Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

Review

I think this is book 40 for Simon, not a bad tally for 10 years work…. and to date not a single bad book. This latest book “Commodus” shows just how far he has developed in his craft as an author.

Set once again against the turbulent backdrop of Imperial Rome Simon Turney opts to tell the story from a unique perspective, a young free woman with unfettered access to the imperial family and the emperor to be, giving the reader a very individual and personal insight into how the young life and psyche of an emperor was formed and the damage that emotional and physical trauma can do to a person.

What Simon Turney has produced is a very personal story woven from so many perspectives, the love of family, the tragedy of life in ancient Rome, the perspectives of Slave through to emperor, the emotion and loss that can hit any family no matter their station or their wealth, yet always slanted through the perspective of a young girl and then young woman. As with Caligula where once we may have perceived this emperor as “mad” or “despotic” or what ever your own view from the history books, these accounts bring a human element to them and would take a very hard hearted person to not sympathize with Caligula or Commodus, and that is a real testament to the writing ability of the author, to weave us into the story emotionally as well as physically. I’ve always known Simon had the ability to be one of the best in the genre, these latest two books prove that and more.

Highly recommended

(Parm)

Commodus by Simon Turney is the second in his The Damned Emperors series, exploring the lives of those emperors even Rome wanted to erase from history. The first in the series, Caligula was a fabulous and intelligent read that really made you think about the political intrigues of ancient Rome. Commodus is no less thought-provoking.

The thing that struck me after reading both Caligula and Commodus is why on earth would anyone want to be emperor – or even close to the emperor in ancient Rome. Yes, the job came with ‘phenomenal cosmic power’ (as the genie in Aladdin would put it) but you did not expect to die in your bed – unless it was from poison or an assassin in the night.

What makes The Damned Emperors series so unique is that Simon Turney uses the women close to the emperor to tell his story. In Caligula it was his own sister, Livilla, who witnessed her brother’s rise to ‘the purple’ and followed his story to an inevitable violent conclusion. In Commodus the tale is told through Marcia, a childhood friend who rose to be the emperor’s lover and consort, though not his wife and empress. Each woman is able to narrate the emperor’s life and the events which shape his personality and rule. Each book is a standalone.

Marcia’s own story is as fascinating as that of the emperor she adores, and serves as an example of how power corrupts not only the leaders, but those around them. Marcia is an interesting character who uses necessity and love to justify actions that many would find questionable, if not downright abhorrent. And yet you can’t help liking and sympathising with a woman who had little real power and influence over her own life, let alone anyone the emperor’s!

Simon Turney is a master of intrigue and has a remarkable ability to get inside the head of the women who lived alongside these emperors. And then into the heads of the emperors themselves. You cannot help but have sympathy for these great men, who rose to such heights that they practically ruled the world, but could trust no one. His knowledge of Roman history is second-to-none and he puts it to good use in depicting not only the Roman psyche, but also the Roman way of life.

Simon Turney vividly recreates the streets of Rome, the buildings, people and events to the extent that you can practically smell the markets, the blood in the arenas and the wondrous aromas of the lavish meals served to the imperial family. As a consequence, you can also feel the despair and despondency of the poor and unrepresented populace – the plebs and the slaves – who are ignored and left to suffer famine and plague by their indifferent rulers.

Commodus is not always an easy read, but it is fascinating. It draws you in from the very first pages, and leads you on a journey of discovery, not only of the emperor himself but of the life of the imperial family. It is eye-opening! Beautifully written and addictive, it is one of those books that you can’t wait to finish – and yet, desperately want it not to end.

The second of Turney’s series, The Damned Emperors, focuses on Commodus, the errant son of Marcus Aurelius, best known for his appearance as villain in the film, Gladiator. The ancient sources depict Commodus as essentially feckless, more interested in fighting in the arena than in ruling an empire. His reign is seen as a turning point in Roman history with the age of the ‘Good emperors’ over and the decline about to begin.

This novel follows the patchy historical record quite closely: Commodus is fixated with the arena; he does neglect his duties as ruler; he does entrust the empire to an unworthy subordinate; he does subsequently introduce a reign of terror, culminating in his death and removal from the historical record.

But we are invited to consider Turney’s Commodus with some sympathy. He is a damaged young man, having suffered loss in childhood, subject to depression and lacking a sense of self-worth. This is despite his physical beauty, his precocious intelligence and his desire to achieve world peace. I was not convinced. I am afraid this Commodus seemed to be just as the ancients portrayed him, selfish and spoilt, undeserving of power, too ready to submit his rule to unworthy and corrupt men. A good story though.

