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The Shards of Heaven #2
The Gates of Hell
Roman history reinvented: “Grounded in history, mythology, and religion.”—PW on Shards of Heaven
Alexandria has fallen, and with it the great kingdom of Egypt. Cleopatra is dead. Her children are paraded through the streets in chains wrought of their mother's golden treasures, and within a year all but one of them will be dead. Only her young daughter, Cleopatra Selene, survives to continue her quest for vengeance against Rome and its emperor, Augustus Caesar.
To show his strength, Augustus Caesar will go to war against the Cantabrians in northern Spain, and it isn't long before he calls on Juba of Numidia, his adopted half-brother and the man whom Selene has been made to marry -- but whom she has grown to love. The young couple journey to the Cantabrian frontier, where they learn that Caesar wants Juba so he can use the Trident of Poseidon to destroy his enemies. Perfidy and treachery abound. Juba's love of Selene will cost him dearly in the epic fight, and the choices made may change the very fabric of the known world.
Gates of Hell is the follow up to Michael Livingston’s amazing Shards of Heaven, a historical fantasy that reveals the hidden magic behind the history we know, and commences a war greater than any mere mortal battle.
Alexandria has fallen, and with it the great kingdom of Egypt. Cleopatra is dead. Her children are paraded through the streets in chains wrought of their mother's golden treasures, and within a year all but one of them will be dead. Only her young daughter, Cleopatra Selene, survives to continue her quest for vengeance against Rome and its emperor, Augustus Caesar.
To show his strength, Augustus Caesar will go to war against the Cantabrians in northern Spain, and it isn't long before he calls on Juba of Numidia, his adopted half-brother and the man whom Selene has been made to marry -- but whom she has grown to love. The young couple journey to the Cantabrian frontier, where they learn that Caesar wants Juba so he can use the Trident of Poseidon to destroy his enemies. Perfidy and treachery abound. Juba's love of Selene will cost him dearly in the epic fight, and the choices made may change the very fabric of the known world.
Gates of Hell is the follow up to Michael Livingston’s amazing Shards of Heaven, a historical fantasy that reveals the hidden magic behind the history we know, and commences a war greater than any mere mortal battle.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published November 15, 2016
9 people are currently reading
681 people want to read
About the author
Michael Livingston
53 books242 followersA native of Colorado, Michael Livingston holds degrees in History, Medieval Studies, and English. He lives today in Charleston, South Carolina, where he teaches at The Citadel.
In his author life, he is a winner of the prestigious international Writers of the Future Contest (in 2005), and his novel SHARDS OF HEAVEN, the first in a trilogy of historical fantasies, will be published by Tor Books in November 2015. He has also published in a variety of other genres and venues, from a historical retelling of BEOWULF to a brief story about quantum physics in the world-renowned journal of science, NATURE.
In his academic life, he has published more than a dozen articles on subjects as varied as early Christianity, BEOWULF, Chaucer, James Joyce, J.R.R. Tolkien, and digital and practical pedagogies (though never all of them at once!). He has investigated European maps of America that pre-date Columbus, found unrecorded Anasazi ruins and artifacts, and written about the handwriting of fourteenth-century scribes. He is the general editor of the Liverpool Historical Casebooks Series, for which he has edited casebooks on the Battle of Brunanburh (Exeter, 2011), the Welsh rebel hero Owain Glyndwr (co-edited with John Bollard; Liverpool, 2013), and, coming soon, the Battle of Crécy (co-edited with Kelly DeVries; 2015).
In his author life, he is a winner of the prestigious international Writers of the Future Contest (in 2005), and his novel SHARDS OF HEAVEN, the first in a trilogy of historical fantasies, will be published by Tor Books in November 2015. He has also published in a variety of other genres and venues, from a historical retelling of BEOWULF to a brief story about quantum physics in the world-renowned journal of science, NATURE.
In his academic life, he has published more than a dozen articles on subjects as varied as early Christianity, BEOWULF, Chaucer, James Joyce, J.R.R. Tolkien, and digital and practical pedagogies (though never all of them at once!). He has investigated European maps of America that pre-date Columbus, found unrecorded Anasazi ruins and artifacts, and written about the handwriting of fourteenth-century scribes. He is the general editor of the Liverpool Historical Casebooks Series, for which he has edited casebooks on the Battle of Brunanburh (Exeter, 2011), the Welsh rebel hero Owain Glyndwr (co-edited with John Bollard; Liverpool, 2013), and, coming soon, the Battle of Crécy (co-edited with Kelly DeVries; 2015).
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
November 18, 2016
4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2016/11/17/...
As the second volume in a historical fantasy series about Ancient Rome, The Gates of Hell can be viewed as the “next chapter” of the events following the Final War of the Roman Republic. Approximately five years have passed since Alexandria fell. Marc Antony and Cleopatra are dead. Their daughter Selene has been taken into their conqueror’s household, becoming one of Augustus Caesar’s adopted children. But for all that, she knows she is still a hostage and the longing for avenging her parents still burns inside.
The book begins with Selene taking matters into her own hands, seeking her own Shard of Heaven after finding out about the godlike abilities they can grant to the people who wield them. She manages to find and obtain one disguised as a statue in the Temple of the Vestals, bringing another of one these powerful artifacts into play. Meanwhile, her arranged marriage to Juba of Numidia, an adopted son of Julius Caesar, ultimately grew into to be a relationship based on love and respect. Together with her husband, who also possesses a Shard of Heaven, they begin to experiment and practice with their artifacts, learning how to harness their power.
At the same time in another place, a secret group of guardians are in the act of securing the Ark of the Covenant, rumored to be the most powerful Shard of all. Former legion soldier Lucius Vorenus decides to travel to Library of Alexandria to meet with the Head Librarian to discuss certain theories they’ve developed about the holy Ark. Unknowingly, he attracts the attention of a disgraced astrologer named Thrasyllus, putting all that vital information into the hands of a desperate man who knows Augustus Caesar will do anything to know the location of another Shard of Heaven.
