Book Blitz: When Frost Was Spectre Grey by Nicola Italia

Welcome to the book blitz of When Frost Was Spectre Grey by Nicola Italia. Check out the excerpt and enter the giveaway below to win a $25 Amazon gift card (open INTL).
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When Frost Was Spectre Grey
Nicola Italia
Publication date: August 30th 2026
Genres: Adult, Historical, Mystery

Yorkshire, 1881. Imogene York has one job: authenticate a dead man’s signature and witness the reading of his will. It should take an afternoon.

But the moment she arrives at Trelawney Grange, she can tell the people gathered to hear Lord Alaric Trelawney’s final wishes aren’t waiting on an inheritance. They’re waiting on something they’ve spent fifteen years hoping would stay buried.

Every person in that house-the doctor, the solicitor, the reverend, the aristocrat, the household staff who move through it like they were never there at all-is bound together by a secret from one terrible summer years before, and no one will say what it is. As the snow closes in and the will’s true purpose comes to light, Imogene realizes she wasn’t hired to verify a signature. She was hired to witness a reckoning fifteen years in the making, and there is no walking away from the past.

A gripping Victorian mystery about the debts the past never stops collecting, and the lengths people will go to keep a secret buried or to finally bring it to light.

Goodreads / Amazon

EXCERPT:

1866
London England
Prologue

He shivered as a draft moved through the room. He sorted through documents spread out before him, organizing them into careful piles. He thought about the conversation that had occurred and anger exploded inside his head. The upstart!

What did he know about anything? He, who had studied with Dr. John Snow, so renowned in his field. His throat was dry. He pulled the decanter of whiskey toward him and poured. The amber liquid splashed on a piece of paper but he brushed at it dismissively.

He drank it quickly and it seared his throat but he poured himself another. He contemplated the glass this time before drinking. He should have known. Those do-gooder types didn’t understand the true sacrifice he was making. They couldn’t see the big picture. They couldn’t see what was really happening. What he was trying to do. He set the glass back down without taking a sip and saw that his hand was shaking. Blast it! It had all been going so well. Why couldn’t they leave him alone? Now what.

He looked about the room. The draft no longer bothered him and he felt a sweat break out on his brow. There was much to do. But most importantly, he must find his medical notes. They had been right here on his desk. He was certain. It was a necessity. No one would have come into his room and removed them, had they? No. They wouldn’t dare.

He pondered it. Perhaps his assistant, the new fellow fresh from school, had simply moved them. No. He wouldn’t. He had expressly told him not to meddle with his things. He didn’t like it and he had everything just as he liked it. So where were they, dammit!

A knock sounded at the door and almost caused him to jump. The hour was late. Who could it be?

“It’s me,” the familiar male voice called out.

His benefactor. The one with all the purse strings. He must play the part at least for him.

“Just a moment,” he called back.

He looked at his reflection in the window and saw that his hair was disheveled. He took out a comb and quickly brushed his wavy hair in place. The desk was in disarray and he quickly placed the papers in neat stacks to show the appearance of order.

Jesus, what awful timing. He called the man to enter and the visitor did, looking about the room.

“Am I interrupting you?” the older man asked.

“Certainly not,” he replied. “I was looking for some misplaced medical notes. That blasted assistant must have moved them. I told him not to meddle.”

The older man settled himself into the red leather chair. “I wanted to speak with you privately. It’s important.” He swallowed visibly and appeared to be trying to find the words.

“The hour is quite late.”

“It is. You’ll forgive me.” The older man nodded. “I would have waited but—” He almost stumbled over his words.

“It must be something of great importance to bring you here at this late hour,” he noted.

His benefactor seemed to take in the words and almost seemed dazed. “Yes,” he said in agreement. “Something most concerning has reached my ears, most concerning,” he repeated for emphasis.

The man had no time for this. What’s more, he didn’t want to hear anything he had to say. It was irritating that in all of his important work, he had to give the man anything. For Christ’s sake! Didn’t this feather-head realize what was at stake? But he steeled himself and responded as he should.

“What is this concern?”

But instead of answering outright, his benefactor merely looked about the room. “I scarcely know where to begin.”

In a flash of blinding anger, he resisted the urge to stand up and reach over the table to slap the man’s face. Who did he think he was? How dare he presume anything? The man might have status and money but little else. Just because he had been born into the right family, what else did he have? Brains? Certainly not. If he had been born a common person, he would be selling fish at the docks.