Thanks to Orion and NetGalley for the Advance Review Copy in exchange for an honest review.

It’s not very often that a Classics themed book appears on NetGalley but when they do, I hit that Request button with the power of a thousand fiery suns. I wasn’t familiar with Turney as a writer before reading this novel, but I've added Caligula to my Audible wish list on the strength of this novel.

This book is a historical fiction novel about the Emperor Commodus. If you’re like me, you’ll be thinking “the one from Gladiator?” and yes, it’s the same person from Gladiator. Having Joaquin Phoenix in my mind whilst reading wasn’t entirely unpleasant, but it turns out that the makers of that film basically didn’t do any research whatsoever so if you thought he was an utter prat in the film, don’t let that put you off reading this book. He is a much more sympathetic character here.

The story is told from the point of view of Marcia, the Christian daughter of a freedwoman seamstress in the employ of one of the current Emperors of Rome. Marcia goes to live at the palace and spends her childhood with the young Commodus and his family. The story follows Marcia and Commodus as they grow into adulthood and their experiences through this tumultuous period of Rome’s history.

Commodus suffers from his fair share of tragedy and it’s impossible not to feel for him despite some of his behaviour. I imagine everyone you know and love dying horribly will test even the most resilient of people. Marcia serves as his confidante and rock alongside Cleander, a slave, who swiftly becomes Marcia’s nemesis.

I really liked Marcia, I tend to like morally grey female characters and she definitely fits the bill. She understands what parts of her fate she can control, and which she needs to plot her way out of. I didn’t feel her character quite had the nuances of a female perspective that perhaps a female author could offer, but I was willing to let it slide because I enjoyed her characterisation overall.

For being quite a long book, I thought the pacing was good. There were some slower parts but overall, the action moved along quickly. There’s lots of backstabbing, intrigue, betrayal, drama and action sequences but best of all, it is not a military snoozefest. I always hesitate to read historical fiction set in Ancient Rome because military fiction is REALLY not my thing, but this was really more a story about the private wars between individuals which was just peachy.

I really rather enjoyed this one and if you have an interest in the Roman Empire you probably will too. It’s a real page turner and surprisingly juicy and fun without descending into hamminess and parody. I hope Turney will be writing further novels in this series.

I wont go into detail about the story as i dont want to spoil the book, i see so many reviews that give 80% of the story away and it spoils it for the reader in my opinion. I loved this book, I enjoyed the story and i felt connected with the characters. The story was a real page Turner and infact my other half kept needing to tell me to put it down and go to sleep, I was gripped. Pleaseantly surprised and brilliantly written, highly recommend, another 5* book from Simon.

This was a complimentary copy from net galley - thank you

I've not read any of Simon Turney's books but had seen this everywhere so was thrilled when approved an advanced copy

And this certainly did not disappoint !! I shall certainly be searching out more of his work.

Commodus is only known to be through the film Gladiator so to be able to read a book devoted to him was fantastic

Turney has a wonderful writing style - engaging and insightful - LOVED it !! - Cannot praise highly enough

Makes a great holiday read and I would certainly recommend as a book club book

I'm a big fan of Simon Turney, as i've stated in previous reviews. I adore his Praetorian series, which touches upon many of the events of Commodus' life, and was intrigued from the get go whether it would intertwine with this new book. I actually finished my review of Caligula last year by saying "I really cannot wait for 'Commodus' next year, and heres hoping that a certain member of his Guard makes a guest appearance!" Well i'm happy to say Rufinus did make a few subtle appearances!

Now, with Commodus, Turney weaves a masterful tale of one of Rome's most infamous emperors. As with Caligula, he take the myths and stories surrounding the emperor, and takes a revisionist approach to the history. He digs deep into the 'hows' and 'whys' of what happened during Commodus' short but eventful life.

Its another brilliant tale by one of the greatest stars of historical fiction. I really do hope he gets the chance to add to this series, and its a breath of fresh air to fans of Roman fiction.

And as i finish writing this, i'm off to meet the author to get a signed copy!

Commodus - megalomaniac or misunderstood? Giving one take on the question, this historical fiction book shows the reader a view of Commodus through the eyes of Marcia, his childhood friend and eventual mistress. No stranger to manipulation and acting in cold blood herself, even Marcia is chilled by some of Commodus' actions. Can she save him from himself?

After reading Caligula by the same author, I knew I had to read his book about Commodus and I was not disappointed. This word 'epic' can sometimes be overused when it comes to books, but this one truly is an epic. It takes a character who is of almost pantomime villain level and turns him into a tragically flawed human being. The world of the Roman Empire was conjured from the descriptions and the level of research which has gone into the book. I absolutely loved it.

Thanks to NetGalley and publishers, Orion Publishing Group, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Commodus by Simon Turney

Marcia’s place at the Roman imperial court is unusual. She has the status of a freedwoman, the daughter of the seamstress of Lucius Verus, Marcus Aurelius’ co-emperor, but she spent her childhood alongside those of the royal family, growing especially close to Marcus Aurelius’ son, Commodus, and his brothers. Years later, when Commodus succeeds his father as Emperor, Marcia becomes closer still to this young man she loves so much. But a man cannot rule the world without it changing him. History knows Commodus as the megalomaniac who loved to fight as a gladiator (just remember Joaquin Phoenix’s portrayal of the man in Gladiator!), and Marcia is witness to it all. Marcia knows Commodus better than anyone. She loves him the most and she also has reason to fear him.

Simon Turney’s latest novel in his ‘Damned Emperors’ series focuses on one of the most charismatic and infamous of Rome’s rulers, who was emperor in the later years of the 2nd century AD. Commodus really did think of himself as Hercules reborn but Simon Turney here shows that there was much more to the man than this. As with the previous novel, Caligula, the story is told from the perspective of a woman (a genuine historical figure) who was closest to the Emperor. Marcia was quite possibly the love of Commodus’ life and she achieved a status that far outstripped her rank as a freedwoman. Once again, Simon Turney creates a convincing, fascinating and complex female figure – someone who is a central part of the story while also being an outsider, due to her gender and her rank.

Through Marcia we see glimpses into Commodus’ soul, beginning in AD 162, from their earliest years as children playing together, along with Commodus’ siblings. This is a novel filled with disasters, some that affected all of Rome and others that damaged Commodus. Commodus better than anyone understood the fragility of life. It also makes for an exciting novel as we see floods, fires, civil unrest, war and accidents. One of the biggest threats facing Rome and the empire, though, was plague. It’s never that far away from these pages.

Commodus is such an engrossing novel, filled with characters who each leave their mark, whatever their rank. Marcia is our narrator but she isn’t quite what she seems. There’s a psychological thriller element here, I think. She is an unreliable narrator at times. She has her own agenda and at times I found her horrifying, no less a demon than Commodus himself. Perhaps this is one reason why they grew so close. Marcia keeps her eye on the men and women who live in Commodus’ circle. Intrigue is rife and, as time goes on, intrigue becomes something else. Marcia seems to be at the heart of it all. Commodus is almost the innocent at times. But it all shows what a complicated man Commodus was. There is more to him than history has recorded and, although we only see some of it in glimpses – it’s difficult for Marcia to see into Commodus’ deepest thoughts – it’s compelling and our feelings towards him are conflicted as we try to understand him.

This is such a fascinating period in Roman history and it’s brought alive here. We have the personal relationship between Marcia and Commodus and those closest to them, but then there is also the political turmoil of the period, reinforced by disaster, and these two sides to Commodus’ story are brought together by Simon Turney in such thoroughly absorbing style. I can’t wait to find out which emperor will be the next to receive the Turney treatment!

By the way, Commodus is a beautiful hardback, complete with maps and family trees.

Other reviews and features
Marius’ Mules I: The Invasion of Gaul
Marius’ Mules II: The Belgae
Writing historical locations – a guest post
Caligula

I read Caligula before by Simon Turney and loved it! Commodus was no different, enjoyed it so much!
It's an excellent historical fiction, centered around the Roman Emperor, who was very brutal at his time, This book looks at the events from his perspective and revisualises him. It's clear Turney did massive research . as the story revolves around the facts of the time.
I love the characterisation, it's very vivid and done masterfully. The plot moved swiftly, and it's a true page turner. I couldn't put it down.
I'm already eagerly waiting for his next book! Historical fiction lovers must read this.
Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

Commodus by Simon Turney is my sort of historical fiction - people who actually lived - with their lives told in an intriguing and interesting way, bolted around known 'facts' and not a little imagination to bring the character alive!
This is the first book I've read by Simon Turney but it won't be the last.
The story is a well-told tale of a Roman Emperor who, I must assume, has a bit of a bad reputation. This is a sympathetic account of his rule, and I doubt I'll be the only person who finishes the novel and considers just what it is about him that's quite so bad (apart from his delight in killing exotic animals that would garner a great of bad press in our day and age) - in that respect the author does an excellent job of rehabilitating a bit of a dodgy character.
A thoroughly enjoyable read. Highly recommended. I read it in a day!