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N.R. Walker

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Nova Praetorian Kindle Edition

by N.R. Walker (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.5 680 ratings

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** 103,000-word historical romance **

Quintus Furius Varus is one of the best lanistas in Rome. Tall and strong in build, fearsome in manner, and sharp of wit, he trains the best gladiators bound for the arenas of Rome. When Senator Servius Augendus seeks personal guards, he attends the Ludus Varus for purchase of the very best. He puts to Quintus an offer he cannot refuse, and Quintus finds himself in Neapolis, contracted as a trainer of guards instead of gladiators.

Kaeso Agorix was taken from his homelands of Iberia and delivered to Rome as a slave. Bought by a senator to be trained as a guard, his fate is handed to the man who would train him. Absent free will, Kaeso knows his life is no longer his own, though he soon realises the gods have favoured him when he learns his new master has a kind heart.

Quintus and Kaeso forge a bond that far exceeds the collar at Kaeso’s neck, and together they discover the senator’s move for promotion has an ulterior motive. Thrown into a world of politics and conspiracy, of keeping enemies close, they move against time to save Rome before traitors and the gods themselves see to their end.And in doing so, see the dawn of the nova praetorian—the new guard—rise.

Print length

388 pages
Language

English
Sticky notes

On Kindle Scribe
Publication date

October 24, 2018
File size

1890 KB
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Enhanced typesetting

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"It is the romance that takes center stage in Nova Praetorian, and it's beautifully cast and formed, just as one would expect from this author... This is a romance lovers romance, replete with passion and sensuality and happy ever after too, for two men who fought the odds and won." - The Novel Approach
"An absolute masterpiece..." - Dan, Goodreads reviewer

"This story is another winner from N.R. Walker, and will stay with me for a very long time. Highly recommended!" - Leylana, Goodreads reviewer

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07JPHHDLM
Publisher ‏ : ‎ BlueHeart Press (October 24, 2018)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 24, 2018
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 1890 KB
Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 388 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #185,653 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #80 in LGBTQ+ Historical Fiction (Books)
- #487 in Ancient World Historical Romance (Kindle Store)
- #534 in Ancient World Historical Romance (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.5 680 ratings

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N.R. Walker

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N.R. Walker is an Australian author, who loves her genre of gay romance. She loves writing and spends far too much time doing it, but wouldn't have it any other way. She is many things; a mother, a wife, a sister, a writer. She has pretty, pretty boys who live in her head, who don't let her sleep at night unless she gives them life with words.

She likes it when they do dirty, dirty things... but likes it even more when they fall in love.

She used to think having people in her head talking to her was weird, until one day she happened across other writers who told her it was normal. She's been writing ever since.

~

N.R. Walker was voted 2019 Goodreads M/M Romance Members' Choice Awards All-Time Favorite Author

and 2020 Goodreads M/M Romance Members' Choice Awards Hall of Fame

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5

680 global ratings

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Chris

A fascinating story set in Ancient Rome

Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2023

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This novel starts with immediate suspense and tension, and builds to an exciting climax. The romance develops slowly at first with one character's reluctance, but of course the couple overcomes initial hesitation. Political intrigue, sinister personalities, plot twists all move the story line along and keep it engaging. Descriptions of life in Ancient Rome are fascinating. I found it a very enjoyable read on many levels.

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Mr Toad

Epic adventures in the ancient Roman empire

Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2022

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Great storytelling, good characters, and solid plot and satisfying ending. I only took off one star due to the constant graphic sex scenes that didn't always move the plot forward. I like a good sex scene but it finally got so I was skimming over those pages as they get repetitive and brought nothing to the story. I appreciate that, though there is inherent violence due to the time and circumstances, it never felt excessive. The author liked her characters enough to not treat them as disposable. All in all an entertaining read.

One person found this helpful

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Bo

Gratitude

Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2019

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What an extraordinary journey author N.R. Walker has taken us on in this historical novel during a crucial time in the history of Rome. That she discloses the year the tale begins the reader can be forgiven if one doesn't start to figure out how the plot might come to a smashing climax until about 20% from the end when the hints are dropped here and there and we can figure it out.

No spoiler because this mystery is crucial to the enjoyment of the plot and the wonderful love story between gladiator Quintus and slave Kaeso.

What Walker has given us here is a perfectly drawn scenario of loyalty, politics, culture, betrayal, violence, lust and love with a bevy of characters who fit all the Roman molds that we have come to know over the years from other historical novels and nonfiction works about the era.

Quintus and Kaeso are the most mismatched lovers one can imagine at the start of their relationship. But soon enough when Quintus starts calling his lover "rabbit" and Kaeso keeps referring to Quintus as "dominus" we get the drift of what this relationship might become--and we are completely wrong! Chapter after chapter throws us a surprise in the plot--and the various subplots--each of which also brings us another heated sexual encounter between the dominus and the rabbit.

This works brilliantly because it gives us a true insight into the minds and mores of a great nation where nothing is taken for granted because all one can do is live for the day--after all, the sword might be the next thing you experience.

Throughout the book Walker uses the word "gratitude" when one is saying thank you to someone else for the slightest or greatest task or favor. Gratitude is how I felt ever single page along this magnificently spun tale that will suck you in and hold you spinning in a cocoon that may or may not turn out to result in a free flight for our characters and us.

2 people found this helpful

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L.Sisson

Wow! I am so impressed!

Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2023

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I had low expectations of this book as often historical Roman stories tend to be a joke. I enjoyed this book very much. It kept the feel of the time period with just enough modern twists to make it thoroughly enjoyable. I couldn't put it down. So good. Exciting!
The audible reader was very very good. He just improves so much!

Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2019

Verified Purchase

I loved everything about this book from the historic background to the characters to the intrigue and of course the romance. The story takes place in ancient Rome. It follows Quintus, a well respected and loyal ludus owner who was happy owning his ludus and training his gladiators until a conniving snake of a senator forces him to become a trainer for his personal guards. It is there where he meets a new slave, Kaeso, the senator recently purchases and puts under Quintus' control. Quintus and Kaeso learn so much from each other, both in bed and out. However, not all is at it seems and now Quintus has to figure out how to get himself, all of his ludus and now Kaeso out of the control of this Senator that seems to want to control everything. The love scenes between Quintus and Kaeso are beautiful and I say love, not just sex because that is how they read to me. They were written so beautifully. You could just feel the love pouring between the 2. It takes awhile for them to occur and I won't say why so as not to spoil that but the build up makes it worth the wait! The action and intrigue is edge of your seat, hold your breath, oh my goodness what next. I loved every bit of it. It was perfect in every way! I wish I could give this one more stars!

2 people found this helpful

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Linda C.

Fair Spartacus variation.

Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2019

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If you've ever seen Spartacus on HBO, you've read this book. Like she wrote the book as she watched it. Same words, same phrasing, even the same character plots. Fair book, that's it.
Writes using the British spelling, which distracts for an American English reader.

2 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Blood, sweat and treachery.

Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2018

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4.5 stars. A very different story from N.R. Walker's hand. There were drama, blood and volcanoes. I will not judge the book for the historical accuracies, but the Roman culture was rendered somewhat authentic. At least it was authentic enough to embellish and advance the story. I liked the two main characters. They were very honorable and clean cut. In another author's lesser hand, they could have been quite boring. But they complemented each other nicely. They here sweet and sexy. Generally I like my men with some inner demons and multifaceted personalities, but it fits the storyline that the protagonists should be standing on the shoulders of heroes. Generally the good guys are good and the bad guys are bad... A classical face off whether it is cowboys or Roman soldiers.

Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2023

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Beautiful imagery, rich characters, and intense plot. This story had me on the edge of my seat at some points and kicking and squealing in others. Highly recommended!

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Top reviews from other countries

Nicole

Amazing historical romance

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 11, 2023

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Loved the setting of this so much! The characters were real and the story drew me in. Didn’t want it to end.

Erryn Barratt

Something very different something very good (an audio review)

Reviewed in Canada on September 12, 2019

Verified Purchase

When an author steps away from their known brand, it’s always a risk. An author who is known for rom-coms writes a dark thriller filled with mayhem and destruction. An author who writes paranormal horrors writes a fluffy mpreg. It’s a risk to an author, for sure. Jaclyn Osborn wrote ‘Axios’ a few years ago and it was a risk. Taking on two young boys during the time of the Spartans was something outside of her known wheelhouse. Well, ‘Nova Praetorian’ is a risk for N.R. Walker but one I’m hoping she feels panned out. She was nervous about both the writing and releasing of the book, but I’ve seen plenty of readers who’ve gone so far as to leave positive reviews.

Today I’m adding to the pile.

I want to start with Joel Leslie’s narration. He has a wide range of accents, so I was interested to see which direction he would take for this book. His narration for Quintus is exactly as I’d have predicted – imperious and accented with something that came off as a bit British but definitely carried the authority. His voice for Kaeso had me scratching my head until I did a bit of research. The Iberian Peninsula comprises of what is today known as Portugal and Spain. Giving Kaeso a slight accent from what would be that region worked brilliantly (and forced me to look something up on the Internet and any day where I learn something new is a good day). In fact, I learned many new things as the book was obviously well-researched. But that knowledge was slipped in and I never felt overwhelmed by it.

First I’ll say this is an appropriately violent book. People who lived in ancient Roman times often were raised with a thirst for blood. Gladiators often partook in Primus – a fight to the death. I’m not a huge fan of graphic violence but it was completely appropriate for the story and worked well.

Quintus is a man among men. He trains warriors and gladiators so he must always be on the top of him game. He must be able to take down those he trains, best them so to speak. He is sure of himself and, on occasion, a little arrogant. But he needs to keep his wits about him when politics come knocking on his door in the form of Senator Servius. The man all but threatens Quintus, forcing him to leave behind all he’s known and move into protecting the Senator. It is only after the arrangement is agreed upon that Quintus learns Servius’ true plan.

Kaeso is a slave. He was dragged from his home in bucolic and rural Iberia, forced to bear witness to unspeakable violence, then thrown in a ship and brought to Rome as a slave. He shows defiance to the Senator and is ‘given’ to Quintus, forced to wear not one but two collars. As a former free man, he’d never contemplated what it would mean to belong to someone.

An interesting dynamic develops between Quintus and Kaeso. Unlike many Roman slave owners, Quintus treats his slaves well, almost as equals. He respects their autonomy and never takes what is not given. He wants Kaeso desperately, but he’s not willing to make the first move lest Kaeso feel obliged. Well, Kaeso has a mind of his own and, slave or not, he wants Quintus with equal fervor. It takes time, but eventually Quintus takes his ‘rabbit’ and the two men create a bond far stronger than owner/slave.

At the heart of this violent novel of political intrigue is a love story. A beautiful love story. And a story about learning to see things from other people’s perspectives – or, as it is better known, empathy. I fell in love with these men and despaired of them finding their happy ending. They did find it, though, and I was truly enchanted by the ending.

As I said, Joel Leslie did an amazing job narrating this long and powerful audio. If it hadn’t been written by Ms. Walker I might not have ventured to listen to it and it would have been to my detriment. I’m glad I took a chance on this wonderful love story.