Abyss

The Last Roman #2

by B.K. Greenwood, Dusan Arsenic (Illustrator)

The much-anticipated sequel to The Last Roman: Exile

Can all sins be forgiven?

Marcus Sempronius Gracchus, a soldier of Rome, has spent two thousand years walking the earth, seeking redemption he may never find.

After losing his latest confrontation with Thomas, a man he once considered his brother, Marcus is on the run and must find new allies to continue the struggle.

But will that be enough?

As Marcus races across the globe to find the only weapon that can stop Thomas, his old nemesis will do anything to secure an ancient artifact that could destroy humanity.

Follow the story of a man who should be dead as he tries to save the world... and his soul.

Cover by: Dusan Arsenic

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fantasy, Fiction, Action, Thriller, Roman

312 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 29, 2021

About the author

B.K. Greenwood lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife and wolfpack of 4 rescue dogs. He loves to travel and has incorporated his experiences into his writing. B.K. enjoys works of fiction and nonfiction, with a heavy emphasis on history, adventure, and classics. His passion for history is on display in his debut series, The Last Roman.

Reviews

[N.N. Heaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marcus, on a race against time, must find the spear before Thomas and avert the end of humanity. They used to be brothers but now they are enemies. Marcus travels through time to eradicate his sins but just when redemption is within his grasp, it slips away, like grains of sand through his fingers. Unable to stop Thomas, he’s on the run with a pair of companions. They travel across continents unraveling the truth, doing what they must under tenuous circumstances, all in the hopes of stopping Thomas’ gruesome plan. Will Marcus succeed or will he once again be defeated by Thomas?

The Last Roman: Abyss is a feast for the senses from start to finish. The descriptive narration is deep and precise which gives the reader an intense reading experience. BK Greenwood plunges the reader into the story through intricate world-building that is historically accurate yet also complete fantasy. The reader is able to suspend reality and be immersed in this fantastic world. The characters are so well-written, the reader forgets it’s fiction. The plot moves at a great pace with ebbs and flows in between the action, mystery, and time travel which allows the reader to catch its breath. The action scenes are an adrenaline rush. The ending, oh my goodness, took me completely by surprise. I can’t wait for book three. If you love historical fantasy, you’ll love The Last Roman: Abyss. If you’re a fan of time travel thrillers, pick up The Last Roman: Abyss. Dan Brown readers, this is your next book to read. Highly recommend!

My Rating: 5 stars

Reviewed by: Mrs. N

This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...

[Lori Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received as a review copy from NetGalley, this is an honest review. This is absolute brilliant sequel to Exile with the author once more crafting one heck of an interwoven web of secrets that fill the immortal lives of Marcus and Thomas. The jumps back into the past experiences and encounters between the two men delivers the adventure of their once friendship and it all falling apart. A very emotional ride that richly painted crossing from present day and to the past will have you engaged throughout the book, highly recommended.

[V.L. Stuart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had an advance reader copy of "Abyss" and Greenwood has done it again. This book captures you from the first page.

Marcus was made immortal by Christ and has served the Church well. Now, someone is trying to destroy it and the world.

The novel expertly moves from one era to another, pausing to give us a taste of life in Constantinople, then slogging through the present-day jungle.

I want book three NOW

[Jeremy Fee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this novel, but my review is, of course, my honest opinion.

Echoing my words from having read the previous book in this series, it comes across as an amazing mix of Gladiator meets Highlander, but this time I noticed vibes from Mission Impossible and Indiana Jones mixed in. The religious elements are similar to the type you might find in a Dan Brown mystery. Overall, it's a fun and exciting read with an immortal protagonist up against his best friend turned enemy as the protagonist of the series.

As the second book in the series, this novel had action-packed pacing with cinematic "set pieces" with the point of view presenting different battles throughout time for both the protagonist and antagonist. There are quests built into the story, as both sides attempt to find and retrieve important artifacts. I like the way this trilogy is setup, with the second book leaving me with wanting to read the third book to see how in the world the heroes will overcome the difficult odds they are facing.

Side note: the author's website has signed copies available, so if you're interested in that, you may want to get the books directly from there instead of buying them from another website.

I recommend this book to fans of action-packed, fast-paced stories with religious elements built into the mystery and backstory.

[Jason Waltz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3+, maybe even a 4. Exciting and thrilling adventure. A good use of his imaginative plot spanning the last 2000 years. But I'm still stuck on, for me, a very unbelievable Big Bad guy. Until the last few pages, which actually gave me hope. But skipping that for a moment, this was fun and creative and very encompassing of the world and history and locations. I like our hero Marcus quite a bit. Of our Big 3 Immortals, he seems to use his returnability much more to his advantage than Casca or MacLeod.

