Book Review: The House on Constantinople

Reviewed by Joelene Pynnonen

Introspection defines this history-rich, time-traveling sci-fi novel.

When Joe Schwartz, a Late Roman and Byzantine professor at Tulane University, is approached by a young man after one of his lectures, he’s not prepared for how drastically his worldview will change. 

It turns out—this man, Jules, is actually Flavius Claudius Julianus, the eventual emperor of Rome. The Jules that Joe meets is a much younger man, nowhere near the age where he will take the crown and the realm. And he needs help.

History is a fickle thing. Jules doesn’t want to leave his people or his world’s well-being to chance. So, with the help of Frank, a retired schoolteacher, he sets out to recruit Joe and a brilliant medical doctor, Lexi, to help him create a better world. And to maybe save himself in the process.

The House on Constantinople is a sci-fi novel that explores history, ethics, humanity and much more through the lens of time. It is the first in the Just in Time series. The stakes in this novel are high in theory, but think of this more like a cozy sci-fi read. The kind of book you curl up with because you genuinely enjoy spending time with the characters and want to hear their thoughts on morals, religion, segregation, or whatever else they are discussing.

House on Constantinople is an unconventional novel. The premise revolves around empires, time-travel, and protecting the world as we know it, but it isn’t an action-packed adventure. What we get instead is a quieter, more reflective study of human nature. The novel sifts through the views behind the actions. Not the outcomes of battles fought, but the reasons behind decisions made. 

There’s a fascinating combination of actual history and fiction playing out in these pages. Delving into the history of the Roman Empire as you read brings up a whole slew of other interesting facts. The way the novel explores history as an ever-changing entity that shifts every time we discover new pieces of evidence keeps the story endlessly engaging. 

Like all time-travel novels, the logistics can get confusing at times. Luckily, the ending remains open enough that the reality can be explained in subsequent novels.

House on Constantinople is a reflective, immersive read that sometimes veers off in unpredictable directions but stays faithful to the themes it explores. The journey is thought-provoking, and the characters are philosophical, friendly companions for the ride. It takes a little while to get to the heart of the story, but the wait is well worth it. The ending left me desperately wanting to turn the next page. Looking forward to the sequel already.

---

Thank you for reading Joelene Pynnonen’s book review of The House on Constantinople by Howard Wetsman! If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.