Vestal Virgin

by Suzanne Tyrpak, Blake Crouch (Foreword)

Vestal Virgin--suspense in ancient Rome Elissa Rubria Honoria is a Vestal Virgin--priestess of the sacred flame, a visionary, and one of the most powerful women in Rome. Vestals are sacrosanct, sworn to chastity on penalty of death, but the emperor, Nero, holds himself above the law. He pursues Elissa, engaging her in a deadly game of wits and sexuality. Or is Elissa really the pursuer? She stumbles on dark secrets. No longer trusting Roman gods, she follows a new god, Jesus of Nazareth, jeopardizing her life and the future of The Roman Empire. (From the "Tales from the Adytum" collection.) 336 pages.

            *New York Times bestselling author Terry Brooks says,
"A writer of real talent, a promising new voice."
           *  New York Times bestselling author Tess Gerritsen says,  "Suzanne Tyrpak weaves a spell that utterly enchants and delights. Her writing is pure magic."
Please Due to the setting and the times, the book includes several scenes involving deviant sex--suggestive rather than graphic--and not more than a few paragraphs.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Romance, Historical, Christian, Christian Fiction, Mystery

338 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 11, 2010

About the author

Suzanne Tyrpak ran away from New York a long time ago to live in Colorado. She works for an airline which allows her to travel and do research for her books. When she’s not writing, she enjoys riding her bike, swimming, skiing, and dancing. In her next life she would like to be a belly dancer or her cat.

Her new novel, Rosy,—is an urban story set 1970s New York City. Her historical novels, Vestal Virgin—suspense in ancient Rome, and Hetaera—suspense in ancient Athens, book one of the Agathon’s Daughter trilogy, are best sellers on Amazon in several categories. Her (short) short story collections, Dating My Vibrator (and other true fiction) and Ghost Plane and Other Disturbing Tales are available on Kindle, Barnes and Noble, iTunes, and Smashwords.

Her short story Downhill was first published in Arts Perspective Magazine. Rock Bottom is published in the Mota 9: Addiction Anthology, available on Kindle. Her short story Ghost Plane was published by CrimeSpree Magazine. Venus Faded appears in the anthology Pronto! Writings from Rome (Triple Tree Publishing, 2002) along with notable authors including: Dorothy Allison, Elizabeth Engstrom, Terry Brooks and John Saul.

Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers awarded her first prize in the Colorado Gold Writing Contest, and Maui Writers awarded her third prize in the Rupert Hughes writing competition.

Reviews

[Rob Campbell · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have just finished reading Vestal Virgin and my feelings are mixed. The writing and pacing of the story are good--often compelling. However, I'm not convinced by the characters.

At the beginning of the book we are introduced to the vestal virgin, Elissa. Right away we discover that the emperor Nero has sentenced her brother, Marcus, to death for treason. The charges are false yet her brother dies anyway. The death of Marcus shapes the rest of the book: Elissa seeks revenge whilst Nero taunts her.

It is difficult to empathise with Elissa since Marcus' death occurs very early, before the reader has had a chance to bond with any of the characters. Of Marcus himself, the reader learns very little. The book would have benefited greatly from a chapter or two developing the characters, before the action starts. As things stand, one is very detached when reading the important first chapter.

Nero's evil is supposed to fuel Elissa's thirst for revenge and so is very important to the story. The difficulty is that Nero is a pantomime villain. He is evil because we're told he is: the reader repeatedly hears of how he murdered family members to ascend to the throne. This rings hollow since such behaviour was common both before and after this time in history (e.g. the Ptolemies and the Ottoman emperors). Nero's actions in the book are designed to either make him look evil or ridiculous. The character has no positive attributes and his main motivation seems to be causing grief in others. All of this makes Nero one-dimensional and unconvincing.

The lack of empathy one feels for Elissa's plight and the cardboard cut-out villain don't do justice to the writing, which is often rather good.

Finally, there is the issue of religion. Quite a strong Christian theme runs through the book and those who are not religious may find it a little annoying. Ellisa in particular is ready to give up her existing beliefs and follow Jesus. This semi-conversion is not presented convincingly. It is likely that Romans would have been wary of Christianity as Nero was notorious for persecuting Christians, something not discussed in the book.

