The Conqueror
by Bryan Litfin
Pub DateOct 13 2020
Revell

Christian

Revell and Netgalley provided me with a copy of The Conqueror for review:

Take a trip back to fourth century Rome!

The year is 312. War is brewing in Rome. Constantine’s army is advancing. A pagan Germanic barbarian joins the Roman army as a spy and special forces operative on the Rhine frontier. As Junia Flavia, the lovely and pious daughter of a nominally Christian senator, works on behalf of the church in Rome, she becomes embroiled in anti-Christian politics.


In order to bring down the evil Emperor Maxentius, these two people from different worlds will have to work together as armies converge and forces beyond their control threaten to destroy everything they have worked for. It is not easy to overcome his villainous plans and devious henchmen. Will the barbarian warrior and the senator’s daughter live long enough to see the Empire bow its knee to Christ? What will be the fate of their part in Constantine’s rise?


The Roman Empire was being conquered by the cross during a pivotal period in history a time when devotion to pagan gods was fading.

I give The Conqueror five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Really 3.75 stars.

There was a lot I enjoyed about this book. I’ve been focusing on reading some of the books on my Kindle set in Roman times recently, because- why not? Gone from the 1st century to the early 4th century. These novel chronicles Constantine’s rise to power and concludes with the Battle of Milvian Bridge: it is told from the perspective of a Germanic mercenary in his service.

What I liked:
- I think the author nailed down the political climate in 4th century Rome pretty well, with constant intriguing and the major events often determined by the selfish ambitions of a few people.

Also, the Empire was split into four parts at this time, with each person ultimately wanting to reunite it and rule as one Emperor: the rivalries and divisions between them were depicted well

- Military details about the Roman army, battle tactics and training were also well done. I found the details about the Romans using mercenaries for special missions where they worked as something like a cross between a commando and a spy fascinating.

- The first chapter about Constantine's proclamtion in York. This is an story from British history which we are proud of. That Constantine was first proclaimed Emperor in the city of York, then called Eboracum. That was a nice touch.

I wasn’t so sure that to make the main characters. Junia was brave, fun and spunky, but she tended to vacillate a lot and it could be annoying. Then there was Brandulf… I liked him… but sometimes not. I’m still trying to work out whether or not he’s a Gary Stu. I think he might be a bit of one, because I cannot think of any real flaws that guy has. Almost everything is down to him: including quite possibly Constantine’s victory.

I don’t mind when an invented character has a role in historical events: it can provide a really interesting perspective. I don’t like it when those historical events are attributed to them, and them alone.
Also, one of my niggles was the modern Americanisms. These are meant to be 4th century Romans: and they’re saying “okay” all the time: and they did not have sacks of potatoes in ancient Rome. Nowhere. Meh, you know me.
I am glad that I finally got around to reading this book though, and I shall be moving onto the others in the story soon which covers more of Constantine’s rule.

Thanks to Revell who approved my request for this title on Netgalley. I later purchased the ebook for myself. This did not influence my review.

I liked this uniquely written The Conqueror. I look forward to reading more from the Constantine's Empire in the future.

Before I begin, let me just say that I am never really a huge fan of historical fiction novels, but this one sounded like it would include a lot of tension, drama and battling. I was excited when I received this in the mail. The cover seemed to give me everything I was hoping for. I will say for the first book in a new trilogy this is a good 3.5 star rating for me. The writing was excellent! I enjoyed the plot, some of the characters and the atmosphere. However, there were times when I felt like DNFing the book simply because some parts dragged for me.

There are many characters to keep track of which is typical of a book this book, I mean it's almost a tome (a book over 500 pages). I was entertained the entire time with the army and the characters. The politics and history kept me intrigued.

This is marketed as a Christian historical fiction and not a biblical fiction, so I didn't go into this thinking I would get a ton of faith talk, but I would have enjoyed a lot more. However, being that this is a first in a trilogy there could be more talk of it in the next books. I hope it learns more relational than religious in the coming books.

Being as I am reviewing this for Christian readers I feel I have to be a bit more critical. As a historical fiction novel I would give this a solid 4 star rating, but since it's a Christian historical fiction I could only give it 3.5 star rating. It may be a bit "sexualized" for those who are sensitive to descriptions of women in their books. For me it didn't bother me, but I could definitely tell that a man was writing this book (if that makes sense).