Whether our characters are driven by love or greed, faith or revenge, all their actions culminate into a harrowing conclusion that spells a threat to come for everyone. Like the previous book, The Gates of Hell was another great read. While it does have the distinct feel of a “middle book”, it comes without the baggage normally associated with one. Pacing is dynamic and swift, and perhaps even a bit too brisk in some places when all I wanted to do was bask in the atmosphere of the setting a little while longer. Like I wrote in my review of The Shards of Heaven, the author has an extraordinary talent for evoking the time period. The people, places and events surrounding the Ancient Roman Empire have always fascinated me, but I don’t consider myself an expert and need the historical background or details in the narrative from time to time.
In that respect, I find Livingston’s writing and storytelling style to be very readable; even someone with just the bare knowledge of the subject matter can enjoy this novel, because of the perfect balance he strikes when injecting history into his fiction and vice versa. I also thought it was really interesting how almost every character was based on a real figure or an account of them in the historical record, and in many cases I only found out after reading the glossary at the end of the book. Livingston offered enough historical detail without overwhelming the reader, and to be honest, could have afforded to give more if he had wanted to.
Then there are the characters. Selene, a personal favorite (both in this book and in written history) is back with a bigger role in this sequel, carrying on her mother’s memory and legacy. She has been adopted into the family of Octavian/Augustus Caesar, but there’s no love lost there. She was also made to marry Juba, though to her surprise she grows to love him. The two of them bond over their shared experiences of having their parents and homelands conquered by Rome, but Juba still has mixed feelings towards Octavian, his brother by adoption. There are some incredibly complex emotions surrounding these characters, and with those, the reader might start to see Octavian from a whole different perspective.
My only criticism is that Selene, Juba, and Octavian might have been portrayed a little too well, with the result being that some of the supporting characters, including Thrasyllus and Vorenus, were overshadowed. Also, without giving away too much of the story, some parts were predictable in the sense that we were repeatedly told over and over how “in love” a certain couple was, which we all know is code for “something bad will happen.” As such, when the other shoe dropped, there were no surprises.
As a follow-up to Michael Livingston’s fantastic debut though, The Gates of Hell carries this series incredibly well. Everything that worked in The Shards of Heaven is back here in this sequel, including compelling history, powerful storytelling, and engaging characters. There’s some great set-up for the next novel, and I can’t wait to read it.
As the second volume in a historical fantasy series about Ancient Rome, The Gates of Hell can be viewed as the “next chapter” of the events following the Final War of the Roman Republic. Approximately five years have passed since Alexandria fell. Marc Antony and Cleopatra are dead. Their daughter Selene has been taken into their conqueror’s household, becoming one of Augustus Caesar’s adopted children. But for all that, she knows she is still a hostage and the longing for avenging her parents still burns inside.
The book begins with Selene taking matters into her own hands, seeking her own Shard of Heaven after finding out about the godlike abilities they can grant to the people who wield them. She manages to find and obtain one disguised as a statue in the Temple of the Vestals, bringing another of one these powerful artifacts into play. Meanwhile, her arranged marriage to Juba of Numidia, an adopted son of Julius Caesar, ultimately grew into to be a relationship based on love and respect. Together with her husband, who also possesses a Shard of Heaven, they begin to experiment and practice with their artifacts, learning how to harness their power.
At the same time in another place, a secret group of guardians are in the act of securing the Ark of the Covenant, rumored to be the most powerful Shard of all. Former legion soldier Lucius Vorenus decides to travel to Library of Alexandria to meet with the Head Librarian to discuss certain theories they’ve developed about the holy Ark. Unknowingly, he attracts the attention of a disgraced astrologer named Thrasyllus, putting all that vital information into the hands of a desperate man who knows Augustus Caesar will do anything to know the location of another Shard of Heaven.
Whether our characters are driven by love or greed, faith or revenge, all their actions culminate into a harrowing conclusion that spells a threat to come for everyone. Like the previous book, The Gates of Hell was another great read. While it does have the distinct feel of a “middle book”, it comes without the baggage normally associated with one. Pacing is dynamic and swift, and perhaps even a bit too brisk in some places when all I wanted to do was bask in the atmosphere of the setting a little while longer. Like I wrote in my review of The Shards of Heaven, the author has an extraordinary talent for evoking the time period. The people, places and events surrounding the Ancient Roman Empire have always fascinated me, but I don’t consider myself an expert and need the historical background or details in the narrative from time to time.
In that respect, I find Livingston’s writing and storytelling style to be very readable; even someone with just the bare knowledge of the subject matter can enjoy this novel, because of the perfect balance he strikes when injecting history into his fiction and vice versa. I also thought it was really interesting how almost every character was based on a real figure or an account of them in the historical record, and in many cases I only found out after reading the glossary at the end of the book. Livingston offered enough historical detail without overwhelming the reader, and to be honest, could have afforded to give more if he had wanted to.
Then there are the characters. Selene, a personal favorite (both in this book and in written history) is back with a bigger role in this sequel, carrying on her mother’s memory and legacy. She has been adopted into the family of Octavian/Augustus Caesar, but there’s no love lost there. She was also made to marry Juba, though to her surprise she grows to love him. The two of them bond over their shared experiences of having their parents and homelands conquered by Rome, but Juba still has mixed feelings towards Octavian, his brother by adoption. There are some incredibly complex emotions surrounding these characters, and with those, the reader might start to see Octavian from a whole different perspective.
