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Aulus Caecina Severus #2
The Sword and the Throne
From the battlefields of conquest to the Roman mob, Aulus Severus must use all his wits to survive in this thrilling Roman historical adventureAD 69: Aulus Caecina Severus has thrown in his lot with the hedonistic Vitellius, preparing his legions for a gruelling march over the Alps.
Severus leads his army against barbarian rebellions and the tough mountain passes in his race to reach Italy before his rival Valens. With the Po valley almost in sight, news comes that Emperor Galba has been killed in a coup, and that Otho has been declared Emperor by the Praetorians.
But there is no turning back for the Rhine legions want their man on the throne, leading Severus down a dark path. The politics of the court and the mob is the new battleground, and Severus needs the help of his wife Salonina and his freedman Totavalas if he wants to survive. Then stories spread of a new power in the east… Severus has to decide where his real loyalty to his Emperor, to his city or to himself?
The Sword and the Throne, second in The Aulus Severus Adventures, is perfect for fans of Simon Scarrow, Christian Cameron and Bernard Cornwell
Severus leads his army against barbarian rebellions and the tough mountain passes in his race to reach Italy before his rival Valens. With the Po valley almost in sight, news comes that Emperor Galba has been killed in a coup, and that Otho has been declared Emperor by the Praetorians.
But there is no turning back for the Rhine legions want their man on the throne, leading Severus down a dark path. The politics of the court and the mob is the new battleground, and Severus needs the help of his wife Salonina and his freedman Totavalas if he wants to survive. Then stories spread of a new power in the east… Severus has to decide where his real loyalty to his Emperor, to his city or to himself?
The Sword and the Throne, second in The Aulus Severus Adventures, is perfect for fans of Simon Scarrow, Christian Cameron and Bernard Cornwell
400 pages, Paperback
First published June 20, 2013
About the author
Henry Venmore-Rowland
8 books9 followersHenry Venmore-Rowland was born and bred in rural Suffolk. Aside from the occasional family holiday, often to Italy, his only escape from school and village life was in the pages of historical fiction. His fascination with military and political history, the kings and battles approach, somehow got him into Oxford to read Ancient & Modern History at St. John’s College. After dedicating so much time to reading grand tales of epic wars and political intrigue, trying his hand at writing such a story was always inevitable. The Last Caesar is his first novel. He lives in Suffolk.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
January 31, 2022
Read this book in 2013, and its the 2nd volume of the great 2-part series about Aulus Caecina Severus.
The year is AD 69, and the Year of the Four Emperors in full bloody flow, with civil war and with the assassination of Galba to be succeeded by Emperor Otho, we follow once again the life of Aulus Caecina Severus and from his point of view the choices he made.
But Aulus Caecina Severus has committed himself to Vitellius and his Roman legions of the Rhine, while keeping his rival Valens in check at the same time.
A gruelling march awaits them to be first in Italy, but when Severus and Vitellius arrive at the river Po, there they will the armies of Emperor Otho there.
When Otho is defeated and Vitellius to be crowned the new Emperor of Rome, the struggles for Aulus Caecina Severus will begin anew, not only personally but also his battle against Valens will come to the boil.
With Vitellius as new Emperor of Rome, politics and the mob within Rome will become a new battleground, and with a new force looming in the East in the form of a certain Vespasian, Aulus Caecina Severus has to make a life changing choice, whether to save his Emperor, his city or most importantly to save himself.
What is to follow is an intriguing and thrilling Roman historical adventure, in which Aulus Caecina Severus after his duplicitous exploits will be spared his life by the Vespasian clan but he will be renamed to Alienus, and so comes an end of a man known for his fighting prowess but also for his double-dealing, and that will cost him in the end everything that he's fought and schemed for.
Highly recommended, for this is a tremendous ending of this wonderful two-part series, and that's why I like to call this last episode: "A Brilliant Aulus Caecina Severus Conclusion"!
The year is AD 69, and the Year of the Four Emperors in full bloody flow, with civil war and with the assassination of Galba to be succeeded by Emperor Otho, we follow once again the life of Aulus Caecina Severus and from his point of view the choices he made.
But Aulus Caecina Severus has committed himself to Vitellius and his Roman legions of the Rhine, while keeping his rival Valens in check at the same time.
A gruelling march awaits them to be first in Italy, but when Severus and Vitellius arrive at the river Po, there they will the armies of Emperor Otho there.
When Otho is defeated and Vitellius to be crowned the new Emperor of Rome, the struggles for Aulus Caecina Severus will begin anew, not only personally but also his battle against Valens will come to the boil.
With Vitellius as new Emperor of Rome, politics and the mob within Rome will become a new battleground, and with a new force looming in the East in the form of a certain Vespasian, Aulus Caecina Severus has to make a life changing choice, whether to save his Emperor, his city or most importantly to save himself.
What is to follow is an intriguing and thrilling Roman historical adventure, in which Aulus Caecina Severus after his duplicitous exploits will be spared his life by the Vespasian clan but he will be renamed to Alienus, and so comes an end of a man known for his fighting prowess but also for his double-dealing, and that will cost him in the end everything that he's fought and schemed for.
Highly recommended, for this is a tremendous ending of this wonderful two-part series, and that's why I like to call this last episode: "A Brilliant Aulus Caecina Severus Conclusion"!
