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Dominium Dei #1
The Chiron Confession
TREMBLE BEFORE THE SEAT OF ROMAN POWER AND PARANOIA
-- OR RESIST
From the New York Times bestselling author of Raising Atlantis, Thomas Greanias, comes an epic adventure of ancient Rome that illuminates the gathering darkness of the 21st century.
The assassination of Caesar's chief astrologer explodes into revelations of a secret order known as "Rule of God." The order has penetrated the highest echelons of the empire. Its to fulfill a decades-old prophecy predicting the exact day and hour that Caesar will die. Desperate to prove the oracles wrong, an increasingly erratic Caesar kills all suspected enemies, even those who dare whisper about his hairpiece. No one from slave to senator can escape his reign of terror.
Enter the celebrated playwright Athanasius. Wrongly accused by jealous rivals of being Chiron, the elusive mastermind behind Rule of God, he is condemned to certain death in the reality show of the arena. It is only with the help of mysterious benefactors that he miraculously escapes, alone with a secret that could destroy the empire. Hunted by assassins across the Mediterranean, his last hope of refuge is inside the ranks of the very terrorist order he was accused of masterminding. But the only way up--or out--is to kill or be killed.
A meticulously researched and masterfully crafted conspiracy thriller inspired by real people and events, The Chiron Confession is the unforgettable story of one man against the world.
-- OR RESIST
From the New York Times bestselling author of Raising Atlantis, Thomas Greanias, comes an epic adventure of ancient Rome that illuminates the gathering darkness of the 21st century.
The assassination of Caesar's chief astrologer explodes into revelations of a secret order known as "Rule of God." The order has penetrated the highest echelons of the empire. Its to fulfill a decades-old prophecy predicting the exact day and hour that Caesar will die. Desperate to prove the oracles wrong, an increasingly erratic Caesar kills all suspected enemies, even those who dare whisper about his hairpiece. No one from slave to senator can escape his reign of terror.
Enter the celebrated playwright Athanasius. Wrongly accused by jealous rivals of being Chiron, the elusive mastermind behind Rule of God, he is condemned to certain death in the reality show of the arena. It is only with the help of mysterious benefactors that he miraculously escapes, alone with a secret that could destroy the empire. Hunted by assassins across the Mediterranean, his last hope of refuge is inside the ranks of the very terrorist order he was accused of masterminding. But the only way up--or out--is to kill or be killed.
A meticulously researched and masterfully crafted conspiracy thriller inspired by real people and events, The Chiron Confession is the unforgettable story of one man against the world.
386 pages, Paperback
First published September 17, 2012
16 people are currently reading
433 people want to read
About the author
Thomas Greanias
23 books149 followersNo. 1 Amazon, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of seven international thrillers, including Raising Atlantis, The Atlantis Prophecy, The Atlantis Revelation, The Promised War, The 34th Degree, The War Cloud and The Chiron Confession.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
June 17, 2017
The Caesar's astrologer is murdered by a secret society known as the Dominium Dei, and the Casear's paranoia is only made worse and he demands to know who is in charge of the secret society. The rumors are that a man name Chiron is the head of the society and soon the a rival of the playwright Athanasius uses his in with the Caesar to frame Athanasius as Chiron. Athanasius is sentenced to death but at the last moment someone from the Dominium Dei helps him escape and he sets out on a journey to learn more about the secret order.
I think there were a lot of good things about this book and it's really cool that there was historical basis for the plot line. The writing was good as well as the pacing. I just personally got bored at various points, especially when he's on the wine farm. I found the beginning much stronger, especially the whole thing where Athanasius is accused and put on trial and then manages to escape. I was pretty engaged up until he visits Paul the Apostle after that everything seemed a little dragged out. Also . All in all a decent historical fiction read especially for those who are into the whole conspiracy and secret society thing or like books which are heavier on the action side of things.
I think there were a lot of good things about this book and it's really cool that there was historical basis for the plot line. The writing was good as well as the pacing. I just personally got bored at various points, especially when he's on the wine farm. I found the beginning much stronger, especially the whole thing where Athanasius is accused and put on trial and then manages to escape. I was pretty engaged up until he visits Paul the Apostle after that everything seemed a little dragged out. Also . All in all a decent historical fiction read especially for those who are into the whole conspiracy and secret society thing or like books which are heavier on the action side of things.
June 27, 2017
This conspiracy thriller reminded me a bit of the Bourne Identity - it is hard to know who to trust (the answer seems to be nobody), and there is a lot of traveling in order to find the truth. I especially liked the first part, as the characters were set up and Athanasius was framed. I also really like the setting in ancient Rome - it was interesting to see the different factions, especially the Romans and the Christians, interact. I also had never thought about the Book of Revelation and the impact it might have on the people at the time it was written.
The one thing I struggled with was the sheer number of characters - there were so many names (and many of them very similar), and for me that was hard to keep track of. I'm sure I lost some of the plot twists because I couldn't figure out who it was. However, I suspect many readers won't have the same issue, it was just difficult thing for me.
My thanks to Netgalley for the review copy!
The one thing I struggled with was the sheer number of characters - there were so many names (and many of them very similar), and for me that was hard to keep track of. I'm sure I lost some of the plot twists because I couldn't figure out who it was. However, I suspect many readers won't have the same issue, it was just difficult thing for me.
My thanks to Netgalley for the review copy!
May 18, 2017
I'm a history nerd. I've always been a history nerd. The Romans have fascinated me for as long as I can remember. So when I read the description of this book I was instantly intrigued. Romans? Super secret religious cults? Conspiracies? Yes please!