My only criticism is that Selene, Juba, and Octavian might have been portrayed a little too well, with the result being that some of the supporting characters, including Thrasyllus and Vorenus, were overshadowed. Also, without giving away too much of the story, some parts were predictable in the sense that we were repeatedly told over and over how “in love” a certain couple was, which we all know is code for “something bad will happen.” As such, when the other shoe dropped, there were no surprises.
As a follow-up to Michael Livingston’s fantastic debut though, The Gates of Hell carries this series incredibly well. Everything that worked in The Shards of Heaven is back here in this sequel, including compelling history, powerful storytelling, and engaging characters. There’s some great set-up for the next novel, and I can’t wait to read it.
November 3, 2016
The demons of the internet have eaten my review two times now, which is really not very nice, especially since this is a book I looked forward to reading, enjoyed while reading, and looked forward to telling the online world. (insert swearword of choice, because all of them have probably gone through my head, when I realized my first review was gone, and when the replacement review blinked away before my eyes.) But back to the point:
When last seen by the reader, the characters from The Shards of Heaven had seen better times. Antony and Cleopatra are dead, their children held captive by Octavian, probably the only character in the book having a good day. As Caesarion and his companions carry the Ark of the Covenant through secret tunnels to bring it to safety, they meet misfortune, battle, a cave-in and shard enhanced battle with Juba of Numidia. It was very much of a cliffhanger.
The dust has settled a bit in the The Gates of Hell. Selene and Juba, despite a forced marriage have found joy together. The peace in their relationship is threatened as Juba is called by Octavian to once again wield the Trident of Poseidon to defeat Rome's enemies. And that's just the start of things.
Once again, Michael Livingston has taken history, and tucked a little fantasy and supernatural into the crevices and crannies of known time. As a reader, this delights me no end. Livingston's writing is crisper, sharper in this second book, helping the mind create clear depictions from description. His characters have grown also, exhibiting a complexity very true to life. The tug of good and evil forces, whether in a battle or within an individual, helps bring even more humanness to both the heroes and villains of the story. The tale begins in Rome, then heads on a journey through the old world, to the waters of the Nile, to even the very Gates of Hell, all with history, intrigue, and a little magic. And yes, I did cheer out loud at a few happenings, and laugh at the Easter eggs I caught. All in all, it was a good adventure,
When last seen by the reader, the characters from The Shards of Heaven had seen better times. Antony and Cleopatra are dead, their children held captive by Octavian, probably the only character in the book having a good day. As Caesarion and his companions carry the Ark of the Covenant through secret tunnels to bring it to safety, they meet misfortune, battle, a cave-in and shard enhanced battle with Juba of Numidia. It was very much of a cliffhanger.
The dust has settled a bit in the The Gates of Hell. Selene and Juba, despite a forced marriage have found joy together. The peace in their relationship is threatened as Juba is called by Octavian to once again wield the Trident of Poseidon to defeat Rome's enemies. And that's just the start of things.
Once again, Michael Livingston has taken history, and tucked a little fantasy and supernatural into the crevices and crannies of known time. As a reader, this delights me no end. Livingston's writing is crisper, sharper in this second book, helping the mind create clear depictions from description. His characters have grown also, exhibiting a complexity very true to life. The tug of good and evil forces, whether in a battle or within an individual, helps bring even more humanness to both the heroes and villains of the story. The tale begins in Rome, then heads on a journey through the old world, to the waters of the Nile, to even the very Gates of Hell, all with history, intrigue, and a little magic. And yes, I did cheer out loud at a few happenings, and laugh at the Easter eggs I caught. All in all, it was a good adventure,
November 16, 2016
Livingston’s second shard novel is even better than the first!
Time has moved on. Augustus Caesar has had his triumph over Cleopatra and Mark Anthony. Their daughter Cleopatra Selene has been wed to Juba II as a show of triumph for Juba, even though he wants nothing to do with his adopted brother Octavian. Fortunately, Selene and Juba fall in love with each other making their union a blessed one. However, prior to the wedding, in an effort to thwart Octavian, Selene convinced Tiberius to sneak her into the Temple of the Vestal Virgins to recover a statue that had been taken, but she was actually after a shard from heaven. Once she touched it, she managed to use its power, but ended up creating many questions from Tiberius. Together can she and Juba manage to stay away from using this power to destroy Rome?
Meanwhile in Alexandria, Lucius Vorenus has returned to seek out his old friend Didymus to discuss the possibility that the Ark of the Covenant is losing its power. After the meeting, he is targeted by a group of people who overhead about who he is and what he has. The attempt fails and he is reunited with an old friend that the thought dead. Together they travel to the Island of Elephantine where the Ark is currently being housed and protected by Caesarian and Hannah. When they learn of the breach, they decide that it may be best to move the Ark. Unfortunately, Kush decides to attack Rome at this time and burn the Island of Elephantine. Can they manage to get away with the Ark before it is too late?
If you enjoyed the first novel in the series, then you will love the continuation. This book really dives more into Selene and Juba’s relationship and the potential power that the two of them have with the shards they have collected. Octavian has also taken on more of a melancholy role, but his stepson Tiberius reprises the role of villain throughout portions of the story. I was very excited to read this novel and I couldn’t find time to stop until I had it finished.
The book follows four main story lines: Selene and Juba, Vorenus, Caesarian and Hannah, and Thysallus. Each is somehow connected to the shards and/or the Ark (which is technically a shard as well). One of the things I love most about this series is how Livingston is blending history as well as fantasy. There are times that I have to go back and read up on a particular event to see how it parallels to the book. Granted, I also love the fantasy part as well. Without the shards of heaven, it would just be a good story. With the shards, it is a great story!
There is some mild language in one or two places as well as a rape scene. I would recommend this book for mature YA readers up to adults.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.
