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Locusta
Not yet published
Expected 15 Sep 26Circe meets The Lost Apothecary in the first book of this historical fantasy duology featuring Ancient Rome’s most infamous poisoner who changed the course of history to save the woman she loved.
Born in the ancient region of Gaul, Locusta is the last of her kind—a Druid whose communion with the spirit world grants her the dangerous gift of identifying and wielding deadly substances. When Roman soldiers attack her home and slaughter her mother, Locusta is captured and enslaved, taken to the heart of the empire where political plots abound and death commands a high price. Guided by Arawn, the god of death, she must learn to survive within the brutal, glittering world of ancient Rome.
Her strange talents soon catch the attention of the Roman elite, and she becomes ensnared in a double life—poisoner by night for the cunning Antonia Augusta, and lady-in-waiting by day to Livia, the Emperor’s ambitious cousin. As Locusta plants the seeds of revenge against those who destroyed her home, her connection with Livia deepens into a passionate, forbidden romance that threatens them both. Surrounded by danger and deceit, Locusta’s poisons become their only protection against the increasingly unstable Emperor Caligula and the enemies lurking in every shadow.
Locusta reimagines the rise of one of history’s most complex women through a lens of myth, power, and feminine rage. Rich with ruthless twists, deadly magic, and a sapphic love story that burns from sweet to spicy, this is a story of survival, defiance, and the dangerous alchemy of love and death in a world ruled by men.
Born in the ancient region of Gaul, Locusta is the last of her kind—a Druid whose communion with the spirit world grants her the dangerous gift of identifying and wielding deadly substances. When Roman soldiers attack her home and slaughter her mother, Locusta is captured and enslaved, taken to the heart of the empire where political plots abound and death commands a high price. Guided by Arawn, the god of death, she must learn to survive within the brutal, glittering world of ancient Rome.
Her strange talents soon catch the attention of the Roman elite, and she becomes ensnared in a double life—poisoner by night for the cunning Antonia Augusta, and lady-in-waiting by day to Livia, the Emperor’s ambitious cousin. As Locusta plants the seeds of revenge against those who destroyed her home, her connection with Livia deepens into a passionate, forbidden romance that threatens them both. Surrounded by danger and deceit, Locusta’s poisons become their only protection against the increasingly unstable Emperor Caligula and the enemies lurking in every shadow.
Locusta reimagines the rise of one of history’s most complex women through a lens of myth, power, and feminine rage. Rich with ruthless twists, deadly magic, and a sapphic love story that burns from sweet to spicy, this is a story of survival, defiance, and the dangerous alchemy of love and death in a world ruled by men.
368 pages, Paperback
Expected publication September 15, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
August 6, 2026
Locusta is a fascinating historical figure! I didn't know much about her before reading this book then diving into her past on my own, I just knew about her suspected murder via poisoning of Claudius. Though there isn't much recorded history of Locusta, this book takes a lot of liberties in telling her story.
I was disappointed that her poison knowledge was attributed to her druidic goddess rather than to her as a badass botanist and chemist. This narrative decision takes a lot away from Locusta as a learner and scientist. Similarly, the mc was very impulsive and emotionally driven for someone who needs to be calculating and careful to do her job as a poisoner. I didn't like her amorous obsession was her slave master, especially since the master was so cruel to her in the beginning. I thought I missed a few chapters because the slave master went from hating to lusting for Locusta in no time.
The narration of the audiobook was great! Thank you to NetGalley for this early release audiobook :)
I was disappointed that her poison knowledge was attributed to her druidic goddess rather than to her as a badass botanist and chemist. This narrative decision takes a lot away from Locusta as a learner and scientist. Similarly, the mc was very impulsive and emotionally driven for someone who needs to be calculating and careful to do her job as a poisoner. I didn't like her amorous obsession was her slave master, especially since the master was so cruel to her in the beginning. I thought I missed a few chapters because the slave master went from hating to lusting for Locusta in no time.
The narration of the audiobook was great! Thank you to NetGalley for this early release audiobook :)
August 4, 2026
✨Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this audiobook ✨
Having not much knowledge of the politics of Ancient Rome, I went into this tale of a female poisoner completely blind and unbiased. As such, I can’t comment on whether anything was historically accurate and if that will annoy other readers. Note; there is an authors note at the end of the audiobook about this.
I loved the style of writing and the performance of the audiobook. The voice artist was a great choice for Locusta! (I would have died if they went with an American narrator for a Gaul in Ancient Rome)
Sometimes I will read other reviews before I decide on what I’m going to write— just to see if there’s any part of the book that I’ve forgotten. I did see one reviewer write as if it were a school essay, arguing over the points of where they found the writing clunky. I can report that none of the writing was like that for me. Sentences flowed perfectly fine. Is that reviewer pretentious or just not used to this type of prose? Hard to tell. I loved it.
The elements of magic in this world were subtle and I enjoyed that it was more based on politics and history than anything else. When I choose fantasy books it’s usually to escape the modern world. ‘Locusta’ did a brilliant job of that without technically being a fantasy book.
This was an easy listen and I found that I was closer to the end than I realised (Me: wait, how can I only have 23 minutes left?).
I will definitely be continuing with book 2 when it is released. I will also be recommending this book to friends who have similar tastes to me.
Having not much knowledge of the politics of Ancient Rome, I went into this tale of a female poisoner completely blind and unbiased. As such, I can’t comment on whether anything was historically accurate and if that will annoy other readers. Note; there is an authors note at the end of the audiobook about this.
I loved the style of writing and the performance of the audiobook. The voice artist was a great choice for Locusta! (I would have died if they went with an American narrator for a Gaul in Ancient Rome)
Sometimes I will read other reviews before I decide on what I’m going to write— just to see if there’s any part of the book that I’ve forgotten. I did see one reviewer write as if it were a school essay, arguing over the points of where they found the writing clunky. I can report that none of the writing was like that for me. Sentences flowed perfectly fine. Is that reviewer pretentious or just not used to this type of prose? Hard to tell. I loved it.
The elements of magic in this world were subtle and I enjoyed that it was more based on politics and history than anything else. When I choose fantasy books it’s usually to escape the modern world. ‘Locusta’ did a brilliant job of that without technically being a fantasy book.
This was an easy listen and I found that I was closer to the end than I realised (Me: wait, how can I only have 23 minutes left?).
I will definitely be continuing with book 2 when it is released. I will also be recommending this book to friends who have similar tastes to me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley, Hay House Audiobooks, and the author for the ALC!
This novel had such a strong start. I loved the writing style and was instantly invested in Locusta. Her connection to the god of death, her curiosity of poisons when she was younger and now being able to detect poison and loved following her through the brutal and dark world of ancient Rome. The characters, political drama and constant suspense kept me hooked at start, and the audiobook narrator absolutely nailed the atmosphere.
The pacing lost me a bit in the second half. I felt like the romance side kind of took over and there were a lot of abrupt time jumps that pulled me out of the story. By the end it sadly started to feel a little repetitive and the ending felt abit rushed. All in all, it did catch my attention enough to want to continue into book 2!
This novel had such a strong start. I loved the writing style and was instantly invested in Locusta. Her connection to the god of death, her curiosity of poisons when she was younger and now being able to detect poison and loved following her through the brutal and dark world of ancient Rome. The characters, political drama and constant suspense kept me hooked at start, and the audiobook narrator absolutely nailed the atmosphere.
The pacing lost me a bit in the second half. I felt like the romance side kind of took over and there were a lot of abrupt time jumps that pulled me out of the story. By the end it sadly started to feel a little repetitive and the ending felt abit rushed. All in all, it did catch my attention enough to want to continue into book 2!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I know most people have no idea what I’m talking about when I talk about writing rhythm. I have run into a few other readers who ‘hear’ it like I do, but clearly most people are not cursed with this ridiculous sensitivity. I envy you!
If you do hear it, then you will immediately discover that the rhythm of Locusta is…not-great. It’s choppy and discordant, and every time it starts to settle, there’s suddenly a far-too-long sentence with no commas or other pauses in it, kicking the rhythm ‘out of tune’ again. I was grinding my teeth before I got to the end of the first chapter.
Even if you don’t hear writing rhythm, though, I’m not sure you’re going to enjoy this book. The prose is pretty bland, there’s a lot of telling-not-showing, and the phrasing/wording is often odd, clunky. There are a lot of instances of thesaurisitis, ie, instead of using a typical word, there’s a synonym of it – but synonyms often have different connotations from each other. ‘Murmur’ and ‘mumble’ are synonyms, but if you mean one then the other is incorrect, and that kind of thing is rampant in this book. And even when that’s not the problem, metaphors and similes are often overwritten, with extra details that detract from the power of the image the author’s going for.
Examples of clunky prose below, all taken from my advanced reader copy, so they might well be different or even removed from the final published version of the book.
‘with more efficiency’ is so clumsy for what you’re trying to say. ‘rips open my chest like a short sword’ would have been fine!
I’m not sure this is grammatically incorrect, but it sounds/feels off. ‘that makes my soul vibrate’ would have been a way to say it that flowed more naturally.
This needs a boat-load of commas to break up that long sentence!
‘a power they claim to be but are not’? That doesn’t make sense. ‘a power they claim to have but don’t’ would work.
From context, this is talking about how Romans kidnap and enslave any magic-users they find. But ‘unable to resist possessing’ is an incredibly awful way to phrase that. ‘Taking’ or ‘stealing’ or ‘enslaving’ could all have worked there instead of ‘possessing’.
Prose aside, Locusta’s character is not very coherent. By which I mean, she doesn’t act in such-and-such a way because her personality and history manifest in that action; instead, she’s doing things because the plot requires her to do them. And it’s not even really For Plot so much as it is For Drama, the vast majority of the time. Her personality is all over the place, keeps contradicting itself; in the second chapter there’s a big moment which she tells us is the first time she ever defied her mother – but we just spent the whole first chapter with her not wanting to be a druid (which her mother’s teaching her to be) and going against her mother’s teachings, so???
The book is written from the perspective of an adult Locusta looking back on her life. This is a framing that often doesn’t work for me, and didn’t here. There’s no commentary on her child-self’s behaviour or beliefs, which means there’s no sense that Locusta has grown and changed as a person from the child we meet after the prologue. For example, as a child Locusta hates the Druid-training her mother basically forces on her – it would have been interesting to hear adult-Locusta say that now, as an adult, she understands why it was important to her mother, that she understands why her mother tried so hard. The lack of anything like that…in my experience it means the character isn’t going to develop at all over the course of the book. I could obviously be wrong; this is a DNF review, I didn’t finish the book, so I can’t know. But Locusta has given me no incentive to keep reading and find out whether I’m correct about that or not, so this is where it and I part ways.
