Oh God I stayed up far, far too late reading this. But it was worth it.This pushes a button for me. That button is the hero who gets in so over his head, knows it, and grits his teeth and does his damnedest. And is *awesome*. Bonus points for people around him thinking he's a total BAMF, and his response being, omgwtf I am so not the droid you are looking for. See also: Season 1 John Sheppard, and whatsherface in Naamah's Curse.While this doesn't pass Bechdel (on-screen; there's a referenced conversation but it's very brief), I am willing to forgive on the grounds that Maerica kicks every possible variety of ass and the hero clearly adores his (off-screen) daughter. I love that the book is from the perspective of the conquered peoples of Rome. I love that the plot is explained clearly without a single instance of "as you know, Bob." This is one time when the audience knowing as much as the point-of-view character works really well; pace Lawrence Block, but I find I often prefer stories where the audience knows more than the characters.Oh, and the treatment of sexuality in early imperial Rome is pretty awesome.
Young-ish Greek man visits Rome; gets tangled up in politics and plots; makes vehement speeches about citizenship, slavery, honor; meets brash female gladiator; falls in lust love; writes many sad-face letters to his daughter; returns home.Gave it three stars, because it's terribly engaging, but it's not very *good* so feel as tho I am being dishonest. Hermogenes is just too freaking perfect. He's clever, he's brave, he's rich, he's forthright and honest. His slaves love him. Other peoples' slaves love him. He makes immaterial mistakes and prays feverently and OH MY GOD I WANTED TO SMACK HIM. (plus: he's cool with homo/bisexuality 90% of the time and lets out with a nasty slur, randomly, why?)Characterization was an utter fail, & there were too many (useless) info-dumps; and thanks for pointing out how to pronounce your daughters name *yet again*; but the attention to detail caught me now and then. Like: a rag is stuffed in his mouth and it tastes of ashes and oil - it's a rag to clean armor (affecting to me, for whatever reason, but it's another irritant: how and why would Hermogenes know this?)(1/8-1/9, 460 pages)
What do You think about Render Unto Caesar (2004)?
I struggled with this one for a long time. Much as I've enjoyed other books by Gillian Bradshaw (I think I gave Island of Ghosts 5/5 stars!), this one really didn't work for me. It's easy enough to read, and the research and detail seems as solid as I've come to expect from Bradshaw, but I just didn't enjoy myself. I didn't get involved with the characters or plot, which is too bad considering it involves figures like a female gladiator.I kept putting it aside for when I felt more like it, but months have passed without me being any more 'in the mood', and I've even read another Bradshaw book in the time which had similarities in terms of the tone and pace, but which I loved and read compulsively.I'd say I'll give this another chance someday, but I think I've given it a pretty fair one already. Bradshaw had me enjoying even a gutting of 'Bisclaveret'; this just didn't work for me. Time to cut my losses and move on to Bradshaw's other work, which I will most likely enjoy.
—Nikki
Around the middle of Augustus' reign, a young Alexandrian businessman, Hermogenes, comes to Rome to collect on a debt an important Roman owes his uncle. The Roman is determined not to pay and is actually insulted that a foreigner would try to get money from him. When Hermogenes is set upon and nearly killed, he's saved by a former female gladiator (yes, there were such people). She becomes his bodyguard as he tries various ways to get the money. It's a very interesting story and an important background is about the relationships between masters and slaves.
—Vicki Cline