Time has moved on. Augustus Caesar has had his triumph over Cleopatra and Mark Anthony. Their daughter Cleopatra Selene has been wed to Juba II as a show of triumph for Juba, even though he wants nothing to do with his adopted brother Octavian. Fortunately, Selene and Juba fall in love with each other making their union a blessed one. However, prior to the wedding, in an effort to thwart Octavian, Selene convinced Tiberius to sneak her into the Temple of the Vestal Virgins to recover a statue that had been taken, but she was actually after a shard from heaven. Once she touched it, she managed to use its power, but ended up creating many questions from Tiberius. Together can she and Juba manage to stay away from using this power to destroy Rome?
Meanwhile in Alexandria, Lucius Vorenus has returned to seek out his old friend Didymus to discuss the possibility that the Ark of the Covenant is losing its power. After the meeting, he is targeted by a group of people who overhead about who he is and what he has. The attempt fails and he is reunited with an old friend that the thought dead. Together they travel to the Island of Elephantine where the Ark is currently being housed and protected by Caesarian and Hannah. When they learn of the breach, they decide that it may be best to move the Ark. Unfortunately, Kush decides to attack Rome at this time and burn the Island of Elephantine. Can they manage to get away with the Ark before it is too late?
If you enjoyed the first novel in the series, then you will love the continuation. This book really dives more into Selene and Juba’s relationship and the potential power that the two of them have with the shards they have collected. Octavian has also taken on more of a melancholy role, but his stepson Tiberius reprises the role of villain throughout portions of the story. I was very excited to read this novel and I couldn’t find time to stop until I had it finished.
The book follows four main story lines: Selene and Juba, Vorenus, Caesarian and Hannah, and Thysallus. Each is somehow connected to the shards and/or the Ark (which is technically a shard as well). One of the things I love most about this series is how Livingston is blending history as well as fantasy. There are times that I have to go back and read up on a particular event to see how it parallels to the book. Granted, I also love the fantasy part as well. Without the shards of heaven, it would just be a good story. With the shards, it is a great story!
There is some mild language in one or two places as well as a rape scene. I would recommend this book for mature YA readers up to adults.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.
June 5, 2020
The bar was raised quite high for me after reading The Shards of Heaven, the first installment in this trilogy. I thought the novel was absolutely brilliant. When my expectations are that high, the sequel generally doesn’t live up to my expectations. Not so with The Gates of Hell. I can’t decide if I liked it better than the first novel, but it’s a terrific and enjoyable book.
Part of it is the writing style. Michael Livingston is a terrific writer, a master of prose. His character development is truly something. An example of this is the character Octavian or Caesar Augustus, who was quite villainous in the first novel, but becomes more sympathetic and likeable in this book. Even the more loathsome characters like Tiberius and Thrasyllus are well done. But it’s also the way he blends fantasy with history in such a seamless fashion that sets this novel apart.
There are two separate story lines in this novel and they alternate from chapter to chapter. One storylines follows Juba and Selene as they journey with Augustus in Northern Spain, where they encounter a guerilla leader who controls another of the shards. The second storyline takes place in Egypt with the Ark of the Covenant. They are both compelling story lines with lots of drama and tension. I expected the two stories to eventually converge, but it never happened. My guess is that it will in the final installment of the trilogy.
This novel is well worth the read. It’s a winner and I can only hope that the final book in the trilogy can live up to the first two.
Carl Alves - author of Two For Eternity
Part of it is the writing style. Michael Livingston is a terrific writer, a master of prose. His character development is truly something. An example of this is the character Octavian or Caesar Augustus, who was quite villainous in the first novel, but becomes more sympathetic and likeable in this book. Even the more loathsome characters like Tiberius and Thrasyllus are well done. But it’s also the way he blends fantasy with history in such a seamless fashion that sets this novel apart.
There are two separate story lines in this novel and they alternate from chapter to chapter. One storylines follows Juba and Selene as they journey with Augustus in Northern Spain, where they encounter a guerilla leader who controls another of the shards. The second storyline takes place in Egypt with the Ark of the Covenant. They are both compelling story lines with lots of drama and tension. I expected the two stories to eventually converge, but it never happened. My guess is that it will in the final installment of the trilogy.
This novel is well worth the read. It’s a winner and I can only hope that the final book in the trilogy can live up to the first two.
Carl Alves - author of Two For Eternity
April 14, 2017
Through The Shards of Heaven, the first book in this series, I discovered a new sub-genre I enjoy quite a bit: historical fantasy, a way to blend entertaining reading with some real history – and to pique one’s curiosity about learning more about the time period in which the story is set. For these reasons I was more than looking forward to continuing with Michael Livingston’s series, and The Gates of Hell did not disappoint [...]
FULL REVIEW @ SPACE AND SORCERY BLOG
FULL REVIEW @ SPACE AND SORCERY BLOG
August 9, 2017
An excellent, even bloodier sequel to The Shards of Heaven. The Gates of Hell follows two very separate threads in Egypt and Spain, as the disgraced children of Marc Antony and Cleopatra try to assemble the magical Shards of Heaven to take vengeance on Caesar Augustus.
The book is a little bit slower than the first, leapfrogging months and years between chapters to try and keep close to history, but the action sequences are just as gnarly as the excellent battles in the first book. There's a particularly nightmarish sequence toward the end that will really stay with me.
I'm really excited for the conclusion, and I hope Livingston keeps writing this kind of gritty, straight-up historical fantasy.
The book is a little bit slower than the first, leapfrogging months and years between chapters to try and keep close to history, but the action sequences are just as gnarly as the excellent battles in the first book. There's a particularly nightmarish sequence toward the end that will really stay with me.
I'm really excited for the conclusion, and I hope Livingston keeps writing this kind of gritty, straight-up historical fantasy.
