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Lost Emperor Trilogy #1
Loreticus
One man’s secret is another man’s weapon; and Loreticus, spymaster to an emperor, considers himself well armed.
Secrets are Loreticus’ business; spies and sources his colleagues. But when the new emperor goes missing, he suddenly finds himself isolated and uncertain who to trust. His search for the young emperor reveals an underworld of coups, assassinations, ambition and infidelity that make him doubt how much he ever really knew about the power behind the throne.
As he struggles to deliver the young emperor safely and reunite the country, he finds himself torn between his old-fashioned principles and a new political reality.
Secrets are Loreticus’ business; spies and sources his colleagues. But when the new emperor goes missing, he suddenly finds himself isolated and uncertain who to trust. His search for the young emperor reveals an underworld of coups, assassinations, ambition and infidelity that make him doubt how much he ever really knew about the power behind the throne.
As he struggles to deliver the young emperor safely and reunite the country, he finds himself torn between his old-fashioned principles and a new political reality.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
254 pages, Paperback
Published August 22, 2017
78 people are currently reading
529 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 23, 2017
Great book
This is a wonderful book full of intrigue and suspense between the spymaster who truly loves his country and the generals that just want to tear the country apart with their factions and wanting to expand the empire at any cost. I recommend this book for everyone.
This is a wonderful book full of intrigue and suspense between the spymaster who truly loves his country and the generals that just want to tear the country apart with their factions and wanting to expand the empire at any cost. I recommend this book for everyone.
September 22, 2017
“Life is imperfect, and we need not accept this.”
British author J.B. Lucas makes his literary debut with this impressive political thriller – LORETICUS – a book that promises to be a trilogy set in ancient Rome, though not dissimilar from current diplomacy! Lucas has lived and studied in eight different countries. He is passionate about high politics, studied the inner workings of the European Union poised to eventually work in the arena of international border disputes. His now is writing about the tectonic movements of states. Lucas lives in West London and writes using the inspiration of the India–Pakistan split, the founding of Israel, the identity crisis of Brexit and the maelstrom within the EU.
Read the opening pages of this luminous novel bring to our attention that not only is Lucas a fine historian and knowledgeable in his fields of study: he also is a poetic writer. A brief example of his style follows: ‘The priest stood alone in the chapel, calling prayers to a congregation that had fled and would never come home. He snapped wrists as he chimed the hand bells in an ancient rhythm, shooting their peals through sunlit dust in to the deep, cool corners. Round notes bounced out of the temple’s open doors, hitting the wood and brick of the cooling buildings in the dusk. They continued, muffled now, down the broken- toothed path of the alleyway, which stood as a dark frame to the glowing palace, basking with its height and age in the last half hour of the sun. Tonight, a dozen killers listened for the bells and quietly moved into place. The priest with his ageless call to prayer was unwittingly signaling a massacre to begin. Thus most normal evenings settled across the capital, and shutters clacked shut as cool breezes came to disturb sleeping children. Old soldiers, now lamp lighters, limped down dry streets, leaning on sun-hot bricks to ignite the braziers on corners. Visitors would comment that the lights seemed premature, extravagant in the still golden light. But the locals knew how quickly the sun fell behind the mountains and how hurriedly the shadows and cold flooded in like a breaking wave. The district around the Red Palace was a marketplace, crammed with ancient family stalls. At this time of evening they were all noiseless, the fruit stamped into the ground for flies and mice to feast on, the blood from the butchers driving up a briny smell, which hung in the nostrils. Behind the painted towers and the high, crenellated corners of the palace loomed those black-purple clouds on the mountains. On a particularly haunted night you might see a flick and a flash
of lightning, but the sound and the moisture never made its way to the capital. This was a dry land, a dusty land, and its people were not meant for the damnation smudged into those peaks. Of the many active soldiers who roamed the quiet streets of the wealth-crusted city, none were more imposing than the royal guard.’
Prepped for a literary experience the story is well outlined in the brief synopsis
- ‘One man’s secret is another man’s weapon; and Loreticus, spymaster to an emperor, considers himself well armed. Secrets are Loreticus’ business; spies and sources his colleagues. But when the new emperor goes missing, he suddenly finds himself isolated and uncertain who to trust. His search for the young emperor reveals an underworld of coups, assassinations, ambition and infidelity that make him doubt how much he ever really knew about the power behind the throne. As he struggles to deliver the young emperor safely and reunite the country, he finds himself torn between his old-fashioned principles and a new political reality.’
