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cazxxx's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
3.25
juliardye's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. Interesting tale but was a bit slow in places. Livia was a bit unlikable too which made reading a challenge at times. I liked the author's notes at the end outlining some of the facts she used in her fictional account.
snowblu3's review against another edition
4.0
The first Kindle First book I got that I fully read, and loved. I just wish it was longer.
par4dox's review against another edition
3.0
I just kinda got bored of reading near the end, so on to the next book
marvelmama19's review against another edition
4.0
Not nearly as good as I, Claudius, but still a good read. Engrossing, reasonably well-written. I just wish it could have been richer in content and style.
vkshiro's review against another edition
3.0
I haven't read much historic fiction before but I did like this book. I know as much about Rome as your average person so it was nice to see it from a different point of view (Livia Drusilla, wife of Augustus).
My one complaint about the book is it at times, it seemed emotionally bereft but at other times, a little cloying. But overall, I think it's worth reading, especially if you like historic fiction or this era of the Roman Empire.
My one complaint about the book is it at times, it seemed emotionally bereft but at other times, a little cloying. But overall, I think it's worth reading, especially if you like historic fiction or this era of the Roman Empire.
bell4trixx's review against another edition
4.0
I ended up really liking this books. It wasn't really one of those page turners you can't put down, there are slow parts, but I found myself enjoying the story all the way through, especially at the end. I feel like this is a great example of historical fiction because of two things: the timeline and events are fairly accurate from what I've seen and it made me want to know more about the characters. I've started looking up information on many of the main characters who, before this, I knew little to nothing about. This book is mostly a quite reflection of livia's life but by the end you realize it is a great love story as well. I definitely enjoyed it and found myself wanting more of livia's world.
jhbandcats's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
If my 8th grade Ancient History class had featured this instead of the dull textbook, I’d remember more about this period than just learning the vocabulary word “triumvirate.” Instead, no. I remember dates: 800, 1066, 1215, and not much else.
The author brings this period to life from the very first page, showing us the intelligent and inquisitive teenage Livia as she overhears plans of Julius Caesar’s assassination. Soon there’s civil war, factions fighting, regrouping, then more fighting with Roman pitted against Roman.
All is told in the first person by Livia as she endures an arranged marriage, loses her parents in the wars, and comes to marry her love Octavianus. She is always a voice of reason who advocates peace and mercy as Octavianus sets off on campaign after campaign, coming home bloody and wounded each time. The wars are, as wars everywhere, a result of politics and differing views of what constitutes the best government and rulers.
Much of this deals with the complexities of Roman politics. The author deftly describes situations and motivations so clearly that I understood it all, and I would ordinarily find it all bewildering. As is plain from my first sentence, I have learned far more history since I left school. Why aren’t students taught with these history books?
The author brings this period to life from the very first page, showing us the intelligent and inquisitive teenage Livia as she overhears plans of Julius Caesar’s assassination. Soon there’s civil war, factions fighting, regrouping, then more fighting with Roman pitted against Roman.
All is told in the first person by Livia as she endures an arranged marriage, loses her parents in the wars, and comes to marry her love Octavianus. She is always a voice of reason who advocates peace and mercy as Octavianus sets off on campaign after campaign, coming home bloody and wounded each time. The wars are, as wars everywhere, a result of politics and differing views of what constitutes the best government and rulers.
Much of this deals with the complexities of Roman politics. The author deftly describes situations and motivations so clearly that I understood it all, and I would ordinarily find it all bewildering. As is plain from my first sentence, I have learned far more history since I left school. Why aren’t students taught with these history books?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Gore, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, War, and Classism