Let’s just start with the cover of The Conqueror by Bryan Litfin. I can feel the heat and fury radiating off the exceptionally handsome dust jacket. My husband took one look and announced that he is going to want to read it as soon as I finish. Though his preferred genre is nonfiction and technical, the statement does respect the fact that this beautifully designed graphic does its job to pique the reader's interest.
To start a book with maps and a detailed historical note is to get my attention. The author has given us context and set expectations for the time period and socio-political climate in which the story is set. There is no doubt that he has done extensive research, a trait I greatly respect in any historical fiction. Litfin’s historical note was the proverbial carrot I eagerly followed into a work of fiction meant to illuminate history. There is one thing to consider, however, when reading The Conqueror; Litfin clearly states in the historical note that he has "...tried to add a certain realism to my story that reflects the way things really were." While this spurred me on initially, I later realized this should have been my first clue that things were going to get graphic. I'm a big girl, and I can handle it, but it's not a choice I typically make.
Bryan Litfin certainly is a master at crafting moments of intrigue and intense battle scenes. I could practically feel the heft of the spatha in my hand, the thunderous quaking of the earth beneath the boots of legions, the spray of blood on my skin. Litfin's writing style from the military perspective is spectacular. His crafting of political intrigue, superb. The stark contrast between the Christian lifestyle and that of the pagan society around them is highlighted at every turn: the mysterious, yet peaceful, sacraments of the Christians vs the chaotic and violent sacrifices of fickle pagan gods, the sacred nature of intercourse between a Christian husband and his wife vs the pagan sentiment that sex is a political tool and method of exerting dominance. The sexual tension between Rex and Flavia is more overt than I would prefer, though it does effectively portray the pull between what the eye sees, the body feels, and the morals dictate for the greater picture. I think it contributes to the contrast between Christian and pagan opinions of sex; the author effectively prods our emotions in that regard, certainly more than I would have chosen.
In The Conqueror, Bryan Litfin explores the contrast between the two very different cultures sharing the same time and space, while also portraying the reality that the One True God is available to all. All in all, I enjoyed this book and appreciated its realism within historical context. However, I do feel that I should temper my recommendation by stating that this book veers to the edge of propriety within the realm of Christian fiction. Still, it is important to realize and remember these things, pondering what those who came before us in the faith endured to advance the cause of Christ.
Thank you to the author and the publisher for allowing me a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and are completely genuine.
