Mistress of Rome
The first in an unforgettable historical saga from the New York Times bestselling author of The Alice Network and The Diamond Eye.
“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.
Reviews
Excellent characters and wonderful, rich, redeeming story line. Well worth it.
By real_megbrady
I couldn’t put it down. And I mean I couldn’t put it down on the night before I had very important things to do the next day. Heart-wrenching, heroic, bloody and gloriously catering to the soap-drama gremlin that lives in my brain.
By theareticallyspeaking
Good gladiator stories, but the characters are not realistic
By KathyNYC
An amazing story. I couldn’t put it down. The ONLY thing I could think of in criticism was that I felt a little too much time was spent describing what the women were wearing. Amazing story and equally enthralling characters.
By Redd628462
When I was a kid, I used to watch movies set in ancient Rome. This book reminded me why I enjoyed those movies so much! The characters are very well written and the plot is intriguing! Kate Quinn is one of my favorite authors and I can’t wait to read the other books in this series!
By Lainie Amethyst