Skip to main content

I Am Livia by Phyllis T. Smith: A Book Review

I Am Livia
Author: Phyllis T. Smith
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Release Date: 2014
Pages: 391
Source: Personal Collection
Synopsis: Her life would be marked by scandal and suspicion, worship and adoration…

     At the tender age of fourteen, Livia Drusilla overhears her father and fellow aristocrats plotting the assassination of Julius Caesar. Proving herself an astute confidante, she becomes her father’s chief political asset—and reluctantly enters into an advantageous marriage to a prominent military officer. Her mother tells her, “It is possible for a woman to influence public affairs,” reminding Livia that—while she possesses a keen sense for the machinations of the Roman senate—she must also remain patient and practical.

     But patience and practicality disappear from Livia’s mind when she meets Caesar’s heir, Octavianus. At only eighteen, he displays both power and modesty. A young wife by that point, Livia finds herself drawn to the golden-haired boy. In time, his fortunes will rise as Livia’s family faces terrible danger. But her sharp intellect—and her heart—will lead Livia to make an unbelievable choice: one that will give her greater sway over Rome than she could have ever foreseen.

     My Review: I am Livia recounts the early life of Livia Drusilla, wife of Emperor Augustus. Being the most powerful woman in Ancient Rome, she has often been maligned by her contemporaries. One myth was that she carried around poisons. Told from Livia’s perspective, this novel shows that Livia was Augustus’s political advisor and is a woman who wants her empire to have peace and prosperity.

     Livia is a sympathetic character. At first she is naive and very romantic, but after suffering many tragedies she becomes a strong and mature young woman. She can often be very cold, sometimes ruthless and unforgiving. However, she can also be kind and merciful at times, and bestows charity upon her friends. She is also very loyal to those who are dear to her. Livia abhors bloodshed and wants peace within her kingdom. She is also very intelligent and adept in politics. She wants her husband to be merciful with his enemies. She is also strong, courageous, and outspoken. She is not afraid to stand up for what she believes in.

     Overall, this book is about a woman trying to find peace and happiness in a cruel world. I liked how the author portrayed Ancient Rome, for it is a dangerous world full of war, bloodshed, and scandal. All these characters are complex characters. This novel is full of political intrigue, drama, treachery, and betrayal. I found this novel to be meticulously researched and beautifully written. I did find the ending to be rushed, and I would have liked for the novel to be longer. Nevertheless, I liked how it gave me a more sympathetic view of Livia. She is portrayed as a very human figure, and I found her actions to be relatable. She was a woman that wished for the good of her empire. I recommend this novel to fans of Michelle Moran, Kate Quinn, and Elizabeth Storrs.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Life and Times of Hannah Crafts: The True Story of The Bondwoman's Narrative by Gregg Hecimovich: A Book Review

  The Life and Times of Hannah Crafts: The True Story of the Bondwoman’s Narrative Author: Gregg Hecimovich Genre: History, Nonfiction, Biography  Publisher: Ecco Release Date: 2023 Pages: 430 Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: A groundbreaking study of the first Black female novelist and her life as an enslaved woman, from the biographer who solved the mystery of her identity, with a foreword by Henry Louis Gates Jr.       In 1857, a woman escaped enslavement on a North Carolina plantation and fled to a farm in New York. In hiding, she worked on a manuscript that would make her famous long after her death. The novel, The Bondwoman’s Narrative, was first published in 2002 to great acclaim, but the author’s identity remained unknown. Over a decade later, Professor Gregg Hecimovich unraveled the mystery of the author’s name and, in The Life and Times of Hannah Crafts, hefinally tells her story.   ...

A Right Worthy Woman by Ruth P. Watson: A Book Review

A Right Worthy Woman Author: Ruth P. Watson Genre: Historical Fiction Publisher: Atria Books Release Date: 2023 Pages: 303 Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: In the vein of The Personal Librarian and The House of Eve , a “remarkable and stirring novel” (Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author) based on the inspiring true story of Virginia’s Black Wall Street and the indomitable Maggie Lena Walker, the daughter of a formerly enslaved woman who became the first Black woman to establish and preside over a bank in the United States.       Maggie Lena Walker was ambitious and unafraid. Her childhood in 19th-century Virginia helping her mother with her laundry service opened her eyes to the overwhelming discrepancy between the Black residents and her mother’s affluent white clients. She vowed to not only secure the same kind of home and finery for herself, but she would also help others in her community achi...

Nell: Marshal of Bodie (The Nell Doherty Mysteries #1) by John Edward Mullen: A Book Review

Nell: Marshal of Bodie (The Nell Doherty Mysteries #1) Author: John Edward Mullen Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery & Suspense, Western  Publisher: Murders in Time Press Release Date: 2022 Pages: 300 Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: In the winter of 1892, the once-vibrant gold-mining town of Bodie, California is in serious decline.        Nell Doherty, an 18-year-old young woman with a wooden leg, dreams of leaving and becoming a Pinkerton detective.       When a tragic shooting presents her with an opportunity to prove she has the skills needed to work for the Pinkertons, Bodie’s justice of the peace deputizes Nell — over the loud objections of the majority of the town’s residents.      Can she prove them all wrong?       Nell digs in and investigates the shooting, with the help of Rags, her half-Irish, half-Chinese be...