Review: INCEPTIO by Alison Morton
Today, I'm thrilled to welcome Alison Morton to Ruins & Reading. Her alternate history thriller, INCEPTIO, is currently on blog tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club, celebrating its 10th Anniversary Hardback Edition, and I've just had the pleasure of reading this gripping novel, and those intriguing extras from the special edition.
Find other fabulous posts on the tour, including enticing excerpts and interesting guest posts, here!
I've been familiar with Alison Morton's intriguing Roma Nova series, set in an alternative 21st century. Many countries as we know them don't exist. It's a concept I found fascinating, as Ms Morton has created a world that we may recognise, but in an alternate way.
Blurb:
“It's about Roman blood, survival and money. Mostly yours."
In an alternative New York, Karen Brown is running for her life. She makes a snap decision to flee to Roma Nova - her dead mother's homeland, the last remnant of the Roman Empire in the 21st century. But can Karen tough it out in such an alien culture? And with a crazy killer determined to terminate her for a very personal reason?
Stifled by the protective cocoon of her Roma Novan family, deceived by her new lover, she propels herself into a dangerous mission. But then the killer sets a trap - she must sacrifice herself for another - and she sees no escape.
A thriller laced with romance and coming of age, this first in series is Roman fiction brought into the 21st century through the lens of alternative history and driven by a female protagonist with heart and courage.
This 10th Anniversary hardback edition includes bonus content: Three character ‘conversations’, two short stories and the story behind INCEPTIO.
Buy Links:
INCEPTIO 10th Anniversary Hardback Edition:
International Buy Link
Amazon UK
About the Author:
Alison Morton
Alison Morton writes award-winning thrillers featuring tough but compassionate heroines. Her nine-book Roma Nova series is set in an imaginary European country where a remnant of the ancient Roman Empire has survived into the 21st century and is ruled by women who face conspiracy, revolution and heartache but with a sharp line in dialogue.
She blends her fascination for Ancient Rome with six years’ military service and a life of reading crime, historical and thriller fiction. On the way, she collected a BA in modern languages and an MA in history.
Six full-length Roma Nova novels, including INCEPTIO, have won the BRAG Medallion, the prestigious award for indie fiction. SUCCESSIO, AURELIA and INSURRECTIO were selected as Historical Novel Society’s Indie Editor’s Choices. AURELIA was a finalist in the 2016 HNS Indie Award. The Bookseller selected SUCCESSIO as Editor’s Choice in its inaugural indie review. The Historical Novel Society recently selected JULIA PRIMA, the first Foundation story set in the 4th century, the accolade of Editors’ Choice.
Alison now lives in Poitou in France, the home of Mélisende, the heroine of her latest two contemporary thrillers, Double Identity and Double Pursuit. Oh, and she’s writing the next Roma Nova story.
Connect with Alison:
Website
Find other fabulous posts on the tour, including enticing excerpts and interesting guest posts, here!
INCEPTIO
* 10th Anniversary Edition *
Roma Nova Book #1
Alison Morton
I've been familiar with Alison Morton's intriguing Roma Nova series, set in an alternative 21st century. Many countries as we know them don't exist. It's a concept I found fascinating, as Ms Morton has created a world that we may recognise, but in an alternate way.
Karen Brown, the main character of the novel, is no wilting wallflower. We're thrown right into the action when a bunch of entitled youths cause trouble in a park where she works at weekends as a voluntary warden. When she bloodies the nose of one assailer, little does she know the impact her instinctive defence would have on her life.
In her day job, she works at an agency that deals with inventors. During a visit of such an inventor from Roma Nova, the secretive country in central-eastern Europe, she meets his translator, Conradus Tellus. Handsome, intelligent, and charming, he invites Karen out one night, and they begin to get to know each other better. As Karen's late mother had come from Roma Nova, she is curious about the country.
Meanwhile, the powers that be have it in for Karen. As heiress to a large company the government wishes to control, they put pressure on her. She loses her job at the park, and finds herself under observation.
But what she doesn't know is that the man tasked with this bears a grudge against her and her family. When she finds her life in danger, Conradus makes a suggestion that would change her life: she had to come with him to Roma Nova. As the granddaughter of an important adviser to the imperatrix, Karen would be safe from harm. But even the best security systems don't work against someone seeking vengeance.
Karen realises she must change her lifestyle dramatically, if she doesn't want to remain the victim. So she takes a life-changing path. Has Karen, now called Carina, found her calling? And, more importantly, will she now be able to defend herself?
