The Blood of Gods: A Novel of Rome (Emperor)
Iggulden follows up his popular Emperor series with a stand-alone set in ancient Rome on the cusp of transformation. In the aftermath of Julius Caesar’s betrayal and brutal assassination, young Octavian, Caesar’s adopted son, vows revenge. In a time and place characterized by chaos and uncertainty, Octavian challenges the older, more seasoned politicos responsible for Caesar’s death. As he takes on the powerful Liberatores, it is inevitable that the struggle will culminate in blood and battle at Phillipi. Though everyone already knows the outcome, the seasoned Iggulden adeptly brings all the intrigue and action of the era vividly to life, maintaining a historically authentic backdrop as he fictionalizes Octavian’s evolution from callow youth to Augustus, the bold and fearless architect of a new chapter in Roman history. --Margaret Flanagan