Hermogenes is an Alexandrian trader who travels to Rome to try to reclaim a debt from an important Roman civic person. We read lots of really interesting vignettes about how the Romans saw other nations – Barbarians – and how their notion of honour appeared to be generally only honour to other Romans. Hermogenes is accompanied by two slaves from Alexandria and before long the two slaves are having to act as bodyguards to him. It appears that he has poked a rather nasty wasps nest in trying to reclaim his debt. One of his slaves is killed in a fight with some of Hermogenes’ new enemies and his life is saved by Cantabra, the female gladiator of a barbarian (celtic) tribe. She becomes his new bodyguard and the tender and rather surprising love story between them is wonderfully written. Hermogenes gets deeper and deeper into Roman politics and Roman money until eventually he wins back his debt, at the cost of many beatings and much trouble.

What I liked about this story was that there was a sub-theme about the position of gay men and boys in Roman society, as well as Greek. Some of the issues were explored – that of slaves not having the option of saying ‘no’ to their masters (although Cantabra actually does this) and the way in which gay people were seen in Greek and Roman society. This is all done in a way that doesn’t feel like you’re being preached to or lectured at. No mean feat!

This is a good yarn set in any era but the Roman details just add to the enjoyment. I recommend this book wholeheartedly.

A long time fan of Bradshaw's Historical Fiction, I can't wait for her next book!

So here is the story. Hermogenes, a Roman citizen from Alexandria comes to Rome to claim an outstanding debt from a wealthy and powerful Consul. Doing this he rolls the little stone that starts a full avalanche down on him. In fast succession he is laughed at, spat at and attacked. But he is like a little bulldog that simply will not let go of the butcher's trousers ... so he keeps on trying to make people honour his rights. He is rescued by a barbarian gladiatrix and this unlikely couple teams up to show Rome their teeth.

The plot is excellent and the different twists it takes, keep you turning the pages unaware of the time, the background is livid and the characters, even the side-characters are unique. The style of writing is typical Bradshaw - she concentrates on the story without elaborate language. I wish she had done so even more. I can not help myself feeling that at some points she has written for the readers or the publishers, not for the story-line. This is especially true in the case of a few love-scenes (an hitherto unknown thing in Bradshaw books, if I am not mistaken), which feel like Bradshaw's heart was not into it, like she just added some sex because of public demand. I wish she hadn't. At some points the language as well feels, like the book has not been to the lector yet, but it is only a few small paragraphs.

So why still the five stars? Because a Bradshaw - even if not up to her usual standard - is still better than a lot of other books out there and well worth reading. And because the story captures you so well, that it is not difficult at all to overlook a few tiny flaws. My Message to Gillian Bradshaw: ENCORE!!! - I am already waiting for the next