The Secret History: A Novel of Empress Theodora by Stephanie Marie Thornton

The Secret History: A Novel of Empress Theodora Reviews

• 
  Ashley Marie

  4.5-5 stars.
  
  June group read with Historical Fictionistas
  
  GIVE ME ALL THE STEPHANIE THORNTON BOOKS. RIGHT NOW. Seriously though, this was a fantastic read. I found myself immediately sucked into the ancient world and charmed by Theodora's feisty personality. After that, it was easy to be in her corner for the rest of the book-- and lemme tell you, she goes through some pretty tough stuff all before the age of eighteen, let alone all the drama that happens later in her life. Holy cheese. If you love kickass, take-no-prisoners characters, read this. If you love feisty ladies, read this. If you're at all interested in the later period of the Roman empire, read this.
• 
  Historical Fiction

  Find this and other reviews at:
  http://flashlightcommentary.blogspot....
  
  Arguably one of the most powerful women in history of the yzantine Empire, Theodora was the wife of Emperor Justinian I. Noted as savior of her husband's throne, she used her prominent position and political acumen to her advantage during his reign, promoting a personal agenda of social and religious reform. Immortalized in the ancient mosaics of the Basilica of San Vitale, her regal likeness does credit to her legacy, but offers little insight to the woman beneath the golden halo of jewels and richly adorned robes of state. Where did regal lady come from? Who might she have been? What are the details of her story? These questions have taunted historians and chroniclers for centuries, but today serve an additional purpose, as they are the basis and inspiration behind Stephanie Thornton's The Secret History.
  
  Beneath Thornton's pen, the Byzantine Empire comes alive - the dark depravity of life on her streets as well as the glittering splendor and pageantry enjoyed by her privileged elite. An ardent admirer of the history of this piece, I desperately needed this story to feel authentic. Theodora's is a tale of drive and ambition, a complex story that couldn't unfold against pale shades of brown and beige. Thornton understood this from the very beginning, embracing the ugly realities of life in the ancient world, vividly illustrating its shadowy underbelly with as much enthusiasm as she does its wine soaked palaces and silk draped villas.
  
  Thornton's characterization of Theodora is also very unique. Having a certain appreciation for her historic counterpart, I was surprised by how easy it was to embrace this fictional interpretation. Here again, I needed it to work - Thornton's Theodora had to be someone I could both empathize and admire, someone who balanced vulnerability and strength, someone who fit the historic outline but at the same time defied all expectation. Yes, it was a high order, and yes, it was probably unfair to impose such demands on a debut author, but I make no apologies and in truth, Thornton wouldn't need them if I did. The Theodora that appears in The Secret History exhibits these qualities with such affect that one forgets she is crafted from ink on a page, she is believable from the first, a striking heroine that embodies every quality one would expect her real life counterpart to have possessed.
  
  I realize readers aren't exactly used to my gushing over novels, but it does happen and this is what it looks like. The Secret History is a brilliantly absorbing and entertaining novel, the type of book that finds you sitting in bed at two in the morning hanging on the author's every word... I hesitate to compare Thornton to my favorite authors - I have a standard policy of reading at least two, if not three, of an author's books before adding any name to that prestigious list, but I can definitely say, without reservation, that I look forward to reading Thornton's work in future and hold great hopes for her sophomore release.
• 
  Sonja Arlow

  I read
  The Tiger Queens: The Women of Genghis Khan about 2 years ago and was really impressed how this author took unknown women of history and make them come alive. I can highly recommend the story of Genghis Kahn’s wife and daughters. So, I could not help comparing my experience of that book with this one.
  
  This is the author’s debut novel and I can see she was still finding her voice as a writer.
  
  This is rags to riches story of a girl from the gutters of Constantinople who becomes a whore at 13, a mother at 14 and finally rising to become the Empress of Constantinople.
  
  I always find it interesting to see what direction an author takes when building a story around a historical figure we know very little about. In this case the author focused more on the juicy salacious side rather than the very real contributions Theodora made to destitute women of the time once she got in power.
  
  This figure is haled as powerful, clever and shrewd however in this book (especially the 2nd half) she is shown to make huge blunders, impulsive errors and irresponsible decisions I would not associate with power and intellect.
  
  Although I was a little disappointed with the focus of the story I am glad I read it. But if you have never read anything by this author I would suggest starting with
  The Tiger Queens: The Women of Genghis Khan.
• 
  Michelle Stockard Miller

  I am sad to say that for all my knowledge of history, I really know almost nothing of Empress Theodora. What a story I have missed out on! A woman who rose from less than nothing to become the most powerful woman in the Byzantine empire. A truly inspiring story.I am very impressed that this is Stephanie Thornton's first novel. It is an excellent piece of historical fiction. The reader can tell that she has a passion for history...the research she put into this novel really shows. But it's not only the historical aspects that really shine. The characters are interesting and engaging. Theodora especially is a heroine to root for again and again. I mean, who doesn't love a rags to riches story? But this is a story that beats all stories of that type, in my opinion. When we look at a character like Theodora, what she had to overcome to rise so far, our hardships in life seem to pale in comparison.It's a rare treat to read a novel that is not only interesting and entertaining, but also an inspiration that all things can be overcome with a little faith and a lot of pluck. I'm so glad that I was given the opportunity to review Stephanie's first book and I'm so looking forward to her next release.
   
