Rosh’s review of The Cleansing: A Novel of Ancient Rome. Based on a true story. > Likes and Comments

Looking forward to your thoughts on this one Rosh!! I gobble up anything and everything about Ancient Rome :))

Mark wrote: "Looking forward to your thoughts on this one Rosh!! I gobble up anything and everything about Ancient Rome :))"

Good to know, Mark! If I ever need recs, I'll look through your shelves! 😁

I am intrigued - looking forward to your review, dear Rosh!

Tini wrote: "I am intrigued - looking forward to your review, dear Rosh!"

Thank you, Tini! So far, so good! :)

Beautiful review. I am happy you enjoyed it!

Outstanding review, Rosh. 🤗💕

Impressive insight, Rosh! ;)

glad to hear this book happened to be realistic in its portrayal. i agree, it sounds like it could be a great movie! awesome review, rosh :)

I'm glad you can recommend it even though you are still undecided about the ending. A wonderful and detailed review Rosh 🤩

Great review, Rosh! Sounds like an interesting read, especially for those who enjoy ancient history! Glad you liked it! :)

Another GR blurb that says too much! 🤦🏻‍♀️ Terrific review!

Books set in Ancient Rome are usually interesting. I am glad this was a historical fiction done right. Wonderful review, Rosh! 🫶

That is a very interesting historical setting and I do like that it’s inspired by true events. Glad the main character and the many themes are done so well. And that there’s such a fascinating comparison to the current situation.

“it's as good as knowing nothing”
Could even be worse if you’re to assume everything you’ve seen in the movies is real, I’d argue. Luckily, you’re much smarter than that :)

Shame about the telling and the ending, but that clearly didn’t spoil the fun. Great review, Rosh. Fingers crossed it gets the movie adaptation it deserves.

That is one intense premise! Thanks for giving us such a comprehensive view of the book. Another outstanding review, Rosh.

You immediately have my attention with HF set in Ancient Rome. I’ll steer clear of the GR blurb and read this solely based on your terrific review, Rosh. Heading to KU now to add it. ❤️

Oh, this sounds really good as it is an indie work. The nays can be sorted with another round of editing. I don't think I'd trust any wood to retain the tone and vibe of a book when making a movie.
Also, great that the author chose an era very few people know about and added notes at the end to clarify deets.
Brilliant review, Rosh. 💖

Glad this was a rewarding HF. Great review, Rosh 🩷

I have read some historical fictions but none of them is set during the BCE period, so this one certainly sounds interesting! And also very raw and harsh in its depiction. Excellent review, Rosh <3

Amazing review! So glad you enjoyed it!!🖤💗

Wonderful review Rosh!!! Not a time period I would ordinarily go for but I am intrigued based on your review. 🩷

Great review, Rosh! 😊 Ancient Rome has always fascinated me!

It is so disturbing to think that a teenage girl could be used as a literal scapegoat for a military defeat like the Battle of Cannae just because of a "vow" she didn't even choose to take. This sounds like a really good book on feminism. I should actually give it a try! Fantastic review, Rosh!🩷🩷

Great review, Rosh :) I've always been fascinated by ancient Rome. We've all seen movies set in that time period, and while many have been fantastic, I have to agree that Hollywood often falls short on realism. It's wonderful that Mia was portrayed authentically and not as if she were plucked from our modern era, which is a common issue in this type of literature.
There's a book called Mistress of Rome by Kate Quinn that's been sitting on my shelf for years. I still haven't read it, but people say it's really good. I don't usually recommend books I haven't read, but maybe you would like it.

Lovely review glad you enjoyed Rosh ♥️

For sure not my thing, but glad you enjoyed it. Super review, Rosh 💜

Kealyn wrote: "Beautiful review. I am happy you enjoyed it!"
Shelley's Book Nook wrote: "Outstanding review, Rosh. 🤗💕"
Diane (IF U'RE PRIVATE, PLEASE SKIP ME!!!) wrote: "Impressive insight, Rosh! ;)"
Brooke (B for Books) wrote: "Glad this was a rewarding HF. Great review, Rosh 🩷"

Thanks so much for your kind comments, Kealyn, Shelley, Diane, and Brooke! 💖

Archer wrote: "glad to hear this book happened to be realistic in its portrayal. i agree, it sounds like it could be a great movie! awesome review, rosh :)"

Thanks, Archer! It has all the right ingredients for a dramatic movie! 🍿😁

Tina wrote: "I'm glad you can recommend it even though you are still undecided about the ending. A wonderful and detailed review Rosh 🤩"

Thanks much, Tina! 💖 I know many readers will actually like that ending tbh. So the recommendation was definitely meant sincerely. 😊

Yun wrote: "Great review, Rosh! Sounds like an interesting read, especially for those who enjoy ancient history! Glad you liked it! :)"

Thanks, Yun! It's an uncommon one for historical fiction readers, no doubt. 😊

Jayme C (Brunetteslikebookstoo) wrote: "Another GR blurb that says too much! 🤦🏻‍♀️ Terrific review!"

