Part of The Nero Trilogy by Conn Iggulden
First published 2025
Nero sits on the Roman throne, but his crown feels heavier each day. Palace corridors buzz with whispered plots as senators and courtiers scheme to remove the young emperor. Each feast could hide poison. Every smile might mask a dagger. Nero must navigate the deadly politics of imperial Rome while his advisors push him toward increasingly brutal decisions. The weight of absolute power transforms him from uncertain youth into the tyrant history will remember. As enemies multiply and paranoia grows, Nero discovers that ruling an empire means becoming the monster his subjects fear. This is the price of wearing the purple in a world where mercy equals weakness.
Genres: biography, drama, historical-fiction, political-thriller
Vibes: dark, gritty, paranoid, psychological, suspenseful
Tropes: coming-of-age-into-darkness, corruption-of-power, paranoia-spiral, political-scheming
Setting: Roman Empire, Imperial Palace, Rome
Period: 1st century AD, Ancient Rome
408 pages · Hardcover · Pegasus Books
Content warnings: death, murder, violence