The religious aspect to this story was quiet intriguing to me, but for some it may not be enjoyable to read. Considering the time this book is set, AD 309 Rome the world was as I would think. Romans were more so religious and didn't have a true connection to Christ.

As I did mention that there are many characters, the main two were pretty good. Junia Flavia and Brandulf Rex were such different characters to one another, but they meshed pretty well for me.

I definitely will be picking up the sequel to see what happens next and because I do adore the way Bryan Litfin writes!

Carefully research historical fiction with an interesting setting. The chosen time period creates a contrast between pagan Rome and Christianity, and the conflict as these worldviews collide.

I knew Bryan Litfin from his scholarly work, his professorship at Moody Bible Institute, and his work with The Gospel Coalition. When I saw that he was writing a historical fiction trilogy set within the early church of Constantine’s Empire, I had two competing thoughts:

1. Bryan Litfin’s academic credentials will make this series come to life in a way that most historical fiction could never achieve.
2. Bryan Litfin’s academic credentials may overwhelm the story if his desire to convey an accurate historical background supersedes the story.

It’s the catch-22 of historical fiction. You have to set your world appropriately, but also introduce the reader to an unfamiliar world without them getting lost amid all the unfamiliarity. Dr. Litfin begins with a historical note that lists 17 historical figures that appear in the books, follows it with a gazetteer of ancient and modern place names (75 of them), and a glossary (38 terms). The point that comes across, whether Litfin wants it to or not, is that a good deal of care and work is going to be needed to follow this story. This all comes before I’ve read a single page or been introduced to a single character and have no connection to the story to compel me to actually do that work.

Once I got into The Conqueror, the story is pretty solid. The storyline flits between Brandulf, a teen solider, and Flavia, a secret Christian who is part of Roman nobility. Litfin’s storytelling is compelling, but constantly bloated with historical aspects that aren’t immediately crucial to the story. Litfin’s historian mode looms over the fictional story and, as I was afraid, ends up consuming it.

Interestingly, Litfin seems to try to make up for his constant use of Roman phrases by interspersing it with modern ones. Sometimes his language is Shakespearean in its use of formal English. At other times, he’s using modern slang. The end result is a very uneven experience.

One positive thing of note is that Litfin portrays the religious experience and behaviors of the characters very accurately. They are not evangelicals in ancient garb, but are historically accurate in their early Catholicism and syncretism.

Litfin also doesn’t hesitate to highlight to low value of women or the sexual depravity of Rome. I was actually a bit shocked to find so much blatantly sexual material in a Christian fiction book. None of it is necessarily gratuitous, but it’s more than I’m used to seeing in Christian fiction and warrants a mention. I wasn’t necessarily offended by it, but I know many who would be very uncomfortable. Two of the most egregious examples:

• Though she was only fourteen, she has the sensual moves and skimpy outfit of someone much older (p. 323). – I would always be careful about the portraying teenage characters in a sexual light, particularly as part of the narrative and not part of character’s viewpoint. Litfin’s goal is to show the depravity of Rome in having the daughter of Publius dance for the entertainment of those gathered (mirroring Herod in Matthew 14). But there are ways to do that without putting the descriptive image of a sexualized teenager in the minds of readers.
• The horse was a specimen to admire: a rippling and masculine beast with lively eyes, a proud neck, and great, bulbous testicles. A glorious thought popped into Maxentius’s mind: What this creature is among horses, I am among men! (p. 403). – Let’s put aside the fact that Litfin uses colons in successive sentences. WHY DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE HORSE TESTICLES. I don’t. And if that’s the only way Litfin could think of to show Maxentius’s narcissism…well…yikes.

This book was 200 pages of story writtten in 500 pages. Litfin paints an evocative portrait of ancient Rome and shows readers a Christianity that isn’t at all familiar, but it’s just not a compelling story, it’s bogged down with unnecessary terms and phrases meant to bring authenticity, the characters are inconsistent and caricatured, the content is questionable at best for Christian fiction, the list goes on.

A quick glance at Goodreads and Amazon shows me that I’m not alone in my concerns and criticisms about this book. While this was book one of a trilogy, I’d be surprised if the publisher decides to continue it.

