4 stars
Carina is an alternative history novella. It forms part of the Roma Nova series. These books feature stories of a Roman Empire enclave which still thrives in central Europe, some hundreds of years after the traditional downfall.
Carina is the heir to one of the twelve leading Roman families, but she is also a member of the Praetorian Special Forces guard. She is sent on a mission to Quebec to bring back a person of interest. However, the operation turns sinister, and upon her return she must discover if political power struggles are involved.
This series’ strengths lie with the author’s ability to meld the historical Roman traditions of power, combat and political sabotage with modern day technology and culture. Latin still forms part of Roma Nova’s language as does much of the famed military structure of past Roman armies. But this is not a country clinging to old beliefs, to survive where Rome once fell; the citizens of Roma Nova have adapted and evolved, and I found Ms Morton’s story completely believable.
I always enjoy these books and recommend them to those intrigued by thoughts of an alternative end to a once famous empire.
View all my reviews on Goodreads
Carina Mitela is still a young inexperienced officer in the Praetorian Guard Special Forces of Roma Nova. Disgraced and smarting from a period in the cells for a disciplinary offence, she is sent out of everybody’s way on a seemingly straightforward mission overseas.
All she and her comrade-in-arms, Flavius, have to do is bring back a traitor from the Republic of Quebec. Under no circumstances will she risk entering the Eastern United States where she is still wanted under her old name Karen Brown. But when she and Flavius discover a conspiracy that reaches to the highest levels of Roma Nova, what price is personal danger against fulfilling the mission?
Set in the time after INCEPTIO but before PERFIDITAS in the Roma Nova series, this thriller novella reveals hidden parts of Carina’s early life in Roma Nova. And North America isn’t quite the continent we know in our timeline…
Sounds fascinating. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Linda. Carina is very much a freshly minted young officer and lacks experience, but not skills and the ability to take a risk. Although she’s determined to do her best she’s also self-critical, something we can all relate to!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This sounds really intriguing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Noelle, the best place to start this series is with Inceptio (book#1)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Noelle. Carina’s world is just like ours in some ways and she gets into as many pitfalls as we do and enjoys success as we do. That’s the fun part of writing characters over several books and watching them develop. But inventing her slightly different world was a lot of fun!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Morgen 'with an e' Bailey and commented:
From Rosie and team: this time a review of an ‘alternative history novella’.
LikeLike
Thank you, Morgen. That’s very kind of you. I hope you readers enjoy the post and investigate the book… 😉
LikeLike