Other comments on this story:
- The protagonist was okay for a swords-n-sandals pulp story, although he could've been given more depth - Bakker pulled it off well with Cnaiur, and could've done the same here
- Shinurta was creepy and disturbing, reminded me of Iyokus
- The use of magic was really clever, intelligent use of sorcery by the people of a setting where anti-magic defenses are common
- The setting was good, Carythusal really felt like a depraved Neo-Babylon or late imperial Rome
- The Queen could've been better written, but it's still nice to see a non-prostitute female character in Bakker
- The dialogue ranged from decent to cringeworthy