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Mistress of Rome

Empress of Rome, Book 1

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About this listen

Thea is a slave girl from Judaea, passionate, musical, and guarded. Purchased as a toy for the spiteful heiress Lepida Pollia, Thea will become her mistress' rival for the love of Arius the Barbarian, Rome's newest and most savage gladiator. His love brings Thea the first happiness of her life, but that is quickly ended when a jealous Lepida tears them apart.

As Lepida goes on to wreak havoc in the lives of a new husband and his family, Thea remakes herself as a polished singer for Rome's aristocrats. Unwittingly she attracts another admirer in the charismatic emperor of Rome. But Domitian's games have a darker side, and Thea finds herself fighting for both soul and sanity. Many have tried to destroy the emperor: a vengeful gladiator, an upright senator, a tormented soldier, a Vestal Virgin. But in the end, the life of the brilliant and paranoid Domitian lies in the hands of one woman: the emperor's mistress.

©2010 Kate Quinn (P)2015 Tantor
Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Romance Rome Ancient History

What the critics say

"This should make a splash among devotees of ancient Rome." ( Publishers Weekly)
All stars
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I read not fair criticism about narrator before listening this book. Not agree with criticism. She does pretty good job.

Really enjoyed it

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Kate Quinn is an amazing author. Elizabeth Wiley is an amazing narrator.
Very entertaining. It was a page turner in terms of listening.

Very entertaining

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I was riveted by the novel and read it in two days. The story is compelling, and the characters well drawn. The level of suspense is intense. The picture of the culture and lifestyle in Rome is superb.

Excellent novel

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This story is not bad. I didn’t enjoy it as much as Kate Quinn’s more recent works focusing on World War II, but it was light and fluffy and should have been an easy listen. The reader however was a real distraction. Over-affected voices made characters sound unnatural and forced. I often found myself not listening to the story but instead wondering who in real life really talks like that. It made it fairly impossible to suspend my disbelief and really get into the book.

Hard to get past the reader

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A story I’ve loved for years, however I believe the reader’s theatrics and over acting took away from the enjoyment of the novel.


Beautiful Story - but too much theatrics

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