Unfortunately, the execution of the conspiracy itself fell a little flat for me. The Dominium Dei.... are supposed to be a Christian religious order going to war with the Roman empire/caesar. Then they are suspected to be an imperial organization, (I think) framing Christians for the murder of Roman officials so that Caesar can keep the Christian church out of Rome. I won't spoil anything, but let's just say the final conclusion given is very foggy. Ninety nine percent of the time, the Dominium Dei don't even know what or who the Dominium Dei are outside of a tattoo under the arm pit and a symbol engraved on a ring. Everyone the protagonist meets is just following the orders of the next Dominium Dei. Then when their goal has been accomplished or they have been discovered... they commit suicide by sucking poison out of a ring on their finger or asking a co-conspirator to shoot an arrow or stab a dagger in their back. I'm sorry, but how does a super secret organization, one so secret no one even knows the identity of their own leader, the Chiron, continue to survive when they are all committing suicide and limited to the one or two contacts they know? I absolutely love this idea, I just didn't see how it could ever have worked.
Additionally, no matter where the protagonist goes, the Roman Legionnaires are always there first and hunting him. I'm a little baffled about how, in a world without telephones and the internet, they were able to track Athanasius so quickly from island to island and city to city. So for these and the above reasons, the believability factor is where I felt this book mostly went wrong.
That said, there were a lot of good things about this book too. The author painted an excellent picture of ancient Rome/Greece. We see the coliseum, statues of gods and goddesses, sewers, bathhouses, villas, an island prison, a floating pleasure palace, a vineyard, and an underground Christian city. The setting was awesome and felt very authentic. The plot was full of action and very fast paced, which keeps the reader turning the page.
The characters were written well enough. I think the Emperor, Domitian was portrayed best of all. He is everything a Roman Emperor presiding over a reign of terror should be: a delusional, paranoid, murdering, self-loving, self-preserving, rapist. The protagonist, Athanasius, is a reluctant hero and a self proclaimed atheist. He definitely develops and changes through out the story and his arc was interesting to follow. (On a side note: I loved that the author attributed the faces of most statues to Helena and I wonder if there is any truth in the idea that one or only a few models acted as the muse for many artists.)
There was a lot of Christian history intertwined with the Roman history, and admittedly, I found some of it confusing to follow, but all very fascinating. I don't want to spoil anything, but based on the conclusion as to the real identity of the Dominium Dei, I have to wonder how much of modern Christian ritual might actually have been influenced by this group or government/commerce in general? Although I do have some hesitations about the convoluted plot, I think Greanias gives the reader a lot to think about in this regard, and I'd definitely be interested to read more about the Dominium Dei in the future.
I'd recommend this to conspiracy theorists and anyone interested in the origins of Christianity. Thank you to Atlantis Ink and Net Galley for providing an ARC!
Unfortunately, the execution of the conspiracy itself fell a little flat for me. The Dominium Dei.... are supposed to be a Christian religious order going to war with the Roman empire/caesar. Then they are suspected to be an imperial organization, (I think) framing Christians for the murder of Roman officials so that Caesar can keep the Christian church out of Rome. I won't spoil anything, but let's just say the final conclusion given is very foggy. Ninety nine percent of the time, the Dominium Dei don't even know what or who the Dominium Dei are outside of a tattoo under the arm pit and a symbol engraved on a ring. Everyone the protagonist meets is just following the orders of the next Dominium Dei. Then when their goal has been accomplished or they have been discovered... they commit suicide by sucking poison out of a ring on their finger or asking a co-conspirator to shoot an arrow or stab a dagger in their back. I'm sorry, but how does a super secret organization, one so secret no one even knows the identity of their own leader, the Chiron, continue to survive when they are all committing suicide and limited to the one or two contacts they know? I absolutely love this idea, I just didn't see how it could ever have worked.
Additionally, no matter where the protagonist goes, the Roman Legionnaires are always there first and hunting him. I'm a little baffled about how, in a world without telephones and the internet, they were able to track Athanasius so quickly from island to island and city to city. So for these and the above reasons, the believability factor is where I felt this book mostly went wrong.
That said, there were a lot of good things about this book too. The author painted an excellent picture of ancient Rome/Greece. We see the coliseum, statues of gods and goddesses, sewers, bathhouses, villas, an island prison, a floating pleasure palace, a vineyard, and an underground Christian city. The setting was awesome and felt very authentic. The plot was full of action and very fast paced, which keeps the reader turning the page.
The characters were written well enough. I think the Emperor, Domitian was portrayed best of all. He is everything a Roman Emperor presiding over a reign of terror should be: a delusional, paranoid, murdering, self-loving, self-preserving, rapist. The protagonist, Athanasius, is a reluctant hero and a self proclaimed atheist. He definitely develops and changes through out the story and his arc was interesting to follow. (On a side note: I loved that the author attributed the faces of most statues to Helena and I wonder if there is any truth in the idea that one or only a few models acted as the muse for many artists.)
There was a lot of Christian history intertwined with the Roman history, and admittedly, I found some of it confusing to follow, but all very fascinating. I don't want to spoil anything, but based on the conclusion as to the real identity of the Dominium Dei, I have to wonder how much of modern Christian ritual might actually have been influenced by this group or government/commerce in general? Although I do have some hesitations about the convoluted plot, I think Greanias gives the reader a lot to think about in this regard, and I'd definitely be interested to read more about the Dominium Dei in the future.
I'd recommend this to conspiracy theorists and anyone interested in the origins of Christianity. Thank you to Atlantis Ink and Net Galley for providing an ARC!
December 24, 2017
Fun read, some parts are based on history and some not so much. The author assumes The Book of Revelation was written by the apostle John but scholars think that unlikely, still the book was written during the period this novel takes place and would have been known in Roman times. The ending seemed a bit rushed and felt heavily edited. Not sure where the story will go in the next book.
June 21, 2017
The Chiron Confession is a suspenseful read, full of action with a character you will strongly root for. It shows the author's richness of historical knowledge, entangling true story with fiction.
