Thursday, April 14, 2011

Book Review & Giveaway: Daughters of Rome by Kate Quinn

Daughters of Rome by Kate Quinn
Publish Date: April 5th 2011
Format: Paperback 400pp

Synopsis (From the Publisher):
"A.D. 69. The Roman Empire is up for the taking. The Year of Four Emperors will change everything-especially the lives of two sisters with a very personal stake in the outcome. Elegant and ambitious, Cornelia embodies the essence of the perfect Roman wife. She lives to one day see her loyal husband as Emperor. Her sister Marcella is more aloof, content to witness history rather than make it. But when a bloody coup turns their world upside-down, both women must maneuver carefully just to stay alive. As Cornelia tries to pick up the pieces of her shattered dreams, Marcella discovers a hidden talent for influencing the most powerful men in Rome. In the end, though, there can only be one Emperor...and one Empress."


My Review:

The Cornelii cousins have always been inseparable, and though their marriages might not be equally blissful, they have all been smiled upon by Fortuna in some unique way. As the announcement of the Emperor's heir draws near, the four Cousins see themselves bound for glory and secure positions, but when the unthinkable happens their prospects are cruelly ripped away. Forced to live in constant upheaval and uncertainty, jealousy and vengeance soon begins to tear them apart. And as the struggle for power in Rome continues, these daughters of Rome must learn to let go of their ambitions and come together once more, or they will become no better than those who destroyed their family in the quest for the supreme title of Emperor.

Last year I was amazed by Kate Quinn's debut novel, Mistress of Rome(my review). From the very first page I was mesmerized and it quickly became one of my favorite reads of 2010. Therefore, when I discovered there would be a prequel, I could not have been more elated and I eagerly awaited its release all year. Well, I can definitely say that Daughters of Rome was well worth the wait!

In the very first chapter, the characters took on a very personable and lifelike persona. I was quickly absorbed into the plot and I did not stop reading until the last word was read. This is a fast paced novel that's full of intrigue, and one that is bound to have you emotionally involved.

Kate Quinn did a splendid job of blending in the characters that appear in Mistress of Rome. So well, in fact, that I am eager to re-read Mistress of Rome to see if I have a bit more compassion or understanding towards a couple characters... though the Emperor is definitely not one for whom I might reconsider my feelings.

If you haven't read Mistress of Rome, don't worry, this novel holds its own perfectly. That being said, I would highly recommend Mistress of Rome as well as Daughters of Rome, for both are spellbinding novels and worthy of the highest praise!

Be sure to take a look at the lovely guest post Kate Quinn created for our delight:  
Guest Post by Kate Quinn

 FTC: I received this book from the publisher. As always, these are my own honest opinions.
___________________________________________


Thanks to the generosity of Penguin Publishing Group, I have one copy of Daughters of Rome to give away! To enter please follow the guidelines below:


Giveaway Guidelines:

~10 possible entries~

  • +1 entry for posting a comment and leaving your e-mail. (no comment with e-mail = no entry) 
  • +5 entries for becoming a Follower, or already being a Follower. (if possible, please follow through "google friend connect" so I can verify) 
  • + 3 entries for adding a link to this giveaway on your sidebar or for posting about it on your blog. (please post link with your comment) 
  • + 1 entry for tweeting about this giveaway. (please post link with your comment) 

~Please post all your entries in one comment, thanks :)
~This giveaway will be open to USA/Canada residents only.
~Ends April 29th~


Good Luck everyone!





Photobucket
Copyright © 2011 Svea Love. All Rights Reserved.

28 comments:

Unknown said...

Thanks for sharing your review! I'd love to be entered in the drawing - here's my comment (*g*), and I'm a follower through GFC. Thanks for the opportunity!

Kimberly Sue said...

+1 This book is definitely on my To be Read list!
kimbers10[at]yahoo[dot]com

+5 I am a GFC follower.
+1 I tweeted this giveaway!
twitter.com/kdaze10

brokenteepee said...

Thank you.
I am a long time follower
kaiminani at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

Oohh...sounds like a great read

+1 mk261274 at gmail dot com

+5 GFC follower mk261274

Sarah M said...

I love this time period. Sounds like a great read.

helpersarah2009@gmail.com
GFC follower as Sarah

Amy said...