[Richard Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book

Marcus is again in a race to find the spear that pierced Christ’s side and keep it away from Lucifer. He is chased all over the world by doubting Thomas who wants to punish God for his wife’s death. Lots of action going on as well as Marcus’s dying and coming back after three days.

[Robert Lilja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very satisfying

Clean, well=written, and just the right amount of plot twist. Impressive for a debut series and certainly leaves one eager for the final installment. Worth paying for.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't wait for book 3!

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was quite an adventure. The second book of The Last Roman series is just as faced paced (maybe even more) as the first book. The author has such a gift for writing action packed scenes that play out like a movie. I got big Call of Duty vibes multiple times. And the cover is amazing!

[Barb Wild · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I had not read the previous book I did think the descriptions in this book outstanding. Very interesting characters and colorful happenings. Will recommend to book club.

[Chad · Rating 5 out of 5]

I tore through book two and can't wait to see what happens with Asmodeus and the Archangels at this point.

I felt the pacing was right there along the lines of book one Exile. I love the action scenes and there are certainly a lot of them throughout these books. But I don't feel they are overdone where the characters and story doesn't get fleshed out enough either which can happen if there is just too much action.

The character development was well done too. It definitely feels as if the major focus is on Marcus and Thomas but we get to know a couple new characters in this one as well as the relationship between Marcus & Sam, Marcus and Isabella as well as Thomas and Doyle in this one. I don't really have any complaints on the character development. I even thought we got to know Philippe a bit by the end of this one too. I started to see some banter between him and Marcus which gave me a good chuckle.

If the author, B.K. Greenwood ever does more short stories besides Monsoon and the one about Isabella, I'd love to learn more about Nicodemus! We get a little bit of him in both the first two books but he seems like he would have quite the story to tell as well.

I've already placed my order to add a physical copy to my home library collection.

[Gareth Clegg · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent second book in The Last Roman series.

This book keeps up the high-octane pace from book 1 as Marcus continues in his attempt to stop Thomas in bringing his plans to fruition.

It has a fantastic mix between the modern-day action sequences and the flashbacks to many era's that the immortals have lived through giving a real depth to the characters and how they react in the present.

With great pacing throughout Abyss is a worthy successor to Book 1: Exile and sets up the final book for a real global conflict that maybe nobody will survive.

[Janne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. This is a fun read, fast paced and as the first installment very cinematic. Can easily see this as a series on a streaming service in the near future. I hate giving away spoilers so will not get into specifics, but the prologue and the story delivered! We also get more insight into Marcus and Thomas, who they are and why. Know I will preorder part three!

[Brent Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC read for fair review. Outstanding middle act in this compelling trilogy. I really enjoyed how Greenwood ratcheted up tension, delivering on the age-old second act tenet of chasing the protagonist up a tree and setting it on fire. I really enjoyed the first book, and honestly found this sequel to be even better, as we learn more about the stakes and race to the endgame. Grounded in history, cinematic in style, this sprawling story keeps the reader engaged through to the end. Bring on act three!

[kathleen r. · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's science fiction. But it isn't good science fiction. Parts are shifting between millennia, from 24 AD to 2024, or what is given as "modern day".
The plot, as I understood it, is to follow the crucifixion of jesus, when an ordinary Roman soldier, young and rather foolishly impressed with his own self awareness, launches that legendary, final spear into the side of the tortured figure on the cross. But, as he does so, the heavens open, the skies are rent with light and sound and (I suppose) the forces of good and evil both are unleashed upon all creation. That's what the story seems to be about.
But I found it more a conflict of character-driven angst. As though Gladiator, Indiana Jones, Bill Hickok, Rocky Balboa, Goose and Maverick, Sgt. Bilko and maybe, Conan the Barbarian were all fighting to take center stage. Add in some slaughter of innocent monks, priests, librarians, historians, and general "slaughter is everything" bad guys vs. heroes, and the result is a mish mash of hate and vile murder.
The confusion comes with every chapter, as the centuries drift and merge, the heroes and villains all either age or are reincarnated to another level of awareness, but if you miss the heading information, you might have to page back a bit to figure out where in time you actually are.
If you have a religious bent, be it Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Jewish-or run-of-the-mill non-declared, this book has just about anything you might want to know about how to offend anyone who doesn't share your particular beliefs. In that sense, it is simply offensive, and I am, in particular, a dyed-in-the-wool Pagan Wiccan Traditionalist. I don't have time for the nonsense tossed about by someone whose religion is derogatory and based on hate or anger towards any other religion or spiritual faith. I think in our current abysmal political environment, it truly doesn't help to devote chapters to the twisted thinking that one religion is better than another, so we'll just let them all kill each other. That's insanity with legs, in a book that is supposed to be about the creative structure of the world-wide faiths and beliefs.

Let's not forget about the incorporation of Satan as a well-dressed crime boss. I can't even begin to dissect that bit of garbage, but I think the 1970's film based on Peter Blatty's book, "The Exorcist" comes close. It's reprehensible.

