A Historical Epic · Lost in the Wind · Book I
The Captive Commander
He commanded the armies of Persia. Now he carries a Roman noblewoman’s palanquin.
Defeated in battle and sold into Roman captivity, Surena enters the household of Constantia, a noblewoman whose authority reaches into every corner of her estate. She expects obedience. He struggles to preserve his dignity. As hostility gives way to a dangerous attachment, both must face what their choices could cost them.
- Ancient Rome & Parthia
- Captivity & Forbidden Love
- Start the Series Here
About the Story
In Rome, his name becomes a number.
Surena survives the battle that destroys his command. Taken far from Parthia and sold in Rome, he enters the Red Palace as another man’s purchase. His rank means nothing here. In the household’s records, he is 444.
His new duty is to carry the palanquin of Constantia, a wealthy Roman noblewoman whose estate runs on strict hierarchy and fear. For a man accustomed to leading soldiers, even an ordinary day demands a kind of submission he has never learned.
Among the other captives, Surena encounters friendship, intimidation, and the daily compromises of survival. His pride gives him the strength to resist, but it can also put those beside him in danger.
As his life becomes entangled with Constantia’s, hostility begins to give way to an attachment neither can easily understand or safely pursue. The Captive Commander follows their changing relationship through a world where ownership, loyalty, and desire carry unequal consequences.
What does it take to preserve your dignity when someone else holds power over your life?
Find Your Next Read
Is this your kind of historical fiction?
The Captive Commander brings together physical danger, personal conflict, and forbidden love. Here is what you can expect from the first book.
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Rome through a captive’s eyes
Experience Roman power from the perspective of a defeated Parthian commander. Surena encounters its wealth and hierarchy through the daily realities of captivity, labor, and dependence on others.
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A dangerous, unequal attachment
The relationship between Surena and Constantia develops under the shadow of ownership and coercion. Attraction complicates their conflict, while trust remains difficult to earn.
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Action with personal stakes
Physical confrontations and moments of danger test more than Surena’s strength. His responses can affect his standing, his chances of freedom, and the people who come to depend on him.
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Intrigue beyond the palace walls
As the story unfolds, private loyalties become entangled with Roman ambition and political influence. Decisions within one household begin to carry consequences beyond it.
A note on tone
Written for adult readers, the novel includes slavery, physical cruelty, and graphic violence. Its love story unfolds within a wider historical epic, with an ongoing storyline that continues in The Crimson Return.
Reader Reviews
What stayed with readers
A few reader responses to The Captive Commander, shared on Amazon and Goodreads.
This is historical fiction at its best.
The only complaint I have is that the book would’ve been even better if there had been more of everything and it would’ve been longer.
I have always enjoyed reading novels of ancient Rome, and this ended up being one of my favorites.
Selected excerpts from reviews of Book I. Wording is reproduced as written by the reviewers.
Before You Begin
A few questions, answered
Where to start, what kind of story to expect, and how the series continues.
Which book should I read first?
Start with The Captive Commander, Book I of Lost in the Wind, then continue with The Crimson Return. The novels follow an ongoing storyline, so reading them in order preserves the development of the characters and their relationships.
Is this a true story?
The Captive Commander is a work of fiction inspired by ancient Rome and Parthia. Its central story and characters are fictional, and the saga takes creative liberties with history. Its protagonist, Surena, is not a biographical portrayal of the historical general who defeated Crassus at Carrhae.
Is it a romance or a historical adventure?
It combines historical adventure, political intrigue, and a central love story. The relationship between Surena and Constantia develops amid captivity, coercion, and unequal power. Romance is an important part of a wider epic rather than a promise of a conventional romantic ending.
Do I need to know Roman or Parthian history?
No prior historical knowledge is needed to follow the story. Readers enter this world through Surena’s experiences and the people he encounters.
Which languages are available?
Is the series complete?
The series is ongoing. The Captive Commander and The Crimson Return are published, and Book III is in progress. You can join the reader list for news about future releases.
Continue with Book II
The Crimson Return
Surena’s story continues as personal loyalties become entangled with the ambitions of empires. The Crimson Return expands the saga’s scope, exploring the cost of return and the hold of a love that distance cannot easily undo.
Begin with The Captive Commander
Meet Surena at the moment his command is lost and his struggle for freedom begins.