October 24, 2015
This whole duology on a key figure of the "Year of the Four Emperors" [68/9 AD]--The Last Caesar and this one--was a commendable debut. The corrupt Aulus Caecina Severus is trying to justify himself and his motivations for his treacherous and deceitful actions through the last ten years of his life by writing his memoirs. I had mixed feelings about Aulus. After an auspicious beginning where we see his leadership and tactical ability in battle; as quaestor he first brings out a venal, opportunistic side to his personality through his embezzlement of funds. This wrongdoing will have major consequences. He reveals himself as too ambitious. These are all major facets of his personality. He can be charming, is a very good military man and navigates the tricky shoals of politics and intrigue well until his final downfall and disgrace. After the suicide of Nero, he supports successful holders of the purple, abandoning each for his own advantage. He is a loyal supporter until he sees the next candidate for emperor as better suiting his purpose of self-aggrandizement or greed in some way. Many of the other characters, particularly the main women and a rival general, Valens, were equally loathsome. His silver-tongued, shrewd Hibernian freedman was the most engaging. I also liked his young son, another Aulus.
Battle scenes were well done and colorful. The novel is full of excitement. It is fast-moving and well paced. I felt many times the text was what I'd call "modern casual"--not modern slang exactly, but with many casual clichés and idioms. "Fatted calf", for instance, surely that phrase would not have been used back then. I couldn't rate it any higher because of so many odious characters. I like my heroes to be, well, heroic--decent, honest, brave. That was not the author's fault, but I couldn't connect with them, especially Aulus; his morals were reprehensible; I wouldn't quite call him an anti-hero, but he came close.
Battle scenes were well done and colorful. The novel is full of excitement. It is fast-moving and well paced. I felt many times the text was what I'd call "modern casual"--not modern slang exactly, but with many casual clichés and idioms. "Fatted calf", for instance, surely that phrase would not have been used back then. I couldn't rate it any higher because of so many odious characters. I like my heroes to be, well, heroic--decent, honest, brave. That was not the author's fault, but I couldn't connect with them, especially Aulus; his morals were reprehensible; I wouldn't quite call him an anti-hero, but he came close.
February 10, 2015
If you haven’t read Henry Venmore-Rowland’s previous novel ’The Last Caesar’ you really should have. However, it’s not vital, you’ll soon get totslly caught up in this wonderful book all on its own.
Chances are, if you know anything of ‘The Year of The Four Emperors,’ AD69-ish, then you’ve probably been reading Douglas Jackson and Robert Fabbri (you’ll probably also know, as Douglas Jackson points out, it was actually the 18 months of the five Emperors). I’m going to go out on my rock-solid, totally stable limb here and say ’The Sword and the Throne’ puts Henry Venmore-Rowland up there with the two afore-mentioned writers; That is, at the very top of the Roman pile. In my estimation and on my bookshelves anyway. And that’s what counts here.
If you do know anything of the period, you’ll know that the character we’re following, Aulus Caecina Severus, is a young, aristocratic general who was originally loyal to Nero’s successor, Galbus. While Galba promised him some measure of power, that is. Times have changed, Caecina is now feeling overlooked, not to say betrayed, by Galbus and has indeed been ‘recalled’ to Rome, on a “trumped-up charge” of embezzlement. And we all know what that means, don’t we? Being the serial survivor (serial traitor, if you’re the one currently in The Purple) as he turns out to be, Caecina seizes the next opportunity that comes by, which is to ally himself with Vitellius, who has been thrust, shall we say, forward into declaring himself Emperor. It seems like Caecina is supporting Vitellius partly because he has “all but promised” him promotion to a higher level than Galba had. In the meantime, back in Rome…Galbus has been ‘deposed.’ ‘Deposed,’ ‘murdered,’ what’s the difference? Caecina must now rush with his legions through Switzerland and back to Roman territory, to beat both Otho’s forces and his own rival for Vitellius’ affections, Valens, in the race to have the strongest influence over the new Emperor.
Henry Venmore-Rowland writes in a lively, easy style. Clear and quick-witted. No Latin words dropped in to show off - much more Douglas Jackson than Harry Sidebottom. That’s good, it really is. He also writes in a way that suggests he had a lot of fun writing this. There are also some strong supporting characters in his wife Salonina and his Hibernian Freedman Totavalus, though I would have liked to have heard more of his Gaulish ’Security Advisor’ Lugubrix.
The historical Caecina isn’t supposed - I don’t think - to be a character we need to have much sympathy for (he doesn’t come out of Douglas Jackson’s hands in ‘Sword of Rome,’ very well, for instance). In ‘The Sword and The Throne,’ he is painted as having a short temper at times, but makes decisions quickly and decisively and they’re usually turn out to be the right ones. Historically, he seems to have been thought of as an aristocratic back-stabber not particularly interested in the future of Rome, unless it coincided with his plans for his own future, that is. His is a fall from grace that has probably pleased a lot of people down the centuries. However, HV-R has for me, created a strong, character and a story that manages to put over all that, but also paint him (in my view whilst reading anyway) as quite a sympathetic character. I found him likeable and totally understandable in what he did and especially, the why. His fall from grace becomes a tragic one, with an extremely poingnant end.
This really is an excellent book, a great story and a very enjoyable indeed. Talk about bringing history to life! I was left staring into space at the end as my brain tried to cope with how good I thought it was. It just a great shame it isn’t possible to continue the story, if you get what I mean. That’ll have to be left to the very capable pens of Douglas Jackson and Robert Fabbri. Poignant and thought-provoking - the highest praise I can give it, is to say it could have been, should have been and I wish it had been, longer. Though, twice as long would still have been too short. Perfection.
