Full review can be found here:

https://nordie.wordpress.com/2019/05/02/book-review-master-and-god-by-lindsey-da...

https://tamaranth.blogspot.com/2023/04/2023051-master-and-god-lindsey-davis.html ( )

Situada durante el reinado de Domiciano (I d.C.), Domiciano Dominus et Deus presenta una amplia imagen de esa época sirviéndose de dos personajes que están a la altura de las mejores creaciones de Lindsey Davis. Cayo Vinio Clodiano es un veterano con una desastroso historial matrimonial víctima del estrés propio de los legionarios que entran repetidamente en combate, pero en el fondo es un héroe, como tendrá ocasión de demostrar como miembro de la Guardia Pretoriana. Flavia Lucila ha tenido que enfrentarse desde muy joven a la soledad en una ciudad inhóspita y abrirse camino por sus propios medios, pero su tesón la ha llevado a convertirse en una respetada peluquera en la corte de Domiciano. Del encuentro de estos dos personajes surge una apasionante historia en la que las aventuras y los flirteos no enturbian una esmerada y emocionante recreación del delirante gobierno de Domiciano.

A re-read as I wanted something uncomplicated. Like Davis’ previous historical romance, The Course of Honour, this is set in Ancient Rome, but this time in Domitian’s reign. Lucilla Flavia is a Flavian freedwoman, and works as a hairdresser to the Imperial court. She meets Gaius Vinius Clodianus when reporting the theft of her mother’s jewelry. He is a discharged legionary (on medical grounds) and is the investigating officer of a cohort of vigiles, but after the great fire of Rome, is granted a transfer to the Praetorians.

Here, his and Lucilla’s lives entangle, and eventually they become lovers. All this is set against the backdrop of Domitian’s descent into paranioa and the terror this invokes. Eventually, Domitian’s suspicious eyes alight on Vinius; as Lucilla has become pregnant with their first child, steps have to be taken to secure their future in safety.

As with The Course of Honour, this is based on a true story. Vinius is the subaltern named by Suetonius as finishing off Domitian (the other account by Cassius Dio mentions no name) and he is not mentioned subsequently when Nerva is forced to avenge Domitian’s murder.

Light but well-researched, and filled with Davis’ trademark humour.

Recommended

This was a reread in Sept. 2016--just as fantastic the second time as the first reading. This novel told of the on-again/off-again friendship then love between Lucilla, a hairdresser to the Flavians and Roman nobility, and a Pretorian, Gaius Vinius Clodianus, who had been badly injured, disfigured, and held as a POW in Dacia for several years. Their story was set against the background of the reigns of Titus, then Domitian. It chronicles Domitian's reign, his descent into paranoia despite good things he achieved and his assassination, in which Gaius takes part. Ms. Davis created a persona for Gaius, mentioned in Suetonius and for a hairdresser who must have had a whimsical sense of humor, devising the risible Flavian hair-do [and also making toupees for Domitian]. I felt there was a lot of "info-dumping", but it was interesting because of the author's breezy style.

Highly recommended. ( )