At a glance
Dictator
Historical Fiction
Dictator
Book 3 of the Cicero Trilogy series
416 pages · First published 2015
Exile has stripped Cicero of security and influence, and returning to Rome requires an accommodation with Julius Caesar. Tiro watches his master try to regain a place in public life as old alliances fray and civil war approaches. The question becomes whether persuasive speech and principle can survive a world increasingly ruled by force. The trilogy’s closing volume suits readers who want an intimate view of the republic’s collapse and a melancholy reckoning with ambition, friendship, and political courage.
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No surprises at chapter twelve
Content notes
Civil war, executions and assassination; slavery; death and grief; violence and sexual references. A tragic historical ending.
Alcohol-Free Pour
Count’s Coffee
A strong, comforting coffee matches Tiro’s patient witnessing of a turbulent life.
What you'll need
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.How to mix it
- Stir any sweetener, cocoa, or spices into the coffee until dissolved. Add milk or cream if listed and garnish as indicated.
- Garnish: Orange peel if listed; otherwise none.
- Glassware: Mug or highball glass as appropriate.
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Highball glass ↗Mug ↗Cocktail Pour · 21+
Blackberry Old Fashioned
For adults of legal drinking age. Please drink responsibly.
The slow, bittersweet warmth suits the trilogy’s reflective account of power and loss.
What you'll need
- 2 oz bourbon
- 1/4 oz blackberry syrup ↗
- 2 dashes aromatic bitters
- Ice
Shop the spirits 21+Search Total Wine for Bourbon · 21+ ↗
How to mix it
- Stir bourbon, blackberry syrup, and bitters with ice for 20 seconds. Strain over one large ice cube.
- Garnish: Fresh blackberry and orange peel.
- Glassware: Rocks glass.
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