This review is posted on zirev.com.
I understand that this book is an alternate history book and I don't have much knowledge on the Roman History. All the names involved and the dates checked out though according to WordWeb, just not the events that transpired. The events are very much similar but of course, the details fictional.
The plot was amazing but alas, a have a terrible grasp at geography. A map was provided but PDF images are hard to navigate to in Adobe Digital Editions that I thought, "Screw it, I'd just swing it." I just read the book as is (but not bothered by looking up names on WordWeb), and find the plot rather exciting despite the mishmash of settings.
On the get-go, I just thought, "Ill fate comes to unfortunate victims." That was due to the terrible fate that has befallen on Virtus, a Praetorian Guard assigned to Caelus, the then astrologer to Domitian, the Caesar of Rome. Though short, I rather like his narrative.
Domitian is a megalomaniac and yet insecure man. His doom has already been predicted by lots of astrologers and that's set by the stars and the cosmos to be on the 18th of September. Wanting to defy the gods, he is all set to prove the predictions wrong. If you're the next hired astrologer, it's safe to say that your ill fate is sealed. He treats himself as both Lord and God and demands others to do the same. If you don't, you'll find yourself dead. He wants to be so powerful (and fear the loss of it) that anything that doesn't coincide with his plans will be a cause for one's death.
Domitian is so paranoid, he suspects all of his highest staff of wanting to kill him and his wife too. Seriously, how do you sleep with someone on the same bed if this person is out to kill you? He is like the red queen in Alice in Wonderland who got nothing better to do than say, "Off with his head!" He's terrible but I find his actions quite comical.
I thought I'm already desensitized from gore but when the person involved is someone sensible and honorable even if you only met him in two pages, the effect was brutal to the core. I never thought I could be this emotionally affected. No one is safe in this book, everyone will find their unlikely demise. I was shookt a lot of times because characters just keep on dying.
When Athanasius was introduced, the book has become more exciting. That's how you get invested in this book: by following his life story, of how from being an innocent celebrated playwright (yet a hedonist), he was manipulated into being a person fated to die. He overcomes that lots of times, of course.
There's a conflict of power within the bowels of the Roman Empire and that involves three groups: the Caesar of Rome, the Church, and Dominium Dei. Athanasius was wrongly accused of being Chiron, the leader of the powerful Dei, bent on ousting Domitian that led Domitian in a decision to have him killed at the Coliseum (as grand as his written plays). Eventually, we'll find out how haphazard everyone's goal is, that control and influence ran rampant by one group or the other within each of their organizations. Yes, a popcorn is nice for this.
It was all fun until 75% into the book when a bunch of people just pop up, names that should ring a bell don't entice an awe, events that are meant to be shocking don't elicit emotions and the gist of things becomes so predictable (but the details so confusing).
I like it when the dead comes back (especially when they're people you invested with) but hate it when it's of a predictable fashion. This is the only thing I didn't like about this book: of someone rising from the dead that's so obviously going to happen. What I do love though is the lack of romance. Athanasius is hell-bent on achieving his goals albeit his new goal contradicts with the reason of his original goal.
This review is posted on zirev.com.
I understand that this book is an alternate history book and I don't have much knowledge on the Roman History. All the names involved and the dates checked out though according to WordWeb, just not the events that transpired. The events are very much similar but of course, the details fictional.
The plot was amazing but alas, a have a terrible grasp at geography. A map was provided but PDF images are hard to navigate to in Adobe Digital Editions that I thought, "Screw it, I'd just swing it." I just read the book as is (but not bothered by looking up names on WordWeb), and find the plot rather exciting despite the mishmash of settings.
On the get-go, I just thought, "Ill fate comes to unfortunate victims." That was due to the terrible fate that has befallen on Virtus, a Praetorian Guard assigned to Caelus, the then astrologer to Domitian, the Caesar of Rome. Though short, I rather like his narrative.
Domitian is a megalomaniac and yet insecure man. His doom has already been predicted by lots of astrologers and that's set by the stars and the cosmos to be on the 18th of September. Wanting to defy the gods, he is all set to prove the predictions wrong. If you're the next hired astrologer, it's safe to say that your ill fate is sealed. He treats himself as both Lord and God and demands others to do the same. If you don't, you'll find yourself dead. He wants to be so powerful (and fear the loss of it) that anything that doesn't coincide with his plans will be a cause for one's death.
Domitian is so paranoid, he suspects all of his highest staff of wanting to kill him and his wife too. Seriously, how do you sleep with someone on the same bed if this person is out to kill you? He is like the red queen in Alice in Wonderland who got nothing better to do than say, "Off with his head!" He's terrible but I find his actions quite comical.
I thought I'm already desensitized from gore but when the person involved is someone sensible and honorable even if you only met him in two pages, the effect was brutal to the core. I never thought I could be this emotionally affected. No one is safe in this book, everyone will find their unlikely demise. I was shookt a lot of times because characters just keep on dying.
When Athanasius was introduced, the book has become more exciting. That's how you get invested in this book: by following his life story, of how from being an innocent celebrated playwright (yet a hedonist), he was manipulated into being a person fated to die. He overcomes that lots of times, of course.
There's a conflict of power within the bowels of the Roman Empire and that involves three groups: the Caesar of Rome, the Church, and Dominium Dei. Athanasius was wrongly accused of being Chiron, the leader of the powerful Dei, bent on ousting Domitian that led Domitian in a decision to have him killed at the Coliseum (as grand as his written plays). Eventually, we'll find out how haphazard everyone's goal is, that control and influence ran rampant by one group or the other within each of their organizations. Yes, a popcorn is nice for this.
