The Broken Lance

Britannia Romanus #4

by Jess Steven Hughes

In Rome, when shaking hands with a stranger, you’d best count your fingers to see if they are still attached.

In 44 AD ancient Britannia is wild, unpredictable, and merciless. The dusty streets of Rome are chaotic and dangerous, home to incredible opulence, deplorable poverty, and a political web that catches anyone who dares to question the empire. Both places call to young Roman cavalry sergeant Marcellus Reburrus, who must survive a world of political treachery, in which one’s life can be taken in an instant—by friend or enemy.

After enduring a ravaging storm, Marcellus’s boots hit the shore of Britannia under the orders of Roman Emperor Claudius only to face deplorable conditions and a commander who would rather see Marcellus dead than reporting for duty. Despite the circumstances, Marcellus quickly makes a name for himself, earning awards for bravery, promotion to centurion, and further alienating himself from the evil commander.

Marcellus’s arrival in Rome brings a whole new set of problems, the least of which are dodging assassination attempts, unraveling conspiracies, and falling in love. From the underground caves of beggars beneath the city to the magnificent homes of the Roman elite, Marcellus uncovers an elaborate plot of betrayal―one that can bring down the entire city. Can he find the conspirators before they find him . . . and destroy everything he holds dear?

This beautifully descriptive novel brings to life the remarkable worlds of ancient Britannia and Rome—while following the brilliant Marcellus, whose entire life is turned upside down as he must solve a complex mystery . . . and stay alive amongst backstabbing senators, murderous traitors, and an extraordinary city whose legacy is both inspiring and duplicitous.

Genres: Historical Fiction

292 pages, Paperback

Published July 11, 2017

About the author

Jess Steven Hughes is a retired police detective sergeant with twenty-five years experience in criminal investigation and a former U.S. Marine. He holds a Master's Degree in Public Administration and a minor in Ancient Mediterranean Studies from the University of Southern California. He has traveled and studied extensively in the areas forming the background of this novel, which brings vivid authenticity to the unique settings in his five historical novels, THE BRITANNIA ROMANUS SERIES: THE PEACEKEEPER, THE BROKEN LANCE, THE WOLF OF BRITANNIA, PART I & II, and THE SIGN OF THE EAGLE. He is currently working on the sixth historical novel in the series, THE EMPEROR'S HAND. All novels are published by Sunbury Press, a traditional small press located in Pennsylvania (not a self-published indie press).

He possesses a private library of nearly 1,000 books on Celtic, Classical, Medieval, and Mid-Eastern History used for research purposes. He currently lives with his wife, Liz, and four horses in Eastern Washington.

Reviews

[Yibbie]

I tried. I looked up the author. I looked at reviews of his other works. All that to say, I’m sorry I requested this from NetGalley. I quit just into the second chapter. The langue was too foul for me to read any further. I was very disappointed. It sounded really interesting.
I received this as a free ARC from NetGalley.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, Author Jess Steven Hughes delivers! I have followed this series since the beginning and always look forward to the next. The brilliant descriptions of the historical sites draw you into the story set in 44 AD. It's obvious the amount of research Author Hughes has done to make this a believable account of the time and adventures of Marcellus. Love, betrayal, war, an evil commander, and conspiracy fill the pages of the wild, almost savage time in ancient Britannia and Rome. Will Marcellus survive these treacherous times? A definite must read.

[Janet E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book as an ARC, and loved it. On the last page of the Broken Lance by Jess Steven Hughes, the legend reads: To Be Continued. When you reach that point, you'll be thrilled to know another volume is coming. Hughes' Celtic Britain historicals have all a reader craves: love, hate, revenge, betrayal, and pathos. This book is staggeringly good. You fall asleep holding it; you awake thinking about it. Your normal life fades to a pale shadow of the world Hughes creates. If you've read "The Sign of the Eagle," or the two-volume "Wolf of Britannia," I needn't say more. If you haven't yet read Hughes, start here, and have your faith in the novel restored. It grabs you by the throat, with women as compelling as the men. He brings politics at their worst to life, and teaches you why things were the way they were then. If you are searching adventure and a better understanding of human nature, The Broken Lance is your book. Once you've read it, you'll go looking for the previous volumes in this series.Hughes is an American Ecco, writing for his time. His background as a Marine, a horseman, a police detective, all enhance his stories.