This is my favorite of the series so far. We learn more about Marcus Didius, his scalawag brother, his absentee father, and why everyone in the family gets along as poorly as they do. Correspondingly, we waste less time on Vespasian and family. There’s an art heist and forgery. Helena Justina is brilliant and not distracted by foolish jealousy, even as she finds out more of her lover’s checkered past. Their romance deepens.

I do object to using enslaved Judeans as a plot device. That’s my only objection. I am glad there are more of these metals in the series.