TL;DR: Spartacus meets Game of Thrones. Magic, manipulation, insurrection, and bloody spectacle galore.
Synopsis:
Peace bought by blood seldom lasts, for vengeance knows no end. The same is true for mortals and Gods alike. Decades, centuries, eras may pass, but the cycle remains. As war and revolution rise again, Zephyrus finds himself at the center of it all. Chosen by the Gods, hailed as a prophet of liberation, and forged as a weapon to break the kingdom and restore balance to the realm, hope rests squarely on his shoulders.
If only he could remember…
Enslaved as a gladiator and thrust into a prince’s game of espionage, Zephyrus has only two clues to help unlock his shattered past: a prophecy foretelling destruction, and a letter to the enemy king, promising peace. Now Zephyrus must survive the dangers of the gladiatorial arena, the cunning fury of the Prince’s enemies, and the Gods’ torment if he is to find the truth of his identity and fulfill his fate. But to have any hope of breaking the cycle, first he must secure his freedom—and not just from his slavers.
Within this vengeful realm, a queen protecting her kingdom, a prince defending his father, and a gladiator slave haunted by a prophecy each contend for their own brand of freedom. But the Gods have an agenda of their own, and they’ll use any vessel—patrician, plebeian, or slave—to see it done.
The scales must be balanced. By peace. Or by blood.
Full Review:
One look at the cover of this book, and it’s pretty clear what you’re going to get: gladiators, battles, and magic.
But what you don’t know is that this story has SO MUCH MORE in store for you!
Scales of Balance instantly transports you to the Roman-inspired fantasy realm of New Rheynia, home to gladiatorial arenas, ludi and Domiuses, and a kingdom on the verge of being broken. Because though there is peace now, there are those plotting to overthrow the King and seize power—including the king’s own wife.
Queen Danella turned out to be my favorite character because of just how manipulative she is. From the first page, you know that she’s willing—and planning—to murder the husband she loves because she believes it’s the “right thing to do” for the realm. There are no lengths to which she will not go for that reason, and no one is safe from her sedition. Cersei could take a lesson from Danella’s book because this queen is highly intelligent, organized, and always has backup plans in place. And yet, she is never evil or cruel—she is merely driven by what she believes is right. It’s a fascinatingly complex character that makes for truly engaging reading.
Our gladiator hero, Zephyrus, starts out as a slave, only to be bought by Laeden, the king’s disinherited and “useless” elder son (from a previous marriage before Queen Danella). Zephyrus is sent to join a ludi (gladiator house) to see if he can unmask the conspirators working with the queen to stir up trouble. But in so doing, he suffers all the horrible beatings, cruel treatment, betrayals, and bloodshed that is to be expected from a gladiator.
Zephyrus’ story is the source of much of the action—from his harsh training to his battles on the sands to his vendetta against the slaver who killed his only friend in the world. Laeden’s, on the other hand, gives us a glimpse of the world at large, moving through all layers of the New Rheynian society for a fuller picture.
The underlying gladiator story feels very Spartacus, but the complexity of the backstabbing, intrigue, and treachery is much more Game of Thrones, in a very Rome-esque world.
But don’t forget the little bits and pieces of magic that are subtly woven throughout. What starts out as nothing more than a hint grows to become something truly fascinating and epic-feeling.
It’s an instantly engaging tale that kept me reading late into the night. It’s both fresh and familiar, a story you can’t help but enjoy.
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