Review: Daughter of the Seven Hills by Margaret McNellis

I received an advanced review copy of this book for free via Reedsy Discovery. This did not affect my opinion of the book in any way.

Publisher: Silver Arrow Books
Published: May 2024
Pages: 388

Synopsis

Aurelia knows exactly what she’s doing when she engages in a clandestine affair with Cassius, a plebeian soldier: plotting her escape from her mundane and privileged life on one of Rome’s seven hills. Her plans are routed when Cassius’s legion suddenly leaves Rome, she realizes she’s pregnant, and her family arranges her betrothal to Domitius, a power-hungry senator. Abortion or exile are now her only choices. Aurelia sacrifices her baby and her freedom in order to wed Domitius, all in the name of duty and satisfying her ancestors, whom she has the power to visit in the Underworld.

Resigned to a dull and loveless life, Aurelia is shocked to discover that her husband and uncle conspire to kill the emperor and destroy the empire—a move that would disgrace her, her entire family, and her ancestors. Unable to stand by while her uncle razes everything her family once stood for to the ground, she poisons him. Now a criminal, Aurelia flees, undertaking a thousand-mile odyssey which threatens poverty, slavery, death, and dishonour. What is Rome to her now? That is the question she must face as she forges a new life with people she would have called “barbaric” from her ancestors’ hilltop perch.

My Thoughts…

This review was originally published on Reedsy Discovery.

Aurelia, a privileged daughter of the Caelian hill, navigates the complexities of Roman society while secretly training with a physician and engaging in a forbidden romance with Cassius, a plebeian soldier. Except her plans are upended when Cassius’s legion is commanded to leave Rome for inhospitable Britannia just as Aurelia discovers she is pregnant with his child and is forced into an economically favourable marriage with another man by her family.

After discovering her husband’s and uncle’s conspiracy to murder the emperor, Aurelia decides to take matters into her own hands, but in so doing condemns herself as a criminal and is forced to choose between death and leaving Rome, taking only her slave Vita with her. But this is a perilous journey, especially for two women travelling alone, and Britannia is inhabited by a people Aurelia would call barbaric. And yet, she will be forced to decide: if she can no longer be Roman, who will she be?

Daughter of the Seven Hills is an engrossing read, masterfully using multiple points of view to convey the complexity and brutality of the historical context while exploring the unique voices of multiple characters, some of whom would risk being voiceless in a more canonical narrative. The historical context appears very well-researched, with a myriad of small details (from sights to smells or food and habits) scattered throughout really bringing it to life and providing a feeling of authenticity.

Each character was perfectly drawn, with no scene wasted in designing satisfying arcs that – if at times harsh – convey the multitude of small choices that draw up one’s destiny, even if they are seemingly inevitable. Some characters (especially Vita and the Druid Woman) might have benefited from having just a little more space to give them more breathing room, allowing readers to form a deeper connection.

In the author’s note at the beginning of the book, this is described as a “book of the mind”: it is impossible not to appreciate the careful study that went into crafting this story, finding the balance between plot and character development and between characters themselves. Despite this, the author’s heart also shines through, building on the work started in her previous books to continue exploring themes of identity and belonging sensitively, with particular attention given to centring the perspectives of those who are typically left at the margins.

Daughter of the Seven Hills is a book that is at one time hard to put down and very difficult to read because of the multitude of abuse depicted. The author does a fantastic job in only including violence that is strictly necessary to the story or to understand the characters, never indulging in showing violence for its own sake. Still, brutality was common in that historical period and thus several violent scenes do occur. Sensitive readers would be advised to approach the book carefully and check the trigger warnings provided by the author to look after their well-being.

Daughter of the Seven Hills is a captivating and thought-provoking read, merging meticulous historical research with a high-stakes plot and compelling characters. From the first page to the last, readers will find themselves desperately rooting for Aurelia, Vita and the good people they meet on their way, even when all the odds are stacked against them, leaving them with the same question Aurelia must face: what makes us who we are?

Rating: 5/5