What do you think?
Rate this book
Empress & Soldier
A boy of the night-time streets. A girl of libraries and learning.
Druisius, the son of a merchant, is sixteen when an order from his father that he can neither forgive nor forget drives him from home and into the danger and intrigue of the military.
Eudekia, a scholar’s daughter, educated and dutiful, is not meant to be a prince’s bride. In an empire at war, and in a city beset by famine and unrest, she must prove herself worthy of its throne.
A decade after a first, brief meeting, their lives intersect again. When a delegation arrives from the lost West, asking Eudekia for sanctuary for a princess and support for a desperate war, Druisius is assigned to guard them. In the span of a few weeks, a young captain will capture the hearts of both Empress and soldier in very different ways, offering a future neither could have foreseen.
A stand-alone novel that can also serve as a second entry point into the Empire's Legacy series.
Druisius, the son of a merchant, is sixteen when an order from his father that he can neither forgive nor forget drives him from home and into the danger and intrigue of the military.
Eudekia, a scholar’s daughter, educated and dutiful, is not meant to be a prince’s bride. In an empire at war, and in a city beset by famine and unrest, she must prove herself worthy of its throne.
A decade after a first, brief meeting, their lives intersect again. When a delegation arrives from the lost West, asking Eudekia for sanctuary for a princess and support for a desperate war, Druisius is assigned to guard them. In the span of a few weeks, a young captain will capture the hearts of both Empress and soldier in very different ways, offering a future neither could have foreseen.
A stand-alone novel that can also serve as a second entry point into the Empire's Legacy series.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
396 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 13, 2022
2 people are currently reading
15 people want to read
About the author
Marian L. Thorpe
17 books88 followersMy books are historical fiction of an imagined world, one that is close to Britain, Northern Europe, and Rome, but isn't any of them. A world where a society evolved differently after the Eastern Empire left, where one young fisherwoman answers her leader's call to defend her country, beginning a journey into uncharted territory, in an Empire on the edge of history.
After two careers as a research scientist and an educator, I decided it was time to do what I'd always really wanted, and be a writer. As well as my novels, I've published short stories and poetry. My life-long interest in Roman and post-Roman European history provided the inspiration for my books, while my other interests in landscape archaeology and birding provide background.
After two careers as a research scientist and an educator, I decided it was time to do what I'd always really wanted, and be a writer. As well as my novels, I've published short stories and poetry. My life-long interest in Roman and post-Roman European history provided the inspiration for my books, while my other interests in landscape archaeology and birding provide background.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
December 19, 2022
Divine!
***
“A stand-alone novel that can also serve as a second entry point into the Empire’s Legacy series.” – and that it is! If you have not read any of the novels in the Empire’s Legacy series yet, then this would serve as a nice teaser. Yes, Empress & Soldier is a story particularly about Empress Eudekia and soldier Druisius but secondary characters make a play here that have the primary role in the preceding books. Actually, this whole series Marian has written, DOES NOT have secondary characters – well, sure, they do, but… – all of the characters feel so important and by the gods, you will like them all… Like I do. These books are like that Netflix show you just can’t help but binge and when it’s over, you feel sad. There’s an emptiness in your day now where the show, or in this case, this book, was.
Not to brag, but I have read the Empire’s Legacy books and stories from day dot. I have been there with the characters through absolute heaven and hell and so it is, that I know of Druisius already, before this current book. I am so glad Marian told his story. Druise immediately feels like a friend, that is, unless you’re on the opposing side. He’s not an evil man, though, he does what is ordered and yet, he doesn’t hurt for fun… er… well, yeah XD maybe he does. But what it means in its enitirety, I’ll leave for you to find out! Muahahahaha…. Anyway, Druisius may come across like someone you do not want to cross but if you’re a decent human being, you have nothing to fear from him. In fact, he would do anything to set things right. In fact, out of all the other male characters that the series has introduced to the reader, I would say Druisius is the one who does the most dirty work and yet comes across the most cheerful, somehow. Simply put, I love him!
Empress Eudekia… I had a glimpse of this character in a previous book. Actually, a scene from a previous book takes place in this book as well, but rightly, from a different point of view. I have to admit, it was gut wrenching to relive it again, and yet so interesting because I did end up with a certain view about the Empress before but maybe now I am a bit more understanding… I love how the Empress side of the story truly put the political intrigue and court life into use. So complicated, so difficult and yet the diplomacy in this book, whilst serious, was bloody fun to read about. Marian is a masterful writer when it comes to getting the nitty gritty details just right…
As always, Marian delivers from every aspect of the book. What I have always liked about this series, is that there’s no shock factor twists just for the sake of delivering a twist. The phenomenon that we know of as ‘the twist’ has become a bit of a crutch, I think… as if a good story cannot exist without a jaw-dropping reveal. Nothing wrong with a good moment of ‘I did not see that one coming’, and I am not saying that Marian doesn’t drop surprises throughout the story and series, but they’re not over the top. I love how Marian’s writing is solid, steady and, I believe I have said it before, I can trust it. I can trust that everything will be resolved with the right amount of diplomacy and integrity.
So, where should you start? Start from Empress & Soldier, or go back to the very beginning and start with Empire’s Daughter – just start from somewhere! I promise you, once you get stuck into this story, you will experience alternative, historical fiction like never before. What else is in it for you? Cultures that are rich with different societal norms, explorations of duty and responsibility, all-conquering love that is respectful and quietly healing, ambitions and fears, clever chesspiece moves in the royal court, men loving men, women loving women, women and men loving each other… Simply fulfilling and glorious!
***
“A stand-alone novel that can also serve as a second entry point into the Empire’s Legacy series.” – and that it is! If you have not read any of the novels in the Empire’s Legacy series yet, then this would serve as a nice teaser. Yes, Empress & Soldier is a story particularly about Empress Eudekia and soldier Druisius but secondary characters make a play here that have the primary role in the preceding books. Actually, this whole series Marian has written, DOES NOT have secondary characters – well, sure, they do, but… – all of the characters feel so important and by the gods, you will like them all… Like I do. These books are like that Netflix show you just can’t help but binge and when it’s over, you feel sad. There’s an emptiness in your day now where the show, or in this case, this book, was.
We were part of something so much larger than our lives, holding a responsibility to history and the future.
Not to brag, but I have read the Empire’s Legacy books and stories from day dot. I have been there with the characters through absolute heaven and hell and so it is, that I know of Druisius already, before this current book. I am so glad Marian told his story. Druise immediately feels like a friend, that is, unless you’re on the opposing side. He’s not an evil man, though, he does what is ordered and yet, he doesn’t hurt for fun… er… well, yeah XD maybe he does. But what it means in its enitirety, I’ll leave for you to find out! Muahahahaha…. Anyway, Druisius may come across like someone you do not want to cross but if you’re a decent human being, you have nothing to fear from him. In fact, he would do anything to set things right. In fact, out of all the other male characters that the series has introduced to the reader, I would say Druisius is the one who does the most dirty work and yet comes across the most cheerful, somehow. Simply put, I love him!
Empress Eudekia… I had a glimpse of this character in a previous book. Actually, a scene from a previous book takes place in this book as well, but rightly, from a different point of view. I have to admit, it was gut wrenching to relive it again, and yet so interesting because I did end up with a certain view about the Empress before but maybe now I am a bit more understanding… I love how the Empress side of the story truly put the political intrigue and court life into use. So complicated, so difficult and yet the diplomacy in this book, whilst serious, was bloody fun to read about. Marian is a masterful writer when it comes to getting the nitty gritty details just right…
Emperor of Casil. Father of the Casilani. The words from his investiture echoed in my mind. How did a man choose between his family and his people?
