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hrtlss_grl's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Slavery, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
sydneyholmes3010's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
krisis86's review against another edition
5.0
Dang this was a good book. I couldn't put it down. I went into it not knowing anything about Justinian and came out having learned a bunch and greatly enjoyed myself to boot. Definitely recommend this one for historical fiction fans. Whew.
melodywicket's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars rounded up - A good read about a historical figure I knew very little about from a period in history that has always fascinated me.
There are countless books of historical fiction from a Eurocentric perspective, and it's always nice to find one that covers topics, places and people less familiar. Theodora's ascension from abject poverty to Empress was a triumphant achievement laced with its share of heartbreak and horrors. Theodora's strength of character is evident in her own clear-eyed pragmatism as she picks herself up and dusts herself off after each setback. Refreshingly to this reader, Thornton portrays the challenges of Theodora's early life with great empathy, but avoids indulging in mawkishness and melodrama.
The book focused on that first part of Theodora's journey in far greater detail than her reign as Augusta, which is somewhat of a shame. I was invested in the personal dramas portrayed in this story - her romance with Justinian and her female friendships were well-developed, her rivalries perhaps a little less so - but if I were to nitpick, it would be because I would have liked to learn more about her reforms (she is credited as an early feminist) and how she was perceived by the people she and her husband ruled over. It's touched upon briefly in the interview with the author in the back of the book, but why, for example, is her historical record by Procopius by derogatory to her character when there was little evidence in-book to suggest that the public continued to look down upon her for her humble beginnings? Still, if anything, this book just makes me want to look for some more material - fiction and nonfiction both - about Theodora, Justinian, and the Byzantine Empire.
ETA: Now that I think about it, it would have been nice to read more about the world they lived in, actually. Place names are mentioned but I didn't got a feel for scale or location, nor did we get many descriptions of the surroundings. I might excuse it as Theodora's character being unsentimental or unobservant about such things - some people are just like that, after all - but it did make it harder to fully immerse myself in her world.
There are countless books of historical fiction from a Eurocentric perspective, and it's always nice to find one that covers topics, places and people less familiar. Theodora's ascension from abject poverty to Empress was a triumphant achievement laced with its share of heartbreak and horrors. Theodora's strength of character is evident in her own clear-eyed pragmatism as she picks herself up and dusts herself off after each setback. Refreshingly to this reader, Thornton portrays the challenges of Theodora's early life with great empathy, but avoids indulging in mawkishness and melodrama.
The book focused on that first part of Theodora's journey in far greater detail than her reign as Augusta, which is somewhat of a shame. I was invested in the personal dramas portrayed in this story - her romance with Justinian and her female friendships were well-developed, her rivalries perhaps a little less so - but if I were to nitpick, it would be because I would have liked to learn more about her reforms (she is credited as an early feminist) and how she was perceived by the people she and her husband ruled over. It's touched upon briefly in the interview with the author in the back of the book, but why, for example, is her historical record by Procopius by derogatory to her character when there was little evidence in-book to suggest that the public continued to look down upon her for her humble beginnings? Still, if anything, this book just makes me want to look for some more material - fiction and nonfiction both - about Theodora, Justinian, and the Byzantine Empire.
ETA: Now that I think about it, it would have been nice to read more about the world they lived in, actually. Place names are mentioned but I didn't got a feel for scale or location, nor did we get many descriptions of the surroundings. I might excuse it as Theodora's character being unsentimental or unobservant about such things - some people are just like that, after all - but it did make it harder to fully immerse myself in her world.
unabridgedchick's review against another edition
4.0
Empress Theodora began as an actress and prostitute and became Empress of the Roman Empire. Her life reads like a soap opera, and in Thornton's hands, it's a fast, sex-filled (but not necessarily raunchy) historical novel that is perfect for the summer.
Theodora's story is not for prudish. After circumstances force her sister to become an actress -- which was a step up from a street prostitute -- Theodora becomes one as well. Not pretty exactly, but clever and smart, Theodora scrabbles her way to notoriety with a 'reenactment' of the Leda and the swan myth, becoming Constantinople's most talked about courtesan. After having a daughter she can barely care for, Theodora takes up with a merchant patron and leaves Turkey for North Africa, where she endures blackmail and abuse. (I'll admit, this section was almost too hard for me to stomach!)
She's dismissed and abandoned in Alexandria, Egypt, where she meets Severus, the Patriarch of Antioch, who takes her under his wing and tries to direct her toward a religious life. (Theodora, topically Christian, becomes baptized in a sect of Christianity less popular in the Empire.) After her return to Constantinople, a chance encounter with another famed courtesan gives her an introduction to the court of Justinian, the man thought to become Emperor after Justin, and from there, her life takes off in another tumultuous direction.
