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Constantine's Empire #1
The Conqueror
The Roman Empire is on the brink of war. Rex, a daring young Germanic barbarian, catches the attention of Emperor Constantine and is given the enviable honor of serving as his bodyguard. When he is sent as a spy to the capital, he encounters Flavia--the bold and beautiful daughter of a rich Roman senator--in danger. After coming to her rescue, he joins her on a journey full of narrow escapes, secret identities, betrayal, loss and sacrifice. Through it all, both must consider the cost of following God. Combining the excitement of an adventure novel, historical and cultural accuracy, and an important message about what it means to follow Christ, this book will appeal to readers across a variety of interests. Volume 1 of the new Christian Empire Trilogy.
1 pages, Audio CD
Published October 13, 2020
33 people are currently reading
1778 people want to read
About the author
Bryan M. Litfin
28 books172 followersBryan Litfin received his PhD in Religious Studies from the University of Virginia and a Master of Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. His undergraduate work was at the University of Tennessee in the field of Communications.
Bryan now works as Head of Strategy and Advancement at Clapham School, after serving for 16 years as Professor of Theology at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago and 3 years as an editor and writer at Moody Publishers. He is the author of The Conqueror (Revell, 2020), Every Knee Shall Bow (Revell 2021), the Chiveis Trilogy (Crossway, 2010, 2011, 2012), Early Christian Martyr Stories (Baker, 2014), After Acts (Moody, 2015), and Getting To Know the Church Fathers (Brazos, 2007, 2nd ed. 2016), as well as numerous scholarly articles and essays. In early 2022, he will release Wisdom from the Ancients (Harvest House).
Bryan is married to Carolyn, and they have two adult children. He enjoys writing, traveling, teaching, reading, spending time with family, and being involved in his local church.
Bryan now works as Head of Strategy and Advancement at Clapham School, after serving for 16 years as Professor of Theology at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago and 3 years as an editor and writer at Moody Publishers. He is the author of The Conqueror (Revell, 2020), Every Knee Shall Bow (Revell 2021), the Chiveis Trilogy (Crossway, 2010, 2011, 2012), Early Christian Martyr Stories (Baker, 2014), After Acts (Moody, 2015), and Getting To Know the Church Fathers (Brazos, 2007, 2nd ed. 2016), as well as numerous scholarly articles and essays. In early 2022, he will release Wisdom from the Ancients (Harvest House).
Bryan is married to Carolyn, and they have two adult children. He enjoys writing, traveling, teaching, reading, spending time with family, and being involved in his local church.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
July 24, 2020
I've had this book on my Goodreads to-read shelf since October 2, 2018. When I added it to my shelf, it was to be published through Crossway. I'm not sure what happened, but I was thrilled when it appeared in a blog post featuring the cover art for Bethany House's Fall fiction. Not only did The Conqueror have a new home, but it also had an amazing cover to match the synopsis that captured my attention.
This is the first work I've read by Bryan Litfin so I'll begin with what I feel he did well. Litfin excels in writing tension-filled, action-packed fight scenes. Whether he was describing close combat between two or three foes or battle on a massive scale, he is adept at drawing his reader into the fight. Another strength is that he held to the commitment (outlined in his Historical Note) to portray his characters not as “evangelicals in togas” but as members of the "ancient catholic church, not twenty-first-century evangelicalism." In keeping with this, his characters pray to the saints, celebrate "mysterious rituals", and often (in the case of rulers) practice syncretism. Finally, he paints a believable picture of life in Rome—complete with all its grandeur, filth, and debauchery.
Unfortunately, I did not care for these characters, Litfin's portrayal of women, his writing style, or the gospel presentation being boiled down to "Try him." It's not that I'm a sensitive reader, I simply believe that anything published as Christian fiction should also be good fiction. While I will not read the next book in the series, you may read the following quotes and determine whether you'd like to read the first.
“What will my seduction accomplish? Do you wish me to uncover a secret from the emperor? Plant a rumor about Neratius? Or just impress him with my talent for sex?”
“Oh! I must remain faithful to my husband!” she said in a high-pitched, mocking tone. “I must wear dowdy dresses! I must keep my legs together! I must follow ancient Jewish morals!”
"Flavia finally halted, unable to retreat yet prevented from advancing further by her long-cultivated habit of holiness. A war raged in her soul, the ancient battle between lust and self-control."
"The only other couch in the room belonged to Chloe, her cheerful, heavyset roommate who now carried the baby of an unknown imperial page."
"The bony waif with the too-big eyes continued her work with the tweezer. Despite her personal ugliness, the girl was actually a good ornatrix."
"If any pleasure was to be had from intercourse, it was to be obtained from slaves. But the point of sexual relations with a husband—or with an influential politician—was to achieve an objective, not enjoy the moment."
"Sex was her most effective tool for achieving her goal. Without a romp in bed, ..."
"Though she was only fourteen, she had the sensual moves and skimpy outfit of someone much older."
***
"The bulges of his biceps were rounded like pomegranates, and to Flavia they seemed sweeter than any fruit could be. This was a young man in his prime—as lean and fierce as any savage beast."
"The horse was a specimen to admire: a rippling and masculine beast with lively eyes, a proud neck, and great, bulbous testicles."
"Raucous cheers erupted from the crowd, signaling to Maxentius that his men were suitably impressed by his male anatomy. With a cocky grin, the emperor let loose a stream of urine onto the sacred scriptures of the catholic church."
***
“There is one in heaven who can.”
“I don’t believe it.”
“Try him, Rex. Just try, I beg you.”
I received this book from the publisher through the NetGalley review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
This is the first work I've read by Bryan Litfin so I'll begin with what I feel he did well. Litfin excels in writing tension-filled, action-packed fight scenes. Whether he was describing close combat between two or three foes or battle on a massive scale, he is adept at drawing his reader into the fight. Another strength is that he held to the commitment (outlined in his Historical Note) to portray his characters not as “evangelicals in togas” but as members of the "ancient catholic church, not twenty-first-century evangelicalism." In keeping with this, his characters pray to the saints, celebrate "mysterious rituals", and often (in the case of rulers) practice syncretism. Finally, he paints a believable picture of life in Rome—complete with all its grandeur, filth, and debauchery.
Unfortunately, I did not care for these characters, Litfin's portrayal of women, his writing style, or the gospel presentation being boiled down to "Try him." It's not that I'm a sensitive reader, I simply believe that anything published as Christian fiction should also be good fiction. While I will not read the next book in the series, you may read the following quotes and determine whether you'd like to read the first.
“What will my seduction accomplish? Do you wish me to uncover a secret from the emperor? Plant a rumor about Neratius? Or just impress him with my talent for sex?”
“Oh! I must remain faithful to my husband!” she said in a high-pitched, mocking tone. “I must wear dowdy dresses! I must keep my legs together! I must follow ancient Jewish morals!”
"Flavia finally halted, unable to retreat yet prevented from advancing further by her long-cultivated habit of holiness. A war raged in her soul, the ancient battle between lust and self-control."
"The only other couch in the room belonged to Chloe, her cheerful, heavyset roommate who now carried the baby of an unknown imperial page."
"The bony waif with the too-big eyes continued her work with the tweezer. Despite her personal ugliness, the girl was actually a good ornatrix."
"If any pleasure was to be had from intercourse, it was to be obtained from slaves. But the point of sexual relations with a husband—or with an influential politician—was to achieve an objective, not enjoy the moment."
"Sex was her most effective tool for achieving her goal. Without a romp in bed, ..."
"Though she was only fourteen, she had the sensual moves and skimpy outfit of someone much older."
***
"The bulges of his biceps were rounded like pomegranates, and to Flavia they seemed sweeter than any fruit could be. This was a young man in his prime—as lean and fierce as any savage beast."
"The horse was a specimen to admire: a rippling and masculine beast with lively eyes, a proud neck, and great, bulbous testicles."
"Raucous cheers erupted from the crowd, signaling to Maxentius that his men were suitably impressed by his male anatomy. With a cocky grin, the emperor let loose a stream of urine onto the sacred scriptures of the catholic church."
***
“There is one in heaven who can.”
“I don’t believe it.”
“Try him, Rex. Just try, I beg you.”
I received this book from the publisher through the NetGalley review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
March 31, 2022
Enthralling, sometimes exciting, novel of the worlds of early Christianity among paganism during the Roman Tetrarchy, as represented by Flavia, a senator's daughter and devout Christian and Brandulf Rex, a stalwart pagan. Love arises between the two, who meet in most unusual circumstances. It also details the rise of Constantine, the solar event that inspires him, and the battle at the Milvian Bridge. Rex is an elite warrior in the Roman Army [think Special Forces], tasked with infiltrating the forces of the Augustus Maxentius and gathering intelligence for Constantine in a coming struggle between the two for dominance. Christianity presented in the novel through the words of Christian clergy and from Flavia's mouth didn't seem "preachy" to me. Presentation of the early church and method of worship seemed very logical to me. I did like how interpretations of some of Jesus's parables were woven into the story: that of the laborers and that of the sower. The selfless actions of Christian characters brought Christianity home to me. I was surprised at the importance of Tertullian's words presented so often; he was an important theologian but not canonized. As far as the scriptures, I don't believe they had been codified formally yet during the early 4th century. I felt the characters were presented realistically and I felt I got to know them. In fact this was one book that after the heart-wrenching ending, I kept speculating on what Rex's and Flavia's lives might be like afterwards. I felt they COULDN'T end where the author left them. Other reviewers and even the author himself have suggested this is Vol. 1 of a trilogy. The author tantalizes us. The only jarring notes were some modern expressions, especially the words okay; guys; and the mention of potatoes--in a time period before the 1500s. Could the author have used, say, turnips instead?
Highly recommended. I thank LibraryThing for an ARC.
Highly recommended. I thank LibraryThing for an ARC.
October 30, 2020
The Conqueror was not one of the better books I've read... and it made me realize the responsibility I have to your girls on this blog.
NOTE FOR READERS: This review has multiple spoilers, if you plan to read this book or you don't want to be spoiled, do not continue reading.
*confession time* Other than avoiding romance style books, I don't usually read the blurbs of books I'm signing up to review. I don't pay much attention at all until they come in the mail. So when I got a BOX from Revell I was SO STINKIN' excited. It was a FAT HARDCOVER. I took so many sparkly pictures of this book to post on my bookstagram. I hoped SO badly that it was gonna be an amazing story.
Now I'm going to be fair. I still haven't finished reading it. The Conqueror really reminded me of a story my thirteen-year-old male cousin wrote to try and best me as an author. Which didn't work out very well.