As always, Marian delivers from every aspect of the book. What I have always liked about this series, is that there’s no shock factor twists just for the sake of delivering a twist. The phenomenon that we know of as ‘the twist’ has become a bit of a crutch, I think… as if a good story cannot exist without a jaw-dropping reveal. Nothing wrong with a good moment of ‘I did not see that one coming’, and I am not saying that Marian doesn’t drop surprises throughout the story and series, but they’re not over the top. I love how Marian’s writing is solid, steady and, I believe I have said it before, I can trust it. I can trust that everything will be resolved with the right amount of diplomacy and integrity.
So, where should you start? Start from Empress & Soldier, or go back to the very beginning and start with Empire’s Daughter – just start from somewhere! I promise you, once you get stuck into this story, you will experience alternative, historical fiction like never before. What else is in it for you? Cultures that are rich with different societal norms, explorations of duty and responsibility, all-conquering love that is respectful and quietly healing, ambitions and fears, clever chesspiece moves in the royal court, men loving men, women loving women, women and men loving each other… Simply fulfilling and glorious!
Wanting more brings the wrong sort of pain.
April 10, 2023
This is a historical fantasy novel that can be read as your introduction to Marian's other excellent books in the series, or after reading the other books.
(If you are a reader who prefers realistic fiction as I do, please don't be put off by the term "fantasy." This series is set in an imagined empire in the post-Roman period. Although the land the story is set in is imagined, this is not a story that takes flights of fancy or that depicts dragons and magic. The world-building and attention to detail are fantastic, and Casil feels very much like a real place that might have existed, and the characters feel and act very much like real people.)
This is a dual-POV novel told from the perspectives of Druisus and Eudekia. Soldier and empress. Often when I read a dual POV novel, I find myself liking one character a lot more than the other and annoyed when the viewpoint character shifts to the one I am less interested in. This was the rare novel where both main characters kept my attention equally.
That being said, I found the soldier, Druisus, to be the slightly more compelling character. He is an anti-hero in ways (he is definitely not always a nice guy), but nonetheless, as a reader, I found myself caring about him. He very much reminded me of a character Hemingway might have created both in terms of the way he thinks and acts and lives in the moment. I mean this as high praise; Hemingway might not have been a likable guy by modern standards (or even the standards of his day), but he was a masterful and first-rate writer, deserving of his high placement in the pantheon of the 20th-century writers, and his best characters IMO (other than Santiago) were all soldiers. (Frederic Henry, Robert Jordan.) Like Hemingway, Marian's prose when she writes about Druisus is devoid of any extra fat or flesh. It's refined, sharp, lean, and muscular -- simple and direct, like Druisus himself. I particularly liked how Marian's style was not graphic or overly detailed -- there are parts left to the reader's imagination to fill in between the lines.
While I found Druisius to be more compelling, the empress, Eudekia, was also well-written, and I could see other readers being drawn to her more than Druisius. She became more interesting to me as the novel went on, and I love the way Marian gave both Eudekia and Druisius different voices.
This is a compelling and well-written novel, full of intrigue, twists, and turns -- and it is a perfect introduction to an incredibly well-written and well-thought-out series. Five stars. Recommended to readers who enjoy well-written historical novels with political intrigue and compelling characters with flaws.
(If you are a reader who prefers realistic fiction as I do, please don't be put off by the term "fantasy." This series is set in an imagined empire in the post-Roman period. Although the land the story is set in is imagined, this is not a story that takes flights of fancy or that depicts dragons and magic. The world-building and attention to detail are fantastic, and Casil feels very much like a real place that might have existed, and the characters feel and act very much like real people.)
This is a dual-POV novel told from the perspectives of Druisus and Eudekia. Soldier and empress. Often when I read a dual POV novel, I find myself liking one character a lot more than the other and annoyed when the viewpoint character shifts to the one I am less interested in. This was the rare novel where both main characters kept my attention equally.
That being said, I found the soldier, Druisus, to be the slightly more compelling character. He is an anti-hero in ways (he is definitely not always a nice guy), but nonetheless, as a reader, I found myself caring about him. He very much reminded me of a character Hemingway might have created both in terms of the way he thinks and acts and lives in the moment. I mean this as high praise; Hemingway might not have been a likable guy by modern standards (or even the standards of his day), but he was a masterful and first-rate writer, deserving of his high placement in the pantheon of the 20th-century writers, and his best characters IMO (other than Santiago) were all soldiers. (Frederic Henry, Robert Jordan.) Like Hemingway, Marian's prose when she writes about Druisus is devoid of any extra fat or flesh. It's refined, sharp, lean, and muscular -- simple and direct, like Druisus himself. I particularly liked how Marian's style was not graphic or overly detailed -- there are parts left to the reader's imagination to fill in between the lines.
While I found Druisius to be more compelling, the empress, Eudekia, was also well-written, and I could see other readers being drawn to her more than Druisius. She became more interesting to me as the novel went on, and I love the way Marian gave both Eudekia and Druisius different voices.
This is a compelling and well-written novel, full of intrigue, twists, and turns -- and it is a perfect introduction to an incredibly well-written and well-thought-out series. Five stars. Recommended to readers who enjoy well-written historical novels with political intrigue and compelling characters with flaws.
Read
February 12, 2023Marian L. Thorpe’s style, honed over the years, evolved from fantasy-without-magic to literary fiction set in alternative world based on Roman and post-Roman history. Empire’s Heir, her previous book (fifth in the Empire’s Legacy series) reminds me of a Swiss watch. Everything is where it should be and as it should be, precise and elegant, well-groomed, golden. When you open Empress & Soldier you can immediately tell…
…that it’s going to be different.
Well, half of it.
I have written a book with two protagonists myself. One of the hardest parts was creating two voices unique enough that within a few paragraphs you’d know who’s speaking. Thorpe needs a sentence, maybe two if they’re short. The titular Empress, Eudekia, and the soldier – Druise, don’t seem to have anything in common. One lives in the dead of night, his domain – dark streets, inns, the battlefield. The other, constantly under a spotlight, navigates a battlefield of very different sort, where some believe women don’t belong. One gets by, not afraid to get his hands dirty, or bloodied. The other, elevated way above her wildest dreams and nightmares, commands an Empire.
What are those people even doing in one book?
***
Empress & Soldier works both as a standalone and a companion book to the Empire’s Legacy series. It’s going to be polarising both to fans and newbies. Imagine reading two books, their authors unable to agree even how grammar works, not to mention the style. With two watches on your wrists, both equally precise, can you appreciate the rust and scratches as well as the polished gold – or the other way round?
One of the early readers described Druise as “a thug and a rent boy.” On a very superficial level, this description is correct. Similarly, Eudekia could be described as cold and calculating, interested in nothing but power. One of them fucks men for information, then sometimes kills them – the other simultaneously desires somebody else’s man and uses her knowledge to blackmail him and those he loves. Their emotional range seems stilted, and it must be, because for Druisius and Eudekia alike love, friendship, and grief have consequences. As my first therapist told me, though, you can’t simply decide not to have feelings.
“Druisius is a man now,” his father says, after forcing his sixteen year old son to do something so cruel and painful – yet necessary in the world they live in – that the wound inside the man/boy will fester forever. Many of us know this sort of pain. There are things that can lighten or lift the burden for a while, but never forever, never enough. “I can forget, except one thing. I am a man,” Druise tells himself when he finds his temporary release. Feelings make you vulnerable; they make you hurt inside, think, question yourself. But Druisius is a man. He knows men. Men are thugs. Men are soldiers. Druise learns quick.
