Palace of Darkness by Tracy L. Higley (historical fiction 2014)

This is supposed to be about the lives of the first Christians, set in Petra in about 104 AD.  Some parts of it are interesting, but the story overall is lacking.  The struggle between the powers of good and evil were never so dumb, evil queen gnashing her teeth and all.  I didn't finish it.

The French Executioner by CC Humphreys (historical fiction 2014)

An Anne Boleyn cameo, evil Italian churchmen, cross dressing, an opium-smoking alchemist, a pet raven, a sea battle, the Palio in Siena, romance, and more.  This book is crazy, silly and super fun.

A.D. 30 by Ted Dekker (historical fiction 2014)

Many times, historical fiction with a Christian message can be pretty silly, and this book has its moments.  But it also has really interesting depictions of life in Arabia, Jerusalem and Palestine, and a pretty plucky heroine.  It looks forward to a sequel and I would probably pick it up, especially because the next bit will necessarily involve the Romans more.

The Romans and their World: A Short Introduction by Brian Campbell (nonfiction 2011)

Five stars.  For an overview, Mr. Campbell gives us a beautiful narrative.  And he's great at picking out details that explain his more general conclusions. 

Blood in the Arena: The Spectacle of Roman Power by Alison Futrell (nonfiction 1997)

This book is for people who already know a lot about the Romans, and want to understand them better.  It is well-researched and carefully argued, and I loved it for what it taught me about Augustus.