  Read more of my reviews at
  http://thetruebookaddict.blogspot.com/
• 
  Jessie (Ageless Pages Reviews)

  Read
  This Review & More Like It On
  Ageless Pages Reviews!
  
  

  "I both dreaded and feared to reach so high. It only meant I had further to fall."
  The Secret History, ARC p.254

  
  
  Stephanie Thornton proves that not all debut novels have to feel and read like debuts. The Secret History is a dense, detailed, atmospheric, and just an endlessly fascinating look at one of history's forgotten women. In a time where a woman was property, with little to no power of her own, this pleb-turned-patrician created her own opportunities and seized power for herself and her husband. Thornton ably recreates Theodora's tumultuous life from early age, steeped in poverty, to her triumphant, if troubled, reign as Augusta of the Byzantine Empire. Though this passionate and intelligent Empress has been largely overlooked by most historians and historical fiction writers, and even though I already knew her life story before reading The Secret History, this is a book that makes reading this unlikely pauper-to-princess tale firsthand utterly compelling.
  
  This is a book that takes many harsh turns over the course of its 450 pages; there is rape, abuse, torture, prostitution, and endless extramarital affairs. However this is not a salacious novel - whatever Theodora had to do to survive, she did. Though she was many things - intelligent, stubborn, secretive, pragmatic, quick-tempered, brave, arrogant - above all, she was a survivor. Cast into poverty by her father's death and her abandonment by her political faction, Theodora and her sister Comito become actresses to help their mother and younger sister live. Her life may not always be easy to read about (from the clinical, cold loss of her virginity, to her abuse and abandonment in a foreign port at only 16) but Thornton builds from these desperate situations to recreate a version of the woman who was smart and wanted much more than to be a pawn of the men in her life and bed. From those who loved and supported her to those her saw her as no more than an up-jumped whore, you could not deny that Theodora was always a woman to be reckoned with.
  
  Theodora as the main character and first person narrator is the best part of The Secret History. Through her observant eyes, the reader gets a vivid look at life in different stations during Constantinople under the reign of three different Emperors (Anastasius, Justin, and her husband Justinian). From poverty to notoriety to infamy, Theodora could not be ignored by her society as she made her way toward Justinian and eventually the throne. She is captivating and compelling, even when she is at her worst or when she makes the wrong decision. The characterization of Theodora evolves deftly throughout the narrative; from the beginning it is obvious that Thornton has a passion for crafting well-defined and multi-dimensional characters. Her Theodora is smart and strong-willed, but she is far from perfect and thus much more interesting to read about.
  
  There is an abundance of well-defined characters in the book. The secondary characters of Antonina and Justinian especially reap the benefits of Thornton's strong characterization. The relationships the Theodora forges with each are complicated - Anotinia evolves from a one-note antagonist to a close friend and helpful supporter. Stephanie Thornton takes extra time and detail to craft a faithful but interesting representation of the Emperor Justinian. Of all the things shown about this ambitious man, his love for Theodora is paramount and The Secret History subtly takes care to show how his regard for his wife both helps and hurts his goals as Emperor. Their relationship goes through phases of struggle and accord, but through it all, Thornton shows Theodora to be the equal of her imperial husband in every way. Even when they find themselves at odds, the relationship between them is complex and engaging to read about.
  
  Politics play a huge part in the life of Theodora and in the main plot of the novel. Weaving in historical events - the Nika riots, the general Belisarius's threat to her/Justinian's reign, etc. - within the narrative frame, the author recreates political intrigue with personal struggle equally well. A huge strength of The Secret History is that the story is just as compelling when it focuses on the machinations and schemes of those factions that surround the Augustus and his Augusta. The details and aims for opposing factions can make for a bit of drier reading, but the author doesn't linger overlong on ancient political agendas. And though Theodora is remembered for her support of
  Miaphysite Christianity, religion is also not a huge aspect of the novel.
  
  Stephanie Thornton skillfully interweaves fact with fiction, supposition with authorial discretion, all to the benefit of the novel. As the immensely readable author's note says, Thornton takes history into her own hands to fashion a better narrative for her readers. Certain characters have liberties taken with their actions and history, but it fosters more conflict for Theodora to contend with as the novel winds to a close. New reasons are created for actions not explained historically, and the decisions Thornton makes allow for a more cohesive view of Theodora and Justinian's lives.
  
  The first in a series about some of history's "forgotten women", The Secret History is impressive. It's a great launching point for such a series and under this author's talented vision, I have complete faith the sequels (about Hatshepsut, and Genghis Khan's wife and daughters) will be just as detailed and engrossing. A full 5/5 stars, for while minor issues pop up (pacing), this is one of the best historical fiction novels I've had the pleasure to read. Ever. Readers will be entertained by this interesting, complicated, powerful woman who seized the opportunities that came her way, regardless of how society thought she should behave. Theodora is a fascinating woman and Stephanie Thornton's version is a well-rendered and thoughtful depiction of both her and her remarkable life.
• 
  Jenny Q

  
  Author Interview @ Let Them Read Books!
  
