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A review by amyetherington
Empress of Rome by Kate Quinn
5.0
Okay, I've waited a year for the release of this book. Two years really, considering it's a kind of sequel to Quinn's début 2010 novel, Mistress of Rome (which I loved). I've been hoping and praying since I'd heard about Empress... being written that it would match up to it's predecessors high standard. My God. This book is all kinds of awesome and gimme the next book now, please. Quinn is amazing - she has this genuine talent for writing historical fiction and the amazing ability to transport readers in to the brutal world that is Ancient Rome. It's vivid, enchanting, and it rocked my world.
I don't think you can help but love Vix. He was a favourite character of mine in Mistress of Rome, so cheeky and adventurous so it was wonderful to find out how his story continued. Sabina too of course, another character I'd been previously acquainted with. I loved how Sabina and Vix's story intertwined, and how she managed to soften Vix's character whenever they met. I felt they were the perfect balance for one another, even if their relationship did at times border on love/hate, particularly on Vix's part. I always felt they had one another's back, and despite differences and years going by that they always both cared for one another.
There was such an interesting blend of characters in this novel, and it was certainly nice to see other familiar names. Marcus Norbanus for one, whom has made an appearance in all three of the Rome books and someone I have a genuine soft spot for. Empress Marcella made a brief appearance, a character I found I rather liked by the end of Mistress... and of course Emperor Trajan. This is one of the reasons I love Quinn's books so much- the development of characters throughout the novels leaves you adoring them so much that you can't help but feel pleased when they reappear in another story. That doesn't of course mean there is no room left in my heart for newcomers, because I adored the socks off Titus. There's something so cute and clumsy about him that you can't help but love him, and his friendship with Vix borders on bromance. I practically punched the air when Titus had the guts to lay in to that scheming bitch Plotina. I was all "YOU GO TITUS!" in my inner monologue. As Sabina said, is there really no one more perfectly named than her? Plotting Plotina.
When I compare this novel to Mistress..., Plotina is a very different antagonist to Lepida. Apart from the odd rage, Plotina is a lot calmer and prefers to cause havoc more quietly and in a sense, more respectably. I felt everything was psychologically determined with Plotina, whereas Lepida was more about the physical. Having vast circles of lovers and going about things very openly, because she of course always wanted to be centre of attention. Plotina I felt was a more intellectual antagonist, whereas Lepida knew how to cause havoc by simply batting her eyelashes. Different, but both wonderfully evil.
The final paragraph of the novel left what I believe to be more than a hint that there was going to be a sequel to Empress... I wouldn't complain, let's say I'd be pretty okay with it and I'll just sit patiently and wait and see...
This is one of the fall backs of following an author from the beginning: you have to wait a year for the release of each new book. Seriously, I feel like I'm a 13 year old again waiting for the release of the next Harry Potter book.
Kate Quinn, I'm a loyal fan. Please continue the Rome series in the near future! Vix's final line of the story certainly sounded promising. Damn, what a gripping cliffhanger and a beauty of a book.
I don't think you can help but love Vix. He was a favourite character of mine in Mistress of Rome, so cheeky and adventurous so it was wonderful to find out how his story continued. Sabina too of course, another character I'd been previously acquainted with. I loved how Sabina and Vix's story intertwined, and how she managed to soften Vix's character whenever they met. I felt they were the perfect balance for one another, even if their relationship did at times border on love/hate, particularly on Vix's part. I always felt they had one another's back, and despite differences and years going by that they always both cared for one another.
There was such an interesting blend of characters in this novel, and it was certainly nice to see other familiar names. Marcus Norbanus for one, whom has made an appearance in all three of the Rome books and someone I have a genuine soft spot for. Empress Marcella made a brief appearance, a character I found I rather liked by the end of Mistress... and of course Emperor Trajan. This is one of the reasons I love Quinn's books so much- the development of characters throughout the novels leaves you adoring them so much that you can't help but feel pleased when they reappear in another story. That doesn't of course mean there is no room left in my heart for newcomers, because I adored the socks off Titus. There's something so cute and clumsy about him that you can't help but love him, and his friendship with Vix borders on bromance. I practically punched the air when Titus had the guts to lay in to that scheming bitch Plotina. I was all "YOU GO TITUS!" in my inner monologue. As Sabina said, is there really no one more perfectly named than her? Plotting Plotina.
When I compare this novel to Mistress..., Plotina is a very different antagonist to Lepida. Apart from the odd rage, Plotina is a lot calmer and prefers to cause havoc more quietly and in a sense, more respectably. I felt everything was psychologically determined with Plotina, whereas Lepida was more about the physical. Having vast circles of lovers and going about things very openly, because she of course always wanted to be centre of attention. Plotina I felt was a more intellectual antagonist, whereas Lepida knew how to cause havoc by simply batting her eyelashes. Different, but both wonderfully evil.
The final paragraph of the novel left what I believe to be more than a hint that there was going to be a sequel to Empress... I wouldn't complain, let's say I'd be pretty okay with it and I'll just sit patiently and wait and see...
This is one of the fall backs of following an author from the beginning: you have to wait a year for the release of each new book. Seriously, I feel like I'm a 13 year old again waiting for the release of the next Harry Potter book.
Kate Quinn, I'm a loyal fan. Please continue the Rome series in the near future! Vix's final line of the story certainly sounded promising. Damn, what a gripping cliffhanger and a beauty of a book.