Review: The Leopard Vanguard by T.A. Uner

The Leopard Vanguard by T.A. Uner

(Leopard King Saga #1)

Genre: Fantasy

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Set during the early years of the reign of the Mad Emperor Caligula,this first installment of the
Leopard King Saga introduces us to Tullus, a gifted Roman Centurion who resigns his elite position in the Praetorian Guard to join a troupe of circus performers and learn more about his hidden magical talents. Along with his new partner, a magical Leopardess named Celestra, he re-invents himself as The Leopard King, the most famous entertainer in all the Roman Empire. But when Tullus' friend and Circus Ringmaster, Paullus Gabinius, is killed, Tullus and Celestra find themselves immersed in political intrigue and up against Paullus' killers. Their struggle to avenge Paullus will also cause them to cross paths with corrupt Roman politicians, who know Paullus' deadly secret-which has the power to destroy the Roman Empire.

  I knew nothing whenever I picked up The Leopard Vanguard. Of course, I had read the synopsis, but I didn't know what to expect nor did I know much about Caligula. But T.A.'s writing is so well developed that I was immediately swept up in the story. The beginning takes a bit to establish itself, but I was quickly rewarded with a sweeping fantasy that kept my interest until the very end.

  This book is very different than what I normally pick up. But I'm so glad that I was open-minded and gave it a chance. Reading outside of my comfort zone was reading in the case of The Leopard Vanguard. There are a lot of elements in this book. But instead of competing for the spotlight and distracting from one another, they all blend together cohesively. The characters were well written, and I enjoyed all of them. They each had their own voice and stayed true to that. It was something that I appreciated.

  If you're a fan of fantasy with a touch of historical intrigue, then The Leopard Vanguard would be a fitting read for you to get lost in. The sprinkling of history highlighting the Romans added another layer, and I enjoyed this book immensely. T.A. Uner is talented at weaving the written word, and I can't wait to see more from him.

**I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review with no compensation.