"...a man who would be great must have both the 'Roma' and the 'Amor.' But he must be able to balance them; duty to what is eternal with love with what is mortal and flawed. A balance my father found at the end and which I must find in myself." So muses Marcus Licinius Carinna in the poignant last chapter of the novel.

This novel was a pleasant surprise to read! No battles in this one, but a marvelous evocation of Rome through the story of a particular patrician family, the Licinii Carinnae--from the nuclear family to their slaves and servants. Set during the reign of Caligula, who here exhibits his tendencies towards narcissism, arrogance, and even madness. The elder son Publius, convicted of treason through a foolish remark overheard by someone, has been commanded to kill himself. Marcus, his younger brother, returns from military duty as Senior Tribune [Laticlavius?] on the Danube frontier to his home, bringing a hostage and her entourage. Passing a cemetery he hears: "You too, brother." Marcus is shaken and all through the novel thinks of different reasons why Publius' spirit might be whispering to him. Several more times he hears the same whisper with different words. His father denigrates his time in the military and wants him to follow the cursus honorum as his brother would have done. The father wishes him to become a friend to Caligula; subsequently, Marcus is appointed quaestor, a kind of glorified financial clerk, the lowest rung on the cursus, and enters Caligula's confidence. Caligula charges him with discovering if his adopted son is loyal to him or conspires against him. Defamatory satires circulate against Caligula and Marcus is told to find out the identity of the author, a certain "Phoenix." Had that name had been chosen because the emperor's signet ring bore the engraving of a phoenix? He chafes against his father's restrictions but obeys him and the emperor. As a Mithraist and "Soldier of Truth" he tries to discover the truth behind his brother's death--what had motivated the treason charge in the first place and Publius' guilt or innocence. The rest of the novel is filled with drama: assassination attempts, mystery, murder, romance, betrayal, and a bit of fantasy at the Fishpond incident.

I couldn't fault the author: powerful writing, strong characters--especially Marcus himself, Marcus' twin sister Nina and Aurima, the German hostage, gorgeous and vivid, often lyrical, descriptions which pulled me into the Rome of that era. I compliment the author on the excellent proofreading; nothing to distract me from the trajectory and pacing of the story.

Highly recommended. This is a novel to keep and to reread in future. ( )