It was all fun until 75% into the book when a bunch of people just pop up, names that should ring a bell don't entice an awe, events that are meant to be shocking don't elicit emotions and the gist of things becomes so predictable (but the details so confusing).
I like it when the dead comes back (especially when they're people you invested with) but hate it when it's of a predictable fashion. This is the only thing I didn't like about this book: of someone rising from the dead that's so obviously going to happen. What I do love though is the lack of romance. Athanasius is hell-bent on achieving his goals albeit his new goal contradicts with the reason of his original goal.
May 20, 2017
Who is the puppet and who is the puppeteer?? In the days of the Emperor Domitian of Rome, Caesar stands opposed to the Dominium Dei, a secret organization which some claim is a sect of Christianity. Others claim it is a murderous anti-Roman cult bent on fulfilling the prophecy given at Caesar's birth: Caesar will die at 9am on September 18. A famous playwright who seemed to be enjoying the favor of the people and of Caesar, Athanasius is wrongly accused of being the general of this secret organization, a leader mysteriously referred to only as Chiron. Athanasius knows this to be false. He is not Chiron, but he has already fallen out of favor with the Domitian and been sentenced to death in the arena. However, he is given a chance to escape his fated final trip, and he seizes the opportunity to save his own neck and to hunt down the leaders of the Dominium Dei. Who those leaders are, Athanasius does not know. Are they Christians? Are they an anti-Roman cult? Or are they, as his rescuer claimed, an imperial organization deeply rooted in Rome's highest positions of power? Whomever this Chiron is, he must die. In Athanasius' eyes, no other way exists to save his own life and the life of his beloved, Helena. Following a set of clues laid out by his rescuer, Athanasius embarks on a journey that lead him to many answers.... only some of which are those he desperately seeks.
Based on historical facts, The Chiron Confession, is rich in the tapestry of the time, breathing life into some very interesting historical happenings. Murder, mayhem, and betrayal seem to surround Athanasius as he travels across the Roman world of that time, bent on fulfilling his agenda and ending the life of Caesar. The author has brought to life the culture of the times and mixed in a healthy dose of mystery and danger. I feel as though I traveled beside him. Every step Athanasius makes seems to be fraught with danger from which he barely escapes. Only in the end, he is able to confront the one whom he so dearly seeks, but will he truly fulfill his mission??
This was a great read!! The author weaves Roman history and culture from the time together with the history and writings of early Christianity. The writing is intelligent, knowledgeable, and highly intriguing. I highly recommend this novel!
Note: I would recommend this novel for mature readers because of the death and murder contained within.
An electronic copy of this book was provided through Net Galley by Atlantis Ink for review. All opinions contained above are my own.
Based on historical facts, The Chiron Confession, is rich in the tapestry of the time, breathing life into some very interesting historical happenings. Murder, mayhem, and betrayal seem to surround Athanasius as he travels across the Roman world of that time, bent on fulfilling his agenda and ending the life of Caesar. The author has brought to life the culture of the times and mixed in a healthy dose of mystery and danger. I feel as though I traveled beside him. Every step Athanasius makes seems to be fraught with danger from which he barely escapes. Only in the end, he is able to confront the one whom he so dearly seeks, but will he truly fulfill his mission??
This was a great read!! The author weaves Roman history and culture from the time together with the history and writings of early Christianity. The writing is intelligent, knowledgeable, and highly intriguing. I highly recommend this novel!
Note: I would recommend this novel for mature readers because of the death and murder contained within.
An electronic copy of this book was provided through Net Galley by Atlantis Ink for review. All opinions contained above are my own.
September 27, 2017
A great historical fiction read. It's also a fairly decent Christian fiction one.
It takes place in Rome in AD 96. All of the original apostles are dead, save for John, the author of the Revelation, who is in prison on Patmos. There's this clandestine Christian organisation going around murdering high-profile Romans in the name of Christ.
As far as I know my history, it seems to be quite accurate, although some liberties are obviously taken. I think the author's a Christian, but I get the idea that he has a big bias against the Orthodox and Catholic denominations. It's subtle, but if you understand a little bit about the idiosyncrasies of Orthodox and Catholic beliefs as opposed to Protestant ones, it's pretty obvious. There's also a lot of poking fun at Christianity - especially as a religion - which most Christians in the story assert that it is not. But Rome doesn't believe it is either, preferring to simply call it a "superstition".
It's definitely a good read, and if you're Christian, it will force you to seriously consider a few things, and your gut reaction might be to get offended at certain parts. But I think that's the intention.
Ignoring the Christian aspect for a moment, it's a good thriller. Our hero is accused of being Chiron, the notorious leader of this fanatical Christian organisation, and sentenced to death. He escapes and spends the rest of the book trying to find out who the real Chiron is. It's gripping and keeps you guessing, and the pacing is just fine.
One caveat on the pacing: in the beginning, the chapters are quite long - easily fifteen or twenty minutes each to read. As the story progresses, though, they get shorter, to the point where I was 75% done and only on Chapter 30 (There are 50 in all), and I wondered whether I actually had the whole book!
If you like historical fiction, thrillers, mysteries, or Christian fiction, I don't think you'll have an issue with this book.
It takes place in Rome in AD 96. All of the original apostles are dead, save for John, the author of the Revelation, who is in prison on Patmos. There's this clandestine Christian organisation going around murdering high-profile Romans in the name of Christ.
As far as I know my history, it seems to be quite accurate, although some liberties are obviously taken. I think the author's a Christian, but I get the idea that he has a big bias against the Orthodox and Catholic denominations. It's subtle, but if you understand a little bit about the idiosyncrasies of Orthodox and Catholic beliefs as opposed to Protestant ones, it's pretty obvious. There's also a lot of poking fun at Christianity - especially as a religion - which most Christians in the story assert that it is not. But Rome doesn't believe it is either, preferring to simply call it a "superstition".
