Mediolanum, AD 355.

The Roman Empire is no longer threatened only by barbarians at its borders, but by its own generals. Every victory can give rise to a usurper. Every charismatic commander can become an enemy.

Constantius II knows this and rules through fear.

To protect the throne, the emperor has created a network of spies, informers, and silent killers. Men tasked with seeing everything, hearing everything, eliminating anything that cannot be controlled. Among them is Victor, a young man of humble origins, trained to obey without asking questions.

His assignment seems simple only on the surface: to follow like a shadow Flavius Claudius Julianus, the emperor’s cousin, recently appointed Caesar of Gaul. Officially, Victor must train him in the arts of war. In reality, he must watch him, assess him, and stop him if he becomes a threat, even if that means killing him.

But Gaul is far from Mediolanum, and power, far from the emperor’s eyes, changes shape.

Julian is given command of a small army to repel barbarian hordes pressing on the frontiers. Victor follows him and soon realizes that his mission is far more dangerous than he imagined. Because in the world of spies, no one is merely an observer. And those who live in the shadows inevitably become targets themselves.

The Shadow of the Emperor is a spy novel set in the dark heart of the late Roman Empire. A story of forced loyalties, impossible orders, and choices that allow no return. Where the line between duty and betrayal is as thin as a blade and only those who learn to move without leaving a trace survive.

Italian Edition
Newton Compton – March 2020 – 480 pages
ISBN: 978-88-227-3811-0