Paul Waters is a well-travelled classicist; though educated in Britain, he has lived much of his life abroad, including in Africa, America and Greece. His first novel, Of Merchants & Heroes, was published in 2008, followed by Cast Not the Day in 2009.

About the Author

Paul Waters is a well-travelled classicist; though educated in Britain, he has lived much of his life abroad, including in Africa, America and Greece. His first novel, Of Merchants & Heroes, was published in 2008, followed by Cast Not the Day in 2009.

Reviews

Two young fourth-century warriors are swept into high-level political intrigue and warfare from Britain and Gaul to the Adriatic coast as they are caught up in the fight against the threat of barbarian invasion in this low-key but engaging sequel to Cast Not the Day. When the corrupt imperial notary Paulus has the Roman-British Drusus and his lover, Marcellus, arrested for treason, they are unexpectedly befriended by the scholarly prince Julian. Reluctant defender of the Gallic frontier, Julian shares a secret with the two men, a leaning toward the old gods despite the empire's official Christianity. As officers in Julian's forces, Drusus and Marcellus face both scheming bureaucrats more concerned with petty power games than Julian's mission and the danger that his martial success will be perceived as treason by his suspicious cousin, the Emperor Constantius II. Though Waters's cool narrative style is distancing, he ably portrays both the rise of Julian and the love between Drusus and Marcellus in a well-researched tale illuminating a little-known historical era. Agent: Jonny Pegg, Curtis Brown U.K. (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

In 355 C.E., the civilized world was in turmoil as ambitious political leaders fought for supremacy and the still young Christian faith began to gain a foothold over the ancient religions of Rome and Greece. Into this uneasy world Julian, the grandson of Emperor Constantine, was born. Unlike Constantine, however, Julian subscribed to the faith of his ancestors, which earned him the title of apostate. In this sequel to Cast Not the Day, Drusus and Marcellus, Julian's lover, have been charged with treason against the Roman state. On the run, they fall in with Julian, who has managed to secure Gaul from the Saxons with minimal supplies and forces. Together, the three young men find the courage and fortitude to challenge the might of the Roman Empire and fight for a world free from corruption and greed. VERDICT Waters's portrait of a less familiar historical era is vivid and remarkable. Historical fiction fans who enjoy Edward Rutherfurd and Bernard Cornwell will rejoice in this fresh new voice.-Jane Henriksen Baird, Anchorage P.L., AK (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.