Like many women featured in mythological retellings, Rhea Silvia's story is one of heartbreak and injustice. When her grieving father cedes power to his brother, the new king ensures that Rhea won't be a threat to his bloodline by forcing her to join the Vestal Virgins. Before she leaves, a chance encounter with the god Mars changes her life forever. Rhea is a force to be reckoned with and Mother of Rome is a beautiful story of love, grief and rising from the ashes.

Many thanks to Berkley and Netgalley for the ARC.

truly was on fire with my final reads of 2024, this one also took me by surprise - it’s a mythological retelling, which i absolutely adore, and i was obsessed with the way that this makes rhea and the other women of the story the main protagonists and action-takers, in opposition to the way that the myth of the creation of rome so heavily centers on the men. the characters are brilliant and messy and i’m such a huge fan of all the creative liberties that bear took in crafting her version of this story. fellow roman mythology girlies, get ur mitts on this one.

This retelling of the creation of Rome was quite interesting. It started a little slowly for me, but it definitely grew to grabbing my interest. Rhea was a great character and it was interesting to see her tragic life. The writing was good and I felt the history coming to life for me on the pages. Rhea knows nothing will be the same when her last brother dies, but she didn’t expect her father to fall so deeply into addiction that his brother would steal his throne. I love the way the gods were so present and real in this story. I feel like Greek mythology seems to get so much more attention than Roman and it was nice to see this perspective and side. I haven’t read anything by this author before, but I definitely think I will read more in the future.

This is not my typical genre, but I was immediately hooked by this epic book. I know very little about mythology or gods, but I found this entire story captivating. Author Lauren J.A. Bear crafts such deep characters that I felt like I knew them. While big casts typically overwhelm me, I think this story at its core speaks to very universal themes like greed, power and the strength of a mother.

I loved Rhea and Antho so much, what they go through is dark and challenging to read but I was rooting for them all 400 pages! I really enjoyed the main and sub plots this book offered. I’m glad I took the opportunity to expand my reading horizons a bit with Mother of Rome, it moved me to tears by the end and I highly recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley, Ace and Berkley Publishing Group for the opportunity to read a copy of this. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Absolutely gorgeous. You would think a book centered on this particular family drama would be about betrayal and bitterness. Those things are certainly there, but they're not what the book's about. The book is about loyalty and love, about dedication and sacrifice, about what you'll do and what you'll surrender to protect what matters most.

Bear makes a bold creative choice that fits the story so well that it's almost impossible to believe it hasn't always been part of the legend. She gives such life to Rhea and Antho, scraping them up out of the remnants history left them and creating truly wonderful characters. Highly recommend, especially to fans of Madeline Miller and Genevieve Gornichec.

Absolutely blown away. This book was magnificent from start to finish! I know almost nothing about Greek/Roman/Latin legends and stories but the one thing I do know is that when they are compiled into a masterful story and told in an approachable way? I am a sucker for them. It is easy to retell a legend in an okay manner but to do it well is very difficult and Lauren absolutely succeeded. So much talent. I loved this book so much!!!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Lauren J.A. Bear’s first novel, Medusa’s Sisters, was a sharp feminist retelling of the well-known Greek tale. For her second book, Bear has left the Greeks behind and moved on to the Romans, giving us in Mother of Rome a sort of prequel to the Romulus and Remus Found Rome story. Though I found Mother of Rome to be more uneven than Medusa’s Sisters, there’s a lot I liked, including its use of structure, the dual portrayal of resistance, and the number of well-written passages.

At nineteen years old, Rhea Silvia lives a mostly good life as a princess of Alba Longa, the kingdom ruled by her father Numitor, despite the tragedy of having lost her mother and one of her two brothers to illness. But still, she lives in the Regia palace, has her best friend and cousin Antho (dauther of Numitor’s brother Amulius) always by her side, and if she knows she will eventually be married off, her father loves her and will seek a good loving match for her. There’s also the little matter of her having caught the eye of Mars, God of War, having danced with him at a recent festival (though only she knows his true nature).

But when her Uncle Amulius usurps the throne, her life is turned upside down. She is torn from her home and carted off to become a Vestal virgin for the next 30 years. What nobody knows though is that she is no longer a virgin — a death sentence once revealed —, having slept with Mars (planned) and become pregnant (unplanned). Thanks to some divine intervention, she is able to escape the order, and then later, take on the form of a she-wolf the rest of her life. save for the night of the new moon when she regains her human form for a short while. After giving birth to Romulus and Remus, she spends the next years watching over them (yes, as a wolf) and hoping for vengeance on her uncle, but also finding some joy in her interaction with yet another divine being — the local river god.