  This was one of my most anticipated summer releases; I wanted it from the moment I saw that gorgeous cover and read the description, and the story lived up to the exotic decadence it promised! The Secret History is a solid historical fiction debut, compelling, entertaining, and enlightening, with all the hallmarks of a juicy-good read, especially if you're a fan of strong, clever, realistically portrayed historical heroines, and really, who isn't?
  
  I won't go much into plot, for life holds many setbacks and twists of fate for our Theodora as she rises from street urchin to actress to empress, and I don't want to spoil any of it, but I will tell you Theodora is a fantastic character. I was completely engrossed in her story as she navigated the backstabbings and betrayals of the theater world and then of the political world. Brash and smart-mouthed, resourceful and resilient, yet tenderhearted and achingly vulnerable at times, I cringed at her mistakes and cheered her triumphs. And she's not the only great character. I was impressed with Ms. Thornton's ability to craft such rich characterization in a large cast of supporting and tertiary figures.
  
  The time period has been meticulously researched and depicted -- the entire novel is a treat for the senses. The sights, scents, and sounds of sixth-century Constantinople come to life, from dirty alleys to sparkling bathhouses, dank theaters to the sun-baked Hippodrome, cold hovels to vibrant palaces, and houses of sin to houses of the holy. Entwined with the lush description are the customs and mores and societal restrictions of the times, and vignettes of human nature in all its shades of gray. And like the Roman Empire itself, Theodora's world is not for the faint of heart. Violence, bloodlust, abuse, and sex abound. Stir in some jealousy, lust, ambition, and finally, love, and the reader becomes completely immersed in the layers of the story.
  
  I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I couldn't put it down, but there are a couple of things which prevent me from calling it perfect. I had some trouble following the passage of time toward the end of the novel and found myself flipping back to see if I'd missed some things, and the ending seemed a bit rushed. And while the historical detail and characterization are excellent, the writing style lacks a bit of the eloquence I associate with the top-tier novels in the genre. But with a debut like this and two more potentially fascinating novels on the way -- about Hatshepsut and Genghis Khan's wife -- I think Ms. Thornton has a promising career ahead of her and is on her way to joining the ranks of my favorite ancient historical fiction authors.
• 
  Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~*

  Setting: Sixth Century Constantinople.
  
  3 1/2 stars for this reader.
  
  After Theodora's father dies suddenly, she is desperate to keep her family from starving and has to resort to making a living and money with first her body and then with her talents on the stage. Theodora slowly begins moving in more powerful circles and it is in that realm that she meets the Emperor's handsome nephew, who falls in love with her. Though she flourishes as his personal courtesan, Theodora must consider what will happen once he hands her a crown...and whether she can handle it. This is a story of a woman who rises from the ashes to fame. A well written story by this author,as she gives us a strong intelligent and tough character who deals with things as she rises to the top. But I have to be honest,even though Theodora was well written about, I did find that the novel suffered from being a bit dense for me. I felt at times I was reading from an encyclopedia rather than a historical novel at times and would have liked a little more background history on the time period in Constantinople. But for the most part,because the character herself took center stage of the story and I really liked her which made it easy to overlook those moments.
• 
  Gretchen

  Now what am I suppose to do?
  In the last three and a half days, I devoured two of
  Stephanie Thornton's novels. I probably would have finished in less time if it wasn't necessary to stop for things like sleep, food, and children. Now I have to wait until December for
  The Conqueror's Wife: A Novel of Alexander the Great. Life can be so unfair sometimes.
  Venturing into another one of the periods of history I know little about, this story is that of the Empress Theodora, who most people know came from a less than squeaky background. Thornton has an immense talent for bringing history to life. The details are vivid. The stories are heartbreakingly (My spell check says that's not a word. I beg to differ.) beautiful.
  This novel might be a considered by some to be a little on the "trashy" side but to me, it didn't distract from the story. None of the scenes seemed out of place or excessive. After all we are talking about a woman who was known to be a prostitute before marrying the man who would go on to rule an empire.
• 
  Aubrey McFate

  Are you kidding me with all these good reviews? No book that uses the word "snarky" should get to call itself historical fiction. EVER.
  
  Plot summary: Carrie Bradshaw and friends time-travel to the Byzantine Empire, with issues of Cosmo and rabbit vibes firmly in hand. Theodora does things that indicate she is too stupid to live; Justinian loves her anyway because he is a buffoon who doesn't know how to rule. Everybody speaks like an extra from a mid-90s teen movie. The reader braces for the inevitable scene of intercourse with a steaming apple pie, but it never comes. Plot holes gape so wide that a convoy of semi trucks drive through them, honking and dragging several rusty bikes across the pavement, shooting sparks into the air. History stabs itself in the eye and keels over, while Theodora brandishes her knock-off Coach bag, sips from her apple flirtini, and minces off to her death in her Louboutins, long after she should have done it and spared the reader the torment of reading another line of banality so intense it should come with a warning label. Meanwhile, Stephanie Thornton laughs all the way to the bank.
  
  The genre is dead.
  
  Good night.
  