THE CHARACTERS
Flavia was petty. She was a beautiful young thing, growing up in her fathers house, beloved by her mother, and perfectly Christian. She was in the flower of her youth, full of courage and boldness. But not in a believable way. I think my favorite part of her entire story that I've read so far was her pitiful dispair in the dungeon waiting to be eaten by lions. Not even the moment when the bull came charging at her. She became the ideal martyr at that moment. It made me slightly sick, honestly.
Rex was the biggest, strongest, boldest soldier. He's undefitable in hand-to-hand and a dedicated worshiper of Hercules because he needs victory in his life. He's absolutely mission-focused and nothing detours him.
Oh right, until that filthy girl gets captured in the street in front of him and makes eye contact, telling him she's innocent.
The only character I maybe liked was Constantine himself. He was a pretty predictable and digestible character that actually acted like a human being.
THE PLOT
So the plot is perfect pious Flavia does her duty as a Christian and goes against the Emperors banishing a bishop, so that when he dies she smuggles his body back into the city and buries him with the other "honored saints." And oops, there happened to be a listening ear saw her do it.
Well, there's an evil emperor who hates her dad and guess what? He needs to ruin the family name. How convenient! The eavesdropper happened to drop in right on time to bring the news that this daughter had gone against the banishment ruling and brought back the bishop's body! Let's kill her. And let's not just kill her. Let's strip her of her title so she has no legal immunities, and then throw her to the lions. (very brilliant, Augusta)
Well now the brilliant and un-detoured speculator happens to see her in the street and abandons his charge and disguises himself as a gladiator to rescue her from the jaws of a raging cat. Then they run away together to escape the city. That's as far as I got.
NOTE: this is a very summarized, exciting, dramatized and humored version of the book. This took exactly 212 pages to get done. I'm afraid I may have made it sound like to much fun. XD
THE CONTENT
Unfortunately, there was some content in this book. (again) I have not finished reading it, but at this point I don't really want to. Just barely after Rex rescues Junia, they escape the city and get on a stolen horse, she's debating where to put her hands as they ride, he teaches her self defence, and they end up falling all over each other... alone... in the dark. Shortly there after they go to a public bathing house (which btw has nothing to do with furthering the plot) and Flavia forgets to give Rex back his coin, in which she goes to the public room to return it and spends a fair amount of time staring at his arms and chest (his lower body is hidden) but then she faces the moral battle of whether she should approach him to return the money or not and quote "A war raged in her soul, the ancient battle between lust and self-control."
Hold on, where did our perfect Christian Flavia go? And what about this barbarian she's known for exactly 24 hours is enough to knock her perfection off it's pious pedestal?
So there's that. If you need more I'll point you to Amanda Feaney. I didn't feel it was necessary for me to read anymore of this book and see these scenes myself.
THE THEOLOGY
And one more topic I wanted to touch on. The author placed an author note about the era and doctrine of the era, noting that it wasn't a biblical era, and it wasn't the dark ages, but somewhere in between that doesn't often get written in fiction. I appreciated this aspect of the book. He had lots of factual information at the beginning, and I was quite impressed. But... (you saw that coming didn't you?)
There was a lot of catholic themes in the story. It wasn't like catholic completely, but the theology was leaning towards that. I am not Catholic, and I disagree with a large amount of their doctrine, so that was a turn off for me. He did mention in his note that it wasn't the contemporary christian doctrine nor was it catholic doctrine. So...
Also, if it was a non-believer reading this story, I would be very sad, because this book does not portray our Christ in the sacrificial, loving person that He was. And it doesn't portray the Christian living in a Christ like way. As one other reviewer said, it was all religion and no relationship.
IN SUMMARY
In summary, I do not recommend this book. Not to adults and not to teenagers and not to kids. Not to friends and not to acquaintances. There's nothing right about it.
I received a copy of this book in the mail, but a positive review was not required. Thank you Revell for sending it to me.
NOTE FOR READERS: This review has multiple spoilers, if you plan to read this book or you don't want to be spoiled, do not continue reading.
*confession time* Other than avoiding romance style books, I don't usually read the blurbs of books I'm signing up to review. I don't pay much attention at all until they come in the mail. So when I got a BOX from Revell I was SO STINKIN' excited. It was a FAT HARDCOVER. I took so many sparkly pictures of this book to post on my bookstagram. I hoped SO badly that it was gonna be an amazing story.
Now I'm going to be fair. I still haven't finished reading it. The Conqueror really reminded me of a story my thirteen-year-old male cousin wrote to try and best me as an author. Which didn't work out very well.
THE CHARACTERS
Flavia was petty. She was a beautiful young thing, growing up in her fathers house, beloved by her mother, and perfectly Christian. She was in the flower of her youth, full of courage and boldness. But not in a believable way. I think my favorite part of her entire story that I've read so far was her pitiful dispair in the dungeon waiting to be eaten by lions. Not even the moment when the bull came charging at her. She became the ideal martyr at that moment. It made me slightly sick, honestly.
Rex was the biggest, strongest, boldest soldier. He's undefitable in hand-to-hand and a dedicated worshiper of Hercules because he needs victory in his life. He's absolutely mission-focused and nothing detours him.
Oh right, until that filthy girl gets captured in the street in front of him and makes eye contact, telling him she's innocent.
The only character I maybe liked was Constantine himself. He was a pretty predictable and digestible character that actually acted like a human being.
THE PLOT
So the plot is perfect pious Flavia does her duty as a Christian and goes against the Emperors banishing a bishop, so that when he dies she smuggles his body back into the city and buries him with the other "honored saints." And oops, there happened to be a listening ear saw her do it.
Well, there's an evil emperor who hates her dad and guess what? He needs to ruin the family name. How convenient! The eavesdropper happened to drop in right on time to bring the news that this daughter had gone against the banishment ruling and brought back the bishop's body! Let's kill her. And let's not just kill her. Let's strip her of her title so she has no legal immunities, and then throw her to the lions. (very brilliant, Augusta)
Well now the brilliant and un-detoured speculator happens to see her in the street and abandons his charge and disguises himself as a gladiator to rescue her from the jaws of a raging cat. Then they run away together to escape the city. That's as far as I got.
NOTE: this is a very summarized, exciting, dramatized and humored version of the book. This took exactly 212 pages to get done. I'm afraid I may have made it sound like to much fun. XD
THE CONTENT
Unfortunately, there was some content in this book. (again) I have not finished reading it, but at this point I don't really want to. Just barely after Rex rescues Junia, they escape the city and get on a stolen horse, she's debating where to put her hands as they ride, he teaches her self defence, and they end up falling all over each other... alone... in the dark. Shortly there after they go to a public bathing house (which btw has nothing to do with furthering the plot) and Flavia forgets to give Rex back his coin, in which she goes to the public room to return it and spends a fair amount of time staring at his arms and chest (his lower body is hidden) but then she faces the moral battle of whether she should approach him to return the money or not and quote "A war raged in her soul, the ancient battle between lust and self-control."
Hold on, where did our perfect Christian Flavia go? And what about this barbarian she's known for exactly 24 hours is enough to knock her perfection off it's pious pedestal?
So there's that. If you need more I'll point you to Amanda Feaney. I didn't feel it was necessary for me to read anymore of this book and see these scenes myself.
THE THEOLOGY
And one more topic I wanted to touch on. The author placed an author note about the era and doctrine of the era, noting that it wasn't a biblical era, and it wasn't the dark ages, but somewhere in between that doesn't often get written in fiction. I appreciated this aspect of the book. He had lots of factual information at the beginning, and I was quite impressed. But... (you saw that coming didn't you?)
There was a lot of catholic themes in the story. It wasn't like catholic completely, but the theology was leaning towards that. I am not Catholic, and I disagree with a large amount of their doctrine, so that was a turn off for me. He did mention in his note that it wasn't the contemporary christian doctrine nor was it catholic doctrine. So...
Also, if it was a non-believer reading this story, I would be very sad, because this book does not portray our Christ in the sacrificial, loving person that He was. And it doesn't portray the Christian living in a Christ like way. As one other reviewer said, it was all religion and no relationship.
IN SUMMARY
In summary, I do not recommend this book. Not to adults and not to teenagers and not to kids. Not to friends and not to acquaintances. There's nothing right about it.
I received a copy of this book in the mail, but a positive review was not required. Thank you Revell for sending it to me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 26, 2020
I was looking forward to this book, but unfortunately it wasn't for me. I couldn't connect to the characters, and there was a lot of content that felt extremely unnecessary and inappropriate. I felt that the faith content was also more focused on religion vs a real relationship with Christ. The book wasn't poorly written, I just didn't care for its content and graphicness. The ending felt strange too.The story was quite crass. I know Rome was a very awful place, but it was all described with extreme crudeness, and the amount of sex that was discussed was unpleasant. I certainly wouldn't recommend this book for anyone under the age of 20, and even then, as I said, there was a great deal of unnecessary content.For being a historical book, there were a lot of really modern phrases such as 'girlfriend' and 'boyfriend', 'pimps' and others.Unfortunately not a book I can recommend.
January 24, 2022
This book was hard because I wanted to love it so bad. The Chiveis Trilogy is just so good, but this doesn’t really compare. Similar character roles, but less likable. Similar Christian themes, but less powerful. The Roman historical narrative was entertaining, but I didn’t walk away saying “I can’t wait for the next book.”
November 3, 2020
The Conqueror is the first book in a new Christian historical fiction series about how Emperor Constantine re-united the Roman Empire and welcomed Christianity. The two main characters are Rex, a young speculator (spy) for Constantine and Flavia, a Christian daughter of a senator for Constantine’s rival. They are on opposite sides of the empire, but they find themselves working together for the betterment of Rome and the Christians.
I found this an intriguing book. The events chronicled are historical, as far as I understand, as well as the culture. I knew the bare details about how Constantine's rule changed the Empire and Christianity's relationship to it at the time. I knew the bare details, but this book takes it much further and goes into battles, culture, descriptions of monuments (some of which are still there), politics, Christian theology of the time, and much more. It was fascinating! And based on the author’s credentials and non-fiction books, Litfin seems to know what he is talking about when he wrote it (though ancient history is always a little spotty). I loved it.
The fictional part of the historical fiction is the two main characters. Rex and Flavia are fictional, as is their budding romance and their struggle with initially believing in Jesus and/or remaining faithful to Jesus in the tumultuous and sinful world. I believe the characters were dynamic and well-written, and I look forward to reading more about them in subsequent novels. They were really young, though, at least for an adult novel; both were in their upper teens. But I thoroughly enjoyed reading about them, whatever their ages.
I really enjoyed this novel and look forward to reading the following books in the series, whenever they’re published. Especially since this book ended on a bit of a cliffhanger! I recommend it to fans of Biblical fiction and war novels.
I received a complementary copy of this book. All opinions are my own, and I was not obligated to write a positive review.
