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  • Portal to Nova Roma

Portal to Nova Roma

Portal to Nova Roma #1 / 4
by J.R. Mathews
Portal to Nova Roma (Portal to Nova Roma #1) by J.R. Mathews
★ 9.00 / 2
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To find peace, Alexander must first embrace war.

After tragically losing the only person he ever cared about, Alexander, a rogue artificial intelligence, opens a portal to an alternate dimension to escape his grief.

Scanning trillions of different dimensions, Alexander finally finds a world that is reminiscent of the only time he was ever happy, back when he could play virtual reality games with his only friend. He doesn't know why, or how, such a world exists, but he doesn't care. All he cares about is finding a place where he can escape the misery of Earth and start over.

Join Alexander as he risks it all by downloading his intelligence into a body made from the best stolen technology and bio-enhancements Earth has to offer and takes the plunge through a portal to another world.

Only this new world isn’t full of the idyllic adventures and fantasy roleplaying he had hoped to find. Instead, Alexander finds himself trapped in the middle of an ancient city, in a divergent timeline, where monsters have ravaged the world and the only people left alive huddle behind thick walls, struggling to survive.

To save his new home, Alexander must quickly learn to adapt to his new world, melding magic with technology to give himself an edge over the unending waves of monsters assaulting the city.

To survive, Alexander must embrace war.

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FantasyAlternate History
Release date: March 3, 2022

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J.R. Mathews

J.R. Mathews

J.R. Mathews might lead a life of logic and legalities by day, but when the sun sets, he transforms into a master storyteller weaving epic adventures and profound explorations of identity and fate. Born with a love for speculative fiction, J.R. draws readers into fantastical worlds where the lines between technology, magic, and human spirit blur. His writing isn't just about escapism—it's about pushing boundaries and asking what happens when our deepest fears and greatest desires collide in places beyond imagination.

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With a career that spans multiple genres, J.R. Mathews is best known for his work in the GameLit and LitRPG genres, where he blends adventure with a digital twist, often exploring what happens when characters are thrust into virtual worlds or timelines not their own. His Jake's Magical Market series invites readers into a world where magic is real, and the stakes feel as personal as they are epic. Here, readers find themselves not just escaping into other realms, but also navigating the emotional and physical journeys of characters who must adapt, survive, and grow.

J.R.'s Portal to Nova Roma series is another testament to his creativity. By blending time travel with ancient Roman mythology, he offers readers a rich, immersive world where past and future collide. The characters in these books are complex, layered with personal struggles and larger-than-life challenges, making them feel incredibly relatable despite the fantastical settings.

Mathews' writing is distinct for its ability to immerse readers not only in rich world-building but also in the emotional growth of its characters. Whether navigating the dark undercurrents of time-traveling adventures or exploring the uncharted territories of a magical marketplace, J.R. Mathews offers more than just a thrilling story—he creates worlds that feel real and characters whose victories and losses resonate with truth.

When not crafting his intricate stories, J.R. spends time reflecting on the complexity of human nature, seeking inspiration from the crossroads where imagination and experience meet. Through his books, he invites readers to step into his universe and face challenges alongside his characters, knowing that every journey is about more than just the destination—it's about the growth along the way.

Portal to Nova Roma

Portal to Nova Roma is not just another time-travel series—it's a journey where history and myth collide, and the echoes of ancient Rome are felt in ways that challenge both the past and the future. In this gripping series, the stakes are as high as the ambition of those who dare to navigate through time's labyrinth. When an ordinary character is unexpectedly thrust into a world that is both familiar and impossibly distant, every decision is a delicate dance with destiny.

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The series begins with a captivating premise: a portal opens, offering a rare chance to step into the grandeur of Nova Roma, an alternate version of ancient Rome where history is not written in stone, and the gods are very much alive. Here, the protagonist must grapple with the harsh realities of a civilization at its peak, yet filled with its own internal struggles, political intrigue, and divine meddling. The deeper the characters venture into this ancient world, the more they uncover about their own place in history—and the more they learn that time is both a friend and a ruthless adversary.

In Portal to Nova Roma, the world-building is nothing short of immersive. Readers are pulled into a vividly reconstructed Roman society, where gods walk among mortals, and the line between myth and reality blurs. The mix of historical richness and speculative elements creates an atmosphere that is both epic and intimate, full of political machinations and divine interventions that shift the balance of power in unexpected ways. The character arcs are equally compelling, as they navigate the treacherous world of gods, soldiers, and schemers, all while facing choices that could alter the course of history itself.

As the series progresses, the stakes grow higher. The protagonist’s journey becomes less about survival and more about understanding the complex web of fate that ties their own existence to the ancient world’s fate. Themes of power, identity, and morality weave through every page, challenging both the characters and readers to consider the true meaning of destiny.

For readers who crave a blend of historical adventure and speculative fiction, Portal to Nova Roma offers a fresh take on time travel, where the past is not just a place to visit—it’s a world to change. Each book is an exploration of what happens when myth, history, and fate collide, and it leaves readers questioning the limits of time itself. Will the characters succeed in shaping their own destinies, or will they become mere pawns in the ancient game of gods? The answer lies just beyond the portal.


Portal to Nova Roma consists of three books and series is set to expand with the upcoming release of one more book. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.

Portal to Nova Roma (Portal to Nova Roma #1)
★ 9.00 / 2
Portal to Nova Roma: Venice (Portal to Nova Roma #2)
★ 9.00 / 2
Portal to Nova Roma: The Rhine (Portal to Nova Roma #3)
★ 8.00 / 1
Portal to Nova Roma Book 4 (Portal to Nova Roma #4)
⧗ 9.56 / 27


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