I kept hoping at some point there would be a turning towards the light, that the legend of "The Spear" would be resolved, and brought to the world some measure of comfort or dignity, but that just never developed. Hundreds, if not thousands of lives were lost through the ages in search of this missing piece of mystic detritus, along with the pieces of the Seal of Solomon, sought after as the key to wisdom and knowledge, and ultimately, the presence of pure love and light. Turns out, the devil probably had the last word on its whereabouts, but again, that's left to your own imagination.

This book, and the prequel, "The Last Roman" are long-winded and bogged down in myriad details of weather, climate events, topography and nuance, but the pages are interminable and at times, numbingly mundane. I lost the plot on a few occasions, because there was just too much minutiae to slog past.

The characters are not fleshed out. Why is the protagonist doomed to life everlasting? Who is the female who also seems to share his immortal slog? Where do all the pieces of monastic, sacred, historic, militaristic, and mundane generate? What is the setting, from modern day to ancient, and who is making the determination that there is no final, redeeming solution to all the conflict?

If you wanted to read a book that should be filed under literary confusion, this is it. I couldn't quite decide if it wanted to be a thriller, a mystery, a romance, a swashbuckling adventure, a military invasion gone wrong or a timeline for chaos, all at once or not. By the end, I still haven't decided where I would file this, on my shelves.

There's just so much violence in our daily lives, seeking it out in historical fiction doesn't seem quite right to me. I thought this was going to be more on the fact-based and legend-drawn historical side than all the gore, unnecessary violence, anger fueled retribution and pointless battles of what religion is the true religion.
It's up to the reader how to interpret the book.
My interpretation: I wish I had not bothered to read this. I had better hopes for it. Disappointed, and I can't honestly recommend reading it.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about the immortal Marcus Grippus, the roman who stabbed Jesus with the Spear of Linganous. This is a battle of good and evil. The core of immortals that were made immortal by Jesus or God, there is always someone that goes to the dark side and plots with Lucifer. In this case, it is doubting Thomas who true to his name and through grief of losing his wife makes the body of Jesus Christ and puts Lucifer into his body and this is the quest to have hell on earth. All that is needed is the key of Solomon and the spear of Ligneous. Marcus has been on quest for it for 2,000 years and Thomas and Lucifer (Doyle) need to find the pieces of the key of Solomon to unlock the gates of hell. It is a race to get the spear and keep it safe. We meet new immortals like Phillipe and Namaan (leper that was healed by God in the river Jordan) who lives in a remote monestary. We learn more about Thomas and Marcus's life. I learned what a fulcrum is that is scourge of Jesus and Marcus kills Nero and his time as Tribune in Rome and being part of every terrible event in histry including World War II and the death of Niccodemus. This is a war between Heaven and Hell with immortals, angels and gaurdians of the world. This is a great story with twists and turns that are horrifying but there is redemption. This is a book called Abyss because the world does explode but it is about despair and grief but with a spot of endurance and faith. This is a great book to read if you want to be entertained with good detail and history.

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

What I did not fully understand about the plot of “Abyss” nor in fact about the first book in the series, is that the primary plot device is one of a sort of time travel. That is because the hero,of the books was present at the death of Christ, and in the plot, was the Roman soldier who thrust the spear into Jesus’side. At that moment, the soldier realized that this man ring crucified was more than a man. Now, as a Christian, I have no problem with that. ( If you might, take this as a cautionary moment.)
The soldier has gained, or suffered, the inability to die. Oh, he can get killed, but but he comes back to life.O—-Kaaay….once you get your head around this, as we used to say in my youth, the book flows along in an entertaining way . For example, at the beginning of the book, our hero, or transmogrified self, is in PreWWI Vienna , as a failed artist, who goes into a mus3um to get out of the cold rain. Upon seeing a relic,the shaft of a Roman spear, he is whisked back to Ancient Rome for further adventures.
Truthfully, it is very helpful, indeed necessary, to read the first book before the second to better understand the concept of the novels. Summing up, Ancient Rome, time travel, super powers all in one package and a well written story, too.

[Tissie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Last Roman: Abyss is the perfect example of an objectively good story—because it is. It’s good and well written—that doesn’t do it for me. It’s not about the author, and it’s not about me either; it’s a matter of tastes.

I like historical books, you see. They’re my number one jam, no matter the spatio-temporal location. I’m not for books that follow two timelines, right now and back then. So, if this is a problem for you too, just keep it in mind. If not, go ahead and read TLR:A because it’s one hell of a sequel.

Marcus is a superb main character, well-crafted and the embodiment of a hero. He does what has to be done after having suffered grievous personal losses. Thomas is a good villain too, and the point of contention—the spear—reads believable.

