Rhea Silvia: Book One in The First Vestals of Rome Trilogy

The first book in the epic trilogy that must be read by candlelight: immerse yourself in the world of ancient Rome’s earliest days and the privileged yet perilous lives of the first Vestal Virgins.

An unflinching, breathtaking retelling of the story of Rhea Silvia, fated by the gods to play a spectacular part in the mythos of Rome—the mother of Romulus, Rome’s legendary founder.

It is 772 BCE, nearly two decades before the birth of Rome.

The great city of Alba Longa and its king, Numitor, reign supreme. But Numitor’s children, Princess Rhea Silvia and Prince Egestus, fear for their city’s future. With Rhea set to marry an unpredictable enemy, they can see the end of their family’s dynasty as surely as their ancestor Aeneas saw the fall of Troy.

In a bid to maintain power, Rhea is set on a harrowing course that draws her into torments she could never have foreseen, forcing her to rise with the ferocity imbued in her Trojan blood. But the ferocity in her is also in her sons—Romulus and Remus—and her destiny is inextricably bound to theirs.

About The First Vestals of Rome trilogy

Set in the 8th century BCE, The First Vestals of Rome is a visceral, thrilling trilogy that blends ancient history with the enduring power of myth to bring Rome’s earliest days to life. It dramatizes the sensational, often perilous lives of three legendary women who gave rise to Rome’s powerful order of Vestal Virgins. All of them central to the life of Romulus, Rome’s founder, these tectonic women were fated to shape the history of the Eternal City as much as any Caesar who came after them. The First Vestals of Rome trilogy comprises the first three novels in the seven-novel world created by author Debra May Macleod.

Visit the author's site at AllThingsVesta.com | DebraMayMacleod.com for fascinating content on ancient Rome and the Vestal Virgins.

Editorial Reviews for RHEA SILVIA

"This novel turns the myth of Romulus and Remus into a plausible and energetic history but has many graphic scenes of the torture, assassination and aberrant behavior that would come to mark the Roman Empire...[A] vibrant, enthralling tale." - The Historical Novel Society

"The dramatization of the scenes is superb, it keeps the reader captivated and intrigued...[the novel] brings you from "old" to "new" with brilliant clarity. If you love history, the Roman empire and the sex, fights and deception that allowed these privileged people to create one of the greatest cultures in the world, you will love this book." - Book Junkie Reviews