Book Review - AUGUSTA: Volume 1- Part 1 & 2 by G. G. MacLeod

 

AUGUSTA: Volume 1- Part 1 & 2
By G. G. MacLeod

Part 1

Publication Date: 17th April 2023

Publisher: Independently Published

Page Lengh: 64 Pages

Genre: Historical / Erotica

Publication Date: 21st April 2023

Publisher: Independently Published

Page Length: 84 Pages

Genre: Historical

"I will make you remember me and if I cannot reach Heaven, THEN I SHALL RAISE HELL."

As a child she was mentored by the only other woman to have become the Empress of the Roman Empire, her great-grandmother, the infamous power-broker, Livia Drusilla Caesar. In due course, she was destined to become the only Roman woman to ever openly rule as an Empress in her own name. Her lifelong war of all against all was going to include history's most notorious criminals, bar none, with eternally familiar names like Sejanus, Livilla, Caligula, Messalina, Claudius, Seneca, Tigellenius, and ultimately her own son, the "The Anti-Christ", "The Beast 666", more commonly known as the Emperor Nero.

She could have had every luxury possible to excess, and she could have lived out her string at the summit of the most obscene levels of wealth and decadence, but she only wanted one thing and no one was going to give that to her. She was going to have to kill for it until she had it, and ultimately she was going to have to die for it in order to keep it.

POWER

Her name was Julia Caesar Agrippina Germanicus and Hell followed after her.

Julia Caesar Agrippina Germanicus’ brother may now be the Emperor of Rome, but she aspires to even greater things. With her newborn son safely delivered, she begins to set in motion a plan of events that will one day see him crowned emperor, and she cares nothing for whom she has to step on to achieve her aims.

 

Augusta—Volumes one and two by G.G. MacLeod tell the unforgettable story of the mother of one of Rome’s most notorious emperors.

 

The story centres on Julia Caesar Agrippina Germanicus, a power-hungry psychopath who is constantly plotting and scheming. Agrippina, referred to as the “Emperor’s brain” in this book, is a formidable woman. This intelligent and manipulative woman will use all of her skills to control Roman politics, and now that her brother is emperor, no one can stand in her way, not even Caligula. With the birth of her newborn child, Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus (Nero), her ambitions for power are amplified. She will stop at nothing to ensure her son’s ascension to emperor. The author skilfully illustrates the character’s ferocious hunger for power.

 

Another character the story follows is Valeria Messalina, portrayed as a ruthless predator with insatiable sexual desires. She employs her charm and sensuality to manipulate people into giving her what she wants. Messalina weaponizes sex, delighting in the misery of those she lures and abandons. However, Messalina's sexual relationship with Agrippina is different. Messalina appears to harbour deep affection for Agrippina, yet remains cognisant of Agrippina’s hidden agenda. Messalina’s character provides both dark elements and comedic relief to the story. The amusing encounter with Lollia Paulina gives readers a moment to pause and reflect on the preceding events.

 

This book contains extreme violence, including graphic depictions of sex and murder, often interwoven. Agrippina’s cruelty is highlighted by her sadistic tendencies, especially evident in her thoughts during sex, where murder, not pleasure, occupies her mind.

 

The author’s skilful use of animal symbolism is highly effective. In their hunger for blood and power, the cats and rats are comparable to Agrippina and Messalina. The depiction of the queen rat is quite alarming to the reader, as her power emanates from her large stature and formidable strength. The author’s use of personification is also evident in Messalina’s encounter with an elephant. Messalina and the elephant, for a fleeting moment, share a humorous bond, as if understanding each other.

 

MacLeod imaginatively reconstructs the exquisitely detailed Temple of Fortuna and the prophet who foreshadows events that are yet to come. The masterfully written prophet scene is guaranteed to chill the reader to the bone. The prophet seems otherworldly yet omniscient, and her warning is harrowing.

While taking inspiration from the historical era this book is set in, it is very much grounded in fantasy. The historical characters we meet in this novel have been much exaggerated, but it fits with the tale's narrative. Due to its modern language, excessive modern profanity, and contemporary character behaviours, the book is more accurately categorised as historical fantasy rather than a true historical fiction novel.

In the author’s depiction, sexual intercourse represents not love, but lust and the assertion of power. Consequently, this book includes some very erotic encounters. Similarly, there are several extremely violent episodes that, though not plot-advancing, reveal the characters’ mercilessness.

This novel is unbelievably fast-paced; its narrative rapidly shifts between scenes. The story is propelled by sex, murder, prophecies, and the strange allure of magic mushrooms. Philosophical reflections by the author occasionally disrupt the narrative, causing a slight lag in the story’s progress. In the same vein, the author sometimes chooses narration over depiction. The background story of places and events is detailed across multiple pages; however, this interesting information detracts from the characters’ narrative and interrupts the flow of the story. The novel includes mildly problematic scenes, one example being Agrippina’s capacity for sex only ten days after giving birth, and even though it might appear improbable that she’d take her son to Rome’s darkest streets, the “anything goes” rule of this fantasy applies. The author’s decision to publish these two volumes individually is intriguing. The volumes are not very long and the second book starts where the first one leaves off, and it could, therefore be easily made into one book. Improving the editorial and grammatical issues in this book would also enhance the story’s engaging narrative and the author’s evident skill at writing enjoyable fiction.

 

Augusta – Volume one and two by G.G. MacLeod is an entertaining read that successfully merges history and fantasy. Some additional work could elevate this book from a good read to a fantastic one. MacLeod is definitely an author to keep an eye on, and this series promises to be an interesting one.

Review by Mary Anne Yarde

Yarde Reviews & Book Promotion

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G. G. MacLeod

I'm a Canadian indie author who also has a straight job. I'm 54 years old and "Augusta" is my first major foray into the world of publishing my work. Otherwise, there's nothing particularly interesting to say about me. I'm a pretty boring person, really who enjoys living a quiet life of reading/writing and thinking up story ideas that no one has actually pursued. 

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