Defender of Rome: (Gaius Valerius Verrens 2): A heart-stopping and gripping novel of Roman adventure

I have read all of Douglas Jackson's books and found `Hero of Rome' especially enjoyable. His sequel `Defender of Rome' left me disappointed.

This book lacked the energy and passion that made his previous novel so successful. His main character `Valerius' excels in battle scenes of great magnitude. Such opportunities did not present themselves in this novel. The storyline is predominately based on politics and intrigue.

The subject matter of the early Christian Church and its persecution by the emperor Nero was a reasonable theme to pursue but, an author should enter such a highly sensitive topic with caution and especially when such an author is willing to add an `author's license' to these historical events.

It's clear that in the early church disagreements did take place between Paul and Peter over the inclusion of gentiles into the faith established by Christ. But, the author's willingness to portray Paul, a willing participant in the capture of Peter, knowing it would be followed by torture and execution by the emperor's decree, is an author's licence taken too far.
Would an author of fiction take the same licence with Muhammad and the Islamic faith?

I look forward to Douglas Jackson's next novel where his main character `Valerius' can be portrayed at his best, in battle scenes that threaten the Roman Empire.

This book is a sequel to the book, Hero of Rome, which you should read prior to this one. It continues with the experiences of Valerius, the Hero of Rome.

In this book, Valerius is in Rome and summoned by Nero and told that he has a task - which will impact his future (life or death). His task is to find the leader of a "rebellious sect" known as Christians. Their leader is called "Petrus" or to many of us, St. Peter.

The remainder of the book is spent on Valerius' attempts to find St. Peter, his run ins with the Pratorian Guard and their evil and corrupt and dangerous leaders and his travels to Seneca's villa, the Danube and finally to the villa of Neros wife's family outside of Naples. It is at this final location that the climatic struggle occurs between Valerius and his men and the leaders of the Pratorian Guard and 20 of their men.

Nero is depicted properly as the personification of evil. He is sickly gross, maniacal, sadistic, etc. There is no reprehensible action that is beyond his capability. At one point, he makes sexual overtures to Valerius while in drag. At another point, he revels in the Christians being eaten by lions. And then, he sickly enjoys the burning of Christians who are tied to stakes and covered with pitch. Around him, as expected are further reprehensible individuals including his leader of Pratorian Guard plus his second in command.

On the other side, St. Peter is depicted as a strong but saintly individual who is very hard to find. However, at the end, he agrees to come back with Valerius and be turned in because Nero has threatened to kill 20,000 Jews in Rome if St. Peter doesn't give himself up.

There are some criticisms of this book that I have and the reason that I can't given it the highest marks. First, the book depicts St. Paul as a conniving individual who is in cahouts with Seneca - highly unbelievable, at least for me. Second, the traditional story was that Nero only pursued persecuting the Christians after the burning of Rome. This story all occurs prior to that. Third, the book depicts that there were many top Romans who became Christians at this time, including Nero's wife - this last item was hard for me to believe but it makes for a good ending of the story.

However, in spite of these criticisms, I do recommend this book for anyone interested in Roman history written in a lively, action oriented manner. If you are interested in this historical context, the book draws you in and keeps you interested.

I really liked the first book "The Hero of Rome", well written, well done and really very interesting. Then I read few reviews about the second book described more as slow and a little bit boring. I would strongly disagree. Actually, I liked the second book much more than the first one. I loved the idea of Valerius Verrens being forced by sleazy Nero to find Christos and his followers. I liked how Seneca was shown and the journey of finding Christos. The story is interesting, changing and very engaging. I think the writer was very successful in how he showed the changes in Roman citizens when they became Christians and what they life meant. The story is not only in Rome, but all around which makes it very successful and really great. I bought all the books and cannot wait to read them.

I admit that I am fascinated by Roman civilization. While Rome held to heroic human virtues she ruled most of the known world. Much has been written about the Pax Romana and much of that was written by the Romans themselves. The adventures of Valerius Verrens bring me close to that time and those bloody wonderful people.

This is my least favorite of these books. It is well written and again the author creates a riveting world that you can really imagine. But I did not care for the story, it didn't have the same feel as the first book.

Gaius Valerius Verrens has returned to Rome after surviving the brutal Boudiccan Revolt in Britain. Although his emperor, Nero, has bestowed upon him the corona aurea, pronouncing him a hero of Rome, Valerius finds Nero's court filled with treacherous, ambitious men who consider him a threat to their dreams of power. He also finds his sister on the brink of death from a lingering illness and his father strangely distant. All he wants is to return to the legions now that he has been fitted with a walnut fist to replace the hand taken from him in payment for his life by the woman he once loved and an Iceni nobleman he once called friend.

