This work of historical fiction recounts the fall of the western Roman empire. It recreates the principal events that occurred during the collapse of this ancient civilization, and paved the way for the early medieval era which was more concerned with spiritual salvation than with the acquisition of wealth, power, and unbridled sensuality.
      The events that dominated the last years of the empire are chronicled in a fictive manuscript authored by the grandson of Senator Aurelius Cassiodorus, chief of the Imperial Secret Service and ambassador to Attila during the reign of Emperor Valentinian.
      The story begins in A.D. 448, at the onset of the century of the Twelfth Vulture when, according to an ancient prophesy made to its founder Romulus, his city would fall. It ends in A.D. 476 when the last emperor of Rome, a thirteen year old boy, coincidentally also named Romulus, is dethroned by a barbarian.
      The opening action takes place amid social and political turmoil: Germanic tribes are infiltrating the empire's porous frontiers and alien generals are taking command of its remaining legions. Attila the Hun threatens invasion. A small group of patriots calling itself the Phoenix Circle, focuses its efforts on restoring the empire. Others seek the empire's rebirth by increasing the power of the Papacy; still others seek its rebirth through prayer.
 

Rykkens,
     A rediscovered manuscript by Cassiodorus Senator, late Roman author and friend of St. Benedict, reveals the internal corruption and deadly intrigue that attend Rome's collapse during successive barbarian invasions.

Soon's Historical Fiction Site
     The Twelfth Vulture of Romulus
     This historical fiction novel recreates the principal events that led to the collapse of the Roman empire, and paved the way for a transformation of the culture of Rome from one obsessed with a pursuit of sensuality, wealth and power to one focussed on spiritual salvation.

Charles White author of THE LOYALIST'S SON
     Boris Raymond has a knack for making the ancient accessible and the epic
     personal. The page breathes a fresh air into the often misunderstood enigma
     of the Roman Empire in decline. Mr. Raymond is a writer with authority and
     dignity and his novel is a fitting impression.

Lynda Ochsner, Historical Fiction Review, Memphis TN
     Most historical fiction novels treat fairly recent subject matter, typically events of the last 400 years or so. Yet a few books dig deeper into the past, with an interesting story and a well researched background of ancient times. Boris Raymond's new book, The Twelfth Vulture of Romulus: Attila and the Fall of Rome, is one such case: a detailed story that looks at the waning years of the Roman Empire. Beginning in 448 AD, The Twelfth Vulture of Romulus traces events of this last generation, until the fall of Rome in 476 AD...
     Many of the characters are from the pages of history: more well known ones such as Attila the Hun, and other rulers and Popes of the time... Fictional characters include Alexia, a worldly woman who trains slaves for the entertainment industry, and at various times is lover to Orestes.
     Against this rich backdrop comes an intriguing story about government corruption and power plays; rampant immorality in a society increasingly reliant on, and vulnerable to, the Barbarians within and without; and increasing conflict between the Roman Catholic Church, already firmly established, and secular rulers.
     This is Rome in its decadence, and many characters are not the most morally upright. Yet the author presents the story in good taste (as are all the books I review here), sparing the reader the lurid details that too many books unfortunately include nowadays...
     The Twelfth Vulture of Romulus is an interesting, well researched and informative historical novel about this time period, so distant and yet an important transition to the Western world we know today.

Reviewer: Midwest Book Review, Oregon, WI USA
     Set in the year 448, The Twelfth Vulture Of Romulus is an epic saga by Boris Raymond of people who lived, died, and fought during the collapse of the western Roman empire. Corruption, sexuality, conquest, bitter strife, and much, much more in what must have seemed like the end of civilization to the people of that era, fill the pages this complex, magnificently presented, expertly written, and enthusiastically recommended 604 page novel which comes complete with an appendices of Principal Characters; Rulers and Germanic Tribes...