[Debbie is on Storygraph · Rating 2 out of 5]

It almost pains me to give this book less than three stars, but I had such mixed feelings about the book there was no way I could say with confidence that I "liked it." The writing was extremely well-done, and it was obvious that Trypak really did her research on life ancient Rome during Nero's time. But I could only read the book in small doses, which detracted a lot from the good pacing of the story, and the overall flow. This was for several reasons. The main one was the religious Christian storyline. I knew it would be there going in but I wasn't expecting it to be as heavy handed as it was, and to be frank, it got on my nerves. It also did nothing for the plot and could have been taken out with no harm done to the overarching storyline of Elissa's struggle with Nero trying to control her and her family. I felt it actually detracted from that storyline, in fact, as her conversion was just not convincingly portrayed, and I felt that it weakened Elissa's character as I just saw her going from one cult of personality (Nero) to another (Paul).

The second reason was Elissa's sister, Flavia, who is quite possibly the most stupid, self-centered, shallow excuse of a human being I've come across in fiction in a long time. Every time she came on screen I wanted to reach in and strangle her. Yes, she's a teenager, so I guess she's portrayed accurately but that didn't make me hate her any less.

The actual plot was interesting, and I did enjoy the story on a general level. However, after reflecting on the book as a whole, it left me unsatisfied. Aside from the points I already raised, I thought Tyrpak's characterization of the characters were very weak and one-dimensional. Flavia was a spoiled brat. Justinius is the noble warrior. Nero is an evil sociopath. The characters were very stereotyped and neatly boxed with very little to no gray entering their character.

Review copy courtesy of the publisher via LibraryThing's Member Giveaway

[Marissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an obssessive reader of historical fiction, I've been around the block so to speak when it comes to historical novels such as this one. There are many different types of historical fiction and this novel is what I call a lighter, cozy historical novel. That being said, this is one of the better ones I have read. It is certainly the best novel that I've read that is set in ancient Rome.

I can tell that much care went into the author's research and the effect is admirable authenticity. However I often forgot that I was reading a story set thousands of years ago and thousands of miles away because the issues probed within the storyline are univeral and timeless.

I recommend this book to lovers of historical fiction and novels in general.

[Jaidis Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vestal Virgin by Suzanne Tyrpak was nothing like I thought it would be. It was better! Normally I try and stay away from books set in ancient Rome because they always seem to irritate me, often telling the exact same story and are almost always predictable. Ms. Tyrpak wastes no time jumping into the action and setting up the story that will keep you hooked until you finish. I kept waiting for a spot where I could leave off for the night and return to it later but that spot never arrived. I read it straight through. We meet Elissa, who happens to be a Vestal Virgin. Vestal Virgins are normally picked as young girls, often only nine years old, and are forced into the temple where they take a vow to remain a virgin for 30 years so that they may better serve the Gods. Being a Vestal Virgin means that a woman is allowed to do things that aren't normally allowed of woman in ancient Rome such as owning land and controlling her own money. Everyone thinks being selected is an honor but what it also means is that a Vestal Virgin is destined to live a loveless life as they are nearly 40 years old when finally released from their vows. Many stay at the temple as they have no place to go and don't want to be alone for their remaining years. Meanwhile, Nero sits upon the Roman throne and holds himself above all others, claiming that he is a God and can do as he pleases. After having Elissa's brother named a traitor and killed for treason, Elissa makes it her goal to see to it that Nero is punished. She begins to question her faith in her Gods after her brother is murdered, her sister's innocence is taken, and friends turn into spies. Vestal Virgin is written with strong religious themes, which I normally try to stay away from while reviewing books because religion is such a delicate topic with people today. I personally believe that if the religious theme had been down played just a bit, it would make for a better story and possibly appeal to those who do not have strong religious beliefs. Even with that being said, Vestal Virgin was wonderfully written, suspenseful and intriguing. There are strong adult themes throughout the book and although they are not extremely descriptive, they should only be read by mature adult audiences.

[Karen Fowler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was worried that Vestal Virgin would read too scholarly or dry, given the amount of research the author put into crafting this novel. Not only were my fears unfounded, but the rich detail and careful construction of the suspenseful plot actually made the novel go one stop past the "great book" designation.

Mind you, I have no idea if the factual information laced throughout the story is accurate but the author deftly wove the information in with such a light hand that it felt natural and true. The characters are fully-fleshed and even the ones I disliked for their actions I still managed to feel compassion for at times. Tyrpak not only wrote believable, multi-faceted characters, she breathed life into them with refreshing complexity.

Reading the last lines were a little bit like watching the last epidose of a long-favored show. Afterwords I felt spent, contemplative and sad to see it end. Even now, writing this review a few days later, I find myself pausing to think about the Tyrant and the Virgin and the ways their lives intertwined. Neurosis, depravity, religion, love, faith and betrayal- it's all in this book.