  
• 
  Linda

  Only a handful of books get five stars from me. The fifth star is an endorsement of the story itself and the way the author delivered it. I leave other reviewers to tell the story of Theodora and Justinian while I praise the author's style. No doubt her writing mechanics were excellent, but her making climatic scenes of all the storylines is what intrigued me most. I never tired of reading Theodora's history, and that is quite a feat! The money paid for this book was money well spent. Thank you to the friend who recommended the book to me.
  
  Thank you, Ms. Thornton, for a Good Read.
• 
  Natasa

  I love a good historical fiction novel, and Ms. Thornton didn't disappoint. A Secret History is full of wonderful characters, and a lovely book for historical fiction lovers. You can find full review on my blog:
  https://poetryofreading.blogspot.com/...
• 
  Rio (Lynne)

  It was refreshing to read about Theodora, a not so well known Empress and sixth century Constantinople. I was not familiar with her and Justinian's reign, so I went into this book with an open mind. It begins with Theodora's life as a poor child, who sold herself in theatre and prostitution. We watch her climb the social status ladder and see her sufferings. When she meets Justinian her life changes. I enjoyed the author's notes. She explains what is known and what isn't. She stayed pretty much with the facts and explains where she embellished. I respect when author's do that and don't rewrite history. At times the dialogue was too modern and the feisty chemistry Theodora exuded with men seemed like the author was trying too hard, but overall I really enjoyed Thornton's first novel and I look forward to her next book Daughter of The Gods.
  
  
• 
  Reeda Booke

  I am surprised that this is the author's first book because I thought it was phenomenal! I loved her writing and the way she told this story. It transported me back to ancient Rome with her imagery of the sights, sounds and smell, along with the culture of the time and how difficult it was for the women to make any sort of life for themselves. It's amazing to see how this woman rose from nothing to eventually become Empress and to win the love of the Emperor despite her history.
  For all those who love historical fiction, I definitely recommend this book! I will definitely be looking forward this author's future works.
  She mentioned writing a book on Hatshepsut (I absolutely love ancient Egypt), and one about the wife and daughters of Ghengis Khan. I can't wait!
  
  I received this book for free on Goodreads First Reads.
• 
  Veronica

  I can't join the chorus of praise for this novel, but I did finish it -- after getting a bit bogged down about a third in, while Theodora struggled to raise herself from prostitution by grabbing a rich patron (bodice-ripping alert).
  
  I did know the basics of Theodora's story because I have read a couple of excellent novels by
  Gillian Bradshaw set during her reign. So I had expectations for what she would be like. Thornton has created a strong, vivid character, who is constantly being praised for her cleverness, but my main problem with her was that she was deceitful, vindictive, and ... often stupid. I can accept her acting impulsively and foolishly when she is only fifteen or sixteen, but once she has long experience of power she is still driven by emotion to act like an idiot. At one point she decides to frame one of Justinian's favoured advisors, so that he will be accused of treason. Hours before he is due to walk into her trap, she, um, tells both her daughter and Justinian the whole story, giving the emperor time to warn his friend. She treats other characters who helped her when she was a poverty-stricken actress disgracefully, to preserve her own interests. This could be a minor point, but the real Theodora inspired Justinian's lifelong love, and loyalty from servants such as Narses, as well as overcoming considerable prejudice and opposition in her rise to power. I don't see how this rather unattractive, crude character could have done this. But Theodora is somewhat redeemed in the last third of the book, as she finally seems to grow up.
  
  It must be hard to find the right tone when writing dialogue in historical novels. You don't want a lot of thee-ing and thou-ing, but nor do you want it to sound too modern. I felt the language and attitudes here veered a bit too far towards the modern, particularly in the relationship between Antonina and Theodora, who often sound and behave like American high-school students.
  
  I realise this review sounds rather negative. With Gillian Bradshaw in a writing slump I keep hoping to find someone to replace her. Thornton isn't that person, but she does deserve three stars for a well-researched and lively novel, making good use of historical fact and her own imagination, even if it's not to my taste. I think I'll go and reread
  The Bearkeeper's Daughter now!
• 
  Pam

  Fascinating look at the life of a "forgotten woman of history", Empress Theodora, of the 6th century, and her rise to power from prostitution (and general lewdness), to the most powerful woman the Roman Empire would ever know. Not always likable, but certainly complex, her story was completely engrossing and interesting. I couldn't wait to get to the author's note at the end to see if I could determine which twists were actually factual and which were embellished. Although this was no romance book, one of the best parts of the book for me was the relationship between Theodora and her husband, the Emperor.
  Oddly, I didn't always root for Theodora and her rags to riches situation, because she wasn't always a nice person, but it was a rough time and there would have been no rise to power without some ruthlessness - she was certainly ambitious. Sometimes I tired of her morals and bad decisions in this 400 page novel. But she did have her moments. Really interesting historical figure! I am looking forward to this author's next book, which will feature another forgotten woman of history!
• 
  Minni Mouse

  3.5 stars. I picked this book up because after
  Mistress of Rome I was itching for more historical fiction...and this book did not disappoint.
  
  The Secret History begins in the 6th century and chronicles a portion of the time of the Byzantine Empire. I didn't pay attention in school and hence don't really know what that means...but it's still a fascinating story! There seems to be a slew of factual, historical figures and events in this book that will educate as well as entertain.
  