I went into this book with high hopes, excited about a book exploring the rich history of the Constantinian Empire, and in many way this book does deliver just that -- possibly in more ways than I bargained for. Meticulously well researched, the author's Phd in ancient church history is on full display as the complex political climate, as well as the cultural norms of the time are described in a way that shows great understanding. I feel like the things done best in this book are the way that the author brings the ancient setting to life,with an excellent understanding of the times.

While there was quite a bit going on, I found the pacing slow at times to my taste, and I had a hard time connecting with the characters. The things that I didn't enjoy or even think necessary was getting in the heads of the more villainous characters. I understand that what is represented is very likely true to what happened in those early times, but I think that the shock and punch of the goriness and immorality could have been handled less explicitly, the regular mentions of fornication, adultery, promiscuity, innuendo, and violence, especially in the last 2/3s of the book made it wearisome, and I just wanted to be done with the book.

In the end, I honestly just didn't enjoy this book. I kept pushing because though there were things that were well done, and I think that it did a good job of showing the juxtaposition between Rex and Flavia's worldviews, well as those who would claim to know Christ but bore no good fruit. So while there were many things that were well done, I don't think that I could in good conscience recommend it to others, and definitely not to younger readers.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I really enjoyed learning about Ancient Rome and how Constantine becomes Emperor. I love the characters of Brandulf Rex and Junia Flavia. I love how the spy and the daughter of a high ranking Roman get to be friends. I loved learning some of the ways that the first Christians prayed and celebrated the mass. This has romance, intrigue and religion all in the same story. This is well written and kept me wanting more. I am looking forward to reading more about Constantine, Rex and Flavia in the next book in the series. I received a copy of this book from Revell for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

As both a history lover and a historical fiction lover, I was excited when I discovered this book would be releasing. The establishment of Christianity as the official religion of the Roman Empire is a period of history I haven’t seen dealt with in either general market or Christian fiction, and despite some unfavourable early reviews, I was determined to read this novel for myself and form my own opinion.

I really do wish I had enjoyed this novel more than I did. There’s no doubt that the author has a firm grasp on the history of the time, and the narrative sections that dealt with the historical action and setting were mostly well written. However, I felt the characterisation was often trite, the hero and heroine a little too idealised (their romance included), and the dialogue far too modern-sounding and very on-the-nose. And I thought the author relied too heavily on the more offensive elements of ancient Roman society and the baser elements of human nature to help characterise the “bad” people in this novel.

And on that note, a word on the content. Ancient Roman society was depraved and blood-thirsty, and given the nature of this story, it would be unrealistic to expect a sanitised read. Also, it’s written by a male, and that always brings a different perspective to a novel. With those disclaimers, here is my personal opinion: I do feel as though some of the content in this book was either unnecessary or could have been conveyed less crassly, however these specific instances were dispersed throughout the novel and would only have had a small impact on my enjoyment had other elements been more to my liking. But bear in mind, this is the opinion of a reasonably widely-read female who is in her early forties. I can easily see how there would be a wide range of responses to the content in this novel depending on the age, gender, and reading preferences of the individual. My advice would be to read a range of reviews on this book if you have concerns about the content.

My final comment relates to the Gospel message as portrayed in the novel. To me, this setting provided an excellent opportunity to explore the impact the Gospel message would have had in a time and culture far removed from our own. I’m aware that this is only the first book in a series, so perhaps I am judging prematurely, however the message I got from this book was “the Christian God is better (or more powerful) because he’s real.” But as I said, perhaps that is the most logical point to begin for a character like Rex, and his understanding of the full Gospel message will develop across the series. Still, I would have liked the story to explore how Christianity would have impacted people living at this time on an intellectual level as well as a practical level.

Title: The Conqueror
Author: Bryan M. Litfin

Pg: 512

Series: Constantine's Empire book 1

Genre: historical fiction

Rating: 2 stars

Publisher: Revell



I wanted to love this book, because the Roman Empire in the AD time period was one of my favorite parts of "ancient" history that starts to border on the dark ages. As Rome is still expanding their empire. But the book and the story itself I didn't like. I didn't care for how woman were written in the story. I know authors who write history try to be accurate to history but to me there has to be a balance. Not to mention that this historical fiction novel read a little like a nonfiction novel.

