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.
Goodreads Rating: 4.34 stars with over 1,000 ratings
Genre Listing: Mythology, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Retellings, Fiction, Historical Fantasy
Goodreads/Storygraph Challenge: 19/30
2025 Reading Challenge: 19. Read a book by an author who shares your initials (see the whole challenge here)
Book Review:
Hello, Readers! I hope everyone is doing well. I wanted to briefly review Mother of Rome by Lauren J.A. Bear. This book tells the story of Rhea Silvia, the mother of Romulus and Remus, founders of Rome. It's an interesting story that gives Red Tent by Anita Diamant vibes. It's very pro-sisterhood and shows the strength in women and their bonds.
I really enjoyed Mother of Rome by Lauren J.A. Bear. I found Rhea to be a fierce character with a strong survival instinct and internal power that allowed her to do whatever she needed to protect those she loved. Mothers will especially enjoy this book as it shows Rhea's tenacity in securing her children's future. It was a little lost on me since I have no desire to be a mother, but I can definitely see my friends who are moms liking them.
The mythology in this book was interesting. I'm familiar with Greek Mythology, but I always assumed that Roman Mythology was just the same gods but with different names. Mother of Rome discusses both, but shows the differences between the Greek and Roman myths. I also really enjoyed hearing about the older deities in the story. My favorite character in the story is Lupa, the wolf who watches over the twins. She's ferocious and threatens to eat those who displease her. I don't know what that says about me as a person.
Overall, I loved this book. I highly recommend it for Historical Fiction, Mythology, Fantasy readers, or anyone who wants a strong female heroine.
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