But he calmed himself. He knew who he was. He was the one with brilliance and brains, decidedly so. He was the one who had risen and become the man he was today. He was the shining star. But he needed the older man’s patronage. He knew that. He would have to play the game, then, and pretend to care about whatever was preying on the man’s mind.

If the man told him something stupid like they had not enough places set at the dinner table or the china was mismatched, he might strangle him.

Instead, his expression stayed mild, untroubled. “Tell me the concern. Perhaps together we can alleviate the issue.”

Relief eased across his benefactor’s face. “Yes. This must be a mistake. It can’t be what I’ve been told. I heard something from my sister, but she can ramble. But then the vicar came to me—”

“Oh yes?”

“And the family solicitor—”

“Him as well? My, my,” he said, trying to pretend to care. “What is it they are saying? Tell me quick.”

He only hoped he would tell the story quickly so he could be on his way.

Then without preamble, his benefactor began to speak. He laid out the whole issue, the concerns, the rumors and the whispers that were being spoken about and how grave the matter was. He mentioned his sister’s concerns and a young man who had spoken to the solicitor’s son and on and on the man babbled. He thought if the man was a tenor opera singer, his aria would last thirty minutes. It was exhausting and supremely irritating.

“It’s fantastic – is it not?” His benefactor said. “Most fantastic. I can hardly fathom it myself. I told Delly she was ridiculous. She should know better than to pass on rumors.”

“That is – quite a story,” he agreed as he pulled the decanter to him once more. “Quite a story.”

He poured the man a drink and pushed it across the desk to him. He took up his glass from earlier and took a long sip. “What proof is there of these allegations?”

His benefactor’s shoulders dropped. “That’s just it. Some rumors and whispers. But as it’s reached my ears, as your benefactor, we must discuss it.”

“My, my.” He set his glass down. “And what are you prepared to do?”

“Get to the bottom of it!” His patron said passionately. “Good God, man! These are lies, slander! I’ll not have you slandered! You could sue in court. I’ll be your witness,” the older man’s face grew red with exertion.

“Very decent of you,” he murmured. He swirled the amber liquid in the glass absently. “Very decent of you indeed.”

“Of course, my dear chap,” the older man looked relieved. “Least I could do.”

The mantel clock chimed the half hour.

“That’s of course assuming these rumors are false,” he said quietly, taking another sip. “What if they are true?”

His benefactor looked slightly irritated. “This is no time for jests, old boy,” the older man said curtly. “The rumors are grave. I might even say macabre.”

“Macabre?” he echoed.

“Yes!”

But he just continued to stare at his patron while swirling the liquor in the glass.

“Wait. What are you – what are you saying?” His benefactor suddenly straightened up in his chair. “In plain English. Gentleman to gentleman. I demand you tell me what is happening.”

“Your witnesses speak the truth.”

The silence between the two men was deafening.

“No. No, that can’t be.” His patron grew pale.

“I assure you, it is,” he said, his mouth curving.

His benefactor suddenly looked sick in the low gas lights. “No. I- I don’t believe it,” he whispered.

“Well, you certainly don’t need to believe it.”

“But if the witnesses are correct, and the rumors are true,” he visibly swallowed, “you’re a—” He shook his head.

“Yes? Go on.” He was amused at the turn of conversation. The man was an idiot.

“You’re a monster.”

He sat back in his chair and surveyed his patron. “Come now. There’s no need for dramatics.”

But his benefactor stood up then. He looked flushed now.

“I demand you refute these rumors laid at your door! I demand it!”

Calmly without saying a word, he pulled a cigarette from his silver case and lit it. He took a long drag before responding. “The rumors are not rumors,” he said steadily. “Your witnesses are correct.”

The man’s face drained of color.

“I’m leaving tonight,” he told him. “There need not be any fuss or theatrics. I will leave quietly and continue my work in India. The matter will end and you will squash the rumors.”

“The hell I will!” His face was now mottled with anger. “The hell I will!”

He took another sip of whiskey completely unbothered by the man’s outburst.

“If these things are true, you should be imprisoned! Hanged even!”

“No, sir. I won’t be.”

“Why won’t you be?” The patron demanded.

“For the simple reason that you helped me. Your family helped me, your vicar helped me. You are complicit. Whether you like it or not,” he told him.

“No,” he whispered and fell into the chair. “I’m not. That’s not what I did. I thought – I thought you were helping. I thought you were a savior. We all thought that.”