I know right! GR blurbs also need editing these days! 🤦🏻‍♀️

Alexandra wrote: "Books set in Ancient Rome are usually interesting. I am glad this was a historical fiction done right. Wonderful review, Rosh! 🫶"

I need to get my hands on more of them! Thanks, Alexandra! 💖

Thibault wrote: "That is a very interesting historical setting and I do like that it’s inspired by true events. Glad the main character and the many themes are done so well. And that there’s such a fascinating comp..."

I agree, it's so interesting! Many historical fiction books don't even look at the pre-15th century years, and this one went all the way back to 216 BCE! 🙆🏻‍♀️
I truly admired the author's note where she also makes s similar comparison to the present days. Who would have thought that we have things in common with those dark days! 🫤
Haha, there used to be a time when I believed everything I saw on the screen. Childhood days are so full of innocent fun! 😁
The ending will still work for many readers, I'm 100% sure. It just wasn't the ending I saw coming.
Thanks much, Thibault!

Darla wrote: "That is one intense premise! Thanks for giving us such a comprehensive view of the book. Another outstanding review, Rosh."

Very much so, and fairly intense in execution as well! 😬 Thanks, Darla!

Nancy (Busy feeding 6 rescued baby bunnies) wrote: "You immediately have my attention with HF set in Ancient Rome. I’ll steer clear of the GR blurb and read this solely based on your terrific review, Rosh. Heading to KU now to add it. ❤️"

I'm very happy to hear that, dear Nancy! 💖 Indie novels are so much braver in their choice of topics. I hope it goes well for you!

Srivalli wrote: "Oh, this sounds really good as it is an indie work. The nays can be sorted with another round of editing. I don't think I'd trust any wood to retain the tone and vibe of a book when making a movie...."

Absolutely! You know I'm usually somewhat generous with indie books, but even taking that into account, this was a fabulous story that just required a little more editing.
Haha, I also don't know which 'wood' to trust. Movie making is so fake these days!
I was SO grateful for those notes! 😅
Thanks, Sri! 💖

Nat wrote: "I have read some historical fictions but none of them is set during the BCE period, so this one certainly sounds interesting! And also very raw and harsh in its depiction. Excellent review, Rosh <3"

Me too, Nat! Historical fiction is actually among my favorite genres but I might have read just 1-2 novels set in this era.
Thank you! 💖

V.D. wrote: "Amazing review! So glad you enjoyed it!!🖤💗"

Thank you, Vasilii! 🤍

Karly wrote: "Wonderful review Rosh!!! Not a time period I would ordinarily go for but I am intrigued based on your review. 🩷"

Thank you, Karly! 💖 Not something I ordinarily pick as wll but the 'true events' factor made me curious.

Rowan wrote: "Great review, Rosh! 😊 Ancient Rome has always fascinated me!"

Thanks, Rowan! It was a advanced but complex civilisation, for sure. 😊

Saranya wrote: "It is so disturbing to think that a teenage girl could be used as a literal scapegoat for a military defeat like the Battle of Cannae just because of a "vow" she didn't even choose to take. This so..."

A typical experience of so many women in th days gone by, and even today. Something bad happens? Blame the woman! 😒
Thanks, Saranya! 💖

Persephone's Pomegranate wrote: "Great review, Rosh :) I've always been fascinated by ancient Rome. We've all seen movies set in that time period, and while many have been fantastic, I have to agree that Hollywood often falls shor..."

Thanks so much, Perse! There are definitely some good movies set in that time period, but there are always so exagerrated. Sheer entertainment, no education.
I love Kate Quinn's historical fiction, so this definitely sounds like my cup of tea. Thanks for the rec! 💖

Alya ( 20 comments restriction ) wrote: "Lovely review glad you enjoyed Rosh ♥️"

Heather Adores Books wrote: "For sure not my thing, but glad you enjoyed it. Super review, Rosh 💜"

Thanks, Alya and Heather! 💖

As ever, nicely reviewed Rosh :)

Amazing review! The concept is fabulous and gripping, and I'm glad she came through in the execution.

Excellent review Rosh, I love your breakdowns 💕💕💕

This sounds very disturbing. Yikes. I remember learning about the Vestal Virgins in school. Wonderful review.

I love it when authors write strong and compelling female characters who stay true to the proper time period! It's so refreshing. This one does sound quite good overall. Excellent review, Rosh!

Brilliant analysis, dear Rosh! I'm now really curious about this book, especially after your words about "many parallels to our present world." Why am I not surprised?
"The only difference is that today’s misogynistic pseudo-dictators cannot hide under the excuse of ignorance."
So true. Considering everything, today’s misogynistic pseudo-dictators are far worse than those of the past.