My first thought upon finishing Vestal Virgin was just a simple, sated "Wow" - then I kicked back and thought about the book for a good while. Great books do that to me. They cling to my skin, invade my neurons and poke at my emotions. I know without a doubt that Vestal Virgin is one of those rare books that will stay with me for a long time and for that reason I will certainly be on the lookout for Tyrpak's next novel!

[s0nicfreak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don’t let the fact that this is a well-researched book set in ancient Rome put you off. This story about feelings toward sexuality and trying to juggle faith and emotions is timeless. However, it also does a wonderful job of setting the stage of ancient Rome. Make sure you have some time when you begin reading this – you may not want to put it down, and it took me longer to read than most Kindle books (which is a plus). And you may want to keep Google handy; there were a few words I had to look up that weren’t in the Kindle dictionary (not that that’s a bad thing, as I love learning a bit while being entertained).

This book is definitely for adults only and not for prudes (and I mean that word in no offensive way, all you prudes out there), as it is largely about sexuality. However it manages to not be too graphic. It’s a great read that is completely worth the time spent reading and the looking up of the few words.

[liirogue · Rating 2 out of 5]

This just doesn't quite work. I don't feel like the characters are fleshed out enough, or their actions don't mesh with how they've previously been described or portrayed. Nero is a one-dimensional bad guy, so his motivation seems to be "because I'm supposed to be the villain in this story." Elissa's sister is ridiculously over-the-top and quite annoying. Elissa's love interest comes across as a weak cardboard cutout that wanders through the story on occasion.

There is also a heavy streak of Christianity running through this that I found distracting and ham-handed. The main character suddenly converts but it just seemed too far-fetched for this time period and her station in life. Unless the author was trying to write a Christianity themed novel (and this is not mentioned anywhere in the book description), the proselytizing bogs things down and doesn't add anything to the plot,

[Andy Gavin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Made it to about the halfway point. The prose was fine but workman-like. Clearly the author really knows her period. The thing was, I just wasn't engaged by anything other than the period itself (which I adore).

[Nina · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book has some good content about ancient Rome which humanizes the experience of young girls who are chosen as Vestal Virgins. It also takes you back in time as you learn about cultural and religious practices of immigrant slaves to high ranking citizens. Justinius' slave is an immigrant from Egypt who mocks some of Rome's traditions while Nero shows off his love for excess during the Saturnalia festival. The author introduces how Christianity carved a place within the pagan realm through Paul, as an important character motivating Elissa to have faith in her destiny. We root for Elissa and Justinius to find each other, and laugh at Flavia's attempts to tame Nero. Nero's debauchery is legendary so the author had plenty of material from history to weave through her tale. She even uses the great fire in Rome when Nero played his fiddle as a turning point in the ending. I found myself liking moments in the story, but then counting the pages until the end in between. The last 60 pages were worth the wait -- so I'm glad I finished it. I agree with others that the characters were too one dimensional, and the young sister Flavia was too romance novel victim to be believable. So if you want historical fiction, stick with Colleen McCullough. And if you want a beach read that happens to be set in ancient Rome, this one is a good choice.

[Iset · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ouch. Poorly fleshed out characters, modern dialogue and slang, events happening all too quickly which we don't care about because we barely know the characters, some pretty ham-handed religious message... Uh uh.

[Joy Jakubaitis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Never really got into the characters.

[Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not being an avid reader of historical fiction, I was pleasantly surprised by this story set in Nero's Rome.

[Alice Yeh · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Vestal Virgin, Tyrpak combines elements of Greek tragedy, modern storytelling, and Freudian psychology. Readers are gradually led through the destruction of a family, the religious awakening of two involuntarily celibate individuals, and the vicissitudes of a mentally unstable monarch. (My mental construct of the latter bore a striking resemblance to Joaquin Phoenix's Commodus in the movie Gladiator—I blame the hubris and the unhealthy sexual behaviors, but I digress.)

Tyrpak's story focuses on more than Elissa, the vestal virgin; the book encompasses a main cast of roughly a dozen, a hefty number that could very well have been confusing or lackluster. She does them justice, however, developing each to show his or her strengths, weaknesses, and changes of heart. I confess a certain love-hate relationship with both Nero and Flavia—love, because they are spectacularly written, and hate because of their vileness. Even Justinus, the upright hero, bears a darker side, a vindictiveness with which Elissa also struggles. The humanness of Tyrpak's creations is impressive, and I find myself caught between wanting to know them better and wanting to throttle them. The only complaint that I have is the almost pat serving of just desserts, but it is reasonably presented and so I'll consider that a stylistic preference.

