The first in an unforgettable historical saga from the New York Times bestselling author of The Alice Network and The Briar Club.
“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, #1 New York Times bestselling author
First-century Rome: One young woman will hold the fate of an empire in her hands.
Thea, a captive from Judaea, is a clever and determined survivor hiding behind a slave’s docile mask. Purchased as a toy for the spoiled heiress Lepida Pollia, Thea evades her mistress’s spite and hones a secret passion for music. But when Thea wins the love of Rome’s newest and most savage gladiator and dares to dream of a better life, the jealous Lepida tears the lovers apart and casts Thea out.
Rome offers many ways for the resourceful to survive, and Thea remakes herself as a singer for the Eternal ’City’s glittering aristocrats. As she struggles for success and independence, her nightingale voice attracts a dangerous new admirer: the Emperor himself. But the passions of an all-powerful man come with a heavy price, and Thea finds herself fighting for both her soul and her destiny.
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 Rome’s most powerful man lies in the hands of one woman: the Emperor’s mistress.
Romance, betrayal, games (physical and emotional), war, deceit, just about a little of everything! Mistress of Rome follows the overlapping lives of several characters. Thea is a slave in love with a gladiator, Aruis. Lepida is her mistress who's determined to reach the top of Roman society. Paulinus is the senator's son, Lepida's stepson, and Thea's former lover. Julia, the emperor's ill niece. All of their lives entwine into one exciting story.
Oddly, my favorite character was Lady Lepida. She is nasty and selfish, and I loved to hate her. She manipulated everyone around her to get what she wanted, and even though I didn't want her to succeed, I couldn't wait to see what she would do next. Most readers will probably be cheering for Thea and Arius, and I was, but Lepida was just so intriguing.
Mistress of Rome covers several years in the lives of its characters, and at times it seemed to drone on. But then suddenly something would happen and grab my attention again. Eventually all of the seemingly unimportant events and details came together and formed an amazing story.
