Exciting and gripping novel. Continuation of Embers of Empire series after a long hiatus. The previous volume--vol. 6--I thought probably the end of a cycle; everything was tied up so neatly, but was pleasantly surprised to see this one after a long hiatus. And there are two more after this one. Marcus travels to Constantinople and in the Eastern empire he helps in foiling a usurper to the Eastern emperor Valens' throne. This usurper, Procopius, is different from the usual. Basically a showman and conman, he exhibits the small daughter of a Constantinian cousin of a cousin to advertise a connection to the Constantines and also the purple cloak; they give him the tenuous claim to "legitimacy."
If Marcus is successful and brings back the Constantinian dynasty's purple cloak to Western Emperor Valentinian he will have permission to reopen the schola of agentes in rebus, which Emperor Julian had destroyed. Marcus has been planning for its resurrection. In the last novel, he had a meeting with former agents to begin planning. To help him in the tasks of this novel, he has employed a deaf veteran [who can lipread Greek-speakers], Kastor, and Roxana, a former colleague, now living and spying among Goths. Both are valuable intelligence-gatherers.
This novel is action-filled.

Highly recommended. ( )