HFVBT Presents: Colossus: The Four Emperors

Publication Date: April 7, 2013
Sordelet Ink
Paperback; 406p
ISBN-10: 061578318X

Rome under Nero is a dangerous place. His cruel artistic whims border on madness, and any man who dares rise too high has his wings clipped, with fatal results.

For one family, Nero means either promotion or destruction. While his uncle Vespasian goes off to put down a rebellion in Judea, Titus Flavius Sabinus struggles to walk the perilous line between success and notoriety as he climbs Rome's ladder. When Nero is impaled on his own artistry, the whole world is thrown into chaos and Sabinus must navigate shifting allegiances and murderous alliances as his family tries to survive the year of the Four Emperors.

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My Thoughts

This was a masterfully penned tale of life during the tumultuous rule of Nero and shortly after his death.

Author David Blixt's attention to detail brings the story of Rome and it's ruling families to life for readers in such an all encompassing fashion that one soon forgets that this book is fiction.

It is a sheer joy to turn the pages of this read and bear witness to the bloodshed, scandal, betrayal, and power struggles based in historical fact laid out in such an accessible and enjoyable fashion.

The most appealing thing about this book by far, has to be the author's characterizations of such notable figures as Nero, Vespian, and Titus Flavius Sabinus.  

Readers become familiar with these people as men; experiencing their madness, brilliance, greed, ambition, successes, and failures on an extremely personal level. 

While it is true that this book is the second in the series; reading it's predecessor is not required.

This book and its series is a must for any lover of Roman history.

About the Author

Author and playwright David Blixt's work is consistently described as "intricate," "taut," and "breathtaking." A writer of Historical Fiction, his novels span the early Roman Empire (the COLOSSUS series, his play EVE OF IDES) to early Renaissance Italy (the STAR-CROSS'D series, including THE MASTER OF VERONA, VOICE OF THE FALCONER, and FORTUNE'S FOOL) up through the Elizabethan era (his delightful espionage comedy HER MAJESTY'S WILL, starring Will Shakespeare and Kit Marlowe as inept spies). His novels combine a love of the theatre with a deep respect for the quirks and passions of history. As the Historical Novel Society said, "Be prepared to burn the midnight oil. It's well worth it." Living in Chicago with his wife and two children, David describes himself as "actor, author, father, husband. In reverse order."

For more about David and his novels, visit www.davidblixt.com.