Of note, Lucas states in an author’s note at book’s end, ‘The setting was originally an exploration of the India– Pakistan separation. I read about how the difference in beliefs and cultures drove the segregation of the countries, but of course the functions of the original state didn’t split as evenly. The army was very much Pakistani in its roots, and so when the smaller country formed it found itself with a large military machine to support. This has caused troubles since; every government needs to win the support of the generals before they win control of the country.’
Eloquently written, this is a novel that succeeds on every level – literary, artistically, and in the realm of fine thrillers.
British author J.B. Lucas makes his literary debut with this impressive political thriller – LORETICUS – a book that promises to be a trilogy set in ancient Rome, though not dissimilar from current diplomacy! Lucas has lived and studied in eight different countries. He is passionate about high politics, studied the inner workings of the European Union poised to eventually work in the arena of international border disputes. His now is writing about the tectonic movements of states. Lucas lives in West London and writes using the inspiration of the India–Pakistan split, the founding of Israel, the identity crisis of Brexit and the maelstrom within the EU.
Read the opening pages of this luminous novel bring to our attention that not only is Lucas a fine historian and knowledgeable in his fields of study: he also is a poetic writer. A brief example of his style follows: ‘The priest stood alone in the chapel, calling prayers to a congregation that had fled and would never come home. He snapped wrists as he chimed the hand bells in an ancient rhythm, shooting their peals through sunlit dust in to the deep, cool corners. Round notes bounced out of the temple’s open doors, hitting the wood and brick of the cooling buildings in the dusk. They continued, muffled now, down the broken- toothed path of the alleyway, which stood as a dark frame to the glowing palace, basking with its height and age in the last half hour of the sun. Tonight, a dozen killers listened for the bells and quietly moved into place. The priest with his ageless call to prayer was unwittingly signaling a massacre to begin. Thus most normal evenings settled across the capital, and shutters clacked shut as cool breezes came to disturb sleeping children. Old soldiers, now lamp lighters, limped down dry streets, leaning on sun-hot bricks to ignite the braziers on corners. Visitors would comment that the lights seemed premature, extravagant in the still golden light. But the locals knew how quickly the sun fell behind the mountains and how hurriedly the shadows and cold flooded in like a breaking wave. The district around the Red Palace was a marketplace, crammed with ancient family stalls. At this time of evening they were all noiseless, the fruit stamped into the ground for flies and mice to feast on, the blood from the butchers driving up a briny smell, which hung in the nostrils. Behind the painted towers and the high, crenellated corners of the palace loomed those black-purple clouds on the mountains. On a particularly haunted night you might see a flick and a flash
of lightning, but the sound and the moisture never made its way to the capital. This was a dry land, a dusty land, and its people were not meant for the damnation smudged into those peaks. Of the many active soldiers who roamed the quiet streets of the wealth-crusted city, none were more imposing than the royal guard.’
Prepped for a literary experience the story is well outlined in the brief synopsis
- ‘One man’s secret is another man’s weapon; and Loreticus, spymaster to an emperor, considers himself well armed. Secrets are Loreticus’ business; spies and sources his colleagues. But when the new emperor goes missing, he suddenly finds himself isolated and uncertain who to trust. His search for the young emperor reveals an underworld of coups, assassinations, ambition and infidelity that make him doubt how much he ever really knew about the power behind the throne. As he struggles to deliver the young emperor safely and reunite the country, he finds himself torn between his old-fashioned principles and a new political reality.’
Of note, Lucas states in an author’s note at book’s end, ‘The setting was originally an exploration of the India– Pakistan separation. I read about how the difference in beliefs and cultures drove the segregation of the countries, but of course the functions of the original state didn’t split as evenly. The army was very much Pakistani in its roots, and so when the smaller country formed it found itself with a large military machine to support. This has caused troubles since; every government needs to win the support of the generals before they win control of the country.’
Eloquently written, this is a novel that succeeds on every level – literary, artistically, and in the realm of fine thrillers.
July 4, 2018
The King is dead - long live the King!
