Review: Cursus Honorum by Diana Jean

Title: Cursus Honorum

Author: Diana Jean

Length: 106 Pages

Category: Historical

At a Glance: Though not for everyone, this was an enjoyable historical read for me.

Reviewed By: Jennifer

Blurb: Returning to Rome war torn and weary, all Marius wants is to relax and be left alone. Instead he is dragged right into the midst of the parties and politics he prefers to avoid—and meets Decimus, a young, rising politician full of ambition and hard to ignore.

Decimus is determined to prove that his youth doesn’t mean he’s not deserving of the awe and respect of every sneering old man in Rome trying to dismiss him. He is also determined to have Marius as his running mate, which will secure his career in a way nothing else could.

What neither man expects is to see in each other something they thought was lost forever…

Review: I know I say I like a lot of genres, and I do. Historical fiction is one of them, and ancient historical m/m romance? Yes please. When a book turns up that is set in Rome, I tend to get excited because they are not exactly as numerous as regency romances, so I’ll read whatever comes my way.

Diana Jean crafted a good story in Cursus Honorum. Those versed in Roman history will likely understand the terminology and know the importance of Decimus and Marius’s roles as politicians. I enjoyed watching their relationship unfold, wondering if this was going to be an HEA or not, given that it could go either way after some information was revealed. Rest assured, there is an HEA if that is one of your requirements!

There are parts that may be upsetting to readers, as Marius does have a wife. However, given the time period, I was not bothered and found it to be historically accurate. It is well known that men in ancient cultures often had lovers of the same or opposite sex, and this was not always frowned upon. Taken into that context, I found it to be acceptable.

As for the story itself, there were some moments that were a little choppy, but overall I thought the story was enjoyable enough to read. At 106 pages, it is short and will not take most readers long to finish. I believe I was completed in a few hours.

If you’re a fan of ancient Greek or Roman stories, and you’re looking for a new read, I suggest checking this one out. It was a pleasant way to pass a few hours.

You can buy Cursus Honorum here:
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