It's definitely a good read, and if you're Christian, it will force you to seriously consider a few things, and your gut reaction might be to get offended at certain parts. But I think that's the intention.
Ignoring the Christian aspect for a moment, it's a good thriller. Our hero is accused of being Chiron, the notorious leader of this fanatical Christian organisation, and sentenced to death. He escapes and spends the rest of the book trying to find out who the real Chiron is. It's gripping and keeps you guessing, and the pacing is just fine.
One caveat on the pacing: in the beginning, the chapters are quite long - easily fifteen or twenty minutes each to read. As the story progresses, though, they get shorter, to the point where I was 75% done and only on Chapter 30 (There are 50 in all), and I wondered whether I actually had the whole book!
If you like historical fiction, thrillers, mysteries, or Christian fiction, I don't think you'll have an issue with this book.
May 28, 2017
If you need cheering up after reading the newspaper these days, this is the book for you. As many problems as we face today, it looks pretty good compared with the Roman Empire around 100 AD. At least we don't have a popular pastime of watching people be torn apart by wild animals and our leaders aren't killing each other and their own family members willy nilly. It's hard to believe that these kinds of things actually happened, but the author based this on historical fact.
An adventure story with plenty of action, this is a fun read. There is intrigue among various groups: the Emperor and his cronies, vying for power, the early Christian church, outlawed at this time, and a shadowy underground organization with mysterious goals.
The hero is a flawed but well meaning playwright who goes too far in satirizing the government, angers the emperor, and lands in jail, waiting to be executed in a horrific way. He escapes from prison and sets off to change the course of Roman history. He travels from Rome to Ephesus, Corinth, and other parts of the eastern Empire, evading capture by the Roman authorities and investigating the shadowy group known as Dominium Dei.
Characters are well developed and complex. A floating bordello provides sanctuary and transportation for him at times. He meets John, the last of the disciples of Jesus, who is imprisoned on the island of Patmos, and receives secret encrypted instructions for leaders of the church in hiding. There are lots of clever twists to surprise you. I was fascinated with descriptions of life in the Roman Empire at that time. At times, I was a little hazy about what was happening, possibly because I had to pick up and put down the book several times before finishing. Nevertheless, I enjoyed reading it and I think you will too.
Note: I received an eARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
An adventure story with plenty of action, this is a fun read. There is intrigue among various groups: the Emperor and his cronies, vying for power, the early Christian church, outlawed at this time, and a shadowy underground organization with mysterious goals.
The hero is a flawed but well meaning playwright who goes too far in satirizing the government, angers the emperor, and lands in jail, waiting to be executed in a horrific way. He escapes from prison and sets off to change the course of Roman history. He travels from Rome to Ephesus, Corinth, and other parts of the eastern Empire, evading capture by the Roman authorities and investigating the shadowy group known as Dominium Dei.
Characters are well developed and complex. A floating bordello provides sanctuary and transportation for him at times. He meets John, the last of the disciples of Jesus, who is imprisoned on the island of Patmos, and receives secret encrypted instructions for leaders of the church in hiding. There are lots of clever twists to surprise you. I was fascinated with descriptions of life in the Roman Empire at that time. At times, I was a little hazy about what was happening, possibly because I had to pick up and put down the book several times before finishing. Nevertheless, I enjoyed reading it and I think you will too.
Note: I received an eARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
May 11, 2018
I stumbled upon this title because it was free for Amazon Kindle, and my understanding is that it will remain free for Amazon Kindle by design. Despite expecting slush-pile fare, I was pleasantly surprised with a well-edited bit of writing.
That said, I know nothing about ancient Greek and Roman history, nor do I particularly care to, so it took me a fair bit to get in to it. In fact, I was pretty sure that I was going to abandon it, except people are assassinated. And that hooks me. I like kick-splode movies, so I like kick-splode-movie-like-books.
This book is the tale of the paranoia of Domitian of Rome. He believes that he will be assassinated on a particular day by a particular organization and so desires to find the head of the organization and publicly execute this head. Those playing the Game Of Houses see this as an opportunity to name their enemies as the head of the organization - not because the believe their enemies to be the head, but simply to have their enemies killed. The thriller comes in because we follow the life of one so falsely accused.
By the end of the book my pulse was up, my heart pounding, and I wanted to know what happened next. Never mind my total disinterest in Roman history, here was the story of a person who, in an instant, finds themselves labeled an enemy of the state and their desire to survive! Will they manage? How? Will they become the very enemy of the state they have been accused of being, simply as a reaction to the harsh treatment they are experiencing? I hope to learn this and more in the second volume of the series.
That said, I know nothing about ancient Greek and Roman history, nor do I particularly care to, so it took me a fair bit to get in to it. In fact, I was pretty sure that I was going to abandon it, except people are assassinated. And that hooks me. I like kick-splode movies, so I like kick-splode-movie-like-books.
This book is the tale of the paranoia of Domitian of Rome. He believes that he will be assassinated on a particular day by a particular organization and so desires to find the head of the organization and publicly execute this head. Those playing the Game Of Houses see this as an opportunity to name their enemies as the head of the organization - not because the believe their enemies to be the head, but simply to have their enemies killed. The thriller comes in because we follow the life of one so falsely accused.
By the end of the book my pulse was up, my heart pounding, and I wanted to know what happened next. Never mind my total disinterest in Roman history, here was the story of a person who, in an instant, finds themselves labeled an enemy of the state and their desire to survive! Will they manage? How? Will they become the very enemy of the state they have been accused of being, simply as a reaction to the harsh treatment they are experiencing? I hope to learn this and more in the second volume of the series.
June 9, 2017
I got the book on Netgalley.
Athanasius said with as much sincerity as he could fake.
