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Commodus

The Damned Emperors Book 2

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Commodus

By: Simon Turney
Narrated by: Helen Keeley
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Summary

 From the author of Caligula (an engrossing new spin on a well-known tale - The Times) comes a new standalone novel in the Damned Emperors series: Commodus.

Rome is enjoying a period of stability and prosperity. The Empire's borders are growing, and there are two sons in the imperial succession for the first time in Rome's history. But all is not as it appears. Cracks are beginning to show. Two decades of war have taken their toll, and there are whispers of a sickness in the East. The Empire stands on the brink of true disaster, an age of gold giving way to one of iron and rust, a time of reason and strength sliding into hunger and pain.

The decline may yet be halted, though. One man tries to hold the fracturing empire together. To Rome, he is their emperor, their Hercules, their Commodus.

But Commodus is breaking up himself, and when the darkness takes hold, only one woman can hold him together. To Rome she was nothing. The plaything of the emperor. To Commodus, she was everything. She was Marcia. Ancient Biographical Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Political Spies & Politics Thriller & Suspense Espionage Fiction War Biography Rome Ancient Greece
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Critic reviews

Astonishing . . . A fascinating, detailed and dramatic story of one of Rome's most notorious emperors
A nuanced portrait of an intriguing emperor
Simon Turney's Commodus combines thrilling Roman spectacle, star-crossed young lovers, and poisonous palace intrigue into a compulsively readable drama. Scrappy young freedwoman Marcia grows up in the shadows of the palace, becoming friend and confidante to the golden, haunted Imperial heir Commodus, but even Marcia's love cannot keep the prince's ghosts at bay once he becomes Emperor of Rome. A tense, taut, thrilling character study of one of Rome's most maligned rulers, transformed here into tragic hero (Kate Quinn, author of THE ALICE NETWORK)
Commodus, son of Marcus Aurelius: mad, bad and dangerous to stand too close to according to history. Simon Turney, however, does here what he did in Caligula - puts some humanity back in the beast of Rome. Warm and well-written (Robert Low, author of the Oathsworn series)
Turney masterfully gives readers a new and illuminating look at Emperor Commodus, but also introduces us to the clever freedwoman who should have been his empress. Seeing imperial Rome through Marcia's eyes is a delight not to be missed, and Turney is at the top of his game!
All stars
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narrator was brilliant and the story was fast paced, exciting and enjoyable. Marcia is thoroughly annoying by the end but I think she is supposed to be, and only added to the enjoyment.

great

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I have to say that overall I enjoyed the book, it was well written & narrated, A completely and more positive take on the life of Emperor Commodus. My only complaint was the actions of Marcia at the conclusion of the story, allowing her be absolved of her part in Commodus's death. It just didn't sit well with her prior actions, however this is only my view, the story otherwise was well crafted and I would still recommend the book.

Another take on Commodus

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A tragic,emotional,gripping story with life like flawed characters I loved the Narrator character of marcia and made me see commodus in a somewhat different way. I felt for marcia and commodus at certain things i winced in shock I felt I got to know both of them i began to see why commodus may have fallen in love with gladiators . I highly recommend this novel.

Gladiator

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Really enjoyed this additoon to the series. Brilliantly written and performed, definitely worth listening too.

Great book!

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