If you do hear it, then you will immediately discover that the rhythm of Locusta is…not-great. It’s choppy and discordant, and every time it starts to settle, there’s suddenly a far-too-long sentence with no commas or other pauses in it, kicking the rhythm ‘out of tune’ again. I was grinding my teeth before I got to the end of the first chapter.
Even if you don’t hear writing rhythm, though, I’m not sure you’re going to enjoy this book. The prose is pretty bland, there’s a lot of telling-not-showing, and the phrasing/wording is often odd, clunky. There are a lot of instances of thesaurisitis, ie, instead of using a typical word, there’s a synonym of it – but synonyms often have different connotations from each other. ‘Murmur’ and ‘mumble’ are synonyms, but if you mean one then the other is incorrect, and that kind of thing is rampant in this book. And even when that’s not the problem, metaphors and similes are often overwritten, with extra details that detract from the power of the image the author’s going for.
Examples of clunky prose below, all taken from my advanced reader copy, so they might well be different or even removed from the final published version of the book.
she smiles a smile that rips open my chest with more efficiency than a short sword.
‘with more efficiency’ is so clumsy for what you’re trying to say. ‘rips open my chest like a short sword’ would have been fine!
a blast of the horn that vibrates my very soul
I’m not sure this is grammatically incorrect, but it sounds/feels off. ‘that makes my soul vibrate’ would have been a way to say it that flowed more naturally.
There were stories–so many I cannot begin to recount them all–of war horns and shining golden weapons and treasure made of the finest stone and holy places and cedar groves that the Druids used to preside over.
This needs a boat-load of commas to break up that long sentence!
She was a priestess, to use the Roman equivalent, a bridge between the world of gods and spirits and our own–a power the Roman Vestals claim to be but are not.
‘a power they claim to be but are not’? That doesn’t make sense. ‘a power they claim to have but don’t’ would work.
Magic was a novelty that Romans seemed unable to resist possessing.
From context, this is talking about how Romans kidnap and enslave any magic-users they find. But ‘unable to resist possessing’ is an incredibly awful way to phrase that. ‘Taking’ or ‘stealing’ or ‘enslaving’ could all have worked there instead of ‘possessing’.
Prose aside, Locusta’s character is not very coherent. By which I mean, she doesn’t act in such-and-such a way because her personality and history manifest in that action; instead, she’s doing things because the plot requires her to do them. And it’s not even really For Plot so much as it is For Drama, the vast majority of the time. Her personality is all over the place, keeps contradicting itself; in the second chapter there’s a big moment which she tells us is the first time she ever defied her mother – but we just spent the whole first chapter with her not wanting to be a druid (which her mother’s teaching her to be) and going against her mother’s teachings, so???
The book is written from the perspective of an adult Locusta looking back on her life. This is a framing that often doesn’t work for me, and didn’t here. There’s no commentary on her child-self’s behaviour or beliefs, which means there’s no sense that Locusta has grown and changed as a person from the child we meet after the prologue. For example, as a child Locusta hates the Druid-training her mother basically forces on her – it would have been interesting to hear adult-Locusta say that now, as an adult, she understands why it was important to her mother, that she understands why her mother tried so hard. The lack of anything like that…in my experience it means the character isn’t going to develop at all over the course of the book. I could obviously be wrong; this is a DNF review, I didn’t finish the book, so I can’t know. But Locusta has given me no incentive to keep reading and find out whether I’m correct about that or not, so this is where it and I part ways.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
This book is the first in a fictional duology re-telling of Locusta, a female poisoner from Ancient Rome. We meet her as a 19year old living in her village, Gaul. We follow Locusta as she becomes a druid, is claimed by Arawn, the god of death and is taken to Ancient Rome as a slave following the slaughter of her village. Under the teachings of Arawn, Locusta furthers her skills and knowledge in different methods of poisoning, identifying poisons and ingredients and what it means to be a druid. After a couple of successes she is given to the grandmother of the current emperor who has her playing lady-in-waiting to her young cousin, Livia. By night, Locusta plays secret poisoner for the Emperor's grandmother while by day she continues as lady-in-waiting to Livia and begins to fall in love with her. They begin a passionate, secret romance while trying to keep each other safe amidst the constant threats and dangers of Ancient Roman politicians and elite.
I'd never heard of Locusta before coming across this book so had no real idea what I was in for. I was fascinated and invested very quickly both with the general story and Locusta specifically. It didn't take long for the story to get intense and the stakes to rise. I'm not typically a big fan of books with plots centred around literal politics but I genuinely really enjoyed this one. The way the politics was woven in with gods, magic and Locusta's improving poisoning skills was well done and was well balanced. Locusta being new to Rome and having to learn all about how everything worked allowed us as the reader to learn alongside her which was helpful. I found the romance between Locusta and Livia to be sweet and genuine and I'm always a fan of a good queer re-telling! Given the two young women spent virtually 24/7 with each other I really felt their relationship made sense and developed in a very natural way.
I found most of the characters in Locusta were complex, layered characters with their own unique motivations and side stories. While Locusta herself could at times be frustrating and a little naive, I do think it was a realistic portrayal of someone in that position. She was a 19 year old who had experienced immense trauma, had her entire life turned on its head overnight, was sold into slavery and left to figure out an entirely new world by herself. Honestly I think she handled it better than I would have as a full-grown adult! It was interesting and fun when characters started popping up that I recognised from history and seeing where they fit into the story. There was definitely a theme throughout the story of the specific difficulty in being a woman in Ancient Rome, especially a woman from a powerful family. The author did a good job at showing the polarity of characters and giving us insight into why they were the way they were. It did get a little confusing at times keeping up with all the different names but that was a me problem and not any sort of failing on the author's end.
I really did enjoy this book! Lots happened in the first part of the story to really set up this world and establish Locusta as a character. That was really interesting and drew me in right away. The middle was a bit slower than the rest of the book and did at times feel a little tedious and drawn out. I didn't find this went on for long though and wasn't too difficult to get passed. The pace then picked up once again and I found myself holding my breath and unable to put the book down until I finished. I will definitely be keeping my eye out for book two because I need to know how Locusta's story ends!
This book is the first in a fictional duology re-telling of Locusta, a female poisoner from Ancient Rome. We meet her as a 19year old living in her village, Gaul. We follow Locusta as she becomes a druid, is claimed by Arawn, the god of death and is taken to Ancient Rome as a slave following the slaughter of her village. Under the teachings of Arawn, Locusta furthers her skills and knowledge in different methods of poisoning, identifying poisons and ingredients and what it means to be a druid. After a couple of successes she is given to the grandmother of the current emperor who has her playing lady-in-waiting to her young cousin, Livia. By night, Locusta plays secret poisoner for the Emperor's grandmother while by day she continues as lady-in-waiting to Livia and begins to fall in love with her. They begin a passionate, secret romance while trying to keep each other safe amidst the constant threats and dangers of Ancient Roman politicians and elite.
I'd never heard of Locusta before coming across this book so had no real idea what I was in for. I was fascinated and invested very quickly both with the general story and Locusta specifically. It didn't take long for the story to get intense and the stakes to rise. I'm not typically a big fan of books with plots centred around literal politics but I genuinely really enjoyed this one. The way the politics was woven in with gods, magic and Locusta's improving poisoning skills was well done and was well balanced. Locusta being new to Rome and having to learn all about how everything worked allowed us as the reader to learn alongside her which was helpful. I found the romance between Locusta and Livia to be sweet and genuine and I'm always a fan of a good queer re-telling! Given the two young women spent virtually 24/7 with each other I really felt their relationship made sense and developed in a very natural way.
I found most of the characters in Locusta were complex, layered characters with their own unique motivations and side stories. While Locusta herself could at times be frustrating and a little naive, I do think it was a realistic portrayal of someone in that position. She was a 19 year old who had experienced immense trauma, had her entire life turned on its head overnight, was sold into slavery and left to figure out an entirely new world by herself. Honestly I think she handled it better than I would have as a full-grown adult! It was interesting and fun when characters started popping up that I recognised from history and seeing where they fit into the story. There was definitely a theme throughout the story of the specific difficulty in being a woman in Ancient Rome, especially a woman from a powerful family. The author did a good job at showing the polarity of characters and giving us insight into why they were the way they were. It did get a little confusing at times keeping up with all the different names but that was a me problem and not any sort of failing on the author's end.
I really did enjoy this book! Lots happened in the first part of the story to really set up this world and establish Locusta as a character. That was really interesting and drew me in right away. The middle was a bit slower than the rest of the book and did at times feel a little tedious and drawn out. I didn't find this went on for long though and wasn't too difficult to get passed. The pace then picked up once again and I found myself holding my breath and unable to put the book down until I finished. I will definitely be keeping my eye out for book two because I need to know how Locusta's story ends!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I am a sucker for a Greek or Roman retelling, but this was a retelling that felt a bit too much “telling” and not enough showing at times.
Locusta follows the Gaul woman named Locusta who is the last Druid of her people and has a link to the god of death, where she has the innate talent of detecting poison around her. After a siege on her lands that leaves everyone she loves dead, Locusta is sold into slavery until she catches the attention of Roman elites whom want to exploit her talents. Locusta is used and abused by the Roman’s for her ability to see poison as she is sold from household to household to serve as needed. When she sold to Livia, Locusta does everything in her god given power to right those who’ve wronged her Domnia.
What I loved about this story was the strong start that we had; I felt connected to Locusta. I felt her rage, her helplessness, and her desires. I loved her connection with all the characters: from her love of Livia, to the battle of wits with Antonia Augusta. This did a great job setting up the feeling of someone navigating the Roman hierarchy, while being a total outsider to its inner workings.
That being said, I wasn’t a huge fan of how the story was told to the audience rather than letting us experience it. Obviously, there is going to be a lot of skimming as we are exploring decades of someone’s life in the timespan of 15 hours, but there were parts of this book where we were in scene with the characters, only to be pulled away from that scene with a transition line that explained a substantial time jump has occurred. It felt jarring because just when I am getting comfortable in these scenes with Locusta and another character, we leave the scene abruptly and then months pass until the next in-person scene. I just feel like there could have been a better way to convey this transition in time without making the audience feel like they were being pulled from the narrative.
