73rd book of 2019.
If you liked ‘Fire and Blood’ by George RR Martin, this might be the book for you. A bit heavy on the 10,000 ft. view narrative of palace politics and succession, but just enough that some of the dry readings are that much punchier.
“The emperor was much more interested in pursuing his prurient interests”
I appreciated the broad sweep, the occasional commentary, and the willingness to cover every notable emperor across thousands of years.
If anything I would have enjoyed a bit more commentary, or at least summaries / recaps of the the important epochs.