A soldier’s job is not to think or feel. There are orders to fulfil, from their fathers, then their superiors. When there is too much life for you to handle, it’s a relief to be told what to do. As both the demands and times of escape keep escalating, becoming more and more extreme, what was unthinkable a year earlier becomes the new normal. Complex PTSD alters brain patterns on the lowest level of subconsciousness, the same one that’s responsible for breathing or having a heartbeat without needing to think about it. The guilt that never goes away deepens those paths. “Sorley is just one more,” Druise tells himself, and when the thought “or maybe he is not” follows, it’s not welcome. If you don’t love, it hurts less when you lose, yes?
***
Eudekia has no coping mechanism, healthy or not, no way to escape. Her choices must be made rationally, all of them, as she is watched very closely by those who would love nothing more than a smallest mistake. An Empress doesn’t have the power to stroll around having feelings; women don’t belong in positions of power, some think, they’re too emotional (sounds familiar?), irrational. Even her choice of attire matters – should she appear an untouchable Goddess, or make herself more relatable? If she feels an advisor is not to be trusted, is that correct gut instinct or those dreaded feelings that ruin everything?
“I didn’t run, because Empresses didn’t,” she thinks – forces herself – when she loses a loved one, and this might be the most powerful and painful sentence in the book. She allows herself one hour of grief – one hour of caprice, weakness, an hour wasted. What follows is the official mourning period. This one lasts nine days and includes “funerary games,” where she has to be seen, between endless hours of attending to her duties. It’s better if nobody finds out she wasted that hour. Sharp blades that wait to taste a soft throat do their job equally well when the handle is encrusted with diamonds, rather than wood.
As the book progresses, it becomes clearer and clearer that being an Empress and a soldier isn’t all that different, even if one sleeps in a warm, empty bed, and the other only gets that comfort when someone wants him to. Power limits possibilities. When a proud princess in search of sanctuary asks Eudekia to pick her a suitable husband, both know the choice will not have much to do with mutual attraction. Eudekia’s own husband allowed his desires to overpower his rational mind. Side effects of love include death. Empresses send soldiers to death, but sometimes soldiers switch loyalties.
***
Thorpe is a master of telling, not showing. There is almost nothing graphic on the pages, letting the reader’s imagination fill the gaps. To the best of my knowledge I have never been an Emperor or a soldier, but I know why Druise goes into the night and what he hopes to find there. I know what it feels like when you’re desperate to be yourself and know it would amount to self-harm. Certain things are universal, yes? Or is it possible to live a life so safe and sheltered that you can run when Empresses can’t and live without a single regret?
Eudekia’s position forces her to live under constant surveillance, watched by a maid in the most private situations. It isn’t prudent for the Empress to have “private situations” without approval by committee or skip the funerary games. For Druise, the balance between life and death is so delicate that being seen or noticed, even just once, can push him off the very same tightrope. When you’re dead, you don’t care how many mourn you, at least where they can be seen, and for how long. The thug and the sovereign do what they must, yes? Sometimes watches break, or get broken.
I wonder what those who disdain the enigmatic Empress they’ve met in the previous Empire’s Legacy books will think. “I did not like the Empress – this is cruel!” says one of the reviews of Thorpe’s earlier book. Will they be able see the girl who read too much? What about warm, kind, self-defeating Druise, willing – sometimes eager – to sacrifice his happiness for others? Thorpe doesn’t bother figuring out what a jugular is, she aims straight for the heart. Her arrow doesn’t pierce, though. It digs its way in. Slowly, deliberately, and, yes, elegantly.
Empress & Soldier can also be read as a standalone. Can you sympathise with a man whose boots are always stained with blood? Hate the girl that read too much, found out that books have consequences, and that the more company you have, the lonelier it gets?
At the end of the book, the unlikely pair makes a bittersweet pact, laying down the rules for the games that were played in the previous books. Those games can’t be won. The best outcome possible is not losing more than you’ve already paid and will keep paying, cards always close to your chest, hoping the rules remain unknown to those who don’t know they’re playing. Some games are played for mortal stakes. Sometimes even that might be the preferred outcome.
…that it’s going to be different.
Well, half of it.
I have written a book with two protagonists myself. One of the hardest parts was creating two voices unique enough that within a few paragraphs you’d know who’s speaking. Thorpe needs a sentence, maybe two if they’re short. The titular Empress, Eudekia, and the soldier – Druise, don’t seem to have anything in common. One lives in the dead of night, his domain – dark streets, inns, the battlefield. The other, constantly under a spotlight, navigates a battlefield of very different sort, where some believe women don’t belong. One gets by, not afraid to get his hands dirty, or bloodied. The other, elevated way above her wildest dreams and nightmares, commands an Empire.
What are those people even doing in one book?
***
Empress & Soldier works both as a standalone and a companion book to the Empire’s Legacy series. It’s going to be polarising both to fans and newbies. Imagine reading two books, their authors unable to agree even how grammar works, not to mention the style. With two watches on your wrists, both equally precise, can you appreciate the rust and scratches as well as the polished gold – or the other way round?
One of the early readers described Druise as “a thug and a rent boy.” On a very superficial level, this description is correct. Similarly, Eudekia could be described as cold and calculating, interested in nothing but power. One of them fucks men for information, then sometimes kills them – the other simultaneously desires somebody else’s man and uses her knowledge to blackmail him and those he loves. Their emotional range seems stilted, and it must be, because for Druisius and Eudekia alike love, friendship, and grief have consequences. As my first therapist told me, though, you can’t simply decide not to have feelings.
“Druisius is a man now,” his father says, after forcing his sixteen year old son to do something so cruel and painful – yet necessary in the world they live in – that the wound inside the man/boy will fester forever. Many of us know this sort of pain. There are things that can lighten or lift the burden for a while, but never forever, never enough. “I can forget, except one thing. I am a man,” Druise tells himself when he finds his temporary release. Feelings make you vulnerable; they make you hurt inside, think, question yourself. But Druisius is a man. He knows men. Men are thugs. Men are soldiers. Druise learns quick.
A soldier’s job is not to think or feel. There are orders to fulfil, from their fathers, then their superiors. When there is too much life for you to handle, it’s a relief to be told what to do. As both the demands and times of escape keep escalating, becoming more and more extreme, what was unthinkable a year earlier becomes the new normal. Complex PTSD alters brain patterns on the lowest level of subconsciousness, the same one that’s responsible for breathing or having a heartbeat without needing to think about it. The guilt that never goes away deepens those paths. “Sorley is just one more,” Druise tells himself, and when the thought “or maybe he is not” follows, it’s not welcome. If you don’t love, it hurts less when you lose, yes?
***
Eudekia has no coping mechanism, healthy or not, no way to escape. Her choices must be made rationally, all of them, as she is watched very closely by those who would love nothing more than a smallest mistake. An Empress doesn’t have the power to stroll around having feelings; women don’t belong in positions of power, some think, they’re too emotional (sounds familiar?), irrational. Even her choice of attire matters – should she appear an untouchable Goddess, or make herself more relatable? If she feels an advisor is not to be trusted, is that correct gut instinct or those dreaded feelings that ruin everything?
“I didn’t run, because Empresses didn’t,” she thinks – forces herself – when she loses a loved one, and this might be the most powerful and painful sentence in the book. She allows herself one hour of grief – one hour of caprice, weakness, an hour wasted. What follows is the official mourning period. This one lasts nine days and includes “funerary games,” where she has to be seen, between endless hours of attending to her duties. It’s better if nobody finds out she wasted that hour. Sharp blades that wait to taste a soft throat do their job equally well when the handle is encrusted with diamonds, rather than wood.