Meet Loreticus, the principal character in this first book of the Lost Emperor Trilogy In this fictional empire of long ago, he's the consummate career politician, the power behind the throne, the chameleon, the spy. What he lacks in youth and looks, he more than makes up for in wisdom, cunning, intelligence and insider knowledge. He's a powerful and dangerous man with powerful and dangerous frenemies, but he is above all loyal to the Empire. Note, I said "Empire" not "Emperor" - because when Emperor Marcan goes MIA, and a triumvirate of power-hungry generals stages a de facto coup, it is Loreticus who risks civil war, war with neighboring nations, and personal exposure as a traitor in order to set things to rights. The world-building is phenomenal. Author J.B. Lucas models his empire on the geography of the Balkans/southeastern Europe, the culture and social structure of ancient Rome, and the dizzyingly twisted politics of modern nation-building. Lucas' writing is spare, intense, and vivid. He paints both his settings and his characters in economical and revealing brushstrokes. He focuses on the dilemmas, the logical outcomes of choices, the risks introduced by unknowns, the variables of human character in the calculus of geopolitical stability. At the heart of it all is Loreticus - intensely private, relentlessly vigilant in pursuit his goal, willing to do whatever is required to achieve it, yet regretful of the necessity for the wrongs committed in the name of that one great "right." On his choices, on his loyalty, skill, and foresight, hangs the future of the Empire.
Meet Loreticus, the principal character in this first book of the Lost Emperor Trilogy In this fictional empire of long ago, he's the consummate career politician, the power behind the throne, the chameleon, the spy. What he lacks in youth and looks, he more than makes up for in wisdom, cunning, intelligence and insider knowledge. He's a powerful and dangerous man with powerful and dangerous frenemies, but he is above all loyal to the Empire. Note, I said "Empire" not "Emperor" - because when Emperor Marcan goes MIA, and a triumvirate of power-hungry generals stages a de facto coup, it is Loreticus who risks civil war, war with neighboring nations, and personal exposure as a traitor in order to set things to rights. The world-building is phenomenal. Author J.B. Lucas models his empire on the geography of the Balkans/southeastern Europe, the culture and social structure of ancient Rome, and the dizzyingly twisted politics of modern nation-building. Lucas' writing is spare, intense, and vivid. He paints both his settings and his characters in economical and revealing brushstrokes. He focuses on the dilemmas, the logical outcomes of choices, the risks introduced by unknowns, the variables of human character in the calculus of geopolitical stability. At the heart of it all is Loreticus - intensely private, relentlessly vigilant in pursuit his goal, willing to do whatever is required to achieve it, yet regretful of the necessity for the wrongs committed in the name of that one great "right." On his choices, on his loyalty, skill, and foresight, hangs the future of the Empire.
August 31, 2017
Loreticus is a spymaster for an empire at the sword-level of civilization, and the emperor has gone missing. Since it is the first of a trilogy entitled The Lost Emperor, you may well guess he is not going to be easily found. Various generals are lobbying for power, but is the emperor actually dead? Loreticus has to find a way of maintaining stability, and of stopping the generals from taking power, which would almost certainly result in economically ruining wars with neighbouring states. On top of this, there are zealots and thugs making life hazardous for the unwary individuals in the city. This is largely a story of political maneuvering, chicanery, in an empire in a state of decay.
The world-building is excellent, and the characters are believable. The plot evolves slowly, and in detail, while the writing tends to have a tendency to be over-written, with at times a surfeit of adjectives. The story depends fairly heavily on ambience. Notwithstanding that, the story is in general well-written and interesting. Unfortunately, it is partially spoiled with serious editing or compiling issues, and this adds confusion to spoil the ambience. The usual convention of starting a new paragraph for a new speaker is not followed, and sometimes it is not immediately obvious who is saying what. There are some paragraphs that start with what is obviously missed text, and for me this spoiled the whole. My recommendation to the author is to pull this, attend to the very frequent blemishes, and republish. If the author were to do this, my rating would greatly improve.
The world-building is excellent, and the characters are believable. The plot evolves slowly, and in detail, while the writing tends to have a tendency to be over-written, with at times a surfeit of adjectives. The story depends fairly heavily on ambience. Notwithstanding that, the story is in general well-written and interesting. Unfortunately, it is partially spoiled with serious editing or compiling issues, and this adds confusion to spoil the ambience. The usual convention of starting a new paragraph for a new speaker is not followed, and sometimes it is not immediately obvious who is saying what. There are some paragraphs that start with what is obviously missed text, and for me this spoiled the whole. My recommendation to the author is to pull this, attend to the very frequent blemishes, and republish. If the author were to do this, my rating would greatly improve.
September 13, 2017
The book starts when a man wakes up in a roadside hut not knowing who he is or how he got there. Meanwhile back in the city Loreticus, The Spymaster, is trying to piece together the disappearance of the emperor Marcan whilst negotiating his way around the trio of warlords who jostle to take the emperor's place.
The mystery man bears a remarkable resemblance to the emperor and, in fact, takes on the role as emperor in a band of travelling storytellers.