“Hmph! Did you really? Or did you also want to be involved with the discovery of a lifetime?” he said coolly. “Perhaps you wanted to even take a bit of credit as my benefactor.”

His benefactor sputtered out several words but nothing made sense until he finally whispered, “How dare you?”

He poured himself another glass enjoying himself and the interaction. “So. As I said. I will leave quietly. You will let everyone know that I was called to India of the utmost importance, and nothing else will be said.”

“You can’t get away with this,” he said weakly. “You can’t.”

“My dear chap,” he said, his face showing no emotion. “I already have.”

Author Bio:

Nicola is a Los Angeles native. Early in elementary school, Nicola had a great fondness for reading and began to write creatively. She graduated from university with a degree in communications and has held a variety of positions in journalism, education, government and non profit.

Nicola has traveled extensively throughout Europe, China, Central America and Egypt and loves all things historical.

She has nineteen historical romance and mystery novels on Amazon.

https://linktr.ee/authornicolaitalia

Website / Goodreads / Instagram / Facebook

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When Frost Was Spectre Grey Blitz

Book Blitz: A Strange & Terrible Wonder by Nichole Louise

Welcome to the book blitz of A Strange & Terrible Wonder by Nichole Louise. Check out the excerpt and enter the giveaway below to win a copy of A copy of A Strange & Terrible Wonder (open INTL).
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A Strange & Terrible Wonder by Nichole Louise
Publication date: August 18th 2026
Genres: Adult, Historical

Eleanor Dare, daughter of Roanoke’s Governor John White, has no choice but to accompany her overly ambitious husband Ananias and her idealist, yet inexperienced father to England’s new colony. Manteo of Croatoan wants nothing more than to cast off his association with the English and return home. Haunted by memories of an unexplainable event, he sets out to find the truth about what was brought to Roanoke by the English two years before as a weapon against the Spanish.

Based on real people who vanished from history, Eleanor and Manteo form a taboo friendship as they work against unseen forces to end the violent and otherworldly attacks upon the settlement. In the midst of this survival scenario, both Eleanor and Manteo—once powerless and marginalized in England, emerge as unlikely leaders of the ravaged colony.

Blending 16th century science, occult, and the impacts of early colonialism, A Strange and Terrible Wonder reimagines what became of the Lost Colony.

Goodreads / Purchase

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EXCERPT:

Prologue

“All down the church in midst of fire, the hellish monster flew, and passing onward to the quire, he many people slew.”

– Rev. Abraham Fleming, 1577

August 4, 1577
Bungay, England

At first, the congregants believe the slight rattling is only wind insisting upon the church door. A sudden summer tempest. Rain begins to patter above the nave, the sound not altogether unpleasant—soothing, even. A woman closes her eyes and exhales the stress of the morning as she focuses on the rhythm. Her peace is soon jilted by the growing tempest above, for the rain is now a wonderful force with no less violence than abundance. Her eyes snap open and roll to the vaulted ceiling. The great, forceful torrent empties above in what she imagines as glassy sheets pouring from the eaves. A low grumble of thunder. A child presses close to his mother. The two men kneeling at the altar do not flinch in their prayer; one for an abundant harvest season to pay his debts and another for a wife ailing in childbed.

Lightning flashes in brilliant brightness through the clouded, stretching windows. Silhouettes are carved out of the pews. A gust through the crack beneath the front door snuffs out the altar candles as if the tempest is compelling the congregants to sleep. They are all at once aware of the palpable darkness, so much so that one person cannot perceive another. The only light discerned by the congregants is not from the god hanging above them, but from the intermittent great flashing of fiery bolts.

The roar of the storm is so powerful now that the congregants shift with discomfort. A chill tightens the base of their spines as sweat springs on brows with each fearful heartbeat. The men kneeling in prayer do not relinquish their positions, though they see little, and their knees begin to ache against the flagstones. Instead, they press their eyes and hands tighter and pray now for the light to return. The only answer they receive is a terrible crack of thunder with such force and might that the congregants begin to believe doomsday has come.

The doors are thrown open as if by a blast of gunpowder. Lashing wind explodes down the nave, spraying hot rain onto the necks and backs of the congregants who dare not turn from the cross. The woman who had before held a moment of peace, presuming a gentle patter could not turn tempest, winces at the scalding sensation of boiling water against her bare skin. The church seems to quake and stagger as the scent of glowing iron, not unlike a blacksmith’s shop, permeates the darkened church.

