This book was extremely well written and well researched, with lots of colorful and accurate historical detail, but the most gripping part of the book was the painting of the characters themselves. It made me fall completely in love with Theodora and Justinian and their story.

The book begins with Theodora as a young girl on the day of her father’s death. It is a story of survival in a cruel and often brutal time in history. Theodora does what she must live, although not all her decisions are good ones. She becomes an actress and a prostitute, bears two children out of wedlock, and travels much of the ancient world before she figures out who she is and what she wants, and that is when Justinian walks into her life.

The author relates the story of a woman who had to rise above many life challenges and the consequences of many decisions she made that not only changed her life but the outcome of history. Easy and enjoyable reading, especially her character development and smooth transition into a variety of subplots.