Right from the beginning, INCEPTIO pulls you into the plot with its relentless pace and action. Carina is an interesting character, flawed, and surprisingly ruthless at times, she turns her feistiness into a purpose. Not content with playing the rich heiress, she is keen to be taken seriously, even though she experiences some setbacks. Her fledgling romance with Conradus falters when she discovers his past, and she embarks on a fling with her new superior.
There are aspects of her character that I didn't like. She didn't seem to care, or she buried her feelings deep down, and we did not get a good glimpse at them. As INCEPTIO is predominantly a thriller, it's no surprise. But I'd have liked a slightly deeper insight into her mind on a personal level at times. I found the change to her new life a little too fast, with her settling in so easily (despite some setbacks). Perhaps this is because we're often not given a sense of timescale.
But the plot and subplots are so gripping and exciting, they leave you reading into the early hours. I had to force myself to go to sleep, rather than read beyond 1.30am! The characters are varied, clever, and their roles are very well-researched.
Ms Morton has created a fascinating alternative world of political scheming, power grabs, and intimidation, but also focuses on family values and loyalty to your loved ones. Another convincing aspect is the friendships Carina forms with a range of characters from different backgrounds. She isn't judgmental, content to give others their chance. They know of her impetuousness, and accept it, but they also know she has their back.
The ending feels a little rushed, as months pass swiftly, but this sets us up nicely for the next book in the series, CARINA.
The 10th Anniversary Edition contains additional material which may answer some of the questions readers may have, mostly about secondary characters. It creates a rounded image of the characters, their choices, and their motivations, and opens up other questions that are likely addressed during the series. I found these extra chapters fascinating, as they illuminated non-POV characters. A brilliant idea, and clever inclusion.
Will Carina find her way back to Conradus? Will she be able to eliminate the threat against her life?
I can't wait to read the other books in this utterly compelling series. INCEPTIO is a highly recommended read not only for fans of thrillers.
~~~
Blurb:
“It's about Roman blood, survival and money. Mostly yours."
In an alternative New York, Karen Brown is running for her life. She makes a snap decision to flee to Roma Nova - her dead mother's homeland, the last remnant of the Roman Empire in the 21st century. But can Karen tough it out in such an alien culture? And with a crazy killer determined to terminate her for a very personal reason?
Stifled by the protective cocoon of her Roma Novan family, deceived by her new lover, she propels herself into a dangerous mission. But then the killer sets a trap - she must sacrifice herself for another - and she sees no escape.
A thriller laced with romance and coming of age, this first in series is Roman fiction brought into the 21st century through the lens of alternative history and driven by a female protagonist with heart and courage.
This 10th Anniversary hardback edition includes bonus content: Three character ‘conversations’, two short stories and the story behind INCEPTIO.
Buy Links:
INCEPTIO 10th Anniversary Hardback Edition:
International Buy Link
Amazon UK
Book Depository
All other formats (ebook, paperback, audio)
Your local bookshop or library.
All other formats (ebook, paperback, audio)
Your local bookshop or library.
~~~
About the Author:
Alison Morton
Alison Morton writes award-winning thrillers featuring tough but compassionate heroines. Her nine-book Roma Nova series is set in an imaginary European country where a remnant of the ancient Roman Empire has survived into the 21st century and is ruled by women who face conspiracy, revolution and heartache but with a sharp line in dialogue.
She blends her fascination for Ancient Rome with six years’ military service and a life of reading crime, historical and thriller fiction. On the way, she collected a BA in modern languages and an MA in history.
Six full-length Roma Nova novels, including INCEPTIO, have won the BRAG Medallion, the prestigious award for indie fiction. SUCCESSIO, AURELIA and INSURRECTIO were selected as Historical Novel Society’s Indie Editor’s Choices. AURELIA was a finalist in the 2016 HNS Indie Award. The Bookseller selected SUCCESSIO as Editor’s Choice in its inaugural indie review. The Historical Novel Society recently selected JULIA PRIMA, the first Foundation story set in the 4th century, the accolade of Editors’ Choice.
Alison now lives in Poitou in France, the home of Mélisende, the heroine of her latest two contemporary thrillers, Double Identity and Double Pursuit. Oh, and she’s writing the next Roma Nova story.
Connect with Alison:
Website
Goodness! What a fabulous review. Thank you so much for a comprehensive insight into INCEPTIO. #SorrynotSorry for keeping you up to 1.30 am reading it. ;-)
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure, Alison. I was totally glued to the (virtual) pages. I'm looking forward to reading further books in the series.
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