Meanwhile, back in Alba Longa, Antho is slowing growing into her own quieter sort of resistance, horrified by the methods her father used to take power, appalled by his willingness to use her merely as a political pawn by marrying her off to whatever old man works best to his advantage, and devastated by how she has had to give up her true love.

The book smoothly alternates between Antho and Rhea’s POVs. Rhea’s segments are filled more with action and violence, as several times she must escape those hunting her or must survive on her own. This holds true whether she is in human or animal form, and in fact she must defend herself (or her sons) against both people and other animals. Motherhood is also a major topic throughout Rhea’s portion of the text, presented in a variety of ways, whether it is the fierceness in defense of her children, the sad but necessary resignation of letting them go when it is better for them (rather than for her) to do so, or hopes and fears for their future.

Antho’s segments are less action-oriented, less violent, less bloody. She resists not through fighting but through careful, patient scheming, slowly learning more about what her father has done or has planned and then finding ways to subtly undermine those plans, gradually building up a network of spies and allies. Bear’s depiction of resistance via two modes is one of the book’s strengths — the typically “heroic” fashion of Rhea (the, cough cough, “lone wolf”) running parallel to the less extolled but just as brave method of working from the shadows quietly and little and by little as seen in Antho.
Their characterization is generally solid. Both are survivors, again though in different ways. Rhea is more the typical “feisty heroine”— she says what she thinks, refuses to be bound by strictures, is tenacious and fierce as well as flirty. She gains more depth in motherhood, mostly because it forces her to think outside the narrow vision of vengeance or her own bitterness. Plot-wise, Antho holds her own, and displays as mentioned a different kind of strength, but, and I can’t quite nail down why, she seemed more thin to me in terms of characterization. The other characters, including Romulus and Remus, unfortunately felt undeveloped, though Amulius is given a more nuanced backstory behind is more typical villainry.

Romantic elements appear in both plot strands: Rhea with her two gods and Antho with a Greek slave used as a palace guard. While I personally found this element to be the weakest aspect of the novel — the language felt less original, the scenes more stereotypical, the tone more YA-ish, the divine romances coming seemingly out of the blue — I’ll confess that romance tends not to be my thing generally, so take that criticism with a big grain of salt. Your mileage may certainly vary.

I was more enamored of the feminist lens the story is told through. Both main characters, though acted upon by men in power, as the society is set up to allow/encourage, maintain a sense of agency through their resistance. But also in other ways. Rhea, for instance, is not raped by Mars or in any way “taken” without consent. She enters into a dalliance with Mars fully cognizant of who he is, fully aware there “was no future for them.” Nor does the god wield anywhere near all the power in their relationship. Antho cannot escape being married off — the strictures of society do not allow for that — but that doesn’t preclude her from making her own form of happiness outside that forced marriage. The women are forced into situations, but time and time again they carve out ways to make their own choices, bend their lives in a direction they want them to go. We see other examples of strong women as well — Cybele and Vesta portrayed as powerful amongst the gods, not lesser deities, or Antho’s servant helping her in her plots against her father. Beyond the characters, the theme is also addressed in more overt fashion, as when Antho prays to Mars to “not let them kill her [Rhea] for living. Do not let them bury another women who deserves to rise. Do not let them punish one for the acts of two.”

Pacing was generally smooth throughout, though it did feel at times as if we were gliding through some points that I wouldn’t have minded slowing down through or getting a more full sense of. For instance, I never felt I had a good solid handle on the gods — their interest in Rhea, their powers and interactions, the views of the human characters toward them. It all felt a bit cloudy and even contradictory at times to me. Other such moments occur when we’re told of a major change but don’t really feel it in ensuing events/action, such as when Rhea is shamed when she comes face to face with her obliviousness to the common people’s plight: hunger, injustice, frequent death. Prose-wise, while the dialog sometimes felt a bit awkward or off, there were as mentioned a number of well-written passages or lines that made one pause and linger for a moment.

All in all, as I stated in the intro, Mother of Rome was an uneven book, with some underlying issues that kept me from fully becoming immersed in the story and a bit more time spent on YA-ish romance than I personally prefer (this issue being all on me, not the book/author). But the novel’s strengths outweigh its weaknesses, making it a solid entry in the myth-retelling genre currently inundating the bookshelves.

I loved everything about this book! I am a huge fan of mythology retellings so when I saw Mother of Rome by Lauren J.A. Bear I was very excited. Especially since this is still to day one of the most famous stories of Rome and its origin, with Romulus and Remus at the center. But now we get to see the story of their forgotten mother Rhea Silvia and her journey!