I have nothing but good things to say about the prose. The grammar is sound, the rhythm is pleasant, and the story flows really well. Greenwood is a skilled author and knows how to write. As I said, it’s a mere matter of tastes.

4 stars on GR.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

The hunt for pieces to the puzzle

I had read book one a while ago, so it took me a few chapters to get back into they story. Flashback technique to share historical events experienced by the characters is not an approach that I enjoy as it just feels so disjointed. Still, I did learn a lot more about the driving forces behind both Marcus and Thomas through these events. I really loved blending of immortal fantasy fiction while using biblical and historical facts within the plot. Rich descriptions fitting each historical period and setting was amazing. Marcus and Thomas certainly continue to battle - but either I have forgotten, or it is just was not clear to me what the ultimate goal they were fighting over? With how things ended and long-standing friend/adversarial histories on the line, I am really looking forward to see what happens next in book 3!

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

The second entry in B.K. Greenwood's 'Last Roman' series and, for some reason, this one didn't resonate with me quite as much as the first.

I'm not sure why, as it does follow the same stylistic setting as the earlier entry with chapter about being modern times/historical (I think I actually preferred this aspect of the two), and with the same set of characters as the first (bar a few minor changes); but maybe it was because I felt the 'U-Boat lost up the Amazon' had been done before?

(Personally, I kept flashing back to the Uncharted series of video games with that whole segment)

I will still read entry #3, however.

[Teresa Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can’t Wait for More!

…..although I don’t want it to end. I know the foundation of the story (and I’ve read the end of the Book, as they say! 😊) but I’m fascinated with the way Greenwood pieces together these characters, their relationships, their struggles and all in the world around them in whatever period of time. I surprise myself that I took time to write this review when I have “The Last Roman: Absolution” waiting for me. Five stars is barely high enough to recommend this set of books in the manner I believe appropriate. I highly, highly recommend!

[M Schultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful extension of the first book, The Last Roman: Exile. This book brings some of the plot into sharper focus. Some of the relationships fill out also.
There is beauty and a rawness that has its own beauty also. I love the action as it's clear and easy to follow without having to go back to the scene's start.
I am committed to no spoilers. Let me end with there are so many reasons to read this book and the series, history, spirituality, prophecy, action, and globe-spanning adventure are a few that come to mind.
Do yourself a favor and read the series!

[A.D. Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loving this series

Where to start. Honestly, it's not always easy reviewing a book without spoilers. This story is amazing! I enjoy the past memories for Marcus and as the story evolves, you grow attached to him, wishing in fact he was a real person, a real hero. I'm extremely excited to start the next book and hope there will be more in this series, maybe learning more about other immortals who are not guests in this series. Again, I say thank you to the author for his hard work and sharing his stories.💖

[Eileen Iciek · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun book that keeps you reading! There were a few odd things, not exactly typos but could have used a little more proofreading. The biggest issue I had, though, was when the author had a female character being permitted into the Mount Athos monastery complex. I don't care if the character is 2000 years old, they would not ever permit it! Still, it was a fun book that I raced through!

Recommended.

[ABrahosky · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good continuation from part 1, and an enticing leadin to part 3, sonit does what a good sequel should.
There are lots of moving parts in a very Clive Cutler-esque blend of history transposed into the present, but the addition of the divine and diabolical elements add a dash of spice.
Also, throwing in characters' examination of existential questions is a nice touch, but is often done very casually.
I'm looking forward to starting the next installment.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not a standalone read, but a good 2nd book of the trilogy.

Doesn't exactly end on a cliffhanger, but definitely let's you know that more is to come.

As I said in my review of the first book in the series: it's very reminiscent of the excellent "Casca" series of historical fiction novels, but this trilogy has its own style, twists,.themes and plot, so it's not just a copy of the other.

Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

[Bob Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written semi religious historical fiction. Book Two of "The Last Roman" Reminds me of the paperback series by Barry Saddler, "Casca-The Eternal Mercenary".
The characters are fairly well developed and interact well. The story line doesn't flow, in my opinion, well.
Jumping between two different artifacts being sought by two different groups can confuse the reader.
Overall I enjoyed reading this novel. I would recommend readers get and read Book One, "Exile" before reading this book.

[Steven Hatfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding

This the second of your series captivates me as much as the First, which was an a.adding book.
Your grasp of the old legends is amazing,
I am so interested now to see how you manage the capture of Solomans demon slave Have to read the next book to find out.

Good Job. Very Good Job

Steven

[Lynette E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

B.K.Greenwood has done it again!

Another fantastic novel in the series the Last Roman. This book is titled The Abyss and continues the story of Marcus and Thomas. Not as eye opening as the first book because we are more aware this time. I loved the book!

[John Mullin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful journey.

An exciting adventure within characters who are not completely unknown to us. The visitations to different times and places are fascinating as well as necessary. Once you start reading you will be hooked. I highly recommend this wonderful adventure.