving Rome exposed to ruin.
Nikolas, a young imperial wizard, dreams of a quiet life in a library. But an emperor desperate to avoid collapse enlists him and his brilliant classmate, Livia, in a high-stakes mission to root out their mysterious enemy and restore Rome’s wards.
Their journey reveals more than broken magic. A conspiracy reaches into the highest echelons of the empire, one that threatens to turn the world upside down.
Hunted by powers they barely understand, Nikolas and Livia must make a decision that will echo throughout history – save the people of Rome or disappear to live another day."
I had the honor of receiving this ARC from Zach and I have to say, I wasn't disappointed. It's always a hit-or-miss when I read a self-published book, whether it will be good or simply mediocre. But Zach absolutely blew me away with his mastery of the writing craft! I was obsessed with this story from start to finish, and I'm incredibly honored that I got to read this novel.
The mix of history, fantasy, and action-packed tension in this novel was to die for. I loved the well-informed historical aspects in particular, which made it easy to feel grounded in the historical atmosphere without it feeling so convoluted it was indecipherable. Easy to understand and written in a way that will allow the ease of readers learning about the unusual setting, it's a book that is both educational and riveting.
The characters were fresh, vivid, and well-written, with believable motives and interesting backstories and personalities. I enjoyed their interactions and how the narrative brought different members of the cast together, as well as the bigger part all the characters played in the overarching plot.
Floro is truly a unique voice in self-published fiction, and I cannot wait to see what he writes next! Thank you, again, for writing such an entertaining and informational novel.
Nikolas, a young imperial wizard, dreams of a quiet life in a library. But an emperor desperate to avoid collapse enlists him and his brilliant classmate, Livia, in a high-stakes mission to root out their mysterious enemy and restore Rome’s wards.
Their journey reveals more than broken magic. A conspiracy reaches into the highest echelons of the empire, one that threatens to turn the world upside down.
Hunted by powers they barely understand, Nikolas and Livia must make a decision that will echo throughout history – save the people of Rome or disappear to live another day."
I had the honor of receiving this ARC from Zach and I have to say, I wasn't disappointed. It's always a hit-or-miss when I read a self-published book, whether it will be good or simply mediocre. But Zach absolutely blew me away with his mastery of the writing craft! I was obsessed with this story from start to finish, and I'm incredibly honored that I got to read this novel.
The mix of history, fantasy, and action-packed tension in this novel was to die for. I loved the well-informed historical aspects in particular, which made it easy to feel grounded in the historical atmosphere without it feeling so convoluted it was indecipherable. Easy to understand and written in a way that will allow the ease of readers learning about the unusual setting, it's a book that is both educational and riveting.
The characters were fresh, vivid, and well-written, with believable motives and interesting backstories and personalities. I enjoyed their interactions and how the narrative brought different members of the cast together, as well as the bigger part all the characters played in the overarching plot.
Floro is truly a unique voice in self-published fiction, and I cannot wait to see what he writes next! Thank you, again, for writing such an entertaining and informational novel.
June 1, 2026
Empires End was a fun ride from beginning to end. I love history and thoroughly enjoyed the cross section this book had with fantasy. It explores the idea of “what if magic and mystical creatures existed in Ancient Rome” which was awesome. The world also felt authentic to the time period with magic baked in.
Notably for me, the last 70 to 80 pages had me turning pages like I was Nicholas in the library studying Petrus’ climate spells with Albus. I really felt Zach hit his stride with the ending.
Author Zach Floro nailed it on his debut novel and I am already looking forward to the next installment in the series!
Notably for me, the last 70 to 80 pages had me turning pages like I was Nicholas in the library studying Petrus’ climate spells with Albus. I really felt Zach hit his stride with the ending.
Author Zach Floro nailed it on his debut novel and I am already looking forward to the next installment in the series!
June 8, 2026
Exciting immersion into another world!
This story begins by immediately drawing the reader into a fast-paced excursion into an exciting fantasy realm. This is the type of book that will grab the readers attention and will be hard to put down. I am looking forward to more of this writer's work!
This story begins by immediately drawing the reader into a fast-paced excursion into an exciting fantasy realm. This is the type of book that will grab the readers attention and will be hard to put down. I am looking forward to more of this writer's work!
August 7, 2026
The trifecta of things I love - an underdog coming of age story, Ancient Rome and magic! An original story with plenty of action and twists and turns. An impressive debut!
April 30, 2026
Floro creates a fascinating universe in this story, weaving into it a compelling, complex story.
May 30, 2026
The rating I offer Empires End by Zach Floro is 3/5.