At the 60% mark, I started to feel like the story was told and there wasn’t much more I needed from this. It seemed to drag by this point until the end. I feel like this could have been trimmed down a bit, or we could have explored a more detailed shorter span of her life to have a more intimate look in her life. By this point, I wanted the book to end, not because it was bad, but because it became repetitive and there wasn’t much more to say. The ending felt a bit rushed and anticlimactic, but that’s just something that can happen with retellings; sometimes the real story doesn’t end with an epic showdown.
All in all, this is a must read for people who enjoy Circe or Clytemnestra. Women of this period are very interesting and it’s fun to think about what was going on in their heads during this time.
The audiobook is single narration, but the voice actor does an amazing job. She had the perfect voice for someone to read this type of book. She kept me engaged and informed on this person that I did not know.
Thank you NetGalley, Hay House Audiobooks, and the author for the audiobook ARC!
Locusta follows the Gaul woman named Locusta who is the last Druid of her people and has a link to the god of death, where she has the innate talent of detecting poison around her. After a siege on her lands that leaves everyone she loves dead, Locusta is sold into slavery until she catches the attention of Roman elites whom want to exploit her talents. Locusta is used and abused by the Roman’s for her ability to see poison as she is sold from household to household to serve as needed. When she sold to Livia, Locusta does everything in her god given power to right those who’ve wronged her Domnia.
What I loved about this story was the strong start that we had; I felt connected to Locusta. I felt her rage, her helplessness, and her desires. I loved her connection with all the characters: from her love of Livia, to the battle of wits with Antonia Augusta. This did a great job setting up the feeling of someone navigating the Roman hierarchy, while being a total outsider to its inner workings.
That being said, I wasn’t a huge fan of how the story was told to the audience rather than letting us experience it. Obviously, there is going to be a lot of skimming as we are exploring decades of someone’s life in the timespan of 15 hours, but there were parts of this book where we were in scene with the characters, only to be pulled away from that scene with a transition line that explained a substantial time jump has occurred. It felt jarring because just when I am getting comfortable in these scenes with Locusta and another character, we leave the scene abruptly and then months pass until the next in-person scene. I just feel like there could have been a better way to convey this transition in time without making the audience feel like they were being pulled from the narrative.
At the 60% mark, I started to feel like the story was told and there wasn’t much more I needed from this. It seemed to drag by this point until the end. I feel like this could have been trimmed down a bit, or we could have explored a more detailed shorter span of her life to have a more intimate look in her life. By this point, I wanted the book to end, not because it was bad, but because it became repetitive and there wasn’t much more to say. The ending felt a bit rushed and anticlimactic, but that’s just something that can happen with retellings; sometimes the real story doesn’t end with an epic showdown.
All in all, this is a must read for people who enjoy Circe or Clytemnestra. Women of this period are very interesting and it’s fun to think about what was going on in their heads during this time.
The audiobook is single narration, but the voice actor does an amazing job. She had the perfect voice for someone to read this type of book. She kept me engaged and informed on this person that I did not know.
Thank you NetGalley, Hay House Audiobooks, and the author for the audiobook ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley and Hay House Audiobooks for this advance listener copy in exchange for an honest review.
"Let me be the villain."
A sapphic historical fiction about an OG female serial poisoner with a lot of simmering feminine rage? Say less.
This book is an emotional rollercoaster. Locusta is an amazing character, and following harrowing twists and turns of her journey was a ride that had me ANXIOUS for the next installment.
Historical accuracy nerds may find themselves frustrated as there are changes to male the story less dense than a roman history class in favor of keeping the focus on Locusta and the other women of Rome presented without the MOUNTAINS of contextual explanation needed for all the politics.
That said, it doesn't try to hide the fact that this is a story about a young woman, barely aware of herself as a person, suddenly thrust into one of Rome's most tumultuous eras and how she struggles not only to survive it but find SOME form of purpose and even happiness within the new surroundings and system she's forced into.
There is a mystical element to this version of Locusta's story as her patron god features quite a bit as her poison mentor and the rest of the book makes mention to other gods as well. Not to be a downer, but it could be said that the supernatural assistance sort of takes away the genius that the actual person Locusta would have had to be to get her infamy. In a time period where women's accomplishments (good or bad) so rarely got acknowledged, is adding godly influence worth diluting the credit? This is a discussion I'm looking forward to bringing to friends who also read this book.
The romance in this story had me leaning in different ways in my feelings on the whole. On one hand, it IS at least partly, a master/slave relationship which arguably WOULD have been something that happened in time and place this book is set. A lot is done by the narrative to try to make the relationship as consensual as possible, the main couple not getting together until a particular festival that has Locusta as free as she or anyone is likely to expect she'll ever be. However, it's hard to see how these women WOULDN'T develop some form of codependent relationship, given their situations and proximity. Again, though, the inclusion of her partner (the arguably entirely fictional Livia) also ends up sort of reframing a number of Locusta's actions as those of a woman in love trying to protect that love. Survival and/or retaliation against the city and people that tore her from her home take a backseat to Livia's health and well-being. Not that getting to help her lover CAN'T be a motivator, I feel like folks that aren't as into the Romance genre may not enjoy the shift in focus.
Finally, I just want to give flowers to the narrator, Hannah Curtis. She gives a lovely performance and I will be looking for more work she's done.
#NetGalley #Locusta
"Let me be the villain."
A sapphic historical fiction about an OG female serial poisoner with a lot of simmering feminine rage? Say less.
This book is an emotional rollercoaster. Locusta is an amazing character, and following harrowing twists and turns of her journey was a ride that had me ANXIOUS for the next installment.
Historical accuracy nerds may find themselves frustrated as there are changes to male the story less dense than a roman history class in favor of keeping the focus on Locusta and the other women of Rome presented without the MOUNTAINS of contextual explanation needed for all the politics.
That said, it doesn't try to hide the fact that this is a story about a young woman, barely aware of herself as a person, suddenly thrust into one of Rome's most tumultuous eras and how she struggles not only to survive it but find SOME form of purpose and even happiness within the new surroundings and system she's forced into.
There is a mystical element to this version of Locusta's story as her patron god features quite a bit as her poison mentor and the rest of the book makes mention to other gods as well. Not to be a downer, but it could be said that the supernatural assistance sort of takes away the genius that the actual person Locusta would have had to be to get her infamy. In a time period where women's accomplishments (good or bad) so rarely got acknowledged, is adding godly influence worth diluting the credit? This is a discussion I'm looking forward to bringing to friends who also read this book.
The romance in this story had me leaning in different ways in my feelings on the whole. On one hand, it IS at least partly, a master/slave relationship which arguably WOULD have been something that happened in time and place this book is set. A lot is done by the narrative to try to make the relationship as consensual as possible, the main couple not getting together until a particular festival that has Locusta as free as she or anyone is likely to expect she'll ever be. However, it's hard to see how these women WOULDN'T develop some form of codependent relationship, given their situations and proximity. Again, though, the inclusion of her partner (the arguably entirely fictional Livia) also ends up sort of reframing a number of Locusta's actions as those of a woman in love trying to protect that love. Survival and/or retaliation against the city and people that tore her from her home take a backseat to Livia's health and well-being. Not that getting to help her lover CAN'T be a motivator, I feel like folks that aren't as into the Romance genre may not enjoy the shift in focus.
Finally, I just want to give flowers to the narrator, Hannah Curtis. She gives a lovely performance and I will be looking for more work she's done.
#NetGalley #Locusta
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 3, 2026
3.5⭐️ rounded up to 4⭐️
This had the potential to be a 5⭐️ read for me. When I received the ARC, I started reading it immediately, I was so excited for it. My favorite genre is Historical Fiction, so this seemed right up my alley.
I read it and listened to the audiobook at the same time, and I was hooked from the start. The narrator does a very good job at conveying emotion and bringing the story and the characters to life. I listened to the first 20 chapters in one sitting and could not wait to see what happens next.
This is the story of Locusta, the famous poisoner from Ancient Rome, and we follow her from childhood to adulthood, we see her growing up, becoming a Druid, then a slave and a freed woman in Rome, becoming entangled in the politics of the biggest empire.
Unfortunately, the book starts strong but then it loses momentum halfway through.
Locusta seems to have very little agency, which makes some sense given her status as a slave and as a woman in the Roman society, though it seems that she doesn’t really struggle too much with that, seeming to accept her fate pretty easily. She gets to the top of the society circles through sheer luck it seems.
Throughout the book she seems quite shallow, rash, quick to anger, inexperienced in life and political intrigue, she seems to submit very easily to her own desires without much thought about her position and future.
She rejects her Druid position, rejects the god that claimed her but waiting for their help every time she is in a tight place, she is reckless and doesn’t understand the dangers she is facing. This might be done on purpose, since she is 19 years old in the story, and hopefully the second book will show her growth.
The middle of the book was slow, and failed to capture me the same as in the beginning. I felt like there was a lot of telling and not showing, and Locusta’s motivations completely changed once she got to Rome.
The romance was not convincing for me, it was too much insta love, and I found myself rolling my eyes every time Locusta started going on and on about how wonderful Livia was.
There was also not much poisoning happening, almost all of it happened off page, I would have loved to see her preparing her poisons, the ingredients, the effects, instead we are told that she prepares them, they are used all around Rome, and that’s pretty much it.
I am really hoping that the second book will show us a more powerful Locusta, one who learned the game of politics and intrigue, and her poisoner status will have a more prominent focus than in this first one.
Overall this book was good, but not great. I enjoyed the writing, the premise and beginning were very good and I cannot wait to see how her story will progress and end.
The narrator was excellent, I felt like she did a great job bringing the story to life and conveying the emotion from the text.
Thank you NetGalley, Hay House and Emily Dexter for the ARC!
This had the potential to be a 5⭐️ read for me. When I received the ARC, I started reading it immediately, I was so excited for it. My favorite genre is Historical Fiction, so this seemed right up my alley.
I read it and listened to the audiobook at the same time, and I was hooked from the start. The narrator does a very good job at conveying emotion and bringing the story and the characters to life. I listened to the first 20 chapters in one sitting and could not wait to see what happens next.