  THE GOOD
  1) Theodora and her lifelong relationships with people like Antonina, Macedonia, and Justinian. So much friendship and loyalty and love and betrayal and mistrust and hate over a period of thirty-five years.
  
  2) Theodora's plight is well drawn out for maximum effect, but it's not done to titillate (like how I thought
  Mistress of Rome was done sometimes). Sure, we get the whole scoop but it's done while still being tasteful: Theodora's father passes away by page two; the family is penniless and starving; Comita and Theodora both struggle to make ends meet by being strippers and prostitutes, for lack of a better word; then politics and men and rebellions and plagues and death and secrets.
  
  3) Theodora never gives up. Even though this might be attributed to the real historical figure versus excellence in writing, it's still astonishing to think of how a penniless girl at thirteen went from being a lowly whore (at thirteen!) to the Empress Augusta.
  
  THE BAD
  
  Mistress of Rome felt more real -- more relatable, more personal, more horrifying, and more healing. More alive. By the halfway point of this book, things started getting factual and bland.
  
  THE VERDICT
  Merry Christmas.
• 
  Jane

  Fascinated by the Empress Theodora and the Byzantines, I picked this up to compare with other material I've read on her and Emperor Justinian [ca. 500 AD]. The novel was enjoyable--a quick, breezy read of only a few hours. I couldn't put the book down once I started.
  
  Theodora tells her own story. I always like first person because I feel I get more of the character's thoughts, emotions, and motivations. The story takes us from Theodora's early years, death of her father, a bear-trainer at the Hippodrome in Constantinople, her years of poverty and struggle as a whore and actress [other works have called her a circus performer] to her eventual rise to Empress and the years as Empress, sometimes Justinian's unofficial advisor, until she lies dying.
  
  What most impressed me was the friendship between her and the Monophysite Patriarch, Severus, in Alexandria, and the dynamics between her and Justinian. Her courage forces him to act decisively during the Nika Riots early in his reign; she survives court intrigue, deceit, betrayal. Their love is steadfast through the years, though not without its trials. In this novel, religious differences between them was not stressed: he was Orthodox; she Monophysite. The religious theme was muted. The author emphasized the human drama among all the characters. Sometimes the novel did descend into melodrama. Often I felt everyone in the novel was a 21st century person, dressed in Byzantine costume against a Byzantine background. Sometimes the dialogue was too nasty and too caustic. Some of the expressions were too 'modern'. The writing could have been more atmospheric; I did get some flavor of Constanople and Theodora's time, though. The author's interpretation was plausible except the false son episode and possibly the person of John the Cappadocian, the royal treasurer. All in all, I quite enjoyed the novel.
  
  Highly recommended for a light read.
• 
  Renae

  It’s a shame that so many amazing women in history have been forgotten, or nearly forgotten. In her author’s note for The Secret History, Stephanie Thornton explains that she was spurred on to write about Empress Theodora after reading a single sentence in a history textbook, where Theodora’s deeds were lost amidst iconoclasts and famous generals. As I’ve gotten older I’ve become increasingly dissatisfied with the lack of female representation in history, and I’ve really started to seek out stories about these women (the ones that we have, since I’m sure many have been completely lost). In this way, The Secret History was a wonderful find, not only for its subject matter, but for the skill with which Thornton was able to portray such a fascinating woman’s rise to power.
  
  Theodora herself is such an interesting and exciting topic. The Secret History opens when Theodora is 13 and her father has just died. Destitute, she and her older sister become actresses—though more often than not, the profession of “acting” is a lot closer to the profession of prostitution. From there, Theodora rises only to fall again, spends some time getting religion, until she finally catches the future emperor’s eye. And they fall in love: really, really in love, until Theodora, former prostitute, is now the Empress of the Byzantine Empire, more powerful than anyone else in the world except for her husband. It’s an amazing story, and Stephanie Thornton completely does it justice.
  
  This book, for me, was just amazingly woman-positive, and not only because Empress Theodora was the main character, but also because of how Thornton portrayed women and their relationships. Though Theodora was the most powerful woman in the world for decades, and though she commanded more respect than any number of men, most of the close relationships we see Theodora engage in are between other women. In the early stages of the text, it’s the testy bond between Theodora and her mother and sister, then later between Theodora and her best friend, Antonina. I really loved how the author gave so many examples of strong friendships throughout the book. I liked it not only for its own sake, but also because it added depth to Theodora’s character itself, seeing her interact with others in a human way, not just always seeing her as some mythic historical figure.
  
  Aside from that, this author has a near flawless eye for historic detail. The streets of Constantinople really came to life in The Secret History, and I loved the vivid, authentic portrait of the period this book offers readers. Because Theodora starts from the bottom to work her way up, and because she’s so well-traveled, the variety in setting is pretty big, but I never felt like Thornton had bitten off more than she was capable of handling. Everything in The Secret History was clearly well-researched and thought-through.
  
  Thornton also has a great knack for storytelling. Theodora’s story is evidently not in need of too much embellishment, but I thought the author worked well with established fact and expanded upon things when needed, giving this book a unique flavor that is still completely authentic and in keeping with historic record. The book is not only enlightening and interesting, it’s entertaining and wholly engaging—everything historical fiction should be.
  
