Hello everyone. In our last episode we talked quite a bit about Heraclius and his era of history.

So I thought this was the ideal moment to tell you about two books that have just been published.

Both are historical fiction set in that period.

One is a romance set against the backdrop of the Sasanid invasions, the other brings you the story of Heraclius himself.

I asked both authors to record a short message to you giving their pitch for why you should

read their novel, but before we get to those I thought you might

also want to know about a talented artist who's creating beautiful historical

maps. In particular he's just finished a fabulous looking map of the

crusader states. It's amazingly detailed and it's a beautiful piece of art.

Adomas, the artist, is offering 15% off any map for listeners of this podcast. So just use the code by Zantium at his online store, MAP, K-L-I-M-A E C dot com, and I'll put that link on the website.

So you can just click through from there.

And it should be in the episode description as well.

So our first book is called The Emperor by Matthew Storm.

The Heraclius story is so epic that it took two books to cover.

Book one is called the Exarch's son and book two is Heraclius battles Persia for the life of Rome.

It is the year 610 CE, 150 years after the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the Eastern Empire,

eviscerated by the Black Plague, hobbled by Civil War, and under all-out assault by the Persian

Empire, Rome's borders crumble.

This is the world that young Heraclius inherited after he seized Constantinople

from the usurper of focus and was crowned Emperor of Rome. The Heraclius knew the situation

was dire. No one truly knew that he had inherited a Rome on the verge of extinction.

Rome had been at war with Persia for 40 years, but the war had now entered its end game.

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