I enjoyed this alternative history story

Any additional comments?

Having read Alison Morton’s Inceptio, I’ve now read the second and third books in her Roma Nova series, Perfiditas and Successio. Unlike many book series where the original’s not bad, these follow–ups are better.

The series is really military science fiction, or at least alternative history, with a special forces bent. Unlike many military stories, the characters are well developed. They are human with human failings, strengths and weaknesses. They grow in power, they make mistakes, they learn. They have depth. You share their adventure. You care for them, somewhat (well, they can be a little anal). The author’s habit of occasionally killing key supporting characters keeps the dynamic fresh.

The third book, Successio, has an exploration of insanity, both temporary and permanent. I found the temporary insanity in particular to be fascinating. The setup, the development, the way it progressed, and the resolution, both for the character who goes insane and those around him, made valuable fiction. The setting gave me a distance which allowed me to understand the experience of temporary insanity without the discomfort of reality blocking the learning with shock.

The author is clearly developing too. For example, in Perfiditas, the second book, there is a political scene which, bluntly, had to have been written by someone rather naïve about the way oratory and belief work. The heroine passionately presented a set of facts to demolish Mr. Nasty, and the audience promptly changed their opinion to accept the facts as stated. That simply doesn’t happen in reality. Most people, when their beliefs are challenged by inconvenient facts, dismiss the facts. (Indeed, Successio’s exploration of insanity covers this very topic, if from a different angle.)

In Successio, the heroine is making small–p political decisions and the descriptions of the process are realistic. Now, these are politics that are not much more than glorified administration, the bread and butter stuff of the practical leader: there’s no grand political thought expressed in the story. The point, though, is the author has done her work and has covered the daily political processes believably.

Actually, of course, the series is full of politics, but as setting, not exposition. Like many novels, the Roma Nova series is an exploration of small–c conservatism. The heroine is trying to understand, develop, and maintain her position, her family and her country, to keep order, and to defeat the baddies who threaten the political system and so the state. The hierarchy, and the heroine’s eventual near-dominant position in it, is at the core of the plot. But this is the story’s setting, not the book’s underlying purpose. Many fantasy books with their fantasy about governance are similar, but Successio does it well. Furthermore, unlike most fantasy novels, Successio allows the grey of modern governance to gently colour the story. It only seems to offer a simplistic black and white world.

I had hoped, when I started to read Successio, that it would explore in greater detail the historical background of the alternative world that Morton has created, the one where a Roman state survived into the modern day. Unfortunately, beyond a few details, it’s hardly touched. Now, in terms of storytelling, that’s the right approach: the history supports, and never interrupts, the novel. I’m disappointed because I’m just a bit of an alternative world geek.

So when I doubt that the early history of Roma Nova developed by Morton could have actually worked, I can’t really criticise it because it’s only mentioned in a few lines, and then those lines are really the culture’s myth, rather than the historical reality. Still, that I wanted more from a book series is a good sign.

Caitlin Thorburn, the sweet–voiced narrator, is expressive, comprehensible and clear. Unfortunately, she has a limited set of effects. It’s bad enough hearing regular doses of breathy nervousness before a tense reaction by one female character, it’s far more annoying that the same effect is used for all of them. If she must use effects, she really should individualise them for each character. That, or buy her dog a nose–warmer.

Furthermore, the narration editing had issues. It was very clear where short bursts of revised reading were patched in: the original and its replacement were not properly balanced. This didn’t interfere with the clarity of the narration, but the stories are too good to deserve such lackadaisical production. I don’t think the audiobook producers have realised that these books go beyond what I suspect is the original female coming of age target audience. The characters are too well developed, and the setting too intriguing, to let the book series lie forever in that pigeonhole.

Overall, I’m glad I decided to read these books, and will follow up with Morton’s next novel, Aurelia, set in an earlier Roma Nova.

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Make your decisions for the family.

Nova Roma, the small but influential state in Europe which survived the fall of most of the Roman Empire, and home to Corina Mitela for nearly half of her 39 years. She has done well in her life since since leaving America to take her place in one of the ruling families, cousin and friend to Sylvia, the Imperata, married to Conradus and with children of her own, and a major in the military. But following successful excercises in England, her happy life starts to shift when she receives news that her beloved grandmother and head of the family is seriously ill and her husband gets a message of his own which will tear apart her personal relationships and threaten Roma Nova itself.

This beautifully written and well researched third book in the alternate history series reimagining what might have been if Ancient Rome had, at least in part, continued into the twenty first century, is a shere delight for everyone enjoying not just stories of Rome but also good thrillers and fully formed characters. Each book is stand alone but with reading pleasure like this, why not start at the beginning and discover Roma Nova and it's way of life with Carina.

Narrator Caitlin Thorburn reads Successio quite adequately, her speech is clear and steady, and there is understanding in her presentation. But for this reader, sadly, the voice does not match the character, being a little too 'girlie' and she has only two voices beyond that of the main character, to share amongst the other protagonists. Though by no means diminishing the book pleasure, an alternative reader could have better enhanced it and I very much look forward to hearing the next in the series, Aurelia, a taster of which follows the main story, and read by a stronger voiced narrator.

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Superbly Absorbing

What made the experience of listening to Successio the most enjoyable?

Laid up in bed for a couple of days after a minor medical procedure, and with fading sight making reading difficult I wasn't looking forward to the enforced 'rest'. Enter Audible, Roma Novas and Successio. What a pity I only had two days in bed - I'd've been quite happy With Alison Morton's fabulous characters for company for a few days longer! As it was listening to the entire Audible series was 100% enjoyable - the only complaint... I want the rest of the series! Hurry up and get them recorded Audible!

What other book might you compare Successio to, and why?

The Roma Novas books, I think, are unique. They are in a class of their own. OTHER books will be comparing to Roma Nova in years to come I think!

What does Caitlin Thorburn bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Her accent was just right for Carina.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

well, all of it! I was so engrossed!

Any additional comments?

Brilliant book, brilliant plot, brilliant characters. Brilliant author.

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