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Imperial Assassin #2
Emperor's Knife
Brothers. Emperors. Deadly enemies… An unputdownable novel of intrigue and combat in Rome.
Emperor Severus is on his deathbed. His sons Geta and Caracalla, feuding in Britannia, are readying for a devastating power struggle.
Silus, now a centurion in the Arcani, the secretive network of spies and killers, is thrown into the maelstrom. Back in Rome, plots breed in the stinking alleys.
Everyone might be an enemy. Everyone a traitor. As an Imperial Assassin, Silus’ loyalty will be tested to breaking point. And with the Empire starting to buckle under the strain, Silus must ask what Rome or his own damned soul?
Better watch yourself...
From thundering races at the Circus Maximus to death in the Imperial palaces, this is a powerful and unputdownable novel that will transport to you Ancient Rome, perfect for fans of Ben Kane, Simon Scarrow and Conn Iggulden.
349 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 18, 2019
248 people are currently reading
199 people want to read
About the author
Alex Gough
36 books110 followers Avid reader of multiple genres, including thriller, sci-fi and fantasy, but particularly interested in historical fiction. Author of Roman historical fiction, and owner of the romanfiction.com blog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
December 19, 2021
I guess this could be anywhere from 3-3 1/2 stars, depending.
This story takes place around 210-ish AD. The co-emperors of Rome are the mutually antagonistic brothers Caracalla and Geta, along with their mother, Julia Domna, thrown in as a power in her own right. My, my, my, what a dysfunctional family they made. Ewwww! about sums things up.
I have mixed feelings about this book as I kept trying to define it in my head. It was historical fiction, but it would deviate in unforseen ways. The two main characters are assassins in Caracalla's employ. Anyone with any familiarity with books of this time/place/Empire would expect some vicious cold hearted killers. Not that I wanted to root for scumbags, but that's not the point. There were times that these two seemed to perform their job like Abbott and Costello, or perhaps Laverne and Shirley. Total ineptitude. These are supposedly professional hired killers. So then I thought, well maybe this is more of a comedic tale which happens to take place during a tumultuous period of Rome.
Nope. Not a comedy. The next time there is an assassination, it's ugly.
Then another switch occurs: one of the killers gets a serious case of the feels. Which actually was a relief. I was tired of seeing all of these people killed for ambition and politics. He was at least redeemable. But seeing as to how inconsistently this story had progressed, I wonder how long this will last? I think I'm moving on to something else.
This story takes place around 210-ish AD. The co-emperors of Rome are the mutually antagonistic brothers Caracalla and Geta, along with their mother, Julia Domna, thrown in as a power in her own right. My, my, my, what a dysfunctional family they made. Ewwww! about sums things up.
I have mixed feelings about this book as I kept trying to define it in my head. It was historical fiction, but it would deviate in unforseen ways. The two main characters are assassins in Caracalla's employ. Anyone with any familiarity with books of this time/place/Empire would expect some vicious cold hearted killers. Not that I wanted to root for scumbags, but that's not the point. There were times that these two seemed to perform their job like Abbott and Costello, or perhaps Laverne and Shirley. Total ineptitude. These are supposedly professional hired killers. So then I thought, well maybe this is more of a comedic tale which happens to take place during a tumultuous period of Rome.
Nope. Not a comedy. The next time there is an assassination, it's ugly.
Then another switch occurs: one of the killers gets a serious case of the feels. Which actually was a relief. I was tired of seeing all of these people killed for ambition and politics. He was at least redeemable. But seeing as to how inconsistently this story had progressed, I wonder how long this will last? I think I'm moving on to something else.
February 20, 2025
Although this was very different from the first in the series, it was just as stunning! Highly recommended. 5⭐️
May 28, 2025
This time, I care about Silus
Emperor's Knife is the second novel in Alex Gough's Imperial Assassin series, starring Gaius Sergius Silus as the Assassin of the series title. I was disappointed by the first novel, Emperor's Sword, which I described as emotionally flat. Lots of stuff that I should have cared about happened to Silus in Sword -- for instance, his daughter and his wife were murdered and died in his sight and in his arms. But I didn't care. I don't know why. It's a puzzle. I guess Silus just didn't feel real to me.
Emperor's Knife is much better. This time I cared about Silus and his problems. That meant that the suspense and excitement part of the action novel worked much better. It is difficult to engender suspense in a reader who doesn't feel the emotions of any of his characters.