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Chances are, if you know anything of ‘The Year of The Four Emperors,’ AD69-ish, then you’ve probably been reading Douglas Jackson and Robert Fabbri (you’ll probably also know, as Douglas Jackson points out, it was actually the 18 months of the five Emperors). I’m going to go out on my rock-solid, totally stable limb here and say ’The Sword and the Throne’ puts Henry Venmore-Rowland up there with the two afore-mentioned writers; That is, at the very top of the Roman pile. In my estimation and on my bookshelves anyway. And that’s what counts here.
If you do know anything of the period, you’ll know that the character we’re following, Aulus Caecina Severus, is a young, aristocratic general who was originally loyal to Nero’s successor, Galbus. While Galba promised him some measure of power, that is. Times have changed, Caecina is now feeling overlooked, not to say betrayed, by Galbus and has indeed been ‘recalled’ to Rome, on a “trumped-up charge” of embezzlement. And we all know what that means, don’t we? Being the serial survivor (serial traitor, if you’re the one currently in The Purple) as he turns out to be, Caecina seizes the next opportunity that comes by, which is to ally himself with Vitellius, who has been thrust, shall we say, forward into declaring himself Emperor. It seems like Caecina is supporting Vitellius partly because he has “all but promised” him promotion to a higher level than Galba had. In the meantime, back in Rome…Galbus has been ‘deposed.’ ‘Deposed,’ ‘murdered,’ what’s the difference? Caecina must now rush with his legions through Switzerland and back to Roman territory, to beat both Otho’s forces and his own rival for Vitellius’ affections, Valens, in the race to have the strongest influence over the new Emperor.
Henry Venmore-Rowland writes in a lively, easy style. Clear and quick-witted. No Latin words dropped in to show off - much more Douglas Jackson than Harry Sidebottom. That’s good, it really is. He also writes in a way that suggests he had a lot of fun writing this. There are also some strong supporting characters in his wife Salonina and his Hibernian Freedman Totavalus, though I would have liked to have heard more of his Gaulish ’Security Advisor’ Lugubrix.
The historical Caecina isn’t supposed - I don’t think - to be a character we need to have much sympathy for (he doesn’t come out of Douglas Jackson’s hands in ‘Sword of Rome,’ very well, for instance). In ‘The Sword and The Throne,’ he is painted as having a short temper at times, but makes decisions quickly and decisively and they’re usually turn out to be the right ones. Historically, he seems to have been thought of as an aristocratic back-stabber not particularly interested in the future of Rome, unless it coincided with his plans for his own future, that is. His is a fall from grace that has probably pleased a lot of people down the centuries. However, HV-R has for me, created a strong, character and a story that manages to put over all that, but also paint him (in my view whilst reading anyway) as quite a sympathetic character. I found him likeable and totally understandable in what he did and especially, the why. His fall from grace becomes a tragic one, with an extremely poingnant end.
This really is an excellent book, a great story and a very enjoyable indeed. Talk about bringing history to life! I was left staring into space at the end as my brain tried to cope with how good I thought it was. It just a great shame it isn’t possible to continue the story, if you get what I mean. That’ll have to be left to the very capable pens of Douglas Jackson and Robert Fabbri. Poignant and thought-provoking - the highest praise I can give it, is to say it could have been, should have been and I wish it had been, longer. Though, twice as long would still have been too short. Perfection.
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August 10, 2013
(As this is openly the concluding part of the story first opened in The Last Caesar, I shall write my review as though you the reader has also read the previous book)
There is a palpable difference between the previous novel and this, the concluding sequel. The depth of characterisation seems to have evaporated in favour of what seems like going through the motions to move the plot along so as to cover all of the history, rather than keeping the characters on the same quality as they had been.
While in the first novel the characters hadn't been the most brutally realistic I've read, they were still such that you could engage them. In this sequel however, the characters seem a lot more fallible, feckless and generally puppets to a gallop towards completely regaling the historical fact rather than keep a story flowing.
It still has a somewhat similar easily accessible feel to the book and the pages can whizz by, but I'd be surprised if anyone who reads this book will genuinely place this book at the top of the growing pile of books covering this period in time.
Personally after such a relatively limp, wet end to this telling of Vespasian's rise to the throne - which, however you spin it, is inevitably what this story is first and foremost about, albeit told through the eyes of a C-list player in a support role - I'm looking forward to Robert Fabbri's forthcoming books covering the same period of history, from Vespasian's point-of-view. Once I've read Fabbri's I can quite honestly say I'd be surprised if I even remembered anything of this book.
A definite feeling more of obligation to this read than to genuine intrigue or adrenaline.
Disappointing. In fact one of the only reasons I attempted to read this to the end was far more a sense of completion to the historical arc rather than any real genuine interest in any of the characters.
The author has managed to take one of the most intriguing, volatile and politically serpentine period of the Roman Empire - the transition from the Caesars to the Flavian dynasty via the pretenders - and doing an expert job of turning into a tedious and at times tawdry soap opera.
In the football/soccer hierarchy, this would be placed somewhere in League One obscurity at best; middling under, good for what it does, but utterly unremarkable.
There is a palpable difference between the previous novel and this, the concluding sequel. The depth of characterisation seems to have evaporated in favour of what seems like going through the motions to move the plot along so as to cover all of the history, rather than keeping the characters on the same quality as they had been.
While in the first novel the characters hadn't been the most brutally realistic I've read, they were still such that you could engage them. In this sequel however, the characters seem a lot more fallible, feckless and generally puppets to a gallop towards completely regaling the historical fact rather than keep a story flowing.
It still has a somewhat similar easily accessible feel to the book and the pages can whizz by, but I'd be surprised if anyone who reads this book will genuinely place this book at the top of the growing pile of books covering this period in time.
