Empress Theodora

"This forceful novel by Radi Dikici is the first to explore the full scope of Empress Theodora's reign, complete with surviving documents that record the forty-eight years of her life. Amongst the women that ruled the world as queens, tsarinas, sultans, and the like, there has never been an empress as powerful as Theodora. She alone seized the crown for herself and everyone else acknowledged her royalty. History portrayed her as a woman indulging in her sexuality, assuming that where there is smoke, there is fire; but also applauded her as an empress that saved the Byzantine Empire from sudden threats with her strong will. In this enchanting novel, the reader will see both the weaknesses and the triumphs of Theodora and be dragged alone [i.e. along] to the captivating schemes of the Byzantium Empire"--Publisher's description, back cover.