  I sincerely hope that Stephanie Thornton’s debut novel marks the beginning of long career in the historical fiction genre. The world needs to learn more about marginalized or forgotten figures from history, and The Secret History does just that. This novel is well-written, exciting, and an absolute pleasure to read. I can’t think of a single thing that could be done to improve it.
  
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• 
  Elena

  Considering it is february, it might be a little early to say a book I just finished will be in my top ten reads of 2017. And yet, I cannot help it: The Secret History was a marvelous read for me, a roller coaster of emotions, laughs and cries; one of those books you can't put down but are also afraid to finish, and one you want to start again right after finishing.
  
  Stephanie Thornton's debut follows the life of Theodora, who became the wife of Emperor Justinian despite coming from the lower class, and after enduring a tempestuous early life. I knew very little about her, and was shocked and highly entertained to read about all the impossible situations she found herself into. The plot was always fast paced and interesting, and I was always impatient to see how things would turn out for this fascinating woman.
  
  Theodora has to be one of my favourite heroines of all time. From the part where she makes herself vomit to avoid being raped, I knew I was going to love her to pieces. She doesn't always take the best decisions and she is quite ruthless sometimes (what I most disliked was her behaviour towards her older sister), but her defects didn't take anything away from her strenght. I loved her because, in her life, nothing comes easy to her: she is not the most beautiful woman in the world, nor she has particular skills, but she is smart, bold and cunning, she never gives up and she doesn't stop at nothing to get what she needs. Her determination, her strenght in all situations, made her a fantastic heroine to root for.
  
  While Theodora definitely is the star of the book, I really loved the secondary characters too. Mostly, I loved the relationships they had with her. Obviously, Theodora and Justinian's is the main focus of the book, and they do not disappoint. Their chemistry and affinity is always apparent, you never doubt they are truly made for each other. I cried during several of their scenes (if you read the book, you can probably guess).
  Theodora and Antonina's friendship was also incredibly beautiful to me. Their relationship start as a classic, cliché female rivalry, but after a series of circumstances they end up being the best of friends. Their dialogues were pure gold and I found myself laughing out loud several times. They were just wonderful together. Unsurprisingly, I cried so much in their last scene together. Yes, this book broke me a little...
  Lastly, I really liked Theodora and Narses's friendship. Like her relationship with Antonina, it doesn't start on the best of terms, but then both of them develop a respect and a sincere affection for the other, and it was touching and very sweet.
  
  I'm sure you got my point by now; however, I can't help but highly recommend The Secret History to anyone who loves a good historical novel, or an unforgettable, complex and admirable heroine. I can't wait to get my hands on Stephanie Thornton's other novels!
• 
  Colleen Turner

  I reviewed this book for
  www.luxuryreading.com.
  
  As a reader, I am always excited to find novels written about extraordinary women throughout history. So often the men who changed the world are highlighted and the women relegated to the sidelines as mere footnotes. However, certain women seem to demand more attention by the very nature of their lives and are just waiting for a great writer to come along and share their story. Stephanie Thornton is one such writer and Theodora, a woman who went from begging on the streets and prostituting herself to survive to become one of the most powerful women in the history of the Roman Empire, is one such woman.
  
  The Secret History: A Novel of Empress Theodora humanizes a woman that little remains in history about. This Theodora is not without fault, especially when it comes to her fiery temper and her affinity for speaking without letting her head cool her sharp words, but she is also kind and giving to those that prove loyal and is a fighter that refuses to give up or die when it seems she has been given few other choices. Ms. Thornton’s vivid writing makes Theodora’s heartbreakingly painful life crystal clear so that her various triumphs feel bitter sweet and well deserved. Theodora’s snarky, ironic humor keeps the novel from being overly depressing, however, and presents such a complex, complete package that it is hard to imagine her any other way. Love her or hate her, Theodora is a woman to admire!
  
  I have read a few novels about Theodora but I found The Secret History to present her as a slightly more caring, loving woman than I have come across before, which made her that much more relatable. Yes, she was conniving and would ruin someone if they crossed her path, but she also loved her children and her husband immensely and did her absolute best given the life she was handed. Who could ask for anything more? The book also includes helpful author notes as well as an author interview that fleshes out the facts from the fiction. If you like reading about remarkable women in history and seeing them presented in a well-rounded way, you would be remiss not to pick up The Secret History: A Novel of Empress Theodora.
  
• 
  Heather C

  In terms of novels and books about the Roman Empire, the Eastern Empire often gets the short end of the stick. I can confess to knowing nothing more about Emperor Justinian and Empress Theodora than the fact that they were memorialized in mosaic (learned about in my high school art history class). However, Theodora seems to be the new “IT” girl lately and I was excited to read something more about this portion of the Roman Empire. Plus, isn’t the cover just absolutely gorgeous?! I don’t even mind that we don’t see her face because it is beautiful and different that the seemingly cut and paste style covers lately.
  
