Agrippina is still as devious and power-hungry in this second instalment of the Nero trilogy as she manoeuvres and manipulates her way around her husband the Emperor Claudius to make sure her son Lucius, is his next heir. As this book progresses, the main focus moves to the young Nero and the start of his reign. With real historical figures, events, full of political intrigue, this book does a good job of building up to the final instalment. I've said it once, and I'll say it again Conn Iggulden is the master storyteller when it comes to historical fiction. Thank you, NetGalley and publishers, for the ARC.

Conn Iggulden once again proves himself a master of historical fiction with Tyrant, the second novel in his epic trilogy chronicling the rise of Nero and the slow, sinister unraveling of Rome’s soul. This is historical storytelling at its absolute finest—gripping, intelligent, and darkly compelling. The Roman emperors—Caligula, Claudius, and Nero—are vividly brought to life in all their terrifying complexity. Caligula’s madness, Claudius’s manipulation, and Nero’s chilling transformation are explored with a deft hand, but it is Agrippina who truly haunts these pages. Her portrayal is nothing short of chilling: equal parts political genius and unrelenting force of nature, she dominates the narrative like a specter, calculating and unstoppable. The novel opens with a death—shocking and symbolic—and from there, the blood flows. Marriages become weapons, alliances turn to betrayals, and the corridors of power are painted with murder and manipulation. The plotting is taut and laced with tension, as Iggulden follows young Nero’s path from vulnerable pawn to the brink of monstrous power. The political machinations are as deadly as any battlefield. There are strong echoes here of Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall and Philippa Gregory’s Tudor dramas—dense with courtly intrigue, psychological insight, and a sense that history is a blade turned constantly toward its own characters. Iggulden’s attention to historical detail is immaculate, yet he never sacrifices momentum for exposition. The research is seamlessly woven into a narrative that races forward with the brutal energy of the Empire itself. If Tyrant is about anything, it is the cost of ambition in a world where blood ties can be fatal and love is as dangerous as hate. As Nero begins his twisted ascent, the reader is left in a state of breathless anticipation—and a fair amount of dread—for what is still to come. A brilliant continuation of the series. Iggulden’s storytelling is immersive, visceral, and impossible to put down. I eagerly await the final part of the trilogy.

In this next instalment of the life of Nero. Conn Iggulden takes us through a period of history that changes Rome forever. From a young boy to the heir to the throne, we see how he is transformed by the teachings of Seneca, and the desire of his mother Agrippina for him to be emperor, and she will do anything for her boy to succeed, even murder. In the background we get to see the human side of a boy who has his own faults and desires, and a cruel streak that rivals his mother. This a wonderful story written with huge emotion and understanding of this period of history. I love the human side of the story and the fact it’s more about Nero, than the empire. I think it’s fair to say Conn Iggulden really is a master of his craft and this book shows his considerable talent. This novel is a very fine piece of writing and one of the best books I’ve read this year.

As her son Nero grows older, Agrippina manoeuvres towards power. She has wed her uncle Claudius so is now Empress and through 'advising' him she has married Nero to his daughter Octavia and had her son named heir. However when a reckless event means that Claudius' own son Britannicus is in danger, he decides to rescind this order. Claudius conveniently dies and Nero is named Emperor. Agrippina sees herself as the power behind the throne but Nero has his own ideas. This is another wonderfully entertaining novel from Iggulden. Deeply researched but with exciting storytelling it works incredibly well. I look forward to the final installment!

Enjoyed this story about the rise of Nero in the time of the romans. I did wonder whether the tyrant was Nero or Agrippina as I think the story telling means it could be either. Regardless, a good story and well paced