As the book progresses, it becomes clearer and clearer that being an Empress and a soldier isn’t all that different, even if one sleeps in a warm, empty bed, and the other only gets that comfort when someone wants him to. Power limits possibilities. When a proud princess in search of sanctuary asks Eudekia to pick her a suitable husband, both know the choice will not have much to do with mutual attraction. Eudekia’s own husband allowed his desires to overpower his rational mind. Side effects of love include death. Empresses send soldiers to death, but sometimes soldiers switch loyalties.
***
Thorpe is a master of telling, not showing. There is almost nothing graphic on the pages, letting the reader’s imagination fill the gaps. To the best of my knowledge I have never been an Emperor or a soldier, but I know why Druise goes into the night and what he hopes to find there. I know what it feels like when you’re desperate to be yourself and know it would amount to self-harm. Certain things are universal, yes? Or is it possible to live a life so safe and sheltered that you can run when Empresses can’t and live without a single regret?
Eudekia’s position forces her to live under constant surveillance, watched by a maid in the most private situations. It isn’t prudent for the Empress to have “private situations” without approval by committee or skip the funerary games. For Druise, the balance between life and death is so delicate that being seen or noticed, even just once, can push him off the very same tightrope. When you’re dead, you don’t care how many mourn you, at least where they can be seen, and for how long. The thug and the sovereign do what they must, yes? Sometimes watches break, or get broken.
I wonder what those who disdain the enigmatic Empress they’ve met in the previous Empire’s Legacy books will think. “I did not like the Empress – this is cruel!” says one of the reviews of Thorpe’s earlier book. Will they be able see the girl who read too much? What about warm, kind, self-defeating Druise, willing – sometimes eager – to sacrifice his happiness for others? Thorpe doesn’t bother figuring out what a jugular is, she aims straight for the heart. Her arrow doesn’t pierce, though. It digs its way in. Slowly, deliberately, and, yes, elegantly.
Empress & Soldier can also be read as a standalone. Can you sympathise with a man whose boots are always stained with blood? Hate the girl that read too much, found out that books have consequences, and that the more company you have, the lonelier it gets?
At the end of the book, the unlikely pair makes a bittersweet pact, laying down the rules for the games that were played in the previous books. Those games can’t be won. The best outcome possible is not losing more than you’ve already paid and will keep paying, cards always close to your chest, hoping the rules remain unknown to those who don’t know they’re playing. Some games are played for mortal stakes. Sometimes even that might be the preferred outcome.
March 2, 2023
Full text review: https://jamreads.com/reviews/empress-...
Interview with the author: https://jamreads.com/interviews/some-...
Empress & Soldier is the latest novel written by Marian L. Thorpe, a return to Casil that can work as an introduction to the rest of her world. A standalone novel, centered around two characters that will have an important paper in the evolution of Casil, from really different social standpoints: Empress Eudekia and Soldier Druisius.
Classifying this book into a genre is kinda difficult, as it could be called the historical fiction of an imaginary world. The plot of this book is complex, especially as we are going to be following simultaneously two POVs on really different situations: while following Druisius we are going to experience the hard life of a soldier, who will also act as an information gatherer for his superiors, in Eudekia we will be able to see how a girl from a relatively low social class ascends to be one of the most influentials empresses on Casil's story.
While I'm remarking on the importance of those two main characters in the plot of this novel, it would be unfair to not talk about how Thorpe gives every single character its own role. From the soldiers in the camps that Druisius meet to the servants of Eudekia's house, all of them play a key role in how our Empress and our Soldier will develop.
Druisius is a darker character, one that you would probably not cheer for, as he is involved in the dirty and bloody side of the empire's maintenance. A brilliant character, son of a merchant that became a soldier due to an order; a loyal servant to his masters.
Eudekia is also brilliant, but in a different aspect. Becoming empress of Casil due to her marriage to the prince was not an easy task, but we will be able to see how she uses her intelligence to fit herself into this paper that she wasn't born for.
Thorpe's worldbuilding also deserves a mention, because it's vivid and well-researched. You can almost feel yourself walking along the streets of Casil, a classic city, this kind of mix between the Roman Empire and Britain; all of this is helped by the prose used, which contributes to creating really detailed images of the scenarios used for the story.
Empress & Soldier is an excellent standalone novel, telling the story of two characters that you will find soon attached. I totally recommend it to fans of historical fiction, because even if the world this story is situated in is imaginary, this novel feels like one of the genre; and I would also recommend it to people who prefer low fantasy settings. Certainly a perfect entry to Thorpe's worlds.
Interview with the author: https://jamreads.com/interviews/some-...
Empress & Soldier is the latest novel written by Marian L. Thorpe, a return to Casil that can work as an introduction to the rest of her world. A standalone novel, centered around two characters that will have an important paper in the evolution of Casil, from really different social standpoints: Empress Eudekia and Soldier Druisius.
Classifying this book into a genre is kinda difficult, as it could be called the historical fiction of an imaginary world. The plot of this book is complex, especially as we are going to be following simultaneously two POVs on really different situations: while following Druisius we are going to experience the hard life of a soldier, who will also act as an information gatherer for his superiors, in Eudekia we will be able to see how a girl from a relatively low social class ascends to be one of the most influentials empresses on Casil's story.
While I'm remarking on the importance of those two main characters in the plot of this novel, it would be unfair to not talk about how Thorpe gives every single character its own role. From the soldiers in the camps that Druisius meet to the servants of Eudekia's house, all of them play a key role in how our Empress and our Soldier will develop.
Druisius is a darker character, one that you would probably not cheer for, as he is involved in the dirty and bloody side of the empire's maintenance. A brilliant character, son of a merchant that became a soldier due to an order; a loyal servant to his masters.
Eudekia is also brilliant, but in a different aspect. Becoming empress of Casil due to her marriage to the prince was not an easy task, but we will be able to see how she uses her intelligence to fit herself into this paper that she wasn't born for.
Thorpe's worldbuilding also deserves a mention, because it's vivid and well-researched. You can almost feel yourself walking along the streets of Casil, a classic city, this kind of mix between the Roman Empire and Britain; all of this is helped by the prose used, which contributes to creating really detailed images of the scenarios used for the story.
Empress & Soldier is an excellent standalone novel, telling the story of two characters that you will find soon attached. I totally recommend it to fans of historical fiction, because even if the world this story is situated in is imaginary, this novel feels like one of the genre; and I would also recommend it to people who prefer low fantasy settings. Certainly a perfect entry to Thorpe's worlds.
March 6, 2023
4.6 out of 5 stars
Empress & Soldier by Marian L Thorpe is an immersive and gripping story of love and adventure in an intriguing world of politics and power.
Admittedly, the long list of names right at the beginning was daunting, however I actually found it really useful and I found myself checking back to it throughout.
I loved the dual point of view and the contrast between Druisius and Eudekia and how both of their personalities kept the story fresh and gripping. Their unique personalities were also a joy to read.
In my opinion, the pacing was a bit inconsistent at times. For the most part it was consistent, however, sometimes it sped up without much cause before slowing down again. It didn’t affect the overall read too much, but it was noticeable when it sped up too much.
The dialogue and the way the story was told was sharp, refined and great to read. At times, I would’ve perhaps liked there to be a little more description to help visualize the scenes more, but most of the time it was a brilliantly immersive read.
I loved the interaction between the characters and I just loved reading about the characters and their everyday lives as well as whatever else occurs on the journey of their lives so far. My favourite character to read about was Eudekia as I found her incredibly intriguing, and I was drawn to her complex personality.
Overall, I loved how immersive and gripping this story was, and how incredibly well it was written.
Thank you Marian and Coffee and Thorn for my copy and place on the blog tour.
Empress & Soldier by Marian L Thorpe is an immersive and gripping story of love and adventure in an intriguing world of politics and power.
