A well-researched historical fiction novel.
In the Shadow of Rome is set in Caledonia (Scotland) and tells the story of the native Caledonians trying to exist within the new occupying Roman empire. As with any tale of colonisation, this is sometimes peaceful, sometimes not.
The conflict between Sigdan, a native of Scandanavia rewarded for his fierceness in battle with a rank, and Vespasian, an incompetent Roman officer adds an interesting dimension of jealousy and power to the story. We also see Sigdan's relationship with Giorsal, an apothecary who lives near the fort and is pregnant with his child. Her talents are sought out by escaped slaves which leads to dramatic consequences. I think that this book is very well-researched. I liked the depth of each of the characters as well as the descriptions of roman life, battles etc. It is a good historical fiction as it creates a picture of the time and place and allows the reader to be drawn into a world that is unfamiliar to them.
I don't know a great deal about the roman empire, I studied it briefly in high school and everything else can be taken from Monty Python or Gladiator, but I was incredibly interested by this entire story. Perhaps because of my lack of knowledge, I also found it interesting that the novel was set outside of Rome, allowing us to consider what life would be like in the empire from a colony's point of view. The time and effort that the author has put into developing their background knowledge is on full display in this book. I think that the author portrays all aspects of this story well and I would definitely recommend it.
| Primary Genre | Historical Fiction |
