I checked this out from the library as a seven day loan. I read the first 50% in the first six days and the second 50% in the last four hours.

First, let me say that this book is ideal if you are fascinated by topics like language (especially Latin), history (especially Rome), or academia. As a former social studies teacher who minored in history, especially loving every thing crusades and older, especially Greece, Rome, and Egypt, who is currently addicted to Duolingo- this was right up my alley.

At multiple points in this book I paused to just bask in the beautiful language, the lovely historical connections (though in the acknowledgments and sources at the end some are revealed to be fictional, no surprise, it is a novel), and the flow of it all.

By about 80% through I turned to my husband - who was preparing to sleep and could tell I would be finishing my book first - and said with a Huge Grin - “I genuinely have no idea how this is going to end!” I do love when there is enough left that you just aren’t sure.

Everything felt very real and relatable and shudderingly “oh god I’ve known people like that” through the whole thing for me (excepting for maybe one scene.)

Very satisfying read, the author did a great job taking a woman’s voice - I repeatedly forgot it was a male author. I would be willing to read more books by them.