From the start I was immediately drawn in. The writing is amazing! Bear’s writing brings every character, including minor ones, life and gives them such depth. I feel like we know every character and what drives them. The emotions behind the story, especially Rhea’s, were absolutely beautiful. I felt like I could really connect to Rhea and her journey. Rhea’s story is truly empowering!

One of my favorite things about Mother of Rome has to be the mix of myth and history. We have the mix of divine and outside forces commonly seen in myths but then we get historical quotes used throughout the book. These quotes mixed with mythology really made this book for me. I loved that it really makes you think what is truth and what is myth. And for me that is the whole point of myth/lore and what makes retellings so good.

This book is perfect for fans of Jennifer Saint, Madeline Miller, and Natalie Haynes. This was my first book from Lauren J.A. Bear but I will definitely be reading her other book Medusa’s Sisters and any future books!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this arc copy!

Lauren Bear debuted her first novel, Medusa’s Sisters, in 2023, a tale of Greek Mythology focusing on the sisters of Medusa and their relationship to the world and gods around them. It was evocative, compelling, and simply stunning. Bear has a wonderful capacity to take sidelined women and fully draw out their characters in an evocative Greek Myth that stands on its own two feet, outshining their more famous male co-characters.

In her second novel Mother of Rome Bear tackles the story of Rhea Silva, Princess, lover, mother, wolf. Ultimately Rhea is the mother of twins Romulus and Remus who would go on to found the Roman Empire. But the genesis of that great empire lies in the overlooked story of a forgotten princess.

In this tale, Rhea is the only daughter of King Numitor. Her mother and eldest brother were lost to illness years before, and when her youngest brother is taken, grief overwhelms her father and plunges the Kingdom into an opium fueled dream in which brother usurps brother, and princess becomes priestess. Rhea is sentenced by her Uncle to join the Vestal Virgins, to devote the next thirty years to the goddess in bonds of celibacy and service. Unbeknownst to anyone however, Rhea has been courted by the Roman god Mars, and before she takes her vows, she gives herself to him. The resulting pregnancy leaves her sentenced to death, and leaves her Uncle in fear of her missing sons for the rest of his life. However Rhea’s story does not end with death at the hands of the Vestal Virgins. As Mars told her once, she was not destined for any mortal story, and at the moment of death she makes a deal with the goddess Cybele, whom her mother was faithful to, and finds new life in the wilderness with her sons, and with the great river god Tiberinus.

Rhea Silva has many lives in the course of her story, as princess, daughter, and beloved cousin, her life is one of charm and idyllic days. She and her cousin grow together, and dream of their futures. She is realistic and knows she must marry, but Rhea has a loving father, who will not cast her before an unwanted suitor for the sake of kingdom only. Their legacy appears to be one of love and respect. His decline into opium fueled oblivion is tragic, and watching it unfurl, you feel along with Rhea the loss of a beloved father. Their relationship evokes everything I love about the relationship between Elizabeth and Mr Bennet in Pride and Prejudice. Her time spent with the Vestal Virgins is not without its benefits either, though it seems at first blush to be a life sentence and punishment. She learns things about the order that she did not know before, and finds new love and respect for the women there, where once she barely gave their work a second thought. While the women struggle to find a place for Rhea, and ultimately are instrumental in her fall, there is redemption to be found in the bonds of sisterhood, and in the end their story comes full circle and joins with Rhea once more in her final days. Her third life in this story occurs after her first death, in the raising of her sons, and joining with the hill people in community and peace. She learns how to trust again, learns the value of community first hand that her father had instilled in his life before grief took him. With the people of the hills she learns how to put herself to service, and how to work side by side for a greater good even when mistrust is still there.

Then there are the love stories. Rhea’s loves are many, for her father, her cousin, her mother and brothers, sexually for the god Mars, and then a mother’s love for her sons. Her love for the god Tiberinus is the final piece of her love story, and is beautiful and engaging to read. The final scenes where the gods come together to discuss Rhea is one of the most delightful scenes in the story.

However the love story that lingers long after you close the book, is that of Rhea’s cousin Antho and the Roman guard Leandros. Antho is the daughter of the King’s brother, who becomes the King’s daughter in the wake of her father’s treachery. She is not loved well by either parent, but is loved by Rhea and her family so very well. There is no jealousy in Antho, no bitterness, but there is abounding love and an abundance of resilience. Rhea’s story may be elaborate and the main thrust of the narrative. But the quiet story of Antho, the maligned princess, being forced into a political marriage, who bides her time with patience and fortitude, building her own empire of trust within the kingdom, is simply stunning. Her love and the reciprocal love of the guard Leandros is an amazing juxtaposition to the life and loves of Rhea. Their love is strong and sound, it runs deeper than the Tiber, and survives all that is thrown against it. The agency of Antho in the relationship is profound, and she claims full control of her own life, love, and body, even when forced into marriage with an odious elder statesman. Antho is in control within the circumstances she finds herself, and when Rhea has need, Antho answers the call every time.