This is the story of Locusta, the famous poisoner from Ancient Rome, and we follow her from childhood to adulthood, we see her growing up, becoming a Druid, then a slave and a freed woman in Rome, becoming entangled in the politics of the biggest empire.
Unfortunately, the book starts strong but then it loses momentum halfway through.
Locusta seems to have very little agency, which makes some sense given her status as a slave and as a woman in the Roman society, though it seems that she doesn’t really struggle too much with that, seeming to accept her fate pretty easily. She gets to the top of the society circles through sheer luck it seems.
Throughout the book she seems quite shallow, rash, quick to anger, inexperienced in life and political intrigue, she seems to submit very easily to her own desires without much thought about her position and future.
She rejects her Druid position, rejects the god that claimed her but waiting for their help every time she is in a tight place, she is reckless and doesn’t understand the dangers she is facing. This might be done on purpose, since she is 19 years old in the story, and hopefully the second book will show her growth.
The middle of the book was slow, and failed to capture me the same as in the beginning. I felt like there was a lot of telling and not showing, and Locusta’s motivations completely changed once she got to Rome.
The romance was not convincing for me, it was too much insta love, and I found myself rolling my eyes every time Locusta started going on and on about how wonderful Livia was.
There was also not much poisoning happening, almost all of it happened off page, I would have loved to see her preparing her poisons, the ingredients, the effects, instead we are told that she prepares them, they are used all around Rome, and that’s pretty much it.
I am really hoping that the second book will show us a more powerful Locusta, one who learned the game of politics and intrigue, and her poisoner status will have a more prominent focus than in this first one.
Overall this book was good, but not great. I enjoyed the writing, the premise and beginning were very good and I cannot wait to see how her story will progress and end.
The narrator was excellent, I felt like she did a great job bringing the story to life and conveying the emotion from the text.
Thank you NetGalley, Hay House and Emily Dexter for the ARC!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*Possible Spoilers*
Locusta is a good book, but it definitely won’t be for everyone. Personally, I liked the exploration of value. Everything and everyone has a price. Whether the price is sex, death, gold, or freedom; power is appealing. Locusta, an enslaved Gaul in Rome, has little power. Even with a god at her side, she’s still a woman, and therefore considered worthless.
For most of the book, the reader isn’t living through events as they happen. Locusta is looking back at what got her to where she is. The daughter of a healing druid and a rapist, Locusta learned that power is destructive but also necessary. When Roman soldiers overrun their village, her mother sacrifices herself to keep Locusta alive. Of course that happens right after Locusta gets blessed(?) by the god of death. The trauma and symbolism isn’t subtle. She gets captured and becomes an enslaved “healer” (she can generally create death, not undo it). As long as she’s worth something to a man, Locusta gets to live.
She gets gifted to a cunning mistress, who pulls the strings of Ancient Rome behind her back. Antonia is the grandmother of Julius Caesar, and the great grandmother of Locusta’s love interest, Livia. Antonia was one of my favorite characters. Equipped with Locusta’s poisons, Antonia made men feel important, in exchange for their loyalty. Instead of taking men down herself, she let them rip each other up in a game of power. She sets everything up so that her family’s power is secured.
Locusta and Livia are a bit weird, but they do fit the story. Antonia assigns Livia to Locusta, as a challenge of loyalty. At first the two clash, but over time they build a connection. Livia is kind, and well-meaning, and Locusta is looking for something of her own. Both are at the mercy of men. You can see this relationship either as an abuse of power, or a rebellion against the patriarchy. Locusta, who is a bringer of death, and Livia, who is rich beyond measure, are powerless but find power in protecting each other. Like I said, they’re a weird couple.
My other favorite character was Livia’s aunt, Agrippina. The sister of Julius Caesar, she is manipulative and cruel. She cages Locusta by sparing Livia’s life. Another woman deemed expendable by men, she makes villainous choices to win a rigged game. I empathized with Agrippina’s character.
While reading, I would definitely recommend having Google on stand-by. Tracking Julius Caesar's family tree becomes tedious.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hay House for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Locusta is a good book, but it definitely won’t be for everyone. Personally, I liked the exploration of value. Everything and everyone has a price. Whether the price is sex, death, gold, or freedom; power is appealing. Locusta, an enslaved Gaul in Rome, has little power. Even with a god at her side, she’s still a woman, and therefore considered worthless.
For most of the book, the reader isn’t living through events as they happen. Locusta is looking back at what got her to where she is. The daughter of a healing druid and a rapist, Locusta learned that power is destructive but also necessary. When Roman soldiers overrun their village, her mother sacrifices herself to keep Locusta alive. Of course that happens right after Locusta gets blessed(?) by the god of death. The trauma and symbolism isn’t subtle. She gets captured and becomes an enslaved “healer” (she can generally create death, not undo it). As long as she’s worth something to a man, Locusta gets to live.
She gets gifted to a cunning mistress, who pulls the strings of Ancient Rome behind her back. Antonia is the grandmother of Julius Caesar, and the great grandmother of Locusta’s love interest, Livia. Antonia was one of my favorite characters. Equipped with Locusta’s poisons, Antonia made men feel important, in exchange for their loyalty. Instead of taking men down herself, she let them rip each other up in a game of power. She sets everything up so that her family’s power is secured.
Locusta and Livia are a bit weird, but they do fit the story. Antonia assigns Livia to Locusta, as a challenge of loyalty. At first the two clash, but over time they build a connection. Livia is kind, and well-meaning, and Locusta is looking for something of her own. Both are at the mercy of men. You can see this relationship either as an abuse of power, or a rebellion against the patriarchy. Locusta, who is a bringer of death, and Livia, who is rich beyond measure, are powerless but find power in protecting each other. Like I said, they’re a weird couple.
My other favorite character was Livia’s aunt, Agrippina. The sister of Julius Caesar, she is manipulative and cruel. She cages Locusta by sparing Livia’s life. Another woman deemed expendable by men, she makes villainous choices to win a rigged game. I empathized with Agrippina’s character.
While reading, I would definitely recommend having Google on stand-by. Tracking Julius Caesar's family tree becomes tedious.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hay House for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.75 stars rounded up
Thank you to Hay House LLC and NetGalley for an e-arc copy!!
The first third of this book - I had an absolute blast with just overall learning about Locusta, her mother, and her original culture was nice and it really made the book go by quickly. Absorbing the world building and knowledge. Although after the first third and when Locusta got introduced to the love interest, that's when the political game of chess kind of started. Maybe, political intrigue and the games that one most play to gain power/stay in power/making sure life stays comfortable for you and your family - just really isn't my thing. I found it to be a slog and difficult to get through. The most important thing to Locusta is making sure her beloved remains safe; even at the cost of Locusta's life/comfort. Though, the last 2 chapters really picked back up and I am curious to see how everything comes together and how the story will tie up. Had a blast reading Arawn's interactions with Locusta. They were a blast anytime they were in the scene and really grown attach to their character. Cannot wait to (hopefully) learn more about their connection to Locusta in the 2nd book.
Note: This wasn't a happy book at all - it was actually quite dark and sometimes a little heavy. You're in the space of Roman women, who didn't have much freedom. The only way they could have freedom is by plotting and scheming. There's a good bit of abuse towards the women - though much of it isn't explicit - just implied through the text. There are also a ton more non-explicit but there in between words of SA, possible incest, and some scenes of murder. Book 1 didn't have a happy ending, as our MC didn't end up in a place where she could fully enjoy life her beloved. And her beloved was forced into a situation she didn't want.
Pros: Sapphic, Arawn is fun, the exploration of the Gods and their powers was cool, the writing style was nice - really enjoyed Emily Dexter's writing style and world building. The ending left off on a nice cliff hanger.
Cons: It was a slog to get through the middle of the book, Locusta was a very rash and emotionally driven MC - she made decisions only out of care for her beloved and could be sometimes a little reckless because of it, but Locusta was very young (18-19) and will have a chance to grow in the next book.
Thank you to Hay House LLC and NetGalley for an e-arc copy!!
The first third of this book - I had an absolute blast with just overall learning about Locusta, her mother, and her original culture was nice and it really made the book go by quickly. Absorbing the world building and knowledge. Although after the first third and when Locusta got introduced to the love interest, that's when the political game of chess kind of started. Maybe, political intrigue and the games that one most play to gain power/stay in power/making sure life stays comfortable for you and your family - just really isn't my thing. I found it to be a slog and difficult to get through. The most important thing to Locusta is making sure her beloved remains safe; even at the cost of Locusta's life/comfort. Though, the last 2 chapters really picked back up and I am curious to see how everything comes together and how the story will tie up. Had a blast reading Arawn's interactions with Locusta. They were a blast anytime they were in the scene and really grown attach to their character. Cannot wait to (hopefully) learn more about their connection to Locusta in the 2nd book.
Note: This wasn't a happy book at all - it was actually quite dark and sometimes a little heavy. You're in the space of Roman women, who didn't have much freedom. The only way they could have freedom is by plotting and scheming. There's a good bit of abuse towards the women - though much of it isn't explicit - just implied through the text. There are also a ton more non-explicit but there in between words of SA, possible incest, and some scenes of murder. Book 1 didn't have a happy ending, as our MC didn't end up in a place where she could fully enjoy life her beloved. And her beloved was forced into a situation she didn't want.
Pros: Sapphic, Arawn is fun, the exploration of the Gods and their powers was cool, the writing style was nice - really enjoyed Emily Dexter's writing style and world building. The ending left off on a nice cliff hanger.
Cons: It was a slog to get through the middle of the book, Locusta was a very rash and emotionally driven MC - she made decisions only out of care for her beloved and could be sometimes a little reckless because of it, but Locusta was very young (18-19) and will have a chance to grow in the next book.
June 22, 2026
The foundation of this book is intriguing, dangerous and clever. The story of the official toxoligist of the Julio-Claudian Emperors' court, a poisoner hailing from Gaul. A powerful foreign woman in a spiderweb full of ambitious Romans. The history is there, the politics is fascinating, the plots and plans and movements of different people all leading to shifts in the political sphere. However, the writing of this character, amidst known recorded histories (Pliny's accounts, the writer himself is heavily featured), was weak. She was pathetic. Starting the narrative with her druidic claim by the god of death, which she is terrified of, immediately followed by her capture, which she is powerless against, didn't exactly paint her as powerful. Having her continually reject her deity, her purpose in life, her new gifts, her new role, any understanding of her captors, their politics and her place... She was just completely lacking in wisdom, cunning, street smarts, anything that a slave in a new land that rose to prominence would have needed...