November 9, 2016
Michael Livingston
THE GATES OF HELL
TOR / A Tom Doherty Associates Book
Historical Fiction / Fantasy
After reading the first book in this new series, THE SHARDS OF HEAVEN, I couldn't wait for more. Thankfully, I didn't have to wait. And with relish, dug right in!
The dust jacket says: Alexandria has fallen, and with it the great kingdom of Egypt. Cleopatra is dead. Her children are paraded through the streets in chains wrought of their mother's golden treasures, and within a year all but one of them will be dead. Only her young daughter, Cleopatra Selene, survives to continue her quest for vengeance against Rome and its emperor, Augustus Caesar.
To show his strength, Augustus Caesar will go to war against the Cantabrians in northern Spain, and it isn't long before he calls on Juba of Numidia, his adopted half-brother and the man whom Selene has been made to marry -- but whom she has grown to love. The young couple journey to the Cantabrian frontier, where they learn that Caesar wants Juba so he can use the Trident of Poseidon to destroy his enemies. Perfidy and treachery abound. Juba's love of Selene will cost him dearly in the epic fight, and the choices made may change the very fabric of the known world.
THE GATES OF HELL takes place two and a half years after THE SHARDS OF HEAVEN. Characters are reintroduced nicely. Juba --Octavian's step brother, who was once meant to rule Numidia before Rome seized it, is married to the young Cleopatra Selene. With Cleopatra and Antony dead, Selene was destined to rule as queen of Egypt But again, Rome interfered with her fate, as well.
There are at least four collected Shards. Pieces of Heaven that splintered when God died. Each holds its own mystical power. Only the select few can even touch, much less, wield the power contained in the black crystals. Juba and Selene are headstrong about seeking revenge against Octavian (who know calls himself Augustus). They are intent on destroying Rome. And with the Shards, they know they have the power to accomplish anything.
The Ark of the Covenant is safe (for the time being). Caesarion (son of Julius Caesar and Cleopatra) and his wife Hannah have the Biblical relic hidden. Vorenus and Pullo know that the Ark needs to be moved to a better location. Transporting the powerful ark will not be simple, if anything doing so could prove very dangerous.
Augustus wants to move against the Cantabrian, to bring even more to Rome! The barbarians have more than arrows and steal on their side. They too possess one of the Shards. The battle, with Juba at the frontline, is nothing shy of destructive.
Tiberius, the stepson of Augustus, knows that Selene stole from Rome. He is determined to figure out what she took. He will stop at nothing until he has all he wants. And what he wants is to rule in Augustus' place!
Can one man bring peace to the world What if that one man is wanted dead by so many because of his aspirations? Or will the revelation of an evil truth ignite a new war where wielding the Shards brings death, destruction, and literally opens the gates of hell? THE GATES OF HELL was impossible to put down. Livingston uses a host of complex characters, each some kind of bizarre mix on family trees, and somehow manages to make the reading simple, and concise. The tale his told at a heart-pounding pace. The action is constant, and the suspense always building. Always. I love the characters, and the dialogue, both informative, and witty! Folks, do yourself a favor. Add Michael Livingston to your to-be-read list of authors. He's going to be around for a while. Jump on his bandwagon now, ahead of the game!
Phillip Tomasso
Author of the Severed Empire Series, and
The Vaccination Trilogy
THE GATES OF HELL
TOR / A Tom Doherty Associates Book
Historical Fiction / Fantasy
After reading the first book in this new series, THE SHARDS OF HEAVEN, I couldn't wait for more. Thankfully, I didn't have to wait. And with relish, dug right in!
The dust jacket says: Alexandria has fallen, and with it the great kingdom of Egypt. Cleopatra is dead. Her children are paraded through the streets in chains wrought of their mother's golden treasures, and within a year all but one of them will be dead. Only her young daughter, Cleopatra Selene, survives to continue her quest for vengeance against Rome and its emperor, Augustus Caesar.
To show his strength, Augustus Caesar will go to war against the Cantabrians in northern Spain, and it isn't long before he calls on Juba of Numidia, his adopted half-brother and the man whom Selene has been made to marry -- but whom she has grown to love. The young couple journey to the Cantabrian frontier, where they learn that Caesar wants Juba so he can use the Trident of Poseidon to destroy his enemies. Perfidy and treachery abound. Juba's love of Selene will cost him dearly in the epic fight, and the choices made may change the very fabric of the known world.
THE GATES OF HELL takes place two and a half years after THE SHARDS OF HEAVEN. Characters are reintroduced nicely. Juba --Octavian's step brother, who was once meant to rule Numidia before Rome seized it, is married to the young Cleopatra Selene. With Cleopatra and Antony dead, Selene was destined to rule as queen of Egypt But again, Rome interfered with her fate, as well.
There are at least four collected Shards. Pieces of Heaven that splintered when God died. Each holds its own mystical power. Only the select few can even touch, much less, wield the power contained in the black crystals. Juba and Selene are headstrong about seeking revenge against Octavian (who know calls himself Augustus). They are intent on destroying Rome. And with the Shards, they know they have the power to accomplish anything.
The Ark of the Covenant is safe (for the time being). Caesarion (son of Julius Caesar and Cleopatra) and his wife Hannah have the Biblical relic hidden. Vorenus and Pullo know that the Ark needs to be moved to a better location. Transporting the powerful ark will not be simple, if anything doing so could prove very dangerous.
Augustus wants to move against the Cantabrian, to bring even more to Rome! The barbarians have more than arrows and steal on their side. They too possess one of the Shards. The battle, with Juba at the frontline, is nothing shy of destructive.
Tiberius, the stepson of Augustus, knows that Selene stole from Rome. He is determined to figure out what she took. He will stop at nothing until he has all he wants. And what he wants is to rule in Augustus' place!
