Rhea Silvia: Book One in The First Vestals of Rome Trilogy
This is the first novel in a trilogy featuring the mythical women of early Rome who guarded the sacred Vesta flame.
It is 772 BCE. Princess Rhea Silvia is a descendant of the Silvii who escaped the destruction of Troy and established themselves in Latium at Alba Longa. Her twin brother is Egestus, heir to their father, Numitor. Rhea is also keeper of the sacred Vestal flame that has been burning ever since her ancestors left Troy. She is betrothed to Mamilian, but there is unease among the surrounding states, and Egestus has his own shocking plan to strengthen the dynasty.
After Rhea’s marriage, Mamilian sends her back to her family as he believes she may be pregnant by someone else. This sets in motion accusations of incest that result in a grim tangle of plotting, violence and bloodshed. After Egestus is murdered by their cousin Nemeois, Rhea is shamed and locked into isolation in a necropolis, where she tends the Vesta temple. There, she gives birth to twin sons who are spirited away by her handmaiden. Eighteen years later, two young farmers appear in Alba Longa ready to take up their destiny.
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 behaviour that would come to mark the Roman Empire. Ruthlessness is equated with strength and power whereas mercy or compassion demonstrate weakness. All the characters must walk this fine line in order to survive, and by the conclusion even Rhea herself accepts there is no room for sentiment or heartbreak. The dialogue can seem a little modern in places, but it scarcely matters as you are swept along in this vibrant, enthralling tale.