I found this an intriguing book. The events chronicled are historical, as far as I understand, as well as the culture. I knew the bare details about how Constantine's rule changed the Empire and Christianity's relationship to it at the time. I knew the bare details, but this book takes it much further and goes into battles, culture, descriptions of monuments (some of which are still there), politics, Christian theology of the time, and much more. It was fascinating! And based on the author’s credentials and non-fiction books, Litfin seems to know what he is talking about when he wrote it (though ancient history is always a little spotty). I loved it.
The fictional part of the historical fiction is the two main characters. Rex and Flavia are fictional, as is their budding romance and their struggle with initially believing in Jesus and/or remaining faithful to Jesus in the tumultuous and sinful world. I believe the characters were dynamic and well-written, and I look forward to reading more about them in subsequent novels. They were really young, though, at least for an adult novel; both were in their upper teens. But I thoroughly enjoyed reading about them, whatever their ages.
I really enjoyed this novel and look forward to reading the following books in the series, whenever they’re published. Especially since this book ended on a bit of a cliffhanger! I recommend it to fans of Biblical fiction and war novels.
I received a complementary copy of this book. All opinions are my own, and I was not obligated to write a positive review.
December 2, 2020
The Conqueror, by Bryan Liftin
Rex Brandulf, featured on the cover, is an stunning warrior and new speculator in the armies of Rome. He and his best friend, Geta, are an inseparable duo that also prove to be a nearly unstoppable fighting force. But when a tortured, noble maiden sentenced to death in the Colosseum catches his eye, will he stick to his duty or follow his gut to rescue her?
While I loved these characters at first, and enjoyed their quick friendship, the farther the story went on, it became easy to see why Rome collapsed. Ancient day Rome makes Sodom and Gomorrah, who were also rampant in divergent sexual immorality, sound like cleaner towns to live in. While I know these descriptions to be true to history, and would expect a little of that in a history book, I didn't need that in a "Christian" read at all. Simply put, it just became filthy with bawdy language, verbal depiction of the bathhouses that was completely and unnecessarily graphic, as well as a supposedly Christian government leader harassing and dallying with his young slaves, that also didn't seem to care at all about his missing daughter. On a side note, it also portrayed the Christians in the book as Catholic which I found distasteful and untrue. Onesimus, for example, a once runaway slave, and convert of Paul was most certainly not Catholic. Catholics, which in reality are a lewd cult, slew many Baptists (an estimated 50-80 million) during the "Crusades" that were simply sorry, if not such a bloody thing. To make a long story short, I won't try this author again. Absolutely filthy.
I received this book free from Revell for an honest review, and the thoughts and opinions above are my own.
Rex Brandulf, featured on the cover, is an stunning warrior and new speculator in the armies of Rome. He and his best friend, Geta, are an inseparable duo that also prove to be a nearly unstoppable fighting force. But when a tortured, noble maiden sentenced to death in the Colosseum catches his eye, will he stick to his duty or follow his gut to rescue her?
While I loved these characters at first, and enjoyed their quick friendship, the farther the story went on, it became easy to see why Rome collapsed. Ancient day Rome makes Sodom and Gomorrah, who were also rampant in divergent sexual immorality, sound like cleaner towns to live in. While I know these descriptions to be true to history, and would expect a little of that in a history book, I didn't need that in a "Christian" read at all. Simply put, it just became filthy with bawdy language, verbal depiction of the bathhouses that was completely and unnecessarily graphic, as well as a supposedly Christian government leader harassing and dallying with his young slaves, that also didn't seem to care at all about his missing daughter. On a side note, it also portrayed the Christians in the book as Catholic which I found distasteful and untrue. Onesimus, for example, a once runaway slave, and convert of Paul was most certainly not Catholic. Catholics, which in reality are a lewd cult, slew many Baptists (an estimated 50-80 million) during the "Crusades" that were simply sorry, if not such a bloody thing. To make a long story short, I won't try this author again. Absolutely filthy.
I received this book free from Revell for an honest review, and the thoughts and opinions above are my own.
November 6, 2020
From the moment I saw this book, I knew I wanted to read it, and not only because the cover is beautiful and very well done. Despite being an avid historical fiction devotee, I have read precious few books about the early Roman Empire. In all honesty, it was not a time period that drew my interest until I took Latin in college; my immediate love of the language planted a seed of interest in the ancient culture that dominated the landscape of the early Christian church. Not often do I have the opportunity to review a book based on this era, after the Diocletian persecutions. As Bryan Litfin remarks in his Historical Note section at the beginning of the book, “The Conqueror” is not a biblical novel, but rather a historical one, which sets the scene for the entire story.
Perhaps because it is intended to be primarily historical, “The Conqueror” leaves me feeling conflicted and struggling to tease out my thoughts. Amazon does not list it among Christian fiction, but because it is published by Revell, that is what I would expect, and the book summary lends credence to this. My issue is that it reads like a secular novel, with too much focus on “the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (1 John 2:16). Flavia is a devoted Christian, yet she seems unable to truly defend her faith and answer Rex’s questions; granted, she is a teenager, but given her privileged upbringing and the amount of time she spends engaged in helping the church, this seems implausible. Similarly, I would have liked to see more dynamic characters. Here, evil is evil and it seems like a missed opportunity at times to test the characters’ ability to change in more deliberate ways. I do, however, appreciate how Flavia and Rex’s stories converge, leading to more integrations as the story progresses.
Covering somewhat less than four years, from October 309 A.D to May 313, “The Conqueror” is an epic novel of the fight between the authorities of the day and between polytheism and Christianity. I think that it is safe to say that politics haven’t changed much over the years. Power grabbing, scandals, affairs, assassinations. Let’s just hope that we never see a return of the amphitheaters! As for the Roman army, I find the thorough training of the speculators such as Rex and his best friend Geta both interesting and disturbing, because they are taught to kill without compunction if necessary. I understand this concept in a war environment, but it can be taken to excess in less dire situations. I will say, though, that Litfin excels at keeping the plot moving with plenty of action, adventure, and drama. I enjoyed learning about the catholic (universal) church at this time in history, and about the Empire’s journey toward Christianity. In the opening indices, Litfin includes a list of the major characters in his story who were actual historical figures, a Gazetteer of Ancient and Modern Place Names, and a glossary of terms, all of which enrich and inform the reading experience.
My overall impressions are that if you enjoy historical fiction set in the ancient world and are not disturbed by violence or sensuality, you may enjoy this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Perhaps because it is intended to be primarily historical, “The Conqueror” leaves me feeling conflicted and struggling to tease out my thoughts. Amazon does not list it among Christian fiction, but because it is published by Revell, that is what I would expect, and the book summary lends credence to this. My issue is that it reads like a secular novel, with too much focus on “the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (1 John 2:16). Flavia is a devoted Christian, yet she seems unable to truly defend her faith and answer Rex’s questions; granted, she is a teenager, but given her privileged upbringing and the amount of time she spends engaged in helping the church, this seems implausible. Similarly, I would have liked to see more dynamic characters. Here, evil is evil and it seems like a missed opportunity at times to test the characters’ ability to change in more deliberate ways. I do, however, appreciate how Flavia and Rex’s stories converge, leading to more integrations as the story progresses.
Covering somewhat less than four years, from October 309 A.D to May 313, “The Conqueror” is an epic novel of the fight between the authorities of the day and between polytheism and Christianity. I think that it is safe to say that politics haven’t changed much over the years. Power grabbing, scandals, affairs, assassinations. Let’s just hope that we never see a return of the amphitheaters! As for the Roman army, I find the thorough training of the speculators such as Rex and his best friend Geta both interesting and disturbing, because they are taught to kill without compunction if necessary. I understand this concept in a war environment, but it can be taken to excess in less dire situations. I will say, though, that Litfin excels at keeping the plot moving with plenty of action, adventure, and drama. I enjoyed learning about the catholic (universal) church at this time in history, and about the Empire’s journey toward Christianity. In the opening indices, Litfin includes a list of the major characters in his story who were actual historical figures, a Gazetteer of Ancient and Modern Place Names, and a glossary of terms, all of which enrich and inform the reading experience.
My overall impressions are that if you enjoy historical fiction set in the ancient world and are not disturbed by violence or sensuality, you may enjoy this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All opinions are my own.
November 1, 2020
I’m having some difficulty writing a review for this book because it is obvious that the author did a lot of research for this novel and overall, it is very well written. However, I had a hard time reading about the inappropriate pagan behavior of the Romans and did not think that content needed to be that detailed for a book published by a Christian publisher. I definitely do not recommend that this book be read by young adults due to the explicit descriptions of adult content. I recognize that the author wished to portray the depravity of humanity during this time, but I do think some of the details could have been more subtle and just as effective. The plot overall is interesting and I appreciate all the research that the author did for this book, which clearly comes through. I liked certain portions of the story and thought the character development was well done. The cover is stunning and there is some good material packed within the almost 500 pages. However, overall, I would caution others that some of the content is explicit and not suited for all readers.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Publishing. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Publishing. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
October 18, 2020
I was really happy when I got this book in the mail and saw that it's a huge hardcover.
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The Conqueror is a historical fiction that takes place in ancient Rome. I liked how it was full of adventure, danger, and suspense. I didn't like all the violence though. The characters got called so many different things that I had a hard time keeping track of them. sometimes I would have to read the first paragraph of a new perspective twice to figure out who's perspective it was in. I liked the historical aspects. It was an entertaining read, but wasn't my favorite. I did like the authors writing style and want to try another book by him.
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**I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a honest review. I was not required to post a positive review. all thoughts expressed are strictly my own. **
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The Conqueror is a historical fiction that takes place in ancient Rome. I liked how it was full of adventure, danger, and suspense. I didn't like all the violence though. The characters got called so many different things that I had a hard time keeping track of them. sometimes I would have to read the first paragraph of a new perspective twice to figure out who's perspective it was in. I liked the historical aspects. It was an entertaining read, but wasn't my favorite. I did like the authors writing style and want to try another book by him.
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**I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a honest review. I was not required to post a positive review. all thoughts expressed are strictly my own. **
July 29, 2020
If you like historical fiction, war novels, spies, ancient Rome, and/or romance in the midst of danger, I think you’ll like this book. Litfin has taken what he has gleaned from much study about Constantine and turned it into a riveting book full of all of the above. Themes of lust vs love, political power vs spiritual power, loyalty vs betrayal combined with heart-stopping plot twists kept me reading late into the night several times.