Emperor's Knife takes place mostly in Rome. The story begins in Britain, where the three Roman co-emperors are: Septimius Severus and his sons Caracalla and Geta. Septimius dies very early in the novel. He enjoins Caracalla and Geta to rule together as joint emperors. There is precedent for this -- that great Marcus Aurelius shared his empire with his brother Lucius Verus. But there is little love between Caracalla and Geta -- neither wants to share. They travel to Rome to politic for rule. Silus accompanies them and, as one of Caracalla's trained assassins, is in the thick of the battle and the intrigue.
So, Emperor's Knife certainly felt like a step up from Emperor's Sword. I will continue the series.
Blog review.
Emperor's Knife is the second novel in Alex Gough's Imperial Assassin series, starring Gaius Sergius Silus as the Assassin of the series title. I was disappointed by the first novel, Emperor's Sword, which I described as emotionally flat. Lots of stuff that I should have cared about happened to Silus in Sword -- for instance, his daughter and his wife were murdered and died in his sight and in his arms. But I didn't care. I don't know why. It's a puzzle. I guess Silus just didn't feel real to me.
Emperor's Knife is much better. This time I cared about Silus and his problems. That meant that the suspense and excitement part of the action novel worked much better. It is difficult to engender suspense in a reader who doesn't feel the emotions of any of his characters.
Emperor's Knife takes place mostly in Rome. The story begins in Britain, where the three Roman co-emperors are: Septimius Severus and his sons Caracalla and Geta. Septimius dies very early in the novel. He enjoins Caracalla and Geta to rule together as joint emperors. There is precedent for this -- that great Marcus Aurelius shared his empire with his brother Lucius Verus. But there is little love between Caracalla and Geta -- neither wants to share. They travel to Rome to politic for rule. Silus accompanies them and, as one of Caracalla's trained assassins, is in the thick of the battle and the intrigue.
So, Emperor's Knife certainly felt like a step up from Emperor's Sword. I will continue the series.
Blog review.
April 9, 2020
BLURB
Brothers. Emperors. Deadly enemies… An unputdownable novel of intrigue and combat in Rome.
Emperor Severus is on his deathbed. His sons Geta and Caracalla, feuding in Britannia, are readying for a devastating power struggle.
Silus, now a centurion in the Arcani, the secretive network of spies and killers, is thrown into the maelstrom. Back in Rome, plots breed in the stinking alleys.
Everyone might be an enemy. Everyone a traitor. As an Imperial Assassin, Silus’ loyalty will be tested to breaking point. And with the Empire starting to buckle under the strain, Silus must ask what matters: Rome or his own damned soul?
Better watch yourself...
From thundering races at the Circus Maximus to death in the Imperial palaces, this is a powerful and unputdownable novel that will transport to you Ancient Rome, perfect for fans of Ben Kane, Simon Scarrow and Conn Iggulden.
REVIEW
A heart pounding, heart breaking tale as Silus finds himself thrust into situations where his devotion and loyalty to his Arcani master and the Emperor are put to extreme tests. A well crafted story that is part soul searching dilemma and part action filled excitement. Caught between the ever increasing divide between the co-emperors, and the demands of his assigned missions, Silus struggles to maintain his loyalties, not only to his masters, but to his friends as well. Plots full of surprises, characters who draw you into the narrative, the ability to keep the reader turning the pages, and a nice teaser at the end makes Emperor's Knife an enjoyable romp in yet another troubled dynastic period in Rome's history. 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Brothers. Emperors. Deadly enemies… An unputdownable novel of intrigue and combat in Rome.
Emperor Severus is on his deathbed. His sons Geta and Caracalla, feuding in Britannia, are readying for a devastating power struggle.
Silus, now a centurion in the Arcani, the secretive network of spies and killers, is thrown into the maelstrom. Back in Rome, plots breed in the stinking alleys.
Everyone might be an enemy. Everyone a traitor. As an Imperial Assassin, Silus’ loyalty will be tested to breaking point. And with the Empire starting to buckle under the strain, Silus must ask what matters: Rome or his own damned soul?
Better watch yourself...
From thundering races at the Circus Maximus to death in the Imperial palaces, this is a powerful and unputdownable novel that will transport to you Ancient Rome, perfect for fans of Ben Kane, Simon Scarrow and Conn Iggulden.
REVIEW
A heart pounding, heart breaking tale as Silus finds himself thrust into situations where his devotion and loyalty to his Arcani master and the Emperor are put to extreme tests. A well crafted story that is part soul searching dilemma and part action filled excitement. Caught between the ever increasing divide between the co-emperors, and the demands of his assigned missions, Silus struggles to maintain his loyalties, not only to his masters, but to his friends as well. Plots full of surprises, characters who draw you into the narrative, the ability to keep the reader turning the pages, and a nice teaser at the end makes Emperor's Knife an enjoyable romp in yet another troubled dynastic period in Rome's history. 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
January 11, 2021
Enjoyable read, very different type of action to the first with this being based more on the underbelly of the rulings of Rome with spies and assassinations. Good mix of real history and fiction. Little main character development but good development of those people in power around him.
