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Agent of Rome #5
The Emperor's Silver
Still recovering from his previous assignment in Arabia, imperial agent Cassius Corbulo has been spending most of his time and money on women and wine. Unfortunately for him, word of his achievements has reached the emperor Aurelian's deputy and he is sent north, tasked with smashing a counterfeiting gang.
Cassius tracks the criminals to the city of Berytus, where his investigations are hampered by civil unrest and uncooperative officials, not to mention the personal problems of his servant Simo and bodyguard Indavara. Despite this - and intense pressure from his superiors - the young officer eventually closes in on the gang.
But his enemies will do anything to protect their profits, and Cassius and Indavara soon find themselves fighting not only for the emperor, but for their very survival.
Cassius tracks the criminals to the city of Berytus, where his investigations are hampered by civil unrest and uncooperative officials, not to mention the personal problems of his servant Simo and bodyguard Indavara. Despite this - and intense pressure from his superiors - the young officer eventually closes in on the gang.
But his enemies will do anything to protect their profits, and Cassius and Indavara soon find themselves fighting not only for the emperor, but for their very survival.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published June 4, 2015
4 people are currently reading
408 people want to read
About the author
Nick Brown
15 books117 followersA keen reader from a young age, Nick graduated from Enid Blyton to Douglas Hill and JRR Tolkien, and from there to Ian Fleming, Michael Crichton and C.J. Sansom. After three years studying in Brighton, he travelled to Nepal where he worked at an orphanage and trekked to Mount Everest. After qualifying as a history teacher in 2000, he worked for five years in England before taking up a post at an international school in Warsaw.
Nick had completed a few screenplays and a futuristic thriller before being inspired to try historical fiction after reading C.J. Sansom’s Dissolution: “Researching the Roman army and life in the third century was a fascinating but time-consuming project and the book went through many drafts before arriving at its final form. I had always intended Cassius to be a somewhat atypical protagonist and when I came across the research about the Roman ‘secret service’, I knew I’d found an ideal vocation for my reluctant hero.”
If he’s not writing he might be found at the cinema, in a pub or playing football.
Nick is represented by the David Grossman Literary Agency (general@dglal.co.uk)
Follow Nick on Twitter @randomrome or Agent of Rome on Facebook.
Nick had completed a few screenplays and a futuristic thriller before being inspired to try historical fiction after reading C.J. Sansom’s Dissolution: “Researching the Roman army and life in the third century was a fascinating but time-consuming project and the book went through many drafts before arriving at its final form. I had always intended Cassius to be a somewhat atypical protagonist and when I came across the research about the Roman ‘secret service’, I knew I’d found an ideal vocation for my reluctant hero.”
If he’s not writing he might be found at the cinema, in a pub or playing football.
Nick is represented by the David Grossman Literary Agency (general@dglal.co.uk)
Follow Nick on Twitter @randomrome or Agent of Rome on Facebook.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
February 13, 2016
Who would have thought that Cassius would willingly accept a new mission? Well, if three men raided my house in the middle of the night and wounded my bodyguard, in a very sensitive area, I’d want to escape too. Indeed, someone is out to get Cassius, so he accepts what he believes to be a nice easy mission to get away from his pursuers. However, his new mission isn’t easy; it is quite the opposite and he becomes distracted from his investigation as his mysterious assailants gradually catch up with him. The result is a minor case of paranoia and an investigation that he would normally be able to solve with reluctant enthusiasm and ease.
A mission to escape
Indeed, he is sent to investigate the production of counterfeit coins, which he does not take seriously at all. He is just too distracted. He treats the mission, in the beginning, as if it is unimportant and inconsequential; thus, he makes a massive mistake on the basis of some very flimsy evidence. The result is a minor humiliation that could become a major one if his mission isn’t brought to a speedy resolution. His reputation could become seriously tarnished if he doesn’t get himself together. But, the threat of his assailants lingers at the back of his mind, so his mission takes a backseat as his priority becomes his own safety.
The result is a character that does not have the same drive he once had. He lacks the enthusiasm he bore in the The Far Shore and the resilience he harboured in the The Siege. But, who can blame him? He is in fear for his life. He has made many potential enemies in his previous investigation and they may have finally caught up with him. It’s no wonder that he cannot focus on the current investigation that he is only utilizing as a means of escape.
Fantastic character dynamics
The plot did not start as fast in this book as it did in others, but it would be quite unrealistic if it did. This really lends itself to the brilliant characterisation in this series. Cassius had such a traumatic experience in the last book trying to recover The Black Stone that he is left in a state of unrest. He just wants to drink wine and chase girls not silver whilst trying to protect himself from a mysterious hunter. He no longer wants to risk his life for an ungracious Empire, but is duty bound to do so. Consequently, his enthusiasm is at an all-time low and his reluctance at an all-time high. Cassius needs the help of his two friends more than ever in this novel.
Cassius’s bodyguard, Indavara, has become somewhat of a laughing point for this novel, and it is for the right reasons. The bodyguard has gets himself into some rather tight scrapes, which makes for a more amusing dynamic between the trio than the previous intelligence insults directed at Indavara. Despite the personal crisis he has in this novel, Cassius would have been died long ago without him so he owes him his life several times over. In addition, Simo’s kindness and personal faith leads to some problematic encounters which almost danger the investigation itself. However, without his brilliant organisation skills Cassius would have struggled to unravel the tight web that leads to the coin counterfeiters. The two characters create many problems, but without their help Cassius would have completely failed this mission.
Overall, this is another brilliant edition in the series. The plot was not quite as fast in this one, but that was a necessary facet for the characters to overcome their personal obstacles and develop further. Indeed, the dynamic between the three characters is why I enjoy this series so much, and why I will continue to read it. Moreover, the ending page of this book really twisted everything around and will leave me in sustained suspense for the next year. This definitely was the strongest ending in the series so far.
