Customer Reviews

The Severan Prophecies: A Novel of the Roman Empire

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

If you ever wondered how Roman emperors were made and unmade, read the Severan Prophecies. David Chacko's latest novel is a headlong bloody primer to the emergence of a dynasty that lasted for several generations, each wilder than the preceding one. Told by Marcellus, a tribune who rises to army commander and finally as advisor to emperors, the book is a fascinating look at the turbulence of third century Rome. Written with real style and an authentic Roman voice. Five stars.

Anyone who likes historical novels, especially ones based in Roman times, will have his plate full with The Severan Prophecies. This book has perfect voice and pitch. The main character, Marcellus, is as believable a Roman as he is an action hero and mentor. The incredible gyrations of the characters and plot are to my knowledge all based in fact. The rule of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus was probably the wildest in Roman history. The main figures in the Severan Dynasty are all present, including a full cast of powerful women who manipulate feverishly behind the scene. Sex, intrigue, full-scale battles, and some inventive methods of dying, can be found in every chapter. You can put the book down, but only because you know there will be more good things to come.

If you'd like to read a historical novel about the Rome Empire that is the strangest of all things--very well written while crammed with action large and small, sex of every kind, mysterious murders, and many turns of high level intrigue--try The Severan Prophecies. It never quits and the ways it never quits are almost endless. A great read and a very fine novel.

THE SEVERAN PROPHECIES by David Chacko is billed as "... it's not your mother's Roman historical novel."
Well, I concur, for it's also a keen study of brainwashing, indoctrination, innocence trampled upon and corrupted in cold-blood with wide-reaching, tragic results. In addition, it is informative and entertaining, appealing to both male and female readers. Chacko's writing style is fast, fluid, and robust. Once I began reading it, I found it hard to put down, in fact, I could not stop until 3.30 AM.
The action is chock-full of testosterone, battle scenes, political intrigues, unbridled sex, mysterious but bloody rituals, wile palace shenanigans, a close look into the competing religious cults (the Sun God, the Moon Goddess, and Christianity in its infancy) of the time, also a subtly told, tender love story, tested and strained loyalties, memorable characters such as the Druid seer called Blue Man who sets the tone of the tale in its opening pages, and so much more.
Once you open the pages of this novel, be ready to lose yourself in David Chacko's dynamic Roman world.
The narrator of the tale, Marcellus Decimus, is a crusty Roman, intelligent, brave and loyal, a hero worthy of rooting for.
Young Varius, of the Severan dynasty, who at the tender age of fourteen takes on the name Marcus Aurelius Antoninus and becomes the Emperor of the World, is a sympathetic character. He is a bright, tender-hearted, handsome young boy, who starts out with great promise but is manipulated and corrupted mercilessly not only by sycophants but by his nearest and dearest for their own agenda. I found his devotion to his One God believably told and was touched by it. His descent into gender confusion with results that destroyed so many lives, was believable as well, and haunting.

THE SEVERAN PROPHECIES is a satisfying, five-star read. Especially if you like novels that offer more than entertainment, but are educative as well as thought-provoking. David Chacko will not disappoint you.

It's terribly difficult to respect an historical novel in which the author has the protagonist eating potatoes in 200 AD Rome.

Based on the glowing reviews I bought this book. I found the narrative choppy with very little character development. Yes, you do get some flavor for historic Roman life but the plot is very thin. For the first 75 pages it went virtually no where. The central character who narrates the story uses almost a short hand style --I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for action and adventure. Sorry this is a miss.

I'm not sure why this book was so difficult to read. [..... ]. I was so terribly disappointed with this book that I stopped reading it - which is something I never do. Hopefully this author's next attempt will be better.