Review: The Left Hand of Calvus
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 11 23, 2012
The Left Hand of Calvus is a wonderful masterpiece by L.A. Witt and the first book in the Warriors of Rome collection.  I was intrigued and held captive from the first page. The story takes place in ancient Rome when Saevius, a gladiator, is exploited by his current master, Laurea Calvus to spy on his wife, the Lady Verina.  Laurea believes that she is having an affair with someone under the house of Drusus, a powerful lanista, and Laurea want his name.As a fan of L.A. Witt and mystery and intrigue, this book was perfect for me.  Add in a heavy dose of Roman history and I knew that I had to read it.  The story takes the reader through all the malevolent manipulation that can be found in the world of the gladiators; their training, fighting, and surviving.  The viciousness of the ludus and the arena emanated through the pages and I felt every slice of the flagellum or slash of the sword.Seduction and intrigue are the framework for the novel, as Saevius returns to the ludus and attempts to fit into a new familia, all the while spying on his new master and lanista under false pretenses. His character was resilient and masculine, not only battling the enemies of the arena, but also the familia that does not trust him.  Additionally, he is torn in his loyalty to his ruthless master Laurea and the feelings that he is developing for the brutal Drusus.Women of all statures throw themselves at the gladiators' feet as do men of prominence. The story takes the reader through twists and turns that are not expected, but could easily fit into any Roman setting.As the story unfolds, Ms. Witt surprises the reader with even more intrigue and a completely unexpected ending.  The novel contains no sex scenes, but Ms. Witt's writing made the story intimate in its settings along with stolen kisses and yearning desires. I was enthralled and hope that she aspires to write more historical fiction.A highly recommend this book for lovers of L.A.Witt, Roman history, and brawny gladiators.book provided by the publisher for the purpose of an honest reviewreviewed by Zafira