Personally after such a relatively limp, wet end to this telling of Vespasian's rise to the throne - which, however you spin it, is inevitably what this story is first and foremost about, albeit told through the eyes of a C-list player in a support role - I'm looking forward to Robert Fabbri's forthcoming books covering the same period of history, from Vespasian's point-of-view. Once I've read Fabbri's I can quite honestly say I'd be surprised if I even remembered anything of this book.
A definite feeling more of obligation to this read than to genuine intrigue or adrenaline.
Disappointing. In fact one of the only reasons I attempted to read this to the end was far more a sense of completion to the historical arc rather than any real genuine interest in any of the characters.
The author has managed to take one of the most intriguing, volatile and politically serpentine period of the Roman Empire - the transition from the Caesars to the Flavian dynasty via the pretenders - and doing an expert job of turning into a tedious and at times tawdry soap opera.
In the football/soccer hierarchy, this would be placed somewhere in League One obscurity at best; middling under, good for what it does, but utterly unremarkable.
June 12, 2013
Over the last two days I have spent as much time as possible with my nose immersed in this fine piece of Roman military fiction. While I enjoyed The Last Caesar (the first of the the author's two novels focusing on those tumultuous years of many emperors, 68-69 AD), this second novel has none of those debut novel jitters and is a fully accomplished, well-structured novel, peopled with finely-developed characters and driven by a thrilling plot. It's not without its moments of great sadness either and that adds very much to the reading experience, as does our shifting relationship to the narrator Severus. A wonderful novel.
September 30, 2013
originally posted at: http://thebookplank.blogspot.com/2013...
Last month I read Henry Venmore-Rowland's debut The Last Caesar, and from the first page he managed to grab my attention from the go and produced a very solid and interesting story with an engaging narration. The Last Caesar shows an important turning point in the Roman history with the beginnings of the "Year of the Four Emperor's". In the end of The Last Caesar it came to show that there was only one task left for Caecina to do…
The Sword and Throne picks up directly after The Last Caesar, and you are again following the narration of the main protagonist Aulus Caecina Severus, who is one of the youngest Roman generals. He is leading his army to liberate, in his opinion, the tyrannical rule of Emperor Otho. Emperor Galba has been dealt with, but Otho is actually no hair better than Galba. Ceacina supports the Aulus Vitellius Germanicus, who want to become Emperor of Rome and who will hopefully get Rome back on its feet. It might sound quite simple on paper, marching with you army to take over control and impose a new Emperor and the throne, but The Sword and Throne proves the contrary. It seems that the hardest part isn’t really in taking control but more in keeping it. The Sword and Throne is a great continuation of the story, that was so far being shown in The Last Caesar, and when I reflect upon the whole series The Sword and Throne delivers the message of the series in detail and makes up a great ending.
The Sword and Throne can be roughly divided into two parts. The first is Caecina marching his army to Italy and the second part takes place in the city of Rome itself. This first part of the book really focuses on the continuation of the “rebellion” being led by Caecina. Their journey takes them to fight against the Roman armies of Otho and by his actions Caecina is termed the traitor of Rome. This part had a great focus on the actually fighting that took place, from field battles down to conquering villages and settlements. In describing these event, Henry Venmore-Rowland really shown that he has a knack of describing the accompanied hardships that you encounter during a long march, what was a definite plus for me was the scene in the Alps this captured both the struggle of the army through a harsh environment and if that wasn’t enough, how Henry Venmore-Rowland described the avalanche just captured the chaos perfectly. Besides this the action scenes are described in such a detail, the vicious and brutal you come expect.. What makes Caecina in my opinion a great protagonist of the series is that he is determined, or at least has been so far, but he has a certain naivity surrounding him, he is young and the things that he sees during his march, the atrocities he discovers in the village leave showed to have scared and impacted him and it comes to show that he does have a conscious and is more than a mere soldier. This is one of the features that makes the whole narration so interesting. Caecina is writing this to make amends and seek possible redemption of his actions.
The problems that Caecina has to conquer aren’t only shown in the forms of battle and hostile armies, but in people as well. Soon he discovers that amongst some of his best friends are traitors and betrayal comes easy to them. This really provided some unexpected and shocking moments in the book, all that I had learned from several key players is now abandoned and turned around. But Caecina deals with this in a most interesting way. Caecina tries to relate and connect these events and discusses for himself that it was in the nature of those people. Though he despises them afterwards, it does seem that he understands it. The events that occur later on in the book and his way of viewing being betrayed opened some interesting perspectives and thoughts on Caecina’s character, nicely, nicely done!
For me the most interesting parts were played out in the city of Rome in the second half of the book. Now this is the backstabbing and betrayals that I relate to the perilous times of the Roman Emperors. And further more in this later part Caecina’s character really takes a turn for the better in terms of his development. Caecina is praised to a new rank by the new Emperor Vitellius, but somehow he still misses something. The first part in Rome is a capture of how the normal times must have looked like, a new Emperor, races at the Circus Maximus, all a good time. And above all there is good news for Caecina as wife is pregnant again. But just as everything looked to be fine, a new name comes whispering down… Vespasian and that he is keen on the role as new Emperor as well. From here on Vitellius’ rule is on the brink… and a certain amount of panic and chaos is rising through the streets of Rome. Caecina is now sent again to remove this threat. But here is where it turn interesting. This was the part that I was waiting for to read. The part where the Alienus originates in Caecina’s name from the first book and the reason WHY he is writing this down. But this I won’t tell or explain as it is something you have to experience yourself. The whole build up with the occasional hints being dropped down in the earlier parts of the story really make the ending just great.
The last chapters of the book showed a whole different side of Caecina. From just the earlier events of what happened to Caecina’s wife to his action when he went against Vespasian down to the self-reflection on writing down the correct version of his story. And these few chapters really made Caecina’s character come forward and showed in those few pages just how a powerful and part compelling story Henry Venmore-Rowland managed to put down. And even though we know now what Caecina really has done, that he might be a person to take a side to easily to always be on the winning side, it just seems that all the events that Caecina had to go through really made his character this way. It’s hard to judge whether all the actions of Caecina were virtous or that he really was only an opportunist but what I have come to learn is that if I would be in his place, I don’t know how I ever would have handled this. For me Caecina isn’t a good guy nor the bad guy, just someone who was faced with a lot of hard decisions. And we are all human aren’t we? I have to give huge hand with how greatly and detailed Henry Venmore-Rowland told his story. Some times words just fall short.
The Sword and Throne met my expectations and went far above it. What Henry Venmore-Rowland showed in his debut comes to the fullest in his second book. He knows how to write the perfect story and I am looking forward to what other stories he can come up with. I hope this isn’t the last we have seen from him.
Last month I read Henry Venmore-Rowland's debut The Last Caesar, and from the first page he managed to grab my attention from the go and produced a very solid and interesting story with an engaging narration. The Last Caesar shows an important turning point in the Roman history with the beginnings of the "Year of the Four Emperor's". In the end of The Last Caesar it came to show that there was only one task left for Caecina to do…
The Sword and Throne picks up directly after The Last Caesar, and you are again following the narration of the main protagonist Aulus Caecina Severus, who is one of the youngest Roman generals. He is leading his army to liberate, in his opinion, the tyrannical rule of Emperor Otho. Emperor Galba has been dealt with, but Otho is actually no hair better than Galba. Ceacina supports the Aulus Vitellius Germanicus, who want to become Emperor of Rome and who will hopefully get Rome back on its feet. It might sound quite simple on paper, marching with you army to take over control and impose a new Emperor and the throne, but The Sword and Throne proves the contrary. It seems that the hardest part isn’t really in taking control but more in keeping it. The Sword and Throne is a great continuation of the story, that was so far being shown in The Last Caesar, and when I reflect upon the whole series The Sword and Throne delivers the message of the series in detail and makes up a great ending.
The Sword and Throne can be roughly divided into two parts. The first is Caecina marching his army to Italy and the second part takes place in the city of Rome itself. This first part of the book really focuses on the continuation of the “rebellion” being led by Caecina. Their journey takes them to fight against the Roman armies of Otho and by his actions Caecina is termed the traitor of Rome. This part had a great focus on the actually fighting that took place, from field battles down to conquering villages and settlements. In describing these event, Henry Venmore-Rowland really shown that he has a knack of describing the accompanied hardships that you encounter during a long march, what was a definite plus for me was the scene in the Alps this captured both the struggle of the army through a harsh environment and if that wasn’t enough, how Henry Venmore-Rowland described the avalanche just captured the chaos perfectly. Besides this the action scenes are described in such a detail, the vicious and brutal you come expect.. What makes Caecina in my opinion a great protagonist of the series is that he is determined, or at least has been so far, but he has a certain naivity surrounding him, he is young and the things that he sees during his march, the atrocities he discovers in the village leave showed to have scared and impacted him and it comes to show that he does have a conscious and is more than a mere soldier. This is one of the features that makes the whole narration so interesting. Caecina is writing this to make amends and seek possible redemption of his actions.
The problems that Caecina has to conquer aren’t only shown in the forms of battle and hostile armies, but in people as well. Soon he discovers that amongst some of his best friends are traitors and betrayal comes easy to them. This really provided some unexpected and shocking moments in the book, all that I had learned from several key players is now abandoned and turned around. But Caecina deals with this in a most interesting way. Caecina tries to relate and connect these events and discusses for himself that it was in the nature of those people. Though he despises them afterwards, it does seem that he understands it. The events that occur later on in the book and his way of viewing being betrayed opened some interesting perspectives and thoughts on Caecina’s character, nicely, nicely done!
For me the most interesting parts were played out in the city of Rome in the second half of the book. Now this is the backstabbing and betrayals that I relate to the perilous times of the Roman Emperors. And further more in this later part Caecina’s character really takes a turn for the better in terms of his development. Caecina is praised to a new rank by the new Emperor Vitellius, but somehow he still misses something. The first part in Rome is a capture of how the normal times must have looked like, a new Emperor, races at the Circus Maximus, all a good time. And above all there is good news for Caecina as wife is pregnant again. But just as everything looked to be fine, a new name comes whispering down… Vespasian and that he is keen on the role as new Emperor as well. From here on Vitellius’ rule is on the brink… and a certain amount of panic and chaos is rising through the streets of Rome. Caecina is now sent again to remove this threat. But here is where it turn interesting. This was the part that I was waiting for to read. The part where the Alienus originates in Caecina’s name from the first book and the reason WHY he is writing this down. But this I won’t tell or explain as it is something you have to experience yourself. The whole build up with the occasional hints being dropped down in the earlier parts of the story really make the ending just great.
The last chapters of the book showed a whole different side of Caecina. From just the earlier events of what happened to Caecina’s wife to his action when he went against Vespasian down to the self-reflection on writing down the correct version of his story. And these few chapters really made Caecina’s character come forward and showed in those few pages just how a powerful and part compelling story Henry Venmore-Rowland managed to put down. And even though we know now what Caecina really has done, that he might be a person to take a side to easily to always be on the winning side, it just seems that all the events that Caecina had to go through really made his character this way. It’s hard to judge whether all the actions of Caecina were virtous or that he really was only an opportunist but what I have come to learn is that if I would be in his place, I don’t know how I ever would have handled this. For me Caecina isn’t a good guy nor the bad guy, just someone who was faced with a lot of hard decisions. And we are all human aren’t we? I have to give huge hand with how greatly and detailed Henry Venmore-Rowland told his story. Some times words just fall short.
The Sword and Throne met my expectations and went far above it. What Henry Venmore-Rowland showed in his debut comes to the fullest in his second book. He knows how to write the perfect story and I am looking forward to what other stories he can come up with. I hope this isn’t the last we have seen from him.
April 17, 2019
Great book
I very much enjoyed this second book in the series about Aulus Severus. Severus always manages to align himself with the winners in the deadly game of politics in Rome.
I very much enjoyed this second book in the series about Aulus Severus. Severus always manages to align himself with the winners in the deadly game of politics in Rome.
June 29, 2013
Last year saw the début release of the fantastic The Last Caesar. That book saw the meteoric climb of Aulus Caecina Severus. Well written, well-paced and full of action. This book, book two is always a potential issue for any new author. Second books have the worry that it may not be as good or well received as the first book.
But panic not, Henry manages to weave another splendid tale, this time following Severus on his final rise and then very sudden and catastrophic decline. Henry's best achievement is his characters, Severus is so likeable despite his obvious flaws and self-serving nature. The real brilliance of this book and the last sits in the form of Totavalas, I wish there had been more of him, and I hope that Henry will one day write his story.
I always feel uncomfortable saying the history is spot on, I just don't have the required depth of knowledge to confirm that, but I can say it felt right, and the bits I looked up were right. But if the feel of the period is right and it can transport you to another time with its clear real characters then for me it hits the nail on the head. Chuck in the writing style, one that avoids all the not required fluffy descriptive and focuses on the plot and the people and you get a great read.
A better book then Last Caesar? Yes in my opinion it is, As it clearly shows progression in style and skill from book one, Henry is clearly someone who intends to become a name to be reckoned with in the genre. I very much want to see where he goes next.. my hope is Totavalas, but I feel Henry has something new and unique up his sleeve.
Recommended
(Parm)
But panic not, Henry manages to weave another splendid tale, this time following Severus on his final rise and then very sudden and catastrophic decline. Henry's best achievement is his characters, Severus is so likeable despite his obvious flaws and self-serving nature. The real brilliance of this book and the last sits in the form of Totavalas, I wish there had been more of him, and I hope that Henry will one day write his story.
I always feel uncomfortable saying the history is spot on, I just don't have the required depth of knowledge to confirm that, but I can say it felt right, and the bits I looked up were right. But if the feel of the period is right and it can transport you to another time with its clear real characters then for me it hits the nail on the head. Chuck in the writing style, one that avoids all the not required fluffy descriptive and focuses on the plot and the people and you get a great read.
A better book then Last Caesar? Yes in my opinion it is, As it clearly shows progression in style and skill from book one, Henry is clearly someone who intends to become a name to be reckoned with in the genre. I very much want to see where he goes next.. my hope is Totavalas, but I feel Henry has something new and unique up his sleeve.
Recommended
(Parm)
September 7, 2013
Well, I supposedly won this book on 25th July 2013 in a giveaway. It is now over a year later and the book never arrived. I clearly marked in the giveaway section that I had not received my copy, and I was never contacted by anyone and absolutely no attempt was made to rectify the situation. What shabby treatment.
April 11, 2025
This is a good fairly good Roman romp if not quite up there with the best of the genre. It is the follow up to the previous installment, the last Caesar and rounds up the story. The plot, pun intended, revolves around the civil wars and rebellions following the death of Nero which saw several emperors come and go in quick succession. Severus shifts his allegiances managing to the in the thick of things and while he is not the most appealing character his motivations and view point is quite well developed and is in part told in retrospect as a memoir he writes as he awaits his death at the hand of agents of the emperor.
The battle scenes are decent but the politics and plotting are slightly simplistic and one dimensional with not a great deal of nuance or tension, the period is much more effectively evoked in Robert Fabri`s books which tell the story from Vespasians point of view, these two books are at best upper second divsion fodder in comparison but as a light read they are recommended.
The battle scenes are decent but the politics and plotting are slightly simplistic and one dimensional with not a great deal of nuance or tension, the period is much more effectively evoked in Robert Fabri`s books which tell the story from Vespasians point of view, these two books are at best upper second divsion fodder in comparison but as a light read they are recommended.
October 28, 2019
Book 2 in a series.
Not wanting to give the ending away. I would like to say I am very satisfied with how the main character in Book One continued his journey in the second book. The author did a good job of painting the historical, military and political events of the year of the four emperors.
Not wanting to give the ending away. I would like to say I am very satisfied with how the main character in Book One continued his journey in the second book. The author did a good job of painting the historical, military and political events of the year of the four emperors.
April 23, 2019
More of
Very good reading keeps you wondering what will happen next i do hope that there will be more i will be waiting
Very good reading keeps you wondering what will happen next i do hope that there will be more i will be waiting
February 6, 2020
Worth reading!
The only reason I did not give it 5 stars was the fact the author chose to reveal the ending half way through.
The only reason I did not give it 5 stars was the fact the author chose to reveal the ending half way through.
