Posts labeled Ancient Rome
Review - Favorites of Fortuna by J.P. Kenwood
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You'd think our two heroes would be happy. Alle is free and back among his people, many of whom expect him to become king when his ailing father dies. Gaius no longer needs to worry about anyone finding out Alle's true identity and can focus on becoming the next emperor of Rome. The problem is that both of them miss each other. When it becomes clear that Alle's destiny is not to be king, he hatches a plan that may reunite him with Gaius and maybe even offer the Dacian prince a chance to kill the emperor.
Tags: Ancient Rome
Review - Pulsus Cordis Mei - The Pulse of my Heart by Maxime Jaz
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Marius is off to far-away lands, leading Rome's legions against her enemies. But, distance is no barrier to his enemies who don't want to see the general named as heir to the imperial throne. A plot to kidnap Marius goes awry, and he ends up being sold as a slave and transported to a gladiator school in Africa. Meanwhile, Kyle and Claudia struggle to stay one step ahead of the “snakes” who not only want to get rid of Marius, but his son as well.
Tags: Ancient Rome Menage M/s
Review - Avis Aurea - The Golden Bird by Maxime Jaz
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Marius has returned to Rome with Kyle, more determined than ever to keep the slave by his side. Of course, there are pressures from all quarters for him to conform to the demands of his high position as the commander of the military and nephew of the emperor. Ultimately he gives in to demands for him to take another wife, but he does so on his own terms. Claudia proves to be more than just a beard, and the three form an odd sort of family.
Tags: Ancient Rome Menage M/s
Review - Donum - The Gift by Maxime Jaz
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General of the Roman army and nephew of the emperor Marius is returning to Rome after a long campaign. At camp the night before reaching home, he is invited to dinner at the home of the local noble. It's not something he wants to do, but can't refuse. The noble turns out to have a penchant for young boys and presents his bed slave Kyle to Marius for the night.
Tags: Ancient Rome M/s
Review - Blood Before Wine by J.P. Kenwood
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After three months of hard labor in the slave quarters, Gaius releases Alle from his punishment for stealing a dagger, and welcomes him back to his bed. As the two grow ever closer to acknowledging their feelings for each other, it also becomes clear to Gaius that there are people, some of them apparently quite powerful, who know Alle’s secret, and then there’s the emperor himself, who takes an uncomfortable interest in Alle as well.
Tags: Ancient Rome
Review - Meeting Tiberius and Other Roman Tales by Clodia Metilli
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In this collection of stories featuring Gaius, Tiberius, Achilles and other characters from the previous two books of the series, we learn a bit more about Gaius’ past as well as glimpses of the future after the end of Gaius and Achilles. The first story, which gives the collection its name, recounts how Gaius and Tiberius first met, while later ones tell us about Achilles’ life with Gaius after being freed.
Tags: Ancient Rome Anthology BDSM
Review - Games of Rome by J.P. Kenwood
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This second book of the five-part Dominus series picks up exactly where the first installment left of: with the death of Gaius’ old friend, and sometimes lover, Lucius. The mystery of who killed Lucius, and why, is a major theme of this book, although the relationship between Gaius and Allerix remains the core of the story. Allerix seems resigned to his fate as Gaius’ slave, although he still plots his revenge against the Roman emperor, and Dominus takes steps to protect his slave’s true identity, a secret that could mean death for both of them if it becomes known.
Tags: Historical Ancient Rome
Review - Dominus
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General Gaius Fabius returns to Rome in triumph from the Dacian wars, but soon finds himself restless for a new challenge. Somewhat bored with his current stable of pleasure slaves, Gaius finds his challenge in the form of Allerix, a Dacian prisoner put up for auction. Gaius decides to make Allerix his new boy toy, but taming the young man may be more of a challenge than Gaius bargained for.
Tags: Historical Ancient Rome
Review - Dancing Phaedra
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In the time of Julius Cesar, Antyllus is a young slave working in one of Rome’s grotty whorehouses. Having been raised in the brothel, it’s the only life he has ever known, and yet he knows that he is capable of being more than a sexual plaything. He has developed a passion for dance, and even though he has had no formal training, his natural ability is obvious to the rich Senator Gabinius, who encounters Antyllus at a dinner party where the slave boys have been brought to entertain the guests.
Tags: Ancient Rome Novella
Review - Eromenos
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The story of Hadiran and Antinous has provided great fodder for gay historical romance. After all, there are few male historical figures that we know had sexual relationships. Even Alexander and Hephastion may have enjoyed a purely platonic affair. But that Antinous was Hadrian’s sexual partner there can be little doubt. The many memorials left by Hadrian to Antinous seems to suggest there was love there as well, and the fact that Antinous died so young makes the story a tragedy worthy of Shakespeare.
Tags: Historical Ancient Rome