A mission to escape
Indeed, he is sent to investigate the production of counterfeit coins, which he does not take seriously at all. He is just too distracted. He treats the mission, in the beginning, as if it is unimportant and inconsequential; thus, he makes a massive mistake on the basis of some very flimsy evidence. The result is a minor humiliation that could become a major one if his mission isn’t brought to a speedy resolution. His reputation could become seriously tarnished if he doesn’t get himself together. But, the threat of his assailants lingers at the back of his mind, so his mission takes a backseat as his priority becomes his own safety.
The result is a character that does not have the same drive he once had. He lacks the enthusiasm he bore in the The Far Shore and the resilience he harboured in the The Siege. But, who can blame him? He is in fear for his life. He has made many potential enemies in his previous investigation and they may have finally caught up with him. It’s no wonder that he cannot focus on the current investigation that he is only utilizing as a means of escape.
Fantastic character dynamics
The plot did not start as fast in this book as it did in others, but it would be quite unrealistic if it did. This really lends itself to the brilliant characterisation in this series. Cassius had such a traumatic experience in the last book trying to recover The Black Stone that he is left in a state of unrest. He just wants to drink wine and chase girls not silver whilst trying to protect himself from a mysterious hunter. He no longer wants to risk his life for an ungracious Empire, but is duty bound to do so. Consequently, his enthusiasm is at an all-time low and his reluctance at an all-time high. Cassius needs the help of his two friends more than ever in this novel.
Cassius’s bodyguard, Indavara, has become somewhat of a laughing point for this novel, and it is for the right reasons. The bodyguard has gets himself into some rather tight scrapes, which makes for a more amusing dynamic between the trio than the previous intelligence insults directed at Indavara. Despite the personal crisis he has in this novel, Cassius would have been died long ago without him so he owes him his life several times over. In addition, Simo’s kindness and personal faith leads to some problematic encounters which almost danger the investigation itself. However, without his brilliant organisation skills Cassius would have struggled to unravel the tight web that leads to the coin counterfeiters. The two characters create many problems, but without their help Cassius would have completely failed this mission.
Overall, this is another brilliant edition in the series. The plot was not quite as fast in this one, but that was a necessary facet for the characters to overcome their personal obstacles and develop further. Indeed, the dynamic between the three characters is why I enjoy this series so much, and why I will continue to read it. Moreover, the ending page of this book really twisted everything around and will leave me in sustained suspense for the next year. This definitely was the strongest ending in the series so far.
October 24, 2023
This series keeps getting better and better! The author has outdone himself! I read slowly to make it last, since I KNEW I would really enjoy this latest Agent of Rome adventure! And I was absolutely right! This adventure was more of a detective story, with Cassius, Simo, and Indavara in Berytus [modern Beirut] investigating a ring of counterfeiters. They gladly accept the aid of government officials and City sergeants [lictors?][Urban Cohorts?]. Emperor Aurelian has recently issued new silver coins; fakes are appearing all over the East. Early on, Cassius has used his smooth tongue, but also exhibited his overexuberance, impetuosity and carelessness based on flimsy circumstantial evidence. There are more red herrings. A smuggling outfit is exposed. Through a happy chance, Indavara comes upon a promising lead while helping Simo's Christian congregation in their good works. The final few chapters will surprise you.
I liked that the story was not only non-stop exciting adventure but also gave us Simo's and Indavara's very human emotions and personal stories. Simo and Cassius continue their disagreement over the place of Simo's religion in his life. Indavara, besides finding what might be more of his background, is struggling to find his place in society outside the arena and not to let its evils overwhelm him. Cassius is unsympathetic to his feelings and awkward with him. The psychology and dynamic among the three I thought were strong aspects of the story.
Pacing was superb. There were two dangerous chases which as they unfolded were almost cinematic in the words used to describe them. I could almost see them play out before me. We saw Cassius's quick thinking. Both incidents were heart-stopping. I felt squeamish about the depravity between the brother and sister fraternal twins. That lowered my rating a little to maybe 4.75 which I raised to a 5. I wish the author could have left out words describing their strange relationship: sentences or paragraphs here and there. At least he only hinted at it.
This novel will be one of my favorites of Cassius's adventures.
Highly recommended. I thank the author for sending me a copy of the novel.
I liked that the story was not only non-stop exciting adventure but also gave us Simo's and Indavara's very human emotions and personal stories. Simo and Cassius continue their disagreement over the place of Simo's religion in his life. Indavara, besides finding what might be more of his background, is struggling to find his place in society outside the arena and not to let its evils overwhelm him. Cassius is unsympathetic to his feelings and awkward with him. The psychology and dynamic among the three I thought were strong aspects of the story.
Pacing was superb. There were two dangerous chases which as they unfolded were almost cinematic in the words used to describe them. I could almost see them play out before me. We saw Cassius's quick thinking. Both incidents were heart-stopping. I felt squeamish about the depravity between the brother and sister fraternal twins. That lowered my rating a little to maybe 4.75 which I raised to a 5. I wish the author could have left out words describing their strange relationship: sentences or paragraphs here and there. At least he only hinted at it.
This novel will be one of my favorites of Cassius's adventures.
Highly recommended. I thank the author for sending me a copy of the novel.
January 3, 2018
I love this series so much and The Emperor's Silver does not disappoint - on the contrary. The perfect mix of action, fine writing and a trio of characters I just can't get enough of. There are undertones here about the darker side of the Roman empire, including slavery and the exposure of infants, and that adds something very special. Excellent.
July 8, 2017
Perhaps not the best one in the series so far, I have got to say. It felt like there were long time where it seemed as though nothing much happened with relevance to the mission. Though when it did, it more than made up for it and is surely better than most. And a great relief not to be staggering from one huge battle to another.
