Mother of Rome by Lauren J.A. Bear (Medusa's Sisters) is an inventive reimagining of the origins of Romulus and Remus, central figures in myths about the founding of Rome. This engaging historical fantasy highlights the power of women who seize control of their own destinies.
Rhea Silvia's life as a princess hasn't been perfect. Her mother and brothers have died, so as her father's sole heir, her future betrothal is of vital importance. But a sudden coup makes Rhea's situation even worse: her uncle seizes the throne and declares that she must become a vestal virgin. Determined not to let her uncle decide her fate, Rhea plots with her cousin, Antho, for one night alone in the woods, which she spends with the god Mars. When Rhea becomes pregnant and is sentenced to death, it takes all her wits and bargains with the gods to ensure that her twins are born and survive to found the city that will become an empire.
Stories of classical Rome contain few details about Rhea Silvia. By adding a new twist to the original myth, Bear constructs a vivid tale of a fierce woman driven by maternal love. The rest of Rhea Silvia's family--some inventions by Bear--flesh out a novel of palace intrigue that illuminates how oppression can repeat itself in families and cycles can be broken. Antho, a princess who seems to live a more conventional life, serves as a particularly moving example of survival amid abuse. Fans of Madeline Miller and Claire Heywood should snatch this up. --Kristen Allen-Vogel, information services librarian at Dayton Metro Library