The Guest Star

A historical, romantic, and suspenseful adventure set at the end of the golden age of the Roman Empire, with a scientific background and historically factual accuracy.

At the end of the second century, after a mysterious new and large star appears in the night sky of Aegyptus, two students of the Great Library of Alexandria embark on a search for an explanation following a clue inserted into a famous Ptolemy's manuscript of the geographical description of the Roman Empire. Along the way, they meet allies and enemies, love and betrayal, and discover a path that brings them closer to a better understanding of nature and the universe itself.

The Guest Star is also a historical adventure in which ancient Roman and Chinese cultures intertwined at the start of the Silk Road, several years before the first major civil war erupted following Emperor Commodus' assassination. The story is portrayed from a slightly different perspective and goes beyond the generally accepted clichés in the history of the Roman Empire.

"This book was a pleasure to read from start to finish. The story is a rich and immersive reading experience that is both educational and entertaining. It is of particular note since it features historical locations that are not often portrayed in similar works, such as the ancient Roman city of Naissus!" - Amazon.com.au

"Milan Zivic's 'The Guest Star' is a knockout. This isn't your run-of-the-mill historical fiction - it's a wild ride through ancient Rome that'll leave you breathless. Hero and Lucia come alive as flesh-and-blood people you can't help but root for. As they chase a mysterious new star across the empire, you feel like you're right there with them, dodging danger and uncovering secrets." - Amazon.com

"The Guest star is a remarkably well written tale of mystery and adventure and reads like a Dan Brown novel. The level of detail and historical fact woven into a tale of mystery, adventure and romance is a delight. I would highly recommend to historical fiction fans who enjoy factual accuracy." - Amazon.co.uk

"I feel compelled to recommend this story not only because it's just that good, but also because it has the ability to take you back to a time that you didn't know in a unique way. The thing that I loved the most about this novella, is that the plot is so interesting and gripping that romance only serves as an added layer of depth." - Amazon.it

"I thoroughly enjoyed following along with the adventure of Hero and Lucia. My favourite aspect was how easy it was for me to envision the scenes and the characters. The overarching theme of rational/scientific thought was particularly close to my heart since I trained as a scientist and made the story even more enjoyable." - Fiverr