Ames’ review of Mask of the Gladiator by Georgie Lee.
Rome, 41 AD
Livia Duronius is driven to seek out a gladiator after watching him triumph in the Colosseum. His touch arouses a sense of hope she hasn’t felt since Rome fell under the tyrannical rule of Caligula—and her late husband betrayed her. Though in danger of losing more than her heart, she vows to see him again, even after she learns her uncle has arranged her marriage to a senator.
Senator Titus Marius cannot resist indulging in a passionate encounter with the veiled woman who waits for him after the games, though he faces execution if his true identity is discovered. Bound by honor to wed another, and embroiled in a plot to free Rome from madness, he never expects to see the mystery woman again.
When the fates reunite them in the marriage bed, Titus vows to protect Livia at all costs—even from the lecherous eyes of the emperor…
There was a good story here, but I felt that it suffered because of it’s short length.
Livia Duronius is a widow – and her uncle is trying to marry her off. After her husband betrayed her before his death, Livia cannot trust men again. She finds the men of the upperclass to be cowards who talk big but their actions show their true feelings. So she doesn’t want to be shackled to a coward.
One day when she goes to see the Games, she’s intrigued by her primal response to the fierce gladiator in the arena. She decides to offer him a reward after his bout, a financial reward, but things quickly spiral out of control and before you know it, she’s been thoroughly seduced! Titus and Livia both keep their faces concealed from the other, for Livia it’s her reputation on the line, and for Titus, it is his life. A Roman senator cannot be a gladiator. But Titus is working to overthrow the tyrant Caligula.
Both are thrown by their meeting – Livia doubly so because she is being forced to marry and she knows she can never see the gladiator in private again. Titus as well is going to be married and fears he will never see his mystery woman again.
All right. Obviously from the blurb Titus and Livia are going to marry each other. One their first official meeting, Titus quickly realizes that Livia is his mystery woman, but Livia has no clue. And Titus wants to tell her but in his plot to overthrow Caligula, he’s not sure he can trust Livia. Livia is afraid to marry Titus because she doesn’t want another sniveling weakling for a husband. But Titus talks a good game and she feels that she can trust him, that he will stand up for her and protect her from the emperor.
Like I said above, there’s a good story here but I felt that things would have been a bit smoother with some more length. Livia and Titus have an explosive first meeting, but I don’t believe the emotion they’re feeling for the other right from the get go. They’re strangers. And then Livia goes from not wanting to marry Titus to marrying him in the next chapter. I wish there had been some inner dialog to explain why she’d marry him despite her fears. Despite the length, I foudn this to be an enjoyable read and I do look forward to reading more from the author.
3 out of 5
This book is available from Carina Press. You can buy it here.
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