''Highly recommend for anybody who loves Roman history, written by one of its true masters'' PETER GIBBONS''Epic in scope and intimate in historical detail'' MATTHEW HARFFY''Authentic, fast-paced and immersive'' CHRISTIAN CAMERON''A masterpiece of late Rome'' S.J.A. TURNEY''Historical settings and characters that leap into life straight off the page'' SCOTT MARIANI''A vivid page-turning epic'' ANNE O''BRIENFor an empress to rise, a city must fall...Rome, 410 ADHalf-sister to Emperor Honorius, unmarried and powerless, twenty-year-old Galla Placidia watches from the shadows as imperial policies are made and unmade.Her plans to gain power and influence are halted when the city is besieged and captured by a vast army led by Alaric the Visigoth. Taken hostage, travelling out of Italy, Galla Placidia falls in love and marries a barbarian king.At a time when Rome''s power is fast dwindling, its authority diminishing year upon year, she embarks on a dangerous and remarkable journey towards the imperial throne.But what price must a woman pay for power?This is the compelling story of a little-known, remarkable woman whose burning ambition saw her, against all odds, become empress of Rome.What your favourite authors have to say about Ben Kane:''A rip-roaring epic'' PAUL FINCH''A truly vibrant and gripping read'' HELENA GUMLEY-MASON''Historical fiction has never been more visceral'' JAMESROLLINS''A tour de force on an epic scale'' DOUGLASJACKSONReaders are loving Ben Kane:''Powerful evocation of our history'' ?''An engaging and exciting read'' ?''Gripped me from start to finish'' ?''Epic tales, gorgeous prose, non-stop action'' ?''Rich in period detail and lively in narrative'' ?