Pulman has some fun with Antonia's chastisement of Caligula. In fact, Suetonius supplies the evidence for Antonia finding her two grandchildren in bed together "playing a little game." Graves also exploits this incestuous romp.

But in both Graves and Suetonius it does not occur until Lil' Boots was at the ripe old age of 12. Pulman presents a precocious eight year old. Could Lil' Boots have known how to use his lil' sword at this young age? Way to go, you little psychopath!