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

Nov 27, 2012 Vishous rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: historical, hot-hot-guyzzz, review, could-not-put-down, mystery, fangirl-daze, m-m, emo-angsty, male-pov, need-sequel-pronto

SPOILERS!!!!! too tired to actually write a review! but believe me it is a must read!!!!!!!!!!!

read from down to up!!!! :)))) Blacky already told me to fix that :PPP

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perfection! beautiful!

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"I’ll die touching you. That’s all I ever asked."

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"omg
noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
omg"

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"this scene reminds me of gladiator when joaquin phoenix yelled at her : AM I NOT MERCIFUL?!?!?! ...more

26 likes · Like · see review

Feb 12, 2013 Shelley rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: forced-slavery, whoa-steamy, m-m, torture, scarred-hero, heart-breaking, hero-i-want-to-head-butt

The writing and world building:

Perfect, absolutely faultless prose and dialogue. I can only sit back and admire the execution of this novel.
It is ever so easy to immerse yourself in this era with the poetic descriptions setting the scenes of historical Rome. The phrasing and dialog is in harmony with the era, and although it is authentic , it had me confused, stuttering over the meanings and rushing off to Google search certain phrases.
I am oblivious to ancient Roman culture, so this was a ...more

16 likes · Like · see review

Nov 27, 2012 Mark rated it really liked it

Shelves: gay-fiction, historical-fiction, rome-historical

Back to Rome with a romp. I was at first a little sceptical about this book, but pleased to say that I was proved totally wrong. A great read that transports you right back to Rome in all it's glory, debauchery and thirst for blood. Anazar is a gladiator that is bought by the house of Lucius Marianus to train his team of female gladiators. A hard job as the previous trainer had treated the women badly and Anazar first has to win their trust. Then an intrigue and murder is uncovered which threate ...more

12 likes · Like · see review

Apr 04, 2014 Vanessa North rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Clever--and very, very good.

This was a really interesting book. I didn't read the blurb, and I'm glad I didn't because I would have gotten as far as female gladiators and passed it by, because that felt gimmicky to me. (view spoiler)

So, I definitely eye-rolled at the appropriate places in this story, as annoyed by ancient commercialism as I am by modern television, and for the same reasons. There was also just enough anachronistic language ...more

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Nov 20, 2012 Eed99 rated it it was amazing

I really enjoyed this book-so much I have a hard time thinking of things I didn't like about it.

The story has a couple of well written main characters, and several great supporting characters. For a story of its length I though the authors did a great job of developing the secondary characters.

I thought the story had a nice mystery along with a story line that makes the reader wonder who is trustworthy and who isn't. I worked out the main mystery though before the reveal, but that didn't take aw ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Jul 26, 2013 Thomaidha Papa rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: m-m, historical

4.5 Hearts

Review written for MM Good Book Reviews

http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/

What a lovely book this one was, so utterly captivating and enthralling in its theme. Gladiators are generally a beloved topic of mine, but this book was not merely a fantasy, it was a full on literary work, with quite some research covering its background and a truly fascinating story.

Anazar, a once upon a time Numidian warrior, now a fierce gladiator finds his life’s thread to be quickly shortening as he no 4.5 Hearts

Review written for MM Good Book Reviews

http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/

What a lovely book this one was, so utterly captivating and enthralling in its theme. Gladiators are generally a beloved topic of mine, but this book was not merely a fantasy, it was a full on literary work, with quite some research covering its background and a truly fascinating story.

Anazar, a once upon a time Numidian warrior, now a fierce gladiator finds his life’s thread to be quickly shortening as he no longer finds a reason to live. Yes, of course in the middle of the battle when his instincts take over, he fights with all he has, but he is quickly running short on that. His owner is deeply dissatisfied and lends him over to a man that has recently come to own his own gladiator team. Female gladiators. He is in need of a trainer and one that will not have a mind to take advantage of the women. Anazar is the perfect man for that on many accounts; he’s seasoned, knows his way around the arena and training of gladiators and he has no interest on women whatsoever. Men on the other hand…

I loved how smoothly Anazar’s profile was written here. I loved how the authors slowly led us into his head and mindset. A fierce man that had resigned on his slavery. A man who has accepted and submitted to his duties. I actually had a hard time making my mind about him and his nature. Was he a submissive, or not? I still can’t make up my mind and that’s a beauty I rarely come across when getting to know characters. Most are so stereotypically described they hold no interest, but Anazar is a character you want to get to know. He has many layers of personality, each one slowly revealing itself throughout the book. He is strong in his beliefs of what his duty is without being blind to his master’s faults. Well… almost. His slave status and conditioning is revealed in the many ways and turns his brain takes. There is that resigned state of mind and sub servitude that comes from having no choices left, without diminishing his passion and fire, without turning him weak. Ah I loved, loved this character, he is exquisite.

Moving on, Fate has him caring for life once again when he’s forced to make gladiators out of women. Such a cruel notion, one that tugs at Anazar’s heart. But when added to the mix of new turns and twists his Master’s brother, Anazar finds he’s unable to maintain control on the following events. Can a man borne to master men see a slave for a human being? And at that, can a slave see a master of men in the light of love? And can that all happen in the midst of a City where treachery and back-stabbing politics were born and thrive?

Quite the interesting plot this one, with the Roman’s characteristically treacherous politics barreling full force and making this book a wondrous emotional ride. Hidden agendas and untrustworthy characters made the effect even brighter. I lost count of the times a new plot was made, I lost count of the many layers of corruption and back-stabbing, and I lost count of the times my heart plummeted to the floor along with Anazar’s, and how my guts turned and complained at the emotional assault. Even the end was and event in its self, every time I thought it was over a new twist would make my breath catch and turn me into a nerve wreck.

Ah dear me, I could go on forever it seems. As it is, I loved the book. I loved the plot, I loved the time period it was settled, I loved the characters, all of them being brilliant, and I loved the intimacy between the lovers and their encounters. I also loved the fact that this book does not shy from the cruelty inflicted at that time, although there is a lack of unbearable gruesome details. They were described rather masterfully in my opinion.

So bottom end, if you love your gladiators and honorable men and some back-stabbing Roman politics this is the book for you. I do believe you’ll be fascinated and captivated same way I did. Totally recommended.

Thommie ...more

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Apr 07, 2013 Ayanna marked it as gave-up

I don't claim to be an expert on Roman history, but something about this book shoved me far beyond my ability to suspend my disbelief. I'm not quite sure what exactly it was - maybe it was just a bunch of little things that built up over time. ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Aug 08, 2013 Daisy rated it really liked it

Shelves: m_m, m_m_historical, owned, books_on_kindle, books_on_sony

What I liked most:
FELIX. Felix. He was adorable. Bestest character of the whole book.
Whilst I wasn't blinded by Felix in the scene, I tried focusing on the plot. It wasn't easy. Finer Roman politics got lost with me. I did not get a lot of it, but it was entertaining enough for me to finish it.
Because Felix. ...more

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