July 30, 2020
More like 3.5. Further exciting adventures of the two Arcani, the introvert Silus and sidekick, the extrovert, ebullient Atius. At the behest of the co-Augustus Caracalla, they assassinate at Caracalla's will. A female Arcanus[a?] joins them and is instrumental to the plot. After killing almost a whole family and their slaves, Silus cannot bring himself to kill the daughter, Tituria, who "saw something she shouldn't have." [Shades of Ovid? Did Ovid see something similar?] Their whole house is destroyed by fire. Tituria is finally kept as hostage on a remote island with the threat of death hanging over her, to make sure Silus obeys Caracalla completely, but Silus' slave, Apicula, keeps as leverage proof of what the girl saw, as written down by her father. Caracalla and younger brother Geta are bitter rivals and Caracalla sees a way to rid himself of Geta, so Caracalla can rule alone when the time comes for a successor to Severus. Some of the killings were gruesome but there were heart-stopping incidents such as the escape from the burning house. I still deplore the vulgarisms, many of which could have been left out or the expressions softened.
Recommended.
Recommended.
August 24, 2022
Ancora una volta il libro di Gough è ben scritto. Ha un bel ritmo anche se alcuni aspetti della trama sono un pochino portati al limite dell’accettabile. E questo gli costa le 5 stelle!
March 11, 2024
Wieder ein toll geschriebenes Abenteuer! Eigentlich sieben Sterne!
September 7, 2022
The second book of the series did not dissappoint. I was taken back by a twist about 200 pages in. The good old fashioned, 'introduce a new character, build them up, develop emotions around them, and immediately kill them' trick. Bravo. Books 3 and 4 of this series are on the way in the mail currently. I MUST know the fate of a Rome now.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 3, 2021
Emperor’s Knife is the second novel with Silus, one of the Arcani, the secret service of the Roman world.
The novel is set after the death of the Emperor Severus, and deals with the tensions between his two sons, Caracalla and Geta. It is evident that the two emperors can not work together and soon everyone has to choose a side. Silus and the Arcani work for Caracalla and Silus has to do some dark deeds to protect Caracalla and ensure his success in the fraternal struggle.
Gough clearly has a depth of knowledge about the Roman world and the notes at the end of the novel explain his thinking and the choices he has made in telling the story of a period scarce in historical facts.
An author always has choices to make about the story he tells, but I felt his decision to remove one of the central characters adversely affected the storyline and I felt we lost an interesting aspect of the novel, a young female former slave who has become a member of the Arcani.
The novel is set after the death of the Emperor Severus, and deals with the tensions between his two sons, Caracalla and Geta. It is evident that the two emperors can not work together and soon everyone has to choose a side. Silus and the Arcani work for Caracalla and Silus has to do some dark deeds to protect Caracalla and ensure his success in the fraternal struggle.
Gough clearly has a depth of knowledge about the Roman world and the notes at the end of the novel explain his thinking and the choices he has made in telling the story of a period scarce in historical facts.
An author always has choices to make about the story he tells, but I felt his decision to remove one of the central characters adversely affected the storyline and I felt we lost an interesting aspect of the novel, a young female former slave who has become a member of the Arcani.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 9, 2025
Enjoyable historical romp in Rome, somewhere in the 3rd century AD with assasins, love interest (ish), competing emperors and seemingly a death every few pages. It does in places seem a little like a Roman James Bond novel, but enjoyable. Only criticism I can offer is that for the main protagonists, the ending might have been a little flat - I suspect this is to allow a start point for the next in the series.
July 10, 2022
Siblings at war.
There are two joint emperors in Rome who are incompatable rivals for power. Silas and Atius are employed as assassins by joint ruler Caracalla. New recruit Daya joins them. What follows is action aplenty, bloody encounters and dangerous intrigues. A page turner that ticks all the boxes. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
There are two joint emperors in Rome who are incompatable rivals for power. Silas and Atius are employed as assassins by joint ruler Caracalla. New recruit Daya joins them. What follows is action aplenty, bloody encounters and dangerous intrigues. A page turner that ticks all the boxes. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
January 20, 2023
Continuing with the story of Silus, the scout turned Roman assassin from the first book. Now, the action is just as bloody as the emperor brothers return to Rome. Silus is torn between his conscience and his loyalty to co- emperor Caracalla. There are assassinations and betrayals aplenty. The author's historical notes at the end are very interesting.
