GENRE• Action Adventure• Fiction• set in time of Ancient Romans
NIC• Protagonist• Slave who has lived in the mines his whole life• goes into cave and finds amulet known as a bulla• traits: rebellious, brave, sarcastic• I am dressed as Nic
AURELIA• Plebian girl• Plebian =lower class Roman citizen•skilled with weapons•assists Nic on his journey•Traits: Brave, Loyal
CAELA•Griffin•Hybrid Animal- Part Lion Part Eagle• Griffins are known in mythology to be king of creatures•Griffins are known for guarding treasures
GENERAL RADULF• Antagonist• General of the Roman Army• He wants to destroy Rome and rebuild it in his own image• Character traits: ruthless, powerful
SUMMARY (1)• Nick- Roman slave who has lived in mines whole life• his owner Sal finds the cave which contains Julius Caesar's treasures• forced Nic to go into slave to get all of the gold• no one has ever returned except one who went crazy•In cave, Nick runs into Griffin who is guarding a bulla
SUMMARY (2) • Caela scratches Nic, and the mark on his body contains powers• Nic grabs the Bulla which also contains powers• Out of cave, Nic is determined to use power to free himself and sister from slavery• But finds self in middle of the beginning of hte Praetor War meant to destroy Rome• He then knew he had to harvest the power of the bulla to stop Gen Radulf from destroying Rome• Will he be able to stop rebellion?
MAIN THEME• One of the Main Themes is Unexpected Heroism• As a slave miner. He is the lowest level of society but ends up being the hero trying to save Rome• Another main theme is selflessness• When Nic find the magical bulla, he first intends to use it to set himself and his sister free. • But when war starts, he decides to help prevent Rome from being destroyed instead.
EXCITING PASSAGES•Pages 26-27• This passage comes right after Caela scratches Nick and Nic is now trying to escape the cave• Pages 123-124•This passage takes place in the Roman arena•Nic is involved in a gladiator fight and is facing a vicious bestiarius
RECOMMENDATION• Action packed• Lots of suspense• on edge of my seat, could not put it down• If you like Acendance trilogy or Percy Jackson books, will like this• Nic has similar personality and heroism as Jaren and Percy• This book first of a trilogy• This one ended on a very suspenseful note• 2nd book, Rise of the Wolf, is expected Feb 2016