Review of Amora
Posted: 31 Dec 2021, 03:26
[Following is a volunteer review of "Amora" by Grant Hallstrom.]
Amora is a well-researched historical novel which transports the reader to ancient Rome during the upsurge of the mighty Roman Empire at the time of the Gladiators. The narrative follows the engaging life events of a few key characters and the intricate interplay between them. The author begins by introducing us to Amora as she faces a life defining moment, only to whisk us back to where it all began with her promising marriage to Leo. We witness the relatable evolution of their marriage relationship from love to betrayal as the social and cultural traditions and pressures of society ensue. From the Roman aristocracy to the salves who serve them; from the battlefields and action filled events of the Gladiators to the Christian martyrs, timeless themes are beautifully brought to life as the lives of these diverse characters unfold, striking a chord with all who read it.
I admire the noteworthy way in which the novel brings the early Roman time period to life with its social complexities which resonate with us today. As readers we are given an inside view into the complicated decisions made by the characters and the consequences which follow, highlighting the ongoing, conflicting theme of forgiveness versus revenge. The diverse storyline captivates the Reader from the opulent, somewhat distasteful customs of the Roman elite and their bizarre entertainment to the catacombs of the covert church. It reveals the well-researched war strategies of the Roman legions on the battlefield to the training camp of the Gladiators. The story masterfully encapsulates the development of the various characters and the struggles they face which keeps the reader invested until the end.
The novel would have been more enjoyable if the Author had included the historical facts and research recorded at the end in the preface of the book as a prelude to enrich the build up of the characters and the plot. Moving the Author’s personal testimony and motivation for writing the novel to the end would have eliminated the negative bias I accumulated by reading it at the start. In some portions of the novel, meaningless everyday details are tediously captured whilst in other key areas, the reader is informed a year has passed in just one line of text.
Amora is a fascinating book to read and I rate it 3 out of 4 stars. Although I found the characters of the book intriguing, it felt at times as if the characters of the story were overly burdened with carrying the historical content and theme of forgiveness which the author wanted to convey.
Grant J. Hallstrom has intricately woven the lavish history of the ancient Greco-Roman time into a thorough work of fiction centered around both fictional and remnants of non-fictional characters and events. This creatively written book would thus appeal to readers interested in this robust historical genre underpinned by the well-developed, plausible characters who bring this enlightening cultural, social and historical era to life.
******
Amora
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Amora is a well-researched historical novel which transports the reader to ancient Rome during the upsurge of the mighty Roman Empire at the time of the Gladiators. The narrative follows the engaging life events of a few key characters and the intricate interplay between them. The author begins by introducing us to Amora as she faces a life defining moment, only to whisk us back to where it all began with her promising marriage to Leo. We witness the relatable evolution of their marriage relationship from love to betrayal as the social and cultural traditions and pressures of society ensue. From the Roman aristocracy to the salves who serve them; from the battlefields and action filled events of the Gladiators to the Christian martyrs, timeless themes are beautifully brought to life as the lives of these diverse characters unfold, striking a chord with all who read it.
I admire the noteworthy way in which the novel brings the early Roman time period to life with its social complexities which resonate with us today. As readers we are given an inside view into the complicated decisions made by the characters and the consequences which follow, highlighting the ongoing, conflicting theme of forgiveness versus revenge. The diverse storyline captivates the Reader from the opulent, somewhat distasteful customs of the Roman elite and their bizarre entertainment to the catacombs of the covert church. It reveals the well-researched war strategies of the Roman legions on the battlefield to the training camp of the Gladiators. The story masterfully encapsulates the development of the various characters and the struggles they face which keeps the reader invested until the end.
The novel would have been more enjoyable if the Author had included the historical facts and research recorded at the end in the preface of the book as a prelude to enrich the build up of the characters and the plot. Moving the Author’s personal testimony and motivation for writing the novel to the end would have eliminated the negative bias I accumulated by reading it at the start. In some portions of the novel, meaningless everyday details are tediously captured whilst in other key areas, the reader is informed a year has passed in just one line of text.
Amora is a fascinating book to read and I rate it 3 out of 4 stars. Although I found the characters of the book intriguing, it felt at times as if the characters of the story were overly burdened with carrying the historical content and theme of forgiveness which the author wanted to convey.
Grant J. Hallstrom has intricately woven the lavish history of the ancient Greco-Roman time into a thorough work of fiction centered around both fictional and remnants of non-fictional characters and events. This creatively written book would thus appeal to readers interested in this robust historical genre underpinned by the well-developed, plausible characters who bring this enlightening cultural, social and historical era to life.
******
Amora
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon