Octavian's Light: A Novel

Passion, power, betrayal and love, Octavian's Light is a compelling saga set in the most brutal of Roman times. Oline's life is shattered when her home village in Gaul is raided by Romans, and her daughter Mischella is born into slavery in Italy. Octavian is unexpectedly adopted by Julius Caesar whose sudden assassination catapults the eighteen-year-old to vast wealth and power, eventually becoming Rome's first emperor, Augustus. There are wars, plotting amongst rivals, bouts of sickness, his wife Livia's scheming, and an extraordinary meeting with Queen Cleopatra. Former street urchin Riccar has a skill that enables him to closely witness Octavian's incredible rise throughout their long lives together, and he becomes perhaps the emperor's only true friend. An ancient world is revealed as the lives of slaves and an emperor unexpectedly intertwine in a novel that combines meticulously researched history and unforgettable characters.