The love story between Antho and Rhea surfaces through all of this. Where a lesser writer might have written of envy and jealousy between cousins, Bear writes love and support. Where you might expect the lesser cousin to glory and revel in her own rise and want to keep her cousin down, Antho wants nothing more than to restore her cousins’ honor and glory. For both stars to rise, for them to be reunited once more in a better kingdom. For everyone who adored that moment in Frozen where the true love of sisters broke the curse, the relationship between Antho and Rhea will fill your heart tenfold.

After Bear’s debut novel, I was excited to get my hands on her next story and this book surpassed all my expectations. I was excited back then to see what she would tackle next and I am even more excited now. Her growth as a writer is evident in her devotion and skill with lyrical prose and in the relationships she crafts with skill. For any one with a love of myth or female centric stories, Mother of Rome will delight long after you turn the last page.

GeekMom received a copy of this book for review purposes.

4.5 Stars
WOW. The second I started reading this, I knew I was going to love it.
It’s been a long time since I heard the myth of Romulus and Remus and I knew next to nothing about their mother, Rhea Silvia. Mother of Rome was a FANTASTIC reimagining based on Rhea's life. I was captivated from start to finish.

I loved Rhea. Her story is tragic but despite this, she’s incredibly strong and brave. Her character development throughout her journey was nothing short of amazing.
Nothing is stronger than her love for her sons, not even death. I absolutely loved the way the wolf from the myth was incorporated into Rhea’s story.

Alongside Rhea, we also follow her cousin Antho. I loved the bond they shared and really enjoyed Antho’s storyline and her forbidden romance with a guard named Leandros.

Overall, this is a beautifully written reimagining full of feminine rage, romance, politics and motherhood. If you’re a fan of mythological retellings I definitely recommend picking this up!

Thank you Ace/Berkley for my free ARC of Mother of Rome by Lauren J.A. Bear — available Jan 7!

» READ IF YOU «
🏛️ can't get enough of mythology retellings
👩‍🎤 love a badass heroine who fights for her loved ones
🐺 think you could probably bed a god or two...

» SYNOPSIS «
Rhea Silvia's father loses his kingdom in a well-timed coup, and our princess finds herself tossed to the Vestal Virgins, destined to miss out on love and motherhood. Except. A late-night visit from an Olympian will leave Rhea in a state that the Vestals can't abide, and when they cast her out, everyone assumes she's done for. But Rhea is stronger than anyone knows, and will do whatever it takes for her unborn babes and their future glories...

» REVIEW «
My. GIRL! Lauren. Does. It. Again! I absolutely loved [book:Medusa's Sisters|63273108] when I read an early copy of it in 2023, so I had such high expectations for this book. And I was not disappointed! Lush, gripping, and packed with characters I couldn't help but root for, I found myself sucked into this story from the very beginning. Rhea is such a complex, detailed character, and I'm thrilled to see her get the star treatment here instead of the mere footnote she gets in the "other" versions of this Roman myth.

And the men, honestly the men aren't too hateful in this book—with one glaring exception—though they are not the focal point at all. And Antho, how could I forget her so far, what a lovely and lovable character. Even Claudia! Heartbreaking. Anyways. That's enough of my scattered review, just read this book if you enjoy mythology retellings with badass women. Or wolves. Same thing.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

firstly, thank you to the publisher and goodreads for my arc!

i love mythological retellings, but sometimes it can get exhausting reading the same myths over and over through a different author. lauren j. a. bear takes a popular myth that surprisingly has never been retold (at least, i’ve never read a one) and creates a brand new story full of sacrifice and motherhood.

the myth of romulus and remus being raised by a she-wolf is common and well-known for those who have studied greek/roman mythology, but who was their biological mother? well, lauren j. a. bear tells you it was the she-wolf! in mother of rome, we are introduced to rhea silvia and her backstory prior to her becoming a mother — the betrayal of her uncle, becoming a vestial virgin, and her relationship with mars and tiberinus. but most importantly, her death and subsequent transformation into the she-wolf.

i have never read a retelling with mars as the romantic partner, and i really enjoyed bear’s portrayal of the war god. i also enjoyed her portrayal of the titan/old river god tiberinus.

i have also read her debut focusing on medusa and her sisters, and i think lauren j. a. bear has solidified herself as a reliable and unique author of mythological retellings.

