Les gladiateurs de l'empereur

The Roman Mysteries #8

by Caroline Lawrence, Aline Bureau (Illustrations), Alice Marchand (Translator)

March AD 80. In Rome the Emperor Titus has announced that there will be a hundred days of games to open his new Flavian amphitheatre (now known as the Colosseum). Suspecting that their friend Jonathan is not dead, as they had thought, Flavia, Nubia, and Lupus organize an invitation to Rome on the pretext of witnessing this historic event. Their search for Jonathan leads them straight to the games, where they must face wild beasts, criminals, conspirators, and gladiators. It's Nubia's turn to employ all her courage and talents, and before the end of the story she is called upon to make the most terrible choice. A heart-pounding behind-the-scenes account of gladiator fights, executions, and beast fights makes this one of the most exciting Roman Mysteries yet.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Historical, Fiction, Childrens, Young Adult, Middle Grade

Mass Market Paperback

First published June 1, 2004

About the author

Caroline Lawrence won a scholarship to Cambridge to read Classical Archaeology, then did a degree in Hebrew and Jewish studies at University College London. She now lives in London with her English husband and teaches Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Art and French to children.

Series:
* Roman Mysteries
Western Mysteries

Reviews

[RamSwaminathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is extremely realistic, I have had a greater look into the unexplored barbarism which happened in Ancient Rome (ironic choice of words). This book really shows the barbarism which happened inside arenas and how slaves were brutally killed in tragedy plays. It makes me sick that the audience gets entertained by watching a person die. People get flung from the top of the arena onto the ground. People get eaten by lions, killed by bears and gored by boars. Slaves and orphan girls were also left to die in a play, Flavia was disguised as one of them and barely made it alive. This is while the audience was teasing a man being eaten by a bear. Many audience members were actually entertained when they saw the slaves and orphans being chomped down by hippos and crocodiles. However, gladiators which survived the massacres in the arenas were treated with respect. It is a great book which explores Ancient Rome more in-depth.

[Jennifer Wilkey · Rating 4 out of 5]

So good. Super intense (for kids) look at gladiatorial combat within the dramatic story of their Christian friend Jonathan.

[Emma Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow- such a transitional book; definitely an indication of a new adult themed direction to the proceeding books. The atmosphere and ambiance of the gladiatorial games made me nostalgic for my Latin sources days and I definitely loved the greater concentration on my favourite character: Nubia. I am glad Jonathon's pubescent angsty phase didn't last for long!

[Emilija · Rating 4 out of 5]

2023 52 Book Challenge - 14) A Survival Story

This felt like quite a departure from the normal format of these books, and I thought it was quite refreshing. It was nice to get information on the gladiators and it feels like the book indicated a bit of a darker turn for the series.

In regards of the characters, it expanded much more on Nubia and I thought that was nice. Shes always been more of the background character of the four main characters, and it was nice to see more chapters from her perspective. I also like how the books are developing Lupus, though it's almost in the background.

[Katie Gibbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok these books are bonkers actually

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I mean, literally the best books ever?? I read this one day in Kenya while I was ill. What a delight. This one has lovely themes of family, developing Flavia and Nubia's relationship, and Flavia starts to grow up a bit, which is nice. (I can't wait to continue to the ones where they're older and we meet Floppy .... !)

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a follow up to The Enemies of Jupiter and in my opinion needs to be read shortly after as the storyline picks straight up from the cliff-hanger that the in the preceding book ended on. I think if you had not read the book before you would struggle a little with this book.

Lawrence does a wonderful job of cleverly showing the different aspects of the gladiator arenas and the games and also of showing different reactions to the entertainment; all whilst keeping the historical accuracy, which is no easy feat as a lot was normal to the ancient world can be considered barbaric by the modern world. This book is definitely more graphic in how it portrays violence, especially compared to earlier in the series, however throughout the series Lawrence can never be accused of underestimating her readers ability to cope with the reality of the ancient world. At no time did I think it was unsuitable for intended audience but at this point in the series, the books are definitely aimed towards the older end of primary school.

Another review criticises the book and says it is like reading a textbook and while the book is certainly crammed with loads of relevant facts about the gladiators and the games it is weaved very well into the story. It would be definitely be an educational but also a very exiting book for any child wanting to learn more about gladiators. After setting the scene and building up the introduction the plot defiantly overtakes the description as the characters race to find solutions to various problems. This book mainly focuses on Jonathan and Nubia but there is lovely character moments and growth from all the characters.

An absolutely stunning and powerful book for what is a story in the middle of the series aimed at children.

[Hattie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entering my second (third?) Roman mysteries era courtesy of Redland library.

A lot of the previous books make Roman life sound lovely - mostly sitting around reading scrolls and nibbling on dates, occasional jaunts to the seaside villa to do more of the above - but this one really did not hold back on the more bloodthirsty side of Roman society. Generally it seems that all the bad things happen when they go to Rome (fires, plagues, Jonathan being branded as a slave etc.), so personally I think they should just stop going there.

I don’t know exactly what I was expecting but it certainly wasn’t flavia having a showdown with a herd of bloodthirsty hippos in the middle of a gladiator arena.

“He had speared the boar and was struggling to keep it at bay. The bristling creature had squirmed halfway up his spear and its wickedly curved tusks were almost within range of the hero's padded thigh.”

“He looked thin and tired, and although he was quite old - he would be thirty-two in May - Flavia still thought him handsome.”[savage, thank you flavia]

“She played the dark green woods on a summer's day, and Jonathan hunting for something he had lost. The notes dripped like warm honey from her flute and, like Flavia, she wept.”

