In vivid first-person narrative, Nielsen (the Ascendance Trilogy) sketches a slave's-eye view of the Roman Empire. Five years of hard labor in the mines haven't quelled Nic's will to survive. Neither naïve nor a fool, his main weakness is lack of experience. Thus his story is as much about his education in the deviousness of human behavior as it is about Nic's magical fate. Dropped down a mine shaft to search for a possible buried trove, Nic emerges with a griffin, a scar, and a golden bulla, a magical amulet that once belonged to Julius Caesar. Freedom is within reach, but Nic won't abandon his younger sister. Instead, he and the griffin are turned over to Rome, where Nic becomes a pawn of schemers struggling to control the city—or destroy it. Set during the reign of Tacitus, the story is true to the political and social culture of the time without committing too closely to its political history. This maximizes Nielsen's scope for creating page-turning twists while evoking a milieu that retains its appeal for history buffs. Ages 10–14. Agent: Ammi-Joan Paquette, Erin Murphy Literary Agency. (Feb.)

"I am Nicolas Calva!" is a bold statement from a runaway slave in ancient Rome. With the help of magic, friends, and some enemies, he sets out to win his freedom. The novel is fast-paced, well-written, and fun, with many twists and turns. When he discovers the magical amulet of Julius Caesar, Nic begins an adventure complicated by his enslaved sister and two unlikely friends, as well as magic powers. Intertwined with Nic's quest is the fate of the Roman Empire. The culmination is a battle between Nic and the evil general Rodalf. The conclusion of the novel is not altogether satisfying, but it paves the way for a sequel. Readers will also learn snippets of Roman history; food, homes, clothing, and Roman slavery. This book would especially appeal to fans of fantasy.

Gr 6–9—A fantastical alternate history set in ancient Rome. Nicolas Calva and his sister are slaves in the mines outside of Rome. When Nic is forced to retrieve treasure from Julius Caesar's cave, he assumes he is going to his death. But inside the cave he finds a bulla, a magical amulet thought to have given Caesar great power, and takes it for himself. Suddenly, Nic is the most wanted fugitive in Rome. The emperor and a powerful general are after the amulet and they will kill Nic to get it. His only help is Aurelia, a plebian girl who is searching for her own family. With no one to trust and nowhere to hide, the protagonist must decide how he is going to save his sister and get out with his life. He doesn't want the bulla or the responsibility of the magic it contains, but if the magical object gets into the wrong hands, Rome will be at war and Nic will be at the center of it all. Fans of Nielsen's "Ascendance" trilogy (Scholastic) will be clamoring for this new series. This genre mash-up of history, fantasy, and action/adventure is fast-paced and explores themes such as class struggles, familial ties, and the immorality of slavery. Readers will have lots to digest as they quickly flip through the pages to see how Nic will escape his enemies to become a free man.—Kimberly Garnick Giarratano, Rockaway Township Public Library, NJ