The story is again a detective story, a whodunnit, set in the Roman Middle East, 273AD. Corbulo is once more handed the hot potato mission, this time to track down whoever is putting fake Roman money into the system. 'The system' is actually good, because while I didn't think that 'fake' Roman money was either a thing, or a thing that would actually be a problem worth worrying about, it was, of course. Like it is today. It's about confidence in the system and the consequences of that confidence being eroded or removed by uncertainty and mistrust. And that's where Nick Browns books really come into their own. By showing us life, Roman life, as it was a little further down the scale from the Emperors and Generals usually written about, we can perhaps more easily relate it to our own lives and struggles. And see, both that the Romans were a lot like us, a lot further developed than people (me) usually would think for a people living 2,000 years ago, and - very little has changed.
The story is much more of a team effort, I felt, this time out. Simo and especially Indavara have increasingly important - even pivotal - roles to play. And...the whole thing hangs on an excellent .... to be continued-type theme at the end there. Great not to be neatly tied off, great to have me wanting to get stuck into the next one.
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The story is again a detective story, a whodunnit, set in the Roman Middle East, 273AD. Corbulo is once more handed the hot potato mission, this time to track down whoever is putting fake Roman money into the system. 'The system' is actually good, because while I didn't think that 'fake' Roman money was either a thing, or a thing that would actually be a problem worth worrying about, it was, of course. Like it is today. It's about confidence in the system and the consequences of that confidence being eroded or removed by uncertainty and mistrust. And that's where Nick Browns books really come into their own. By showing us life, Roman life, as it was a little further down the scale from the Emperors and Generals usually written about, we can perhaps more easily relate it to our own lives and struggles. And see, both that the Romans were a lot like us, a lot further developed than people (me) usually would think for a people living 2,000 years ago, and - very little has changed.
The story is much more of a team effort, I felt, this time out. Simo and especially Indavara have increasingly important - even pivotal - roles to play. And...the whole thing hangs on an excellent .... to be continued-type theme at the end there. Great not to be neatly tied off, great to have me wanting to get stuck into the next one.
The World's best book blog: Speesh Reads
Facebook: Speesh Reads
June 4, 2015
Review
For me this is one of the stand out series in Roman fiction, something different, not built around battles, it follows the exploits of Cassius an officer of the “Grain Men” or the Frumentarii. In this tale we follow our due of Cassius and Indavara on what should be a more quiet and sedate posting to uncover a counterfeiting ring, something more cerebral and more suited to Cassius talents than Indavara’s (the ex gladiator who has saved them from more than a few life threatening escapades). Only things never go quite how our young scholarly soldier hopes, and more often that not he has to rely on Indavara’s prowess and size to get them out of trouble.
full review: follow link
https://parmenionbooks.wordpress.com/...
June 18, 2015
originally posted at: http://thebookplank.blogspot.com/2015...
If you have been following my reviews of Nick Brown's Agent of Rome series (including short fiction pieces), you know that I am a big fan of his writing. And it is with a reason, he writing is catchy, fast paced and his vision of the Roman Empire is just as it had to be, beautiful yet brutal at the same time. From the first book, The Siege, Nick Brown has never missed a beat in his writing, I kindly urge you to pick up this series asap if you haven't done so.
The Emperor's Silver picks up after the events of The Black Stone, and just as if Cassius thought he could catch a break from running around and solving problems (which kind of comes with the job of the frumentarii), he is called on another mission. But first I have to note that before this mission arrives you see a picture of Cassius where his far from a happy man, he has witnessed a lot of hurt and pain. If you think about it anyone with emotions would be taken by this and so is Cassius. He takes relief in other means and knows it isn't really the right way to go. After this introduction Cassius is presented with a serious case, where he has to track counterfeit money. The case being, Emperor Aurelian has issued new coinage in the Roman Empire, since the Roman Empire is big, many criminals try to work this in their favor and one particular criminal gang is doing such a good job that they have been noted. However this new mission isn't the only motivation, Cassius is being persued and they have already gotten very close to him personally... a desperate break is needed. And so Cassius is send to put them to a halt in the city of Berytus. Of course he is always accompanied by two of his friends, servant and bodyguard, Simo and Indavara whom we already have gotten to learn in the other books. Anyway, what might sounds like a fairly easy mission, soon turns out into a giant undertaking as Cassius is presented with more than one challenge in trying to find the criminals and navigating his way through the local populace and convincing them to help him. What we also see is that Cassius' is young and perhaps naive and is being led astray by other motivations. But it in end Cassius is being presented with a "smack in the face" wake up call as soon as he finds out that he wasn't able to shed his persuers and that his life now hangs in the balance. Again a challenging task for Cassius both for his job and that of his life.
I actually wanted to quote the last two sentences of the book but that would be too much of a spoiler, anyway I won't do it now. But as with many of the other review, this ending, WOW, Nick! how dare you totally unfair. I hope you promise to publish the next book in a few months and not let us sit around and wait until next year June!
When it comes down to character development, "evolution" so to say is remarkable. As I said before, Cassius shows emotions, he has gone through a lot and gradually you see that everything is catching up with him. It is impossible to witness what he has and stay cool about it, you have to find a way to let steam off or something in that sense. I really liked how Nick Brown is showing his protagonist. He is part os the secret frumentarii group, Roman's Secret Service, like spy, but not your James Bond type. He is flawed, his personality is but this is a good thing because we all aren't perfect and this is what makes him a wonderful protagonist because it allows you to connect with him much, much better than if he would be invincible and solve everything and win from every criminal. Cassius is learning. And trying to be better. Similar things count for Indavara and Simo, the former might not be the smartest of all, but I don't think you will be able to find a bodyguard as loyal as he, if it hadn't been for Indavara, Cassius would have been long gone by now. If you add all three characters together you get something much more intricate, the relation between Cassius, Indavara and Simo is a triangle, they need each other to stay alive and get further and in this you see a lot of dynamics. Each personality is different but despite some extremes they work, not always fluently though, but in a way that delivers a great dynamic. which makes you laugh at times and makes you feel a lot of sorrow at the same time.
