it pains me to give any story about my historical blorbo, theodora, such a mid rating. but i have major beef with the characterization of younger theodora, and although that problem goes away once she is older in the story, i disliked some narrative choices that the author made. so much so that i won't even get into it for the sake of my own health. However.... the book does improve, and overall it's not bad. but it is deeply emotionless, which is something i just hate. i am interested to see if i like book 2 any better, because with other novels about theodora that i like better, i think this is usually where they begin to fumble.