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Codex Antonius #3
Muses of the Republic
Having saved Terra from annihilation, Marcus Antonius Cordus is awarded something he fought his whole life to avoid: the Consulship of the Roman Republic.
Cordus’s only joy comes from his secret relationship with Aquilina Servilia, his Praetorian Prefect and the woman who coaxed him out of hiding to save Terra. But he worries that her quest for revenge on the factions that murdered her mother, Roma’s dictator before Cordus, will upend the delicate political balance he’s built to keep Roma from another civil war.
So when he learns the sentient alien Muse virus that once infected his family has now infected the Zhonguo Sphere’s emperor, Cordus jumps at the chance leave the viper pit of Roman politics. Faced with imminent Zhonguo invasion, he decides to lead a team of Praetorians, rogues, and Zhonguo defectors to the Muse home world to destroy the Muse strains once and for all.
But the Muses have plans of their own, and their carefully laid traps ensnare Cordus at every turn. Can he save the Republic when the Muses force him to choose between his duty as Consul, his loyalty to his friends, and his love for Aquilina?
MUSES OF THE REPUBLIC is the exciting sequel to the sci-fi/alternate history MUSES OF TERRA and the final chapter in the Codex Antonius series.
Cordus’s only joy comes from his secret relationship with Aquilina Servilia, his Praetorian Prefect and the woman who coaxed him out of hiding to save Terra. But he worries that her quest for revenge on the factions that murdered her mother, Roma’s dictator before Cordus, will upend the delicate political balance he’s built to keep Roma from another civil war.
So when he learns the sentient alien Muse virus that once infected his family has now infected the Zhonguo Sphere’s emperor, Cordus jumps at the chance leave the viper pit of Roman politics. Faced with imminent Zhonguo invasion, he decides to lead a team of Praetorians, rogues, and Zhonguo defectors to the Muse home world to destroy the Muse strains once and for all.
But the Muses have plans of their own, and their carefully laid traps ensnare Cordus at every turn. Can he save the Republic when the Muses force him to choose between his duty as Consul, his loyalty to his friends, and his love for Aquilina?
MUSES OF THE REPUBLIC is the exciting sequel to the sci-fi/alternate history MUSES OF TERRA and the final chapter in the Codex Antonius series.
454 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 31, 2015
About the author
Rob Steiner
21 books34 followersRob Steiner is author of the Journals of Natta Magus series. Orson Scott Card’s Intergalactic Medicine Show featured two stories about Natta Magus: “The Oath-Breaker’s Daemon” and “The Cloaca Maxima.” Rob also wrote the alt-history/space opera Codex Antonius series (MUSES OF ROMA, MUSES OF TERRA, and MUSES OF THE REPUBLIC) about a Roman Empire that spawns an interstellar civilization.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 22, 2026
Muses of the Republic delivers a compelling blend of science fiction and political drama, bringing the Codex Antonius series to a strong and satisfying conclusion. The story does an excellent job of balancing large-scale stakes—alien threats, interstellar conflict—with deeply personal struggles around duty, loyalty, and love.
Marcus Antonius Cordus stands out as a complex and engaging protagonist, caught between the immense responsibility of leadership and his own desire for something more personal and meaningful. His relationship with Aquilina adds an emotional core to the story, especially as conflicting motivations and past wounds threaten to disrupt everything he’s trying to hold together.
The world-building is particularly impressive, seamlessly weaving Roman-inspired political structures with futuristic and interplanetary elements. The concept of the Muse virus continues to add a unique layer of tension and unpredictability throughout the narrative.
Overall, this is a rich and thought-provoking sci-fi novel that will especially appeal to readers who enjoy political intrigue, layered characters, and high-stakes decision-making in a vividly imagined universe.
Marcus Antonius Cordus stands out as a complex and engaging protagonist, caught between the immense responsibility of leadership and his own desire for something more personal and meaningful. His relationship with Aquilina adds an emotional core to the story, especially as conflicting motivations and past wounds threaten to disrupt everything he’s trying to hold together.
The world-building is particularly impressive, seamlessly weaving Roman-inspired political structures with futuristic and interplanetary elements. The concept of the Muse virus continues to add a unique layer of tension and unpredictability throughout the narrative.
Overall, this is a rich and thought-provoking sci-fi novel that will especially appeal to readers who enjoy political intrigue, layered characters, and high-stakes decision-making in a vividly imagined universe.
February 13, 2025
Action Packed - Didn’t like the Ending
This probably had the most action of the three books. Finally answered some lingering questions. Once I started reading I did not want to put it down.
I hope there is a continuation of the series at some point.
** Potential Spoiler**
I believe the main character deserved a better ending than what he ended up with. Felt like this was a major let down. Only reason I gave three stars instead of 5.
This probably had the most action of the three books. Finally answered some lingering questions. Once I started reading I did not want to put it down.
I hope there is a continuation of the series at some point.
** Potential Spoiler**
I believe the main character deserved a better ending than what he ended up with. Felt like this was a major let down. Only reason I gave three stars instead of 5.
October 19, 2024
Codex Antonius series
A combination of sword and sandals movies and Star Wars films and a touch of historical characters of the Roman empire excellent reading
A combination of sword and sandals movies and Star Wars films and a touch of historical characters of the Roman empire excellent reading
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews