Julia Prima

Ms. Morton has created a brilliant ‘what if’ alternative history world in her Roma Nova series. She knows her stuff about the Romans and has taken the known facts of their history, turned it upside down, and provided us with some excellent entertainment.

Julia Prima is a prequel to the series itself (which is set in more-or-less contemporary times) This part of the saga goes back to the beginning – how Roma Nova came to be, and how the women became the leaders and organisers of an alternative empire.

Morton subtly changes history, the background details of the real past… show more.

Several years ago, I came across a series of books set in Roma Nova, a surviving remnant of the Roman Empire. I was fascinated by Ms. Morton’s description of this (unfortunately non-existent) country and her casual references to Roman rites and traditions that had somehow survived to modern times. Julia Prima is the foundation story, set in the 4th century when the Roman Empire is crumbling at the edges. Ms. Morton brings the uncertainties of the times to vivid life. The conflicts between Christians and pagans are exploding, previously safe roads are plagued by bandits and through all this… show more.