  What is there not to love about Theodora? I dare anyone of you who reads this to not fall in love with her. She is tough, smart, politically minded, and demanding. She makes something of herself to rise up from the gutter. She is sassy and fun. A heroine that we have been lacking in HF lately, in my opinion. The other characters were awesome as well. They all had so many different qualities to them and were very real characters. Even more, I loved the dynamics between the characters. Theodora and Justinian had some great sparring matches, each trying to outwit the other. Whether dealing with other women from the lower class or engaging with the courtiers, she always came out verbally on top.
  
  The setting of the novel was so atmospheric I could sense the world around me – the sights, smells, and sounds. I can truly say that I have a solid concept of the Eastern Empire now and can tell the marked differences between it and the old Western Empire.
  
  The only thing that I could conceivably complain about was the jump between the last two sections of time – I obviously wanted more of it and would have liked to know a little more about the later aspects of her life. Even at 448 pages I wanted more! I would recommend this novel to any historical fiction fan. If you have liked the works of Kate Quinn and Michelle Moran (both of which were set in the Ancient World) you will love this novel!
  
  This review was previously posted @ The Maiden's Court. Was received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
• 
  Meg - A Bookish Affair

  4.5 stars. Wow! This book was really, really good. Empress Theodora is an absolutely amazing historical figure and this book really brought her to life. She went from being a prostitute to an actress to an empress to Justinian I, an emperor of the Roman Empire. Impressive leap, no? Just her basic story alone is really gripping. Debut author, Stephanie Thornton takes the story and turns it into something really special.
  
  Theodora is such a good character. The book is told from her point of view so we really get to see what she goes through and what her life was like. We get to see from her very humble beginnings through her rise to empress and beyond. Even though she has a truly amazing story, she still feels really accessible and like someone you might want to know.
  
  I haven't read a lot of historical fiction set in ancient times. I absolutely loved being able to see what life must have been like during the Roman Empire. Thornton really makes the setting come to life. You can see the dirtiness and grime of Theodora's early life and you can feel the sheer opulence of her latter life. The description of this book is incredibly rich. There are so many parts of the book that I wanted to savor just a little bit longer.
  
  This book is truly a treat, both for the historical fiction lover but armchair travelers who want their reading to be a whole body experience. I loved this book and I want more. I will be eagerly awaiting Thornton's future releases.
• 
  Beverly Diehl

  This portrayal of Empress Theodora focuses mainly on her rise to power, and a gritty, sexually rough girlhood. I liked the enemy-turned-friend relationship with Antonina, even if I wanted a little more explanation as to WHY Antonina's attitude shifted. There was something of a Sophie's Choice situation regarding her two children (history only records her having one) which gives her motivation for both secret-keeping and seeking a way to reveal her secret to Justinian.
  
  This Theodora is always riding the knife's edge of survival, even when theoretically secure as Empress, always dependent in some manner on pleasing a man. Which WAS the name of the game for almost every woman of that time. So even thought I already knew the ending, the sense of tension was high throughout the book.
  
  Time is the one thing I didn't like in this book; its passage was choppy and not always clear. I really liked the notes at the end where the author gave lists additional fictional and non-fictional reading, and talked about what historical facts she'd changed (age when Theodora began performing, among other things) and why. Overall, an interesting take on a fascinating historical person.
• 
  Allison

  I loved the unapologetic Theodora and the large cast that supported and butted heads with her. I'm in the habit of looking up every historical fiction character that I'm unfamiliar with and this lead me to some interesting articles on Antonina, Lupicina, and Comito (all real figures, WOW). I loved that everything felt fleshed-out.
  
  Will definitely be reading Thornton's Hatshepsut novel.
• 
  Amy Bruno

  Fabulous debut from Stephanie Thornton!
• 
  Kris Irvin

  Dang this was a good book. I couldn't put it down. I went into it not knowing anything about Justinian and came out having learned a bunch and greatly enjoyed myself to boot. Definitely recommend this one for historical fiction fans. Whew.
• 
  Sonya

  I love the characters and story flow of this book. I have read a lot in my life, but had not come across the story of Theodora. She was a woman of spunk and drive. All her choices were not good and that in itself caused her heartache, but real life is like that. It was refreshing to read a story based on true events of a woman that fought and clawed her way out of bottom of the barrel and did it with character to become Empress with a great Emperor of a great Empire.
• 
  K.F.

  I wish goodreads would allow for half stars! This is really a 3.5
  
  Given the sheer amount of historical fiction I've been reading lately, I think I'm gonna need to create a shelf solely for "Famous prostitutes/scandalous women who changed the world."
  
  So Theodora is one of the footnotes of history that Stephanie Thornton's novels aim to really celebrate. This was the first novel Thornton wrote, and having just finished (and been blown away by) her latest novel, I have to say that she's definitely grown as a writer.
  
  What that means, is, of course, that this book isn't nearly as good as her later one that I have read, but it also means that her next book are probably going to be phenomenal.
  
  I think terms of the premise of Thornton's work, Theodora is a pretty cool choice. I mean, most history nerds know her as "that Roman empress who had an orgy competition with some of the most famous prostitutes in constantinople." So portraying her as the true power behind the throne was refreshing, of course (most historical fiction about her tends to run towards the salacious and sexy, since that sells remarkably well...for good reason!)
  