Next to the characters, the world building is just as amazing. To be honest, there aren't any lush descriptions of the exotic surroundings. Nick Brown stays to the point and tells what is necessary and mainly by sticking to the to the point writing he creates a very nice pace in his story. And you won't miss a beat of anything, because if you read all the other books you know the surroundings and you have all seen Roman movies so your imagination should be triggered here and there. If you compare the setting to the first four books one thing is noticeable and that is that The Emperor's Silver is written with a much darker tone. Cassius' past is catching up with him and it isn't pretty, he has to face a lot of demons of his own. The events that happen in the ending of the book, I am going to say it again, wow, that cliffhanger. Brilliant stuff, I am curious to see just how this will impact Cassius' action I think we will be in for a treat in the next installement.
I think I am going to repeat myself for the gazillionth time but the Agent of Rome series is a winner. With The Emperor's Silver Nick Brown once again proves his worth and no wonder that Hodder and Stoughton keeps on buying more books in this series, they are well worth it. From the great story dynamics, character building, story line and writing all down to the accuracy of Roman history these books are just amazing. Period.
If you have been following my reviews of Nick Brown's Agent of Rome series (including short fiction pieces), you know that I am a big fan of his writing. And it is with a reason, he writing is catchy, fast paced and his vision of the Roman Empire is just as it had to be, beautiful yet brutal at the same time. From the first book, The Siege, Nick Brown has never missed a beat in his writing, I kindly urge you to pick up this series asap if you haven't done so.
The Emperor's Silver picks up after the events of The Black Stone, and just as if Cassius thought he could catch a break from running around and solving problems (which kind of comes with the job of the frumentarii), he is called on another mission. But first I have to note that before this mission arrives you see a picture of Cassius where his far from a happy man, he has witnessed a lot of hurt and pain. If you think about it anyone with emotions would be taken by this and so is Cassius. He takes relief in other means and knows it isn't really the right way to go. After this introduction Cassius is presented with a serious case, where he has to track counterfeit money. The case being, Emperor Aurelian has issued new coinage in the Roman Empire, since the Roman Empire is big, many criminals try to work this in their favor and one particular criminal gang is doing such a good job that they have been noted. However this new mission isn't the only motivation, Cassius is being persued and they have already gotten very close to him personally... a desperate break is needed. And so Cassius is send to put them to a halt in the city of Berytus. Of course he is always accompanied by two of his friends, servant and bodyguard, Simo and Indavara whom we already have gotten to learn in the other books. Anyway, what might sounds like a fairly easy mission, soon turns out into a giant undertaking as Cassius is presented with more than one challenge in trying to find the criminals and navigating his way through the local populace and convincing them to help him. What we also see is that Cassius' is young and perhaps naive and is being led astray by other motivations. But it in end Cassius is being presented with a "smack in the face" wake up call as soon as he finds out that he wasn't able to shed his persuers and that his life now hangs in the balance. Again a challenging task for Cassius both for his job and that of his life.
I actually wanted to quote the last two sentences of the book but that would be too much of a spoiler, anyway I won't do it now. But as with many of the other review, this ending, WOW, Nick! how dare you totally unfair. I hope you promise to publish the next book in a few months and not let us sit around and wait until next year June!
When it comes down to character development, "evolution" so to say is remarkable. As I said before, Cassius shows emotions, he has gone through a lot and gradually you see that everything is catching up with him. It is impossible to witness what he has and stay cool about it, you have to find a way to let steam off or something in that sense. I really liked how Nick Brown is showing his protagonist. He is part os the secret frumentarii group, Roman's Secret Service, like spy, but not your James Bond type. He is flawed, his personality is but this is a good thing because we all aren't perfect and this is what makes him a wonderful protagonist because it allows you to connect with him much, much better than if he would be invincible and solve everything and win from every criminal. Cassius is learning. And trying to be better. Similar things count for Indavara and Simo, the former might not be the smartest of all, but I don't think you will be able to find a bodyguard as loyal as he, if it hadn't been for Indavara, Cassius would have been long gone by now. If you add all three characters together you get something much more intricate, the relation between Cassius, Indavara and Simo is a triangle, they need each other to stay alive and get further and in this you see a lot of dynamics. Each personality is different but despite some extremes they work, not always fluently though, but in a way that delivers a great dynamic. which makes you laugh at times and makes you feel a lot of sorrow at the same time.
Next to the characters, the world building is just as amazing. To be honest, there aren't any lush descriptions of the exotic surroundings. Nick Brown stays to the point and tells what is necessary and mainly by sticking to the to the point writing he creates a very nice pace in his story. And you won't miss a beat of anything, because if you read all the other books you know the surroundings and you have all seen Roman movies so your imagination should be triggered here and there. If you compare the setting to the first four books one thing is noticeable and that is that The Emperor's Silver is written with a much darker tone. Cassius' past is catching up with him and it isn't pretty, he has to face a lot of demons of his own. The events that happen in the ending of the book, I am going to say it again, wow, that cliffhanger. Brilliant stuff, I am curious to see just how this will impact Cassius' action I think we will be in for a treat in the next installement.
I think I am going to repeat myself for the gazillionth time but the Agent of Rome series is a winner. With The Emperor's Silver Nick Brown once again proves his worth and no wonder that Hodder and Stoughton keeps on buying more books in this series, they are well worth it. From the great story dynamics, character building, story line and writing all down to the accuracy of Roman history these books are just amazing. Period.
December 29, 2018
This fantastic book by Nick Brown is the 5th instalment of the wonderful and exciting "Agent of Rome" series.
The historical details concerning this great story are superbly explained within the author's note at the end of the book.
At the beginning of the book you'll find a wonderful map of the Roman empire in AD 273, and also you'll fine a nice explanation about the use of Time and Money.
The story itself is set in the year AD 273, and our main character, Imperial Agent Cassius Corbulo, finds himself in Bostria in the Province of Arabia, along with friends and companions, his personal bodyguard Indavara and his servant Simo, when all of a sudden at the beginning of the tale they are all attacked by three assailants who are trying to assassinate them, with especially Cassius Corbulo as their main objective, or so it seems.
