Debra May Macleod

Esposas de Roma
Debra May Macleod
Publicado: 2019 | 252 páginas
Novela Histórico

Tenían poder y privilegios. Vivían en un mundo de guerra, secretos y deberes sagrados: la Antigua Roma. Las vírgenes vestales, las veneradas sacerdotisas de Vesta, diosas del fuego y del hogar, cuidaban de la Llama Eterna que protegía la Ciudad Eterna. La sacerdotisa Pomponia, obligada a servir durante treinta años a Vesta, se encuentra envuelta en una trama de intriga, violencia, política y enredos de sábanas de la élite romana: Julio César, Marco Antonio, Cleopatra, Octavio y su manipuladora esposa Livia. Mientras tanto, luchará por guardar el secreto que reina en su corazón. Pero cuando la acusan de incesto, una grave ruptura del voto de castidad, la sombra del castigo se cierne sobre ella: la enterrarán viva hasta la muerte. En Esposas de Roma, Debray May Macleod recrea el mundo de la Antigua Roma sin escatimar un ápice de brillo y brutalidad, haciendo que la legendaria historia del Imperio romano desfile entre sus páginas. Una novela tan ingeniosa como convincente, una lectura obligada que rescata la orden vestal, resucitándola como nunca nadie lo había hecho hasta ahora. Esta ambiciosa saga presenta un relato literario desesperadamente necesario sobre las adoradas vírgenes vestales y el importantísimo papel que tuvieron en la historia romana, al tiempo que sumerge al lector en episodios emotivos de ritmo vertiginoso, adentrándolo en los acontecimientos más cautivadores y significativos de aquella era.… (altro)

The historical events of Brides of Rome have been covered so many times in other novels. But... uh... I will just keep reading books set in ancient Rome forever and ever.

The brides of Rome are the Vestal Virgins, tasked with keeping the sacred fires of Vesta burning, leading dignitas and authority to major public occasions, and recording wills. They're not usually the focus of Roman stories, maybe there's a reference to a Vestal taking part in an occasion or passing a condemned criminal on the street, thus granting him a pardon. Here, the Vestals are present at key events, so even if the story follows the familiar path to empire, there's a new perspective. I loved the scenes of vestal life, especially the relationships between older vestals and younger ones.

The book does have a few surprises. The story adds some new characters to the expected historical ones. I don't remember any accounts of Livia's sister (but would old Suetonius have bothered writing down a mere woman's female relatives?!?), who added so much drama to this story. I didn't love that one of the Vestals was secretly in love with a man. Partly because the charge of incestum was so serious (buried alive! bringing divine retribution on Rome!) and partly because I was annoyed by picking up a book about Vestals and getting a pining love story.

The moments I enjoyed most were hints to the future. Young Julia can't stand her obnoxious stepbrother Tiberius, for example, and Livia wonders whether she and Augustus will ever have a son. Also, Caesarian dies offstage and his body isn't shown, and since this novel played around with historical events, I think he might make a reappearance. Lots to come in the next book, I think.… (altro)