Mistress of Rome

Kate Quinn

Apr 2010 · Empress of Rome Book 1 · Sold by Penguin

About this ebook

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.

Ratings and reviews

4+ stars is more accurate. An unexpected surprise! Passion, politics, power, and plots in Imperial Rome. A disturbed emperor, enslaved people, gladiators, ambitious women, and sexual obsession -- all combined to create gripping drama. Fast paced and compelling from page one. Violence and abuse warning.

What a wonderfully gripping novel! I haven't been so engaged in a book since I was in sixth grade and my teacher forced me to go find one to read in my idle time and I found myself absorbed in "Alanna: The First Adventure" I absolutely adored the book and I can't wait to read about the adventures that await young Vix and little Sabina!

Couldn't put it down! Definitely a great story line. Multiple points of views.. so many good parts and the ending!!! Incredible and suspenseful!

About the author

Kate Quinn is a native of Southern California. She attended Boston University, where she earned a bachelor's and master's degree in Classical Voice. A lifelong history buff, she has written four novels in the Empress of Rome Saga and two Novels of the Borgias, before moving to the twentieth century with The Alice Network and The Huntress. All her books have been translated into multiple languages.