After their near escape with death Cassius Corbulo is sent north by Emperor Aurelian's deputy to smash down a counterfeiting gang.
When they eventually track them down, after much civil unrest and uncooperative officials, which will hamper their investigations temporarily, and also from immense pressure from superiors, Cassius Corbulo and his companions close in on the gang.
What will follow is a very gripping story with thrilling pictured battle scenes, along with great interaction between all the characters, and all this told in a fascinating delightful style, all these factors combined are making this tale such a fabulous book to read.
Very much recommended, for this is for sure "An Incredible Roman Read"!
The historical details concerning this great story are superbly explained within the author's note at the end of the book.
At the beginning of the book you'll find a wonderful map of the Roman empire in AD 273, and also you'll fine a nice explanation about the use of Time and Money.
The story itself is set in the year AD 273, and our main character, Imperial Agent Cassius Corbulo, finds himself in Bostria in the Province of Arabia, along with friends and companions, his personal bodyguard Indavara and his servant Simo, when all of a sudden at the beginning of the tale they are all attacked by three assailants who are trying to assassinate them, with especially Cassius Corbulo as their main objective, or so it seems.
After their near escape with death Cassius Corbulo is sent north by Emperor Aurelian's deputy to smash down a counterfeiting gang.
When they eventually track them down, after much civil unrest and uncooperative officials, which will hamper their investigations temporarily, and also from immense pressure from superiors, Cassius Corbulo and his companions close in on the gang.
What will follow is a very gripping story with thrilling pictured battle scenes, along with great interaction between all the characters, and all this told in a fascinating delightful style, all these factors combined are making this tale such a fabulous book to read.
Very much recommended, for this is for sure "An Incredible Roman Read"!
August 25, 2015
After some harrowing and dangerous assignments, Cassius Corbulo is looking forward to a seemingly less life threatening job that will utilize his growing investigative skills. So, along with his imposing bodyguard Indavara and his Christian slave Simo, Corbulo heads to the town of Berytus to uncover a counterfeiting ring. Seemingly is the operative word in the opening sentence as the situation in this small peaceful town is hardly that. Civil unrest, dangerous counterfeiters and a mysterious group of perceived assassins who have followed our trio make for some exciting action while Corbulo meets dead end after dead end looking for the counterfeiting gang.
The most intriguing aspects of this the 5th volume in the Agent of Rome series is the continual growth of the the three main characters, especially of Simo and Indavara. Simo's ever growing faith puts him at loggerheads with Corbulo on numerous occasions. Indavara gets more interesting with every book and I was hooked on him with his arena scenes early on. Going from a context void of a past, he has come a long way and is a more complex individual than just a skilled killer.
The author knows this time and place well as his descriptions flow out of his research and gives the reader a sense of being in the dusty streets or dingy taverns. I wait with great anticipation for the next episode. 5 stars
On Twitter @hooverbkreview
On Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Clash-...
The most intriguing aspects of this the 5th volume in the Agent of Rome series is the continual growth of the the three main characters, especially of Simo and Indavara. Simo's ever growing faith puts him at loggerheads with Corbulo on numerous occasions. Indavara gets more interesting with every book and I was hooked on him with his arena scenes early on. Going from a context void of a past, he has come a long way and is a more complex individual than just a skilled killer.
The author knows this time and place well as his descriptions flow out of his research and gives the reader a sense of being in the dusty streets or dingy taverns. I wait with great anticipation for the next episode. 5 stars
On Twitter @hooverbkreview
On Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Clash-...
June 12, 2015
Roman adventure at its best. I think this is the fifth in a series that continues to get better and better, great storylines and compelling and interesting characters bring these books to life. Although the author is not yet as well-known as some of the others that write in this space, he deserves to be with confident and engaging writing.
Cassius is a “grain-man”, a Roman investigator. He is fairly young and needs the help of a bodyguard (an ex-Gladiator) and a slave (who is an active Christian) and it is the dynamics between these three that underpin the stories. Cassius is slightly immature and has the pomposity of his up-bringing but is fundamentally a decent guy trying to do the right thing. It is a clever balance of his status and culture and the relationship he has with the other two, blended in with some humour that works very well.
In The Emperor’s Silver the trio are sent out after some counterfeiters and manage to get themselves into trouble before they start to flush out the bad guys, all in a time of political unrest where the workers (specifically the weavers) feel they are being treated unfairly. Not a great time to be an undercover grain-man!
A series that is there to be thoroughly enjoyed, especially if you like books set in this era.
Cassius is a “grain-man”, a Roman investigator. He is fairly young and needs the help of a bodyguard (an ex-Gladiator) and a slave (who is an active Christian) and it is the dynamics between these three that underpin the stories. Cassius is slightly immature and has the pomposity of his up-bringing but is fundamentally a decent guy trying to do the right thing. It is a clever balance of his status and culture and the relationship he has with the other two, blended in with some humour that works very well.
In The Emperor’s Silver the trio are sent out after some counterfeiters and manage to get themselves into trouble before they start to flush out the bad guys, all in a time of political unrest where the workers (specifically the weavers) feel they are being treated unfairly. Not a great time to be an undercover grain-man!
A series that is there to be thoroughly enjoyed, especially if you like books set in this era.
September 24, 2018
Another of the Agent of Rome books which was a thoroughly good read. The mix of characters is really interesting and engaging, and as ever, a really good plot (or were there several?). I thought at the beginning that this one might be less exciting (as the characters did) but, no - it was just as gripping. Downside? The last two lines of the book mean that I now have to go straight on to the next one. (Not a problem really!)
