Aurelia (Roma Nova, #4)
by Alison Morton
Publication Date: May 5, 2015
SilverWood Books
Paperback & eBook; 270 Pages
Genre: Alternative Historical FictionSource: This book was given to me by Historical Fiction Virtual Book tours in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: Late 1960s Roma Nova, the last Roman colony that has survived into the 21st century. Aurelia Mitela is alone – her partner gone, her child sickly and her mother dead. Forced in her mid-twenties to give up her beloved career as a Praetorian officer, she is struggling to manage an extended family tribe, businesses and senatorial political life.
But her country needs her unique skills. Somebody is smuggling silver – Roma Nova’s lifeblood – on an industrial scale. Sent to Berlin to investigate, she encounters the mysterious and attractive Miklós, a suspected smuggler, and Caius Tellus, a Roma Novan she has despised, and feared, since childhood.
Aurelia suspects that the silver smuggling hides a deeper conspiracy and follows a lead into the Berlin criminal underworld. Barely escaping a trap set by a gang boss intent on terminating her, she realises that her old enemy is at the heart of all her troubles and pursues him back home to Roma Nova…
My Review: Aurelia is the first of the prequel series to the Roma Nova series that is set in the late 1960s. It is about the grandmother to the protagonist Carina. In this series, Aurelia is a high-ranking noblewoman and a Praetorian officer. When she finds out that someone is smuggling silver, she is sent to Berlin to investigate. There she finds that her nemesis, Caius Tellus, is involved in this plot. Aurelia then goes on her quest to pursue him and to capture him.
I felt sorry for Aurelia. This woman did not have it easy. She had lost many people whom she loved. The only person that is still living is her child, but she is sickly. because she is emotionally distraught she has given up her job. However, no matter how deep in mourning she is in, she must go back to work. I like how she is curious, for she has a lot of questions that she wants answers to. However, while I did like her character, I thought she was too perfect for my taste. She is a Mary Sue. She does not really have any faults. She is intelligent, strong, and good at fighting.I wish there was more development to her character.
Overall, this is about family, friendship, and love. The story is fast-paced and action-packed. It is a page turner that will keep you entertained throughout the book. However, there were some sad scenes that I did not like, and I really did not like her love interest. Even though the ending was a setup for the next book, I do wish that it ended differently. Still, I found the world-building to be very interesting and complex, and it gave us a lot of detail to the world that she created. I felt like I was a visitor to her alternative world. Because this book is a prequel, you do not have to read the Roma Nova series to enjoy this book. I recommend this book to those interested in science fiction, action thrillers, and anyone who like to think about the “what ifs” of famous historical figures and how the world would be different if their lives had been different.
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY | KOBO
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Even before she pulled on her first set of combats, Alison Morton was fascinated by the idea of women soldiers. Brought up by a feminist mother and an ex-military father, it never occurred to her that women couldn’t serve their country in the armed forces. Everybody in her family had done time in uniform and in theatre – regular and reserve Army, RAF, WRNS, WRAF – all over the globe.
So busy in her day job, Alison joined the Territorial Army in a special communications regiment and left as a captain, having done all sorts of interesting and exciting things no civilian would ever know or see. Or that she can talk about, even now…
But something else fuels her writing… Fascinated by the mosaics at Ampurias (Spain), at their creation by the complex, power and value-driven Roman civilisation started her wondering what a modern Roman society would be like if run by strong women…
Now, she lives in France and writes Roman-themed alternate history thrillers with tough heroines:
INCEPTIO, the first in the Roma Nova series
– shortlisted for the 2013 International Rubery Book Award
– B.R.A.G. Medallion
– finalist in 2014 Writing Magazine Self-Published Book of the Year
PERFIDITAS, second in series
– B.R.A.G. Medallion
– finalist in 2014 Writing Magazine Self-Published Book of the Year
SUCCESSIO, third in series
– Historical Novel Society’s indie Editor’s Choice for Autumn 2014
– B.R.A.G. Medallion
– Editor’s choice, The Bookseller’s inaugural Indie Preview, December 2014
Fact file
Education: BA French, German & Economics, MA History
Memberships: International Thriller Writers, Historical Novel Society, Alliance of Independent Authors, Society of Authors
Represented by Annette Crossland of A for Authors Literary Agency for subsidiary and foreign rights.
WEBSITE | BLOG | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS | AMAZON UK AUTHOR PAGE | AMAZON US AUTHOR PAGE
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