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A review by wildwolverine
Empress of the Seven Hills by Kate Quinn
4.0
I've loved everything I've read by Kate Quinn, but this one admittedly took some time for me to sink into. Normally, Quinn's characterization is on point. Everyone is fleshed out with their own quirks, attitudes, and motivations. In this one, Vix and Sabina in particular felt a little flat until about a third of the way into it. Vix was a little too naive for my taste and Sabina's desires didn't seem sincere for a while. Once I got past that third, the two filled out and became much more interesting. I don't necessarily want to read about characters I agree with. It's fun once in a while, but it's more entertaining reading about people I might not even be friends with and seeing how the author humanizes them. That, in my opinion, shows great skill in a writer, and Quinn did that for me yet again.
The only real drawback reading this book was the shifting perspectives. Quinn has always switched between character perspectives, and I've never minded because there are clear breaks so it doesn't get confusing. However, Vix's perspective was told retroactively. Every now and then, he made comments like "Little did I know then... If I only I knew then... That turned out to be..." etc. It was jarring because everyone else's sections were secured in the present. While it did peak my interest at times, I would've preferred coming to those conclusions myself and being surprised.
Overall, this is a fantastic book, and I recommend this to anyone interested in learning about the Roman Empire, anyone who loves a good romance as long as it doesn't dominate the story, and flawed but lovable characters. Because I certainly did.
The only real drawback reading this book was the shifting perspectives. Quinn has always switched between character perspectives, and I've never minded because there are clear breaks so it doesn't get confusing. However, Vix's perspective was told retroactively. Every now and then, he made comments like "Little did I know then... If I only I knew then... That turned out to be..." etc. It was jarring because everyone else's sections were secured in the present. While it did peak my interest at times, I would've preferred coming to those conclusions myself and being surprised.
Overall, this is a fantastic book, and I recommend this to anyone interested in learning about the Roman Empire, anyone who loves a good romance as long as it doesn't dominate the story, and flawed but lovable characters. Because I certainly did.