Even though I didn't like this book there were things I did like such as the glossary in the beginning that made understanding terms found in the book so much easier. I also liked that he two main characters were from two different worlds so to speak. That the book focused one a Roman citizen and Germanic barbarian to show just how far the Roman Empire was expanding.

And even though I didn't love this one or even enjoy this one, there's a reader out there that will love this one. And that's the beauty of reading that not every book is for every reader, but there is a book for every reader.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher a part of a blog tour. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.



I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

The Conqueror by Bryan Litfin, a nice Christian Read, that incorporates quite a bit of Historical Fiction yet is engaging. Thank you for giving me a chance with this book.

I think this book is for someone really interested in the politics and atmosphere of the Constantine era. I found myself never connecting with the characters and I wasn't emotionally invested in the story. So this book wasn't for me.

I recieved a complementary copy of this book from the publisher through Netgally. All opinions are honest and completely my own.

If I could give this book a 100 stars I would. I loved every second I spent reading this incredible story. My only complaint is that I have to wait for book two to come out. "The Conqueror" is the first book I've read by Bryan Litfin. According to his website, this is his first journey into Biblical fiction. Bryan Litfin is a Biblical Scholar and a Theologian with a PhD in Theology. His expertise in history shines powerfully in this novel. I have read thousands of books, many of which were historical novels, and I have never felt so utterly consumed and drawn into a time period as I did in this book. Bryan's expertise made me feel as if I were truly there - the story was positively vivid.



Take the story of Rex, a ferocious Germanic warrior sworn into the elite army group serving Constatine... and Junia, a beautiful and brave young noble woman who has risked her life to be part of the early Christian church ... and you have a nail-biting adventure that will have you turning pages as fast as you can. Honestly, these two characters could carry a novel with the barest of settings (they are that intricate and utterly amazing), but set them in a literal volcanic eruption of political chaos? There is little wonder I couldn't put this book down.

I highly recommend this book and am personally waiting impatiently for books two and three to come out.



Thank-you to Net Galley for a copy of this book to read and provide my honest opinion of.

Even though this book was labelled as a Christian book, it really was a lot darker than I expected. I was looking forward to an adventure, but the story began to drag in the middle and I honestly couldn't care for the protagonist when he was also so crass. The historical events are cool to see play out, and the action was well written, but I was thoroughly underwhelmed and disillusioned. I will not be reading the next book in the series.

When I was asked to review The Conqueror by Bryan Litfin, I didn't hesitate because it seemed like an excellent Biblical fiction story. I was intrigued by the historical aspects of it and how Constantine adopted Christianity as the Empire's religion. Unfortunately, as I began to read, the author made it clear - this is not Biblical fiction. It is set during the times of the early church, yes, but it is more Historical fiction than Biblical. But with the author's credentials in mind (a former professor of theology at the Moody Bible Institute, a PhD in religious studies from the University of Virginia, and a ThM in historical theology from Dallas Theological Seminary), I pressed on.

There is no doubt the author is an excellent writer and a superb historian. He has done his research. However, his attention to realism had me frequently stepping away from this book to purge my mind of what he'd written. To say I am in shock that Revell chose to publish this book is an understatement.

Within its pages were things I never expected to read in a Christian book, and I cannot unsee what was put in my mind. The fact that these things were described in such detail floored me - animal abuse, extreme violence, idol worship, foul language, vulgarity and debauchery. I found myself skipping pages for fear I would read something else that would pollute my mind.

And yet, the love story growing between Rex and Flavia kept me intrigued. Flavia was devoted to the Lord and ready to give her life for Him. Rex was an idol-worshipping barbarian, in other words, her complete opposite. After saving her from certain death, he sets himself over her as her protector and, in the process, learns about Jesus. I kept reading, hoping that Rex would have a marvellous salvation story. Unfortunately, if it happened, it was lost on me. While Rex seems to call on Jesus in his moments of greatest need, he also draws on other idols to help him. Despite all the horror that went on in this book, this moment of "will he or won't he?" did not have a satisfying conclusion.

But Rex and Flavia's story is not yet over. This is the first book in the series. While I won't continue with it, there may be those who enjoy espionage, mystery, action and adventure, who don't mind the grittiness those types of tales provide. The author is, as I said, an excellent writer, with a flourish for detail. He just has to find the right audience.

