She lives in the shadows of incapable men. With a sharp mind and ambitious drive, can she direct the destiny of millions? Rome, AD 410. Princess Placidia knows her duty. Well-loved and respected, the stalwart woman fights to protect her people from invaders despite her brother’s inept rule. So when conspirators open the gates to the barbarians, the courageous royal refuses to quail as she’s taken captive. Abandoned to her captor’s mercies when her sibling declines to negotiate, the determined survivor slowly grows close to the enemy general and his motherless children. And though she weds the rugged Visigoth for love, Placidia fears a jealous rival and the emperor’s incompetence may bring her happiness crashing to earth. With central authority crumbling and loyalties splintering across the West, can one woman hold together an empire? In this sweeping epic of fifth-century politics, author Faith L. Justice tells the compelling story of one of the Classical world’s most influential women. From her capture during the Sack of Rome through her rise to power as regent for her son, last of the Theodosian emperors, readers will thrill to Placidia’s tenacious drive to protect those she loves and shape the course of history. Twilight Empress is the enthralling first book in the Theodosian Women historical fiction series. If you like real-world heroines, impeccable research, and gripping glimpses into the past, then you’ll love Faith L. Justice’s war-torn saga. Buy Twilight Empress to stand at the edge of destiny today! KIRKUS REVIEW In her latest historical novel, Justice ( Sword of the Gladiatrix , 2015, etc.) examines the life of little-known Roman empress Placidia. In the fifth century, Rome is sacked by the Goths. Young Princess Placidia is captured and held as a guest in the Goths' royal court so that she can be used as a negotiation tool with the Romans. The author creates great tension as readers follow Placidia to the Gothic land, where she's taken care of by Queen Gaatha, the wife of Alaric, king of the Goths. After a series of events that warms Placidia to the barbarian tribe, she finds herself falling for Ataulf, Gaatha's brother, who takes control of the Goths after Alaric falls dead of a fever...The book is an addictive read, as Justice chooses her key moments wisely, weaving a decades-long narrative about Placidia's layered life as she rises to eventual leadership. The opening scenes make clear that as a woman, Placidia's bloodline is her most useful asset in ancient society. The author does a fine job of delicately underlining the limits of female governance during the period, creating sympathy for the heroine, whose only option is to rule through men. The sharp protagonist effectively navigates the politics surrounding her incapable brother, as well as conspirators, tragic deaths, and war, all while trying to save the nearly deflated Roman Empire. Justice shies away from in-depth political and geographical history, which keeps the novel from feeling like a historical lesson..the prose is tight and clean throughout, and the characters' missions are always clear despite the complexities of the situations. Historical Novel Society Reviews Married twice, daughter, sister, and mother of emperors, Placidia is no Livia from I, Claudius , but she's no sensitive damsel, either. Placidia knows what she wants and is willing to do what she must to achieve her goals. She's not a nice person, necessarily, but she is understandable and human. In short, this is solid historical fiction, with full marks for a little-used time period and setting. It totally gets extra points for giving us a female lead character who's not written about to death (I'm looking at you, Anne Boleyn!) History from a Woman's Perspective Twilight Empress is a fast-paced historical novel that is filled with romance, political and courtly intrigue, and drama that will keep you turning the pages to find out what happens to her. I can't wait to read the next book in The Theodosian Women series about Empress Pulcheria. Twilight Empress will appeal to fans of Margaret George, Libbie Hawker, and Ki Longfellow. Story Circle Reviews (books for, by and about women) Twilight Empress is well researched and written with twisted plot developments and great characters. The protagonist, a little-known Roman Empress and Gothic Queen Placidia suffers loss, love and betrayal. Palace intrigue is almost like a secondary character. Her innate intelligence and tenaciousness are a winning combination but at the cost of great personal sacrifice. This is an excellent novel for those who know little about world history during the decline of the Roman Empire. Midwest Book Review Twilight Empress is the kind of historical novel that dedicated fans of historical fiction will find satisfying and impressive. With exquisite attention to political and military history, this novel weaves together many of the important political events of the fifth c