Book Blurb:
The Etrurian Players are coming! Brace yourselves! Mortals perform a never-ending show for the Gods, and Felix Modestus, leader of the renowned Etrurian Players, feels their immortal eyes rest upon him at last.
When a mysterious goddess tells Felix that he must put on a play unlike any seen before across the Roman Empire, he quickly rallies his company to the task and heads to Rome for the Games of Apollo. However, there is a catch: the goddess demands that Felix recruit his two estranged best friends to the production.
Rufio Pagano and Clara Probita once shared Felix’s dream of theatrical greatness, but due to embarrassment and inaction, they left Felix to achieve that dream on his own. When each of them receives a mysterious letter from their old friend pleading for their help, a world of long-buried feelings brings discomfort to their stolid lives.
Will The Etrurian Players be able to give the Gods and the people of Rome a magnificent show in order to save themselves from ruin? Will Rufio and Clara pluck up the courage to face their own fears? If they don’t, Felix stands to lose his company, his friends, and the life he loves so very much!
Only with a little help from the Gods can they hope to achieve the greatness that lies within each of them.
Sincerity is a Goddess is the first book in The Etrurian Players series. It is a heartwarming story of friendship and love that takes you on a bawdy and hilarious journey through the world of ancient Rome.
If you like dramatic and romantic stories about second chances, misunderstandings, and a bit with a dog, then you will love Sincerity is a Goddess!
Read this book today for a theatrical adventure that will have you cringing, laughing, crying, and realizing that there is indeed hope for everyone. Well, almost everyone…
Book Buy Link: https://geni.us/sincerityisagoddess
Author Bio:
Adam Alexander Haviaras is the author of the #1 best selling Eagles and Dragons historical fantasy series, as well as other works of fiction and non-fiction set in the ancient and medieval worlds.
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Adam has studied ancient and medieval history and archaeology at the University of Toronto, Canada, and St. Andrews University, Scotland. He lives with his wife and children in Stratford, Ontario where he is currently writing another ground-breaking work of historical fiction.
If you like ancient history and fiction set in Greece or the Roman Empire, Greek and Roman mythology, or stories like Gladiator, The Last Kingdom, and The Mists of Avalon, then you’ll love Adam’s books.
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Thank you for reading.
Editorial Review:
Sincerity is a Goddess by Adam Alexander Haviaras introduces readers to Felix Modestus, an actor whom the gods speak to. A mysterious goddess tells Felix that he must get his fellow actors that are part of the theater troop that he leads, The Etrurian Players, together to produce and perform a play that the likes of have never been seen in the Roman Empire. Felix knows how important it is to please the gods. He sets out to make amends with two of his estranged friends and bring them into the cast of the play. What ensues is a hilarious but also endearing story of friendship, love, facing your fears, and working out misunderstandings. It is a delightful story that readers will want to read over and over again.
“It is a long and complicated tale to tell, and one which I would rather relay to you in person. Suffice it to say that the Gods have sent me a sign, and I am taking it most seriously.”
Sincerity is a Goddess features a large cast of colorful characters that readers will fall in love with. Each one is unique, well developed, and remains believable as a character from ancient Rome. There is a large cast of characters and some readers may find it difficult to keep them all straight. It is clear the author anticipated this because the author includes a list of characters at the beginning of the book which will prove to be invaluable for many readers. The list includes both the characters’ names as well as a short description of each person so readers can quickly reference this list for a reminder if they become confused about characters.
The real gem of Sincerity is a Goddess is the author’s writing styles. Haviaras writes in a way that readers will find themselves immersed in the story quickly. Beautiful imagery and excellent character-related descriptions allow the reader to feel as if he or she were right there watching Felix Modestus and The Etrurian Players prepare for the biggest roles they will have. Haviaras was also able to describe the emotions of the characters in a way that builds empathy in the readers easily.
“Just that there is love and hope for everyone. Veneralia reminds us of that. From what I hear, the tribune is a great warrior, but when it comes to love, even he worries.”
It is clear that the author has done extensive research about both ancient Rome and Roman mythology. Haviaras portrays both his character, settings, and events in a way that is very true to the time period while also making them very relatable to the modern reader. More evidence of Haviaras’ knowledge of ancient Rome is his use of both a variety of historically accurate vocabulary as well as Latin words. The Latin words could potentially pose a problem for some readers so, like his characters, Havarias remedies this by including a list of Latin terms at the end of the book that readers can easily reference. Roman mythology is deeply embedded throughout the novel and the author has done a fantastic job portraying the gods through their actions and influence with the mortal characters as true to the style of many Roman myths.
Humor is often difficult to incorporate throughout a historical fiction novel but Haviaras has done a fantastic job of weaving humor relevant to the historical setting throughout the novel as well. The humor, romance, and drama in this book combine to create an unforgettable novel that will appeal to a wide audience of riders. The book is quite lengthy which may prove to be a deterrent to some readers. However, the excellent pacing and humor makes the book a bit easier to get through despite its length. The length is also justified by the events of the story. Nothing seems to be extraneous or unneeded in the plot.
“It was a strange and inexplicably exhilarating moment for both of them, one in which they lingered, ignorant of the clapping and hooting from the onlookers.”
The manuscript of the novel is mostly clean and well-proofread. There are some capitalization issues such as when the author refers to Mount Etna but does not capitalize the word “mount” as it should be as part of the proper name of the active Italian volcano. With no major grammatical or mechanical errors, the text flows easily and the pacing is fantastic. The book is written in such a way that readers will find the story engaging and easy to follow. The plot progresses in a logical way as well which prevents confusion in the readers.
“When they were gone, Felix turned to the company of grinning players and motioned for them to step to the front of the stage for one more bow.
“Take it in, my friends. This is the greatest feeling in the world!””
The intended audience for Sincerity is Goddess are those readers who enjoy romantic comedies with a flair for drama. The story is humorous as well as endearing in many ways. Readers with an interest in historical fiction set in ancient times will also find this book to be delightful. Mythology fans will appreciate the depiction of gods, goddesses, and hero stories found within the novel. Even without an interest in historical fiction or Roman mythology, readers who simply enjoy fictional stories that are highly entertaining, a little humorous, and have a hefty dose of drama.
“Rufio cocked his head to listen for any muffled and mocking laughter or clapping from within the earth, but all he heard was the gentle song of that beautiful spring morning. ”
Sincerity is a Goddess by Adam Alexander Haviaras is a fun book that will touch readers’ hearts while making them laugh out loud. The modern writing combined with the historical setting and Roman mythology creates a book that is both enjoyable, entertaining, and even a bit educational at times. Readers will appreciate the historical accuracy as well as the humor that this book brings to the table. More than anything, Sincerity is a Goddess is the perfect book when you need a chuckle but also a beautiful reminder of the hope that can be found everywhere.
*****
“Sincerity is a Goddess” by Adam Alexander Haviaras receives five stars and the “Highly Recommended” award of exellence from The Historical Fiction Company
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