The pacing of the book is a constant, sure-footed canter, fast enough to appease the impatient and slow enough to do justice to the plot and the characters. There is a tension throughout that is well worth savoring, a sort of dread that fills the reader as things start to go wrong. The story itself is addictive: I was traipsing around London all day and still found myself picking up the Kindle during short waits and whatnot, just to see what would happen next. The plot is well thought-out, with only one major revelation about Elissa and some aspects of the ending that left me wanting; the former, because it seemed to come from left field, and the latter because I was expecting a true Greek tragedy and received a series of events that may have been a bit soft.

As far as the the historicity of the tale, I am ill-equipped to judge details, having limited knowledge of the life of vestal virgins. What I can say is that for the reasonably educated lay person, the story is believable enough, without any glaring anachronisms to mar the experience. Word choice in dialogue is up to the author, since the Romans did not speak English. Still, she kept it conservative, which preserved the feel of being in the past, as opposed to our contraction-ridden present.

Speaking of conservatism, there is a certain lack thereof when it comes to sexual vulgarities in this novel. Tyrpak keeps them just vague enough that I was still willing to read through them, but they are still base and somewhat disturbing. There is also the question of religious material as she introduces Justinus' mentoring relationship with Paul of Tarsus during the latter man's interment in Rome. In terms of controversies, this has the more potential to be controversial, as both Justinus and Elissa began to lean on Jesus of Nazareth instead of Roman gods. Thankfully, Tyrpak limits the religious content to the characters' internal battles and does not twist the plot to promote one religion over the other. It is a fine tightrope that she walks.

Vestal Virgin is a surprisingly enjoyable and enthralling bit of fiction. It is well worth the read for any who crave a slice of tragedy or want to spend a few hours lost in the intricate political dealings of Rome and its megalomaniac of an emperor.

[Lisa Yarde · Rating 4 out of 5]

A priestess in Nero’s Rome discovers hidden truths about faith and herself, in Suzanne Tyrpak’s Vestal Virgin. The Emperor dictates the fate of Rome citizens, but when the priestess Elissa Rubria Honoria rejects his manipulation, a chain of events follow that endanger Elissa and everyone she cherishes. As calamities befall her, she also uncovers long-buried secrets about her past.

In Elissa’s childhood, her parents surrendered her to the care of the Vestal Virgins, honored women bound by vows of chastity to serve the Roman goddess of the family and family. While Elissa did not willingly accept the burden, she achieves a semblance of security and comfort in later years. Her carefully scripted life begins to unravel when she learns that her brother Marcus faces an accusation of treason. Elissa knows the Emperor Nero is a capricious and dangerous man, but in her desperation, she believes she can save her brother. She rushes off to the Circus Maximus, where Nero has ordained Marcus’s death as a spectacle for Rome’s citizens. On her journey, Elissa meets a stranger whose prophetic vow will haunt her. Though Nero toys with Elissa upon her arrival, it is soon clear that he does not intend to release his victim. Afterward, Elissa begins to question the will of the gods, who have allowed Nero’s cruelty to go unchecked.

As a Vestal, Elissa has sacrificed a future with the soldier Justinus, but it seems she will have to endure much more given the loss of her brother. Her family remains subject to the Emperor’s whims, especially her younger sister Flavia, who seems to have caught Nero’s eye. It is a horrifying prospect for Elissa and the Empress, Poppaea Sabina. Where Elissa is selfless, Flavia’s selfishness threatens to embroil the family in Nero’s schemes. The Emperor, who once deemed Marcus and Justinus his friends, has grown into a paranoid monster, leaving Justinus fears for his life. Through him, Elissa makes a connection with Paul of Tarsus, one of the followers of Jesus, an act with grave consequences for everyone involved. As Elissa tries to reconcile her faith with the tenets of the new religion, Nero, Flavia and Poppaea pursue their own schemes, each of which will ruin Elissa’s former contentment, but also aid her in uncovering an unexpected connection between her and the Emperor.

The authenticity with which Ms. Tyrpak writes about ancient Rome will make readers feel as though they are walking the crowded, smelly streets or mingling with the masses in the arena. Her character portrayals reveal flawed and misguided individuals, who are also sympathetic even at their most foolish. The author does not shy away from the reputed cruelty and vagaries that the Emperor Nero displayed during his lifetime, and she succeeds in making him a powerful antagonist, even when he seems comical. There are hints of sexual perverseness, but nothing too explicit. While I won’t give away the ending, it felt as though some of the conflicts remained unresolved. I’m pleased to hear that there is a sequel to Vestal Virgin.

