About the Book ~
AD 309. Rome teeters on the brink of war.
Constantine's army is on the move. On the Rhine frontier, pagan Germanic barbarian Brandulf Rex joins the Roman army as a spy. Down in Rome, senator's daughter Junia Flavia finds herself embroiled in anti-Christian politics as she works on behalf of the church.
As armies converge and forces beyond their control threaten to destroy everything they have worked for, these two people from different worlds will have to fight together to bring down the evil Emperor Maxentius. But his villainous plans and devious henchmen are not easily overcome.
Will Rex and Flavia live to see the Empire bow the knee to Christ? Or will their part in the story of Constantine's rise meet an untimely and brutal end?
For more information about Bryan Litfin and his books, check out his website here!
My Thoughts ~
The Conqueror by Bryan Litfin takes history, war, and romance to bold, epic levels!
I appreciated how the author sought to accurately align with history in the portrayal of the early Christians who had recently come out of intense persecution, early church theology, the grim realities of war, and the debauchery of Roman culture. I'm always grateful for authors who are not afraid to tackle subjects like this. However, that brings me to my next thought...
TRIGGER WARNING! If you have had sexual abuse, trauma, and/or betrayal in your life, then please be aware that there is a lot of content that is VERY triggering!
While the pacing made it harder for me to be connected to the events of the story, the author has a strength for historical detail, particularly with political games and battle scenes! Though the characters weren't soulmate characters for me, I would be interested to know how their story progresses in the following books of the series. Hopefully with a happy ending after that cliffhanger! Ultimately, it is the characters' individual reconciliations with the costs and joys of following Christ that add a deep profoundness to their journey in The Conqueror!
Three Stars ~ The Conqueror by Bryan Litfin is an adventure in history! The Conqueror is the first book in the author's series, Constantine's Empire.
Great job explaining your thoughts on this one!! It was difficult for me to get through and write a review for as well.
ReplyDeleteThank you! That means a lot! <3
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