From Mystery People (via Promoting Crime) – May 2026
https://promotingcrime.blogspot.com/2026/05/heroica-by-alison-morton.html
Heroica is the latest book in the alternative history series based on the concept that when the Roman Empire was crumbling a group of the foremost families fled and established a new country, Roma Nova. This small but prosperous country has always been ruled along traditional Roman lines by the women who are the heads of the founding families and this method of government has continued until the present day. Roma Nova has become a blend of the past and present as they practise traditional religious rites alongside utilising their groundbreaking technology and ruthless military and espionage abilities.
Heroica consists of three short stories, all dealing with different aspects of challenges to the political integrity of Roma Nova. The first story is set in 2020 and is titled Revolution? The protagonist is Carina Mitela, an officer in the Praetorian Guard, who is also heir to one of the most influential families in the country. Carina is sent to Brancadorum, an agricultural backwater, to investigate reports that a rabble rouser is creating dissatisfaction among the people by playing on their weaknesses and spreading the belief that the government is using the poor workers to enrich themselves. Carina knows that this narrative is false but she is also aware that it could lead to riots, and even to revolution. Carina goes to Brancadorum in the guise of a market researcher, a persona she finds hard to maintain when a thug acting as an enforcer for the main agitator threatens her and she has pretend to be afraid, even though her military training has prepared her to deal with far tougher opponents than this ruffian. Despite getting caught up in a riot, Carina manages to bring her mission to a successful conclusion, but in doing so she comes by a piece of information that could have disquieting implications for her family.
The second story Honoria’s Battle is set in 1683 when Honoria Mitela, the chief of intelligencers, is summoned to interrogate a spy who is believed to work for an ally of the Ottoman Empire, which is threatening to overrun much of Europe. This is a meeting that will change Honoria’s life. A few months later Honoria is leading troops to help defend Vienna from the Ottomans, utilising the innovations that Roma Nova have developed.
The third and final story is called The Idealist and it begins in the present day with Carina as the protagonist. Carina has succeeded her grandmother as the head of the Mitela family when a discovery in the archives threatens everything that she and her family have built up over the generations. The story moves to the outskirts of Rome in 1849 and features a second protagonist, Statia Mitela, who is the head of the family. In this story, Statia makes a courageous decision that is rooted more in idealism than in political expediency, which could have grave implications for not only for Statia herself but for the Mitela family right through to the twenty-first century.
Heroica is a fascinating trilogy of stories in which the political framework of the past has relevance to present times. The protagonists are not merely strong courageous women, but also women who are accustomed to wielding power and making hard choices and who accept accountability for their decisions. The three stories form into a fast-paced political thriller because there is a central theme that links the stories. Heroica is the latest addition to the books featuring Roma Nova and the Mitela family. It is a great addition to the series for those who are familiar with the earlier Roma Nova books, and enjoyable as a stand-alone for those who have that pleasure yet to come. I recommend Heroica to any reader who is looking for an enjoyable and exciting read that explores some important and recurring political themes in the setting of alternative history.
From The Writing Desk (Tony Riches) – May 2026
https://tonyriches.blogspot.com/2026/05/book-review-heroica-by-alison-morton.html
Alison Morton’s latest book HEROICA is a masterclass in alternative history and grounded world-building, a sweeping epic that serves as an entry point for new readers and a welcome return for long-time fans of her Roma Nova series.
In HEROICA, Alison explores three eras to highlight the enduring spirit of her fictional nation. Each of these stories and could have formed part of a trilogy, but the economy of storytelling is effective and compelling.
What makes HEROICA insightful is its exploration of continuity. For me, the the central idea is that while technology and fashions evolve, the core values of a society, such as loyalty and resilience are the threads that endure.
Whether you prefer Alison Morton’s meticulously researched Roman culture or a well-paced mystery, HEROICA delivers an entertaining narrative. This is a world that feels like it should have existed.