[TC · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy historical fiction and I found this book when the author was doing a giveaway on a forum. I have previously read Imperium by Robert Harris, and other similar books, which I found really interesting so reading about ancient Rome from the viewpoint of a woman was a tempting proposition.

Elissa is a vestal virgin, a priestess sworn to chastity, and one of the most powerful women in Rome. The vestals are envied by other women as they are allowed to own property and have a much greater degree of independence than other Roman women, but it is something of a gilded cage. After Nero kills her brother and pursues Elissa she vows revenge and is determined to try and stop Nero bringing about the fall of Rome. She becomes disenchanted with the Roman Gods and under the guidance of a family friend and potential lover she is introduced to the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. Her actions could lead to her death but she is driven to protect her family and Rome.

This is a story with a lot of strong characters who play important roles in progressing the plot. In some books this can be hard to follow but not this one. The particular emphasis on the views and positions within society of the women in the story, and the fact most of the book comes from the viewpoints of female characters, is quite refreshing and showed me a different side to the Roman era than I had gleaned from other books. I'm no historian so I couldn't swear to the accuracy of every detail but it felt authentic and very interesting.

This book is well written and proof-read, in fact I don't think I spotted a single typo which is very unusual for me. The story wasn't overly complicated but with such treachery and ambition on display it didn't need to be, reading about Nero's debauchery and Elissa's sister's cruelty driven by naivety I was hooked. I think the reason I didn't come away from it thinking it was a brilliant book was possibly that there is a lot of Roman terminology that I haven't come across before and wasn't in the OED on my kindle. Although I understood the gist it would have been helpful to have had a little more description - for example of the various articles of clothing - so I could better imagine what was being mentioned.

I really liked this book, it definitely broke my recent run of 2* books, and I was happy to see a mention at the end of the author's next book based in ancient Greece.

[Grace Krispy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taken from her home when still a child, Elissa is a revered Vestal Virgin. Somewhat sequestered from the rest of Roman society, educated and powerful in ways that are different from other women of the time, Elissa struggles between doing what is expected of her and dealing with her strong emotions of longing towards one man and hatred towards another. When her brother and sister become part of the drama that surrounds Elissa, she must fight with every bit of her being in order to survive the perilous future laid out before her.

With a fluid writing style, Suzanne Tyrpak has created a gripping tale that immerses you in another time and culture. From the very beginning, I was pulled into the storyline. The plot is well-paced, with excellent timing on the introduction of characters and situations. Initially, more time is spent getting to know the various characters, and the pace picks up in sync with the increasing tension. Throughout the story, we follow the characters as their lives become inextricably intertwined. Each character plays a very important part in the overall story, and they are very well-developed and interesting in their own right. Although the storyline focuses upon Elissa as she struggles to put her world right, the supporting characters are no minor parts. On the contrary, they are just as engaging and complex as Elissa herself.

The ending was artfully written, providing both closure and peace. My only real quibble is that I felt the story of Flavia was unfinished. As the story of Elissa was more complete and offered more closure, the ending for Flavia seemed incomplete by comparison and I felt as though there was a bothersome, dangling thread. Although not the main character, Flavia played such an important role that the incompleteness of her tale left me wanting more. Although they were several scenes involving "deviant sex," as the official blurb calls it, they were so skillfully integrated and told suggestively rather than with explicit detail, and they added to the overall story. This tale was truly about Elissa's journey to save herself and her family and to carve out a bit of happiness along the way, and everything in this story supported that theme.

Altogether, a beautifully written story from a very talented author!

4.5 stars @ MotherLode review blog

[Joyce · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author has certainly done her homework. Her descriptions of 1st century Rome - its glory and its squalor - are unmatched. She plops you right down in the middle of the city and gives you a whirlwind tour of the nooks and crannies of life in the beating heart of the Roman Empire.

However, her ability to create characters and plot are less than satisfactory. I read this book because 1st century Rome is my favorite period of history and I love to get insight into living during those times and exploring the fascinating people who populated this world. But this book left me a bit confused and unsatisfied. I'm not sure what the point of the story was. There was no real character development or growth. I honestly didn't care what happened to any of them - and that is a rather disappointing way to finish a book.

There is no way to understand any of the characters or their motives. They act because the author wants to describe a certain action. There's no sense that these are real people living real lives. They are animatronic figures in a museum piece.

Suspense? I suppose, though I believe that in order to have suspense, one must actually care about the outcome, and I didn't care. By the end, I only wanted to see how the author would tie up the various threads she'd begun to unravel; and very few of the loose ends were tied up. E.g.: what becomes of Flavia? I got the distinct feeling that the author had begun the story with the vision of a character (Elissa), but had no idea what to do with her. I felt like I do when I've come to the bottom of a bag of potato chips- yes, that was tasty, but no nutritional value at all and appetite un-sated.