Rome is under attack. Magic cannot protect it against the Rogue Wizard, one who somehow uses imprisoned Minotaurs as its army. The Rogue Wizard’s magic is too powerful, inciting unrest and leading Livia and Nikolas on an unexpected journey to understand the mystery of their enemy. As they travel, they seek to find allies in the upcoming warfare, particularly the mission they were given before: locating the Elves who were banished from Rome centuries ago.
Empires End is a very written action novel. It maintains tension from the prologue. I generally like prologues, and here, it stands strong, giving readers a solid preview of the magical nature of Rome, and their primary conflict. I haven’t read anything with Minotaurs recently, so with them and the appearance of other magical creatures adds welcome complexity.
The protagonist, Nikolas, is bookish, more academic in nature, whereas the deuteragonist, Livia, is athletic and nature based. A good contrast. It’s a multiple POV novel, which I’m a fan of, and can appreciate seeing the story unfold from other perspectives. Despite the narrative being robust, some sentences and dialogue have either too much exposition or goes a few words too long.
The downsides come in a trifecta: weak voice, shallow dialogue, and lower character impact. Throughout the novel, it felt character actions and sensory descriptions overtook interiority and dialogue. For example, Albus’ and Nikolas’ voices blurred despite having different character journeys and specialties. Some characters, like Livia and Ezra, read like they’re one draft away from being their finalized versions.
However, I kept turning the pages. The strong plot almost counterbalances this gap. Pacing is good and the Latin spells are a nice touch. I watched Spartacus in tandem with reading this so, I’m glad that the themes and confronting of sensitive issues are handled in a more delicate manner. Otherwise, it would’ve been a DNF for me. Livia tends to uphold the narrative of justice and while it may come across stereotypical due to gender, her athletic build and field experience mostly offsets it.
The rating is at 3 stars because of voice and dialogue. In a multiple POV narrative, voice must be strong otherwise risk the narrative. I did enjoy reading different characters, each who come complete with flaws and strengths, progressing the worldbuilding. It’s an easy enough read, where it doesn’t inundate the reader with too much at once–building tension and pacing certainly is an author strength.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Rome is under attack. Magic cannot protect it against the Rogue Wizard, one who somehow uses imprisoned Minotaurs as its army. The Rogue Wizard’s magic is too powerful, inciting unrest and leading Livia and Nikolas on an unexpected journey to understand the mystery of their enemy. As they travel, they seek to find allies in the upcoming warfare, particularly the mission they were given before: locating the Elves who were banished from Rome centuries ago.
Empires End is a very written action novel. It maintains tension from the prologue. I generally like prologues, and here, it stands strong, giving readers a solid preview of the magical nature of Rome, and their primary conflict. I haven’t read anything with Minotaurs recently, so with them and the appearance of other magical creatures adds welcome complexity.
The protagonist, Nikolas, is bookish, more academic in nature, whereas the deuteragonist, Livia, is athletic and nature based. A good contrast. It’s a multiple POV novel, which I’m a fan of, and can appreciate seeing the story unfold from other perspectives. Despite the narrative being robust, some sentences and dialogue have either too much exposition or goes a few words too long.
The downsides come in a trifecta: weak voice, shallow dialogue, and lower character impact. Throughout the novel, it felt character actions and sensory descriptions overtook interiority and dialogue. For example, Albus’ and Nikolas’ voices blurred despite having different character journeys and specialties. Some characters, like Livia and Ezra, read like they’re one draft away from being their finalized versions.
However, I kept turning the pages. The strong plot almost counterbalances this gap. Pacing is good and the Latin spells are a nice touch. I watched Spartacus in tandem with reading this so, I’m glad that the themes and confronting of sensitive issues are handled in a more delicate manner. Otherwise, it would’ve been a DNF for me. Livia tends to uphold the narrative of justice and while it may come across stereotypical due to gender, her athletic build and field experience mostly offsets it.
The rating is at 3 stars because of voice and dialogue. In a multiple POV narrative, voice must be strong otherwise risk the narrative. I did enjoy reading different characters, each who come complete with flaws and strengths, progressing the worldbuilding. It’s an easy enough read, where it doesn’t inundate the reader with too much at once–building tension and pacing certainly is an author strength.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 19, 2026
An enchanting story full of adventure, sorcery and swords fighting!
The story is interesting, the character and world building of a high quality!
This first book opens the adventure but I’m sure a lot is yet to come! Can’t wait to continue! ☺️.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The story is interesting, the character and world building of a high quality!
This first book opens the adventure but I’m sure a lot is yet to come! Can’t wait to continue! ☺️.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews