Mark of the Gladiator (Warriors of Rome, #4) in Riptide Publishing

Oct 31, 2012 Shirley Frances rated it it was amazing

Shelves: mm-read, read-2-review, reviewed, glbt, 2012, paranormal-fantasy

An intriguing and informative story of a Gladiator finding love and acceptance in a world where it is lacking.

I will start by saying that is my first foray into this type of book. I have read historical gay fiction, but this was way out of my comfort zone. But the unbelievable fact is that I enjoyed it from start to finish. Yes, I struggled with words and names and had to constantly look in the included glossary or the Internet, but the journey was very gratifying and informative.

Anazâr is a gl An intriguing and informative story of a Gladiator finding love and acceptance in a world where it is lacking.

I will start by saying that is my first foray into this type of book. I have read historical gay fiction, but this was way out of my comfort zone. But the unbelievable fact is that I enjoyed it from start to finish. Yes, I struggled with words and names and had to constantly look in the included glossary or the Internet, but the journey was very gratifying and informative.

Anazâr is a gladiator with a heart. That's how I see him. He wanted to survive but he also had morals. He knew right from wrong and it pained him to do some of the things he had to do to the women and for that matter what he had to endure to live. He is humiliated, beaten and used. He was a slave and he accepted that fact. Yet, in his heart he always kept that bit of hope that he would be set free. And for that opportunity alone he kept going. I admired him from the start and the story only helped in making more dear to me.

And Felix, well he was a character all right. He was funny, sarcastic and over the top. But underneath all that he was a vulnerable young man in search of acceptance who gave his everything and only wanted to be loved by Anazâr. Felix was hilarious as he was adorable. He wore his heart on his robe and I could not help but love him. He opened himself up to Anazâr and then came through for him in the most surprising of ways. It truly surprised me when I discovered that he was the love interest in this story. Anazâr seemed to dislike him so much that I had no suspicion that it would be him to win Anazâr's heart. Well played Heidi and Violetta, well played.

The writing was exceptional, with a lot of attention to detail and a complete set of events placed just right. I enjoyed the world that the authors created. It was based on actual facts and each and every description helped me in placing the characters in Roman times. The action presented during the story were well written and they kept me entertained as if I were an actual spectator. In the end, the resolution to the plot was perfectly exposed. It was exciting, unexpected and rewarding to me. It paid off to see the story through to the end.

It was a history lesson, a murder mystery and a romance all wrapped up in one great book. I learned a lot from that time while I kept trying to figure out who was behind the threats. Throughout the book I had doubts of who was behind it all. Like Anazâr, I didn't trust anyone. Not even Felix. Add to that some great one liners that had me laughing out loud and a hot little scene that took me by surprise and I was a goner.

A great read that opened my eyes to another sub-genre in Gay fiction. ...more

8 likes · Like · see review

Aug 24, 2012 DayDreamer rated it really liked it

Shelves: lgbtqa, easy-read, angst, want-more, reviewed-or-kinda, fucking-finally, arrogant-mofo, scalding-hot, now-now-now, preorder-birthday-present

It fell short for me a couple of times. It felt like it was dragging me somewhere but not convincing me this is the right way.

I don't know, maybe I should reread the second half for better judgement, but for me it was not convincing or believable. Both the plot and the love story - which, of course, were intertwined.

Credit where credit's due - it was crazy hot, and if there are scenes I'll be rereading, these will be the ones.
...more

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Sep 26, 2013 Adara rated it really liked it

Excellent historical fiction of a slave caught in the middle of Roman politics between brothers and one's wife. I really had no idea where this story was going to go until the very end when it finally showed us.

It is thoroughly historically detailed. I do wish I'd realized there was a glossary at the end of it when I was reading it, because there was at least one word I would have looked up. (Most of the glossary is place names or ethnicities, which while interesting, you can read the story wit ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

Sep 05, 2012 Laylah Hunter rated it it was amazing

Shelves: m-slash-m, history-stuff

Oh man, this was great. Shifting loyalties, tense drama, some amazing action bits, and a really great supporting cast. Also, I love the gravity with which the theme of slavery was handled: the authors don't romanticize what it means to be literally, legally a slave, but they also don't get heavy-handed with it, either. The ways in which slavery strips a person of dignity are just there, evident, a pain to be endured as long as it must be. Anazar and the gladiatrices all showed so much resilience ...more

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Jun 02, 2014 Bucletina rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Me agarró por sorpresa este libro. Excelente reconstrucción de época, desde los diálogos y el estilo hasta las descripciones de ambientes; interesantes y atrapantes intrigas políticas y super verosímiles relaciones entre personajes. Me encantó la idea de las Gladiadoras, que no son menos que los hombres, pero sí deben cargar con el peso de lo que son por naturaleza, como nos sucede a muchas de nosotras sin quererlo. Gran libro.

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