In a book with a sex worker as a heroine, it's important to me that the author treats our heroine well. However grotesque, grim, unfair, or unpalatable the life, it's crucial the characters be given respect and three-dimensional selves. Thornton does just that without either glorifying or victimizing her characters, and it tipped the book from 'good' to 'great'.
In fact, I found Thornton managed beautiful the dance required of a good historical novel: period details that gave me a sense of the era without overwhelming me, zippy plot that made it impossible for me to slip a bookmark between the pages and stop, and characters that I could respond to and relate with who didn't seem from the future.
That being said, those who are uncomfortable with the realities of life in this era will be, well, uncomfortable! Although Thornton ages Theodora up, children at this time became 'actresses' and prostitutes, and I'm grateful Thornton managed to make me more comfortable without completely anachronizing the era or Theodora's life.
I'd been waiting all year for this debut and it didn't disappoint. A beach-y historical novel in the vein, perhaps, of Philippa Gregory, I was also reminded of Sandra Gulland and Susan Holloway Scott -- authors who have heroines with big personalities and snappy, zippy, almost too-crazy-to-be-believed plot lines. Historical fiction fans should get this, as well as those who are interested in the Byzantine era, and anyone who wants a splashy novel that reads like a sexy tv series.
Theodora's story is not for prudish. After circumstances force her sister to become an actress -- which was a step up from a street prostitute -- Theodora becomes one as well. Not pretty exactly, but clever and smart, Theodora scrabbles her way to notoriety with a 'reenactment' of the Leda and the swan myth, becoming Constantinople's most talked about courtesan. After having a daughter she can barely care for, Theodora takes up with a merchant patron and leaves Turkey for North Africa, where she endures blackmail and abuse. (I'll admit, this section was almost too hard for me to stomach!)
She's dismissed and abandoned in Alexandria, Egypt, where she meets Severus, the Patriarch of Antioch, who takes her under his wing and tries to direct her toward a religious life. (Theodora, topically Christian, becomes baptized in a sect of Christianity less popular in the Empire.) After her return to Constantinople, a chance encounter with another famed courtesan gives her an introduction to the court of Justinian, the man thought to become Emperor after Justin, and from there, her life takes off in another tumultuous direction.
In a book with a sex worker as a heroine, it's important to me that the author treats our heroine well. However grotesque, grim, unfair, or unpalatable the life, it's crucial the characters be given respect and three-dimensional selves. Thornton does just that without either glorifying or victimizing her characters, and it tipped the book from 'good' to 'great'.
In fact, I found Thornton managed beautiful the dance required of a good historical novel: period details that gave me a sense of the era without overwhelming me, zippy plot that made it impossible for me to slip a bookmark between the pages and stop, and characters that I could respond to and relate with who didn't seem from the future.
That being said, those who are uncomfortable with the realities of life in this era will be, well, uncomfortable! Although Thornton ages Theodora up, children at this time became 'actresses' and prostitutes, and I'm grateful Thornton managed to make me more comfortable without completely anachronizing the era or Theodora's life.
I'd been waiting all year for this debut and it didn't disappoint. A beach-y historical novel in the vein, perhaps, of Philippa Gregory, I was also reminded of Sandra Gulland and Susan Holloway Scott -- authors who have heroines with big personalities and snappy, zippy, almost too-crazy-to-be-believed plot lines. Historical fiction fans should get this, as well as those who are interested in the Byzantine era, and anyone who wants a splashy novel that reads like a sexy tv series.
terese_utan_h's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
4.0
monicabhills's review against another edition
5.0
This novel was AMAZING!!! It is based on the true story of Empress Theodora. I was a history major in college and I teach social studies but I am ashamed to admit I had never heard of her before. The book told of her horrible struggle as a young girl as she tried to live as an actress and prostitute in order to survive. Her beauty and brains would eventually take her to find true love as the emperor's wife. Just an absolutely incredible story and most of it is based on fact. The author includes a historical note at the end which I always appreciate. This novel was fantastic!!!!!
mimima's review against another edition
3.0
It starts off spending a lot of time in uncomfortable circumstances, as Theodora's life did. However, I was engaged in the story and thought the author did a good job with the historical facts.
brycebeyer's review against another edition
2.0
Certainly entertaining (especially during quarantine), and decently well written. However there were so many times when the dialogue felt too modern. There were also times when the details of the era could have been researched more. But it was fun, so I don’t regret reading it!
drowninginthewords_jessica's review against another edition
3.0
this was a 3.5 for me. the main good points were the enrichness of history. everything that theodora experienced, I could feel along with her from the bad smells to the rich. to the horror of the awful conditions of the poor to the awestruck to the opulence of the higher class. but the characters were deplorable- the actions they took, even when they were trying to be noble and righteous- sickened my stomach. even the innocence of the children were quickly lost.