Most annoying were the glaring grammar and editing errors. There weren't many, but when they happened, they took me right out of the story (such as it is) and I had to drag myself back in.

In summary, read this book for the vivid descriptions of life in 1st century Rome. Do not read it for an actual story with characters and plot. That way, you will not be disappointed as I was.

[Katherine Basto · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Vestal Virgin started off quite strong with a great deal of promise. Clearly, the author did a great deal of research on life in Ancient Rome during the time of Nero. Her attention to the details of every day life was superb. I loved all the opening details of the Circus Maximus and the introduction of the protagonist, Elissa.
Elissa is attending the Circus Maximus and the Emperor Nero has chosen her brother Marcus as a sacrifice. After this inciting event, the plot becomes quite convoluted.
We have the Christian subplot with Elissa's love interest Justinus, a follower of Paul and Jesus. Then comes Elissa's sister Flavia who sets her sights on the Emperor himself. She ends up being forced to become a Vestal after having wolfish, twisted sex with the Emperor.
Too much is thrown into the mix here. The foreshadowing of the Sibylline Oracle about the fire was overdone. It was mentioned so many times, it was obvious what was to come next. Everything came together in a contrived way,and although I suspended my belief in many cases, some of the conclusions just seemed unrealistic to me.
I wish there had been more on the Vestals themselves. You just didn't get a sense of what life was like as a Vestal. Elissa was barely in the Temple throughout the novel. She was constantly leaving to spy or meet up with others.
Like a puzzle, the author made sure everything fell into place at the end. The pieces fit but the final picture somehow did not resonate with me. It was all a bit too easy.
The characters were not deeply drawn out and emotion was lacking between them. A real turn off for me was the graphic and tawdry details thrown in here and there that perhaps could have been hinted at. Subtlety was not a strong point with this novel.
If you want well written descriptions of a tumultuous time in Rome, this is the book for you. I thought the dialogue was excellent throughout the novel with the exception of the disappointing ending when everything felt stilted. The plot and subplots had potential but the ending was just too contrived.

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a Kindle book that I picked up due to the great review it got on Big Al's Books and Pals blog a few weeks ago. The setting of the story is Rome under the Emperor Nero, and the story is centered around one of the Vestal Virgins, a 22/23 year old woman named Elissa. She was taken from her home at age 9 to train and become one of the tenders of the sacred flame, and like the other Vestal Virgins her time of service is 30 years, leaving her chained to the temple until she is 39. The story is primarily centered around Elissa, but is also largely comprised of Nero's whims and perversities and how these affect Elissa and members of her family.

Honestly, while the story itself is good and the scene setting is largely very well done (although a definition or two here or there would have been helpful), the beginning of the story is so abrupt that I was left wondering why I should care about Elissa or her family. Elissa is in her early 20s and has been a sterling example of a Vestal Virgin priestess, and yet she's off running around on her own without a lictor or guard within the first few pages, against her temple's rules. While she is well described and has a three-dimensional character, other characters are left very flat or with only token changes and explanations for their motivations. The end of the story felt a bit rushed towards a "omg happy ending!" as well, which further exacerbated the sense that something was missing. I'm left wondering if the original novel was much longer and was sharply edited down to fit some length constraint, as I continually got the sense that there was "more" to the story that I was just not able to see.

The story is definitely enjoyable and written about a time period I know little about, so I'm pleased to have read it. However, it would have been far better with a little more meat included in the writing.

[L.C. Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

In general I'm a fan of historical fiction, including ancient Rome, so I was immediately drawn to Vestal Virgin. I was not disappointed. The author did a superb job with the setting. She deftly worked in details of life in ancient Rome, and I could easily understand the everyday life of the times and exactly what it meant to be a vestal virgin. The sights, the smells, the sounds--all seemed real as I watched the characters' lives unfold.

The virgins typically were chosen as children and took vows to serve for 30 years. Vestal virgin Elissa is the main character and she is no exception to the strict laws. As a vestal, she is an educated and powerful woman who starts out wanting to avenge her brother's death at the hands of the tyrannical Nero. She ends up finding a better goal. Along the way she is pursued by Nero, who thinks he is a god. But courageous Elissa is also a mystic and she works to decipher an ancient prophecy that foretells the destruction of Rome. Elissa's younger sister Flavia is another strong woman character. Ambitious Flavia has a different goal from her sister--she wants to become Nero's wife.