The book was an easy and often funny read. Gems such as the one above made it funny and interesting. I do not know much about Roman history, to be honest, just what is taught in schools. However, Dominian sounded extremely realistic, a man obsessed with his fate, his foretold death.
The adventures of Athanasius were a bit ... unrealistic as he manages to evade the assassins all the time, beginning with being saved from a certain death. But is it just his skill that helps that or is it the result of the order Dominum Dei? And are the results the results of Athanasius or someone else manipulating the events?
In the end, Athanasius becomes what he always denied he was. He is the cause of everything that has happened, he is what he was accused of being. He became Chiron. And that we know already from the prologue, when he tells us about his previous life.
There is no remembrance of men of old, and even those yet to come will be forgotten by those who follow them. Even so I am writing this confession.
To be honest, this was the sentence that convinced me to read the book. It is interesting, intriguing, and above all, very realistic.
This was a nice book to read and relax while reading, as well as getting to know a bit of history and getting some intrigue and conspiracy theory itch scratched.
Athanasius said with as much sincerity as he could fake.
The book was an easy and often funny read. Gems such as the one above made it funny and interesting. I do not know much about Roman history, to be honest, just what is taught in schools. However, Dominian sounded extremely realistic, a man obsessed with his fate, his foretold death.
The adventures of Athanasius were a bit ... unrealistic as he manages to evade the assassins all the time, beginning with being saved from a certain death. But is it just his skill that helps that or is it the result of the order Dominum Dei? And are the results the results of Athanasius or someone else manipulating the events?
In the end, Athanasius becomes what he always denied he was. He is the cause of everything that has happened, he is what he was accused of being. He became Chiron. And that we know already from the prologue, when he tells us about his previous life.
There is no remembrance of men of old, and even those yet to come will be forgotten by those who follow them. Even so I am writing this confession.
To be honest, this was the sentence that convinced me to read the book. It is interesting, intriguing, and above all, very realistic.
This was a nice book to read and relax while reading, as well as getting to know a bit of history and getting some intrigue and conspiracy theory itch scratched.
May 13, 2017
**Netgalley arc **
I'm getting major nostalgia for my a level roman history days rn. This was on the whole very good fun. It was packed full of Drama™ and I'm always a sucker for ancient rome.
I did have some minor issues though... for about the first 15/20% I considered abandoning it just because the writing came across as a big information dump, and rather than letting the characters show themselves I was just being told: this is who they are and here's what you should think about them. But as it went on, this stopped being a problem so i guess it was just a necessary evil of world building. And while sometimes the narration was a bit simplistic, that didn't really affect the overall enjoyment of the story. I did find out later this novel is compiled of three previously separate stories, but the recounting of all the past events got a little irritating and could probably have done with being cut in editing.
Other than that, I don't want to be that guy, but the women did strike me as a little male fanatasy esque, and did not come across as multidimensional people in themselves. They only seemed to be useful as far as boosting the mc's ego or causing him man pain. But then, I kind of prepare myself for that kind of thing whenever I go into something with a male author 😬
Overall though, I'd recommend it for any fans of the period.
I'm getting major nostalgia for my a level roman history days rn. This was on the whole very good fun. It was packed full of Drama™ and I'm always a sucker for ancient rome.
I did have some minor issues though... for about the first 15/20% I considered abandoning it just because the writing came across as a big information dump, and rather than letting the characters show themselves I was just being told: this is who they are and here's what you should think about them. But as it went on, this stopped being a problem so i guess it was just a necessary evil of world building. And while sometimes the narration was a bit simplistic, that didn't really affect the overall enjoyment of the story. I did find out later this novel is compiled of three previously separate stories, but the recounting of all the past events got a little irritating and could probably have done with being cut in editing.
Other than that, I don't want to be that guy, but the women did strike me as a little male fanatasy esque, and did not come across as multidimensional people in themselves. They only seemed to be useful as far as boosting the mc's ego or causing him man pain. But then, I kind of prepare myself for that kind of thing whenever I go into something with a male author 😬
Overall though, I'd recommend it for any fans of the period.
May 18, 2017
I received this ARC from Netgalley and Atlantis Ink in exchange for an honest review.
In the aftermath of Jesus’ execution a sect called Dominium Dei (Rule of God) has arisen to fill in the void left behind in the first church. Lead by the mysterious Chiron, the order is dedicated to establishing Christianity as the state religion of the Roman Empire. The problem is, Rome already has a religion, Cesar. He has declared himself Lord and God of the empire and there is no room for any other gods.
Athanasius is a playwright, known to be an atheist, who pushes the envelope of what is acceptable in society. He somehow finds himself accused of being Chiron and is launched smack dab into the middle of one of the greatest conspiracies of his age.
I’m innocent. I’m not that villain Chiron. I’ve never killed a man, or torched a public building, or committed any crime of any kind!
I found our unwitting protagonist to be well-written and his internal dialogue one of the best parts of the novel. Who is trying to kill him? Cesar? Dei? Is there a difference?
No wonder old John’s Book of Revelation had Jesus standing outside the Church, knocking on its door. The Church was probably the last place on earth anybody would find Him.
This was a fast-paced, page turner that I finished in about a day. I enjoyed it and look forward to reading the other two books in the trilogy.
Four Stars.
In the aftermath of Jesus’ execution a sect called Dominium Dei (Rule of God) has arisen to fill in the void left behind in the first church. Lead by the mysterious Chiron, the order is dedicated to establishing Christianity as the state religion of the Roman Empire. The problem is, Rome already has a religion, Cesar. He has declared himself Lord and God of the empire and there is no room for any other gods.
Athanasius is a playwright, known to be an atheist, who pushes the envelope of what is acceptable in society. He somehow finds himself accused of being Chiron and is launched smack dab into the middle of one of the greatest conspiracies of his age.