  I will say that I found the pacing of this novel a bit more jolting than The Tiger Queens. Whereas the Tiger Queens was in-depth and thorough without being boring or bogging you down with details, The Secret History tended to gallop over things and also fixate on matters in a way that was a bit jarring. Still an interesting read, but I will say that I did take a break in the middle of this book to start another one because I felt the need for something refreshing (maybe two thirds of the way through the novel, though).
  
  Again, I feel like this is an appropriate choice for a first novel because it's the most western/well-known of the subjects (Egyptian historical fiction is a huge niche market, but again, it's a niche--Roman rulers and European queens tend to be the really huge subject matters of choice in historical fiction biographical novels). But the characters were memorable, Theodora's voice was clear and consistent throughout, and I will say that the jolting pace was probably partly because of the ups and downs of Theodora's life. But this novel DID feel condensed, unlike The Tiger Queens, and I found myself missing other people's point of views.
  
  I will say that I also found other character possibly more intriguing for potential subjects in this series--Amalasuntha, for example, or the dowager empress would have made excellent subjects.
  
  But it was a strong novel, nothing about it made me roll my eyes (far too much historical fiction is so over the top and "thee/thou" heavy or dense) and it was an enjoyable read.
  
  I feel like Hatshepsut is a popular choice for historical fiction but I'll definitely be reading the next novel in this series.
• 
  Lark

  From a street rat to a scandalous actress to Empress. We follow Theodora set in sixth century Constantinople.
  
  I was initially curious about this book because I love reading about a woman taking a court by storm and the rapier wit usually seen in court politics. And here is a story about that exact subject! What wouldn't I love?
  
  ... Yeah, no. I cannot believe I finished reading this book. Instead of a woman taking a court by storm, we have a whiny main character. Instead of rapier wit in court politics, we have sex and sex and sex and sex. So yep. Here's a compilation of all my comments when reading this book:
  
  --
  pg 30: So far I am unimpressed. Although I do like a court story, this feels extremely similar to Guy Gavriel Kay's Sarantium. Blues, greens, religion. Obviously the similarities are there because they are both based on history. However... the quality difference is jarring because the writing here is so bad comparatively...
  
  pg 48: I don't see how her plot was so clever. Not impressed. Her gambles have been underwhelming
  
  pg 82: It's like a bad soap opera or reality TV. Sex and the city. No depth to anyone. Just women being catty. Sex and lust. Men being horny. Women trading sex for things. Surviving. But it's not even written well... petty drama without any character.
  
  pg 107: Absolutely no pity at all for the main character at this point. Just disgust.
  
  pg: 133: Yeah. She's an idiot. Has she made a single wise decision? Her plans are half baked, she does things impulsively. She is not smart.
  
  pg: 195: I can't believe I'm still reading this. Not sure if I just want to finish or I'm just a masochist.
  
  pg 234: Good grief. This is the extent of emotions here. So cunning. So genuine. So real. NOT. (can you feel the sarcasm dripping?)
  
  pg 242: Can you read this? Really? Really?? She stormed out on her own after a petty argument with no back up plan. And she still gets what she wants? I don't think so.
  ---
  
  As you can probably tell, I seriously hated the main character and the plot and the court intrigue and pretty much everything. Go read GGK's Sailing to Sarantium instead. The quality of writing on similar subjects is just mind-boggling. Don't waste your time here.
  
  It really appears that the author has done a lot of research and tried to stay loyal to the texts. It is so unfortunately that the execution is just so bad. 1 star. I would really not recommend this book at all. To anyone. Unless you want to hate yourself for a couple of hours.
• 
  The Lit Bitch

  4.5 stars.
  
  I've been giving a lot of half star ratings this year.....again can I just express my annoyance that Goodreads doesn't do half star ratings?!
  
  The exotic flavor of the east is resonating and glowing off every page of this novel!
  
  This was a sweeping and thrilling novel to read. I absolutely loved Theodora. Her resilience and drive were absolutely inspiring. I loved reading about her struggles and challenges she faced, just when I though ‘oh this poor woman it can’t get any worse’ she would rise like a phoenix from the ashes stronger than before. I loved her character and her story.
  
  For me, the hallmark of a great character is when I can see myself in his or her shoes and that was the case for me with this novel. I felt like her and I could connect and I simply loved her and this novel.
  
  I haven’t read a lot of historic fiction from this period either, so that was another part of the novel that kept me reading. I loved reading about the class and gender divisions of the era. Culturally and socially, it was an intriguing read as well.
  
  For me, some of the language didn’t ring true to the time period. This is a minor thing that didn’t detract from the novel overall but at times I found somewhat distracting. For example there were some modern terms and phrases that were used such as ‘snob’ that I felt didn’t quite belong in the time.
  
  I have read some other similar reviews and I will agree with them, some of the language is out of place and context but overall I don’t think it derailed the story by any means, just enough for me to give the novel a 4.5 star rating instead of a 5.
  
  And can we just talk about the cover for a minute…..stunning! This cover is superb! I love that the woman’s face is slightly turned away, it really created the sense of secrecy and intrigue for me.
  
  Fantastic cover! I would read the book simply based on the cover, it just so happens that an equally beautiful story eagerly awaits reader on the inside as well!
  
  
  See my full review here