I read this book quickly, unable to put it down. I was caught up in the story and totally invested in the lives of the well-drawn characters. I loved Elissa and even Flavia, who behaved like a naive and spoiled child, won me over in the end. The men characters, though well-drawn, did not appeal to me as much and came across as weak in comparison to the women.

Very enjoyable book and I would like to read more by this talented author.

[Bill Thibadeau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Other reviews tell you the storyline of this fine novel set in Rome during the time of Nero so I will concentrate on the writing.

Suzanne Tyrpak has shown herself to be a first tier writer. She has woven a tale of life and tribulations of a historically accurate Vestal Virgin. I was unaware that they even existed. Suzanne has crafted a wonderfully articulate story of fictional characters interwoven amongst historical figures.

Characters are introduced cleanly giving the reader the ability to immerse themselves in the story. There are a fair number of characters that are interwoven yet there is no confusion regarding their purpose. Throughout the book, I felt that I was the proverbial fly on the wall. I felt that I could actually visualize the story rather than just reading words on a page.

The writing style is engrossing – you are drawn in and kept entranced. If I had a physical book I am sure that I would have been unable to put it down. I read the first half on my iPhone which is not the best medium. I finished using a Kindle reader app which allowed me to read more in one sitting.

I believe Ms. Tyrpak has established herself as an author capable of competing with the mainstream published authors. I am waiting with great anticipation for her next novel that I understand may be out by years end.

[Krista Ashe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never really been a fan of ancient Rome or the Greeks, but this book caught my eye because the heroine, Elissa, begins to question her practices of worshipping the gods when she hears about a man named Jesus.

While you might think this is Christian fic, it is far from it. Nero comes off as the tyrant, maniacal pervert he was--eventually having both Elissa, her sister Flavia, and their brother, Marcus...who he has burnt alive for allegedly being a traitor.

Rome comes off in all its hedonistic glory. While Elissa lives a life of purity as one of the Vestal Virgins, she secretly loves Justinius, a soldier who is also in love with her. Justinius comes off brave and loyal and hot--a man who is also wondering what more there is in life an starts to seek out the "truth" from the early Christians. Flavia is her bratty younger sister who desires to be Nero's main flame/concubine, only to learn he is much more intersted in young boys. Altho she is tossed aside by Nero, she becomes a spiteful, jealous sister by tryin to claim that JUstinius and Elissa have a sexual relationship.

The truth was there's ellicit sneaking into a house was actually to hear the Apostle Paul and to meet with other Christians in secret.

The end has a big "WTF?" reveal to go along with the prophecy that plagues the book and the characters.

overall, I really enjoyable read.

[Suzanne Tyrpak]

This is my debut novel--I hope you check it out.


Elissa Rubria Honoria is a Vestal Virgin--priestess of the sacred flame, a visionary, and one of the most powerful women in Rome. Vestals are sacrosanct, sworn to chastity on penalty of death, but the emperor, Nero, holds himself above the law. He pursues Elissa, engaging her in a deadly game of wits and sexuality. Or is Elissa really the pursuer? She stumbles on dark secrets. No longer trusting Roman gods, she follows a new god, Jesus of Nazareth, jeopardizing her life and the future of The Roman Empire.

Introductory price: .99 cents through January 1, 2011 on Kindle and Smashwords

• New York Times bestselling author Terry Brooks says,
“...a writer of real talent...a promising new voice.”

• New York Times bestselling author Tess Gerritsen says,
“Suzanne Tyrpak weaves a spell that utterly enchants and delights. Her writing is pure magic.”

• A torrid tale of love, honor, and sacrifice pitted against horrific acts of murder, betrayal, and depravity. Rife with intrigue and brimming with exquisite detail, Vestal Virgin is a deftly paced masterpiece of historical fiction. I hope Tyrpak is planning another foray into this ancient world . . . and soon!
— Eldon Thompson, author of The Divine Talisman

[Becomingme · Rating 4 out of 5]

From my LibraryThing.com reveiw:
I feel remiss in taking such a long time to write this review...this book deserves better, much MUCH better. Let's just say that I had some serious writer's block and vacation time.

First off, to get some stuff out of the way...I read this book as part of "Member Giveaway/Early Review" program, and was very glad I got a chance to read it. Vestal Virgin is a nice Historical Romance with a lot of action to add to the romance, I mean, this takes place during the time of Nero and the burning of Rome. Ms. Tyrpak offers her well thought out version of the "real" reason Rome burned.

