4.0 A really solid historical novel with a weird, but believable eponymous twist. It is not quite as great as it's predecessor since there are quite a few situations and exchanges that are very much like it the first book. Turtledove fans will know what I mean. Though there are also a lot more different situations and the series manages to keep the reader's interest by introducing some of the movers and shakers of the era while also adding more danger that was largely absent from the first volume.

The lack of interactions with female characters gets a little worse, even though Turtledove does his very best to a add some variety like the shrewd hetaira and Sostratos' sister who really needs to marry again. It's not exactly unrealistic for the time period and the two cousin's occupation - still, there could be some more.