Can one man bring peace to the world What if that one man is wanted dead by so many because of his aspirations? Or will the revelation of an evil truth ignite a new war where wielding the Shards brings death, destruction, and literally opens the gates of hell? THE GATES OF HELL was impossible to put down. Livingston uses a host of complex characters, each some kind of bizarre mix on family trees, and somehow manages to make the reading simple, and concise. The tale his told at a heart-pounding pace. The action is constant, and the suspense always building. Always. I love the characters, and the dialogue, both informative, and witty! Folks, do yourself a favor. Add Michael Livingston to your to-be-read list of authors. He's going to be around for a while. Jump on his bandwagon now, ahead of the game!
Phillip Tomasso
Author of the Severed Empire Series, and
The Vaccination Trilogy
February 23, 2017
I recieved this book for free in exchange for an honest review, written and posted on the San Francisco Book Review Site (http://sanfranciscobookreview.com/).
Augustus Caesar is determined to expand Rome to the ends of the world, and Selene—daughter of Cleopatra and Mark Antony—has sworn to stop him. With the death of her parents and her siblings feeding her vengeance, Selene and her husband Juba plot to destroy not just the emperor himself, but the entire Roman Empire as well—all by using the power of the Shards. But the five black stones—said to be the remnants of the throne of God—contain a terrible power that drains the life of those who use them. And as their plans proceed, Selene and Juba must decide whether vengeance is worth the price of their immortal souls.
Livingston tells his tale with skill, weaving the threads of the separate storylines together in a cohesive manner that’s easy to follow. You have to wait until about halfway through the story for the appearance of any notable magic, and the change in motivations towards the end of the book might seem a tad forced, but overall The Gates of Hell is an intriguing ride, steeped in historical fact, and laced with a magic spark for that little extra kick.
Augustus Caesar is determined to expand Rome to the ends of the world, and Selene—daughter of Cleopatra and Mark Antony—has sworn to stop him. With the death of her parents and her siblings feeding her vengeance, Selene and her husband Juba plot to destroy not just the emperor himself, but the entire Roman Empire as well—all by using the power of the Shards. But the five black stones—said to be the remnants of the throne of God—contain a terrible power that drains the life of those who use them. And as their plans proceed, Selene and Juba must decide whether vengeance is worth the price of their immortal souls.
Livingston tells his tale with skill, weaving the threads of the separate storylines together in a cohesive manner that’s easy to follow. You have to wait until about halfway through the story for the appearance of any notable magic, and the change in motivations towards the end of the book might seem a tad forced, but overall The Gates of Hell is an intriguing ride, steeped in historical fact, and laced with a magic spark for that little extra kick.
August 1, 2017
Continuación del excelente The Shards of Heaven. Y aunque no es tan bueno cómo el primero, mantiene el interés con las aventuras de los protagonistas que quedan vivos. Los objetos de poder divino siguen siendo los que mueven a los personajes, que incluso vienen a Cantabria con Cesar Augusto. Pero en el fondo solo ha sido esperar a la resolución final del siguiente libro. B+
April 18, 2017
Caveat: I picked this up without realizing it was the second book in a series. (As a graphic designer I really feel "book II of The Shards Of Heaven" should have been on the front of back cover somewhere.)
The most interesting thing about this book is that it is historically set, unfortunately that make me just want to go read a history of the time period (or watch a Cleopatra movie) rather than read the whole novel. Did I mention one of the main characters is Cleopatra Selene, daughter of Marc Anthony and Cleopatra? That Selene's mother is Cleopatra? Selene doesn't want to be like her mother, Cleopatra. Selene, however, often identifies with her mother, Cleopatra's, ambitions. If you think the reader doesn't need to be reminded that Cleopatra Selene is the daughter of Cleopatra every three to four pages the you and I have the same internal editor.
Much of the book feels like filler. For pages at a time the reader can skip the repetitive descriptions reading just the characters dialogue and miss absolutely nothing form the story nor the character development, of which there isn't much.
I think the idea of filling in the gaps of history with magic is a lot of fun (I enjoy the really stupid TV show Sleepy Hollow for just that reason), but there is little humor, and almost no character development. I'd probably be less judgemental if I'd gotten this as an audiobook, it would probably fill some time while I worked on other projects; but I'm definitely not reading the rest of the series.
The most interesting thing about this book is that it is historically set, unfortunately that make me just want to go read a history of the time period (or watch a Cleopatra movie) rather than read the whole novel. Did I mention one of the main characters is Cleopatra Selene, daughter of Marc Anthony and Cleopatra? That Selene's mother is Cleopatra? Selene doesn't want to be like her mother, Cleopatra. Selene, however, often identifies with her mother, Cleopatra's, ambitions. If you think the reader doesn't need to be reminded that Cleopatra Selene is the daughter of Cleopatra every three to four pages the you and I have the same internal editor.
Much of the book feels like filler. For pages at a time the reader can skip the repetitive descriptions reading just the characters dialogue and miss absolutely nothing form the story nor the character development, of which there isn't much.
I think the idea of filling in the gaps of history with magic is a lot of fun (I enjoy the really stupid TV show Sleepy Hollow for just that reason), but there is little humor, and almost no character development. I'd probably be less judgemental if I'd gotten this as an audiobook, it would probably fill some time while I worked on other projects; but I'm definitely not reading the rest of the series.
December 17, 2016
I loved Livingston's first book in this trilogy-to-be, The Shards of Heaven, and this sequel does not disappoint. It's fast-paced, populated by complex and vividly drawn characters, and the world is alive with historical details and beautifully described locations. There are also some major surprises in store. Not to give away too much, but the final couple of chapters really had my jaw dropping. I kind of thought I knew what direction this second book was taking, but there were some... developments with the shards I had not expected. All I'll say is that a) the story takes a rather dark turn, and b) I can't wait to read the third and final installment!
