Book Title: EXSILIUM
Series: Roma Nova
Author: Alison Morton
Publication Date: 27 February 2024
Publisher: Pulcheria Press
Page Length: 364
Genre: Historical Fiction
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BLURB
Exile – A living death to a Roman AD 395. In a Christian Roman Empire, worshipping the traditional gods is a death sentence. Three Romans, Maelia, Lucius and Galla, faithful to their beliefs in Rome’s thousand-year religion and values, must choose. Do they stay, hoping for the best, or leave Rome forever – a rupture from everything they know – to search for a safer life?Maelia Mitela, her dead husband condemned as a pagan traitor, leaving her on the brink of ruin, grieves for her son lost to the Christians and is fearful of committing to another man.Lucius Apulius, ex-tribune, faithful to the old gods and fixed on his memories of his wife Julia’s homeland of Noricum, will risk everything to protect his children’s future.Galla Apulia, loyal to her father and only too aware of not being the desired son, is desperate to escape Rome after the humiliation of betrayal by her feckless husband.For all of them, the only way to survive is exile.Sequel to JULIA PRIMA (Historical Novel Society Editors’ Choice). Set at the dusk of the Roman Empire, the origin story behind the modern Roma Nova thriller series”EXSILIUM offers serious food for thought with this page-turning adventure of twelve determined families fighting to salvage their ancient culture in the face of a newly Christianized Roman Empire. In this origin story poised on the jumping-off point from recorded history into Morton’s Roma Nova series, Morton upends the historical novel trope of persecuted Christians in a thought-provoking look at what happens when any single religion becomes dominant over its competition.” – Amanda Cockrell writing as Damion Hunter‘Alison Morton proves she is a master of her craft with EXSILIUM, the engrossing story of two Roman families fighting for survival as the society and culture that has nurtured them for generations disintegrates before their eyes. Her research and knowledge of the period is evident on every page, but delivered with the deftest of touches. As darkness closes in and they decide to flee the all-consuming clutches of a dangerous new fanaticism, the reader is swept along with the characters every step of the way – Douglas Jackson, author of Gaius Valerius Verrens (Hero of Rome) series“Morton skilfully threads this greater history into the personal plight of Roman families who choose exile to preserve their customs and religion. EXSILIUM concludes the gripping genesis story of the Roma Nova thrillers for new readers and established fans alike.” – Elisabeth Storrs, author of A Tale of Ancient Rome series
REVIEW
Now, that is a prequel. Having read and thoroughly enjoyed the modern-day Roma Nova books, I always had this thought in the back of my mind…how did it begin? Well, now we know, and this tale, is quite simply, brilliant. Rome had been invaded before, but the foes always left. Not this time. The Christian Faith, with the full blessing of Rome’s rulers, has conquered and is staying. Centuries of worshipping the old gods are now illegal. Faced with this crisis, the author has constructed a tale of woe and self-imposed exile for those who refuse to abandon their gods. It is a gripping tale full of nasty plot twists that will keep you glued to the pages. It is a tale of bravery and hardship and is the perfect fit for the coming of age of Roma Nova. 5 STARS
Author Bio:
Alison Morton writes award-winning thrillers featuring tough but compassionate heroines. Her ten-book Roma Nova series is set in an imaginary European country where a remnant of the Roman Empire has survived into the 21st century and is ruled by women who face conspiracy, revolution and heartache but use a sharp line in dialogue. The latest, EXSILIUM, plunges us back to the late 4th century, to the very foundation of Roma Nova.
She blends her fascination for Ancient Rome with six years’ military service and a life of reading crime, historical and thriller fiction. On the way, she collected a BA in modern languages and an MA in history.
Alison now lives in Poitou in France, the home of Mélisende, the heroine of her two contemporary thrillers, Double Identity and Double Pursuit.
Author Links:
Connect with Alison on her World of Thrillers site: https://alison-morton.com
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Buy Links:
Universal Amazon Link: https://mybook.to/EXSILIUM
All retailers (including Amazon) Universal Link: https://books2read.com/EXSILIUM
Historical Fiction reviews 