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evailonak's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
ksull95's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jennyn52779's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
corrompido's review against another edition
4.0
It's ridiculous to say that ~1500 pages in that this series hit its stride but I find myself enjoying parts of it more and more. As I mentioned in the previous book, that is partly becoming familiar with the characters, anachronisms and the setting but whatever it is I thought that large parts of this book were really good. I enjoyed learning more about this period of history and several figures and happenings I was not familiar with.
carlosm47's review against another edition
4.0
4,3/5
Another great entry in the Masters of Rome series. This book marks the end of the first generation of characters so to speak, and the early political careers of Pompey and Caesar. Sulla has being my favorite character in the series so far (next to Scaurus and Aurelia) so I was kinda bummed that his campaign against Mithridates was cut out of the book; understandable though since this series focuses more on Rome's inner affairs and character motivations.
One of the things I love about historical fiction is the joy of learning about new historical events while being entertained by the dramatization of events and dialogues between important characters. This is why the chapter about the Sertorian War was my highlight of the book; a conflict that I didn't know nothing about and by the end of it got a pretty good understating of what went on. It was a joy finishing a chapter and then do a fact check only to find that everything has been well researched.
Its only book 3 but I already feel like this series is going to leave an empty void when its over.
Another great entry in the Masters of Rome series. This book marks the end of the first generation of characters so to speak, and the early political careers of Pompey and Caesar. Sulla has being my favorite character in the series so far (next to Scaurus and Aurelia) so I was kinda bummed that his campaign against Mithridates was cut out of the book; understandable though since this series focuses more on Rome's inner affairs and character motivations.
One of the things I love about historical fiction is the joy of learning about new historical events while being entertained by the dramatization of events and dialogues between important characters. This is why the chapter about the Sertorian War was my highlight of the book; a conflict that I didn't know nothing about and by the end of it got a pretty good understating of what went on. It was a joy finishing a chapter and then do a fact check only to find that everything has been well researched.
Its only book 3 but I already feel like this series is going to leave an empty void when its over.
guojing's review against another edition
4.0
It is hard not to give this a five star rating. Sure, there are plenty of flaws - one rather grating one is the author's frequent habit of explaining things for the reader in conversation which would have been totally obvious to anybody having such a conversation in ancient Rome, rather than doing so outside of speech - and plenty of weak points, but it is just such a wonderfully compelling, captivating novel that it is hard to put down.
ryner's review against another edition
5.0
This third volume of McCullough's 'Masters of Rome' series concerns Lucius Cornelius Sulla's rise to Dictator of Rome and his eventual retirement, as well as the budding careers of both Pompey the Great and Julius Caesar. I enjoyed this work more than the second book, but not quite as much as the first. I have to keep reminding myself that it's fiction, because the minute details seem very real.