Mistress of Rome by Kate Quinn

Passion and power collide in ancient Rome

Good Condition – age marks on page edges otherwise great. 

First-century Rome is a world of glittering privilege, brutal spectacle and dangerous secrets. Thea, a young slave from Judaea in the household of the cruel heiress Lepida Pollia, finds an unexpected connection with Arius, one of Rome’s most feared gladiators. Their forbidden love offers a glimpse of freedom, but Lepida’s jealousy tears them apart. As Thea rebuilds her life and becomes a celebrated singer, she attracts the attention of Emperor Domitian, whose favour is as perilous as his anger. Caught among imperial obsession, aristocratic rivalry and the violence of the arena, Thea and Arius must navigate a city where survival comes at a terrible price. Mistress of Rome is a sweeping historical novel of love, ambition and resilience set against the intrigue and decadence of the Roman Empire.