The child clutches tightly to his mother when, amid twin lightning strikes, a great shape dashes down the nave toward the altar. The drops of rainwater on the flagstones sizzle as the thing passes in a hot rush of a blacksmith’s bellows. And with another flash of fire, the child sees it—they all see it: a great black dog with one ember glowing eye running with incredible haste. The woman muffles her scream as others bend beneath the flimsy pews as if a mere board of wood will save them from this devil.

The praying men feel great heat against their backs as if a bonfire has been lit before the altar. A sacrifice. Liquid fear runs down their legs, and still they dare not open their eyes nor pry their rigid hands apart. In another crack of thunder and lightning, the great black dog wrings both men’s necks backward in one clean instant. Its movement is so violent, so swift, that the dead men still kneel in prayer.

The child gasps when the lightning illuminates the whites of dead eyes in the heads bent unnaturally back. He buries his face in his mother’s skirts as her nails dig into his narrow shoulders. The beast turns on the congregation, its low growl indistinguishable from thunder, like a thousand carts moving across cobblestones. It stalks down the aisle, its bellows as hot as the summer sun’s rays. The congregants close their eyes against the darkness, press their slick palms together, and pray for their god to save them in his very house.

The beast chooses a man who dares glance up, for he believes he can slip out the door and escape this hell. Instead, the beast’s shining obsidian claws grip the man’s back in so forceful a manner that it is as if his entire body becomes drawn together and shrunk, as if it were a piece of leather scorched by hot fire. Wordless, he topples over with limbs trailing smoke.

The beast shifts into shadow, and the woman sitting next to the burned but still living man stumbles away from the charred flesh and wheezes for help. The rector, who has finally slid out of the shadows, catches her as she falls from the pew. He prays over her—whispering first, then increasing to test the roar around them. He exhorts the terrified congregants to prayer, and in their extreme distress, do so in darkness. The hot wind and scalding rain lash them, for the tempest has now fully invaded their sanctuary. Some congregants are frozen in terror, save their lips flapping desperate prayers, while others try in vain to crawl for the door.

In a flash, the beast materializes on the main beam above the congregants. Its searing talons set the old oak to smoldering as if coaxing a fire. Its ragged back chars the angel carved into the ceiling. The demon swings down through the church. Three lightning bolts follow the dog jumping from one man to another, then a lad, killing all three instantly. The dog dashes from the crumpled boy, and a deafening crack as if the earth has split in two cleaves the roof, and with it, the steeple. The cascade of stone rumbles down the side of the church, and for one striking moment of terror, a woman cries out that hell has opened to swallow the church whole.

The dog bounds for the next man. He dives away, yet not before his hand is burned by the scalding creature’s touch. In shock, the man lifts his charred hand to the burning sensation where his ear used to be. The creature blasts through the church doors, leaving a trail of scorch marks in the wood. The mischief thus wrought, the beast flies with wonderful force out of the churchyard in a hideous and hellish likeness.

Like a decimated forest in the aftermath of a windstorm, the congregants are left quivering. It’s clear to the man with the burned hand and missing ear that there are forces at work mightier than God, who could not protect his devout followers in His own house. Dazed, the man staggers out of the ruins with his compatriots. He looks to the rapidly clearing sky and resolves to find someone with knowledge of these unseen forces—and how to master them. A conjurer with the influence to pursue the arcane unhindered. What other reason could there be for such hell if not as a path to Providence for England? He will accept no other explanation.

Author Bio:

Nichole Louise is a speculative historical fiction writer and book reviewer (NicholeLouise.com). Raven Rock (2023), a prequel to The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, was recognized by Writer’s Digest, the Historical Fiction Company, and the CIBAs. Her articles and book reviews have appeared in the Journal of the American Revolution. Her second title, A Strange and Terrible Wonder (2026) is a historical folk horror tale exploring the Lost Colony of Roanoke. When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading, gaming, and volunteering at Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society.

Website / Goodreads / Instagram

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Review: Agrippa by Robert Harris

Title: Agrippa
Author: Robert Harris
Publication: September 1, 2026 by Doubleday
Genre: Historical Fiction
Find it on: Amazon | Blackwell's | Libro | Waterstones
Rating: 2/5★

From the #1 internationally bestselling author of Conclave and Dictator, a gripping tale of ancient Rome’s descent into dictatorship

He was born feet first, a dangerous way to enter the world. His mother did not survive, and the nickname, Agrippa—mother killer—stuck. But the schoolyard taunting only served to harden his resolve and hone his predilection for aggression. In time, the name lost its sting and became instead a mark of his invincibility. It came to shape his destiny.

