Crystal Aura Gaze

“Brides Of Rome” (a novel of Vestal Virgins) by Debra May Macleod is the first book in the “Vesta Shadows” series. This novel is historical fiction and takes place in Ancient Rome.

The story centers around the Vestal Virgins — a religious group of women who dedicate themselves to their city and their goddess, Vesta. Vesta is the goddess of the home and the hearth. It is their job to tend to the sacred fire and never let it go out, along with performing sacred rituals for the public.

In ancient times, girls of Rome were selected between the ages of six to ten, to serve as a Vestal Virgin for thirty years. This role comes with serious responsibility — marrying oneself to Rome and to the Great Goddess. During their service, they cannot marry, nor engage in any physical relations. Punishment for breaking their vows results in a gruesome death: being buried alive.

However, there is a sense of freedom that comes with this sacred honor. First, is an independence that the typical ancient Roman woman is not granted. A Vestal Virgin is allowed to be financially independent, in control of her own body, without belonging to a husband or father. Second, Vestal Virgins have a high social status and connections with the most powerful men of Rome.

Once her thirty years of duty have been served, she may leave the priestesshood and go on to get married and have children. In that way, she does not have to miss out on bearing children, if that’s what she wants. By that point, she would be in her late thirties and still fertile. But if desired, she may instead choose to remain a priestess for the rest of her life — not forced to marry and have kids — and still live a powerful and independent life.

While there are many historical novels that take place in Ancient Rome, many of them briefly acknowledging the Vestal Virgins, this is the first book series I’ve found that actually revolves around the priestesses. It actually goes into depth of how a priestess lived, their daily lives, and the rituals that they performed. I’m so intrigued by this aspect of ancient times, so I was really excited to stumble upon this series.

The main character of the story is Pomponia, based on a real priestess. We see her over the course of many years, struggling between her dedication to her Goddess verses a romance that gradually festers for a married man named Quintus. I really liked watching the tension between them grow!

The story follows many other characters, including other priestesses of Vesta. It also ties into the historical dramas of Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, Marc Antony, Octavian, and other famous characters. The beginning of the book shows an appearance of Caesar, followed by the aftermath of his assassination. It also goes into detail of the political affairs of Cleopatra and Marc Antony, along with Octavian and his sister Octavia, and his wife Livia.

Overall, I think that this is a fantastic book, and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!