She is obtained and given to Livia, to identify poisons. Of course, because Livia is a pretty Roman woman, Locusta's entire personality and opinions shift as she becomes wholly obsessed with her. The narrative becomes increasingly, pathetically self-deprecating, fawning over her mistress, who isn't even kind to her in the beginning... Their relationship switches up very quickly from obsessed slave to mutual romance, founded on her telling of stories... None of which are ever completed on paper... So the added element of that mythology and culture is blurred once more. She kills a man who insulted Livia only to immediately submit to her criticisms, calling herself a fool and uneducated... She barely develops as a character, basically just adapting to whatever Livia wants, or Pliny on occasion, attempting to reject her deity, using and listening to them only when convenient for her own desires... She's panicky, weak-willed, unwise and pathetically obsessed and in the end she loses.
The presentation of this character ruined any enjoyment I would have found through the well-researched representation of Roman history, the tricky politics and the doomed sapphic relationship. A few more braincells, please...
She is obtained and given to Livia, to identify poisons. Of course, because Livia is a pretty Roman woman, Locusta's entire personality and opinions shift as she becomes wholly obsessed with her. The narrative becomes increasingly, pathetically self-deprecating, fawning over her mistress, who isn't even kind to her in the beginning... Their relationship switches up very quickly from obsessed slave to mutual romance, founded on her telling of stories... None of which are ever completed on paper... So the added element of that mythology and culture is blurred once more. She kills a man who insulted Livia only to immediately submit to her criticisms, calling herself a fool and uneducated... She barely develops as a character, basically just adapting to whatever Livia wants, or Pliny on occasion, attempting to reject her deity, using and listening to them only when convenient for her own desires... She's panicky, weak-willed, unwise and pathetically obsessed and in the end she loses.
The presentation of this character ruined any enjoyment I would have found through the well-researched representation of Roman history, the tricky politics and the doomed sapphic relationship. A few more braincells, please...
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Actual Rating: 4.5 (rounded up); Narrator Rating: 5
Thanks to NetGalley and Hay House Audiobooks for giving me access to this audiobook, this review is my own opinion.
"Lesbian druid killer-of-men chosen by a death god" is my ideal job description, so obviously I was drawn to Emily Dexter's historical fantasy about a little-known real historical figure from Ancient Rome! The real Locusta was a master poisoner responsible for the death of two emperors, and although we don't really have much information about her aside from that, I think Dexter's version does justice to an imagined Locusta - a woman excavated from a few lines here and there, recontextualized and revised within the popular framework of woman-centered, feminist retellings of legendary figures from the ancient world (Madeline Miller's Circe probably one of the most popular).
The story is told from Locusta's perspective, so the glimpses we see of Roman politics are all through the eyes of an outsider trying to survive while forced into the corrupt upper echelons of society. The focus is intrigue rather than specific political plays, those are done in the background by Augusta who is merely using Locusta to create the mechanisms of murder.
Livia and Locusta's relationship was charming, with a slow-roll development that didn't so much include pining as it included an awkward pull between domina and slave (a dynamic that isn't romanticized thank god) that morphs into a mutual devotion. And Livia joining Locusta in her adventures was just chef's kiss (unpoisoned) perfect, the imagery of them together in Locusta's rooms messing around with plants to create more effective poisons was almost sweet, like - aww hey babe, I see what you're doing there, but maybe do it this other way and it'll kill people faster! Perfect date activities.
This is overall another great entry into the canon of "what-if" retellings of legendary, mythic, and historical women written for a modern audience who want to imagine voices where there has been silence. The narrator does an incredible job bringing Dexter's work to life; rather than trying to do a special voice for each character it is generally the same voice throughout which makes it feel like this is Locusta telling us her story.
Thanks to NetGalley and Hay House Audiobooks for giving me access to this audiobook, this review is my own opinion.
"Lesbian druid killer-of-men chosen by a death god" is my ideal job description, so obviously I was drawn to Emily Dexter's historical fantasy about a little-known real historical figure from Ancient Rome! The real Locusta was a master poisoner responsible for the death of two emperors, and although we don't really have much information about her aside from that, I think Dexter's version does justice to an imagined Locusta - a woman excavated from a few lines here and there, recontextualized and revised within the popular framework of woman-centered, feminist retellings of legendary figures from the ancient world (Madeline Miller's Circe probably one of the most popular).
The story is told from Locusta's perspective, so the glimpses we see of Roman politics are all through the eyes of an outsider trying to survive while forced into the corrupt upper echelons of society. The focus is intrigue rather than specific political plays, those are done in the background by Augusta who is merely using Locusta to create the mechanisms of murder.
Livia and Locusta's relationship was charming, with a slow-roll development that didn't so much include pining as it included an awkward pull between domina and slave (a dynamic that isn't romanticized thank god) that morphs into a mutual devotion. And Livia joining Locusta in her adventures was just chef's kiss (unpoisoned) perfect, the imagery of them together in Locusta's rooms messing around with plants to create more effective poisons was almost sweet, like - aww hey babe, I see what you're doing there, but maybe do it this other way and it'll kill people faster! Perfect date activities.
This is overall another great entry into the canon of "what-if" retellings of legendary, mythic, and historical women written for a modern audience who want to imagine voices where there has been silence. The narrator does an incredible job bringing Dexter's work to life; rather than trying to do a special voice for each character it is generally the same voice throughout which makes it feel like this is Locusta telling us her story.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I wish I could erase my memory and listen to this again for the first time.
I knew nothing about Locusta before starting the book, which made discovering her story even more compelling. From the opening chapters in Roman-occupied Gaul, I was completely drawn into a world where traditional knowledge, magic and culture are being crushed beneath Roman power.
Locusta is a wonderfully complex protagonist. Her development feels natural, and the book makes her reasoning understandable without labouring the point. I was rarely surprised by her individual actions because they made complete sense for the person she had become, but the final twist caught me completely off guard and was brilliant.
The novel repeatedly explores the boundary between healing and poisoning, protection and destruction, civilisation and barbarism. Locusta’s mother calls her “my little nettle,” while Death calls her “little viper,” and both names seem to capture something important about her nature.
Death is an actual character here, and I loved the way this was handled. Death has limitations, quirks and a personality, and is sometimes amusing and often unhelpful. Their relationship with Locusta is not one of ownership or control. Death may offer gifts and warnings, but Locusta always retains the choice of whether and how to use them.
At the heart of the book is also a complicated love story that begins between a slave and a member of the imperial family. As the story develops, the balance of power shifts, and the novel explores the experiences of slaves and women in Rome. One of the most interesting ideas is that Locusta, once freed, may have more agency than a woman born into Roman society.
Ultimately, this is a story about power: poison, fear, violence, status, leverage and coercion. It is also about the limited forms of control available to women and the possibility that women whose stories were lost to time nevertheless changed the course of history.
The audiobook narrator was a perfect fit and added enormously to the atmosphere.
Immersive, intelligent, morally complex and beautifully constructed. One of my favourite reads of the year.
I knew nothing about Locusta before starting the book, which made discovering her story even more compelling. From the opening chapters in Roman-occupied Gaul, I was completely drawn into a world where traditional knowledge, magic and culture are being crushed beneath Roman power.
Locusta is a wonderfully complex protagonist. Her development feels natural, and the book makes her reasoning understandable without labouring the point. I was rarely surprised by her individual actions because they made complete sense for the person she had become, but the final twist caught me completely off guard and was brilliant.
The novel repeatedly explores the boundary between healing and poisoning, protection and destruction, civilisation and barbarism. Locusta’s mother calls her “my little nettle,” while Death calls her “little viper,” and both names seem to capture something important about her nature.
Death is an actual character here, and I loved the way this was handled. Death has limitations, quirks and a personality, and is sometimes amusing and often unhelpful. Their relationship with Locusta is not one of ownership or control. Death may offer gifts and warnings, but Locusta always retains the choice of whether and how to use them.
At the heart of the book is also a complicated love story that begins between a slave and a member of the imperial family. As the story develops, the balance of power shifts, and the novel explores the experiences of slaves and women in Rome. One of the most interesting ideas is that Locusta, once freed, may have more agency than a woman born into Roman society.
Ultimately, this is a story about power: poison, fear, violence, status, leverage and coercion. It is also about the limited forms of control available to women and the possibility that women whose stories were lost to time nevertheless changed the course of history.
The audiobook narrator was a perfect fit and added enormously to the atmosphere.
Immersive, intelligent, morally complex and beautifully constructed. One of my favourite reads of the year.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A sapphic fix-it historical fiction delving into the life of a documented poisoner from Gaul, flourishing in the Julio-Claudian era of the Roman empire with a stunning book cover. I mean, COME ON. On top of that, I hit the Netgalley lottery of both ebook and audiobook ARCs. The feminist and queer history nerd in me couldn't be more thrilled. I started this on print and right away it's clear that this is a story brimming with the rage of the colonized, the enslaved and the erased. The beginning is a brutal portrayal of the decimation of the Gaulish culture, and quickly the protagonist gets caught up in the mire of Roman politics by way of the powerful women who operate behind the scenes. There is an element of insta-love at the heart of this but hey, not gonna pick at a rare unabashed sapphic romance driving a documented historical character. It is quite dizzying to keep track of all the Roman empire figures with similar names, and who murdered who and when, to the point that the brutality gets weirdly normalized and just another element to keep the plot moving. Which is not unusual as we know from the history of this era. This is also the second book in a row that highlights the queernormativity of the era, which is refreshing. That said, for a story about a legendarily crafty poisoner, Locusta herself cuts a rather impetuous figure who is constantly being led by the noblewomen she is enthralled or intimidated by, even minimizing the wry God of Death that she is bonded to, who is really underused. The audiobook narrator does a fairly good job of distinguishing a wide cast of characters. However, this is a book that might be better to read in print that listening. There are good chunks of it that get rather infodumpy just out of the inevitability of placing the events in actual history, which is messy to begin with. I'm not entirely sure this needed to be stretched over a duology, and how it ends on a rather rushed and handwaved bleak note. That said, I'd be curious to know how the author frames the total narrative, because I can tell she cares about this story deeply.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5/5 Stars
Locusta is the story of a Gaul woman who is forced into slavery in ancient Rome and uses her connection to the god of death to create poisons to use as political tokens for those closest to her. This book is incredibly ambitious and deals with themes of colonization, slavery, and feminine rage. It is very apparent that the author is passionate about this story. She tries to tackle many themes, but with this being a debut, I felt like the feminine rage plotline comes in and swallows up some of the other themes that she tries to explore. I have hope that Book 2 will bring the narrative back around to the anti-colonization themes from the beginning of this book because I really enjoyed that part of the story and was disappointed to see it take a backseat to the romance once Locusta met Livia.
