The Secret History: A Novel of Empress Theodora by Stephanie Thornton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Empress Theodora ruled alongside her husband Justinian in the late stages of the eastern Roman Empire. She was a woman who was born poor and became a prostitute to survive. She rose by coming to the attention of more and more powerful men until she attracted the attention of the nephew of an Emperor.
Good historical fiction makes you want to learn more about the characters in the novel. That is the case with this book. I’ve reserved a nonfiction book about the life of Theodora to learn more about this powerful woman.
The English Girl by Daniel Silva
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
A British female government worker is kidnapped while on vacation in Corsica. Unbeknownst to the public, the repercussions of this could bring down the Prime Minister. Israeli spy Gabriel Allon is brought in to recover the English girl – very quietly.
I’ve liked all the books in this series. I like the cast of recurring characters. I did figure out some plot points in this book before I was supposed to but that didn’t dim the escapist enjoyment of it.