Be warned that this is not a G-rated book – Litfin’s descriptions of brutal warfare, life for the poverty-stricken masses under crazed rulers, Christians being persecuted, and so forth are not sanitized. Also be warned that the ending leaves the reader hanging and heart-broken… I just hope it’s not a whole year before the next book in the series comes out!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#TheConqueror #NetGalley
Be warned that this is not a G-rated book – Litfin’s descriptions of brutal warfare, life for the poverty-stricken masses under crazed rulers, Christians being persecuted, and so forth are not sanitized. Also be warned that the ending leaves the reader hanging and heart-broken… I just hope it’s not a whole year before the next book in the series comes out!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#TheConqueror #NetGalley
November 24, 2022
For fans of A Voice In the Wind by Francine Rivers..
An early Roman era historical fiction that is sure the leave you at the edge of your seat. Betrayals, a love story and political intrigue.
I really enjoyed this story, I think the only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 was because some of the war scenes went a little over my head. But overall I really enjoyed this story. I loved the faith content and getting to know the characters. I cannot wait to read the second book.
An early Roman era historical fiction that is sure the leave you at the edge of your seat. Betrayals, a love story and political intrigue.
I really enjoyed this story, I think the only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 was because some of the war scenes went a little over my head. But overall I really enjoyed this story. I loved the faith content and getting to know the characters. I cannot wait to read the second book.
November 14, 2020
I knew Bryan Litfin from his scholarly work, his professorship at Moody Bible Institute, and his work with The Gospel Coalition. When I saw that he was writing a historical fiction trilogy set within the early church of Constantine’s Empire, I had two competing thoughts:
1. Bryan Litfin’s academic credentials will make this series come to life in a way that most historical fiction could never achieve.
2. Bryan Litfin’s academic credentials may overwhelm the story if his desire to convey an accurate historical background supersedes the story.
It’s the catch-22 of historical fiction. You have to set your world appropriately, but also introduce the reader to an unfamiliar world without them getting lost amid all the unfamiliarity. Dr. Litfin begins with a historical note that lists 17 historical figures that appear in the books, follows it with a gazetteer of ancient and modern place names (75 of them), and a glossary (38 terms). The point that comes across, whether Litfin wants it to or not, is that a good deal of care and work is going to be needed to follow this story. This all comes before I’ve read a single page or been introduced to a single character and have no connection to the story to compel me to actually do that work.
Once I got into The Conqueror, the story is pretty solid. The storyline flits between Brandulf, a teen solider, and Flavia, a secret Christian who is part of Roman nobility. Litfin’s storytelling is compelling, but constantly bloated with historical aspects that aren’t immediately crucial to the story. Litfin’s historian mode looms over the fictional story and, as I was afraid, ends up consuming it.
Interestingly, Litfin seems to try to make up for his constant use of Roman phrases by interspersing it with modern ones. Sometimes his language is Shakespearean in its use of formal English. At other times, he’s using modern slang. The end result is a very uneven experience.
One positive thing of note is that Litfin portrays the religious experience and behaviors of the characters very accurately. They are not evangelicals in ancient garb, but are historically accurate in their early Catholicism and syncretism.
Litfin also doesn’t hesitate to highlight to low value of women or the sexual depravity of Rome. I was actually a bit shocked to find so much blatantly sexual material in a Christian fiction book. None of it is necessarily gratuitous, but it’s more than I’m used to seeing in Christian fiction and warrants a mention. I wasn’t necessarily offended by it, but I know many who would be very uncomfortable. Two of the most egregious examples:
• Though she was only fourteen, she has the sensual moves and skimpy outfit of someone much older (p. 323). – I would always be careful about the portraying teenage characters in a sexual light, particularly as part of the narrative and not part of character’s viewpoint. Litfin’s goal is to show the depravity of Rome in having the daughter of Publius dance for the entertainment of those gathered (mirroring Herod in Matthew 14). But there are ways to do that without putting the descriptive image of a sexualized teenager in the minds of readers.
• The horse was a specimen to admire: a rippling and masculine beast with lively eyes, a proud neck, and great, bulbous testicles. A glorious thought popped into Maxentius’s mind: What this creature is among horses, I am among men! (p. 403). – Let’s put aside the fact that Litfin uses colons in successive sentences. WHY DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE HORSE TESTICLES. I don’t. And if that’s the only way Litfin could think of to show Maxentius’s narcissism…well…yikes.
This book was 200 pages of story writtten in 500 pages. Litfin paints an evocative portrait of ancient Rome and shows readers a Christianity that isn’t at all familiar, but it’s just not a compelling story, it’s bogged down with unnecessary terms and phrases meant to bring authenticity, the characters are inconsistent and caricatured, the content is questionable at best for Christian fiction, the list goes on.
A quick glance at Goodreads and Amazon shows me that I’m not alone in my concerns and criticisms about this book. While this was book one of a trilogy, I’d be surprised if the publisher decides to continue it.
1. Bryan Litfin’s academic credentials will make this series come to life in a way that most historical fiction could never achieve.
2. Bryan Litfin’s academic credentials may overwhelm the story if his desire to convey an accurate historical background supersedes the story.
It’s the catch-22 of historical fiction. You have to set your world appropriately, but also introduce the reader to an unfamiliar world without them getting lost amid all the unfamiliarity. Dr. Litfin begins with a historical note that lists 17 historical figures that appear in the books, follows it with a gazetteer of ancient and modern place names (75 of them), and a glossary (38 terms). The point that comes across, whether Litfin wants it to or not, is that a good deal of care and work is going to be needed to follow this story. This all comes before I’ve read a single page or been introduced to a single character and have no connection to the story to compel me to actually do that work.
Once I got into The Conqueror, the story is pretty solid. The storyline flits between Brandulf, a teen solider, and Flavia, a secret Christian who is part of Roman nobility. Litfin’s storytelling is compelling, but constantly bloated with historical aspects that aren’t immediately crucial to the story. Litfin’s historian mode looms over the fictional story and, as I was afraid, ends up consuming it.
Interestingly, Litfin seems to try to make up for his constant use of Roman phrases by interspersing it with modern ones. Sometimes his language is Shakespearean in its use of formal English. At other times, he’s using modern slang. The end result is a very uneven experience.
One positive thing of note is that Litfin portrays the religious experience and behaviors of the characters very accurately. They are not evangelicals in ancient garb, but are historically accurate in their early Catholicism and syncretism.
Litfin also doesn’t hesitate to highlight to low value of women or the sexual depravity of Rome. I was actually a bit shocked to find so much blatantly sexual material in a Christian fiction book. None of it is necessarily gratuitous, but it’s more than I’m used to seeing in Christian fiction and warrants a mention. I wasn’t necessarily offended by it, but I know many who would be very uncomfortable. Two of the most egregious examples:
• Though she was only fourteen, she has the sensual moves and skimpy outfit of someone much older (p. 323). – I would always be careful about the portraying teenage characters in a sexual light, particularly as part of the narrative and not part of character’s viewpoint. Litfin’s goal is to show the depravity of Rome in having the daughter of Publius dance for the entertainment of those gathered (mirroring Herod in Matthew 14). But there are ways to do that without putting the descriptive image of a sexualized teenager in the minds of readers.
• The horse was a specimen to admire: a rippling and masculine beast with lively eyes, a proud neck, and great, bulbous testicles. A glorious thought popped into Maxentius’s mind: What this creature is among horses, I am among men! (p. 403). – Let’s put aside the fact that Litfin uses colons in successive sentences. WHY DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE HORSE TESTICLES. I don’t. And if that’s the only way Litfin could think of to show Maxentius’s narcissism…well…yikes.
This book was 200 pages of story writtten in 500 pages. Litfin paints an evocative portrait of ancient Rome and shows readers a Christianity that isn’t at all familiar, but it’s just not a compelling story, it’s bogged down with unnecessary terms and phrases meant to bring authenticity, the characters are inconsistent and caricatured, the content is questionable at best for Christian fiction, the list goes on.
A quick glance at Goodreads and Amazon shows me that I’m not alone in my concerns and criticisms about this book. While this was book one of a trilogy, I’d be surprised if the publisher decides to continue it.
December 2, 2020
Um. So. Where to start with this?
Right up, I’ll tell you that I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review, and when it came in the mail I was so hyped. First off, I usually love stuff set in ancient Rome (or really any ancient country/time) and the book was a thick hardcover which basically never happens.
Unfortunately, I didn’t wholeheartedly love The Conqueror as much as I wanted to.
THE GOOD
I read at least one review on Goodreads that said The Conqueror was boring and slow-paced and I’m like “whaaaat?” because it held my attention very well almost all the way through (there were a few parts that were a little boring, but that’s just to be expected in a book of this length). You’ve got political intrigue, life-or-death escapades, a romance that kind of sucks you in (more on that in a bit)…The Conqueror is not boring, people!
Rex and Flavia were both good characters, though they did annoy me at times (again, more on that in a bit). I didn’t expect to get invested in their romance, but I did. Enough to make me interested in reading the sequel (no specific spoilers, but their relationship ends in a surprisingly hopeless/tragic place at the end of this book–the sequel had better rectify that). They are characters worth following. ❤
THE BAD
Not the cleanest Christian book I’ve ever read (including the attempted rape of a thirteen year old girl). Wouldn’t recommend to anyone younger than eighteen.
Also, in the preface the author said that he was going to use the word ‘catholic’ (small ‘c’) to describe the early church, not to show denomination but more as the word’s meaning (‘universal’, ‘all-embracing’). I was like, “Okay, whatever” (though I don’t believe there’s such a thing as a universal church either). But then the author made the early church be very Catholic (capital ‘C’) anyway–at least in my opinion. There were nuns, bishops, talk of relics, the characters made the sign of the cross, and so on. And there were also conflicting messages about whether or not baptism was an essential part of soul salvation. (Another reason I wouldn’t recommend this book to someone younger, as the theology is unclear.)
THE ANNOYING
There was a lot of emphasis put on Flavia and Rex’s outer appearance. Such as: He was standing in a shaft of light from a high window, as if the sun were trying to spotlight this perfect icon of masculinity. Or: She flashed him a shy smile, and Rex decided he liked the dark red color of her lips. Though it wasn’t sultry or brazen, it was exotic enough to catch the eye–and sensual enough to make a man think of more.
Like…no.
Also, I don’t totally buy that Rex would abandon his mission to save a girl he saw for a couple moments on the street. In some ways, it’s believable, but in other ways it’s not. I guess you’ll just have to decide, should you read the book!
Overall, The Conqueror is an interesting, fast-paced piece of historical fiction with sympathetic characters. Issues aside, if you’re a fan of novels set in ancient Rome and/or adventure stories, you might want to give it a try!
Right up, I’ll tell you that I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review, and when it came in the mail I was so hyped. First off, I usually love stuff set in ancient Rome (or really any ancient country/time) and the book was a thick hardcover which basically never happens.
