Mother of Rome - by Lauren J a Bear (Hardcover)

About the Book

"A powerful and fierce reimagining of the founding of the Roman empire and the legend of Romulus and Remus-and the mother whose sacrifice made it all possible. The twins Romulus and Remus may be known as the mythical founders of Rome, but history is silent in regards to their mother, Rhea Silvia. If she is remembered at all, it is as a preface to her sons' journey, the princess turned priestess-and a victim of rape-condemned to death alongside her children. But that is not the full story. Though born into royalty, when Rhea's family is beset by tragedies and her father loses his kingdom in a treacherous coup, she is sent to the order of the Vestal Virgins, to ensure she will never produce an heir. Except when mortals scheme, gods laugh. Rhea becomes pregnant, and human society turns against her. Alone, ostracized, and facing the gravest punishment, Rhea forges a dangerous deal with the divine to protect what she loves, one that will forever change the trajectory of her life...and her land. All roads may lead to Rome, but they began with Rhea Silvia"--

Book Synopsis

A powerful and fierce reimagining of the earliest Roman legend: the twins, Romulus and Remus, mythical founders of history's greatest empire, and the woman whose sacrifice made it all possible.

The names Romulus and Remus may be immortalized in map and stone and chronicle, but their mother exists only as a preface to her sons' journey, the princess turned oath-breaking priestess, condemned to death alongside her children.

But she did not die; she survived. And so does her story.

Beautiful, royal, rich: Rhea has it all--until her father loses his kingdom in a treacherous coup, and she is sent to the order of the Vestal Virgins to ensure she will never produce an heir.

Except when mortals scheme, gods laugh.

Rhea becomes pregnant, and human society turns against her. Abandoned, ostracized, and facing the gravest punishment, Rhea forges a dangerous deal with the divine, one that will forever change the trajectory of her life...and her beloved land.

To save her sons and reclaim their birthright, Rhea must summon nature's mightiest force - a mother's love - and fight.

All roads may lead to Rome, but they began with Rhea Silvia.

Review Quotes

"Bear's writing is pure magic. I was enchanted by Rhea's story from beginning to end."--Emily Rath, New York Times bestselling author of North is the Night

"Superb. . . .Themes of sisterhood and motherhood, nature and wildness, survival, and love in its many forms resonate throughout. Bear weaves a layered, captivating story of the two tenacious women behind the birth of Rome that will resonate with readers long after the final page. Highly recommended for readers who love mythological retellings like Madeline Miller's Circe or those who enjoy tales of fierce women seizing control of their own destiny."--Library Journal (starred review)

"Feminine rage in book form, Lauren J.A. Bear's reimagining of Rhea Silvia and her cousin Antho is powerful, compelling, and absolutely unforgettable. Mother of Rome has become one of my all-time favorite books."--Genevieve Gornichec, author of The Witch's Heart

"Mother of Rome is the gripping, poignant, and thoroughly spellbinding tale of Rhea Silvia, the fierce and formidable woman who gave birth to Remus and Romulus. Lauren J. A. Bear brings the legend to life with elegant prose and emotional intelligence, merging myth with a powerful tale of womanhood in all its forms. This is a story that will stay with me for a long time. Utterly superb."--Mimi Matthews, USA Today bestselling author of The Muse of Maiden Lane

"Bear brings her strong heroine to life with compassion and skill. The result is a must-read for fans of mythology retellings."--Publishers Weekly

"A ferociously unapologetic tale like no other about a little known yet legendary woman of Roman myth that encapsulates all the feminist rage and mother's love possible to feel, stunningly rendered in Lauren J. A. Bear's signature, deeply profound and achingly poetic prose. Truly fierce and fearless. One of the very best retellings I've read in a long time."--Olesya Salnikova Gilmore, author of The Haunting of Moscow House

"I loved Mother of Rome and the characters who peopled it. A beautiful novel about Rhea Silvia, a woman who refuses to go quietly, fighting until her last breath for her home and her children. A brilliant retelling that shows the power of a woman with nothing left to lose, this novel about the genesis of Rome will captivate readers from the first page."--Megan Barnard, author of The Winter Goddess

"[A] spectacularly crafted, spellbinding, reimagined legend portraying a woman who refuses to go silently into the night. . . . A vibrantly written, vividly evoked novel of Rome's mythic origins that deserves a place beside the classic sagas of Mary Renault and Robert Graves."--Booklist

"Lauren J.A. Bear has swiftly risen to one of my must-buy authors. With masterful intention and lyricism, Bear has painted a vision of a book. Rhea is finally given the pages she has long deserved, in a story that perfectly blends history and mythology into a brilliant book that I will recommend to everyone." --Claire M. Andrews, author of the Daughter of Sparta trilogy

"Mother of Rome is a work of pure page turning brilliance that cements Lauren J. A. Bear's position at the top of the class. Bear goes right for the jugular with this innovative and evocative take on Rome's foundational myth. By centering Rhea Silvia, the wronged and oft overlooked mother of Romulus and Remus, Bear shines a bright spotlight on female agency and the transformative power of a mother's love. Rhea and Antho are the kind of heroines the world desperately needs. Gorgeously written and compulsively readable with an ending that will steal your breath, Mother of Rome is a rare gem and an instant favorite."--A.D. Rhine, author of Daughters of Bronze

Praise for Medusa's Sisters
"A gorgeously crafted retelling of Greek mythology, Medusa's Sisters is a celebration of the many faces love can wear." --BookPage (starred review)

"Medusa's two almost-forgotten sisters--- Stheno and Euryale---come to enchanting life, telling their own stories, bound to Medusa yet separate and fiercely free to make their own destiny. Medusa's Sisters gives us an intimate look at what it means be an immortal yet walk and live among human beings. Lyrical, exquisitely detailed, and poignant."--Margaret George, New York Times bestselling author of Helen of Troy and The Confessions of Young Nero

"Debut novelist Bear has artfully fashioned an entrancing tale that not only perfectly captures in poetic prose both the fabled glories and gritty realities of ancient Greece, but also features a trio of sisters, who, despite being mythological beings, seem all-too real and relatable by virtue of Bear's gift for incisive characterization."--Booklist

"Bear handles the different voices of Stheno and Euryale with masterful skill and wit... With stellar writing and her focus on Medusa's forgotten sisters, Bear's contribution to the sub-genre of mythic retellings is not to be missed. Highly recommended."--Historical Novels Review

"Fans of Madeline Miller's Circe will want to check out Medusa's Sisters, a feminist take on the infamous Gorgon and her siblings Stheno and Euryale. Like the best mythological tales, Medusa's Sisters is about more than gods and monsters, exploring the bonds of sisterhood and the quest to leave a lasting legacy."--Parade

About the Author

LAUREN J. A. BEAR was born in Boston and raised in Long Beach. After studying English at UCLA and education at LMU, she taught middle-school humanities for over a decade--and survived! She is a teaching fellow for the Holocaust Center for Humanity and lives in Seattle with her husband and three young children. She likes crossword puzzles and being on or near the water without getting wet.