Insurrectio (Roma Nova #5) by @alison_morton alternative Roman #HistFic series

Insurrectio by Alison Morton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Insurrectio by Alison Morton is book #5 in the Roma Nova series. I have read several other books in the series so, recognised many of the characters and the setting straight away. Fictional Roma Nova is this author’s vision of how the Roman Empire might have survived and how it fits into today’s modern Europe. Each book has a little background to the series, explaining how a few Roman families escaped the fall of the empire and made their way to an alpine enclave in Europe. Here they continued their lineage using females to rule their nation.

Insurrectio is set in the 1980s. Aurelia Mitela, Foreign Minister and Imperial Councillor, is advised that her old adversary Caius Tellus is about to be released from prison. Returning to Roma Nova, he secretly works to gain power, undermining the current leadership.

Aurelia suspects that Caius is behind riots begun by a group calling themselves Toga Toughs who begin a national revolt. After a brutal attack on her daughter, Aurelia finds herself fleeing the country as Caius enforces his revolution.

This is a high action story; the author writes the military aspects of the book very well and the attention to detail is just right to keep the story moving forward. I also like the Roma Nova world. Each book is consistent with the chosen Roman themes; yes, you do need to get your head around Roman style names and words, but it worked for me. Readers would definitely benefit by starting with book #1 of the series to immerse themselves in the whole Roma Nova experience.

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Aurelia Mitela, ex-Praetorian and imperial councillor in Roma Nova, scoffs at her intelligence chief when he throws a red file on her desk. But 1980s Roma Nova, the last province of the Roman Empire that has survived into the twentieth century, has problems – a ruler frightened of governing, a centuries-old bureaucracy creaking for reform and, worst of all, a rising nationalist movement with a charismatic leader.

Horrified when her daughter is brutally attacked in a demonstration turned riot, Aurelia tries to rally resistance to the growing fear and instability. But it may already be too late to save Roma Nova from meltdown and herself from entrapment and destruction by her lifelong enemy.

About the author

Even before she pulled on her first set of combats, Alison Morton was fascinated by the idea of women soldiers. After six years in a special communications regiment, she left as a captain, having done all sorts of interesting and exciting things she can’t talk about, even now…

The mosaics at Ampurias (Spain) and their creation by the complex, power and value-driven Roman civilisation made her wonder what a modern Roman society would be like if run by strong women.

Now, she writes Roman-themed alternate history thrillers with tough heroines, tends a Roman herb garden and drinks wine with her husband of 30 years.

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