Gladiator School: Blood Justice
Blood Justice is the 6th book in the Gladiator School series, and although it can be read on its own, the author helpfully weaves in enough back story to allow the reader to pick up the story without having read the previous novels. This novel starts when the two very different brothers, the quiet and introspective Lucius, through whom the story is told, and action-man Quintus, together with their friend, the Egyptian tomboy, Isidora, return to Rome from Britannia with important documents. With the help of a young lawyer, Gaius, the Harry Potter-like trio intends to sue the powerful consul Glabrio for the murder of Emperor Titus, as well as that of their own father, Aquila.
However, events take a disastrous turn, and they find themselves accused of patricide and condemned to die by drowning. The sentence is later commuted to damnatio ad gladium – death by sword in the arena – and the brothers have to fight for their survival as well as justice for their father.
For the benefit of the target audience the characters speak like modern children, but the excellent sense of place and time, with examples such as slave ownership taken for granted and cypress branches on the door as a sign of mourning, lends authenticity to a work of historical fiction. Although the author doesn’t shy away from describing the more brutal side of Roman society, it is still age-appropriate and softened by an innocent, budding romance between Isidora and Lucius.
Blood Justice is an enjoyable adventure story, occasionally tinged with sadness, but with enough action and suspense to keep the reader hooked, as well as footnotes to help educate about life in Roman times. It’s aimed mainly at 9- to11-year-old boys, although girls will identify with the plucky Isidora.