Unfortunately, I didn’t wholeheartedly love The Conqueror as much as I wanted to.
THE GOOD
I read at least one review on Goodreads that said The Conqueror was boring and slow-paced and I’m like “whaaaat?” because it held my attention very well almost all the way through (there were a few parts that were a little boring, but that’s just to be expected in a book of this length). You’ve got political intrigue, life-or-death escapades, a romance that kind of sucks you in (more on that in a bit)…The Conqueror is not boring, people!
Rex and Flavia were both good characters, though they did annoy me at times (again, more on that in a bit). I didn’t expect to get invested in their romance, but I did. Enough to make me interested in reading the sequel (no specific spoilers, but their relationship ends in a surprisingly hopeless/tragic place at the end of this book–the sequel had better rectify that). They are characters worth following. ❤
THE BAD
Not the cleanest Christian book I’ve ever read (including the attempted rape of a thirteen year old girl). Wouldn’t recommend to anyone younger than eighteen.
Also, in the preface the author said that he was going to use the word ‘catholic’ (small ‘c’) to describe the early church, not to show denomination but more as the word’s meaning (‘universal’, ‘all-embracing’). I was like, “Okay, whatever” (though I don’t believe there’s such a thing as a universal church either). But then the author made the early church be very Catholic (capital ‘C’) anyway–at least in my opinion. There were nuns, bishops, talk of relics, the characters made the sign of the cross, and so on. And there were also conflicting messages about whether or not baptism was an essential part of soul salvation. (Another reason I wouldn’t recommend this book to someone younger, as the theology is unclear.)
THE ANNOYING
There was a lot of emphasis put on Flavia and Rex’s outer appearance. Such as: He was standing in a shaft of light from a high window, as if the sun were trying to spotlight this perfect icon of masculinity. Or: She flashed him a shy smile, and Rex decided he liked the dark red color of her lips. Though it wasn’t sultry or brazen, it was exotic enough to catch the eye–and sensual enough to make a man think of more.
Like…no.
Also, I don’t totally buy that Rex would abandon his mission to save a girl he saw for a couple moments on the street. In some ways, it’s believable, but in other ways it’s not. I guess you’ll just have to decide, should you read the book!
Overall, The Conqueror is an interesting, fast-paced piece of historical fiction with sympathetic characters. Issues aside, if you’re a fan of novels set in ancient Rome and/or adventure stories, you might want to give it a try!
October 28, 2020
As both a history lover and a historical fiction lover, I was excited when I discovered this book would be releasing. The establishment of Christianity as the official religion of the Roman Empire is a period of history I haven’t seen dealt with in either general market or Christian fiction, and despite some unfavourable early reviews, I was determined to read this novel for myself and form my own opinion.
I really do wish I had enjoyed this novel more than I did. There’s no doubt that the author has a firm grasp on the history of the time, and the narrative sections that dealt with the historical action and setting were mostly well written. However, I felt the characterisation was often trite, the hero and heroine a little too idealised (their romance included), and the dialogue far too modern-sounding and very on-the-nose. And I thought the author relied too heavily on the more offensive elements of ancient Roman society and the baser elements of human nature to help characterise the “bad” people in this novel.
And on that note, a word on the content. Ancient Roman society was depraved and blood-thirsty, and given the nature of this story, it would be unrealistic to expect a sanitised read. Also, it’s written by a male, and that always brings a different perspective to a novel. With those disclaimers, here is my personal opinion: I do feel as though some of the content in this book was either unnecessary or could have been conveyed less crassly, however these specific instances were dispersed throughout the novel and would only have had a small impact on my enjoyment had other elements been more to my liking. But bear in mind, this is the opinion of a reasonably widely-read female who is in her early forties. I can easily see how there would be a wide range of responses to the content in this novel depending on the age, gender, and reading preferences of the individual. My advice would be to read a range of reviews on this book if you have concerns about the content.
My final comment relates to the Gospel message as portrayed in the novel. To me, this setting provided an excellent opportunity to explore the impact the Gospel message would have had in a time and culture far removed from our own. I’m aware that this is only the first book in a series, so perhaps I am judging prematurely, however the message I got from this book was “the Christian God is better (or more powerful) because he’s real.” But as I said, perhaps that is the most logical point to begin for a character like Rex, and his understanding of the full Gospel message will develop across the series. Still, I would have liked the story to explore how Christianity would have impacted people living at this time on an intellectual level as well as a practical level.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not influenced the content of my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion.
I really do wish I had enjoyed this novel more than I did. There’s no doubt that the author has a firm grasp on the history of the time, and the narrative sections that dealt with the historical action and setting were mostly well written. However, I felt the characterisation was often trite, the hero and heroine a little too idealised (their romance included), and the dialogue far too modern-sounding and very on-the-nose. And I thought the author relied too heavily on the more offensive elements of ancient Roman society and the baser elements of human nature to help characterise the “bad” people in this novel.
And on that note, a word on the content. Ancient Roman society was depraved and blood-thirsty, and given the nature of this story, it would be unrealistic to expect a sanitised read. Also, it’s written by a male, and that always brings a different perspective to a novel. With those disclaimers, here is my personal opinion: I do feel as though some of the content in this book was either unnecessary or could have been conveyed less crassly, however these specific instances were dispersed throughout the novel and would only have had a small impact on my enjoyment had other elements been more to my liking. But bear in mind, this is the opinion of a reasonably widely-read female who is in her early forties. I can easily see how there would be a wide range of responses to the content in this novel depending on the age, gender, and reading preferences of the individual. My advice would be to read a range of reviews on this book if you have concerns about the content.
My final comment relates to the Gospel message as portrayed in the novel. To me, this setting provided an excellent opportunity to explore the impact the Gospel message would have had in a time and culture far removed from our own. I’m aware that this is only the first book in a series, so perhaps I am judging prematurely, however the message I got from this book was “the Christian God is better (or more powerful) because he’s real.” But as I said, perhaps that is the most logical point to begin for a character like Rex, and his understanding of the full Gospel message will develop across the series. Still, I would have liked the story to explore how Christianity would have impacted people living at this time on an intellectual level as well as a practical level.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not influenced the content of my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion.
November 3, 2020
I went into this book with high hopes, excited about a book exploring the rich history of the Constantinian Empire, and in many way this book does deliver just that -- possibly in more ways than I bargained for. Meticulously well researched, the author's Phd in ancient church history is on full display as the complex political climate, as well as the cultural norms of the time are described in a way that shows great understanding. I feel like the things done best in this book are the way that the author brings the ancient setting to life,with an excellent understanding of the times.
While there was quite a bit going on, I found the pacing slow at times to my taste, and I had a hard time connecting with the characters. The things that I didn't enjoy or even think necessary was getting in the heads of the more villainous characters. I understand that what is represented is very likely true to what happened in those early times, but I think that the shock and punch of the goriness and immorality could have been handled less explicitly, the regular mentions of fornication, adultery, promiscuity, innuendo, and violence, especially in the last 2/3s of the book made it wearisome, and I just wanted to be done with the book.
In the end, I honestly just didn't enjoy this book. I kept pushing because though there were things that were well done, and I think that it did a good job of showing the juxtaposition between Rex and Flavia's worldviews, well as those who would claim to know Christ but bore no good fruit. So while there were many things that were well done, I don't think that I could in good conscience recommend it to others, and definitely not to younger readers.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
While there was quite a bit going on, I found the pacing slow at times to my taste, and I had a hard time connecting with the characters. The things that I didn't enjoy or even think necessary was getting in the heads of the more villainous characters. I understand that what is represented is very likely true to what happened in those early times, but I think that the shock and punch of the goriness and immorality could have been handled less explicitly, the regular mentions of fornication, adultery, promiscuity, innuendo, and violence, especially in the last 2/3s of the book made it wearisome, and I just wanted to be done with the book.
In the end, I honestly just didn't enjoy this book. I kept pushing because though there were things that were well done, and I think that it did a good job of showing the juxtaposition between Rex and Flavia's worldviews, well as those who would claim to know Christ but bore no good fruit. So while there were many things that were well done, I don't think that I could in good conscience recommend it to others, and definitely not to younger readers.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
February 19, 2021
I became a fan of Bryan Litfin’s novels through the Chiveis Trilogy. When he announced a new series, I immediately put it on my TBR. I had such great confidence in the author, I didn’t really care what the series was about. Although, my love of history, especially church history, had me anticipating the release very much. At the release, I started seeing posts on Facebook and Instagram from influencers I follow that saw what they felt were major flaws in the book. After looking at reviews on Goodreads and Amazon, I began to wonder if I even wanted to read this book. A lot of folks were saying it wasn’t very “Christian”. This confused me, because I considered some of those folks people I have a lot of commonality with when it comes to reading preferences. I trust what they say. But... when I started to think through what I knew of the author's writing style (from reading the Chiveis Trilogy), it didn’t match up to what I saw in those reviews. So, I bought the book and decided to find out for myself.
Personally, I didn’t find it as horrible as some have made it out to be. I just finished it a few days ago, and really enjoyed it. If you’ll stick around with me, I’ll be happy to explain why that is and my thoughts behind why some were very disappointed. This may help you determine if this book is right for you.
The first thing you need to know when you’re considering a Bryan Litfin book is that his novels are always going to be plot driven. Action, adventure and history are going to be the main focus. There will be some romance develop between characters, but they will play second fiddle to the plot. If you’re primarily a romance reader, know that Litfin doesn’t really write the type of romance you’re probably used to. He writes pretty heavy themes. I think this was confusing for some because they saw an awesome cover and thought, “Biblical Fiction,” which is a pretty romantic, chill genre. However, because they had no experience with this author, when they ran into war scenes, evil emperors and likewise, evil people, they were like, “Uh, wait a minute…” I attribute this to the fact that for most folks, The Conqueror would be the first book they’ve ever read from Litfin. When he published the Chiveis Trilogy, it got categorized under Fantasy in the Young Adult / Teen section. Therefore, no one knew who he was, even though he had authored a complete series already. Because I read both the Fantasy and Historical Fiction in CF and was familiar with his work, my expectations going into this series were completely different than others.
Now, something I feel like I have to cover - because it was brought up so much in other reviews - is the idea that there was a lot of sexual content in this book. Honestly, this is one of the reasons I was so confused about in reviews on The Conqueror. Bryan Litfin had ZERO sexual content in his other books and I just didn’t see that being a problem with anything he wrote. It really had me stumped because I don’t like books that include such content. (After all, I read Christian Fiction for a reason! LOL!) So, I want to share what I think happened when people started reading this book, and of course, I’ll throw in some quick facts to reference at the end of this section to simplify things.
