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    Semper Fidelis: A Novel of the Roman Empire
    Semper Fidelis: A Novel of the Roman Empire
    Semper Fidelis: A Novel of the Roman Empire
    Audiobook9 hours

    Semper Fidelis: A Novel of the Roman Empire

    Written by Ruth Downie

    Narrated by Simon Vance

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Back at his post as a doctor in the twentieth legion in Roman-occupied Britain, Ruso uncovers a new danger even closer to home than the neighboring barbarians.

    As mysterious injuries, and even deaths, begin to appear in the medical ledgers, it's clear that all is not well amongst the native recruits to Britannia's imperial army. Is the much-decorated centurion Geminus preying on his weaker soldiers? And could this be related to the appearance of Emperor Hadrian?

    Bound by his sense of duty and ill-advised curiosity, Ruso begins to ask questions nobody wants to hear. Meanwhile his barbarian wife Tilla is finding out some of the answers-and marked as a security risk by the very officers Ruso is interrogating.

    With Hadrian's visit looming large, the fates of the legion, Tilla, and Ruso himself hang in the balance.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Media, Inc
    Release dateMar 4, 2013
    ISBN9781452681801
    Semper Fidelis: A Novel of the Roman Empire
    Author

    Ruth Downie

    Ruth Downie is the author of the New York Times bestselling Medicus, Terra Incognita, Persona Non Grata, and Caveat Emptor. She is married with two sons and lives in Devon, England.

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    Reviews for Semper Fidelis

    4/5

    23 ratings10 reviews

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    • 5/5
      One of the best in the series. Please read these books.
    • 4/5
      Historical fiction, set in the year 122 ad. Apparently this is book 5. Follows the medic Gaius Petreius Ruso in his travels in Britiania. This is the roman empire in the years of Hadrian (the man who built the wall). Well written and engaging characters.

    • 5/5
      I'm still not exactly sure how Roman army medicus Gaius Petreius Ruso made it out of the last book's frying pan, but in Semper Fidelis, with a little prodding from his British wife Tilla, he plummets right back into the fire. Travelling back from his hometown in Gaul with Tilla in tow, Ruso is briefly posted as medicus to the 20th legion, which is already gaining a reputation for unluckiness--and that's before it is landed with the hapless Ruso. Ruso quickly discovers that luck is the least of the 20th's problems: the native British recruits of the novice legion are being subjected to atrocities by their sadistic leaders. To make issues even more complex, the emperor Hadrian's planned visit to Deva takes an abrupt side excursion through the 20th's camp. Galvanized by his wife's reproaches, Ruso tries to help the beleaguered legion, but when his efforts are interrupted by a murder, the circumstances of both Ruso and the rest of the legion are about to get infinitely worse.

      Ruth Downie's historical mysteries are some of my favorite detective books and definitely my favorite historical Roman series. I find Ruso a remarkably sympathetic and entertaining character. Maybe I've encountered too many of the Nietzchean he-who-hunts-monsters protagonists lately, but it was extremely refreshing to encounter a protagonist who has absolutely no struggles with that particular personality flaw. Ruso certainly has his faults, but his temptation will always be passivity, not power. Ruso is phlegmatic and rather pessimistic, but in the face of adversity, he demonstrates a dark and quiet enjoyment in gallows humour and a tendency towards understatement. Both his personality and position in the legion make silence, inaction, and obedience his constant temptations. Without the acerbic, self-assured proddings of his wife Tilla, Ruso would most likely leave the issues that confront him unchallenged. Ruso has a tendency to always expect the worst--granted, it might just be sound logic at this point--but he also tends to adapt readily and stoically to any adversity he faces, leading to unexpected hilarity. Only Ruso would be able to sit locked and chained and facing a military trial for murder and have a polite conversation with an acquaintance about the acquaintance's wife and prospects. Only Tilla can really rouse Ruso from his general imperturbability.

      Tilla herself is beginning to grow on me. Possibly because she acts as Ruso's foil, I have always found her irritating, caustic, and self-righteous. In this story, perhaps because she finally admits to fault, I found myself empathizing more and more with her. My increased sympathy might also be due to the introduction of an even more irritating character than Tilla or Tilla's improved diction. Tilla has apparently finally learned Latin, so Downie has stopped presenting her conversation in ungrammatic pigeon. Other favourite characters, including the smooth, shallow, womanizing Valens and the snaky Metellus--who I finally realized is basically an evil version of Pratchett's Lord Vetinari--make enjoyable cameos. As always, Downie's vibrant characters and skilled depiction of scenes bring her world to life.

      One of the aspects I always love about these books is the portrayal of everyday mundanities and the relative unimportance of the protagonist when compared to his literary peers (e.g. Marcus Didius Falco, who is so close to the aristocracy that Vespasian actually hits on his girlfriend.) In this book, Downie varies her approach, bringing Hadrian and his wife in as major characters, and I was pleasantly surprised by the result. Hadrian and Sabina are fascinating historical characters, and Downie does a marvellous job capturing Hadrian's powerful and problematic personality and his wife's more enigmatic life. Like all great historical novelists, Downie has definitely done her research and grounds her plot in as much historical detail that is available. Hadrian's inclusion brings an added richness to her depiction of Roman Britain.

      Overall, this was a great addition to the series and I just can't wait for more. If you enjoy a harmonious mixture of humour, romance, and mystery, please give Downie's series a try--the first book is Medicus.
    • 5/5
      Medicus Ruso is back in the XX legion. He's off with a vexillation to Eboracum [York] to inspect the medical facilities. British recruits are dying suspiciously, so Ruso and his lovely wife Tilla, plunge right in to solve the mystery. Emperor Hadrian is coming and has plans for a Wall. This fictional portrayal of Empress Sabina is the best I've ever read. Ruso and Tilla care for each other, but their marriage is presented realistically; sometimes they don't see quite eye to eye.
    • 3/5
      I was doing okay with this book until Ruso, while eating a chicken leg, wished it were larger such as a turkey leg. Oops. Ancient Romans didn't eat turkeys because North America, with its turkeys, was unknown to them. 1 star off for poor editing and research.
    • 4/5
      This series just keeps getting better -- this time Roman Army medic Ruso and his British wife Tilla are back in Britain and in the same place as Emperor Hadrian as he comes to inspect the troops and see how progress is going on his wall. But British recruits to the Roman army are dying in mysterious circumstances and despite their wish to keep a low profile, Ruso and Tilla are both drawn into the mystery.
    • 4/5
      This was a very enjoyable return to the adventures of the Roman doctor, Ruso, and his feisty British wife, Tilla, as they come back to the Legion to work in Britannia again.
      Their Legion is just passing through one town belonging to the Sixth Legion when Ruso notices things that do not add up. He pokes his nose in where it doesn't belong and raises a great many hackles amongst the soldiers of the Sixth.
      As usual, he's just a decent man who bumbles onto things and has a certain naivete where it looks like he's being going to be diverted. Tilla is a strong addition to their investigations and it's great seeing their interactions and relationship.
    • 4/5
      Interesting story well told. Downie always gives a good feeling of the times.

      As always the narration is excellent.
    • 3/5
      A bit slow, but nice atmosphere.
    • 4/5
      This might very well be my favorite of the series. The story is straightforward but well-crafted and poignant; for much of the book the "mystery" isn't who the baddie is, but rather how Ruso and Tilla (whose relationship continues to develop beautifully) will convince the authorities and see justice done. I admit I enjoyed the chapters from the Empress Sabina's perspective the least, but since I read the book in one sitting, staying up till 2am to finish, I can't honestly say I thought the story dragged in any way.