SPQR IX The Princess and the Pirates (Audible Audio Edition) John Maddox Roberts John Lee Audible Studios Books
Download As PDF : SPQR IX The Princess and the Pirates (Audible Audio Edition) John Maddox Roberts John Lee Audible Studios Books
As I walked back through the City, my mood was moderately elevated. This appointment did not displease me nearly as much as I pretended. Like most Romans I abhorred the very thought of sea duty, but this was one of the rare occasions when I was looking forward to getting away from Rome...
For years I had complained of the disorder of the City, and now that it was gone, I found that I missed it. All the peace and quiet seemed unnatural. I did not expect it to last.- Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger in SPQR IX The Princess and the Pirates. His two years of aedileship over, Decius is ready for his next adventure. He would rather do anything than join the war with Caesar in the dismal forests of Gaul, so he and his slave/protg Hermes find themselves on a mission to rid the Mediterranean of pirates. They set off with shoddy ships and sailors to the island of Cyprus, where a young Cleopatra is staying. Between her impressive crew and the ex-pirate Ariston providing insider knowledge of that cutthroat occupation, Decius thinks he stands a good chance of bringing himself some glory. That would be too simple, though. The ruler of the island, Silvanus, is murdered in a most peculiar fashion and Decius, as a guest in his home, has a sacred duty to find and punish the guilty party. Because world relations are already strained, he would rather not suspect Cleopatra, heir to the Egyptian throne. But she has plenty of reasons to hate Rome and murder runs in her family. Another guest and suspect is Gabinius, who is in exile and could have easily given up loyalty toward his friend if it meant a quicker return to Rome.
In the meantime, Decius is being humiliated in his pirate hunt, and as if this weren't enough, Aphrodite herself seeks Decius's help by appearing to him in a dream vision. As Decius investigates world trade, the island history, and the new kind of piracy plaguing the waters, he is finding connections more menacing than he had ever imagined possible. In this ninth book in the series, Roberts crafts another skillful mystery, this time fervently pulsing with the collision of Roman, Greek, and Egyptian interests.
SPQR IX The Princess and the Pirates (Audible Audio Edition) John Maddox Roberts John Lee Audible Studios Books
Decius has finished two years as aedile so about two years has passed since the last book. Clodius and Crassus are both dead in the background. There is a fleeting reference to the battle Crassus was killed at without even mentioning he has died. The only evidence of Clodius being dead is in explaining why Milo is exiled. I am glad that we got to skip that episode as this version of Milo is so much fun and such a good friend to Decius. His guilt is only by wrong place wrong time rather than the other version where it was a deadly planned ambush. I hope that this won't be his final appearance maybe a trip to Massilia is in the offing for Decius. Decius has been sent to clean up some pirates in Cyprus and finds Cleopatra in residence with a soon to be murdered governor. Yet again there is more than meets the eye and Decius is up to his eyeballs in a mess of Roman politics. He sorts it out as usual in an amusing if unseen mannerProduct details
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SPQR IX The Princess and the Pirates (Audible Audio Edition) John Maddox Roberts John Lee Audible Studios Books Reviews
Overall This is another highly enjoyable, quick read in the SPQR series by John Maddox Roberts.
Detailed The title is a bit misleading which actually helps sets up the rest of the story. The pirate part of the book is more part of the historical back drop for the murder than a key plot element. As per the other SPQR books, this is a murder mystery using famous historic personages and repeeating characters from the other books.
The main character development is of Cleopatra instead of the major characters. There is clear foreshadowed of Cleopatra's role in upcoming books / future events which is done very well. Hermes is freed in act of kindness caused by the realization of how short life is by Decius. It is nicely done.
The religous elements of the story are interesting especially regarding the cult of Aphrodite. There is a clear implication that Decius and Julia will be parents in the next novel. It should be a very interesting twist to see Decius as a father.