Agrippa was a mere commoner, a plebeian, his father a humble Stoic, but he earned the respect and fear of his peers. He defended a bullied young boy, Octavius, who turned out to be the nephew of Caesar himself, a chance encounter that would change the trajectory of his life. He eventually joined the ranks of the legionnaires and marched against their enemies. His prowess on the battlefield spoke for itself, and Caesar relied on him to protect his favored nephew. When Caesar was murdered in the Senate, Octavius inherited the empire in name only. To assume the mantle he would have to fight for it, and Agrippa, forever by his side, would be his closest advisor and the merciless agent of his military will.

As gripping and full of intrigue as his bestselling novel Conclave, Agrippa is Robert Harris’s monumental return to the world of ancient Rome on the precipice of dictatorship, a novel for our times.

I couldn't have been more excited for Robert Harris to return to writing about ancient Rome and I was even more thrilled that it would be a novel about Agrippa. Sadly enough I was left quite a bit disappointed as the story dragged on very slowly for me and felt more like a dry textbook than historical fiction to me.

Agrippa's birth claimed his mother's life, earning him the nickname "mother killer." Born a commoner, he rose through courage and military skill. A chance meeting with Caesar's nephew, Octavius, changed his destiny, leading him to help forge the Roman Empire. In Agrippa by Robert Harris, he finally tells his own tale.

The story is told as a memoir written by Agrippa shortly before his death, where we get his point of view of how Octavius/Augustus rose to power along with himself. The dialogue took some getting used to because of its unusual structure. The narration relies more on Agrippa's inner thoughts than on conversations and I found myself wishing there had been more dialogue.

Unfortunately, Agrippa by Robert Harris didn't quite work for me. While I appreciated learning more about Agrippa's life (which was truly remarkable) the slow pace, textbook-like writing and the focus on Agrippa's inner thoughts instead of dialogue made it hard for me to connect with the story.

About the author:

Robert Harris is the author of sixteen bestselling novels: the Cicero Trilogy - Imperium, Lustrum and Dictator - Fatherland, Enigma, Archangel, Pompeii, The Ghost, The Fear Index, An Officer and a Spy, which won four prizes including the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction, Conclave, Munich, The Second Sleep, V2, Act of Oblivion and Precipice. His work has been translated into forty languages and nine of his books have been adapted for cinema and television. He lives in West Berkshire with his wife, Gill Hornby.

 

 

Review: The Brides by Charlotte Cross

Title: The Brides
Author: Charlotte Cross
Publication: July 7, 2026 by Hanover Square Press
Genre: Gothic Horror
Find it on: Amazon | Apple Books | Blackwell's | Google Play | Kobo | Libro.fm | Waterstones
Rating: 5/5★

Before Dracula, there were The Brides. . .

1903. Sir John Seward, survivor of Count Dracula’s murderous campaign ten years before, takes up a post as a psychiatric doctor at an Oxford public asylum. There, a new patient arrives whose traumatic experiences resurrect horrors John has spent a decade trying to forget.

1884. Mafalda Lowell journeys from London to Budapest to care for her recently widowed aunt Reka. She uncovers the chilling truth about her uncle’s death, and writes to her secret love Lucy North for comfort. Chaperoned by former schoolfriend Eliza and lady’s maid Alice, Lucy travels across the continent to be with her beloved.

Only Alice, beset by nightmares and terrifying visions, notices the strange black-clad man who seems to follow them wherever they go. When Eliza is struck down with a mysterious wasting illness, her doctor orders her to take the healing waters of Transylvania, a journey with devastating consequences.

There was meant to be four . . .

A dual timeline novel, told through letters, diary entries, psychiatric reports, that places women at the centre of literature's most famous vampire story.

The Brides by Charlotte Cross is an epistolary novel set in the world of Bram Stoker's Dracula. It's a sapphic gothic horror set in a dual timeline, told through diary entries, journal excerpts and letters. It makes a worthy addition to the Dracula literary canon. I simply adored it!

One timeline is set in 1903 where we read the entries of Sir John Seward who, ten years ago, survived Dracula's reign of terror. Now he has taken up a new post at an asylum in Oxford where the arrival of a new and troubled patient forces John to confront the horrors from a decade ago.