Favourite characters this time around were Selene and Juba, but also Octavian. There are some complex dynamics at play in their relationship that really added to the action and suspense. Also, the shards themselves are almost like characters in the story: each one seems to have its own personality...something I found fascinating. Definitely an alt-history series well worth reading for fans of the genre, and for those who like historical fiction.
Favourite characters this time around were Selene and Juba, but also Octavian. There are some complex dynamics at play in their relationship that really added to the action and suspense. Also, the shards themselves are almost like characters in the story: each one seems to have its own personality...something I found fascinating. Definitely an alt-history series well worth reading for fans of the genre, and for those who like historical fiction.
August 25, 2017
I enjoy this series because it does not have a slavish dedication to any one religion even though it brings an element of spirituality into the mix. I also really enjoy the characters because they are not black and white. Livingston is really good at rounding out personalities and motivations, and while you might not like a character's actions, the actions become understandable. I am looking forward to the third in the series to see what becomes of all of this.
November 21, 2016
Love this hell-raising, kick-ass, cool series! Always ends on a point leaving me wanting to pull out my hair and anticipating more.
June 23, 2017
Really enjoying the characters in this series.
August 5, 2021
Trigger warnings for this book: rape
I will say that I did go into this with a multi year break from reading the first one so there were a lot of things that I just forgot about when I was reading this but on the whole I think I was able to keep up to speed pretty well.
It was a good book but I just had the feeling it was the bridge between the first and the third book without really carving out a specific place for itself.
SPOILERS AFTER THIS POINT
The female characters:
So out of the 3 female characters we get in this book 2 of them die. Hannah (Cesearion's wife) dies in childbirth and it was just such a quick scene. I really felt it came out of nowhere and wasn't really given the weight it should have. And then compounding that one of the characters, Isiadora was introduced in this book and was so quickly killed off at the end of the book. I just wish that we had more than just Cleopatra Selene to follow because hers are always my favorite perspectives
I will say that I did go into this with a multi year break from reading the first one so there were a lot of things that I just forgot about when I was reading this but on the whole I think I was able to keep up to speed pretty well.
It was a good book but I just had the feeling it was the bridge between the first and the third book without really carving out a specific place for itself.
SPOILERS AFTER THIS POINT
The female characters:
So out of the 3 female characters we get in this book 2 of them die. Hannah (Cesearion's wife) dies in childbirth and it was just such a quick scene. I really felt it came out of nowhere and wasn't really given the weight it should have. And then compounding that one of the characters, Isiadora was introduced in this book and was so quickly killed off at the end of the book. I just wish that we had more than just Cleopatra Selene to follow because hers are always my favorite perspectives
May 30, 2024
Very cool historical fantasy! I really enjoyed the characters in this series and how it follows actual history, especially bringing in the legends of Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo. The stories that surround the Roman and Egyptian empires have always intrigued me and adding the twist of magic and interwoven faiths was very well done throughout the entire series. The focus on digging into the past within the legendary libraries of the time period is another unique and powerful perspective within these stories. With the climatic action, large-scale battles and powerful relics, I would recommend these to any fan of the fantasy genre!
September 29, 2024
This continued action packed saga does not disappoint! A richly realistic, unpredictable and haunting speculative fiction that picks up the imaginative tale of how Roman's and Egypt's Imperial and Regent Adoptive Children deal with the Magus Artifacts in their mist. Still incorporating vividly written actions and unexpected twists and turns.These well defined characters still duck and dive all kinds of machinations, but the stakes are much higher and the horror is mounting. I look forward to reading the final installment of this epic.
June 22, 2019
A nice sequel to "The Shards of Heaven" but it lost some of its steam since no major antagonist was introduced until the end, while the original quest for revenge by our main characters has mostly abated.
I'm still intrigued enough to read the next instalment, and the fact that it's set in a historical period of the Mediterranean Basin that I want to learn more about, makes it more interesting.
I'm still intrigued enough to read the next instalment, and the fact that it's set in a historical period of the Mediterranean Basin that I want to learn more about, makes it more interesting.
October 26, 2021
This was a pleasant surprise. It ran the danger of too much god-interference but Mr. Livingston pulled it off on his own. Good imagination of the days following Cleopatra on towards Augustus. Considerably different than "I Claudius."
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May 18, 2017
I'm more of a historical fiction fan than fantasy guy, so the shards were a lot of nonsense for me.
April 3, 2019
A decent historical fiction and better than 'The Shards of Heaven'.
June 24, 2019
A richly descriptive historical fantasy, light on plot but with enjoyable characters.
November 15, 2016
My review of this book appears in the 11/16 issue of the Historical Novels Review: https://historicalnovelsociety.org/re...
There is certainly much to commend in this alternate history/fantasy series where Livingston imagines how the presence of divine artifacts of power, fragments fallen to earth after the Throne of Heaven was shattered eons ago, might affect the empire of Augustan Rome. The first novel, The Shards of Heaven, set in 32 B.C.E., introduced the young heirs to the Caesar and Ptolemy dynasties in the last century before the Common Era: Selene, the daughter of Antony and Cleopatra, Juba, a Numidian Prince adopted, alongside Octavian, by Julius Caesar, and Caesarion, Selene’s half-brother, the natural son of Julius Caesar and Cleopatra. In that volume, which narrated the disastrous war between Octavian and Mark Antony, the multiple points of view belonged to the young people and also to their loyal Centurion guards, Vorenus and Pullo. Yes, that Vorenus and Pullo, the protagonists of HBO’s series Rome, who were based on historical figures briefly mentioned in Julius Caesar’s account of the Gallic Wars. In Livingston’s series, they are considerably softened, but essentially the same duo.