I’m innocent. I’m not that villain Chiron. I’ve never killed a man, or torched a public building, or committed any crime of any kind!
I found our unwitting protagonist to be well-written and his internal dialogue one of the best parts of the novel. Who is trying to kill him? Cesar? Dei? Is there a difference?
No wonder old John’s Book of Revelation had Jesus standing outside the Church, knocking on its door. The Church was probably the last place on earth anybody would find Him.
This was a fast-paced, page turner that I finished in about a day. I enjoyed it and look forward to reading the other two books in the trilogy.
Four Stars.
November 28, 2017
Excellent Fast-paced Historical Thriller:
Set in the First Century AD when Domitian was Caesar, the novel focuses on Athananeus, a playwright who falls from favour just as his new, widely awaited play "Opus Gloria" - a dangerous political satire is about to be staged before Domitian.
Athananeus is falsely accused of being the chief conspirator in an organisation hell-bent on toppling Caesar.
Based amazingly on historical records of the time which survive, this novel is an action packed page-turner of a thriller.
The Roman Empire faced several threats at the time, not least of which was the birth of Christianity which threatened the stability of the Empire.
Thomas Greanias relates the adventures of the man who was eventually to become better known as the very first Pope Clement.
I strongly recommend this book. I couldn't put it down once I'd started. The novel also features Helena, wife of Athananeus, and the model for the God Athena.
(My review was based on an eBook file provided to me by the publisher via NetGalley. My review is totally independent.)
Set in the First Century AD when Domitian was Caesar, the novel focuses on Athananeus, a playwright who falls from favour just as his new, widely awaited play "Opus Gloria" - a dangerous political satire is about to be staged before Domitian.
Athananeus is falsely accused of being the chief conspirator in an organisation hell-bent on toppling Caesar.
Based amazingly on historical records of the time which survive, this novel is an action packed page-turner of a thriller.
The Roman Empire faced several threats at the time, not least of which was the birth of Christianity which threatened the stability of the Empire.
Thomas Greanias relates the adventures of the man who was eventually to become better known as the very first Pope Clement.
I strongly recommend this book. I couldn't put it down once I'd started. The novel also features Helena, wife of Athananeus, and the model for the God Athena.
(My review was based on an eBook file provided to me by the publisher via NetGalley. My review is totally independent.)
May 9, 2017
If you love all things Ancient Rome, and are simultaneously drawn to the historical account of the birth of Christianity, The Chiron Confession, by Thomas Greanias, is for you. The reader is brought into this dangerous time period of double dealing, political machinations, and the rise of an outcast Church. Filled with meticulously researched historical information, this book allows you to experience the tumult and excitement that was Rome during the time of the Flavians.
Read the entire review at https://journalingonpaper.com/2017/05...
Read the entire review at https://journalingonpaper.com/2017/05...
July 21, 2017
I really enjoyed this story of ancient Rome and the corruption surrounding the government. Caesar declares himself leader and Lord God of Rome, above any other God. The people, including his staff, have to bow down to his every whim. Executions are abundant and the day of his death, which was predicted at his birth, is near. The secret society known as Dominium Dei has penetrated the Roman Empire and their mission is to make sure the prophesy of Caesar's death comes true. There is excitement and intrigue and the story holds you until the very end. I would recommend this book to any one interested in history or anyone who likes a really entertaining story.
May 29, 2017
The plot is good and the attempt to build an interesting storyline can be seen but somewhere the flow became haphazard and the conspiracy got lost in the heavy load of information that was being imparted. The intrigue and the thrill element is good. I didn't really enjoy reading this book as much as I had expected to. I am a historical fiction fan and hoped that this would be a book that would be hard to put down. However, I struggled and had to force myself to read the book at times. If you hang in there initially for the first 25% then you will get hooked and begin to enjoy it.
April 19, 2018
I received this free from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.
I usually enjoy books with an historical basis, and there are parts of this book that I liked, but I found Athanasius to be almost impossible to believe. The things that happen to him and he gets out of are just so ridiculous. And even though he is the hero of the book, I didn't really like him. This is the first in a series and I don't know if I will read the next or not. Usually I love Greanias' books, but this one was just so-so.
I usually enjoy books with an historical basis, and there are parts of this book that I liked, but I found Athanasius to be almost impossible to believe. The things that happen to him and he gets out of are just so ridiculous. And even though he is the hero of the book, I didn't really like him. This is the first in a series and I don't know if I will read the next or not. Usually I love Greanias' books, but this one was just so-so.
July 17, 2017
Pretty decent book. I am not an expert on Roman history so I cannot comment as to the authenticity and accuracy however, it seemed authentic and accurate to me, and that's what matters. I enjoyed the rich detail Greanias offered along with the development of the main character. There were places that were a bit boring but that may just be my own personal opinion. Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to read a historical fiction piece.
May 10, 2017
I received an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley.
Well-written and well-researched, this is an enthralling read for fans of the Roman era. Greanias also has a refined sense of humor, that juxtaposes eloquently against the political context and plot complexities of mounting Roman-Christian tensions.
Well-written and well-researched, this is an enthralling read for fans of the Roman era. Greanias also has a refined sense of humor, that juxtaposes eloquently against the political context and plot complexities of mounting Roman-Christian tensions.
July 23, 2017
The Chiron Confession is a suspenseful read, full of action with a character you will strongly root for. Plenty of action, this is a fun read. I enjoyed reading it and I think you will too.
September 5, 2017
Very good historical fiction of the early Christian church and the tension between it and the Roman Empire. Action packed and reads like a Holy Roman Odyssey.
January 6, 2019
My favorite ingress author, pulpy.