Then we go back to 1884 where Mafalda Lowell who has traveled to Budapest to help take care for her recently widowed aunt. There, she discovers that not all is as it seems surrounding her uncle's untimely death. Mafalda turns to her secret love, Lucy North, who travels across Europe with their schoolfriend Eliza and lady's maid Alice to join her.

Only Alice who is prone to mysterious visions sees the black-clad stranger haunting their journey. When Eliza is struck by a mysterious illness, a desperate trip to Transylvania changes everything.

I loved reading every character's point of view whether it was a diary entry, journal excerpt or a letter. It all deepened the story and brought every character to life in their own way. I absolutely loved reading about Mafalda and Lucy's love story. It's impossible not to root for them and become invested in their relationship even with everything going on. Alice, the lady's maid, ended up as my favourite character. Her letters to her mother and sister, paired with her unsettling visions of the future made her chapters especially compelling.

Throughout the story there also was the mystery of John Seward's new patient. We do know she was also a victim of Dracula but there was a whole uncertainty about who from the 1884 timeline she really was. At first, you think you know the truth, but as the story slowly unfolds, the reveal is a genuine surprise.

The Brides by Charlotte Cross is a compelling origin and sequel at the same time for Dracula's brides, elevated by a tragic sapphic love story. The author intertwines multiple timelines into a seamless gothic tale that's both refreshing and new but also expanding the Dracula mythos most brilliantly.

About the author:

Charlotte Cross writes historical fiction, having been fascinated by stories of the past since she was a child. She grew up in southern England in a small town with a rich history, and spent many happy hours at the local museum where her grandmother was a volunteer. Charlotte now lives in central Scotland with her partner and their opinionated ginger cat. When not writing, she enjoys yoga, reading Victorian novels, and exploring her adopted country. The Brides is her first novel.

Instagram | Goodreads

Cover Reveal: A Strange & Terrible Wonder by Nichole Louise

Welcome to the cover reveal of A Strange & Terrible Wonder by Nichole Louise! I really love this cover and the book sounds amazing as well!
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A Strange & Terrible Wonder by Nichole Louise
Publication date: August 18th 2026
Genres: Adult, Historical

Eleanor Dare, daughter of Roanoke’s Governor John White, has no choice but to accompany her overly ambitious husband Ananias and her idealist, yet inexperienced father to England’s new colony. Manteo of Croatoan wants nothing more than to cast off his association with the English and return home. Haunted by memories of an unexplainable event, he sets out to find the truth about what was brought to Roanoke by the English two years before as a weapon against the Spanish.

Based on real people who vanished from history, Eleanor and Manteo form a taboo friendship as they work against unseen forces to end the violent and otherworldly attacks upon the settlement. In the midst of this survival scenario, both Eleanor and Manteo—once powerless and marginalized in England, emerge as unlikely leaders of the ravaged colony.

Blending 16th century science, occult, and the impacts of early colonialism, A Strange and Terrible Wonder reimagines what became of the Lost Colony.

Author Bio:

Nichole Louise is a speculative historical fiction writer and book reviewer (NicholeLouise.com). Raven Rock (2023), a prequel to The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, was recognized by Writer’s Digest, the Historical Fiction Company, and the CIBAs. Her articles and book reviews have appeared in the Journal of the American Revolution. Her second title, A Strange and Terrible Wonder (2026) is a historical folk horror tale exploring the Lost Colony of Roanoke. When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading, gaming, and volunteering at Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society.

Website / Goodreads / Instagram

Review: The Cleansing by Victoria Alvear

Title: The Cleansing
Author: Victoria Alvear
Publication: January 20, 2026 by Hypatia Press
Genre: Historical Fiction
Find it on: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | Waterstones
Rating: 4.5/5★

Based on a true story, this is not the enlightened Rome of myth. This is a city choking on fear, where blood flows on both the battlefield and altar, and where generals and politicians alike are desperate to appease rageful gods.

When 50,000 Romans fall in a single day at the Battle of Cannae, priests claim there can be only one reason the gods abandoned Rome: a Vestal Virgin has broken her vow of chastity. And they accuse Opimia (Mia), the strongest, most defiant of the six sacred Vestal priestesses.

Forced as a child into serving Vesta, the goddess of fire, Mia has always chafed against Rome’s control of her every move—especially after being separated from her childhood love, Attius. Now, accused of a crime she did not commit, she must defend herself in a hostile court to avoid being buried alive for her “crime.”