The prose is lush without getting purple and stays fairly accessible throughout the book. It reads a bit more litfic-y than I typically read, which is neither bad nor good, just different.
For the majority of the book, Locusta is telling the story of how she went from living with her mother in Gaul to her current plot to kill the emperor. This portion is written in past tense and is incredibly passive. Locusta does not really take much action until the final act of this book when we approach the present tense portions of the narrative. I think that because of this passiveness and how slow most of this book is, it is important to remember that this is Book 1 of a duology. Gears do shift quite a bit in the final portion of this book, so I am very excited for the potential that Book 2 has.
Hannah Curtis is a great fit for the audiobook narration. She matches the vibes pretty perfectly. While there isn't a tremendous amount of variety to the character voices, the prose is clear enough that I didn't have any problems differentiating who was speaking or what was happening. I would definitely recommend the audiobook.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hay House Audiobooks for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.
Locusta is the story of a Gaul woman who is forced into slavery in ancient Rome and uses her connection to the god of death to create poisons to use as political tokens for those closest to her. This book is incredibly ambitious and deals with themes of colonization, slavery, and feminine rage. It is very apparent that the author is passionate about this story. She tries to tackle many themes, but with this being a debut, I felt like the feminine rage plotline comes in and swallows up some of the other themes that she tries to explore. I have hope that Book 2 will bring the narrative back around to the anti-colonization themes from the beginning of this book because I really enjoyed that part of the story and was disappointed to see it take a backseat to the romance once Locusta met Livia.
The prose is lush without getting purple and stays fairly accessible throughout the book. It reads a bit more litfic-y than I typically read, which is neither bad nor good, just different.
For the majority of the book, Locusta is telling the story of how she went from living with her mother in Gaul to her current plot to kill the emperor. This portion is written in past tense and is incredibly passive. Locusta does not really take much action until the final act of this book when we approach the present tense portions of the narrative. I think that because of this passiveness and how slow most of this book is, it is important to remember that this is Book 1 of a duology. Gears do shift quite a bit in the final portion of this book, so I am very excited for the potential that Book 2 has.
Hannah Curtis is a great fit for the audiobook narration. She matches the vibes pretty perfectly. While there isn't a tremendous amount of variety to the character voices, the prose is clear enough that I didn't have any problems differentiating who was speaking or what was happening. I would definitely recommend the audiobook.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hay House Audiobooks for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
3.5 rounded up.
I loved the first 2/3 of the book. I thought the characters were all well interesting. The plot moved along quickly but didn’t feel rushed.
I would have liked Locusta to experience more inner turmoil about being a slave in Rome. It felt like once she decided to accept her fate, she was 100% okay with things. There was her confusion about Roman life and customs and politics but Locusta just seemed content with being a slave. There is a difference in accepting your fate while still being true to yourself at your core. She didn’t need to think she’d ever be free or go home but she definitely should have shown some private devastation/depression/struggle to adapt especially once she discovered how lucky she was to be a “privileged” slave with some agency/power.
Unfortunately the last 1/3 of the book dragged. It shifted as soon as the romance came in to play. It was so boring at the end that I could barely finish it. Just a ton of back and forth about “I love you!” “No I love you!” and a lot of talk of poorly developed plans. So much of the action happens off the page and we’re told about it instead of experiencing it with the characters.
I didn’t like Antonia’s gift to Locusta; it felt incongruous with who Antonia was and her mission for Locusta. I felt Locusta’s plans were always fairly simple and not at all well thought out. For a master poisoner, it seems like she kind of sucked at actually doing the poisoning.
I feel like this could have been really excellent but ended up as just okay.
Finally, for a book about poisoning, there was hardly any that actually took place on page.
3.5 rounded up.
I loved the first 2/3 of the book. I thought the characters were all well interesting. The plot moved along quickly but didn’t feel rushed.
I would have liked Locusta to experience more inner turmoil about being a slave in Rome. It felt like once she decided to accept her fate, she was 100% okay with things. There was her confusion about Roman life and customs and politics but Locusta just seemed content with being a slave. There is a difference in accepting your fate while still being true to yourself at your core. She didn’t need to think she’d ever be free or go home but she definitely should have shown some private devastation/depression/struggle to adapt especially once she discovered how lucky she was to be a “privileged” slave with some agency/power.
Unfortunately the last 1/3 of the book dragged. It shifted as soon as the romance came in to play. It was so boring at the end that I could barely finish it. Just a ton of back and forth about “I love you!” “No I love you!” and a lot of talk of poorly developed plans. So much of the action happens off the page and we’re told about it instead of experiencing it with the characters.
I didn’t like Antonia’s gift to Locusta; it felt incongruous with who Antonia was and her mission for Locusta. I felt Locusta’s plans were always fairly simple and not at all well thought out. For a master poisoner, it seems like she kind of sucked at actually doing the poisoning.
I feel like this could have been really excellent but ended up as just okay.
Finally, for a book about poisoning, there was hardly any that actually took place on page.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
**ARC provided by Hay House via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
I am instantly drawn to books based on mythology so it was no doubt that I was going to love this book. I seriously couldn’t put it down.
Locusta, like many women from ancient times, are lesser known than their male counterparts. Emily Dexter truly did Locusta justice in documenting the backstory that kicked off her infamy. In losing her mother, Locusta learns to hate what makes her special. This book is a journey of healing, and realizing that falling in love can help you learn to love yourself.
What I liked:
-Locusta is angry all of the time. I love a character that plots and plans without letting it pull her under.
-The love that Locusta and Livia had for each other reminded me much of Achilles and Patroclus. Despite all of the reasons to be upset with their circumstances, they found the light within each other.
-I liked that the plan to kill….those two…. At the end of the book didn’t work out. It kept me guessing with what would happen next. Sometimes when everything goes according to plan it can lose the excitement in a story— this kept me incredibly engaged
What I didn’t like as much:
-The God of Death, Arawn, was still a mystery to me even by the end of the book. I wish we learned more about Locusta’s Druid powers and what Arawn was capable of. I am hoping this still remains a slight mystery because it is a setup for a more in-depth storyline for Book #2.
I am already counting down the days for Book #2. I highly recommend Locusta by Emily Dexter to those who loved reading Circe or Ariadne.
I am instantly drawn to books based on mythology so it was no doubt that I was going to love this book. I seriously couldn’t put it down.
Locusta, like many women from ancient times, are lesser known than their male counterparts. Emily Dexter truly did Locusta justice in documenting the backstory that kicked off her infamy. In losing her mother, Locusta learns to hate what makes her special. This book is a journey of healing, and realizing that falling in love can help you learn to love yourself.
What I liked:
-Locusta is angry all of the time. I love a character that plots and plans without letting it pull her under.
-The love that Locusta and Livia had for each other reminded me much of Achilles and Patroclus. Despite all of the reasons to be upset with their circumstances, they found the light within each other.
-I liked that the plan to kill….those two…. At the end of the book didn’t work out. It kept me guessing with what would happen next. Sometimes when everything goes according to plan it can lose the excitement in a story— this kept me incredibly engaged
What I didn’t like as much:
-The God of Death, Arawn, was still a mystery to me even by the end of the book. I wish we learned more about Locusta’s Druid powers and what Arawn was capable of. I am hoping this still remains a slight mystery because it is a setup for a more in-depth storyline for Book #2.
I am already counting down the days for Book #2. I highly recommend Locusta by Emily Dexter to those who loved reading Circe or Ariadne.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 12, 2026
Review of advanced copy received from NetGalley
„Let me be the villain that saves her, rather than the hero that saves the world“
In this book we follow Locusta of Gaul, ancient Rome’s deadly serial poisoner, whose story is only sparsely recorded in history. So while not entirely historically accurate, due to the lack of passed down information, we still get an amazing story of a powerful woman, who did in any case exist. The story itself is woven around women in Rome, their status, their power or lack off and their plans.
We accompany Locusta from her village, from where is is abducted, to her role as a slave, personal poisoner and companion of Livia. Livia is a close relative of Antonia, the grandmother of emperor Caligula, who tries her best to protect her family through scheming and planning and taking every bit of power and information she can get her hands on. For a long time, Locusta and Livia, far more than simple companions by now, enjoy their love for each other behind closed doors and are living relatively undisturbed. But emperor Caligula escalates more and more, and the danger for the two rises. Locusta‘s life takes another turn, as she becomes a freedwoman after the death of Antonia through Caligula. The story reaches its climax as Caligula is murdered and chaos breaks free in the Roman society. Locusta‘s only goal: Protecting Livia.
So I liked a lot of things about this story and its narration. The aspect of the gaulish god of death choosing Locusta as their druid and their whole appearance in the book is really clever and also adds comical notes. The love story between Livia and Locusta is beautiful, and so is the portrayal of the life’s of Roman women in general. The plot captured me from the beginning and pulled me in throughout the whole book.
I will say that the love between the both seemed rather corny and over the top at some point. Locusta, despite her historical image as a cunning poisoner, defined lacks foresight and planning skills in my opinion, and I really hope we will get to see her acquire those in the future! Because this book gets a second part!
I am already looking forward to following Locusta along on her journey, especially as it is hinted that Nero will play a great part in the second novel.
„Let me be the villain that saves her, rather than the hero that saves the world“
In this book we follow Locusta of Gaul, ancient Rome’s deadly serial poisoner, whose story is only sparsely recorded in history. So while not entirely historically accurate, due to the lack of passed down information, we still get an amazing story of a powerful woman, who did in any case exist. The story itself is woven around women in Rome, their status, their power or lack off and their plans.
We accompany Locusta from her village, from where is is abducted, to her role as a slave, personal poisoner and companion of Livia. Livia is a close relative of Antonia, the grandmother of emperor Caligula, who tries her best to protect her family through scheming and planning and taking every bit of power and information she can get her hands on. For a long time, Locusta and Livia, far more than simple companions by now, enjoy their love for each other behind closed doors and are living relatively undisturbed. But emperor Caligula escalates more and more, and the danger for the two rises. Locusta‘s life takes another turn, as she becomes a freedwoman after the death of Antonia through Caligula. The story reaches its climax as Caligula is murdered and chaos breaks free in the Roman society. Locusta‘s only goal: Protecting Livia.