August 5, 2016
Another job well done by Nick Brown. This time he releases more information about Indavara's past. And it the end, it looks like the cliffhanger is due to this past. This book was different than the rest, in that by the end, the enemies were defeated but not killed or captured. They cleverly escaped from Cassius. This was a pretty cool twist (even though we all love to see Indavara kick some ass, he did plenty of this to others throughout the book though). The Kallikres turn was also a twist I didn't really see coming. I loved the characters...both good and bad, there was a great mix of them, and they were all developed nicely. Another great 5 star book, and I CANNOT wait to read what Nick has in store for this trio next.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 19, 2022
['Here we fight them in the morning light
At dawn we strike with all our might
Down the hill, we charge onto the beach
No remorse, we give 'em war' - Battle Of Marathon - Warkings]
Although the story is about counterfeiting, i had the feeling it was more about Simo and Indavara's personal issues.
In the previous book, The Black Stone, we read that Cassius wants to sell poor Simo, but I'm so glad he didnt!
I find it interesting how the coins are made. Nowadays, the money we use is made and printed in a factory, its odd to think that we had to melt metals and pressure them to make coins.
I also loved how Cassius saved Indavara with a fishingnet.
Througout the books, a lot of food is being mentioned, and im always interested in how it looks like, and how it tastes like. Very curious about the 'rolls'.
A counterfeit practice under a sarcophagus factory is extremely clever, cause you can transport the fake coins in an already heavy suitcase and no one notices. The Siblings are quite genius and man, they are snakes!
To save his lover, Kallikres turned against the Siblings and help Cassius and Indavara to stop them.
As always, wonderfully written and i cant wait to read about Indavara's life before the Arena.
At dawn we strike with all our might
Down the hill, we charge onto the beach
No remorse, we give 'em war' - Battle Of Marathon - Warkings]
Although the story is about counterfeiting, i had the feeling it was more about Simo and Indavara's personal issues.
In the previous book, The Black Stone, we read that Cassius wants to sell poor Simo, but I'm so glad he didnt!
I find it interesting how the coins are made. Nowadays, the money we use is made and printed in a factory, its odd to think that we had to melt metals and pressure them to make coins.
I also loved how Cassius saved Indavara with a fishingnet.
Througout the books, a lot of food is being mentioned, and im always interested in how it looks like, and how it tastes like. Very curious about the 'rolls'.
A counterfeit practice under a sarcophagus factory is extremely clever, cause you can transport the fake coins in an already heavy suitcase and no one notices. The Siblings are quite genius and man, they are snakes!
To save his lover, Kallikres turned against the Siblings and help Cassius and Indavara to stop them.
As always, wonderfully written and i cant wait to read about Indavara's life before the Arena.
November 17, 2017
Received through GoodReads First Reads for reviewing – thank you.
I’ve not read the previous titles in this series – this is the 5th – but that didn’t matter as there’s enough background of each character and their situations as the book goes on. I know very little about the Roman times (apart from what I've seen in films, etc) but again the author skilfully details the political make-up, the social standings, local industries, so you get the flavour of Roman life very quickly. But at the same time he doesn't overwhelm.
Our central character, Imperial agent Cassius Corbulo, is not your usual lead character. He’s young, makes some errors in the course of his work, is a bit of a snob and rather blinded to the social injustices of his society. I wonder if this is something that changes through the series – the author is currently on book 7. Cassius is likeable, as are his slave and ex-gladiator bodyguard. In fact his bodyguard, Indavara, is the more interesting character as he cannot remember his past, and now and then he, and us, are given snippets of clues as to where he was from.
I enjoyed this, and would love to read the others in the series and hope Nick Brown keeps writing for years to come.
I’ve not read the previous titles in this series – this is the 5th – but that didn’t matter as there’s enough background of each character and their situations as the book goes on. I know very little about the Roman times (apart from what I've seen in films, etc) but again the author skilfully details the political make-up, the social standings, local industries, so you get the flavour of Roman life very quickly. But at the same time he doesn't overwhelm.
Our central character, Imperial agent Cassius Corbulo, is not your usual lead character. He’s young, makes some errors in the course of his work, is a bit of a snob and rather blinded to the social injustices of his society. I wonder if this is something that changes through the series – the author is currently on book 7. Cassius is likeable, as are his slave and ex-gladiator bodyguard. In fact his bodyguard, Indavara, is the more interesting character as he cannot remember his past, and now and then he, and us, are given snippets of clues as to where he was from.
I enjoyed this, and would love to read the others in the series and hope Nick Brown keeps writing for years to come.
December 24, 2017
With a new cover design that is much more in keeping with the tone of Nick Brown's excellent Agent of Rome series, the fifth book about the adventures of Imperial agent Cassius Corbulo may be the best so far. In keeping with the genre-bending that Brown has done throughout the series, this one is mainly a detective story, but one embedded in the provincial politics of the third century. The plot is intriguing and the way Brown uses it to examine different aspects of life in the third century is fascinating. However, what sets it apart is the growing conflict, and to a degree resolution, between Cassius, the patrician pagan, and Simo, his Christian slave, and Indavara, his bodyguard, who worships Lady Fortune. Brown does a brilliant job of depicting the different assumptions each bring to these unequal relationships, while keeping them true to third century mores (there are no disguised 21st century characters in these books). It's a fascinating portrayal of 'friendship' between master and slave, where both see the relationship as friendship, but both are equally aware where all the power lies: Cassius can, at any time if he so wishes, sell Simo and there is nothing Simo could do about it. Highly recommended.
September 2, 2015
Holy Crap WHAT AN ENDING!!!!!! I had to get that out of system having just finished the book... This was another very good book. This book dealt a lot more with who the characters are as people. There wasn't as much action in this book as in the past books, but that didn't take away from the quality of the story. There were a lot more internal conflicts with some of the character while still dealing with the group's usual external issues. Can't wait for the next story in this great saga!
June 9, 2015
Excellent book, in a great series, loses a star as I really hate cliffhanger endings, hopefully this is a one off for this series
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2021
Some how didn't hit the heights of some of the previous books in the series. For me, it seemed to be a bit slow in the middle, with some set pieces thrown in to keep the reader interested. However, the last few chapters pulled the book round and was back on point.
December 25, 2025
Riproaring adventure with historical accuracy
Nick Brown develops the characters of Corbulo, Indavara and Simo further in this well researched and highly enjoyable read.