Betrayed by the high priestess, hunted by Rome’s political and religious elite, Mia must either accept her fate — or join with the Sybil of Cumae to expose the truth behind a world built on superstition, fear, and lies.

A story of personal awakening amid public catastrophe, The Cleansing is a haunting journey through a city at war with itself — and a woman who risks everything to survive it.

Set in ancient Rome and inspired by true events, The Cleansing by Victoria Alvear explores female resilience, religious control and the violence men justify in the name of fear.

After the catastrophic Battle of Cannae, where 50,000 Romans lost their lives fighting Hannibal, Rome’s priests condemn Opimia, a defiant Vestal Virgin they claim has angered the gods. Opimia a.k.a. Mia has been bound to temple of Vesta, goddess of the hearth and home as a Vestal Virgin since she was a young child. She has long rebelled against the temple's tight restrictions and the high priestess that dislikes her. After being falsely accused, Mia must face a hostile Roman court to escape the sentence of being burried alive.

I've never read a book featuring the Vestal Virgins (at least none that I can think of right now) so I absolutely love that Victoria Alvear chose to write one. Despite tackling heavy themes like patriarchy suppressing women’s power, sexual assault, slavery, and suicide (among other themes), Ireally enjoyed Mia’s story and watching her grow into her strength. Watching her reclaim her voice and agency was one of the most satisfying parts of the book.

I also can't end this review without mentioning how timely this novel also felt with what's happening in today's time and age. By this I mean the connection between declining women’s rights and religious purity culture. Victoria Alvear explains more about this in the author's note so definitely don't skip that, as it's written in a way I never could. I will quote this: "Why does this kind of Bronze Age thinking persist in an age when we are capable of sending robots into space and onto the surface of Mars?"

Overall, The Cleansing by Victoria Alvear was a gripping historical novel about female resilience, power, and one woman’s fight against a society determined to silence her. Obviously I would highly recommend it as it was a really amazing read!

About the author:

Vicky Alvear Shecter/Victoria Alvear writes about the ancient world and the often disturbing parallels with today's political unrest and misogynistic backlash. She writes as Victoria Alvear for adults. Her latest book is THE CLEANSING, based on the true story of an ancient Roman Vestal Virgin falsely accused of having sex and fighting in court to keep from being buried alive for her so-called "crime." Midwest Book Reviews called the book, "Original, exceptional, deftly crafted and a simply riveting read from cover to cover."

For nearly twenty years, she has served as a docent at the Michael C. Carlos Museum of Antiquities at Emory University, where she regularly engages the public on the fascinating aspects of ancient life and politics.

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Review: Daughter of Exile by Tana Rebellis

Title: Daughter of Exile
Author Tana Rebellis
Series: The Exile Duology #2
Publication: September 24, 2024 by Little Piggy Publishing
Genre: Historical Fiction
Find it on: Amazon UK | Amazon US | Waterstones
Rating: 4/5★

Aemilia Lepida was closer to becoming empress than anyone knew when she was betrothed to Claudius—but her parents’ disgrace leads to the dissolution of her engagement, and her life changes forever.

Aemilia comes of age in Rome at a dangerous time, one in which her heritage makes her a desirable pawn in the schemes of others. Her own efforts to restore her family’s honor place her on a treacherous path of vengeance and intrigue that will consume her life even as it ultimately reveals a strength she never knew she possessed.

Meanwhile, Titus begins a journey harder and longer than he could have imagined, spanning from Rome to Dacia and back again. He will sacrifice more than he bargained for as he struggles to accept his new identity: a deserter in hiding, shielding a secret that could disrupt the empire, not knowing if he will ever again see the woman for whom he has upended his life.

Aemilia and Titus, and those around them, must decide whether their differences will keep them apart, or if Julia and her exile—their sole unifying connection—will be enough to bind them together, perhaps saving all their lives.

Daughter of Exile was a great conclusion to The Exile Duology by Tana Rebellis. I'd highly recommend both if you enjoy books set in ancient Rome, especially if you like reading about the Julio-Claudian dynasty.

In this sequel the focus is more set on Aemilia Lepida, the daughter of Julia the Younger who is still in exile. It also still follows Titus and Rufus from the first book who are both on their own journeys. Eventually all their lives come together again as the book reaches its ending.

This second book heavily featured themes of vengeance and political intrigue. They are explored through the actions of the main characters and the conflicts they faced. And just like in the first the book I highly enjoy the way the author wrote the descriptions of the Roman Empire which was still in its early stages.