[ChroniclesofTania · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s plenty of description on the inaugural hundred days of games in the colosseum from the gladiators, to the butchery, and what constitutes Roman justice and entertainment. They were bloodthirsty times and many of the mob showed bloodlust.
This story is the second part to the previous book. Jonathan is stuck in Rome, guilt-ridden and depressed because he started the fire that killed many people in the capitol and he poisoned his mother. Nubia, Lupus and Flavia are in Ostia trying to get used to not having Jonathan around and believing he is dead. His parents are finally together but Lupus feels like an outsider in that home and moves in with Flavia and Nubia. They hear a rumour that raises their suspicion that Jonathan lives, so they make the trip back to Rome to find him and get tangled up in the dangerous gladiatorial games. Nubia finally finds her brother. The book explores Jonathan’s mental health well. There is a happy ending after some near-death experiences for the characters.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh this one terrified me when I was a kid! It was one of those books that I would keep re reading because I was so intrigued by it, but at the same time it would terrify me and I had to keep putting it down! The scene with Flavia in the water with the hippos and the crocodiles was the worst bit as far as I was concerned. Stuff of nightmares.

I’d also forgotten that we meet Nubia’s brother in this story as well. And that she is faced with such a terrible choice in whether she saves Jonathan or her brother. I kind of wish their scene had been a little bit longer so that we could see more of their interactions but it’s just long enough for it to be bittersweet. I can’t remember if we meet him again or not, I kind of hope we do.

I’m so glad I decided to pick this series back up again. I’m enjoying them all so much!

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is a wonderful introduction to Ancient Rome, warts and all. This book is the most gruesome yet, with a recounting of Titus' games of 80AD. In this book the children from Ostia are missing Jonathan, who is presumed dead after the fire in Rome, but Lupus hears of a curly haired boy beggar boy in Rome who claims to have stated the fire, and thinking this just might be their friend, the children set off once again to investigate the mystery.

Full of rich historical detail, this book is also an enthralling story. Children of about 8+ will love it, but parents be warned - there is some gruesome (if entirely authentic) stuff here. Think "horrible histories" but with a better storyline!

[Colin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Apparently I never marked this one as "read," even though I finished it some time ago (we're near the end of book 10, now) - this is book 8 of the Roman Mysteries. Flavia Gemina and friends are in Rome and are searching for their missing friend Johnathan ben Mordecai as the opening games of the Colosseum are being presented by the Emperor Titus. This book takes a pretty unflinching look at the horrors of Roman capital punishment and gladiatorial games, so is a bit grim for kids, but it's a great series of books and an interesting story.

[Kitty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book! It's definitely continuing the trend of being aimed at slightly older children than the first few, with a darker take on everything (although there isn't a light-hearted way to describe the brutality of the gladiator games). I enjoyed that this one spent a lot more time focusing on the events around the children, with the actual mystery-solving taking up less time than the descriptions of the games, because it felt very immersive.

[Eleni · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is like a 4.5. My ONLY criticism with this book specifically is that I wanted more sections from Ira's perspective. His training, his mindset, his reactions, his fights, everything. I was craving more. I thought the parts that we were given from him were extremely interesting and well done and made me want more.

Also, special mention to Monobaz oh my GOD. VELVET PAWS??? ARE YOU SERIOUS??? So fucking cute I almost died reading it I love it.

[Jessica DeWitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, this was a good instalment, even though the topic was ROUGH. I think the descriptions of the gladiatorial games in this children's book are about as graphic as I can manage! ha! I continue to admire the complexity of emotions and the depth of the characters that Lawrence writes. Also, wow these kids are going to need therapy.

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never before was I thrilled and terrified by the thought of what it might have been like at the Colosseum when it was first built, and I have been thinking about the ancient world in the time of Roman expansion for as long as I can remember. As I may have mentioned before in some of my reviews of these books, I am stunned by how much I am learning about Roman history that I never absorbed before.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly, these books are so surreal because they're kids' books (officially) but genuinely deal with serious ethics like 'if you killed 1000 people, would you want your parents to know?'. The genuine earnestness and serious is astounding to me.

[Niamh Spiers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this one and the difference in story from the TV show! Loved the return of Monobaz the lion and his keeper and Jonathan's story is getting more heartbreaking in the best way. Tad too much violent description for me (yes, even reading children's books at 24 is too much for me 😬) but really enjoyed learning about the different types of gladiators!

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked Flavia and the island scene where Nubia helps her. That's most interesting among all. Love this book.

[Paula · Rating 1 out of 5]

A textbook on gladiators disguised as fiction. It would be a good read for those who like the subject. I thought it wasn't a very good story.

[Dee Paisley · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a dear story of what really matters in friendship. This story is set in ancient Rome and simply tells a sad story of historical events aside endearing story of enduring friendship

[Soila Kenya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has been the hardest hitting of the series so far. I'm still reeling...

[Nishka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating

[Lars · Rating 4 out of 5]

The bloodiest so far in the series. Recommend to read it before you give it to your child.

[Stella · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was Amazing absaloulty Amazing. the only thing I did not like was how gory it a bits

[Seamus Fleming · Rating 5 out of 5]

The bloodiest one yet

[Jessica Hooley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Barely had a plot the middle section felt like them watching the games rather than tha searching for Jonathan. And not killing him after making a fuss about it, wasn't worth the build up

[Ash smells · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF. The writing style feels very basic and the characters are very 2D. It just felt like this was taking a very large concept and trying to shrink it down.

[Cait Atkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is much more graphic and violent than I remember it being. The Roman games were like the original Hunger Games and Squid Games.