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Reviewed by Heather Osborne for Readers' Favorite
The Sacred Flame by Nanette Littlestone is a historical fiction novel chronicling the story of Livia, a Vestal Virgin, in Rome during 216 B.C. Livia longs to leave the service of the temple, having given her entire life in the service of Vesta, and live out her life in peace and happiness with her fiancé, Kaeso. Things don't go as planned when the High Priestess falls ill and Livia is thrust into the role with much reluctance. Yet when Gaius, a man from her youth, returns to Rome, he captures her heart once again. However, all around her people seek to manipulate and accuse the couple. Livia must make a desperate choice between her service to Rome and the man she loves.
An unexpected type of romance blooms in The Sacred Flame by Nanette Littlestone. I immediately felt for Livia’s choices as a Vestal Virgin, and her desire to be free of the confines of service. I felt great empathy for Gaius’ wife. Despite Justina’s flaws, she desperately sought to be loved and cherished by her husband. The villain of the piece is despicable, and I despised her power-grabbing ways and how she sought to destroy the happiness of two people. I also enjoyed the side plot between Sexus, the young messenger boy taken in by Livia, and Kaeso. Not my typical era of choice for historical romance/fiction, but nevertheless I enjoyed The Sacred Flame immensely, and I would definitely look out for other novels by Nanette Littlestone.