I think fans of HBO's Rome tv series would absolutely love this duology as it shares a similar historical tone, political intrigue and compelling characters.

About the author:

Tana Rebellis is a pen name of Kasey Morris, who also writes romantic comedies (www.kaseymorris.com). She studied Classics at Princeton University, then Classical Archaeology at Oxford. When not reading, writing, or working, she and her husband spend time with their animals on their farm in Virginia.

The Exile Duology stems from her research on the phenomenon of Julio-Claudian island exile, a project for which she won the 2014 Princeton University Department of Classics John J. Keaney Prize for Best Senior Thesis.

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From the Archives — Review: In a Treacherous Court by Michelle Diener

This post is part of my new From the Archives series, where I revisit older reviews. Some will be unchanged, others will have a bit more added perspective.
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Title: In a Treacherous Court
Author: Michelle Diener
Series: Susanna Horenbout and John Parker #1
Publication: August 2, 2011 by Gallery Books, Simon & Schuster
Genre: Historical Fiction
Read in: October 2012
Rating: 5/5★

Henry VIII’s most lethal courtier and his newly appointed artist become the only thing keeping him on the throne—and if they survive, neither will ever be the same.

John Parker is one of Henry VIII most useful courtiers—utterly merciless and completely loyal. But one small favor for his king will pull Parker into a deadly plot against the throne, one that will test his courage, his resolve, and most especially, his heart.

A commission from Henry VIII should have been the crowning achievement of Susanna Horenbout’s career, but before the beautiful and talented artist even sets foot in England, she finds herself in possession of a secret that could change its history.

With Parker as her only protection against killers who will stop at nothing to silence her, Susanna has to trust the dangerous, enigmatic courtier.

She’s used to fighting in a man’s world, but she never expected to be fighting for her life.

Susanna was send by her father to become Henry VIII's new painter. When she arrived, it wasn't long before there was an attempt on her life. John Parker, one of the King's most dangerous courtiers, was then charged to keep her safe. More attacks follow and slowly a conspiracy against the throne is revealed. The more Susanna and Parker find out about the secret plot, the more deathly it becomes.

I loved In a Treacherous Court right from the start. Susanna was a great heroine. Strong, witty, talented and beautiful. I loved her voice and the way she handled herself against all the attacks she had to endure. I'm pretty sure most people would crack under the pressure but she always held herself standing straight. Of course, Susanna being Flemish helped me like her a lot too since I'm Flemish as well. Parker... oh I just loved him. Michelle Diener really has a knack for creating not only amazing female characters but also swoon-worthy and protective men. I loved how they used to call him "Parker the Cold, Parker the Merciless and Parker the Lone Wolf" before he met Susanna.

This book was so exciting! It really, truly was. Lots of attacks and fighting so there never was a boring moment. The mystery and suspense were killing me, especially at the last part. I was so afraid everything wouldn't turn out okay in the end. And the author's writing! That must be my favorite thing about In a Treacherous Court. Michelle Diener truly is my new favorite writer. It was so fast paced and amazing that when I had only 100 pages left, I forced myself to stop reading because I didn't want it to be over so soon. I absolutely got sucked in. When I did finish the book, I actually felt really sad. I need more, way much more! Luckily for me there's an ebook and another novel after this one so once I get my hands on them, I'll be good.

The romance between Susanna and Parker was perfect. They were attracted to each other pretty much right away but this isn't a bad thing. In this novel it worked perfectly. They knew from one another that they wanted each other, also a thing I loved. No confusion or anything about their feelings for each other except that Susanna thinks she wouldn't make a very good wife, but we'll see. I think Parker can handle her artistic ways perfectly.

In a Treacherous Court by Michelle Diener is an exceptional debut. The historical information as well as the romance and suspense meshed so well together. It was beautifully written, fast paced and just a really enjoyable read. This novel will grip the reader so fast, never letting go, until the very end.

In a Treacherous Court was rereleased in 2023 with a beautiful new cover by Daisey Crown Press. I have yet to buy myself a copy of it (I need to own that cover!) but I hope I can do it soon. 😍

About the author:

Michelle Diener is the bestselling, awardinning author of historical fiction, fantasy and science fiction romance novels. Having worked in publishing and IT, she’s now very happy crafting new worlds and interesting characters. 

Michelle was born in London and currently lives in Australia with her husband and children.

When she’s not writing, you can find her on her author Facebook page, interacting with readers on her Facebook Readers’ Group, on Instagram or Threads.