A new entry into the mythology retelling trend that immediately puts itself at the top of the genre. It's nice to see lesser known myths take center stage and be given attention, and this one does it so well that I want to know so much more about all of the history and characters involved. Poweful women, a mother's love, enduring friendships, Mother Of Rome has it all. A must-read.

Wow. I love retellings and let me tell you, this one was INCREDIBLE. Mother of Rome is a reimagining of the Roman myth of Romulus and Remus, the twin sons of Rhea Silvia, told in the perspective of Rhea. Her story is brought to life in such breathtaking ways. Bear combines well-researched historical facts and legends with fascinating magical realism, divine intervention, and a strong thread of female empowerment. It gives life to an important woman often ignored in history and mythology.

The character development in this retelling blew me away. Each character has immense depth, relatable flaws, and uplifting strengths. The author gives phenomenal insight into the thoughts and motives behind their beliefs and actions. Even the side characters are given the same care and attention. All of this is done without it feeling heavy or irrelevant to the storyline. I was completely engrossed by every person and god in this book.

There is a strong theme of female empowerment woven throughout the book, and I couldn’t get enough. Rhea Silvia is brought to life, and I am now her biggest fan. I cannot wait to read Lauren J. A. Bear’s other novel! This is a must-read.

Big thanks to Berkley Publishing Group for the gifted eARC!

ab urbe conditita, in the year of the city's founding, 753 BCE.

Most writers in Western antiquity used this expression to date an event. All things in reference to Rome. So what came before the founding? Author Lauren Bear consults the experts - Livy, Tacitus, Suetonius, Plutarch, plus the inestimable classicist Mary Beard - and recreates an imaginative story that blends the two mythical mothers of Rome, the human Rhea Silvia and the she-wolf, into one solitary figure.

Rhea Silvia gives birth, of course, to the legendary twins Romulus and Remus, the elder of whom would go on to unite the seven hills of Latium and found the city of Rome. Bear gives a beautiful and tragic background to this legend, as gods and goddesses walk the land and interact with mortals, both royal and common alike. I stayed up too late last night reading this tale, which for me is always the mark of a gripping story.

Kudos to the author on a great book! And my thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity.

A captivating retelling of the Roman legend of Romulus, Remus, and their formidable mother, Rhea. The changes the author made to the original myth were well done and suited to the story.

There were a few grammatical things, and the language was not as flowery as similar novels in the genre (Circe), but regardless, Mother of Rome was well-paced and enjoyable to read. I loved the sisterly relationship between Rhea and Antho, and the strength and fierceness of womanhood, and specifically motherhood, were deeply felt.

Thanks to the author, Netgalley, and Berkley Publishing for this eARC!

Medusa's Sisters was my favorite book read in 2023, so I had very high hopes for Mother of Rome and I was NOT disappointed! I absolutely love how Lauren J. A. Bear writes. I only knew a little about the Romulus and Remus origin story so it all felt new to me. As in Medusa's Sisters I loved how well-developed the characters are and how true the relationships between the characters feel, Rhea and Antho specifically in this book. I can't wait to read whatever Lauren J.A. Bear writes next!

I am not a Classics person, and I was not very familiar with the legend of Romulus and Remus. Consequently, I got a bit of a slow start with this book and wasn’t super excited to read it at first. I was completely wrong! This book was fantastic. I absolutely loved Rhea and Antho, both powerful women with so much complexity and love in their lives. The ancient Gods in this story were great too. This reminded me of a more “girl power” version of The Song of Achilles in some ways. Highly recommended!

Thank you to the publisher - I received a complimentary eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A beautiful re-telling of the origin story of Romulus and Remus and the start of the Roman empire. Before the twins, there was their mother, Rhea Silvia, a princess of Latvia. Headstrong and beautiful, Rhea overcomes a coup and countless hardships to bring about her sons' destinies.
This story was everything. I can't remember the last time a character stayed with me the way Rhea has.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley/Ace for this digital e-arc.*

Fans of the current flood of retelling of myths and legends will thoroughly enjoy this look at Rhea, mother of Romulus and Remus, the founders of what would become the Roman Empire. Here story features typical and enraging mistreatment by gods and men which led her to the circumstances of the birth of her twins. The author does a fabulous job of imaging Rhea's thoughts, feelings, and actions and spins those into a fully captivating story of the birth of one of mankind's greatest and most brutal empires. This was a hard one to put down. Very well done and recommended.