The Skystone

It started out ok. A Roman legionary military story, with intrigue between senators, fighting enemies in foreign lands, defending the borders of the empire against a horde of barbarians.

Then it proceeded to be a bit more mundane, with the the story a Roman soldier who wanted to build his life after having being discharged from the legions after being injured. He becomes a smith, found out about his marvelous sword and smithing techniques inherited from his grandfather. He tries to find love in the arms of a childhood friend, build up his business with a loyal servant that he still remembered from his childhood as well. His trade prospers after he sets up a supplying contract with the Roman troops, while avoiding taxes because government is evil (sigh!).

The next part it all falls apart. It's the story about a man fleeing from the law, hiding in a rich old friend's villa. There he finds that man's sister, who happens to be the most beautiful women in the world and it's love at first sight, for both of them (sigh!).

The pacing is very slow. The sex scenes are unnecessary and laughable. The book is a mixture of three different stories, at least until where I stopped reading. There was a promise of a fourth more interesting story, the founding of a new city, one free of all of the vices that corrupted Rome, vices which are about to bring down the empire.

Oh, and there are about 4-6 mentions about Arthurian mythology. If you want that, this isn't the book for it.

Read 11:25 / 21:05 54%