Mask of Romulus - A Compelling Narrative Blending Fact and Fiction 4/5
- Mark Jamilkowski
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Extensively researched and compelling narrative
A core strength is the difficulty to tell fact from fiction
Elements of this [narrative... will] draw any reader’s attention
Will resonate with lovers of historical fiction, especially Roman Empire period
The assassination of Julius Caesar presented an opportunity that Octavian hadn’t envisioned. Caesar had left a majority of his wealth to Octavian. With this and support from Cicero, Octavian was elected consul at the age of 19—and would go on to become a key figure in Rome's history. His reign would be impactful, with his efforts to quell resistance from rebellious provinces and development projects across Rome. Years later, a young woman, Kamala, an oracle from India, would join Augustus’ group of advisors, and this would change his history. What was intended to be a diplomatic mission to strengthen ties between Rome and India would heavily impact the trajectory of Augustus’s reign and the future beyond it.
In his book, Mask of Romulus, Mark Jamilkowski presents an extensively researched novel. He blends facts from history and fiction to breathe life into history that dates back many centuries. I was fascinated by the long list of references, a clear indication of how Mark invested in crafting this. The life of Augustus is reimagined from his childhood, and the author chronologically charts his path and how he finds his way to becoming the emperor of Rome. I liked the introduction of Kamala because she plays a pivotal role in this story, though I couldn’t quite point out whether her contribution was fictional or based on actual events. At its climax, this epic story culminates in an ending I couldn’t have predicted. Julia, Augustus’s own daughter, stands at the center of the climax, and how King Herod and the birth of a child in Judea become a part of this story are the things I know would draw any reader’s attention.
I loved how the author extensively described the events, characters, and settings. The author built a compelling narrative, making it difficult to distinguish fact from fiction, which I’d say is one of the key strengths of this novel. This novel is rich in ancient history, and I enjoyed the majority of it.
I rate it 4 out of 5 stars. The content would resonate well with lovers of historical fiction, especially history about the Roman Empire and events around that period.
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