Belisarius I: Thunder at Dawn

Fictionalized history, especially with military intrigue, can be fun. But this book has an awful lot of rape. Discussed or just “off camera” but a lot. Gang rape by conquering armies too. The good guys don't rape, they whore. Except the extra good main character who is totally faithful to his hot older wife (a former whore.) It's accurate to the time but still. Yikes. Several mentions of pedophilia as well.

The sci fi aspects of the series don't get fleshed out in this book. There's a magic sentient rock that tells the future.

The author goes off on so many tangents. Often we hear all about a character's life long-term, then go back to the present when none of that has happened. I guess it's the precognisent rock effect but it gets tedious.

My husband really likes this series, it's just not my cup of tea.