So I liked a lot of things about this story and its narration. The aspect of the gaulish god of death choosing Locusta as their druid and their whole appearance in the book is really clever and also adds comical notes. The love story between Livia and Locusta is beautiful, and so is the portrayal of the life’s of Roman women in general. The plot captured me from the beginning and pulled me in throughout the whole book.
I will say that the love between the both seemed rather corny and over the top at some point. Locusta, despite her historical image as a cunning poisoner, defined lacks foresight and planning skills in my opinion, and I really hope we will get to see her acquire those in the future! Because this book gets a second part!
I am already looking forward to following Locusta along on her journey, especially as it is hinted that Nero will play a great part in the second novel.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received a copy through NetGalley for review.
This sounded like an interesting premise.
Unfortunately I found the writing and prose to be very stiff and stilted, it didn't really give me much in emotions from any of the characters.
Locusta, was stolen by Rome as a teenager shortly after performing the druidic rites with her mother, a famous druid in Gaul and her village for her healing abilities- gained from her being claimed by many gods.
Locusta who seemed to have a fascination as a child with death and poisons finds herself claimed by a god of death, who has granted her the ability to see and feel souls as they leave this world and a vast knowledge of plants and poisons and how they may be used to kill, much to her ongoing irritation.
Wither her abduction her god tries to guide her to keep her alive, putting her in the path as a slave to several powerful people, eventually gaining her freedom and elevation as a wealthy Roman woman.
Her relationship with Livia seemed a little insta love, as was their attraction to one another.
And it seems like in that she loses herself in it, willing to do anything to stay together or keep her alive in the mass of her sniping, backstabbing high up family and their love of deadly power moves.
What was a great premise just felt a little flat overall. The aspects of roman life, dress and cosmetics seemed well researched in certain aspects, but lacked the human spark to get this off the ground.
This sounded like an interesting premise.
Unfortunately I found the writing and prose to be very stiff and stilted, it didn't really give me much in emotions from any of the characters.
Locusta, was stolen by Rome as a teenager shortly after performing the druidic rites with her mother, a famous druid in Gaul and her village for her healing abilities- gained from her being claimed by many gods.
Locusta who seemed to have a fascination as a child with death and poisons finds herself claimed by a god of death, who has granted her the ability to see and feel souls as they leave this world and a vast knowledge of plants and poisons and how they may be used to kill, much to her ongoing irritation.
Wither her abduction her god tries to guide her to keep her alive, putting her in the path as a slave to several powerful people, eventually gaining her freedom and elevation as a wealthy Roman woman.
Her relationship with Livia seemed a little insta love, as was their attraction to one another.
And it seems like in that she loses herself in it, willing to do anything to stay together or keep her alive in the mass of her sniping, backstabbing high up family and their love of deadly power moves.
What was a great premise just felt a little flat overall. The aspects of roman life, dress and cosmetics seemed well researched in certain aspects, but lacked the human spark to get this off the ground.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received a free advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley. This review is my honest and voluntary opinion.
Genre: Sapphic retelling, Roman mythology
Series?: Book #1, ARC, released 15th Sept 2026
Focus: A mix of character and plot
Spice level: 🌶️/5
Warnings: Murder, violence, systematic oppression of and violence towards women, sexual violence, gore, slavery, war, grief and loss, incest, racism, homophobia, bigotry, animal sacrifice, poisonings, substance use.
This story feels like a love letter to the women throughout history whose stories we will never hear. It's a tale of strength, perseverance and love.
The setting is one of such violence and trauma, and yet these strong, layered female characters persist and learn to survive by outsmarting the patriarchal system they're caught in.
There's a strong theme of love involving sacrifice that runs throughout this book. It is utterly heartbreaking, at times, and a heavy read.
The sapphic romance is tender and sweet, giving a ray of light and hope in an otherwise very bleak situation.
Where it fell down for me was the ending, I felt like it concluded a little abruptly and I found it a little frustrating. But, I acknowledge that this is part of a series and so there could be a reason for that. I'm looking forward to reading more of this series in the future.
One to read if you enjoyed retellings such as Sweet Bitter Song or Song of Achilles.
Genre: Sapphic retelling, Roman mythology
Series?: Book #1, ARC, released 15th Sept 2026
Focus: A mix of character and plot
Spice level: 🌶️/5
Warnings: Murder, violence, systematic oppression of and violence towards women, sexual violence, gore, slavery, war, grief and loss, incest, racism, homophobia, bigotry, animal sacrifice, poisonings, substance use.
This story feels like a love letter to the women throughout history whose stories we will never hear. It's a tale of strength, perseverance and love.
The setting is one of such violence and trauma, and yet these strong, layered female characters persist and learn to survive by outsmarting the patriarchal system they're caught in.
There's a strong theme of love involving sacrifice that runs throughout this book. It is utterly heartbreaking, at times, and a heavy read.
The sapphic romance is tender and sweet, giving a ray of light and hope in an otherwise very bleak situation.
Where it fell down for me was the ending, I felt like it concluded a little abruptly and I found it a little frustrating. But, I acknowledge that this is part of a series and so there could be a reason for that. I'm looking forward to reading more of this series in the future.
One to read if you enjoyed retellings such as Sweet Bitter Song or Song of Achilles.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley, Hay House Audiobooks, and the author for the audiobook ARC!
I really enjoyed the audiobook experience of Locusta. It was incredibly immersive, particularly because of the intentional language and writing style. The poetic, almost theatrical quality really helped encapsulate the time period and atmosphere of Ancient Rome, making this a story that felt especially well suited to audio.
One element I found a little disappointing was the way Locusta’s knowledge of poisons was attributed largely to her connection with her druidic goddess. I would have loved to see more emphasis placed on Locusta herself as a learner, botanist and chemist. Given how fascinating her knowledge and abilities are, this felt like a missed opportunity to highlight her intelligence and curiosity.
There were also moments where the prose became a little long-winded. While this certainly contributed to the historical atmosphere and the way people of the period might speak, there were occasions where the lengthy, poetic dialogue pulled me slightly out of the moment.
Overall, though, this was a wonderful listening experience. The combination of historical fiction, fantasy, mythology, political intrigue and sapphic romance created a really compelling atmosphere and I’m definitely interested to see where Locusta’s story goes next.
I really enjoyed the audiobook experience of Locusta. It was incredibly immersive, particularly because of the intentional language and writing style. The poetic, almost theatrical quality really helped encapsulate the time period and atmosphere of Ancient Rome, making this a story that felt especially well suited to audio.
One element I found a little disappointing was the way Locusta’s knowledge of poisons was attributed largely to her connection with her druidic goddess. I would have loved to see more emphasis placed on Locusta herself as a learner, botanist and chemist. Given how fascinating her knowledge and abilities are, this felt like a missed opportunity to highlight her intelligence and curiosity.
There were also moments where the prose became a little long-winded. While this certainly contributed to the historical atmosphere and the way people of the period might speak, there were occasions where the lengthy, poetic dialogue pulled me slightly out of the moment.
Overall, though, this was a wonderful listening experience. The combination of historical fiction, fantasy, mythology, political intrigue and sapphic romance created a really compelling atmosphere and I’m definitely interested to see where Locusta’s story goes next.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really appreciated that this book is well-researched and has an interesting perspective of the Roman Empire. It’s like a female version of Roman Empire fantasy, but unfortunately still with the unpleasant truths that came along with it.
The prologue is strong and gets the reader very invested in the opening scene. The author’s descriptiveness is a strong point of the writing, however sometimes it felt a bit drawn out and like it could’ve been trimmed down a bit.
Speaking of, there is a lot of introspection in the book, and not the kind I enjoy. It’s a lot of internally dwelling on worries about what to do or if the FMC should go through with whatever she’s doing at the time. It gets really repetitive, and you can almost skip paragraphs of text where it’s just the FMC worrying.
The middle of the book drags quite a lot, and all of that dragging doesn’t build up to a satisfying ending. The book wraps up with “big” events that make sense almost from about 1/3 of the way in, and it doesn’t feel rewarding to have read everything in between.
Overall, I really like what this book was trying to do, but it unfortunately couldn’t quite get there. I don’t think the story did Locusta justice, and overall made her an unpleasant character to read.
The prologue is strong and gets the reader very invested in the opening scene. The author’s descriptiveness is a strong point of the writing, however sometimes it felt a bit drawn out and like it could’ve been trimmed down a bit.
Speaking of, there is a lot of introspection in the book, and not the kind I enjoy. It’s a lot of internally dwelling on worries about what to do or if the FMC should go through with whatever she’s doing at the time. It gets really repetitive, and you can almost skip paragraphs of text where it’s just the FMC worrying.
The middle of the book drags quite a lot, and all of that dragging doesn’t build up to a satisfying ending. The book wraps up with “big” events that make sense almost from about 1/3 of the way in, and it doesn’t feel rewarding to have read everything in between.
Overall, I really like what this book was trying to do, but it unfortunately couldn’t quite get there. I don’t think the story did Locusta justice, and overall made her an unpleasant character to read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Locusta is a dark, myth‑touched descent into ancient Rome, carried by excellent narration and a fiercely compelling heroine.
Locusta reimagines one of history’s mostly forgotten women through a blend of myth, political danger, and feminine defiance. We follow Locusta as she’s dragged into Rome’s brutal world. The story traces her rise from enslaved outsider to a woman whose knowledge of poisons becomes both weapon and shield. The audiobook narration is genuinely amazing and makes the ancient world feel textured, real, and emotional.
While the book includes romance and intimacy, it never becomes the whole plot of the story. Instead, the focus stays on Locusta’s survival, her connections, and the shifting loyalties among Rome’s powerful women. The author’s note at the end adds a thoughtful, grounding touch that made the whole experience feel more intentional and resonant.
Trugger warnings:
- Attempted rape
- Sexual assault (off‑screen)
- War, death, grief
- Murder
- Slavery
- Political violence and coercion
- Overall heavy themes involving women’s limited autonomy in ancient Rome
Not a light read, but a rewarding one, especially if you enjoy stories about powerful women navigating dangerous worlds.