July 22, 2017
* I received a kindle version of this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review *
I am a fan of Greek and Rome based stories. But, this one just did not meet my expectation. At times, I was really bored and was only looking forward to finishing it as soon as possible. The plot was just okay. At times, the story line was interesting, but most of the times, it fell flat. I totally struggled. To think that I finished it in only 3 days. And this is because I skipped many parts...
This book is not for me. Sorry...
I am a fan of Greek and Rome based stories. But, this one just did not meet my expectation. At times, I was really bored and was only looking forward to finishing it as soon as possible. The plot was just okay. At times, the story line was interesting, but most of the times, it fell flat. I totally struggled. To think that I finished it in only 3 days. And this is because I skipped many parts...
This book is not for me. Sorry...
November 14, 2017
I guess this was okay, nothing particularly special about the mystery which really drew me in at all.
However, I do feel that this is well researched and the writing clear but rather old too. It did fit the ancient time of the story. However, I just really didn’t care about any of the characters.
Or any of the plot at all. Something about the Chiron, something about a conspiracy, but nothing really intriguing me. Since it was all centered around Athanasius having to prove himself.
But really, I don’t really care about him at all. There was absolutely nothing interesting which will have intrigued me in this book. I don’t understand why is it all so important at all.
And really, it just wasn’t written in a way that will interest me. The writing was really just dull and the real reason why I just could not enjoy the story. Along with the fact that most of the characters don’t feel real to me, they don’t jump out of the pages or made me care for them.
And there is where I think that this book just didn’t meet my expectations, however it is something for those who love Roman history. Which I have a very poor understanding of, and at the same time need a good solid character to be able to really care about this book.
However, I do feel that this is well researched and the writing clear but rather old too. It did fit the ancient time of the story. However, I just really didn’t care about any of the characters.
Or any of the plot at all. Something about the Chiron, something about a conspiracy, but nothing really intriguing me. Since it was all centered around Athanasius having to prove himself.
But really, I don’t really care about him at all. There was absolutely nothing interesting which will have intrigued me in this book. I don’t understand why is it all so important at all.
And really, it just wasn’t written in a way that will interest me. The writing was really just dull and the real reason why I just could not enjoy the story. Along with the fact that most of the characters don’t feel real to me, they don’t jump out of the pages or made me care for them.
And there is where I think that this book just didn’t meet my expectations, however it is something for those who love Roman history. Which I have a very poor understanding of, and at the same time need a good solid character to be able to really care about this book.
January 21, 2013
I really liked the writing in this story. It kept me engaged and was very well written. The characters seemed liked real people and the story was very plausible. I was hooked from the beginning and the suspense of the plot kept me wanting more. My only complaint was how it ended. I know this is supposed to be one book in three separate short parts, but it made me wanting a whole lot more, so I had to go and spend the money on the second and third. I didn't want the same thing to happen to me the next time as well. I assume this is what that author so meticulously wanted, but this is definitely not a stand alone story. There is simply no ending. If you plan on getting all three, then this is definitely a great start to a much longer novel. The main character is accused of being the dreaded Chiron, and he vehemently denies this. Not a whole lot is divulged in this installment, just a bit of a taste to whet the appetite. Stay away if you don't intend to read the whole thing, as this will surely suck you in.
December 27, 2017
" ... you know the omega but not the alpha ... "
It is 96AD - post-Crucifxion and only the Apostle John remains. The reign of the Emperor Domitian was fraught with tension - government officials, playwrights, religious leaders could be executed at whim. Roman playwright Athanaius of Athens is framed for murder and for being the head of a secret society (Dominium Dei) by his rivals at the Court of Domitian. Accused and condemned to the arena, he flees and takes on the persona of the one he was accused of being - Chiron.
" .... nothing makes sense anymore. I've literally fallen into my nightmare .."
After a slow start, things pick up as Athanaius is led this way and that in search of (1) the real Chiron, and (2) vengeance. Athanaius encounters a motley crew of characters - are they of help or are they a hinderance. The question is ... will he succeed in either quest with an assassin hot on his trail.
Author Thomas Greanius takes you on a tale into the political and religious turmoil, to uncover a mystery that is at the heart of the reign of Emperor Domitian.
It is 96AD - post-Crucifxion and only the Apostle John remains. The reign of the Emperor Domitian was fraught with tension - government officials, playwrights, religious leaders could be executed at whim. Roman playwright Athanaius of Athens is framed for murder and for being the head of a secret society (Dominium Dei) by his rivals at the Court of Domitian. Accused and condemned to the arena, he flees and takes on the persona of the one he was accused of being - Chiron.
" .... nothing makes sense anymore. I've literally fallen into my nightmare .."
After a slow start, things pick up as Athanaius is led this way and that in search of (1) the real Chiron, and (2) vengeance. Athanaius encounters a motley crew of characters - are they of help or are they a hinderance. The question is ... will he succeed in either quest with an assassin hot on his trail.
Author Thomas Greanius takes you on a tale into the political and religious turmoil, to uncover a mystery that is at the heart of the reign of Emperor Domitian.
August 25, 2023
In The Chiron Confession, Greanias presents us with a Rome in turmoil and on the verge of a revolution due to the greed and misrule of the Emperor and his nobles, as well as a primitive and corrupt church in which a secret group from Rome has infiltrated to use it to achieve their purposes of domination and wealth.
It is an interesting story in which there is no lack of action, romance, betrayal and a protagonist who the last thing he wanted was to become a hero.
It is an interesting story in which there is no lack of action, romance, betrayal and a protagonist who the last thing he wanted was to become a hero.
November 24, 2013
Beware- this is not a meaty tome. Each book in this trilogy is under a hundred pages so those looking for some length to their mystery wont get it. However, it was enjoyable and I landed up reading all 3 in a day. Won't be able to say that about a trilogy any time soon
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