May 25, 2014
In 2012 I read Henry Venmore-Rowland's debut
The Last Caesar
, the first book about Aulus Caecina Severus, and enjoyed it very much. Its sequel The Sword and the Throne languished somewhat on my TBR-pile even though I did truly want to know what happened next, so it was one of the first titles I put on the list for my Historical Fiction Month. And it was certainly good to return to Severus' story, though it is a very different one from The Last Caesar. Where that book was about Romans but not Rome, this book is still about Romans, but Rome is very much part of the narrative. It is also a far bleaker story than Venmore-Rowland's debut with its protagonist growing older, wiser, and increasingly bitter.
Severus' development is very well done. He truly changes, yet the reader can still see glimpses of the more sympathetic younger Caecina and thus don't completely lose her sympathy for him; because he does become somewhat unlikeable. He becomes a little paranoid, very "why me?" and rather refuses to really look at his actions and motives with a critical eye. This resistance to honest self-examination is displayed most plainly in how he views Valens. Severus absolutely hates him and doesn't trust him at all, but at the same time exhibits exactly the behaviour that he abhors in Valens. He slowly falls apart and especially in the last third to quarter of the book I found myself exasperatedly wondering what he was thinking.
Fortunately, Severus had at least some companions who tried to keep him honest in Quintus and Totavalas. Ironically, both of them are considered barbarians and certainly not civilized, Roman insiders. We also get to see what Rome's corruption does to these two. Lovely Quintus who grew into such a good man and leader in the last book is completely crushed by the dishonourable actions taken in the name of the good of the Empire. And Totavalas – who we learn isn't actually named Totavalas, but is called that because the Romans can't pronounce his Hibernian name – has to balance his loyalty to Severus with his own conscience and tries to steer Severus right, but in the end even he has an eye out for the bottom line and advancing his own interests. Severus' treatment of Salonina and Domitia was disheartening, particularly as he doesn't even realise how much of the problems between him and Salonina are his fault. And it's sad to see him dismiss her so easily.
Venmore-Rowland manages to walk the fine line between making a character unsympathetic and making them unlikeable. Not just in his treatment of Severus, but also in his treatment of Valens and Vitellius. Severus portrays both Valens and Vitellius as less than honourable men; he actively dislikes Valens and merely tolerates Vitellius because he can be useful to him. Yet despite Severus' unkind portrayal of them and his ascribing mostly unflattering motivations to them, Venmore-Rowland manages to slip in little glimpses of humanity and decency in their characterisation, which serve to make the reader consider the reliability of Severus' narration. That isn't to say that Valens and Vitellius aren't grasping and power-hungry, because they are, but they are more nuanced than the unremitting black Severus paints them with.
The book is written as an apologia and as such Severus breaks the fourth wall quite often and consciously. It's an enjoyable form, and more than last time we get the sense throughout the book that this will be a tragedy instead of a triumph. The book is bleak and once things go into a spiralling tail spin for Severus the reader gets swept along in the almost helpless feeling that comes over Severus that he is unable to stop what is happening. Bad decision follows bad decision and at times I just wanted to shake some sense into the man. When we reach the end it is both sudden and dramatic and allows Severus at least some chance at redemption.
The Sword and the Throne is the finale of a wonderful debut duology for Venmore-Rowland. I loved these books and admire the risk the author took in the way he developed Severus' character. This story is complete, but in his historical note Venmore-Rowland hints that he might return to the characters of Aulus and Totavalas, something I sincerely hope he does as I'd love to learn more about this indefatigable Hibernian prince. If Roman historical fiction is your reading sweet spot then this is a series you shouldn't miss.
This book was provided for review by the publisher.
Severus' development is very well done. He truly changes, yet the reader can still see glimpses of the more sympathetic younger Caecina and thus don't completely lose her sympathy for him; because he does become somewhat unlikeable. He becomes a little paranoid, very "why me?" and rather refuses to really look at his actions and motives with a critical eye. This resistance to honest self-examination is displayed most plainly in how he views Valens. Severus absolutely hates him and doesn't trust him at all, but at the same time exhibits exactly the behaviour that he abhors in Valens. He slowly falls apart and especially in the last third to quarter of the book I found myself exasperatedly wondering what he was thinking.
Fortunately, Severus had at least some companions who tried to keep him honest in Quintus and Totavalas. Ironically, both of them are considered barbarians and certainly not civilized, Roman insiders. We also get to see what Rome's corruption does to these two. Lovely Quintus who grew into such a good man and leader in the last book is completely crushed by the dishonourable actions taken in the name of the good of the Empire. And Totavalas – who we learn isn't actually named Totavalas, but is called that because the Romans can't pronounce his Hibernian name – has to balance his loyalty to Severus with his own conscience and tries to steer Severus right, but in the end even he has an eye out for the bottom line and advancing his own interests. Severus' treatment of Salonina and Domitia was disheartening, particularly as he doesn't even realise how much of the problems between him and Salonina are his fault. And it's sad to see him dismiss her so easily.
Venmore-Rowland manages to walk the fine line between making a character unsympathetic and making them unlikeable. Not just in his treatment of Severus, but also in his treatment of Valens and Vitellius. Severus portrays both Valens and Vitellius as less than honourable men; he actively dislikes Valens and merely tolerates Vitellius because he can be useful to him. Yet despite Severus' unkind portrayal of them and his ascribing mostly unflattering motivations to them, Venmore-Rowland manages to slip in little glimpses of humanity and decency in their characterisation, which serve to make the reader consider the reliability of Severus' narration. That isn't to say that Valens and Vitellius aren't grasping and power-hungry, because they are, but they are more nuanced than the unremitting black Severus paints them with.
