“Compelling characters swirl through the fast-moving, cleverly constructed plot...
With its expert mix of comedy and tragedy,
Wrath may be Saylor's most thought-provoking work.”
—USA Today
Order Wrath of the Furies from Amazon • Barnes & Noble • IndieBound • iBooks
“A highly suspenseful plot and a moving resolution distinguish Saylor’s masterful novel featuring Roman sleuth Gordianus the Finder in his younger years.”—Publisher’s Weekly (starred review)
“Saylor has concocted one of his best novels so far with this tale of intrigue and extraordinarily bloody reckonings…an international thriller, with espionage, world-shaking events, and plenty of plots, plans, and conspiracies.” —Edge Boston
”Every bit as good as its history- and tension-packed predecessors…sustains a high level of suspense, while Saylor gives readers great sandals-on-the-ground details of the ancient world.”—Booklist (starred review)
”The author brings the tumultuous political world of Rome and its allies and enemies to vivid life…from the excruciating tortures to which the king subjects his Roman foes to the glorious Temple of Artemis at Ephesus—one of the Wonders of the Ancient World. The reader cringes at Mithridates’ mad ambitions, all while wishing to be swathed in the royal family’s opulent silks. Saylor’s grasp on ancient politics is second to none…”—BookReporter
”In the latest installment of the Roma Sub Rosa series, Gordianus again displays his sleuthing skills, but instead of the mature Finder, this entry concerns a Gordianus barely out of his teens.…The series has been rejuvenated by the younger hero and is now better than ever. [Saylor‘s] The Seven Wonders and Raiders of the Nile combine with this latest to establish him as the undisputed master of the Roman historical mystery.”
—Historical Novel Society
”I’ve always admired how novelist Steven Saylor populates his Roman mysteries with accomplished and heroic women. In Saylor’s latest, Wrath of the Furies, he’s outdone himself. Being an avid fan of Bethesda, the droll sidekick of Gordianus the Finder, I’m tickled to find her front and center in this literary outing, along with other female scene-stealers and vixens with villainous intentions. Nothing ponderous about Steven’s storytelling, either. He gives ancient history three dimensions, deftly exploring sexuality and human nature. He’s ingenious about using well-documented events of long ago to make points that resonate today.”
—Vicki León, author of The Joy of Sexus and Working IX to V
”Steven Saylor, as always, does such a fine job of immersing the reader in another time and place.”—For Winter Nights, A Bookish Blog
What a fabulous tale Steven Saylor has woven from the terrible events that King Mithradates set in motion in 88 BC! Brilliant!”—Adrienne Mayor, author of The Poison King
Read an excerpt • Interviews at Kirkus • Edge Boston • UNRV • Mayhem&Magic
In 88 B.C., it seems the whole world is at war. In the west, the Italian states are rebelling against Rome; in the east, King Mithridates is rapidly conquering the Greek-speaking cities under Roman control. Even in relatively calm Alexandria, where young Gordianus is waiting out the chaos, a coup has brought a new Pharaoh to power and rioting in the streets.
Lured by a cryptic message, Gordianus decides to journey to the city of Ephesus, taking his beloved Bethesda with him. But his timing couldn’t be worse. Having recently conquered Ephesus, Mithridates is planning to massacre every Roman left in the city. Hiding his Roman identity and arriving incognito, Gordianus is quickly enmeshed in the intrigues of a dazzling cast of characters. These include Mithridates’ alluring new queen, the scheming Monime; a brawny Jew known as Samson, who may or may not be a spy for the Romans; Prince Ptolemy, the kidnapped teenaged son of the Pharaoh of Egypt; and the very first of Gordianus’s lovers, the ravishing Persian slave Amestris.
Who lured Gordianus to Ephesus, and why? The message indicated that his old tutor, Antipater, was in imminent danger—but Gordianus can’t seem to find the aged poet, much less rescue him. As the massacre of every Roman in Ephesus draws closer, Gordianus must unravel the mystery behind the message if he’s to save himself and the people he holds most dear.
Steven Saylor is the author of the acclaimed historical mystery novels featuring Gordianus the Finder, as well as the national bestselling historical novels Roma and Empire. He has appeared on The History Channel as an expert on Roman politics and life. He divides his times between Berkeley, California, and Austin, Texas |
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