Stephanie R Sanhamel

Septimus Stephanie R Sanhamel

Near the end of the first century, the Emperor Domitian has the Roman Empire in a stranglehold. Fifteen-year-old Septimus Rutilus is trapped on the island of Rhodes, held hostage by a conniving uncle and crippled by fear of the vengeful gods. One daring night, he breaks free and sets out on an Odyssean journey to find the magicians rumored to work miracles and live in defiance of the gods - the Nazarenes. Along the way, he encounters Epicureans, Jews, and pagans, until finally in Ephesus, about to die of starvation, he stumbles upon the Nazarene community. Living mostly in hiding, they are not what he anticipated at all. Yet, he has no choice but to mask his devastation while they nurse him back to health. Before long, he is drawn into this world of seeming paradoxes, inspired by the resilience of their faith. How will Septimus' journey end? Find out in this compelling coming-of-age story.