Admittedly, the long list of names right at the beginning was daunting, however I actually found it really useful and I found myself checking back to it throughout.
I loved the dual point of view and the contrast between Druisius and Eudekia and how both of their personalities kept the story fresh and gripping. Their unique personalities were also a joy to read.
In my opinion, the pacing was a bit inconsistent at times. For the most part it was consistent, however, sometimes it sped up without much cause before slowing down again. It didn’t affect the overall read too much, but it was noticeable when it sped up too much.
The dialogue and the way the story was told was sharp, refined and great to read. At times, I would’ve perhaps liked there to be a little more description to help visualize the scenes more, but most of the time it was a brilliantly immersive read.
I loved the interaction between the characters and I just loved reading about the characters and their everyday lives as well as whatever else occurs on the journey of their lives so far. My favourite character to read about was Eudekia as I found her incredibly intriguing, and I was drawn to her complex personality.
Overall, I loved how immersive and gripping this story was, and how incredibly well it was written.
Thank you Marian and Coffee and Thorn for my copy and place on the blog tour.
March 7, 2023
I was unprepared to be impressed with Marian Thorpe’s Empress & Soldier since I am new to her writings. But impressed I surely am with this excellent adventure story. Set in an imagined world clearly modeled on the Eastern Roman Empire, she has rendered an intriguing adventure tale that quickly captured this reader’s attention. The settings and characters are masterfully drawn. The pacing is quick but Thorpe offers abundant rich details that reveal the kind of solid research any exacting classics scholar would appreciate. The result is a well told story offering a great read for fantasy lovers while providing the pleasures sought by devotees of historical fiction. I wholeheartedly recommend Empress & Soldier!
December 13, 2022
I had the delight of receiving an ARC of Empress & Soldier. Firstly, it is worth saying that although set in the same world as all of her other books, a fascimile of the early middle ages Roman empire, this story is very much a standalone and can be read as such.
Thorpe's characters have always been multi-layered with complex personalities and this one is no different. What is different however, is that one of the protagonists in this story, Drusius, is someone who you should not want to root for. He lives his life in the shadows and alone. Doing all of the dirty and bloody, but necessary, work for his masters. He is definately someone you would not want to meet alone in a darkened alleyway. He is brilliant.
As with all of Thorpe's books, they are incredibly well researched and her descriptions of the ancient world bring her stories to life. I could feel myself walking around her doppelganger of ancient Constantinople amongst the marble columned temples and baths. But she does not make the mistake of many historical fiction writers of becoming too descriptive and losing her readers.
Highly recommended. More Drusius please.
Alistair Tosh
Thorpe's characters have always been multi-layered with complex personalities and this one is no different. What is different however, is that one of the protagonists in this story, Drusius, is someone who you should not want to root for. He lives his life in the shadows and alone. Doing all of the dirty and bloody, but necessary, work for his masters. He is definately someone you would not want to meet alone in a darkened alleyway. He is brilliant.
As with all of Thorpe's books, they are incredibly well researched and her descriptions of the ancient world bring her stories to life. I could feel myself walking around her doppelganger of ancient Constantinople amongst the marble columned temples and baths. But she does not make the mistake of many historical fiction writers of becoming too descriptive and losing her readers.
Highly recommended. More Drusius please.
Alistair Tosh
February 24, 2023
The first time they meet, Druisius (Soldier-to-be) and Eudekia (Empress-to-be) are learning alongside their fathers the jobs of trader and patron respectively, though those are not the lives they go on to live.
When Druisius is unwilling to follow through on an order from his father, the military seems to be his way out. A soldier’s life suits him, he’s a quick learner, and adapts well, quickly noticed for his abilities to get the job done with discretion. And it’s this discretion that elevates him from the fight (though he is as skilled as his peers) towards a life as an informant, knowing several languages helps him to listen in whilst pretending not to. His superiors recognise his worth and come to care for his well-being.
However, he cannot stay below the radar forever, and soon others are able to put two and two together and there comes a time when he must take a safer job as a palace guard. He also gets to revisit his birthplace and reunite with his brother, Marius, who did follow in their father’s footsteps and is now a successful trader with a family. Their renewed contact shows a different side to Druisuis, showing him a life that might have been. That he still has strong ties to his family provides some touching moments from the man whose experiences have been brutal and violent att times. It was a nice balance for his character.
Meanwhile, Eudekia, aided by her grandmother, sets her sights on a love match with a prince. Initially, though, she then attempts to withdraw from the blossoming romance, suggesting the prince’s duty is to marry well for the empire, not for love. He declines, and will take no other as his wife. Eudekia, having learnt her father’s business, is pleased when her husband includes her in hi decision-making, though such a move is not popular with all.
War, neighbouring conflicts and the scarcity of food have made life difficult for the citizens, and Eudekia shows them she stands with them by setting an example of cutting back on the luxuries of palace life. Her peers, keen to prove themselves, are encouraged to do likewise, yet again causing some rifts for the future. She more than proved herself as a strong, intelligent woman with independent thoughts which gave rise to plenty of intrigue at the palace, where political manoeuvres did not readily seek the opinions of a woman.
Their stories are told through alternating chapters where their different life experiences are laid bare and their actions scrutinised. Despite it not being a real world story, it felt very believable, giving the reader insight into what might have been a fictionalised yet true historical account. This glimpse into the world created by this author has tempted me to read the other stories in this series. I have no doubt I’ll feel just as absorbed into those stories as I was in this one.
When Druisius is unwilling to follow through on an order from his father, the military seems to be his way out. A soldier’s life suits him, he’s a quick learner, and adapts well, quickly noticed for his abilities to get the job done with discretion. And it’s this discretion that elevates him from the fight (though he is as skilled as his peers) towards a life as an informant, knowing several languages helps him to listen in whilst pretending not to. His superiors recognise his worth and come to care for his well-being.
However, he cannot stay below the radar forever, and soon others are able to put two and two together and there comes a time when he must take a safer job as a palace guard. He also gets to revisit his birthplace and reunite with his brother, Marius, who did follow in their father’s footsteps and is now a successful trader with a family. Their renewed contact shows a different side to Druisuis, showing him a life that might have been. That he still has strong ties to his family provides some touching moments from the man whose experiences have been brutal and violent att times. It was a nice balance for his character.
Meanwhile, Eudekia, aided by her grandmother, sets her sights on a love match with a prince. Initially, though, she then attempts to withdraw from the blossoming romance, suggesting the prince’s duty is to marry well for the empire, not for love. He declines, and will take no other as his wife. Eudekia, having learnt her father’s business, is pleased when her husband includes her in hi decision-making, though such a move is not popular with all.
War, neighbouring conflicts and the scarcity of food have made life difficult for the citizens, and Eudekia shows them she stands with them by setting an example of cutting back on the luxuries of palace life. Her peers, keen to prove themselves, are encouraged to do likewise, yet again causing some rifts for the future. She more than proved herself as a strong, intelligent woman with independent thoughts which gave rise to plenty of intrigue at the palace, where political manoeuvres did not readily seek the opinions of a woman.
Their stories are told through alternating chapters where their different life experiences are laid bare and their actions scrutinised. Despite it not being a real world story, it felt very believable, giving the reader insight into what might have been a fictionalised yet true historical account. This glimpse into the world created by this author has tempted me to read the other stories in this series. I have no doubt I’ll feel just as absorbed into those stories as I was in this one.
March 17, 2023
Scratches That Roman Itch
Empress and Soldier is a wonderful journey through intricate fantasy politics, intrigue and court drama, told by two very different characters.
The setting is so detailed as to evoke historical fiction. Not my usual flavour, so let me tell you why I loved it.
I loved the first person narrative voices.
