Customer Reviews

The Gladiators from Capua (The Roman Mysteries)

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The Gladiators from Capua is a continuation of the story in The Enemies of Jupiter, one moth later. There has been a fire that devastated much of Rome but the epidemic has ceased. To take their minds off the troubles of the past six months, Titus has decided to hold 100 days of games to mark the opening of the new Flavian Amphitheater (later known as the Colosseum). Flavia, Nubia and Lupus are in Rome to attend the opening games but they have returned to Rome to search for Jonathan, who mysteriously disappeared. In their search the friends manage to get access to the lower sections of the Colosseum in order to search for clues. How they get inside the workings of the amphitheater brings each a measure of trouble that challenges each.

Caroline Lawrence provides a mesmerizing account of the opening games using Martial's book on the spectacles as inspiration (and there is a brief appearance by the poet). There are quite a few scenes of action that are magnificently described and the story keeps you guessing and on the edge of your seat. She also fleshes out her characters superbly so we see them as real individuals. The Roman Mysteries is the kind of series that you do not want to end with each succeeding book building on the prior one. These are excellent books for young adults to learn about ancient Rome but adults will also enjoy them.

Caroline Lawrence writes incredibly detailed, fascinating stories. This one is no different. The well-paced plot keeps you turning the pages to find out what is going to happen next.

However, this is a very bloodthirsty book mainly because the Roman games were bloodthirsty games. The children explore their feelings about the violence and find that the bloody nature of the sport can be both frightening and addicting.

I really felt that some of the descriptions bordered on too graphic. One of my main problems with this book was the part with the little girls being eaten by hippos and crocodiles. The main character, Flavia, just barely manages to escape death through the intervention of her former slave, Nubia. I found the entire scene with the girls in the water to be disturbing. It was fairly graphic and heartbreaking. I have a fairly vivid imagination and I actually ended up dreaming about this scene the night after I read the book.

The bottom line is, if you have a child who is prone to nightmares or who has an over-active imagination, then this would be one I would have them skip. However, since the plot line is important to the rest of the series, it would be good to read it and summarize the events for your child. This is what I did for my son.

If your pre-teen reads this book, she/he may want to run to the nearest bookstore to buy an armful of books on ancient Rome. Not because there's too much in it that's incomprehensible, but because Lawrence makes it a very realistic and compelling world--both the "good" and the "bad." The protagonists--all children--adroitly negotiate a morally difficult world where men, womnen and even children are victims of spectacular (and bloodthirsty) games in the Flavian amphitheater. However, the narration is also quite sensitive to the young reader's possible reactions, and sympathetic views are always heard from at least one character. The subject of personal loss and family tragedy is well explored here. I'm not a a mental health professional, but this books feels like the type that might help a child who has had to cope with the loss of a loved one. I've read every book in the series and as an educator in literature, I highly recommend it, and also the other books in the series.

This series is a wonderful introduction to Ancient Rome, warts and all. This book is the most gruesome yet, with a recounting of Titus' games of 80AD. In this book the children from Ostia are missing Jonathan, who is presumed dead after the fire in Rome, but Lupus hears of a curly haired boy beggar boy in Rome who claims to have stated the fire, and thinking this just might be their friend, the children set off once again to investigate the mystery.

Full of rich historical detail, this book is also an enthralling story. Children of about 8+ will love it, but parents be warned - there is some gruesome (if entirely authentic) stuff here. Think "horrible histories" but with a better storyline!

This, the eighth book in the "Roman Mysteries" by Caroline Lawrence, finally takes us to the inevitable gladiatorial arena. Set a month after the tragic events of The Enemies of Jupiter, aristocratic young Flavia and her freed-slave girl Nubia are still mourning the loss of their friend Jonathan Mordecai, lost in the terrible fire that engulfed Rome. But Lupus, their mute friend, is not so sure that Jonathan is dead.

With the fire extinguished and the epidemic on the wane, the Emperor Titus has announced one hundred days of celebrations in order to divert from people from their recent troubles. The games will take place in Titus's new amphitheatre (what will later be known as the Colosseum), complete with gladiators, wild animals, famous criminals and other wonders on display for the populace. Flavia, Nubian and Lupus cunningly secure themselves passage to Rome in order to hunt for their lost friend, under the pretext of watching the games.