Summary
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Plot 4 of 5 stars
Characters 3 of 5 stars
Action 3 of 5 stars
How do you catch pirates? You know where they are only after they successfully raid a ship or port, but then they fade away. Decius Caecilius Metellus The Younger is sent to Cyprus with a commission to hunt and destroy pirates who are raiding the eastern Mediterranean. Decius, who hates sailing, suddenly finds himself as Commodore of a Fleet of three vessels based on the island of Cyprus.
This mission is a challenge for Decius. First, other than his faithful slave Hermes, he is alone, without anyone to trust. Cyprus is a new territory for Rome, but the Romans living there are not friends or acquaintances of Decius or his family. There were naval assets on the island, but they were seized by Crassus and General Gabinius for previous military campaigns. Decius is left with three small ships and a few weapons.
Decius is more of a detective than a soldier or sailor. Early in his campaign, Cleopatra, a 16 year old Princess of Egypt, volunteers to join his force with her ship and warriors. Can he trust Cleopatra? Who can he trust? What can he do to find and confront the pirates? If he does find them, how can he defeat them without a significant force of trained and tough men? This novel presents new challenges to Decius, and his efforts make an entertaining story. The outcome of his battles and the final solution to the mystery of the pirates is realistic.
"The Princess and the Pirates" provides the reader with historical information on ancient Roman culture. First is the reality that Rome did not have a noble beginning, instead it was founded by outcasts and bandits that retreated to the site from various tribes in the area. This fact may explain some more "uncivilized" habits popular among the Roman "nobility."
Second, at the time, people believed in three "gods" called fates Clotho, who is said to spin the "tread" of each person's life on her spinning wheel; Lachesis, who measures our thread of life; and Atropos, who cuts our thread solely on her whim. So, to people who believe, despite hard work, their life is out of their control.
Third, we learn much about languages of the time Aramaic, the tongue spoken in Judea, Syria, and the surrounding land, was a simplification of several languages spoken in that part of the world; Latin was a merger of Faliscian, Sabine, Marsian, and Bruttian which had been spoken by some of the original settlers of Rome.
"The Princess and the Pirates" is a fun book. I highly recommend this novel for those who like historical fiction.
John Maddox Roberts SPQR IX is an okay but not great addition to the very enjoyable tales of Decius Caecillus Metellus. Without the city or its environs as a backdrop, our hero seems strangely adrift (no pun intended). There's no mystery to to resolve, and introducing the Princess Cleopatra felt rather contrived. Once going to the bother, though Roberts could have made more use of a figure not yet an historical icon.
Most of the details of the ships and Mediterranean seem perfectly true in what I suppose is an adventure but Roberts is no Patrick O'Brien and Decius Metellus is definitely no Jack Aubrey. There also seems to be a distinct falling off of the wit or humor that characterized many of the earlier works. All in all, I would say Metellus didn't enjoy this adventure very much more than I did. He got through it; so did I. Looking forward to a return to firmer, more familiar ground.
Another great book in the series, this time in Cyprus, with Decius chasing pirates and Cleopatra joining him in his quest. Of course, Decius is also investigating a murder. That is fascinating, but I do love Decius whether he's investigating murders or commenting on Greeks, Egyptians, politics, etc. Decius is a fun guy, and a very enlightened Roman even though he does have some prejudices, as all of us do.
Cleopatra was fantastic. She's a teenager, around 16 or 17, has a lot of power, is very bossy yet quite charming, I can tell the author did his homework.
Decius has finished two years as aedile so about two years has passed since the last book. Clodius and Crassus are both dead in the background. There is a fleeting reference to the battle Crassus was killed at without even mentioning he has died. The only evidence of Clodius being dead is in explaining why Milo is exiled. I am glad that we got to skip that episode as this version of Milo is so much fun and such a good friend to Decius. His guilt is only by wrong place wrong time rather than the other version where it was a deadly planned ambush. I hope that this won't be his final appearance maybe a trip to Massilia is in the offing for Decius. Decius has been sent to clean up some pirates in Cyprus and finds Cleopatra in residence with a soon to be murdered governor. Yet again there is more than meets the eye and Decius is up to his eyeballs in a mess of Roman politics. He sorts it out as usual in an amusing if unseen manner
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