Sons of Rome

I really loved this, packed full of chemistry and romance, it’s steamy, fast paced and such an enjoyable read. I didn’t put it down and completed this in be sitting, once you start you are enveloped in the characters world completely, the descriptions are so good, you could almost be back there with them. Highly recommended m/m romance.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

I wanted something different when I picked this up and I kind of loved it. I've got to give Roman major kudos for conveying a unique tone with tons of historical flair while also delivering the hot Roman legions romance, too.

✓ (with a side of ±): Drusus is a stoic, and his narrative voice, actions, and dialogue reflect that. I loved the distinct voice and how well it fit his mentality. (And I generally liked him.) That being said, he could also be a little frustrating and his narration bordered on dull at times, but it's in character! Because stoicism.

✓: Such historical flavor! I loved the side politics that played such a huge role in the overall plot and added intrigue, and how Roman commented on slavery and the conscription of the legionaries and how while the two shared similarities, they still had differences and privileges of class.

✓: The story just doesn't revolve just around the romance or only on Drusus and Caius. Their century's journey and mission probably takes up as much page-time as the romance, and Dru's men and his brother serve important roles in the story, too. Also, while not as central as the romance, Dru's relationship with his brother plays a b-plot point.

✓: I liked the pacing and overall plot of this. Especially considering this involved a military/adventure plot, I expected a specific Plot Pattern A or Plot Pattern B, and instead found something different and much more pleasing overall.

✘: This is my preference and a slight criticism, but probably the biggest flaw I saw was that I thought the story would've been better with a second point of view and maybe like 100 extra pages. Admittedly, I'm much more accustomed to that format, but more than anything, when you're combining instalove, off-balance power dynamics, and a guy that's a little too perfect (Caius, who's a natural fighter and the most guy beauuutiful Dru's ever seen and innocent and smart and so empathetic and ridiculously good looking and etc.) and a guy who's stoic, it would've been nice to balance out Caius's perfectness and Dru's more stoic, alpha personality with his POV. I think it could've taken a ~3.75 book to like a 4.5 to 5.

✘/±: It's maybe not a huge con overall, but I really hated one plot point towards the end. (Spoiler on Goodreads)

✘: Again, this is a personal preference, but I sort of shipped Dru and his BFF more and thought they had more chemistry? I liked Dru and Caius together, but I think I would've preferred it if that relationship had been the thing that sparked Dru and his BFF hooking up and falling in love? (But I did ship Dru and Caius, I promise.) Maybe this could be another story with different characters from one of the other centuries? It could be called it Brothers of Rome? I mean, it could be a thing, right? I'd read the hell out of it. (Obviously.)


tl;dr: I loved this. Can lgbtqia Roman legionaries be a thing, please? Also, I really want Karrie Roman to write more historical romance, because she killed it.


Disclaimer: Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for the free ARC, with no incentive or coercion on your parts.