But Nero is a creature of perverted fascinations and toys with Valerius, hoping to add a hero of Rome to his stable of conquests. So, Valerius spends his days retraining to become a left-handed swordsman in a local gladiator school, hoping to somehow convince the emperor to reward him with a new military posting instead.

One day, a summons arrives and Valerius is astonished to learn from the Praetorian Prefect that he has been assigned the task of finding the hiding place of Petras, a follower of a crucified Judean rebel called Christus.

Mr. Jackson had told me the second book was quite a bit different from the first book in the series, so at this point I had reservations about the direction the story was going. I had bonded with the warrior protagonist in the first book and I certainly didn't want him transformed into a meek pacifist. But, as it turns out, I didn't need to worry about that. Valerius' pursuit of Petras becomes a tense cat and mouse game complicated by the efforts of the powerful Praetorian Prefect and his nasty henchman to spy on Valerius so they can stay one step ahead of him and ultimately capture Petras themselves to garner any laurels that are to be had from Nero and hopefully destroy Valerius in the process.

Their betrayal is not the only forces working against Valerius either. During his investigations he discovers his old neighbor and tutor, Seneca, has designs on Valerius and his family's estates as well.

As the search progresses, Valerius inadvertently reveals some highly placed members of the Christus cult and he is horrified to witness Nero's disposal of the cult members in a gruesome orgy of slashing teeth and seering flame. Valerius begins to loathe his assignment, but is threatened with the destruction of his entire family if he does not continue.

Historical note - Faustus Cornelius Sulla Felix, a descendant of the famous Roman general, Lucius Cornelius Sulla, was executed by Nero in 62 CE, although he was cut down by assassins sent by Tigellinus at dinner, not in the way described in Jackson's story. He was also not a beautiful, golden-haired youth but gray and balding at the time of his death. It is said that Nero would tease the remains of the ill-fated Sulla's head, as the head was kept in the palace for a time, despite the fact that Sulla had been married to the Emperor Claudius' daughter and Sulla's grandmother was a niece of Augustus, making him officially a member of the Julio-Claudian dynasty.

Also, at one point in the narrative, Valerius becomes aware of the torture of a patrician noblewoman thought to be conspiring with the Christus sect. The woman is being held in the deepest recesses of the Praetorian's prison and, although such clandestine torture did occur, torture was not typically used against Roman citizens, especially the elite, in the early Imperial Period. The protection of Roman citizens against pre-condemnation torture was essentially assured by the lex Julia de vi publica, passed into law during the Republican period. This protection was not significantly eroded until the Severan Period.

"Whereas only slaves could be tortured as suspects about their own crimes, the basic rule remained constant, at least from Augustus to Hadrian, albeit abused in maiestas inquisitions, that no free Roman citizen should be tortured before condemnation" - Janne Pölönen, Plebians and Repression of Crime in the Roman Empire: From Torture of Convicts to Torture of Suspects

Finally, Nero threatens to kill Valerius and all of the Judeans in Rome if he does not capture Petras within ten days. The taut climax is every bit as exciting and ultimately gratifying as Valerius' courageous defense of the Temple of Claudius in the first novel.

Once again I highly recommend this book, the second in the series. Jackson's characterizations are absolutely vivid. His Nero made my skin crawl. Likewise, Jackson's action sequences are perfectly choreographed to keep the reader in excruciating suspense until the last moment and the plot twists keep you guessing until the final pages. I am so hooked on Jackson's "Hero of Rome" that I have already begun book three, Avenger of Rome!

This was a super book with a great story and plenty of action. I enjoyed it from beginning to end.

I really liked reading this book. It was super! The characters were great. The story great. The action scenes were great. I was rooting for the main character in this book, which is a good thing. I liked this book so much I read it a second time recently. If you like historical fiction, if you like stories about Rome, read this book! You will cheer for the main character. He has flaws, he has weaknesses, he also has great qualities, and you will like him!

Enjoyed this book immensely. A superior writer taking us back in time. What was it like back then I always wonder. I think this writer has it figured out. Took me back in time and that's what great writers are supposed to do. A book and saga that does just that.

I enjoyed this book. As a sequel, the author focuses on the development of the main character rather than military history and battle scenes. While there is still a great deal of action, there is a greater emphasis on Valerius' family background and dynamics. You see what influences him from childhood and forms the basis of his character.
In this sequel, Valerius experiences anger, fear, depression and grief because of the physical, emotional and spiritual challenges he faces. This gives depth to the main character and makes him more human and more likable, in my opinion. I am looking forward to the next novel involving this character.