The Daughters of Palatine Hill

A Novel

By: Phyllis T. Smith

Narrated by: Cristina Panfilio, Joyce Bean, Amy McFadden

Length: 11 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

Two years after Emperor Augustus's bloody defeat of Mark Antony and Cleopatra, he triumphantly returns to Rome. To his only child, Julia, he brings an unlikely companion - Selene, the daughter of the conquered Egyptian queen and her lover.

Under the watchful eye of Augustus's wife, Livia, Selene struggles to accept her new home among her parents' enemies. Bound together by kinship and spilled blood, these three women - Livia, Selene, and Julia - navigate the dangerous world of Rome's ruling elite, their every move a political strategy, their most intimate decisions in the emperor's hands.

Always suppressing their own desires for the good of Rome, each must fulfill her role. For astute Livia, this means unwavering fidelity to her all-powerful husband; for sensual Julia, surrender to an arranged marriage and denial of her craving for love and the pleasures of the flesh; for orphaned Selene, choosing between loyalty to her family's killers and her wish for revenge.

Can they survive Rome's deadly intrigues, or will they be swept away by the perilous currents of the world's most powerful empire?

©2015 Phyllis T. Smith (P)2015 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Interesting Women

Would you listen to The Daughters of Palatine Hill again? Why?

I found that this historical fiction was very interesting, not many books are written about the daughter of Roman Emperor, daughter of Cleopatra and the wife of a Roman Emperor. The roman world was recreated in this story, from their manners to their politics. One is left reflecting on how we are still very much as they are.

story about Roman times!

loved it. very good read that keeps u returning for more! I liked this read

Must read

Absolutely amazing book if you like history and the role women play in them. Must read

Interesting

Not a very good writer. Though intersting historical view. You can tell she reviewed all the history materials, though the book as a novel wasn’t very good.

Fabulous, well told story

What did you like best about this story?

Engaging characters

Any additional comments?

The story is excellent. I've never been interested in Roman history before but now I'm hooked! I am an avid audible listener and I can't believe what a bargain this book is! I liked it so much that I am purchasing others from the author. My only issue is that the character of Julia was generally mechanical in her reading style during the first half of the book but
she warmed up in the second half. Libya's reader was amazing and I'm looking forward to listening to her narrate the prequel.

The Daughters of Palatine

Loved this book and narration is excellent. Characters well developed. Lots of turns in the plot. Really enjoyed this book.

Very impressive follow-up to "I am Livia"

When I read/listened to "I am Livia," I was amazed. I had never heard of Phyllis T. Smith, and she may be a bright, new star who is surprisingly not a young woman. She is a mature woman, and her work reflects this in her research and in her complex, believable characters. I started out rather disliking some of the young girls; they were sneaky, or they were spoiled or rather silly; and then Ms. Smith drew me in as she drew her characters with much more intricacy and humanity. They are all quite different from one another, and all different from the minor characters as well. There are triumphs and tragedies, and there is, of course, Livia, from "I am Livia," which I deeply enjoyed. Well worth the reasonable price for both audio and print; though I will mention that one of the narrators of "Daughters" seemed a little bit wooden (in parts). Excellent job. Almost (but not quite) as good as the first book!

broken narration, OK story

I don't love the cut and dry narration. The story was fine but not gripping. Julia's sexual exploits received a lot of attention. I would have liked to hear more about Selena's accomplishments after leaving Rome.

Interesting Title but really a beach read

I liked the title and the topic but it was really a beach read. Lots of romance and intrigue but no real historical events thrown in. The language was modern day which gave me a chuckle as it was posed in Rome of antiquity. All in all it was a fast read that was amusing and light.

WHAT A WONDERFUL BOOK!!!

This was so well-written; I was captivated fairly quickly. The book has three voices and each narrator did such a great job that I was frozen in place listening for what came next. The author did a splendid job; great research and fantastic characterizations - it was almost as if the characters were standing in front of me, performing just for me. At the end, my throat swelled up & it was all I could do to not to spill over in tears. This is a fantastic book!