Locusta reimagines one of history’s mostly forgotten women through a blend of myth, political danger, and feminine defiance. We follow Locusta as she’s dragged into Rome’s brutal world. The story traces her rise from enslaved outsider to a woman whose knowledge of poisons becomes both weapon and shield. The audiobook narration is genuinely amazing and makes the ancient world feel textured, real, and emotional.
While the book includes romance and intimacy, it never becomes the whole plot of the story. Instead, the focus stays on Locusta’s survival, her connections, and the shifting loyalties among Rome’s powerful women. The author’s note at the end adds a thoughtful, grounding touch that made the whole experience feel more intentional and resonant.
Trugger warnings:
- Attempted rape
- Sexual assault (off‑screen)
- War, death, grief
- Murder
- Slavery
- Political violence and coercion
- Overall heavy themes involving women’s limited autonomy in ancient Rome
Not a light read, but a rewarding one, especially if you enjoy stories about powerful women navigating dangerous worlds.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Emily Dexter's Locusta is a sapphic historical fantasy set in ancient Rome, inspired by the little that's known about the infamous titular character, a known poisoner. The book is very well researched, and it shows; the prose is also quite nice, with lovely turns of phrase. Locusta's journey from young woman to consummate poisoner is handled perhaps too quickly, with far less introspection one would expect from one who is dragged away from home and sold as slave after witnessing the murder of everyone she knows.
Instead, Locusta settles into her role with little doubt nor recollection, and quickly adapts to Rome and Rome's intrigue, especially when she falls in love with Livia. Their romance was sweet, and Livia's character ends up far more interesting than the protagonist, with her isolation and cunning. In general, all the female characters were very well done, especially Antonia Augusta.
The magical aspect mingles with history in an intriguing way, showing what a god's patronage and meddling might look like.
Locusta has a strong premise, but it fails to stick the landing.
✨ 3.5 stars
Emily Dexter's Locusta is a sapphic historical fantasy set in ancient Rome, inspired by the little that's known about the infamous titular character, a known poisoner. The book is very well researched, and it shows; the prose is also quite nice, with lovely turns of phrase. Locusta's journey from young woman to consummate poisoner is handled perhaps too quickly, with far less introspection one would expect from one who is dragged away from home and sold as slave after witnessing the murder of everyone she knows.
Instead, Locusta settles into her role with little doubt nor recollection, and quickly adapts to Rome and Rome's intrigue, especially when she falls in love with Livia. Their romance was sweet, and Livia's character ends up far more interesting than the protagonist, with her isolation and cunning. In general, all the female characters were very well done, especially Antonia Augusta.
The magical aspect mingles with history in an intriguing way, showing what a god's patronage and meddling might look like.
Locusta has a strong premise, but it fails to stick the landing.
✨ 3.5 stars
August 7, 2026
Locusta is an exploration of the women of ancient rome and the part they have always played in history. It’s clear that this book is a love letter to those forgotten stories and the powerful women behind them. I found it to be a well written historical fiction with beautiful writing and queer representation. The storyline was engaging and the characters remained interesting throughout the entire book. I was lucky to have gotten my hands on the advanced listeners copy of the audiobook and the narration was incredibly well done. Not every audiobook is built the same but this one was engaging.
My only real concern with this book was the way it approached slavery. I understand that it’s historically accurate and that Locusta was a slave before being freed but this book really brushes aside those implications. Locusta is strangely fast to adapt and accept her life as a slave and is even hesitant about gaining her freedom. As a free woman she inherits slaves herself that she never shows any real issues about having. It’s just a little weird how it’s all presented. Also the romance I feel could’ve been established when she was freed instead of when it was with her owner.
My only real concern with this book was the way it approached slavery. I understand that it’s historically accurate and that Locusta was a slave before being freed but this book really brushes aside those implications. Locusta is strangely fast to adapt and accept her life as a slave and is even hesitant about gaining her freedom. As a free woman she inherits slaves herself that she never shows any real issues about having. It’s just a little weird how it’s all presented. Also the romance I feel could’ve been established when she was freed instead of when it was with her owner.
July 8, 2026
Can't talk rn, I'm girlbossing (poisoning officials high above my station).
3.5/5 ⭐️ (rounded up)
A fun historical fantasy novel based on the rarely told story of Locusta the poisoner and an enemies-ish to lovers sapphic subplot to swoon over.
While I did enjoy Livia and Locusta's banter and thier connection, I did have some difficulties getting past the inherent power imbalances of their relationship. Despite a few references about how Livia is " different from the rest" and "kinder", she is still a high brow Roman official with the plethora of issues that come with that.
At some points the plot feels a little slow, and it feels like there is not much happening. It wasn't necessarily bad to read, I found it pretty enjoyable actually. The main thing, though, is that sometimes it was hard to get into the plot and I ended up distracted or with my mind wandering.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hay House Publishers for the ARC copy!
3.5/5 ⭐️ (rounded up)
A fun historical fantasy novel based on the rarely told story of Locusta the poisoner and an enemies-ish to lovers sapphic subplot to swoon over.
While I did enjoy Livia and Locusta's banter and thier connection, I did have some difficulties getting past the inherent power imbalances of their relationship. Despite a few references about how Livia is " different from the rest" and "kinder", she is still a high brow Roman official with the plethora of issues that come with that.
At some points the plot feels a little slow, and it feels like there is not much happening. It wasn't necessarily bad to read, I found it pretty enjoyable actually. The main thing, though, is that sometimes it was hard to get into the plot and I ended up distracted or with my mind wandering.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hay House Publishers for the ARC copy!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I went into this book excited by the premise and the promise of a story inspired by Locusta. I understand, as the author's note explains, that this is inspired by the
"idea" of the historical figure rather than the actual person because so little information about the real Locusta survives.
That said, the character presented in this novel felt like she had almost nothing to do with that inspiration beyond the name. The concept of Locusta as a legendary poisoner drew me in, but the protagonist never embodied the qualities or presence I expected from someone based on such a fascinating figure. It felt like the historical inspiration was used more as a starting point than as something that meaningfully shaped the character.
While there were moments I enjoyed, I struggled to connect with both the characters and the story. The execution didn't live up to the intriguing premise, and the emotional impact never fully landed for me.
"idea" of the historical figure rather than the actual person because so little information about the real Locusta survives.
That said, the character presented in this novel felt like she had almost nothing to do with that inspiration beyond the name. The concept of Locusta as a legendary poisoner drew me in, but the protagonist never embodied the qualities or presence I expected from someone based on such a fascinating figure. It felt like the historical inspiration was used more as a starting point than as something that meaningfully shaped the character.
While there were moments I enjoyed, I struggled to connect with both the characters and the story. The execution didn't live up to the intriguing premise, and the emotional impact never fully landed for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.75 ⭐️
This is a bit of a slow build, but the first 40-50% were my favorite. I really loved getting to know Locusta, her world, her life and this new connection with the god of death.
I love how women centered this book is-kicking my feet. Once Locusta is forced into slavery in Rome we really get to see her use the poisons she creates-loved that as well. Her rage is so refreshing, but I do think it gets muddled once she starts falling in love(they are so cute though). She just keeps saying over and over again that she will “destroy, kill, get rid of” anyone who comes after the woman she loves… and while I do love this, it got a bit repetitive when it came to her dialogue and inner thoughts. Enough so I kept noticing it.
We have a lot of great conversations here-esp anti colonialism and I’m hoping to see more of that in book 2.
This is a duology-yay!
The narrator did a great job and I think it is a strong debut.
Thank you NetGalley and Hay House for the ALC.
This is a bit of a slow build, but the first 40-50% were my favorite. I really loved getting to know Locusta, her world, her life and this new connection with the god of death.
I love how women centered this book is-kicking my feet. Once Locusta is forced into slavery in Rome we really get to see her use the poisons she creates-loved that as well. Her rage is so refreshing, but I do think it gets muddled once she starts falling in love(they are so cute though). She just keeps saying over and over again that she will “destroy, kill, get rid of” anyone who comes after the woman she loves… and while I do love this, it got a bit repetitive when it came to her dialogue and inner thoughts. Enough so I kept noticing it.
We have a lot of great conversations here-esp anti colonialism and I’m hoping to see more of that in book 2.
This is a duology-yay!
The narrator did a great job and I think it is a strong debut.
Thank you NetGalley and Hay House for the ALC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5/5
Thank you so much to the author and those at Hay House for sending me this ARC!
•••
WOW, I absolutely LOVED the concept of this book! Centered around an incredibly tumultuous Rome, focusing on a poisoner by the name Locusta and her dearly beloved Livia, I found myself in awe of the author’s very obvious devotion to the history of Rome, and her less famous denizens. Overall, this sapphic historical fiction was incredibly enjoyable to read and the added magic and gods made it even more delectable! I did have some issues staying in the story for about a hundred pages or so in the middle, I do love political intrigue but I felt that things were a bit too good for too long!
Highly recommend this novel for any fans of Rome and I recommend it even more to those who really are sick of Rome always being the hero of the story.
Thank you so much to the author and those at Hay House for sending me this ARC!
•••
WOW, I absolutely LOVED the concept of this book! Centered around an incredibly tumultuous Rome, focusing on a poisoner by the name Locusta and her dearly beloved Livia, I found myself in awe of the author’s very obvious devotion to the history of Rome, and her less famous denizens. Overall, this sapphic historical fiction was incredibly enjoyable to read and the added magic and gods made it even more delectable! I did have some issues staying in the story for about a hundred pages or so in the middle, I do love political intrigue but I felt that things were a bit too good for too long!
Highly recommend this novel for any fans of Rome and I recommend it even more to those who really are sick of Rome always being the hero of the story.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Locusta was such an interesting take on one of the most fascinating women in Roman history. Choosing Locusta as the main character was a brilliant idea, and I really enjoyed how well she was developed throughout the story. The connection to the god of death added a compelling fantasy element, while the inclusion of real historical events showed the author's passion for the period.
As someone with a background in Roman history, I did find some of the historical inaccuracies a little frustrating. However, I don't think they'll detract from the experience for most readers who aren't as familiar with the history.
Overall, this was an engaging start to the duology, and I'm interested enough to see where the story goes in book two.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
As someone with a background in Roman history, I did find some of the historical inaccuracies a little frustrating. However, I don't think they'll detract from the experience for most readers who aren't as familiar with the history.
Overall, this was an engaging start to the duology, and I'm interested enough to see where the story goes in book two.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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