Publisher's Synopsis
"An extraordinary series" - The Morning Star
Step into the world of 615 AD, where heroism and the fate of the Byzantine Empire converge in the conclusion to this prose epic of six massive novels.
In the heart of the vast and morally bankrupt city of Constantinople, Aelric of England, now known as the Lord Senator Alaric, stands on the brink of absolute authority. As an insane Persian tyrant prepares to deliver a killing blow to the Byzantine Empire, Alaric appears nearly as powerful as the Emperor himself. Seemingly without opposition, he wields his influence from the confines of his fortified palace, surrounded by the opulent pleasures of books, mood-altering substances, and the allure of his serving girls and dancing boys.
But within this decadent facade lies a visionary. Misunderstood by almost everyone, Aelric alone is pushing forward with the root and branch reforms that can save the Empire from impending doom and carry it to a new kind of glory.
As the world's most formidable military force assembles in secret beyond the imposing eastern mountains, shadows of treachery and domestic foes wait for their moment to strike back.
In its climax, a colossal battle unfolds, where the fate of empires and the destiny of Alaric converge. The True Cross makes a shadowy appearance, alongside an ancient Babylonian vessel that may once have been used for mixing wine - or, more likely, for collecting human blood to be used in some abominable ritual. And the ancient streets of Constantinople come to life with meticulous detail, putting the reader inside the mind of a world that is no longer Antiquity, but not yet the Middle Ages.
This sixth installment of the series weaves intrigue, passion, black comedy, elements of the supernatural and the splendour of ancient Constantinople into a long and sprawling but always coherent narrative that must appeal to all lovers of historical fiction.
Praise for the Novels of Richard Blake
'Fascinating to read, very well written, an intriguing plot and I enjoyed it very much.' - Derek Jacobi, star of I Claudius and Gladiator
'Vivid characters, devious plotting and buckets of gore are enhanced by his unfamiliar choice of period.... Nasty, fun and educational.' - The Daily Telegraph
'He knows how to deliver a fast-paced story and his grasp of the period is impressively detailed.' - The Mail on Sunday
'A rollicking and raunchy read . . . Anyone who enjoys their history with large dollops of action, sex, intrigue and, above all, fun will absolutely love this novel.' - Historical Novels
'It would be hard to over-praise this extraordinary series, a near-perfect blend of historical detail and atmosphere with the plot of a conspiracy thriller, vivid characters, high philosophy and vulgar comedy.' - The Morning Star
About the Author
Richard Blake is a pseudonym for Sean Gabb, who is an historian, writer and teacher of Greek and Latin. He lives in Kent with his wife and daughter.
