The Centurion

Absorbing Read …….. Recommended … 5 stars

The Review

The narrative opens in Ostia, Rome’s outlet to the sea, as twenty year old Marcos, former slave and now master of grain shipments for the house of Claudius is confronted by a giant of a man who has three missing fingers. The recent death of Claudius Nero and arrival of his nephew Tiberius Nero as head of the family has upset the calm balance of the estate. Marco’s continued position as administrator of the grain shipments was confirmed, however, Tiberius Nero had left the estate short handed by his removal of all slaves requiring constant supervision. From childhood Marcos has daydreamed of traveling to the far reaches of the world. Withe the arrival to the estate of a Praetorian Guard bearing news that The First Prince, the father of the Empire, Julius Augustus Imperator has died is signaled enormous change to the life Marcos has known. The estate is thrown into turmoil, a pretender to the throne has appeared, and Marcos’ life is being turned in directions he never dreamed possible. Caesar Augustus, Tiberius, the house of Claudius, Judea, the Roman Legion, Jerusalem, Herod, the birth of Christ, Annas, Caiphas, Pilate, Golgotha, names, places and events found on the pages of history are all part of the tale woven with expertise by writers Domokos and Toews. The Centurion is a fascinating peek into what might have taken place during the turmoil surrounding the birth, death and life of Jesus. Writers Domokos and Toews have done their homework. The Centurion is filled with more than enough historical and Biblical fact to keep the most discerning reader turning the pages. The tale of Marco and his coming awareness that life can hold more than he had realized is convincing. Dialog is gritty, filled with human emotion and typical of the time portrayed in the narrative as well as typical of us all today. Venues are abundantly represented as they draw the reader into the tale from the outset. Reader interest is held tight from the opening paragraphs right to the end of the narrative as we follow Marcos through ups and downs, excitement, despondency, awakening belief, despair and hope. Lives of historical figures are enlarged or strengthened as we come to see some of them in a more human light. Inscrutability, stratagem, life and death struggle, historical fact and historical ‘might have been’ are all intermingled into a compelling read. The Centurion is a must have for those who find history enticing and want to immerse themselves in a well written account concerning the lives of lesser along with well-known figures from earlier days.

Enjoyed the read, happy to recommend for the home pleasure reading list, the high school library shelf and the community library reading public.

Genre: historical fiction

Author: Alex Domokos & Rita Toews

Line/Publisher Hard Shell Word Factory PO Box 161 Amherst JCT WI 54407 www.hardshell.com ISBN: 0 7599 4243 9

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Reviewed by: Molly's Reviews               molly martin

MOLLY’S REVIEWS