Overview

In a tumultuous time of violence, betrayal, and ruthless evil, can one charismatic young woman survive the bloodshed? Ravenna, A.D. 408. Placidia is watching her family fall apart. When her emperor brother accuses their powerful foster father of treason, the naive imperial princess tries to reason with her sibling to no avail. And after her foster father is lured out of sanctuary and brutally executed, she flees the toxic court to avoid a forced marriage, but to dubious safety. Braving increasing peril on her journey to Rome, Placidia barely survives impassable swamps, imperial assassins, and bands of barbarians. When the Goths besiege Rome and a starving populace threaten civil disorder, the daughter of Theodosius the Great must navigate fraught politics to become a vigilant leader, or face an early death.Can she rise above an empire descending into chaos? Becoming the Twilight Empress is the breathtaking prequel to the Theodosian Women biographical historical fiction series. If you like tenacious heroines, vivid settings, and nail-biting drama, then you'll love Faith L. Justice's captivating coming-of-age adventure.

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9780917053306

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Reviews

This was a highly enjoyable read I couldn't put down. Faith's attention to detail without bogging down the world building was excellent. Her characters are fully fleshed with flaws, human and believable. The pacing kept my attention. This book left me feeling well satisfied. If you're looking for some historical fiction set in Italy, you will enjoy this book. -- Angela Yuriko Smith, Publisher/Editor of Space & Time Magazine What a great story. I've been reading the Theodosian Women novels and have loved all of them. Although this one is a novella, that takes place before the others, it was nice to know what happened before Placidia became the Empress. Thank you Faith Justice for letting us see behind the screens of the royal household and into the hearts of the Princess and the other strong women who supported her in her quest for justice and honor in the Roman Empire. -- Eileen Donovan, award-winning author of The Campbell Sisters Becoming The Twilight Empress is a great prequel to Twilight Empress. Well researched and beautifully written it stands well on its own, but also fills in the blanks of Placidia's life before Twilight Empress begins. There is a lot of political tension, with various factions trying to take over the leadership of the Roman Empire, an inept Emperor, and fearful citizens wondering which conqueror will take over their city next. Placidia is intelligent, and as she is stuck in Rome after fleeing her brother's court, she becomes a leader in fact, helping the city and citizens prepare for potential invasion or siege, feeding the hungry, healing the sick, and balancing the various political factions without getting herself killed. Longer than a novella, but not quite as long as a full fledged novel, Becoming the Twilight Empress is great to read either before reading the Twilight Empress, or to understand her life before Twilight Empress. Just loved it! -- Amazon Reader

Author Information

FAITH L. JUSTICE writes award-winning fiction and articles in Brooklyn, New York. Her work appears in such publications as Salon.com, Writer's Digest, and The Copperfield Review. She was Chair of the New York City chapter of the Historical Novel Society for five years and is still active on their Steering Committee. In addition, she is an Associate Editor for Space and Time Magazine. Her previous novels, collections of short stories and non-fiction are available online at all the usual places, through your local bookstore or public library. For fun, Faith likes to dig in the dirt-her garden and various archaeological sites. Sample her work, check out her blog, or ask her a question. She loves to hear from readers.

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