Genre: Historical
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
Every Empire Must Fall.
Journey back in time and embark on a thrilling pseudo-historical M/M action-romance set during the fall of the Roman Empire.
Cato was a Centurion of the Empire. He had marched from one end of known civilization to the other. He had waged war. He had delivered justice. He had taken lives. And he had spared them, too. But he had never known love. And so, as he stood in line with the others who had been sentenced to decimation after retreating from the latest onslaught of Visigoth forces on the frontier, he couldn’t help but shake the feeling that somehow, some way, his brilliant career as a military strategist and leader had led him astray. After all, he wouldn’t be awaiting his execution if it hadn’t…
Alaric had chosen to be where he was. Such was the right, and burden, of his tribe. Unlike the others–the ones who labeled them barbarian without learning their language or custom–he had always had a choice. Alaric believed in what his people stood for. As a boy, he had watched the Roman Legion descend on his village, and then all the others surrounding it. The soldiers had set fire to the forests. They had raised the temples. And they had pillaged and destroyed until little remained of the place he’d called home. He’d lost his family in those raids, alongside the innocence of childhood. That’s why, years later, when he took part in an attack on an unsuspecting Roman military camp, the last thing he ever expected was to come face to face with an enemy soldier who challenged everything he knew about the imperialistic demons that had forced bloodshed and fear onto his people for centuries…
History has a way of repeating itself. But sometimes, the cruel wheel of fate is broken by the simplest, most human truth of all: love. Can the human spirit triumph over evil? Or will cruelty and prejudice rule as they always seem to? Journey back in time and discover that the greatest love stories are forged in war and fire.
Grab a spear.
Prepare for war.
Rome will burn.
The Review
Cato Flaius Marecellianus was a great Centurion. He lead his men – some barely boys – into battle to protect Rome. The fight was great, but Cato had to retreat. The Visigoth had reduced his army to barely eighty men. They were his responsibility, and to retreat left him feeling shame and failure.
General Corvinus called for Cato and his men to face the Decimation. The Arbiter of Justice for the Empire Rome, Tribunus, brought the scroll for the Decimation – an evil ritual where black and white stones would be used to bring death to the remaining men of Cato’s small army. Cato could do nothing, for to run meant sure death. He watched as one out of every ten of his men faced their death. As a storm was brewing, Cato sacrificed himself for the young Draco, who had drawn a black stone.
As Cato lay dying in mud and blood, he was rescued by Gundemar, Chief of a war tribe, and Alaric. Gundemar had taken care of Alaric since he’d been a young boy. He had no home or tribe, but he did have Blindan, a majestic black velvet horse that was his only family.
As Cato and Alaric get to know one another, their lives face a twisted and unexpected reality. Cato will meet Mars, God of War and protector of Rome. He will receive the lance “Hasta Martia” – the spear of the old God Mars. In a dreamlike realm, Mars will show him the wolves and the history of Rome, as it continually repeats itself. Alaric will meet the three Fates: Nona the spinner, Decima the measurer and Morta the cutter. Both will face the danger of “The Void.”
Gray has penned a magnificent tale of two men with Centurion, a tale of the cruelty and violence of Rome, not only towards her enemies, but also her own people. It’s a fast-paced tale, filled with action and heart-shattering battles.
Nando Gray’s brilliant writing melds history and mythology to create an outstanding tale of love, heartbreak, and surprises. I’m also amazed by Gray’s illustrations throughout the book. Each chapter illustration tells a story, and brings Centurion to life.
The author also included a chapter from Paleolithica, another outstanding illustrated story.
The Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.
I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.
My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!
As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.
My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.
I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.
But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.
