I wasn't sure about this book when I started reading it, some of the writing didn't align with what I was looking for. I also found this book quite slow in general. However, I ended up enjoying it! I haven't read much about Romulus and Remus and this story is a reimagining of their mother, all the sacrifices she had to endure for them to live and become great.

WOW! Lauren J.A. Bear’s Mother of Rome is a blazing triumph—a reimagining that not only fully reclaims but revolutionises an ancient tale. While the myth of Romulus and Remus is etched in stone, Bear chisels out the forgotten story of their mother, Rhea Silvia, and it’s nothing short of breathtaking. I thought Medusa’s Sisters was unbeatable, but Mother of Rome stole my heart with its masterful storytelling and fierce emotional depth.

Bear’s writing is exquisite—every sentence sings. The characters leap off the page, alive with their own ambitions, flaws, and dreams. Even the side characters are given vibrant life, their motivations intricately woven into the tapestry of the plot. Rhea, though, is the shining star: a princess turned Vestal Virgin, a mother cast out but unbroken, and a woman whose strength could shake empires. Her journey is equal parts harrowing and empowering, and I was utterly enthralled from the first page.

The magical realism adds a luminous, otherworldly touch—divine interventions and ancient forces are rendered with subtlety and grace, making the line between myth and history deliciously blurry. And the historical quotations threaded throughout? Genius. They ground the story while enriching its epic scope, making this tale feel timeless yet intimately fresh.

Bear reshapes the story, giving voice to a woman who was silenced for too long. Mother of Rome is a must-read for fans of feminist retellings, mythological epics, or anyone who loves stories that linger in the soul. This is historical fiction at its most magical and meaningful—and I will undoubtedly read anything Lauren J.A. Bear writes next!

After having lived this authors previous book I was very excited to receive this arc from NetGalley in return for my honest review
This story is absolutely beautiful and tragic whilst the lush prose and descriptions of time and place made for an immersive read
The pacing was perfect and all the characters felt alive and realistic
I loved this so much and read it within a couple of days and I can’t wait to read more from this author