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Mistress of Rome
First published 2010 · 470 pages
A gripping, vivid plunge into the dangerous passions and ruthless power struggles of first-century Rome, where survival requires both reinvention and sacrifice.
What it feels like
This propulsive historical saga plunges readers into a vivid, high-stakes world where passion and peril walk hand in hand. The atmosphere is thick with the dangerous opulence of first-century Rome, balancing the brutal reality of subjugation with the fierce drive for survival and autonomy. The narrative moves at a gripping pace, pulling you through a gauntlet of forbidden romance, bitter jealousy, and the terrifying attention of absolute power. The prose is designed to burn itself into your mind's eye, delivering an intense emotional arc that shifts from fleeting, stolen happiness to a desperate fight for sanity and soul. It is a perfect fit for readers who devour dramatic, sweeping epics about resilient women navigating ruthless empires and deadly political games.
- Mood
- vivid
- high-stakes
- dangerous
- oppressive
- Tone
- dramatic
- intense
- passionate
- ruthless
- Pace
- propulsive
- Themes
- survival and reinvention · the cost of power · forbidden love · fighting for autonomy · vengeance and jealousy
- The writing
- Vivid and gripping, designed to burn images into the mind's eye and keep the reader glued to the page.
- The arc
- Moves from the vulnerability of subjugation and fleeting happiness to a high-stakes battle for sanity, soul, and ultimate control.
- Who it's for
- Readers who crave sweeping, high-stakes historical sagas filled with dangerous romance, ruthless politics, and women fighting for survival.
Content notes
- slavery
- gladiatorial violence
- abusive power dynamics
- jealousy and spite
About the book
The first in an unforgettable historical saga from the author of The Alice Network.
“So gripping, your hands are glued to the book, and so vivid it burns itself into your mind’s eye and stays with you long after you turn the final page.”—Diana Gabaldon, author
First-century Rome: A ruthless emperor watches over all—and fixes his gaze on one young woman...
Thea is a slave girl from Judaea, purchased as a toy for the spiteful heiress Lepida Pollia. Now she has infuriated her mistress by capturing the attention of Rome’s newest and most savage gladiator—and though his love brings Thea the first happiness of her life, their affair ends quickly when a jealous Lepida tears them apart.
Remaking herself as a singer for Rome’s aristocrats, Thea unwittingly attracts another admirer: the charismatic Emperor of Rome. But the passions of an all-powerful man come with a heavy price, and Thea finds herself fighting for both her soul and her sanity. Many have tried to destroy the Emperor: a vengeful gladiator, an upright senator, a tormented soldier, a Vestal Virgin. But in the end, the life of Domitian lies in the hands of one woman: the Emperor’s mistress.
Description from Open Library.
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