Feathered Quill Book Reviews

 #Bookreview of Mask of Romulus

By: Mark Jamilkowski

Publisher: Treaty Oak Publishers

Publication Date: November 1, 2025

ISBN: 978-1959127499

Reviewed by: Douglas C. MacLeod, Jr.

Review Date: November 13, 2025

On the heels of Gladiator II, and before Christopher Nolan’s epic The Odyssey is unveiled in movie theaters on July 17, 2026, comes Mark Jamilkowski’s newest novel Mask of Romulus, a historical addition to a genre that never seems to lose its footing, whether it be represented on the silver screen or on the printed page. What makes this part of ancient history so popular and so marketable with the masses? Seemingly, there are multiple reasons, and Jamilkowski taps into this perpetual fascination by giving audiences what they desire: a coming-of-age travelogue that involves comedy and tragedy; love and hate; war and peace, all of which romanticize a time of great turmoil and bloodshed while telling the story of the beginnings of Western civilization.

Mask of Romulus, very much like The Odyssey, is about one young man’s physical, emotional, and spiritual journey into the annals of history. The book is the story of Julius Caesar’s successor Gaius Octavius (aka Caesar Augustus, aka Octavian), an extraordinary leader who was once a scrappy young boy fighting off bullies in Eretum, a village where Caesar’s sister and Gaius’s grandmother, Julia, would vacation. Much of Jamilkowski’s narrative is an attempt at reestablishing numerous notables as real human beings who not only shaped contemporary society, but led lives similar to ours prior to their historical significance. By using historical data and research, the writer gives voices to and fleshes out individuals who have almost become reduced to mythic figures of a long, forgotten era. Mask of Romulus is for readers who want to learn about Gaius Octavius’s rise to prominence as Rome’s ruler, a ruler who reconstructed and reformed the city in a peacefully productive way while also maintaining his power as the supreme leader. Much of this historical novel shows Gaius Octavius as a reasonable warrior and emperor who travelled the world to expand on his empire, which included a voyage to India. The stories about Kamala, an Indian oracle who becomes an advisor to Gaius Octavius, at first run parallel to Octavian’s trek, but eventually the two narratives come together, and lead to connection that changes the course of history and builds an alliance most significant to Gaius Octavius’s reign as emperor.

Mask of Romulus is most successful when Jamilkowski includes philosophy and religious lore into the narrative; he has a great deal of knowledge in both fields of study, so he carefully weaves with ease his understanding of the humanities and how it can be of great effect to those in powerful positions. He is also quite good at writing about the literal physical journey in and of itself; his debut novel The Road to Moresco is similar in construction, so Jamilkowski uses his past work to perfect his present one. With that said, at times, the work has a dizzying number of names and places that can leave casual readers exhausted and confused; and there are moments when the dialogue is too contemporary, a chronic issue for epic works. An index or appendix in lieu of a prologue would have been most helpful for those of us less familiar with Gaius Octavius’s reign. Otherwise, Mask of Romulus is a strong piece of writing and an equally as strong addition to the epic genre.

Quill says: In Mask of Romulus, Mark Jamilkowski successfully weaves ancient history with philosophical and religious thought to produce a strong narrative that is true to the genre and rich with information.

For more information about Mask of Romulus, please visit the author's website at: mark-jamilkowski-author.com/