What follows is Loreticus' manoeuvres to return this man to the empire, as it's leader.
The book is full of unlikeable characters, plenty of death, infidelity and plotting galore. You can tell that the fictional empire is broadly based upon the Romans but a lack of detail about the empire itself allows the reader to extend the full range of their imagination.
It was good to see some really strong female characters in the book - the power behind the throne it would seem.
There are definitely parallels that can be drawn with the modern day - after all the struggle for power is as old as time itself.
This is the first book of the trilogy and I'm certainly intrigued to find out what happens next.
The mystery man bears a remarkable resemblance to the emperor and, in fact, takes on the role as emperor in a band of travelling storytellers.
What follows is Loreticus' manoeuvres to return this man to the empire, as it's leader.
The book is full of unlikeable characters, plenty of death, infidelity and plotting galore. You can tell that the fictional empire is broadly based upon the Romans but a lack of detail about the empire itself allows the reader to extend the full range of their imagination.
It was good to see some really strong female characters in the book - the power behind the throne it would seem.
There are definitely parallels that can be drawn with the modern day - after all the struggle for power is as old as time itself.
This is the first book of the trilogy and I'm certainly intrigued to find out what happens next.
May 30, 2018
Spymaster, Kingmaker or God?
Absolutely Fabulous. A truly wonderful read that will have you hoping that the next book will be out soon. Years have passed, our Spymaster has become a widower and the old Emperor's death has put a new man on the throne. However not everyone is happy with the state of this new order and violence has erupted that has lead to the death of many good men, including the Emperor. Or is he? Who is the man who has no memory? How will the Spymaster keep him safe when the man doesn't remember his past and there is a price on his head? Plus the Commander's have gotten a clique going and now are determined to rule the Empire. A wonderful, twisted scenario of plots within plots. The characters have aged and you can see the effects of the unrest that has been embedded in their physique. Can't wait for the next book.
Absolutely Fabulous. A truly wonderful read that will have you hoping that the next book will be out soon. Years have passed, our Spymaster has become a widower and the old Emperor's death has put a new man on the throne. However not everyone is happy with the state of this new order and violence has erupted that has lead to the death of many good men, including the Emperor. Or is he? Who is the man who has no memory? How will the Spymaster keep him safe when the man doesn't remember his past and there is a price on his head? Plus the Commander's have gotten a clique going and now are determined to rule the Empire. A wonderful, twisted scenario of plots within plots. The characters have aged and you can see the effects of the unrest that has been embedded in their physique. Can't wait for the next book.
December 4, 2017
Good Read
History is not the main feature of this book but the characters. Hanging in the balance is Marcan, Emperor, dethroned by his generals, not with a military coup but underhandedness. Loreticus, the spymaster, wants Marcan back on the throne but what are this flawed character's motives?
I look forward to the rest of the series as the puzzle plays out.
History is not the main feature of this book but the characters. Hanging in the balance is Marcan, Emperor, dethroned by his generals, not with a military coup but underhandedness. Loreticus, the spymaster, wants Marcan back on the throne but what are this flawed character's motives?
I look forward to the rest of the series as the puzzle plays out.
July 5, 2018
Once again Loreticus is meddling in the affairs of state. Now he needs to find an Emperor who has gone missing. Loreticus is getting older, but I fear no wiser and the world is falling apart. Lucas brings his Roman style world to life with flawed and interesting characters. I hated to put it down until I finished it. Definitely worth reading.
November 13, 2019
Good plot and characters but the writing could have been tightened up a little and grammatical/spelling mistakes removed. The premise of a spymaster who wants to do what is best for his country, the triad of generals who have an uneasy alliance and the emperor who may or may not be who he thinks he is is intriguing and I look forward to the next book in the trilogy.
November 14, 2017
Fascinating storyline.
J.B. Lucas is an excellent new author. I greatly enjoyed his first story in the Missing Emperor Trilogy, and look forward to reading Book 2.
J.B. Lucas is an excellent new author. I greatly enjoyed his first story in the Missing Emperor Trilogy, and look forward to reading Book 2.
October 3, 2018
Thriller
I found it very good. Twists and turns that kept you wanting to know more. Look forward to the next one in series.
I found it very good. Twists and turns that kept you wanting to know more. Look forward to the next one in series.
September 23, 2018
Confusing
I must have missed something because the story didn't flow for me. It seemed to expect that I knew more about the world.
I must have missed something because the story didn't flow for me. It seemed to expect that I knew more about the world.
Read
October 26, 2018Didn't finish
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews