Pompeii: City on Fire by T. L. Higley

This is a journey of discovery for a patrician and a slave set in Pompeii just prior to it’s devastating eruption.

I just finished Soldier of Rome: The Legionary by James Mace.   You wouldn’t know that the same Rome is being described.   This book focused far more on the short comings of the Roman Empire than the strengths of their military.  

A classic take of good versus evil with a religious overview characterizes the plot.   The main characters of Cato and Ari are well developed.   Each characterization is suffused with overt angst.   The evil is obvious and the dirty politics are familiar.  In some ways it is always surprising how little the world has changed in human interaction.  

I recommend the book.  

Body of work of T. L. Higley

Web Site: http://nopassportrequired.tlhigley.com/

The Texicans by Nina Vida

Nina Vida’s book is a character study of the variety of people who emigrated to Texas and formed the state. She shows the disparity between the newly arrived, the native Americans and the Mexicans. It is a tale of prejudice and perseverance.

I enjoyed the book. The central character Joseph Kimmel shows the strengths that define Texas and the flaws the define human nature. Kimmel’s basic dissatisfaction with life and his unrequited desires for a life that might have been are central to the books theme. Each major character is totally humanized by Vida. They don’t seem like characters in a book, they seem like real, live people. Katrin’s desire to be the best she could be was both inspiring and sad. It seems like a sequel is necessary to track the further lives of these people. It was compelling voyeurism.


Body of work of Nina Vida

Review: http://bethsbookreviewblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/interview-and-giveaway-texicans-by-nina.html

Web site: http://www.ninavida.com/