I LOVED Mistress of Rome, and I am so excited about this book, too! Thanks so much for this fantastic giveaway! :-)

+1 Comment
+5 Longtime Follower

Amy
tiger_fan_1997 AT yahoo DOT com

Vivien said...

Thanks for the great giveaway!
+1 comment
+5 old follower

Vivien
deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com

Rachel said...

I'm a follower- thanks for the giveaway!

Rachelhwallen@gmail.com

Bookworm Lisa said...

This looks like a good book.

+1 Comment
+5 follower
+1 tweeted.
https://twitter.com/#!/Bookworm_Lisa/status/59002082631499777

ke7yca at gmail dot com

Carrie at In the Hammock Blog said...

I have the first one on my shelf and it looks so good!! Thank you for the contest!!

+1 comment

+5 old follower

+3 sidebar link: http://inthehammockblog.blogspot.com/

Thank you!!

inthehammockblog at gmail dot com

loveangel132 said...

thanks for such a great give away, love roman empire books!!

+1 comment
+5 old follower (loveangel132) GFC

loveangel132@yahoo.com
Heidi

Shannon said...

Thank you for including me. =)

+5 I'm a follower.

tiredwkids at live dot com

TheGirlOnFire said...

Thanks so much!

+1 comment
+5 old gfc follower

thegirlonfire27

thegirlonfire27 at gmail dot com

Carole Rae said...

I can NOT wait until I can get this book in my hands! ^.^

Laura at Library of Clean Reads said...

I love anything to do with Rome. Please enter me.
+1 comment laura at laurafabiani dot com
+5 I am an old follower
Thanks for this giveaway.

Unknown said...

Rome isn't my fave ancient civilization but it's still pretty darn cool! I'd love to read this book.

+1 comment (samanthalstevens [at] yahoo [dot] com)

+3 posted about the giveaway on my blog (http://modernscribe.blogspot.com/2011/04/giveaway-of-daughters-of-rome-at.html)

+1 tweeted (http://twitter.com/#!/SamLauraStevens/statuses/59451517371035649)

Joanne said...

Thank you, Svea! Would love to enter!

joannemccabe(at)cox(dot)net +1

long time follower +5

Andra Lyn said...

Thanks for the review! I would love to enter!!!

hense1kk AT cmich DOT edu

+1 comment
+5 follower ( hense1kk)
+1 Tweeted
http://twitter.com/#!/hense1kk/status/59747095191629824

<3

Literary Chanteuse said...

I would love to win this one! Thanks!

Margaret
singitm@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

+1 comment
+5 for being a follower (martinak_75)
+1 for a tweet

And I Facebooked it too :D

martinack_75 AT hotmail DOT com

4everQueen said...

+1 I would love a chance to win D of R, thank you!
+5 Im a follower thru Google Connect.
~Bella

Nunezbella at hotmail dotcom

Unknown said...

This sounds like it is a fascinating book. I've read great reviews of both it and Mistress of Rome. Would love to win a copy!

Thanks so much,
Jules

GFC Follower!

Anonymous said...

Just browsing around your site makes me want to follow your blog! I found my way here through Twitter and now I'm hooked! Here's my info:

mfantalis(at)hotmail(dot)com

I tweeted the contest at mfantaliswrites on Twitter

Thanks! :)

IngaSilberg said...

You have so amazing giveaway books! Thank you!
+1 inga(dot)kupp(at)gmail(dot)com

+5 GFC inga
+1 tweeted https://twitter.com/#!/IngaSilberg

June M. said...

This book looks great. I love the setting in Rome and the cover is so beautiful, both the dresses and the view! Thank you for the giveaway. Have a wonderful day!

GFC follower: June M.
manning_j2004 at yahoo dot com
+1 comment w/email
+5 follower

Laura H. said...

Thanks for the giveaway! There's something about this cover...I love it!

+1 Comment
+5 Already follow via GFC (MamaHendo3).
+1 Tweeted giveaway: http://twitter.com/#!/MamaHendo3/status/62008523726401536

BornajhawkATaolDOTcom

Meredith said...

I love historicals, but can only think of one that went back this far in time!

+1 comment
+5 gfc follower

meredithfl at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I have read such good reviews of this book. The interviews and posts by the author have been great. +1

GFC Follower as librarypat. +5

Tweeted giveaway:
http://twitter.com/pbbearclaw/status/62692567795507200 +1

librarypat AT comcast DOT net