Empress and Soldier by Marian L Thorpe

 

"We have responsibilities. Duties."

Is our life ours to choose or is it a path we need to fulfil to honour our obligations?

Is this decision based on the family we are born into or is it something we constantly struggle to achieve.

Empress and Soldier by Marian L Thorpe is historical fiction at its best. A tale of history woven with such grace and finesse that it transports you into another realm.

A realm filled with intrigue, deception, loyalty and honour.

Above all however, the Empress and Soldier is a story of love. Love for one another, Love for family, love for country and love for one’s own self.

Two individuals, born in the same town but into two different families.

The difference - strata of society. One a highborn. One born to a merchant family.

Who gets a chance to follow their own path?

Eudekia, a scholar’s daughter or Drusius, the son of a merchant.

What must they both do to follow their hearts? One to marry the king and become empress, the other to become a soldier. (Not a spoiler as it is evident in the title itself)

From the moment their paths cross to a decade later where they meet again. Their trials, tribulations, victories and above all their decisions keep you riveted throughout the way.

Decisions and plans which while made for love always somehow feel steeped in responsibility too.

Will they remember; “To plan, but to never assume plans will work.”

Thorpe’s narrative style keeps you hooked throughout. Her keen observation skills reflect in the development of her characters and the political and cultural scenarios of that time. Scenarios relevant even in this day and age. The conversations between characters are a very big highlight of this book as their viewpoints are both tactical and illuminating.

A stand-alone novel the Empress and Soldier can also be read as a prequel to the Empire’s Legacy historical fiction universe that Thorpe has created.

 

So glad I got this ARC. It was exhilarating to read. I have loved all the books that I have read in the series so far and hope to someday read them all. Hope you liked my fair and honest review.

Happy Reading 🙂