I feel like what others wrote in their reviews portray that the whole book is strewn with bad scenes and thoughts. That’s not the case. After reading it myself, I feel the author included certain things so readers could understand the evilness and pagan society of Rome during that time. But, those parts of the story existed in conversation form, or, in a character's thoughts. These characters did talk about sex in a way that goes against how Christians view it. But, you need to know that the characters in this conversation were the antagonists (aka. bad guys). Secondly, these antagonists are only mentioned having a conversation like this once or twice out of 500 pages. Thirdly, the Christian characters are not involved in such scenes/conversations. Overall, I don’t feel that sexual content was overemphasized in the story. I think readers were thrown off by the fact that the author didn’t try and candy coat the facts of what pagan society was like in this story. Simply put, evil was portrayed as evil. Because of that, when you read those parts, you didn’t feel good. I don’t feel like those parts of the story were intended to make the reader feel comfortable or entertained. In fact, I honestly think the point of those parts was to make you feel uncomfortable - and from the sounds of it, the author hit the mark. Though the immorality of ancient Rome can be difficult to read about at times, I don’t think Litfin did anyone a disservice by adding the parts he did so we could understand the evil and carnal minds the good characters were up against. It’s a heavy read at times, I will give it that. But please don’t think the whole book is about this one thing. It isn’t.
Quick Facts:
There are NO bedroom scenes in this book.
Characters are tempted by it - but do not indulge.
The antagonist and his wife do talk about it in a way Christians wouldn’t.
From the reviews, I also picked up that the last chapter also threw some readers. Exclamations like, “How could someone end a story like that?” were common. As a previous reader of Litfin, I know the author is going to take those experiences and build them into the next book. But if you haven’t read the Chiveis Trilogy to know that’s how Litfin typically ends his books, I can see how someone can be frustrated. My advice would be to wait until all three books are published, then binge them so when you read, there’s no break in the story.
Conclusion: Now that you’ve made it through all that, I’ll finally get around to my personal feelings about The Conqueror! This is a five star read for me. Even if it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, I believe it’s a good book. I enjoyed how the heroine was a Christian who experienced persecution and the hero was an unbeliever in Constantine's army who teetered back and forth between his German god and Jesus, the “new patron” of Constantine. There were epic journeys and hard truths to take in, but I loved the history behind the novel. The plot was top notch - the unpredictable kind that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I felt like I walked the streets of Rome and (kinda) understood the politics behind Rome when Constantine became emperor. There was a lot to take in (500 pages worth!) but I feel it was written and presented well. I can’t wait until book 2 is released this fall!
Personally, I didn’t find it as horrible as some have made it out to be. I just finished it a few days ago, and really enjoyed it. If you’ll stick around with me, I’ll be happy to explain why that is and my thoughts behind why some were very disappointed. This may help you determine if this book is right for you.
The first thing you need to know when you’re considering a Bryan Litfin book is that his novels are always going to be plot driven. Action, adventure and history are going to be the main focus. There will be some romance develop between characters, but they will play second fiddle to the plot. If you’re primarily a romance reader, know that Litfin doesn’t really write the type of romance you’re probably used to. He writes pretty heavy themes. I think this was confusing for some because they saw an awesome cover and thought, “Biblical Fiction,” which is a pretty romantic, chill genre. However, because they had no experience with this author, when they ran into war scenes, evil emperors and likewise, evil people, they were like, “Uh, wait a minute…” I attribute this to the fact that for most folks, The Conqueror would be the first book they’ve ever read from Litfin. When he published the Chiveis Trilogy, it got categorized under Fantasy in the Young Adult / Teen section. Therefore, no one knew who he was, even though he had authored a complete series already. Because I read both the Fantasy and Historical Fiction in CF and was familiar with his work, my expectations going into this series were completely different than others.
Now, something I feel like I have to cover - because it was brought up so much in other reviews - is the idea that there was a lot of sexual content in this book. Honestly, this is one of the reasons I was so confused about in reviews on The Conqueror. Bryan Litfin had ZERO sexual content in his other books and I just didn’t see that being a problem with anything he wrote. It really had me stumped because I don’t like books that include such content. (After all, I read Christian Fiction for a reason! LOL!) So, I want to share what I think happened when people started reading this book, and of course, I’ll throw in some quick facts to reference at the end of this section to simplify things.
I feel like what others wrote in their reviews portray that the whole book is strewn with bad scenes and thoughts. That’s not the case. After reading it myself, I feel the author included certain things so readers could understand the evilness and pagan society of Rome during that time. But, those parts of the story existed in conversation form, or, in a character's thoughts. These characters did talk about sex in a way that goes against how Christians view it. But, you need to know that the characters in this conversation were the antagonists (aka. bad guys). Secondly, these antagonists are only mentioned having a conversation like this once or twice out of 500 pages. Thirdly, the Christian characters are not involved in such scenes/conversations. Overall, I don’t feel that sexual content was overemphasized in the story. I think readers were thrown off by the fact that the author didn’t try and candy coat the facts of what pagan society was like in this story. Simply put, evil was portrayed as evil. Because of that, when you read those parts, you didn’t feel good. I don’t feel like those parts of the story were intended to make the reader feel comfortable or entertained. In fact, I honestly think the point of those parts was to make you feel uncomfortable - and from the sounds of it, the author hit the mark. Though the immorality of ancient Rome can be difficult to read about at times, I don’t think Litfin did anyone a disservice by adding the parts he did so we could understand the evil and carnal minds the good characters were up against. It’s a heavy read at times, I will give it that. But please don’t think the whole book is about this one thing. It isn’t.
Quick Facts:
There are NO bedroom scenes in this book.
Characters are tempted by it - but do not indulge.
The antagonist and his wife do talk about it in a way Christians wouldn’t.
From the reviews, I also picked up that the last chapter also threw some readers. Exclamations like, “How could someone end a story like that?” were common. As a previous reader of Litfin, I know the author is going to take those experiences and build them into the next book. But if you haven’t read the Chiveis Trilogy to know that’s how Litfin typically ends his books, I can see how someone can be frustrated. My advice would be to wait until all three books are published, then binge them so when you read, there’s no break in the story.
Conclusion: Now that you’ve made it through all that, I’ll finally get around to my personal feelings about The Conqueror! This is a five star read for me. Even if it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, I believe it’s a good book. I enjoyed how the heroine was a Christian who experienced persecution and the hero was an unbeliever in Constantine's army who teetered back and forth between his German god and Jesus, the “new patron” of Constantine. There were epic journeys and hard truths to take in, but I loved the history behind the novel. The plot was top notch - the unpredictable kind that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I felt like I walked the streets of Rome and (kinda) understood the politics behind Rome when Constantine became emperor. There was a lot to take in (500 pages worth!) but I feel it was written and presented well. I can’t wait until book 2 is released this fall!
November 5, 2020
The Conqueror by Bryan Litfin takes history, war, and romance to bold, epic levels!
I appreciated how the author sought to accurately align with history in the portrayal of the early Christians who had recently come out of intense persecution, early church theology, the grim realities of war, and the debauchery of Roman culture. I'm always grateful for authors who are not afraid to tackle subjects like this. However, that brings me to my next thought...
TRIGGER WARNING! If you have had sexual abuse, trauma, and/or betrayal in your life, then please be aware that there is a lot of content that is VERY triggering!
While the pacing made it harder for me to be connected to the events of the story, the author has a strength for historical detail, particularly with political games and battle scenes! Though the characters weren't soulmate characters for me, I would be interested to know how their story progresses in the following books of the series. Hopefully with a happy ending after that cliffhanger! Ultimately, it is the characters' individual reconciliations with the costs and joys of following Christ that add a deep profoundness to their journey in The Conqueror!
Three Stars ~ The Conqueror by Bryan Litfin is an adventure in history! The Conqueror is the first book in the author's series, Constantine's Empire.
Disclaimer ~ In accordance with FTC regulations, I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not compensated, nor was a positive review required. All opinions expressed are my own.
November 8, 2020
I love when a great author decides to dive into history to weave a story together with truth! Bryan Litfin did just that! He writes about the history of Constantine and other Roman rules. But he weaves a story all around the history of those people and that time!
Our family thoroughly enjoyed the Chiveis Trilogy by the same author and I knew jumping into this book it would be fantastic!
If you like feeling like you are back in time, walking along with those who walked through, fought for or against Rome this is a great book for you! Bryan writes a novel that makes you feel like you are there, with the people, in the rooms, and yet it is fast paced to keep you connected and wanting more. There is plenty of action and adventure, peril and death, and thankfully just enough romance and family to balance it all beautifully.
This is the first book in Bryan’s new series and I am already hooked and looking forward to the next one.
Bryan Litfin is a family favorite and this book is another one we will all be enjoying as I pass it along!!
NOTE: I received a copy of The Conqueror in exchange for an honest review.
Our family thoroughly enjoyed the Chiveis Trilogy by the same author and I knew jumping into this book it would be fantastic!
If you like feeling like you are back in time, walking along with those who walked through, fought for or against Rome this is a great book for you! Bryan writes a novel that makes you feel like you are there, with the people, in the rooms, and yet it is fast paced to keep you connected and wanting more. There is plenty of action and adventure, peril and death, and thankfully just enough romance and family to balance it all beautifully.
This is the first book in Bryan’s new series and I am already hooked and looking forward to the next one.
Bryan Litfin is a family favorite and this book is another one we will all be enjoying as I pass it along!!
NOTE: I received a copy of The Conqueror in exchange for an honest review.
October 29, 2020
First reviewed here: https://belovedgraceful-carissasbooks...
Title: The Conqueror
Author: Bryan M. Litfin
Pg: 512
Series: Constantine's Empire book 1
Genre: historical fiction
Rating: 2 stars
Publisher: Revell
I wanted to love this book, because the Roman Empire in the AD time period was one of my favorite parts of "ancient" history that starts to border on the dark ages. As Rome is still expanding their empire. But the book and the story itself I didn't like. I didn't care for how woman were written in the story. I know authors who write history try to be accurate to history but to me there has to be a balance. Not to mention that this historical fiction novel read a little like a nonfiction novel.
Even though I didn't like this book there were things I did like such as the glossary in the beginning that made understanding terms found in the book so much easier. I also liked that he two main characters were from two different worlds so to speak. That the book focused one a Roman citizen and Germanic barbarian to show just how far the Roman Empire was expanding.
And even though I didn't love this one or even enjoy this one, there's a reader out there that will love this one. And that's the beauty of reading that not every book is for every reader, but there is a book for every reader.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher a part of a blog tour. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
Title: The Conqueror
Author: Bryan M. Litfin
Pg: 512
Series: Constantine's Empire book 1
Genre: historical fiction
Rating: 2 stars
Publisher: Revell
I wanted to love this book, because the Roman Empire in the AD time period was one of my favorite parts of "ancient" history that starts to border on the dark ages. As Rome is still expanding their empire. But the book and the story itself I didn't like. I didn't care for how woman were written in the story. I know authors who write history try to be accurate to history but to me there has to be a balance. Not to mention that this historical fiction novel read a little like a nonfiction novel.
