The Ides of April (Ray, Mary, Roman Empire Sequence.) [Paperback]

Mary Ray (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1999 | Series: Roman Empire Sequence

Hylas is a young Greek slave in the household of Caius Pomponius, a Roman Senator involved in political schemes. When the senator is found mysteriously murdered, the household slaves (including Hylas and his mother) fall under suspicion. Hylas escapes capture long enough to enlist the aid of a young tribune, Camillus Rufus. The desperate attempt to unravel the threads of the political intrigue carries Camillus into the very presence of Nero and brings Hylas into contact with the new secret sect of Christians

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 14 and up
  
• Paperback: 165 pages
• Publisher: Bethlehem Books (May 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1883937434
• ISBN-13: 978-1883937430
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #57,389 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The most riveting modern historical fiction out there!, February 10, 2000

By 

Heather Tiemens - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Ides of April (Ray, Mary, Roman Empire Sequence.) (Paperback)

Part Agatha Christie, part Eloise McGraw ... this book totally blew me away! Mary Ray is terrific, practically creating a whole new genre of books - children's historical mysteries. The plot flows beautifully from one catastrophic event to another, creating a tale of incredible skill and baffling turns.

Not much has been written in the Ancient-Roman category anyway, and this book is made even more unique by its point of view - that of a slave. It exposes the so-called 'glamour' of Rome to be merely a circle of cruelty and struggle. This book is not for the very young, but discerning readers 12 & up will find this book absolutely wonderful. I can't endorse it too strongly!

46 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great for young adults, December 27, 2001

By 

TammyJo Eckhart "TammyJo Eckhart" (Bloomington, Indiana United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Ides of April (Ray, Mary, Roman Empire Sequence.) (Paperback)

People fantasize about the ancient world and as an ancient historian I'm often amused and annoyed by what these fantasies entail. This is especially true in books written for children and young adults where the nastiness (by our modern standards) of the ancient world are often overlooked and underplayed. Mary Ray's "The Ides of April" does a fairly good job of looking at the concerns of citizens, young people, and slaves in mid-first century Rome. While the murder mystery kicks off sharply I do wish she'd spent more time on the characters before the entire legal nightmare began so that we could be more emotionally invested in the characters. Likewise it ends a bit aburptly. I haven't read any of the other books of the series yet, but it seems like the same characters may not be encountered which is a pity. The characters are well done, they seem to grasp the mindset of the people of that time though I think holding onto a Greek identity when one is born a slave in Rome is a bit awkward. I'd recommend it to anyone between 14 and 20 who is interested in the ancient world or in power dynamics in history. For those of us who are older, it can be entertaining as well.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well! Only three other reviews...?!, April 9, 2003

By 

Mousinator "~Mousinator~" (none) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Ides of April (Ray, Mary, Roman Empire Sequence.) (Paperback)

The thing about this book was that it felt _REAL_. It was hard to remember it was *just* a book.

You felt the danger; you felt the bruises on the ribs. You wanted the hero to make it. You just didn't find yourself doubting the realness of it.

Now, it's been a couple years since I read this, so perhaps I was just more gullible. But I don't think so. I still remember it, after all this time. Its magic was a special fete considering I had NEVER been interested in the Roman era or historical mysteries.

When the book was over, I wanted it to keep going.

An excellent historical mystery. I highly doubt you'll regret reading it.