Debra May Macleod

In the stratified world of ancient Rome, there are citizens and slaves, soldiers and senators, priests and priestesses--and Caesar Augustus rules them all. Yet his authority holds only as long as the people believe the gods of Rome support him, particularly the beloved goddess of the home and hearth, Vesta. As chief Vestal Virgin, Pomponia continues to devote her life to protecting her order and the eternal flame of Vesta. She has risen to a position of esteem in Rome and is a valued member of Caesar's inner circle. But now a contagion ravages the city and tension rises among Rome's inhabitants. While she struggles to manage the Vestal order and maintain the favor of the goddess, Pomponia must now face a malevolent nobleman, Soren, whose machinations against her threaten not just her friendship with Caesar, but everything she loves. In To Be Wolves, Book Two in the Vesta Shadows series, Debra May Macleod takes us back to her richly crafted and meticulously researched vision of ancient Rome, artfully re-created with both historical and all-new characters, from conniving elites to celebrity slaves. An even bolder offering than its predecessor, this gripping sequel to Brides of Rome explores an even darker side of Rome.

For the heroes of Rome, and its enemies, it is a time of reckoning. There is a saying in the Tarpeian Rock is near the Capitoline—meaning that even at the height of power, one is never far from a fall. As the Vestalis Maxima, Pomponia has guided her order through the collapse of Rome’s Republic and the rise of the Empire. Her wit and piety have elevated the Vestals to a position of unprecedented prestige—and her friendship with Caesar Augustus has personally afforded her a life of political influence and privilege. She has been adored and untouchable. Yet that illusion of safety has been shattered by a ruthless enemy who continues to menace her from the shadows, his vengeful nature escalating to terrifying new heights that threaten not just Pomponia, but all those she cares for—including the emperor himself. Worse, it seems that the gods are also turning against her when the Vestal order suffers an unparalleled crisis that Pomponia must answer for. Struggling to maintain her position, Pomponia looks to her slaves and a renegade charioteer for support as her complex relationship with her protégé, Quintina, brings painful secrets to light. Faced with threats from all directions, Pomponia must be willing to sacrifice everything—even her own morality—to protect her status, the Vestal order, and the lives of those around her. In Empire of Iron , the unflinching conclusion to the Vesta Shadows trilogy, Pomponia realizes that, like Rome itself, she must become even more ruthless than her enemies if she is to survive. The Vesta Shadows trilogy spans decades, from 45 BCE to 14 CE. It follows the life of the Vestal priestess Pomponia Occia, who is inspired by the real Vestal Occia who lived during this time, serving in the Temple of Vesta for more than fifty years. Set during the tumultuous years that saw the fall of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire under Augustus—and beyond—it dramatizes some of the major historical events that occurred during her lifetime while simultaneously bringing ancient Rome to life with fast-paced, engrossing, and visceral storylines played out by a striking cast of characters.

It is a world of power and privilege, secrets and sacred duty. It is the world of ancient Rome. And it is the esteemed Vestal Virgins-priestesses of Vesta, goddess of the home and hearth-who protect the Eternal Flame that protects the Eternal City. Dedicated to a thirty-year vow of chaste service, Priestess Pomponia finds herself swept up in the intrigue, violence, wars, and bedroom politics of Rome's elite-Julius Caesar, Antony and Cleopatra, Octavian and his maneuvering wife, Livia-all the while guarding the secret affection she has in her heart. But when a charge of incestum-a broken vow of chastity-is made against the Vestal order, the ultimate punishment looms: death by being buried alive in the "Evil Field." In Brides of Rome, Book One in the Vesta Shadows series, Debra May Macleod skillfully recreates the world of ancient Rome with all its brutality and brilliance, all its rich history and even richer legend. A true page-turner that is as smart as it is compelling, this must-read novel brings the Vestal order to life like never before.

An unflinching, breathtaking retelling of the story of Rhea Silvia, fated by the gods to play a spectacular part in the mythos of Rome—the mother of Romulus, Rome’s legendary founder. It is 772 BCE, nearly two decades before the birth of Rome. The city of Alba Longa and its king, Numitor, reign supreme. But Numitor’s children, Princess Rhea Silvia and Prince Egestus, fear for the city’s future. With Rhea set to marry an unpredictable enemy, they can see the end of their family’s dynasty as surely as their ancestor Aeneas saw the fall of Troy. In a bid to maintain power, Rhea is set on a harrowing course that will push her to the limits of human endurance, forcing her to turn to the gods and rise with the ferocity imbued in her Trojan blood, sacrificing everything for the new Troy—Rome. RHEA SILVIA is the first novel in The First Vestals of Rome, an epic trilogy about the founding Vestal Virgins of ancient Rome.

The gripping, unsparing tale of Amata, the first true Vestal Virgin of Rome, whose choices would shape the Vestal Order for centuries to come. It is 716 BCE, over thirty years since the founding of Rome. The city’s war-like nature has made it the “tyrant of Latium,” and King Romulus’s hardened nature has caused the fledgling Vestal order to fall into disrepute. But as crisis strikes and an enigmatic newcomer named Numa arrives in the city, Romulus’s only living kinswoman, Amata, must rise to restore the dignity of the order. AMATA is the riveting conclusion to The First Vestals of Rome, an epic trilogy about the founding Vestal Virgins of ancient Rome.

A bold retelling of the legend of Tarpeia, a priestess destined to be swept up in the danger of Rome’s earliest days, and whose name would give rise to Rome’s most dreaded site—the Tarpeian Rock. It is 753 BCE and the new city of Rome exists on the edge of a knife. The young King Romulus reels from the loss of his mother’s counsel, turning to his father—Mars, the god of war—and his city’s new chief Vestal, Tarpeia, to fill the void. The city is constantly at war. As bad, it is a city of men, set to die out within a generation. Thus, the knife slips, setting into motion an infamous crime that will entangle Tarpeia and resound throughout Latium and beyond, pitting Rome against its enemies and allies alike, and showing the settlement by the Tiber, and its young king, what it will ultimately take to rule the world.