If you like historical fiction, war novels, spies, ancient Rome, and/or romance in the midst of danger, I think you’ll like this book. Litfin has taken what he has gleaned from much study about Constantine and turned it into a riveting book full of all of the above. Themes of lust vs love, political power vs spiritual power, loyalty vs betrayal combined with heart-stopping plot twists kept me reading late into the night several times.

Be warned that this is not a G-rated book – Litfin’s descriptions of brutal warfare, life for the poverty-stricken masses under crazed rulers, Christians being persecuted, and so forth are not sanitized. Also be warned that the ending leaves the reader hanging and heart-broken… I just hope it’s not a whole year before the next book in the series comes out!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#TheConqueror #NetGalley

I started this book expecting a good story based on what is known about the events with imaginative details added to create the rest. It started out pretty good with characters that fit what I would have pictured. However, it seemed like the story began to drag on about halfway through. In my opinion, it had too much detail and events that, while they fit into the plot, kept it from moving along smoothly.

I understand that Christians were mocked before Constantine made Christianity acceptable, but several of the lines said by the characters toed the line of decency and morality, while others stepped clear over it. I don’t think language like that is fitting anymore, especially in a Christian story.

On the surface, this story isn’t all bad, but there are aspects of it that keep me from calling it a good book.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I've had this book on my Goodreads to-read shelf since October 2, 2019. When I added it to my shelf, it was to be published through Crossway. I'm not sure what happened, but I was thrilled when it appeared in a blog post featuring the cover art for Bethany House's Fall fiction. Not only did The Coqueror have a new home, but it also had an amazing cover to match the synopsis that captured my attention.

This is the first work I've read by Bryan Litfin so I'll begin with what I feel he did well. Litfin excels in writing tension-filled, action-packed fight scenes. Whether he was describing close combat between two or three foes or battle on a massive scale, he is adept at drawing his reader into the fight. Another strength is that he held to the commitment (outlined in his Historical Note) to portray his characters not as “evangelicals in togas” but as members of the "ancient catholic church, not twenty-first-century evangelicalism." In keeping with this, his characters pray to the saints, celebrate "mysterious rituals", and often (in the case of rulers) practice syncretism. Finally, he paints a believable picture of life in Rome—complete with all its grandeur, filth, and debauchery.
Unfortunately, I did not care for these characters, Litfin's portrayal of women, his writing style, or the gospel presentation being boiled down to "Try him." It's not that I'm a sensitive reader, I simply believe that anything published as Christian fiction should also be good fiction. While I will not read the next book in the series, you may read the following quotes and determine whether you'd like to read the first.

“What will my seduction accomplish? Do you wish me to uncover a secret from the emperor? Plant a rumor about Neratius? Or just impress him with my talent for sex?”

“Oh! I must remain faithful to my husband!” she said in a high-pitched, mocking tone. “I must wear dowdy dresses! I must keep my legs together! I must follow ancient Jewish morals!”

Flavia finally halted, unable to retreat yet prevented from advancing further by her long-cultivated habit of holiness. A war raged in her soul, the ancient battle between lust and self-control."

"The only other couch in the room belonged to Chloe, her cheerful, heavyset roommate who now carried the baby of an unknown imperial page."

"The bony waif with the too-big eyes continued her work with the tweezer. Despite her personal ugliness, the girl was actually a good ornatrix."

"If any pleasure was to be had from intercourse, it was to be obtained from slaves. But the point of sexual relations with a husband—or with an influential politician—was to achieve an objective, not enjoy the moment."

"Sex was her most effective tool for achieving her goal. Without a romp in bed, ..."

"Though she was only fourteen, she had the sensual moves and skimpy outfit of someone much older."

***

"The bulges of his biceps were rounded like pomegranates, and to Flavia they seemed sweeter than any fruit could be. This was a young man in his prime—as lean and fierce as any savage beast."

"The horse was a specimen to admire: a rippling and masculine beast with lively eyes, a proud neck, and great, bulbous testicles."

"Raucous cheers erupted from the crowd, signaling to Maxentius that his men were suitably impressed by his male anatomy. With a cocky grin, the emperor let loose a stream of urine onto the sacred scriptures of the catholic church."

***

“There is one in heaven who can.” 
“I don’t believe it.” 
“Try him, Rex. Just try, I beg you.”