Did I Mention I Have A New Book Coming Out?

Phew, this book has traveled a long road. Years ago, it began as a young adult novel. One major publisher wanted it, but it died at the marketing roundtable. I rewrote it again and again and finally found my footing in telling this story as an adult novel. And it was freeing to be as dark and gritty as the story demanded.

Fortunately, Hypatia Press got behind it, and here we are!

Why It’s So Dark

The novel takes place in the aftermath of Rome’s devastating loss at the Battle of Cannae, where 50,000 Romans were massacred in a single day by Hannibal’s forces. The loss was so shocking and destabilizing, Rome almost self-destructed. Religious leaders sought a “reason” why the gods of Rome turned their back on them, and they came up with a doozy–they lost because the gods were outraged that one of their sacred Vestal Virgin priestesses “had sex.” There could be no other explanation, they claimed. And they falsely accused one of the youngest and most defiant priestesses in the six-woman order serving Vesta, the goddess of the hearth fire.

The Worst Part is that it Really Happened

The Cleansing covers her desperate attempts–in court and outside of it–to save herself from being buried alive for her “crime.” It’s also a story of the deadly power of purity culture and how it can be manipulated for political reasons to scapegoat women and the less powerful.

The book comes out January 20th. An early editorial review by Midwest Book Review called it, “Original, exceptional, deftly crafted and a simply riveting read from cover to cover.” It also said, “with the publication of The Cleansing, author Victoria Alvear reveals a genuine flair for the kind of eloquently descriptive attention, and narrative driven storytelling style that raises her historical thriller to an impressive level of literary excellence.”

Honestly, that’s the kind of review that makes a writer swoon! They sent me an early copy of the review, but it too will not be published until January. I will link to it then.

If you’re into dark historicals based on true stories, I hope you’ll consider reading, The Cleansing. You can pre-order it now!