In the second installment, the focus mostly narrows to Vorenus and Selene, both guardians of separate Shards and enemies of Octavian, now Emperor Augustus. They grapple with the moral implications of the apocalyptic power of the shards, but Livingston falls into the habit of having his characters narrate a little too simply (and in American slang, which will annoy some readers) their mixed feelings about fate, vengeance, and loyalty.
The plot moves at a breakneck, even cinematic speed, and relies heavily on coincidence and outlandishly narrow escapes. However, Livingston’s command of the sweeping details of Imperial Roman history and geography is confident enough to support the supernatural additions. And if a character introduced in the epilogue is who she appears to be, then Livingston’s plan for the next novel is ambitious indeed.
There is certainly much to commend in this alternate history/fantasy series where Livingston imagines how the presence of divine artifacts of power, fragments fallen to earth after the Throne of Heaven was shattered eons ago, might affect the empire of Augustan Rome. The first novel, The Shards of Heaven, set in 32 B.C.E., introduced the young heirs to the Caesar and Ptolemy dynasties in the last century before the Common Era: Selene, the daughter of Antony and Cleopatra, Juba, a Numidian Prince adopted, alongside Octavian, by Julius Caesar, and Caesarion, Selene’s half-brother, the natural son of Julius Caesar and Cleopatra. In that volume, which narrated the disastrous war between Octavian and Mark Antony, the multiple points of view belonged to the young people and also to their loyal Centurion guards, Vorenus and Pullo. Yes, that Vorenus and Pullo, the protagonists of HBO’s series Rome, who were based on historical figures briefly mentioned in Julius Caesar’s account of the Gallic Wars. In Livingston’s series, they are considerably softened, but essentially the same duo.
In the second installment, the focus mostly narrows to Vorenus and Selene, both guardians of separate Shards and enemies of Octavian, now Emperor Augustus. They grapple with the moral implications of the apocalyptic power of the shards, but Livingston falls into the habit of having his characters narrate a little too simply (and in American slang, which will annoy some readers) their mixed feelings about fate, vengeance, and loyalty.
The plot moves at a breakneck, even cinematic speed, and relies heavily on coincidence and outlandishly narrow escapes. However, Livingston’s command of the sweeping details of Imperial Roman history and geography is confident enough to support the supernatural additions. And if a character introduced in the epilogue is who she appears to be, then Livingston’s plan for the next novel is ambitious indeed.
November 19, 2016
This is the type of thing that just tickles my likes, but doesn't exactly blow me away. Discovering ancient and mystical artifacts? Alternate ways of looking at the truth of these artifacts? That's all cool. The historical element is not something I normally read, though. This particular time period and some of the characters it encompasses does remind me of watching Rome on HBO, though. Not a bad memory and it's helpful to picture those depictions while reading the book. However, the writing is up and down throughout. Livingston has two annoying habits: 1) repeating things over and over in different chapters to remind you what they are. He does this a lot when talking about the Shards. 2) he ends every chapter on a Dan Brown-style cliffhanger. Sure, I'm sure there are things I like more that do this as well, but in these novels, it feels very manipulative.
Maybe for those reasons in particular, the second book didn't land as well as the first one, even though it has some fun moments and some crazy revelations. The end in particular was a direction I wasn't expecting the series to go. Good or bad, time will tell.
As to the characters, there is a distinct lack of Didymus, which is a shame. Also, Juba feels like a different character than where he started, which might demonstrate character growth, but threw me a bit when reading this volume. It changed my memory of the first book quite a bit.
I'm not sure if this is meant to be a trilogy or if it will go longer than that, but I will certainly stick around until at least book 3 to see if some of my gripes improve. After all, the first book left me with a good enough impression that I was looking forward to book 2. Perhaps this is a slight dip only.
Maybe for those reasons in particular, the second book didn't land as well as the first one, even though it has some fun moments and some crazy revelations. The end in particular was a direction I wasn't expecting the series to go. Good or bad, time will tell.
As to the characters, there is a distinct lack of Didymus, which is a shame. Also, Juba feels like a different character than where he started, which might demonstrate character growth, but threw me a bit when reading this volume. It changed my memory of the first book quite a bit.
I'm not sure if this is meant to be a trilogy or if it will go longer than that, but I will certainly stick around until at least book 3 to see if some of my gripes improve. After all, the first book left me with a good enough impression that I was looking forward to book 2. Perhaps this is a slight dip only.
November 29, 2016
This is part 2 of the Shards of Heaven series. The first book was good, this book blew me away.
The story evolves fast, with amazing surprises, some good, others shocking.
I may have mentioned this in other reviews, but it’s very important to me to be able to emotionally connect with the characters. This series does that for me. It was wonderful to get reacquainted with some old friends from the previous book and get to know them better.
Because the groundwork of the story is mostly laid out in The Shards of Heaven, The Gates of Hell has a better flow to the storyline. The solid foundation of book 1 gives room for more depth, both in terms of character development as more elaborate fantasy elements. The shards turn out to be much more than they appeared to be in the previous book and that opens up a whole new range of problems and possibilities, enabling the story to develop in directions I never saw coming.
The only downside I can think of is the fact that we’ll have to wait a whole year before the final book of the series is published.
The story evolves fast, with amazing surprises, some good, others shocking.
I may have mentioned this in other reviews, but it’s very important to me to be able to emotionally connect with the characters. This series does that for me. It was wonderful to get reacquainted with some old friends from the previous book and get to know them better.
Because the groundwork of the story is mostly laid out in The Shards of Heaven, The Gates of Hell has a better flow to the storyline. The solid foundation of book 1 gives room for more depth, both in terms of character development as more elaborate fantasy elements. The shards turn out to be much more than they appeared to be in the previous book and that opens up a whole new range of problems and possibilities, enabling the story to develop in directions I never saw coming.
The only downside I can think of is the fact that we’ll have to wait a whole year before the final book of the series is published.
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