The story is as compelling as the characters and you will read and re read the book
Nick Brown develops the characters of Corbulo, Indavara and Simo further in this well researched and highly enjoyable read.
The story is as compelling as the characters and you will read and re read the book
June 18, 2015
Quite simply there are perhaps 5 or 6 series that, when their new books are released, I drop anything I’m reading and dive into. Anyone who follows my reviews will already know my opinion of Nick’s work, so this should be a nice easy review.
The Agent of Rome series began with The Siege, which was one of the strongest debuts I’ve ever read and immediately defined the pace and quality of the entire series. There was little room for the author’s ability to grow and shape as he wrote, which is the natural thing to observe over a series, since the first volume was already perfectly polished. The problem with that kind of start is that it’s difficult to keep to the expected quality. So far, though, I’ve seen no dip in the series, which is excellent.
And while I say that there’s little room to grow when you begin at the top anyway, that’s just regarding the author’s ability to put across his tale. There is always room for the work itself to grow, and Nick has become extremely proficient at crafting a plot that is tight, clever and self-contained, and yet allows for exploration of subplots, outside themes and character expansion throughout. I think that is the most notable thing about this novel: the character growth.
In book one we were introduced to Cassius Corbulo, unwilling secret service man, and to his stalwart slave Simo. In book 2, in a move about which I was initially skeptical, we met the gladiator Indavara and saw him become Corbulo’s bodyguard. In book 4, they acquired a mule. Essentially, several disparate characters, each as deep as the next, have become a family and the reader cares about them all, and not just the principle protagonist. In fact in some ways, he is the shallowest of them and it is the lives of his companions that actually draw the sympathy and interest of the reader.
In The Emperor’s Silver (the fifth volume in the series) we find Corbulo in Syria following his unpleasant sojourn in Arabia in the previous book. He and his people are still suffering strained relationships after those events and Corbulo himself is still trying to come to terms with killing a man in cold blood. In an effort to avoid the bloody revolt going on in Egypt, Corbulo inveigles his way into Marshal Marcellinus’ good books and gets himself assigned to the Levantine cities to investigate a case of counterfeit coinage.
The beauty of the Agent of Rome series’ premise (as opposed to say my own Marius’ Mules books, which are grounded solidly in military campaigning) is that the potential for stories is vast and all-encompassing. Nick’s plots are each fresh and varied, and each book carries us to new territory, never growing stale. Appropriately, this is a new and fascinating plot, investigative and tense, more social and character-driven than the previous work, which involved a great deal more action and espionage.
Book 5, though, has two particular subplots running throughout that add something strong. The first is Indavara. After three books with the history of the gladiator only loosely hinted at (the man has no memory of his time before the arena) Nick has opened up the Pandora’s box of Indavara’s past. Only a crack so far, with tantalising glimpses of what’s to come. And secondly, someone is after Corbulo! I mean there’s always someone after Corbulo. It’s part of his job that he makes enemies, but in this case, it seems to be something else, disconnected from the plot. And these two subplots are not quite what they seem. They… oh well I’ll let you discover that for yourself. No spoilers here.
If I had one small criticism of book 5 it would be the number of plot threads left open at the end. I realise that this is a deliberate choice and understand clearly why Nick has concluded it in such a manner, though it feels a little like the last page should simply say ‘Tune in next week for…’ The flipside of that, of course, is that we know how book 6 is going to start and what at least part of it is going to be about. Personally I can’t wait to see what happens next and as usual I will be on Twitter, badgering Nick for news of the next book.
The Emperor’s Silver continues the high standard Nick Brown set himself to begin with, the plot strong, the characters vivid, the atmosphere heady and exotic, the descriptive imaginative and the pace fast and comfortable. As with all the previous volumes it is a book that I picked up intending to ready 20 or 30 pages and put it down 100 pages later.
If you’ve read books 1 to 4, The Emperor’s Silver is released today and you really should go get it. If you haven’t, where have you been? But now is an excellent time to catch up.
Go buy Agent of Rome 5 today and you’ll be glad you did. Put aside a few days and be prepared to lose yourself in Roman Syria.
The Agent of Rome series began with The Siege, which was one of the strongest debuts I’ve ever read and immediately defined the pace and quality of the entire series. There was little room for the author’s ability to grow and shape as he wrote, which is the natural thing to observe over a series, since the first volume was already perfectly polished. The problem with that kind of start is that it’s difficult to keep to the expected quality. So far, though, I’ve seen no dip in the series, which is excellent.
And while I say that there’s little room to grow when you begin at the top anyway, that’s just regarding the author’s ability to put across his tale. There is always room for the work itself to grow, and Nick has become extremely proficient at crafting a plot that is tight, clever and self-contained, and yet allows for exploration of subplots, outside themes and character expansion throughout. I think that is the most notable thing about this novel: the character growth.
In book one we were introduced to Cassius Corbulo, unwilling secret service man, and to his stalwart slave Simo. In book 2, in a move about which I was initially skeptical, we met the gladiator Indavara and saw him become Corbulo’s bodyguard. In book 4, they acquired a mule. Essentially, several disparate characters, each as deep as the next, have become a family and the reader cares about them all, and not just the principle protagonist. In fact in some ways, he is the shallowest of them and it is the lives of his companions that actually draw the sympathy and interest of the reader.
In The Emperor’s Silver (the fifth volume in the series) we find Corbulo in Syria following his unpleasant sojourn in Arabia in the previous book. He and his people are still suffering strained relationships after those events and Corbulo himself is still trying to come to terms with killing a man in cold blood. In an effort to avoid the bloody revolt going on in Egypt, Corbulo inveigles his way into Marshal Marcellinus’ good books and gets himself assigned to the Levantine cities to investigate a case of counterfeit coinage.
The beauty of the Agent of Rome series’ premise (as opposed to say my own Marius’ Mules books, which are grounded solidly in military campaigning) is that the potential for stories is vast and all-encompassing. Nick’s plots are each fresh and varied, and each book carries us to new territory, never growing stale. Appropriately, this is a new and fascinating plot, investigative and tense, more social and character-driven than the previous work, which involved a great deal more action and espionage.