Even though I didn't like this book there were things I did like such as the glossary in the beginning that made understanding terms found in the book so much easier. I also liked that he two main characters were from two different worlds so to speak. That the book focused one a Roman citizen and Germanic barbarian to show just how far the Roman Empire was expanding.
And even though I didn't love this one or even enjoy this one, there's a reader out there that will love this one. And that's the beauty of reading that not every book is for every reader, but there is a book for every reader.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher a part of a blog tour. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
March 13, 2025
I loved this book!! I love books biased in this time period. It reminds me of Mara of the Nile, but better because it centers on believers which is so cool. Also, learned a lot about what it was like for Christians at that time. They were truly some of the most fearless people because they lived with the knowledge that death was the price for their Faith, yet they did not give in. I will wholeheartedly give this book 4 stars😁 hopefully I can find a free way to read the next books🤨🤣
October 6, 2020
An interesting read about the Roman empire as it enters the Christian era. I enjoyed not only the story line, but also the historical parts of the book. Living during that time was not easy. It was easy to see parallels between the then and now aspect. I am looking forward to book #2
September 29, 2024
Oh my word, the ending I was not expecting 😱📚 I need book 2 immediately! What a beautiful story though, loved this book! 🥺
dnf
April 26, 2025I am not invested. I wasn't a fan of either MC. Also, I know this is petty, but too long of chapters.
November 29, 2025
I removed two stars for every instance of a character saying “Eek” like a cartoon elephant.
March 14, 2022
I know this book was advertised as "Christian historical fiction," but I would say it was more like historical fiction with prominent historical characters in it who were Christians as well as prominent characters who were Christian. It starts out a bit slow but the pace does pick up as the book progresses. I thought the character development was decent. Brandulf Rex, one of the main characters, grew on me over the course of the book, as did the Lady Junia Flavia. Constantine was of great interest to me, but he has more "cameos" than a "main role" in the book, so that was a little disappointing. The word usage was . . . interesting, for lack of a better word. It felt like there were more "modern-day words" that were used than I would have expected ("pimp" specifically comes to mind; "boyfriend" and "girlfriend" also seem too modern for that time period), but I am not a scholar for that period of time so I really do not know what the word usage would have been.
I say it is more "historical fiction" because the "Christian message" is not really on display in this book, I felt. Also, I do not know how Christians proselytized during the time when Constantine was making his play for power and "converting" to Christianity in the process, but there was not really a lot of proselytizing done in this book. Flavia has some "mild conversations" with Rex about what it means to be a Christian, but she never really tells him how one becomes a Christian. At one point, she tells him to "try Jesus" instead of Hercules, his chosen patron deity. It just felt . . . weak, for lack of a better word. So, what? Rex "tries" Jesus on for size, is disappointed, and turns away forever after that? I am not saying that is what happens, but her comment was not as strong as I would have liked regarding Jesus and His efficacy (as it were).
I would also say it was more "historical fiction" because the author does a . . . I don't want say "great job" because of how it involves the depravity of Rome during that time, but he does do an excellent job at getting the point across that Rome was depraved. He is not overly graphic or "obnoxious" about it, but he did make this reader squirm a time or two while reading. Granted, it was also a time that we modern people really do not understand, so it is hard to not put our "modern opinions and morals" upon this time period when reading the book. At the same time, the depictions and descriptions do bring to mind Romans 16:19 where it says to be excellent at what is good and to stay innocent of evil. So always a bit of a challenge.
There was one really weird, "graphic" description, though. The author is describing Maxentius's horse . I realize that the Song of Solomon could be said to to be full of similar such comparisons between the human anatomy and other objects or creatures (same as some of the various Psalms), but it is still a weird moment in the book.
I know other reviewers have referenced the amount of "sex" in the book; I would say there was a lot of conversations about adultery, copulating, and other sexual activity, but there was no actual "sex" in the pages of the book itself. It is probably splitting hairs, but any sex that does occur is discussed between characters or thought about in the character's mind, but I did not feel like it was excessively graphic. After having worked in a warehouse environment for twenty-four years, I would say that the "sexual conversations and comments" were still relatively "clean" in comparison to what I have heard men and women discussing, but then you have the other side of: are such discussions really necessary in a "Christian book"? Yes, such conversations happen, but do I need to be exposed to such in something I am reading? I cannot really control what is said around me or what I happen to overhear, but reading is something different.
There was one moment that made me snicker pretty hard. It is just such a corny moment, to be honest.
In terms of the fights, the battles, and the "action sequences," I thought the author did an excellent job of describing warfare during that time without going overboard into graphic excess. He could have been excessively violent and graphic in terms of injuries inflicted, but he did not do that in his writing. I mean, let's face it - they are using swords, lances, spears, and arrows during that time. They can cause a lot of physical damage, a lot of nasty injuries, but the author chose to keep the amount of "described bloodshed" kept to a minimum, which I felt was "better", overall, for the nature and flow of the story. It is enough to know that somebody was badly injured or died; we do not need to know the type and amount of damage inflicted before said person died.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book. It grabbed my interest after a slow start and managed to hold it over the course of the entire book. I did not expect it to end the way it did (especially on a cliffhanger), so we shall see what happens in the second book. I am glad that I took a chance on reading the book.
I say it is more "historical fiction" because the "Christian message" is not really on display in this book, I felt. Also, I do not know how Christians proselytized during the time when Constantine was making his play for power and "converting" to Christianity in the process, but there was not really a lot of proselytizing done in this book. Flavia has some "mild conversations" with Rex about what it means to be a Christian, but she never really tells him how one becomes a Christian. At one point, she tells him to "try Jesus" instead of Hercules, his chosen patron deity. It just felt . . . weak, for lack of a better word. So, what? Rex "tries" Jesus on for size, is disappointed, and turns away forever after that? I am not saying that is what happens, but her comment was not as strong as I would have liked regarding Jesus and His efficacy (as it were).
I would also say it was more "historical fiction" because the author does a . . . I don't want say "great job" because of how it involves the depravity of Rome during that time, but he does do an excellent job at getting the point across that Rome was depraved. He is not overly graphic or "obnoxious" about it, but he did make this reader squirm a time or two while reading. Granted, it was also a time that we modern people really do not understand, so it is hard to not put our "modern opinions and morals" upon this time period when reading the book. At the same time, the depictions and descriptions do bring to mind Romans 16:19 where it says to be excellent at what is good and to stay innocent of evil. So always a bit of a challenge.
There was one really weird, "graphic" description, though. The author is describing Maxentius's horse . I realize that the Song of Solomon could be said to to be full of similar such comparisons between the human anatomy and other objects or creatures (same as some of the various Psalms), but it is still a weird moment in the book.
I know other reviewers have referenced the amount of "sex" in the book; I would say there was a lot of conversations about adultery, copulating, and other sexual activity, but there was no actual "sex" in the pages of the book itself. It is probably splitting hairs, but any sex that does occur is discussed between characters or thought about in the character's mind, but I did not feel like it was excessively graphic. After having worked in a warehouse environment for twenty-four years, I would say that the "sexual conversations and comments" were still relatively "clean" in comparison to what I have heard men and women discussing, but then you have the other side of: are such discussions really necessary in a "Christian book"? Yes, such conversations happen, but do I need to be exposed to such in something I am reading? I cannot really control what is said around me or what I happen to overhear, but reading is something different.
There was one moment that made me snicker pretty hard. It is just such a corny moment, to be honest.
In terms of the fights, the battles, and the "action sequences," I thought the author did an excellent job of describing warfare during that time without going overboard into graphic excess. He could have been excessively violent and graphic in terms of injuries inflicted, but he did not do that in his writing. I mean, let's face it - they are using swords, lances, spears, and arrows during that time. They can cause a lot of physical damage, a lot of nasty injuries, but the author chose to keep the amount of "described bloodshed" kept to a minimum, which I felt was "better", overall, for the nature and flow of the story. It is enough to know that somebody was badly injured or died; we do not need to know the type and amount of damage inflicted before said person died.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book. It grabbed my interest after a slow start and managed to hold it over the course of the entire book. I did not expect it to end the way it did (especially on a cliffhanger), so we shall see what happens in the second book. I am glad that I took a chance on reading the book.
November 22, 2021
Fabulous Historical fiction
I loved The Conquorer. The story flowed although sometimes violently. It is a reflection of the times, approximately 150 years before the Dark Ages. this is an epic adventure of love and war and the decision of which god is God. I enjoyed reading about the customs of Rome and how the early Christians had to choose whom to follow. Favia and Rex are a fantasic example of Star crossed lovers as one is a Christian noble woman and the other a barbarian warrior of Germanic descent. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading the next book in this series, Every Knee Shall Bow. I suggest you grab a favorite beverage and curl up for a wonderful tale.
All thoiught's are my own.
I loved The Conquorer. The story flowed although sometimes violently. It is a reflection of the times, approximately 150 years before the Dark Ages. this is an epic adventure of love and war and the decision of which god is God. I enjoyed reading about the customs of Rome and how the early Christians had to choose whom to follow. Favia and Rex are a fantasic example of Star crossed lovers as one is a Christian noble woman and the other a barbarian warrior of Germanic descent. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading the next book in this series, Every Knee Shall Bow. I suggest you grab a favorite beverage and curl up for a wonderful tale.
All thoiught's are my own.
August 20, 2023
Kind of like Mark Of The Lion by Francine Rivers with less sexual tension. Still had a romance but less constant dialog about it. I enjoyed it. It was well researched and I felt like I learned about the political climate of the Roman Empire during the time period.
November 7, 2020
First Initial Thoughts
We start the book with one of the main characters, Rex. We find out that Rex is an illegitimate son of a Germanic king and his father does not acknowledge him. He joins the Roman army as a spy. Rex lived by honor and loyalty. He was very loyal to his job and aspired to achieve great things in his life. Though he seemed tough and determined on the outside, he was filled with a vengeance on the inside. It definitely created an interesting dynamic in the story.
Flavia is 15 years old at the start of the novel. She is the daughter of a senator and is a Christian. This is a time when more frequent senators of Rome were converting to Christianity. Often these senators would try to convert the emperor of the area to convert. Flavia wasted no time in getting involved in her father’s politics. She wanted to be front and center in the political scene. I felt she wanted to make a difference but was somewhat timid also. I think this was partly due to her age. I do have to say Bryan wrote her character well. 15-year-olds don’t often make the best of decisions, and I often felt that way with Flavia.