The hunt begins in Rome with rumors of a dark curly-haired boy living on Potsherd Mountain, and the trail leads them straight to the Colosseum where they begin to fear that Jonathan is amongst the Jewish convicts who are scheduled to be executed. Time is ticking away as they try to discover the truth behind their friend's disappearance, but soon enough other problems beset the young sleuths: Flavia is caught up in a dangerous reenactment of a Greek myth in the arena and Nubia witnesses a familiar face from her past amongst the gladiators. By the time they reach Jonathan, it may be too late for him...

Lawrence weaves a tightly plotted story around her protagonists, drawing on the "Book of the Spectacles" by Martial (a contemporary writer who was present at the games) to create an evocative and accurate picture of Roman spectacle. Though it's not needlessly graphic, it is rather harrowing at times, and readers should be forewarned that the story includes some rather gruesome executions and frightening situations. Perhaps even more noteworthy is the tension and suspense that Lawrence manages to sustain - despite being far outside the age range of the series, this reader was feeling pretty nerve-wracked at times!

In saying that, Lawrence doesn't deal with the subject matter lightly, and there is an intriguing exploration into the bloodlust that stirs up in several characters on witnessing the games, just as others are sickened by it. The children in particular are interesting specimens: kind-hearted and innocent, they're naturally perturbed by the violence, but also grotesquely fascinated by the sight. In the same vein, Lawrence gently acknowledges the existence of adult interests (such as married noblewomen going to visit gladiators with their faces hidden) without being explicit. Such things will be just as much over young readers' heads as they are over the protagonists'.

By this stage in the series, it is rather too late for a newcomer to begin reading - ideally one would begin back at The Thieves of Ostia and work their way up. Lawrence assumes familiarity with the characters and their relationships, and much of the poignancy in the children's interactions with one another can only be felt if one has an understanding of their history together. Likewise, familiar faces that pop up from other books, and the personal background of each child, are inferred, but not explained, making prior knowledge something of a necessity.

Despite the gory subject matter, Lawrence has written a riveting book about Ancient Rome and its people, told in clear, illuminating prose and accurate detail. The four protagonists manage to be understandable and relatable, yet still products of their time as they grow to maturity in a *very* different time and place.

These books are just great for kids who love adventure, excitment and like to learn about history in entertaining way. My kids can't put these books down and now have a real image in their minds of what it was realy like to be a child growing up in this time in history. Kind of scary!!!!!

Flavie, Nubia and Lupus are all mourning the death of their dear friend- Johnthan. But when rumours start spreading of him being alive in Rome, Flavia and Nubia, with Lupus, decided to investigate.

This was once again another great book from Caroline Larence- an amazing author who depicts ancient rome in a truly outstanding way. I enjoyed this book immensely and it is a must-read for any historical fans.

The Gladiators from Capua is the new, excellent book from Caroline Lawrence. It is the eight book in the series of the Roman Mysteries. The three friends go off to Rome to visit Flavia's family and see the games at the Colleseum. Thinking that their other friend, Jonathan, is not dead, they risk their lives to find him. Nubia plays with animals, Lupus lurks underground and Flavia appears on stage risking her life in front of the Emperor. Enough said, buy the book.

The Roman mystery series is as good as it gets. Three of the children--Flavia, Nubia, and Lupus, go in search of their friend Benjamin who was last seen during the burning of Rome. Rumor through the city says that a dark, curly haired boy set the fire and Emporer Titus is searching for him. Emporer Titus is also opening the Flavian Amphitheater, now known as the Colesseum, with 100 days of celebration that will include gladiator fights and executions. The three friends find mystery and danger as they search for their best friend. Nubia holds the means to save either Benjamin or her brother, a gladiator, which will she choose? This series is exciting and in the process describes the life in Rome of 80 A.D.

nUBIA, THIS BOOK IS MaINLY based on her. In rome, the games are startin once again and flavia, lupuis n nubia are all invited. Caroline Lawrence uses her magic once again to enchance the readers in this spectacular book. This is a book that u once start readin, yyoull never be able to put it downm even after yure done with it. It was a brilliant bboook.