Then Thea begins fornicating with the Emperor and Lepida wants to fornicate with him too. Lepida is fornicating with so and so (a family relation and that is all I'm going to reveal) who was just fornicating with Thea who at this point, is fornicating with almost as many men as Lepida and that is a lot. From this point on, it just becomes a giant Roman orgy. At this point, the evil, vile, and incredibly disgusting Lepida (Can you tell how much I hated her?) has separated Thea and Arius and married a senator. I was really quite hooked until part two. The first quarter of the novel really drew me in as Arius spurns Lepida (she has the eyes of a ferret, apparently) and begins a rather hot and steamy affair with Thea. Thea is a Jewish slave that works for Lepida, a Roman 'lady.' Both Thea and Lepida develope lustful feelings towards the newest, fiercest, most famous gladiator, Arius. I spent this entire novel trying to find a character I could at least like if not relate to in some way. Ok people, key word in the synposis is 'depravity.' I wish I had paid closer attention. But in the end, the life of Domitian lies in the hands of one woman: the Emperor's mistress. Many have tried to destroy the Emperor: a vengeful gladiator, an upright senator, a tormented soldier, a Vestal Virgin.

But the passions of an all-powerful man come with a heavy price, and Thea finds herself fighting for both her soul and her sanity.

Remaking herself as a singer for Rome's aristocrats, Thea unwittingly attracts another admirer: the charismatic Emperor of Rome. Now she has infuriated her mistress by capturing the attention of Rome's newest and most savage gladiator-and though his love brings Thea the first happiness of her life, their affair ends quickly when a jealous Lepida tears them apart. Thea is a slave girl from Judaea, purchased as a toy for the spiteful heiress Lepida Pollia. The first in an unforgettable historical saga from the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Alice Network.įirst-century Rome: A ruthless emperor watches over all-and fixes his gaze on one young woman.

Mistress of rome lib e kate quinn