Setting
You could definitely tell Bryan did his research before writing this book. He included many major real historic figures in this book and how they shaped the early church. Bryan also has a talent for describing how the political atmosphere of Rome was at this time. There was certainly a divide and he did a really good job at making the reader feel that.
Final Thoughts
What I was most surprised about this novel was the number of graphic scenes in this book, especially because it is considered to be a Christian book. While I am not one to really mind if there is some violence or sexuality in a book as it does give the story some context, I felt Bryan tried too hard to include these scenes. However, I do have to give him props for writing intense war fighting scenes. That is one of the hardest things to write because there is so much going on and he nailed it perfectly on that front.
And with that, there was a lot of mention of sex in the novel. While there were no particular “sex” scenes, there was a lot of writing about it. Yes, Rome was quite a city during this time and the Roman people were not afraid to express their sexuality in public spaces. However, I do feel that it could have been written more subtly and not as obvious.
It was also interesting to learn more about the early church. While it wasn’t like the Catholic church as we know today there were a lot of traditions mentioned in the book that is still used in the Catholic church today. While the vast majority of the Roman authorities were ok with the church, there were still a few that were against Christianity. Therefore, this book has a lot of politics in it. Which may or may not be your thing.
I was for and against Flavia and Rex together. I felt that they were good together but I also think Flavia tried too hard in the relationship to change him. We know from the start that he is not Christian and she wanted to convert him. It felt like she wasn’t mature enough to lead by example and properly answer the questions he so desperately needed.
While this wasn’t a favorite, I do have to give Bryan props for writing a scene. He really does have a talent for writing intense emotional scenes. And he is amazing at research. Everything he wrote, he was very diligent in staying true to that time. He wanted everything to be historically accurate and I appreciate that. In his author note, he did mention that he wanted this novel to not read as a Christian novel, even though it’s marketed as such. So after reading that, I could see why the book was written the way it was.
Please Note: I was sent a copy of this book to review from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
We start the book with one of the main characters, Rex. We find out that Rex is an illegitimate son of a Germanic king and his father does not acknowledge him. He joins the Roman army as a spy. Rex lived by honor and loyalty. He was very loyal to his job and aspired to achieve great things in his life. Though he seemed tough and determined on the outside, he was filled with a vengeance on the inside. It definitely created an interesting dynamic in the story.
Flavia is 15 years old at the start of the novel. She is the daughter of a senator and is a Christian. This is a time when more frequent senators of Rome were converting to Christianity. Often these senators would try to convert the emperor of the area to convert. Flavia wasted no time in getting involved in her father’s politics. She wanted to be front and center in the political scene. I felt she wanted to make a difference but was somewhat timid also. I think this was partly due to her age. I do have to say Bryan wrote her character well. 15-year-olds don’t often make the best of decisions, and I often felt that way with Flavia.
Setting
You could definitely tell Bryan did his research before writing this book. He included many major real historic figures in this book and how they shaped the early church. Bryan also has a talent for describing how the political atmosphere of Rome was at this time. There was certainly a divide and he did a really good job at making the reader feel that.
Final Thoughts
What I was most surprised about this novel was the number of graphic scenes in this book, especially because it is considered to be a Christian book. While I am not one to really mind if there is some violence or sexuality in a book as it does give the story some context, I felt Bryan tried too hard to include these scenes. However, I do have to give him props for writing intense war fighting scenes. That is one of the hardest things to write because there is so much going on and he nailed it perfectly on that front.
And with that, there was a lot of mention of sex in the novel. While there were no particular “sex” scenes, there was a lot of writing about it. Yes, Rome was quite a city during this time and the Roman people were not afraid to express their sexuality in public spaces. However, I do feel that it could have been written more subtly and not as obvious.
It was also interesting to learn more about the early church. While it wasn’t like the Catholic church as we know today there were a lot of traditions mentioned in the book that is still used in the Catholic church today. While the vast majority of the Roman authorities were ok with the church, there were still a few that were against Christianity. Therefore, this book has a lot of politics in it. Which may or may not be your thing.
I was for and against Flavia and Rex together. I felt that they were good together but I also think Flavia tried too hard in the relationship to change him. We know from the start that he is not Christian and she wanted to convert him. It felt like she wasn’t mature enough to lead by example and properly answer the questions he so desperately needed.
While this wasn’t a favorite, I do have to give Bryan props for writing a scene. He really does have a talent for writing intense emotional scenes. And he is amazing at research. Everything he wrote, he was very diligent in staying true to that time. He wanted everything to be historically accurate and I appreciate that. In his author note, he did mention that he wanted this novel to not read as a Christian novel, even though it’s marketed as such. So after reading that, I could see why the book was written the way it was.
Please Note: I was sent a copy of this book to review from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
February 5, 2024
The book opens immediately with someone ripping out a “fat Roman’s” larynx. Yikes.
Also a commander calls someone a “dirty German” I love it. Just keep it coming.
“Although she was young, at fifteen she was just now coming into womanhood.” Ummmmmmmmmmmm creepy? Yikes-a-ronie and cheese my guy. How much do we want to bet she is going to be in some sort of compromising and sexual scene later on in this book?
So this is unsurprising, but this is some wonderfully done martyr porn. The underage female character (that gets sexualized by everyone) did something illegal and is getting killed for it whilst simultaneously convincing us that she is being killed for her religion. It doesn’t go both ways. What a weird weird way to write a book.
Oh now they do code names and they call the 17 year old girl “curvy hips” just super casually.
Christian white middle aged male authors suffer from what I call “Indiana-Jones-itas” where every protagonist they write is the rough and tumble, imperfect, tough boy who can beat up 5 guys at once. This protagonist then loves the gorgeous, naive, underage and vulnerable girl. It’s just unoriginal and icky and sad because it is so clear that the author sees themselves in the protagonist.
Context: the 17 year old and the hero savior man are in a bathhouse getting cleaned up. She looks over and sees him:
“He was standing in a shaft of light from a high window as if the sun were trying to spotlight this perfect icon of masculinity. Rex’s long hair hung loose over his shoulders giving him a wild and rugged appearance. One of his arms was raised to cradle his head in a gesture Flavia found strangely exciting, though she knew he was only giving access to the attendant who knelt to scrape his ribs. The oil had slicked muscles of Rex’s torso defining his physique in exquisite detail. The square cut of his chest, the ripples of his shoulders, the gridiron of his stomach, veins traced their lines down the rock hard contours of his arms, the bulges of his biceps were rounded like pomegranates and to Flavia they seemed sweeter than any fruit could be. This was a young man in his prime as lean and fierce as any savage beast. She stared at him for longer than she intended and finally looked away. Then she turned back and stared some more although the divider Rex stood next to obscured his lower body Flavia knew if she walked forward it would come into full view. Suddenly her right foot took on a life of its own lifting extending and finishing the step despite the warning voices in her head. The rapid flutter in her heart made her dizzy though not enough to stop her progress. Aghast at what was happening yet also thrilled, Flavia felt her disobedient left foot take another stride toward the oblivious bather glistening in the sunlight. Just a few more steps and then… no. Flavia finally halted unable to retreat yet unable move forward prevented by her long cultivated habit of holiness. A war raged in her soul the ancient battle between lust and self control.”
This is grade a christian smut and I would be here for it if the subjects weren’t underage.
Oh also the Christian father of the main female character gets sick of his 35 year old wife and tries to rape a 13 year old servant.
What a weird answer to the question, "How much do men think about the Roman Empire." I had the author as a professor and it is honestly a bit unnerving to think about how descriptive he is throughout this book about the bodies of 15-18 year olds. I am sure he would couch this in some bullshit notion of historicity, but he is way to comfortable calling attention to and sexualizing children who are the same age as the students he now teaches at Liberty University... something to think about idk.
Also a commander calls someone a “dirty German” I love it. Just keep it coming.
“Although she was young, at fifteen she was just now coming into womanhood.” Ummmmmmmmmmmm creepy? Yikes-a-ronie and cheese my guy. How much do we want to bet she is going to be in some sort of compromising and sexual scene later on in this book?
So this is unsurprising, but this is some wonderfully done martyr porn. The underage female character (that gets sexualized by everyone) did something illegal and is getting killed for it whilst simultaneously convincing us that she is being killed for her religion. It doesn’t go both ways. What a weird weird way to write a book.
Oh now they do code names and they call the 17 year old girl “curvy hips” just super casually.
Christian white middle aged male authors suffer from what I call “Indiana-Jones-itas” where every protagonist they write is the rough and tumble, imperfect, tough boy who can beat up 5 guys at once. This protagonist then loves the gorgeous, naive, underage and vulnerable girl. It’s just unoriginal and icky and sad because it is so clear that the author sees themselves in the protagonist.
Context: the 17 year old and the hero savior man are in a bathhouse getting cleaned up. She looks over and sees him:
“He was standing in a shaft of light from a high window as if the sun were trying to spotlight this perfect icon of masculinity. Rex’s long hair hung loose over his shoulders giving him a wild and rugged appearance. One of his arms was raised to cradle his head in a gesture Flavia found strangely exciting, though she knew he was only giving access to the attendant who knelt to scrape his ribs. The oil had slicked muscles of Rex’s torso defining his physique in exquisite detail. The square cut of his chest, the ripples of his shoulders, the gridiron of his stomach, veins traced their lines down the rock hard contours of his arms, the bulges of his biceps were rounded like pomegranates and to Flavia they seemed sweeter than any fruit could be. This was a young man in his prime as lean and fierce as any savage beast. She stared at him for longer than she intended and finally looked away. Then she turned back and stared some more although the divider Rex stood next to obscured his lower body Flavia knew if she walked forward it would come into full view. Suddenly her right foot took on a life of its own lifting extending and finishing the step despite the warning voices in her head. The rapid flutter in her heart made her dizzy though not enough to stop her progress. Aghast at what was happening yet also thrilled, Flavia felt her disobedient left foot take another stride toward the oblivious bather glistening in the sunlight. Just a few more steps and then… no. Flavia finally halted unable to retreat yet unable move forward prevented by her long cultivated habit of holiness. A war raged in her soul the ancient battle between lust and self control.”
This is grade a christian smut and I would be here for it if the subjects weren’t underage.
Oh also the Christian father of the main female character gets sick of his 35 year old wife and tries to rape a 13 year old servant.
What a weird answer to the question, "How much do men think about the Roman Empire." I had the author as a professor and it is honestly a bit unnerving to think about how descriptive he is throughout this book about the bodies of 15-18 year olds. I am sure he would couch this in some bullshit notion of historicity, but he is way to comfortable calling attention to and sexualizing children who are the same age as the students he now teaches at Liberty University... something to think about idk.
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