I admit, when there was addition of some Christian characters (and an apostle), I was afraid this was going to be some type of CL(Christian lit) that spends more time on the lesson and less time on the story, and I was thankfully super wrong. There are mentions of these characters, and even the involvement in some motives of the one character or two, but it does not come off as dogmatic, more just to add a bit a flavour to the story, a dash of spice, that adds so much more to the books.

So if you're looking for a book of revenge, love, torture, escape, tyranny and revenge, look no further than "Vestal Virgin".

[ILoveBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is historical fiction based upon real people and events. For many readers, this factual basis will be a huge draw. The reader will be able to learn and read about early Christian history through the characters' eyes and whispered dialogue. The reader will literally experience ancient Rome, the author craftily creates the setting. The details are intricate and well-explored. The virgins are chosen as children and promise to serve for 30 years. Elissa is very likable and a strong woman. The male characters were not as strong as the females in this case. Elissa is a mystic who attempts to decipher an ancient mystery that may foretell the destruction of Rome. This novel has it all-the plot, characters, and setting are sublime. This novel is great for young adults/adults who appreciate historical fiction combined with terrific characters and a well-described ancient setting.

Krystal

[Jeff Dawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Does the coming and goings of empires long lost interest you? Do you prefer a story rife with internal conflict and the downfall of powers to be? Or maybe you prefer the handsome young hero to unshackle the chains of chastity?

If you answer yes to any of the above you will not be disappointed. I haven't read a Greek tragedy since the days of high school. Suzanne does an excellent job with the time honored fascination with the fall of Rome and the decadence under Caligula and Nero.

She meticulously describes the opulence excess of the rich and the underbelly of the poor of Rome. You can actually picture the depravity of the parties Nero hosts along with feeling the intensity of the crowds crying for blood at the Coliseum.

An interesting footnote is how she weaves Paul of Tarsas and the coming of Christianity into the story.

The only downside? At times I felt she could have elaborated on few of the characters and their outcome, ie: Elissa's sister Flavia.

Excellent job Suzanne.

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and I recommend it to readers who like to read about older cultures. If you are looking for a book along the lines of Lindsey Davis or Steven Saylor, this book is much more serious without the flashes of humor to lighten it up, and I did feel that a little humor and/or action would do much to move this story along. I also was surprised to see the strong thread of Christianity in this book, it was unexpected and I appreciate what the author was doing, but it added to the heavyness of the book.

This book took place during Nero's reign, and that was certainly not the most pleasant era of Roman history, but I do know there was some joy among the people, but I did not feel any in this book, even during the celebrations.

All this said, I still enjoyed the book, and would recommend this author to readers that want a serious look at the Nero era.

[Grace Elliot · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Vestal Virgin' is a well written book that is a little confused - it can't make up it's mind whether it's historical fiction or romance.
Set in the Rome of emperor Nero, the full horror of having a man with the morals of a monster, masqueraiding as a god and all the power that entails, is vividly brought to life. However, where this books slips slightly is in being neither one thing nor the other. The premise of the story is that a vestal virgine, sworn to a life of chastity a) falls in love and b) is determined to avenge the death of her brother. But where the book let's itself down (slightly) is that it is neither one thing nor the other - the romantic thread stop it from being taken too seriously and yet the tension between the main characters is not sufficient to make the read a satisfying romance.
A good book, whilst not being wholly satsifying.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's hard to describe this book. The story is not really what I was expecting based on the description. It's not a Christian book, not quite a romance, not a mystery, not a supernatural book, yet it has elements of all of them.

I found the story interesting. Towards the end, when things are getting intense I found myself pulled into the story and wanting to know what happened next.

The background and Roman culture was obviously well researched and the author knew what she was talking about.

There's a prophecy that's part of the story, but honestly it wasn't too hard to figure out how the prophecy fit in and related to things.

All in all, this was an interesting read but it's not one that I'm like "Oh my gosh this is amazing." This is also definitely an adult book as there are quite a few adult situations, some of them graphic as well as semi-graphic violence.

[Eva Kristin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hm. The language in this book is actually quite good; it’s a pity it takes more to tell a story well. I found it hard to care about the characters, because they weren’t believable. Actually, it didn’t seem like they believed particularly in the story they were in themselves, even. For instance, the main character, a vestal virgin called Elissa, is repeatedly threatened with the punishment for losing her virginity, which is being buried alive. But she doesn’t seem to take it seriously, so why should I?

The story is well researched, which probably is the reason why I finished it, since the ancient Roman culture interests me. But the characters are unfinished and unbelievable, and the ending very unsatisfactory with lots of loose threads. Like Elissa’s little sister. She was the by far most interesting person in the book.