February 2, 2020
Entertaining
An entertaining read, however how a secret assassin who is good to keep his head down can then be publicly named and praised by the emperor is big nonsensical. Having said that it is as I said an entertaining read
An entertaining read, however how a secret assassin who is good to keep his head down can then be publicly named and praised by the emperor is big nonsensical. Having said that it is as I said an entertaining read
July 19, 2020
Compassionate assassins survive.
The principal characters exhibit the flaws of compassion and independent thinking as professional assassins in a society where value is placed on loyalty rather than morality of actions.
The principal characters exhibit the flaws of compassion and independent thinking as professional assassins in a society where value is placed on loyalty rather than morality of actions.
March 30, 2022
Riveting.
Great continuation of book one. Delves deeply into the two emperors lives and actions. Most importantly, Silus discovers that he's not a heartless assassin and is willing to die for his actions of deception.
Great continuation of book one. Delves deeply into the two emperors lives and actions. Most importantly, Silus discovers that he's not a heartless assassin and is willing to die for his actions of deception.
June 24, 2022
Great action and a better paced story arc than the first book. Some unrealistic dialogue here and there (modern speak) but other than that a cracking book. Just about to start the next in the series "Emperor's Axe".
July 30, 2025
Some parts dragged a bit, giving a detailed description of ordinary Roman life of that time, but the climax was well-written. The narrator reads with a particularly dramatic flare, and a variety of voices are acted out.
January 27, 2020
Couldn't put it down :-) great book from start to finish.
November 3, 2020
Good read plenty of action scenes and assassinations
July 28, 2022
More political then anything . The first book was better
September 17, 2022
Excellent read
Spying at its deadliest. The mind plays many a trick when confronted by your passed life. Blood is thicker than water.
Spying at its deadliest. The mind plays many a trick when confronted by your passed life. Blood is thicker than water.
January 29, 2024
Another adventure novel based on the Roman Assassins during the reign of Emperor Severus and his descendants. A fast moving adventure based around historic fact set in Scotland and Rome.
June 1, 2024
Great second novel about the assassin,looking forward to the third
July 17, 2025
A real page turner, great storyline, superb action and fantastic characters, love it.
August 19, 2025
Not as ‘new’ as the first in the series lots of Roman names and characters which I found less engaging with. Interesting weaving with historical facts.
December 18, 2019
Another great read,
Another page turner by a gifted writer. Action packed and easy to read and follow. I highly recommend this book,
Another page turner by a gifted writer. Action packed and easy to read and follow. I highly recommend this book,
December 2, 2019
Loved it.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Silus, Atius and a new addition to the assassin's, Daya. Both beautiful and deadly and without conscience, Daya is another great character. I also laughed out loud at times. Highly recommended.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Silus, Atius and a new addition to the assassin's, Daya. Both beautiful and deadly and without conscience, Daya is another great character. I also laughed out loud at times. Highly recommended.
September 28, 2019
This book was received as an ARC from Canelo Adventure in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
I could not wait to preview this book, this book was across Gladiator and Ben Hur and I could not put it down. Every page I was smiling with excitement and I almost let out a big cheer but I did hold back containing my excitement because I am in a library. The drama, the conflict and the action between Geta and Caracalla while their father The Emporer is on their deathbed was so exhilarating that you can't help but to caught up in it all. While reading this book I was transported in the medieval time as a peasant woman observing all of the action of the brothers and the dark power they must possess. This book is full with edge of your seat excitement that will keep your eyes glued to the book.
We will consider adding this book to our Historical Fiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.
I could not wait to preview this book, this book was across Gladiator and Ben Hur and I could not put it down. Every page I was smiling with excitement and I almost let out a big cheer but I did hold back containing my excitement because I am in a library. The drama, the conflict and the action between Geta and Caracalla while their father The Emporer is on their deathbed was so exhilarating that you can't help but to caught up in it all. While reading this book I was transported in the medieval time as a peasant woman observing all of the action of the brothers and the dark power they must possess. This book is full with edge of your seat excitement that will keep your eyes glued to the book.
We will consider adding this book to our Historical Fiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.
November 15, 2019
I love historical fiction books set in Ancient Rome and this book was perfect for me.
i loved the well researched historical background, the fleshed out cast of characters and the well crafted plot.
I couldn't put it down and was engrossed by the plot full of twists and turns.
I can't wait to read the next instalment in this series.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
i loved the well researched historical background, the fleshed out cast of characters and the well crafted plot.
I couldn't put it down and was engrossed by the plot full of twists and turns.
I can't wait to read the next instalment in this series.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews