The Shards of Heaven Series, Book 1

September 21, 2015
Historian and author Livingston (At the End of Babel) dramatically retells the familiar story of the downfall of Marc Antony and Cleopatra through the eyes of minor historical figures. Featured are the scholarly Numidian prince Juba, adopted by Caesar and harboring a secret desire for revenge; Caesar and Cleopatra’s noble son, Caesarion; Cleopatra and Antony’s headstrong daughter, Selene; Didymus, the chief librarian of Alexandria; and Vorenus and Titus Pullo, old Roman veterans loyal to Antony. Livingston impressively makes these less famous personages feel more interesting and vivid than the usual headliners. A fantasy twist comes in the form of the titular shards, artifacts of great power and possibly divine origin. Juba learns to wield one in the form of a trident, with horrifying results; another is mounted on the armor of Alexander the Great; the most powerful is contained within the Ark of the Covenant. As the battle of Actium rages and Alexandria falls, these characters scramble to protect the shards, possess them, or both. This multipronged tale
is dense with action and incident; it’s grounded in history, mythology, and religion, but not weighed down by them. Agent: Evan Gregory, Ethan Ellenberg Literary.

September 15, 2015
Titans of Roman history grapple for control of an empire with the aid of a mystical weapon in this debut historical fantasy novel from Livingston. After the assassination of Julius Caesar, two groups attempted to seize control of his domain: his adopted son, Octavian; and Mark Antony, whose lover, Cleopatra, is mother to Caesar's biological child, Caesarion. Woven into this very real historical conflict is a dose of fantasy: Juba, Octavian's adopted brother, has recently discovered a magical artifact. Known by many names, including Poseidon's Trident and the Staff of Moses, its provenance is unclear but its powers are unquestionable-it can move objects, shred a man to pieces, and manipulate the waters of the sea-and its strength seems to originate from a jet-black stone at its heart. Juba is searching for another artifact-scrolls said to hold the secrets of the gods-but Octavian's blood lust and cruelty are hampering his efforts. Meanwhile, as Cleopatra's children and their tutor attempt to evade Octavian in the sprawling, bustling city of Alexandria, the truth of the origin of the Trident-and its sister artifact, the Ark-is coming to light. Meanwhile, armed with the Trident, Octavian and his army are bearing down on them. Bloody battles are waged, unoriginal but relevant theological questions are laid before the sprawling cast of characters and their shifting alliances, and while the outcome of history is fixed in time, the question of how these events came to be is given new life. Readers with an interest in this era will be captivated by the weaving of fiction with the reality of the past and the weaving of the reality of the past with the magic of the unseen world, even if the religious inquiries of the text aren't especially fresh. A satisfyingly supernatural back story for the all-too-real final war of the Roman Republic.

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November 15, 2015

Readers who have been waiting for a new book from historical fantasy author Jo Graham should check out this promising new series set in the tumultuous years following the death of Julius Caesar. Focusing on Caesar's three sons, nephew/adopted heir Octavian, natural son Caesarion (by Cleopatra), and adopted Numidian prince Juba, along with Selene, Antony and Cleopatra's daughter, this is a behind-the-scenes view of some of the most infamous events in Roman history. Add a quest for mysterious religious artifacts that could be used to control an empire and a nuanced view of historical characters, and this is a top-notch tale. VERDICT An accomplished nonfiction author and historian, Livingston (At the End of Babel) has a talent for storytelling that will keep readers immersed in the complex tale. His addition of a fantastical twist will not only fascinate readers, but have them clamoring for a sequel.--JM

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