Druisius, my favourite, is a soldier turned spy turned engineer turned escort turned... You get the idea. His voice is detached, calculating, detail focused (which really makes the intricate historical details sparkle).
Meanwhile his counterpart, Eudekia, is an educated young woman learning the art of politics, immersing her in the court drama that leads to her becoming the titular Empress of an empire in peril. I love how her voice changes as she grows into a hardened ruler.
The juxtaposition of these two tales, and how they ultimately collide, is the heart of Empress and Soldier.
The characters carry the narrative weight of a decade spanning story that focuses on slow moving world events, and how their fallout moves our cast.
Despite the slow pace, it nevertheless kept me gripped. The characters are constantly faced with dilemmas, temptation, easy ways out of tough situations, loss, etc.
If you like constant action in your novels, this may not be for you.
I have to award Thorpe an award that I thought I had locked down, which is Most Baths Taken In A Novel.
If you love Roman history, historic fiction, court drama and clever intrigue, and don't mind a more considered, relaxed pace, then I'd recommend Empress and Soldier.
It's well written, smart, and knows exactly what it wants to be.
Empress and Soldier is a wonderful journey through intricate fantasy politics, intrigue and court drama, told by two very different characters.
The setting is so detailed as to evoke historical fiction. Not my usual flavour, so let me tell you why I loved it.
I loved the first person narrative voices.
Druisius, my favourite, is a soldier turned spy turned engineer turned escort turned... You get the idea. His voice is detached, calculating, detail focused (which really makes the intricate historical details sparkle).
Meanwhile his counterpart, Eudekia, is an educated young woman learning the art of politics, immersing her in the court drama that leads to her becoming the titular Empress of an empire in peril. I love how her voice changes as she grows into a hardened ruler.
The juxtaposition of these two tales, and how they ultimately collide, is the heart of Empress and Soldier.
The characters carry the narrative weight of a decade spanning story that focuses on slow moving world events, and how their fallout moves our cast.
Despite the slow pace, it nevertheless kept me gripped. The characters are constantly faced with dilemmas, temptation, easy ways out of tough situations, loss, etc.
If you like constant action in your novels, this may not be for you.
I have to award Thorpe an award that I thought I had locked down, which is Most Baths Taken In A Novel.
If you love Roman history, historic fiction, court drama and clever intrigue, and don't mind a more considered, relaxed pace, then I'd recommend Empress and Soldier.
It's well written, smart, and knows exactly what it wants to be.
January 14, 2023
Empress and Soldier, A Review
A great story, well written and well told.
The details of ancient life and political intrigue are both fascinating and highly developed. I enjoyed the insights into the characters very much.
A great story, well written and well told.
The details of ancient life and political intrigue are both fascinating and highly developed. I enjoyed the insights into the characters very much.
March 6, 2023
As a bit of an ancient world geek, I was a little worried that air might not be able to handle this universe, which isn’t quite a Roman or Greek or Mediterranean… But I immediately drawn into this new – and familiar – world. I actually found it hugely interesting to see which details I could identify as “Roman” and how the author had used them in her world-building. The patron-client relationship is, I felt, particularly well handled. Hints of Latin pepper the narrative and the conversations, and again, I enjoyed seeing them used by the author to signal layers in status and conventions of her society.
Marion L Thorpe is a very skilful storyteller and the read goes smoothly and easily. It’s a deceptive ease though: it is borne out of beautifully crafted prose, and a confidence in her characters and world. I found that my visualisation of the scenes was almost unconscious, and this really impressed me: I know how difficult it is to convey an atmosphere and physical environment together, but I feel I could navigate the palace, the city and the battlefield pretty easily!
Also impressive was the skill with which two first person characters were sharply differentiated throughout the narrative. The two main characters, Eudekia and Druisius, are genuinely interesting and complex, and very intelligent: in Eudekia’s case, I enjoyed seeing her grow in confidence and maturity, becoming an altogether admirable woman and leader. Druisius is less open than Eudekia – and you will see why. He has to be more cautious, more wary. He will act with violence if he considers it necessary, but his sense of justice is keen. Other characters are rounded and distinct – Eudekia’s wonderful grandmother is typical of the care given by the author to her people.
I can recommend “Empress and Soldier” wholeheartedly. It is a very enjoyable read for any history fan like me, but also for anyone who likes a good story about interesting people.
Marion L Thorpe is a very skilful storyteller and the read goes smoothly and easily. It’s a deceptive ease though: it is borne out of beautifully crafted prose, and a confidence in her characters and world. I found that my visualisation of the scenes was almost unconscious, and this really impressed me: I know how difficult it is to convey an atmosphere and physical environment together, but I feel I could navigate the palace, the city and the battlefield pretty easily!
Also impressive was the skill with which two first person characters were sharply differentiated throughout the narrative. The two main characters, Eudekia and Druisius, are genuinely interesting and complex, and very intelligent: in Eudekia’s case, I enjoyed seeing her grow in confidence and maturity, becoming an altogether admirable woman and leader. Druisius is less open than Eudekia – and you will see why. He has to be more cautious, more wary. He will act with violence if he considers it necessary, but his sense of justice is keen. Other characters are rounded and distinct – Eudekia’s wonderful grandmother is typical of the care given by the author to her people.
I can recommend “Empress and Soldier” wholeheartedly. It is a very enjoyable read for any history fan like me, but also for anyone who likes a good story about interesting people.
March 2, 2023
"We have responsibilities. Duties."
Is our life ours to choose or is it a path we need to fulfil to honour our obligations?
Is this decision based on the family we are born into or is it something we constantly struggle to achieve.
Empress and Soldier by Marian L Thorpe is historical fiction at its best. A tale of history woven with such grace and finesse that it transports you into another realm.
A realm filled with intrigue, deception, loyalty and honour.
Above all however, the Empress and Soldier is a story of love. Love for one another, Love for family, love for country and love for one’s own self.
Two individuals, born in the same town but into two different families.
The difference - strata of society. One a highborn. One born to a merchant family.
Who gets a chance to follow their own path?
Eudekia, a scholar’s daughter or Drusius, the son of a merchant.
What must they both do to follow their hearts? One to marry the king and become empress, the other to become a soldier. (Not a spoiler as it is evident in the title itself)
From the moment their paths cross to a decade later where they meet again. Their trials, tribulations, victories and above all their decisions keep you riveted throughout the way.
Decisions and plans which while made for love always somehow feel steeped in responsibility too.
Will they remember; “To plan, but to never assume plans will work.”
Thorpe’s narrative style keeps you hooked throughout. Her keen observation skills reflect in the development of her characters and the political and cultural scenarios of that time. Scenarios relevant even in this day and age. The conversations between characters are a very big highlight of this book as their viewpoints are both tactical and illuminating.
A stand-alone novel the Empress and Soldier can also be read as a prequel to the Empire’s Legacy historical fiction universe that Marion has created.
So glad I got this RC. It was exhilarating to read. I have loved all the books that I have read in the series so far and hope to someday read them all. Hope you liked my fair and honest review.
Happy Reading:)
Is our life ours to choose or is it a path we need to fulfil to honour our obligations?
Is this decision based on the family we are born into or is it something we constantly struggle to achieve.
Empress and Soldier by Marian L Thorpe is historical fiction at its best. A tale of history woven with such grace and finesse that it transports you into another realm.
A realm filled with intrigue, deception, loyalty and honour.
Above all however, the Empress and Soldier is a story of love. Love for one another, Love for family, love for country and love for one’s own self.
Two individuals, born in the same town but into two different families.
The difference - strata of society. One a highborn. One born to a merchant family.
Who gets a chance to follow their own path?
Eudekia, a scholar’s daughter or Drusius, the son of a merchant.
