Portal to Nova Roma: The Rhine, Book 3

I’ll be honest: I went into *Portal to Nova Roma* expecting another ‘conqueror vs. monsters’ epic, but Mathews subverted that hard. This is a book about *collapse*—not of empires, but of the man holding the reins. Alexander’s descent isn’t just physical (though the body horror is *excellent*); it’s psychological, a slow unraveling where every victory feels like a loss. Gilliland’s performance sells this perfectly. His Alexander isn’t a thunderous hero but a man teetering on the edge, his voice rough with sleepless nights and his cadence erratic when the demonic whispers creep in. The supporting cast shines too, especially the cold, bureaucratic tone he gives to Roman senators—it’s a sharp contrast that underscores Alexander’s isolation. That said, the pacing *stumbles* in the middle. Mathews spends a *lot* of time on Alexander’s internal monologues (which are gripping, but *long*), and the political intrigue in Nova Roma occasionally feels like a detour from the main arc. I also wished the demonic corruption had more *rules*—the horror works best when it’s ambiguous, but a few clearer stakes would’ve heightened the tension. Still, the final act delivers a gut-punch twist that reframes the entire series, and the audio production’s use of subtle echo effects during supernatural scenes is *chef’s kiss*. If you love your fantasy dark, cerebral, and unflinching—with a narrator who *gets* it—this is your next obsession. Just clear your schedule; 25 hours flies by when you’re this invested.