Glenn Barnett, author of WHEN JESUS WALKED
      " The historical novel has a long and enduring history. Famous contributions to literature (and film) have come from the pens of novelists who were inspired to write about the alluring subject of ancient Rome. Spartacus, I, Claudius, The First Man in Rome all come to mind.
     Most writers who mine the rich vein of Roman history focus on the glory days of boundless wealth and power... Mr. Raymond has chosen a different facet of the diamond. Instead of focusing on Rome in her powerful glory days he has written a deeply probing novel about the very end of empire...
      Students of history will know from the beginning that all the ambitions and manoeuvring of Orestes and his friends trying to save Rome are doomed to failure. The tale told here is in the tragic tradition of a hero, with whom we relate. We like Orestes. We empathize with his dilemma of serving the enemy, Attila, while agonizing over the demise of his own country. We have vicarious fulfilment through his loves and jealousies. We revel in his successes and groan at his failures...His life is an allegory for the death of the ancient world itself. The tortured dawning of the dark ages can be vividly seen in these pages...

Joy Calderwood, Reviewer Independent Reviews Site.
      THE TWELFTH VULTURE OF ROMULUS refers to a prophetic dream of the founder of Rome. As legend goes, Romulus dreamed of twelve circling vultures, which was supposed to mean that Rome would fall after twelve centuries. VULTURE is set in the twelfth century after Rome's founding, with its rulers trying to stave off its demise...
      Author Boris Raymond has put much thought into character development: his large cast of main characters change as life changes them... All of these are changed by circumstances in interesting and realistic ways. The subplots are woven together and support each other smoothly. There is a very helpful list of characters in Appendix I, so it is not difficult to keep track of who is doing what even before we are familiar with their names...

ALLAN FISK , Author of Cupid and the Silent Goddess
     The title, The Twelfth Vulture of Romulus refers to an ancient prophecy, foretelling that the Roman Empire would fall after twelve centuries had passed. By the middle of the fourth century A.D. the twelve centuries are up, and the Empire is beset by so many problems that many feel that the end is not only near but unavoidable...
      This novel is a tragedy in which the one blind spot in the noble character of Orestes will bring ruin upon himself and many of his friends and family. His obsession with an antique idea of what a "Roman" is so exclusive that it offers no place to "barbarians"...
      At the end, where it seems to Orestes that all is lost, the Christians such as Gelasius and Severinus see it not as an end, but as a beginning, and set about building the mediaeval society of the future that will replace the ancient world that Orestes was vainly trying to restore.
      This is a moving and involving novel, and the atmosphere of the fifth century is convincingly created. It is full of fascinating characters, both male and female...

Mary Hirsch, Network & Information Systems Manager, College of Education,University of Oregon
      Boris Raymond's first novel, "The Twelfth Vulture of Romulus", is a
     commendable effort. A former professor of history and sociology at
     Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, Raymond weaves
     his knowledge of the history and political processes of the late Roman
     Empire into a tale of intrigue and struggle for power between
     traditional Roman oligarches and the increasing number of barbarian
     cultures who permeated Roman society both as slaves from the conquered
     lands and as members of Rome's auxiliaries, legions, and officer corps...

Susan Crane, THE HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW, August 2003.
     Set in mid to late 5th century, this is a sweeping saga of Rome's decline and eventual fall to barbarian invaders. Author Boris Raymond covers a myriad of clashing cultures and examples of all castes of society. Opening with Attila the Hun's impending invasion into the Roman Empire's heart, the reader is carried along with the fast-paced events of political intrigue, ambition, and assassinations and their impact on nations both dying and being born... Almost all of the characters are historical, the TWELFTH VULTURE OF ROMULUS interweaves the roles of Roman emperors, ambitious politicians, Popes, invading barbarian kings, prostitutes, exiled nobility, and soldiers while positing some very interesting speculations on the causes of death of some of history's famous - and also what some of Rome's patriots may have done to try and save Rome...