My heart really melted. I have read this continually since morning eight and its 11:47 at night. More than half a day. The most beautiful half day I must admit

Damn I am excited. Beyond excited

Just read this in one sitting. THANK YOU FOR SHARING SUCH A WONDERFUL STORY!

This story was so good! I was gonna be SO MAD if it had ended with heartbreak. Very glad it didnt, tho.
I was in love with the descriptions. Just enough to paint the picture but not distracting.

Great story. Keep it up!

I keep accidentally reading 'Crispinus' as Christapus and Crispynus. It's been hard to focus.

Cool! Is there a sequel to this story?

I have read this story at least four times. It’s one of those wonderful plots that stays in your mind after you’re done, and haunts you long after reading it.

I love this story, the characters, and the plot so much. The work you put into this to make it as amazing as it is... I can’t even begin to fathom.

If you ever choose to publish this, I will buy a copy. This is by far my favorite story on fictionpress, and rivals many of the novels I’ve read by published authors.

10/10 would (and probably will) read again.

This story did the heart good.

:)

Loved the ending.

I did not mention in my message just HOW much I appreciate the amount of detail you have put into the setting of this story. The Latin, the architecture, class structure, daily rituals. it is all very wonderful!

I am about 3/4 of the way through this story and I am enamoured! This story plucks at all the right strings.

I just want to point this out because this bit of info does not seem to be as mainstream as I thought it was.

In the late 80', early 90's, it was found that gladiators were not commonly slaves. Some were but it was not common. Ancient Romans could own slaves but it was unusual to pit them in the arena unless they were exceptionally talented as an entertainer.

The arena was a sport open to anyone and everyone. The sport started out with minimal death or even bloodshed (it still happened if the opponents were unusually competitive or aggressive but tended to be an amicable sport).

Death and bloodshed ended up being ruled out when nobleman/men of high standing started rolling into the sport. Communities would not condone their heirs or rulers being killed in a game.

Gladiators were popular. Just like football players are these days, to draw a parallel.

Apart from the misconception of gladiators, there were other mainstream historical discrepancies of the ancient Romans as well.

Minor stuff like:

-how marble statues were actually vibrantly painted (modern imaging technology can pick up layers of what colours had been painted on statues),

-togas were not usually worn, even by lower standing citizens. Togas were only worn if absolutely necessary, if the weather was horrible outside and there was no way of going outside without destroying their regular clothing. Togas were something of a ratty rain coat and it was looked-down upon to wear one.

-sex or sexual deeds were not openly done. Like in today's society, its generally looked down on if someone was to have a monopoly of partners or cheat repeatedly on their spouses. It was still done but it was kept private. Scorned publicly.

-not having a Roman accent, let alone not being able to speak their language was enough to be treated like a leper/social pariah. Public scorn was guaranteed simply by not having the proper accent. Which is ridiculous, considering how many races had to mingle before the Roman dialect came to be. But that's how it unfortunately.

I just wanted to point out some historical facts.

And despite knowing some of this stuff, I read this story anyway and fell hard for it.

You have a talent, dear author! I love your characters and original storyline.

It takes a while

No being used is never a good deal.

What an exciting way to start a novel!

Immediately clear on the rating, it sets the atmosphere and it tells a lot about the main character as well.

The fame Gladiators received, the women who desired them and that beyond all that, they were in fact still slaves. It's all there.

Some one by the name of Christina Sirignano is selling this story. Is this you? I hope so beacause I would hate to have such an amazing story that you put so much creativity into be plagiarized. Amazing story, one of my favorites, you should have it published:) keep writing!

Just wanted to let you know I LOVE this story! So romantic and original. I also love how you portrayed Hades and Aphrodite:) i wanted to let you know, though you already might, someone by the name of Christina Sirigano