The book is written as an apologia and as such Severus breaks the fourth wall quite often and consciously. It's an enjoyable form, and more than last time we get the sense throughout the book that this will be a tragedy instead of a triumph. The book is bleak and once things go into a spiralling tail spin for Severus the reader gets swept along in the almost helpless feeling that comes over Severus that he is unable to stop what is happening. Bad decision follows bad decision and at times I just wanted to shake some sense into the man. When we reach the end it is both sudden and dramatic and allows Severus at least some chance at redemption.
The Sword and the Throne is the finale of a wonderful debut duology for Venmore-Rowland. I loved these books and admire the risk the author took in the way he developed Severus' character. This story is complete, but in his historical note Venmore-Rowland hints that he might return to the characters of Aulus and Totavalas, something I sincerely hope he does as I'd love to learn more about this indefatigable Hibernian prince. If Roman historical fiction is your reading sweet spot then this is a series you shouldn't miss.
This book was provided for review by the publisher.
July 25, 2024
Until reading this episode I didn't realise that Aulus Caecina Severus was a real person, I thought he was fictitious and had been cleverly inserted into real events. So that knowledge gave me a different perspective, I am a history fan and although I appreciate there is still fiction intertwined with events from what I gather it's not beyond belief that Severus was much like he is presented in the stories.
Like the first I enjoyed this book, it has a good pace but manages excellent character development. Being based on truth there was no sugar coating of the final outcome which although I had come to like Severus was entirely justified.
Like the first I enjoyed this book, it has a good pace but manages excellent character development. Being based on truth there was no sugar coating of the final outcome which although I had come to like Severus was entirely justified.
October 18, 2014
If I could give 3.5 I would do, but it is better than 3 stars but a few issues made it less than a 4 compared to other books I've given 4 stars.
I read this book back to back with book 1 so it flowed seemlessly (note that some reviewers suggested you lost the plot slightly if you left a gap). The story moves at a good pace and the style is very easy to read, allowing me to read on the train without having to keep stopping to check my understanding or link back to another page to check something (like a lot of more established writers books have me do!).
A good story with a good plot and cleverly uses the 'forgotten' man element for the story. I did like the way the main charatcer seemed to struggle once he reached the pinnacle of his career. In many ways I wondered if his blustering about his abilities in battle were just that as he seemed to win few battles. Either way it was a good story and I enjoyed it.
Some of the characters who had been so strong in book 1 didn't develop in this story which was a shame. His slave, his chief spy and his wife all seemed to disappear very quickly. I also felt the end came a bit too soon and wanted more of his 'problems' once he had finally switched sides and ended up in a Rome which despised him.
Still a good read and I would happily read another book by the author.
I read this book back to back with book 1 so it flowed seemlessly (note that some reviewers suggested you lost the plot slightly if you left a gap). The story moves at a good pace and the style is very easy to read, allowing me to read on the train without having to keep stopping to check my understanding or link back to another page to check something (like a lot of more established writers books have me do!).
A good story with a good plot and cleverly uses the 'forgotten' man element for the story. I did like the way the main charatcer seemed to struggle once he reached the pinnacle of his career. In many ways I wondered if his blustering about his abilities in battle were just that as he seemed to win few battles. Either way it was a good story and I enjoyed it.
Some of the characters who had been so strong in book 1 didn't develop in this story which was a shame. His slave, his chief spy and his wife all seemed to disappear very quickly. I also felt the end came a bit too soon and wanted more of his 'problems' once he had finally switched sides and ended up in a Rome which despised him.
Still a good read and I would happily read another book by the author.
May 30, 2013
Severus acts like the self-loving, treacherous, disloyal toad he is.
Prone to bouts of temper tantrums, his loyalties towards country and family sway to and fro like a monkey from tree to tree.
I certainly did not see the honourable, stable and brave person that others saw in this story.
The amount of times he changes his mind about who he supports in the Roman game of Swap the Caesar, quite frankly he makes Judas look like a model citizen. Let's not even speak about the way he treats his wife.
Kudos to the author for making me want to smack Severus right in his pretentious mouth.
If a character can evoke any kind of emotional reaction from a reader then the author just might be doing their job right.
Where is the Severus we met and enjoyed in The Last Caesar? Is this what power turns a man into or was he always like that at heart?
At times I found the flow a little jumpy and although I enjoyed the story I felt it was written in a way that had the main characters emotions at the the forefront but with a lack of actual emotive pull.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley.
Prone to bouts of temper tantrums, his loyalties towards country and family sway to and fro like a monkey from tree to tree.
I certainly did not see the honourable, stable and brave person that others saw in this story.
The amount of times he changes his mind about who he supports in the Roman game of Swap the Caesar, quite frankly he makes Judas look like a model citizen. Let's not even speak about the way he treats his wife.
Kudos to the author for making me want to smack Severus right in his pretentious mouth.
If a character can evoke any kind of emotional reaction from a reader then the author just might be doing their job right.
Where is the Severus we met and enjoyed in The Last Caesar? Is this what power turns a man into or was he always like that at heart?
At times I found the flow a little jumpy and although I enjoyed the story I felt it was written in a way that had the main characters emotions at the the forefront but with a lack of actual emotive pull.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley.
December 21, 2016
c2013: FWFTB: Galba, Praetorian, Alps, coup, Italy. Sadly, I think this suffered from second book syndrome. For me, it was a lit ho-hum and whilst I understood that the author was seeking the emotional reasons for all the various acts of betrayal - I am not particularly sure that this worked. Recommended to the fans of Roman 'stuff'. "We do our duty, sir. Even if it means building bridges rather than a good, honest scrap with the enemy."
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