What must they both do to follow their hearts? One to marry the king and become empress, the other to become a soldier. (Not a spoiler as it is evident in the title itself)
From the moment their paths cross to a decade later where they meet again. Their trials, tribulations, victories and above all their decisions keep you riveted throughout the way.
Decisions and plans which while made for love always somehow feel steeped in responsibility too.
Will they remember; “To plan, but to never assume plans will work.”
Thorpe’s narrative style keeps you hooked throughout. Her keen observation skills reflect in the development of her characters and the political and cultural scenarios of that time. Scenarios relevant even in this day and age. The conversations between characters are a very big highlight of this book as their viewpoints are both tactical and illuminating.
A stand-alone novel the Empress and Soldier can also be read as a prequel to the Empire’s Legacy historical fiction universe that Marion has created.
So glad I got this RC. It was exhilarating to read. I have loved all the books that I have read in the series so far and hope to someday read them all. Hope you liked my fair and honest review.
Happy Reading:)
March 5, 2023
Empress and Soldier by Marian L Thorpe is an unusual historical fiction novel, set in an immersive imaginary empire in the Roman period. It follows two main characters, Eudekia and Druisius, as they navigate through the complex and tumultuous world of politics and power. Eudekia is a high born young woman who becomes empress. Druisius is the son of African merchant, who joins the imperial army and becomes a military spy, ultimately charged with protecting the empress. The title rather sets up the reader to expect a romance between the soldier and the empress, but there is nothing of the sort. Druisius is gay and moves from one man to another, only rarely getting close to finding real love and never for long. Eudekia’s heart is given to the prince who will be emperor, and for a brief while finds true happiness there. In fact, the links between the two characters are tenuous and their paths meet only tangentially, which I found rather disconcerting – I was always waiting for their fates to interlock and for each of them to become central to the other, in a way that never really happened. Instead, their different lives reflected the Empire in different ways, deepening my understanding of the world and the characters in it, and advancing the plot in a rather cerebral way.
It's a slow, cool, thoughtful novel – more curling up on the sofa than sitting at the edge of one’s seat. Emotions are beautifully drawn but often understated; relationships, even in the most intimate circumstances, are somewhat formal. None the less, I was thoroughly drawn in. I didn’t race to finish it, but lingered on the pages. I was happy, as I finished it, to realise that it is one of a series – it reads perfectly well on its own, but I will be happy to meet some of these characters again.
It's a slow, cool, thoughtful novel – more curling up on the sofa than sitting at the edge of one’s seat. Emotions are beautifully drawn but often understated; relationships, even in the most intimate circumstances, are somewhat formal. None the less, I was thoroughly drawn in. I didn’t race to finish it, but lingered on the pages. I was happy, as I finished it, to realise that it is one of a series – it reads perfectly well on its own, but I will be happy to meet some of these characters again.
March 4, 2023
Another beautiful book by this author whom I’ve admired before. Her world is elegantly drawn – I think of it as ancient Rome, though it’s not quite that. Her characters have a consistent quality of grace that I particularly associate with this author: the shades of grey in their motivations are gently explored and their conflicts are relatable despite their historical distance. Eudekia – who will be empress – starts life as an aristocratic daughter, in a mould I recognise from this author: bookish, independent, driven by duty – although it is love that pulls her into her unexpected destiny. But it is Drusius whom I enjoyed the most – a clever, thoughtful, loyal young man, escaping into the army from the stifling atmosphere a merchant’s family, finding love with the senior soldier whom he serves, learning loss, always somehow searching for something better. The surrounding characters are also varied and engaging and make this book particularly rewarding. I particularly enjoyed Eudekia’s tender, pragmatic, scheming grandmother, pulling strings for Eudekia behind the scenes – oh why oh why (spoiler alert!) did the author have to kill her off? I could have enjoyed a whole book about this one, so let’s hope Ms Thorpe goes back and writes a prequel!
This is a read for people who like intelligent, well crafted, elegant books: an absorbing, thoughtful read, nothing racy, nothing sensational, but full of pleasures for the reader.
This is a read for people who like intelligent, well crafted, elegant books: an absorbing, thoughtful read, nothing racy, nothing sensational, but full of pleasures for the reader.
March 3, 2023
Wonderfully told!
Marian L Thorpe writes grand historical fiction book, in Empress & Soldier. This book is part of the Empire's Legacy series. This story is told into two different points of view, which make it very interesting, especially when the characters are and have lived different lives. This story revolves around Druisius (the soldier), and Eudekia (the Empress), both characters from other books, but now, their stories are shared. Their two separate worlds collide, and things really heat up with compelling action, intrigue and the empire. Whatever this author writes, I want to read. This author is a great storyteller. The reader just embarks on a superb journey. This journey was very unpredictable. The life of a spy and soldier versus the one of privilege, and the connection that draws the two together, gives this story that hint of romance, and destiny. Especially, since Eudekia has been educated by her father, as if she were given the rights of a boy, and this helps her become a strong woman. Empress & Soldier is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I read this book to give my unbiased and honest review. Amy's Bookshelf Reviews recommends that anyone who reads this book, to also write a review.
Marian L Thorpe writes grand historical fiction book, in Empress & Soldier. This book is part of the Empire's Legacy series. This story is told into two different points of view, which make it very interesting, especially when the characters are and have lived different lives. This story revolves around Druisius (the soldier), and Eudekia (the Empress), both characters from other books, but now, their stories are shared. Their two separate worlds collide, and things really heat up with compelling action, intrigue and the empire. Whatever this author writes, I want to read. This author is a great storyteller. The reader just embarks on a superb journey. This journey was very unpredictable. The life of a spy and soldier versus the one of privilege, and the connection that draws the two together, gives this story that hint of romance, and destiny. Especially, since Eudekia has been educated by her father, as if she were given the rights of a boy, and this helps her become a strong woman. Empress & Soldier is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I read this book to give my unbiased and honest review. Amy's Bookshelf Reviews recommends that anyone who reads this book, to also write a review.
December 30, 2022
A world you will be sorry to leave
I finished this book today and am sad that this part of the journey is over. For those of you who have read Ms. Thorpe’s engrossing Empire’s Legacy, you will be familiar with two of the characters, and it is from their point of view that the story is told. If you have not yet read the series—you should—but have no fear, this is written as a stand-alone or as another entry point.
Druisius is a soldier, a spy, and willing to do almost anything to serve his commanding officers. He is somewhat book-learned, knows several languages, and is street-smart. The book shows his story through a war, as a builder, and then as a protector to his city of origin.
Eudekia’s life is one of privilege, and she is tutored by her father as if a boy. Her politically astute grandmother steps in to complete her training to be a future woman of consequence.
Their separate journeys and love of country guide the decisions they make.
Ms. Thorpe’s world building is superb, and her writing instantly transports you into that world. Highly recommend.
PS. Apologies to Eudekia for the bad things I thought about her after reading the earlier story.
I finished this book today and am sad that this part of the journey is over. For those of you who have read Ms. Thorpe’s engrossing Empire’s Legacy, you will be familiar with two of the characters, and it is from their point of view that the story is told. If you have not yet read the series—you should—but have no fear, this is written as a stand-alone or as another entry point.
Druisius is a soldier, a spy, and willing to do almost anything to serve his commanding officers. He is somewhat book-learned, knows several languages, and is street-smart. The book shows his story through a war, as a builder, and then as a protector to his city of origin.
Eudekia’s life is one of privilege, and she is tutored by her father as if a boy. Her politically astute grandmother steps in to complete her training to be a future woman of consequence.
Their separate journeys and love of country guide the decisions they make.
Ms. Thorpe’s world building is superb, and her writing instantly transports you into that world. Highly recommend.