Book 5, though, has two particular subplots running throughout that add something strong. The first is Indavara. After three books with the history of the gladiator only loosely hinted at (the man has no memory of his time before the arena) Nick has opened up the Pandora’s box of Indavara’s past. Only a crack so far, with tantalising glimpses of what’s to come. And secondly, someone is after Corbulo! I mean there’s always someone after Corbulo. It’s part of his job that he makes enemies, but in this case, it seems to be something else, disconnected from the plot. And these two subplots are not quite what they seem. They… oh well I’ll let you discover that for yourself. No spoilers here.
If I had one small criticism of book 5 it would be the number of plot threads left open at the end. I realise that this is a deliberate choice and understand clearly why Nick has concluded it in such a manner, though it feels a little like the last page should simply say ‘Tune in next week for…’ The flipside of that, of course, is that we know how book 6 is going to start and what at least part of it is going to be about. Personally I can’t wait to see what happens next and as usual I will be on Twitter, badgering Nick for news of the next book.
The Emperor’s Silver continues the high standard Nick Brown set himself to begin with, the plot strong, the characters vivid, the atmosphere heady and exotic, the descriptive imaginative and the pace fast and comfortable. As with all the previous volumes it is a book that I picked up intending to ready 20 or 30 pages and put it down 100 pages later.
If you’ve read books 1 to 4, The Emperor’s Silver is released today and you really should go get it. If you haven’t, where have you been? But now is an excellent time to catch up.
Go buy Agent of Rome 5 today and you’ll be glad you did. Put aside a few days and be prepared to lose yourself in Roman Syria.
June 13, 2016
(I received this book for free as part of Goodreads First Reads giveaways).
(This review may contain spoilers).
Although I haven't read the previous books in this series, I did find this one quite easy to follow. It was good to see something of the society in Rome when the Christian church was beginning to take effect... and although there was a lot more to the plot than just that, I thought it was interesting to see how three of the characters (Cassius, Simo and Indavara) were affected by it.
I did think Cassius was an interesting character. I couldn't have said I liked him all that much, even though I think his attitude was probably normal for that time period. It was interesting to see there were conflicts between him and Simo and although I felt that his treatment of Simo was wrong, it was better than how many slaves in the book were treated by their master/s.
While the atmosphere of this book was really engaging, there were some uses of modern language and slang that did throw me a bit out of the story. I did find it hard to differentiate between some of the secondary characters, but it was interesting to see some of the conflicts... as well as the fact that Cassius wasn't perfectly good at his job. I would have liked a bit more detail about his personal life, but it was good to see how he interacted with the other people around him.
I was a bit torn between Indavara and Simo when it came to favourite characters. I admired Simo's decision to stick to his morals, even in the face of the conflict between him and Cassius. But even though Indavara's decision to join him with other members of the Faith weren't for altruistic purposes, I found him easy to understand and relate to. And I thought it was good to see how his memory was triggered by the playing of the flute, although it was sad to see his frustration at not being able to remember.
I think it would have been good to have the book stick only to one perspective and although there was an air of mystery, the action very much overtook the book... although it was inevitable to see the situation come to a head towards the end of the book with the riots.
I have mixed feelings about whether or not I'd like to see more of this world and the characters, as I didn't connect emotionally to the characters as easily I have in past books. But I did enjoy reading this and there were a lot of good scenes of action and tension.
(This review may contain spoilers).
Although I haven't read the previous books in this series, I did find this one quite easy to follow. It was good to see something of the society in Rome when the Christian church was beginning to take effect... and although there was a lot more to the plot than just that, I thought it was interesting to see how three of the characters (Cassius, Simo and Indavara) were affected by it.
I did think Cassius was an interesting character. I couldn't have said I liked him all that much, even though I think his attitude was probably normal for that time period. It was interesting to see there were conflicts between him and Simo and although I felt that his treatment of Simo was wrong, it was better than how many slaves in the book were treated by their master/s.
While the atmosphere of this book was really engaging, there were some uses of modern language and slang that did throw me a bit out of the story. I did find it hard to differentiate between some of the secondary characters, but it was interesting to see some of the conflicts... as well as the fact that Cassius wasn't perfectly good at his job. I would have liked a bit more detail about his personal life, but it was good to see how he interacted with the other people around him.
I was a bit torn between Indavara and Simo when it came to favourite characters. I admired Simo's decision to stick to his morals, even in the face of the conflict between him and Cassius. But even though Indavara's decision to join him with other members of the Faith weren't for altruistic purposes, I found him easy to understand and relate to. And I thought it was good to see how his memory was triggered by the playing of the flute, although it was sad to see his frustration at not being able to remember.
I think it would have been good to have the book stick only to one perspective and although there was an air of mystery, the action very much overtook the book... although it was inevitable to see the situation come to a head towards the end of the book with the riots.
I have mixed feelings about whether or not I'd like to see more of this world and the characters, as I didn't connect emotionally to the characters as easily I have in past books. But I did enjoy reading this and there were a lot of good scenes of action and tension.
February 1, 2016
Once again Nick Brown has written a very enjoyable book. The story line does continue a little from earlier books so I would recommend reading books 1-4 before starting out on this one though it isn't essential.
As for this book there is history which is accurately described and there are good characters that I connected with. These characters deal with ethical problems and scenes of action in a manner that makes this easy and really enjoyable to read.
I have already seen a sneak peak of the book 6 synopsis and I am eagerly looking forward to the next installment.
Well done Nick, you have delivered again.
As for this book there is history which is accurately described and there are good characters that I connected with. These characters deal with ethical problems and scenes of action in a manner that makes this easy and really enjoyable to read.
I have already seen a sneak peak of the book 6 synopsis and I am eagerly looking forward to the next installment.
Well done Nick, you have delivered again.
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