The mysterious universe of books

Nero and Sporus By S.P. Somtow Publication Date: May 30th, 2025 Publisher: Diplodocus Press Pages: 750 Genre: Historical Autobiographical Fiction / LGBTQ+ Fiction Finally available in one volume! The decadence of Imperial Rome comes to life in S.P. Somtow's Literary Titan Award-winning novel about one of ancient history's wildest characters. The historian Suetonius tells us that the Emperor Nero emasculated and married his slave Sporus, the spitting image of murdered Empress Poppaea. But history has more tidbits about Sporus, who went from "puer delicatus" to Empress to one Emperor and concubine to another, and ended up being sentenced to play the Earth-Goddess in the arena. Excerpt I suppose we were anxious to see who the surprise competitor would be, but no one was as surprised as Himself.  For the man who walked over to the center of the scenic was no less a figure than Lucius Domitius Paris himself.  And Paris, too, was Niobe.  Another Niobe.  This Niobe was wear...

Last Train to Freedom By Deborah Swift Publication Date: May 8th, 2025 Publisher: HQ Digital Pages: 361 Genre: Historical Fiction / WWII Fiction 'Taut, compelling and beautifully written – I loved it!’ ~ DAISY WOOD 'Tense and thought-provoking' ~ CATHERINE LAW 1940.  As Soviet forces storm Lithuania, Zofia and her brother Jacek must flee to survive. A lifeline appears when Japanese consul Sugihara offers them visas on one condition: they must deliver a parcel to Tokyo. Inside lies intelligence on Nazi atrocities, evidence so explosive that Nazi and Soviet agents will stop at nothing to possess it. Pursued across Siberia on the Trans-Siberian Express, Zofia faces danger at every turn, racing to expose the truth as Japan edges closer to allying with the Nazis. With the fate of countless lives hanging in the balance, can she complete her mission before time runs out? 'Such an interesting and original book… Informative, full of suspense and thrills.' ~ NetGalley review ...

  Death and The Poet  By Fiona Forsyth Book Title: Death and The Poet Series: The Publius Ovidius Mysteries Author: Fiona Forsyth Publication Date: 20th March 2025 Publisher: Sharpe Books Pages: 361 Genre: Historical mystery Triggers: murder, references to slavery, domestic abuse, alcohol, cancer Tour Schedule 14 AD. When Dokimos the vegetable seller is found bludgeoned to death in the Black Sea town of Tomis, it’s the most exciting thing to have happened in the region for years. Now reluctantly settled into life in exile, the disgraced Roman poet Ovid helps his friend Avitius to investigate the crime, with the evidence pointing straight at a cuckolded neighbour. But Ovid is also on edge, waiting for the most momentous death of all. Augustus, the first Emperor of Rome, is nearing his end, and the future of the whole Roman world is uncertain. Even as far away as Tomis, this political shadow creates tension as the pompous Roman legate Flaccus thinks more of his career than solvi...

I bought this book yesterday and went to bed in the early hours so I have a bit of a sore head today! Scroll down to read my review. Luminous: The Story of a Radium Girl By Samantha Wilcoxson Publication Date: 2nd June 2020 Publisher: Independently published Page Length: 319 Pages Genre: Biographical Fiction / Historical Fiction Amazon A story of female friendship and strength set against corporate corruption. Catherine's life is set on an unexpected course when she accepts a job at Radium Dial. She soon finds out that the excellent pay is no recompense for the evil secret that lurks in the magical glow-in-the-dark paint. Catherine Donohoe takes on the might of a big corporation and becomes an early pioneer of social justice in the era between world wars. Emotive and inspiring - this book will touch you like no other as you witness the devastating impact of radium poisoning on young women's lives. It’s too late for me, but maybe it will help some of the others. ~ Catherine Wolf...

I saw this book today, and I just love the cover and the synopsis. What do you guys think? Will this book be on your to-read list? B.R.A.G. Medallion Honouree, 2023 Global Book Awards Silver Medallist and 2023 Coffee Pot Book Club Gold Medallist. At the end of his Grand Tour, somewhere between Athens and Constantinople, Christian Selwyn, the young Earl of Hazelmere, vanished - seemingly without a trace. Time passes. In London, his uncle and cousin move into his home … while his unofficial fiancée, Sophia, is left desolate and in limbo. Finally, his friends – loyal and close as brothers – set out to search in person, determined to find him and bring him home. Christian’s startling re-appearance at a grand ball hosted by his uncle, takes society by storm and fuels endless speculation. Where has he been during these three missing years? What happened to him? And more importantly, how did it happen? Only one thing is clear. The earl who left England five years ago, has returned a changed m...