From Anna Belfrage – May 2026
https://www.annabelfrage.com/2026/05/15/heroica-ms-mortons-troika-of-courageous-ladies/
There is something titillating about the notion of a country where women have ruled since the dawn of time. Add to this a nice Roman twist, and you have a little country called Roma Nova, a remnant of the Roman Empire that has somehow managed to survive through the centuries—very much due to their strong women and a firm belief in gender equality.
Over the years, Ms Morton has created her own little alternative history universe, one in which the global map doesn’t quite look like it really does, but where political tensions are just as prevalent. For a very, very small country, it is paramount to balance these tensions to survive—and this is something Roma Nova excels at. But sometimes, this leads to conflict between what is politically the right thing to do and what is the most moral thing to do—as Statia Mitela discovers in the third of the short stories included in this little collection.
The three stories all have a strong female lead in common. I have a particular fondness for Carina Mitela, our present day heroine, and always enjoy just how action-packed things become when she is around. Revolution?, the first story, is no exception, but as always, Ms Morton tempers the thrills with vivid descriptions, creating a strong sense of place. She also has me reading up on Publius Clodius Pulcher—an IRL ancient politician that happily enticed the masses to cause chaos.
In the second story, Honoria’s Battle, Ms Morton has us witnessing the battle of Vienna in 1683. Skilfully, she weaves her invented Roma Novans into the real history of the event, in which the Polish king John Sobiesky and his forces play a central role. Honoria Mitela is there to help, but Roma Novans are viewed askance by the Christians—they’re pagans, after all—and so a certain level of caution needs to be exerted. For all Honoria’s tough-as-boots persona, she is not immune to a sudden coupe-de-foudre, making her very relatable.
The Idealist has us accompanying Statia Mitela to Italy—more precisely to Rome. She thinks she has silent approval for what she is planning to do, but greed can make monsters even out of senior Roma Novans—as Statia will come to discover. This last story is a dual timeline story, allowing Carina to do some research into her own family’s darker secrets.
All in all, Ms Morton has yet again delivered an enjoyable read set within her Roma Nova universe. Personally, I am looking forward to more books about this little republic!
From Elizabeth St.John – May 2026
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8639854378
Heroica is a thoroughly engaging, perfect summer read, combining strong storytelling with genuinely fascinating history that makes each era feel vivid and accessible. Alison Morton has a real gift for shaping compelling characters who feel grounded in their own worlds while belonging to a much larger historical continuum, and the three interlinked stories carry real emotional momentum alongside their historical insight. Rather than reading as separate tales, the timelines unfold as one evolving family narrative, with Carina’s 2020 storyline acting as the contemporary expression of long-established Roma Nova identity, duty, and inherited tension.
That sense of continuity becomes even more gripping in the 1683 Vienna siege, where Honoria Mitela is placed directly into one of Europe’s defining conflicts. Morton’s brilliance lies in her research and restraint, integrating her fictional Roma Novans seamlessly into real historical events without ever undermining their authenticity. The stakes feel both personal and political in equal measure, giving the history real immediacy through character and consequence.
In the 1849 Risorgimento section, Statia’s story continues this thread of inherited responsibility meeting historical upheaval, family loyalty tested against the demands of revolution and national change. Each narrative builds on the last, so the reader follows a single lineage as it adapts, survives, and is reshaped by history itself — all supported by Morton’s deep historical understanding and strong storytelling instincts.
I discovered real historical events I had no knowledge of, and enjoyed a happy return to Roma Nova to reacquaint myself with old friends. Whether new to the Roma Nova world or already a devoted reader, Heroica is bound to delight.
Alison Morton is the author of Roma Nova thrillers – INCEPTIO, CARINA (novella), PERFIDITAS, SUCCESSIO, AURELIA, NEXUS (novella), INSURRECTIO and RETALIO, and ROMA NOVA EXTRA, a collection of short stories. JULIA PRIMA and EXSILIUM, set in the late 4th century, tell the story of Roma Nova’s foundation. Audiobooks are available for four of the series. Double Identity and Double Pursuit start a new contemporary thriller series. The third, Double Stakes is now out.
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