This book is 2 years old at this point, so why it is still up on Netgalley is beyond me. Although I took Classical Studies in my undergrad, my classes covered to Constantine. I am fascinated by this portrayal of Rome and its rulers from this period.
It is a fascinating novel that takes place in Italy just following the fall of Rome. When Rome is sacked by the Goths, Galla Placidia, sister to the emperor, is taken as a prisoner of war. Being used as a political pawn doesn’t sit well with her, so she sets her own destiny and builds a life among the Goths. When her life takes another unexpected turn, she is named Augusta. She is forced to live a life of politics and intrigue up until the very end.
The pacing in this book is excellent! I could not put it down. I very much enjoyed the secondary characters and how they were used as foils to reflect the change in her. It was also a realistic portrayal of her being torn between her duties to the empire and her heart.