PS. Apologies to Eudekia for the bad things I thought about her after reading the earlier story.
March 3, 2023
I typically enjoy historical fiction, which is why I was interested in reviewing this for the book tour.
I found the writing rich and elegant, but at the same time, not overly complicated. The author brought the characters and the setting to life, and I felt that the protagonists narrated in a way that helped the reader to relate to them, and feel emotionally involved. While I was reading, I felt like the story provided an escape - a world for the reader to escape into.
Once I was drawn into the atmosphere of the story, I felt very intrigued by the characters - their attitudes and values, and relationships with each other. There were two narratives, and I was interested to know whatever story the two protagonists had to offer.
It doesn't seem like a story that would usually be read in one sitting, though I did, and I enjoyed it.
Thank you to Coffee And Thorn Book Tours for my opportunity to read and review.
I found the writing rich and elegant, but at the same time, not overly complicated. The author brought the characters and the setting to life, and I felt that the protagonists narrated in a way that helped the reader to relate to them, and feel emotionally involved. While I was reading, I felt like the story provided an escape - a world for the reader to escape into.
Once I was drawn into the atmosphere of the story, I felt very intrigued by the characters - their attitudes and values, and relationships with each other. There were two narratives, and I was interested to know whatever story the two protagonists had to offer.
It doesn't seem like a story that would usually be read in one sitting, though I did, and I enjoyed it.
Thank you to Coffee And Thorn Book Tours for my opportunity to read and review.
November 30, 2022
I'm immensely impressed by Ms Thorpe's writing ability, she takes her readers into another world with such ease and skill, that you are instantly _there_ with the characters, whether it's with Druisius serving with the military or with Eudekia poring over her books and accounts. Both characters have their difficulties to face, both must struggle through the bad times -- and crave for the good. Both have their joys, both have their demons. There is nothing predictable about this wonderful novel - each page leads on at a smart pace to the next scene and an eagerness to find out what happens next...
March 5, 2023
Vivid portrait of ancient times bring the characters to life. The reader instantly feels part of elaborately descriptive and fictional world. The story line switches between the soldier to be and the empress to be, and how their plot development brings them to interact with each other. It’s a highly immersive page turner that keeps the reader glued as both characters fight their personal battles trying to overcome obstacles.
Although the setting and events are made up, they are the result of careful research, and feels as lively and accurate as ever.
Although the setting and events are made up, they are the result of careful research, and feels as lively and accurate as ever.
December 16, 2022
Empress and Soldier is a new entry point into a series that I absolutely adore. While both characters have appeared in Thorpe's previous books, they have never been able to speak on their own behalf, and what a treat it is, especially, to hear from Druisius. Born into a merchant family in the port city of Casil, he escaped into the army as a teenager and didn't return for years.
Eudekia, well born and studious, has no ambitions beyond her father's library (and possibly avoiding unwanted marriage), but love has other plans. She ends up as empress, with the job of holding the throne - and the empire - for her young son.
The story is told in their two alternating points of view - and from their very different life experiences. It's a fascinating glimpse into the author's alternate Roman world, with war, intrigue, romance, and political infighting. The two stories come together at the end, when a very familiar character arrives from the west and makes an impression on both the empress and her soldier.
As always, Thorpe's writing is excellent. Her characters are sharply drawn, and fully believable, and although Casil and its environs are fictional, there has been so much research and world building done that I never question that this is a real place, with real people and a real history - simply a world I haven't yet learned about.
For those encountering these characters for the first time in this book, enjoy, and know that you have a great reading experience ahead as you work your way through the rest of the series.
Eudekia, well born and studious, has no ambitions beyond her father's library (and possibly avoiding unwanted marriage), but love has other plans. She ends up as empress, with the job of holding the throne - and the empire - for her young son.
The story is told in their two alternating points of view - and from their very different life experiences. It's a fascinating glimpse into the author's alternate Roman world, with war, intrigue, romance, and political infighting. The two stories come together at the end, when a very familiar character arrives from the west and makes an impression on both the empress and her soldier.
As always, Thorpe's writing is excellent. Her characters are sharply drawn, and fully believable, and although Casil and its environs are fictional, there has been so much research and world building done that I never question that this is a real place, with real people and a real history - simply a world I haven't yet learned about.
For those encountering these characters for the first time in this book, enjoy, and know that you have a great reading experience ahead as you work your way through the rest of the series.
March 8, 2023
Book Review: Readers of historical fiction will fall in love with @marianlthorpewriter ability to world-build, and create original characters that hook you in.
I have not read the series, but as a stand-alone, I found it engaging and I can’t wait to read her other books! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I have not read the series, but as a stand-alone, I found it engaging and I can’t wait to read her other books! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 11, 2023
Thorpe's latest novel is a fantastic alternative entry to the Empire's Legacy series. It follows the story of Druisius, a soldier and Eudekia, a scholar's daughter who becomes an Empress. The novel is set before and during the third novel in the Empire's Legacy trilogy, so it can be read as a stand-alone.
Eudekia is a true diplomat, with great passion and strength. Druisius is darker, shrewd and unafraid to do unpleasant tasks to serve his commanders. The novel has a great balance of never shying away from what Druisius does, but also never being explicit.
If you're like me who has read the other books, it's a wonderful insight into a thrilling new perspective. Well-loved characters are reintroduced and key events are shown. In the words of Hamilton, we get to be 'in the room where it happens'.
Of course, the true gem is Thorpe's masterful writing, bringing each scene and character to life. I felt I was right beside Eudekia bent over papers on a table, or beside Druisius as he walks along the docks. I cannot recommend this book highly enough - and I also recommend grabbing every other book in this series. Already excited for Thorpe's next work.
Eudekia is a true diplomat, with great passion and strength. Druisius is darker, shrewd and unafraid to do unpleasant tasks to serve his commanders. The novel has a great balance of never shying away from what Druisius does, but also never being explicit.
If you're like me who has read the other books, it's a wonderful insight into a thrilling new perspective. Well-loved characters are reintroduced and key events are shown. In the words of Hamilton, we get to be 'in the room where it happens'.
Of course, the true gem is Thorpe's masterful writing, bringing each scene and character to life. I felt I was right beside Eudekia bent over papers on a table, or beside Druisius as he walks along the docks. I cannot recommend this book highly enough - and I also recommend grabbing every other book in this series. Already excited for Thorpe's next work.
March 7, 2023
This is my first novel by Thorpe and it definitely won’t be my last! This novel is a standalone novel that can be an entry point for the Empire’s Legacy - six book series set in the same world and which the main characters are part of. I haven’t read any of the other yet but definitely didn’t feel like I was missing anything- just inspired to read more!
Set in the the time of the Roman Empire but containing fictional events. The world building was amazing, I felt like I travelled back in time and could picture the streets, sights and sounds. The details about culture, norms and court politics were amazing. I really felt for the women- they were treated appallingly.
Told from alternating points of view we get to know soldier Druisius, son of a merchant and Empress Eudekia, daughter of a scholar. Both were such complex and well developed characters. A solid historical fiction read.
Thank you @coffeeandthorn for hosting another fabulous book tour and for the copy of the ebook.
Set in the the time of the Roman Empire but containing fictional events. The world building was amazing, I felt like I travelled back in time and could picture the streets, sights and sounds. The details about culture, norms and court politics were amazing. I really felt for the women- they were treated appallingly.
Told from alternating points of view we get to know soldier Druisius, son of a merchant and Empress Eudekia, daughter of a scholar. Both were such complex and well developed characters. A solid historical fiction read.
Thank you @coffeeandthorn for hosting another fabulous book tour and for the copy of the ebook.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews