The Queen and the Julian Star
In 48 BCE Alexandria, a queen smuggled into her own palace inside a rolled carpet of linen finds the one man as skilled at performance and survival as she is: Julius Caesar, dictator-in-waiting, exhausted by civil war and haunted by Pompey's murder on Egyptian sand. Cleopatra VII will not be a prize handed to her by Rome, and Caesar cannot afford to be ruled by desire, yet siege, fire, and betrayal draw them into a bond neither can safely name. Amid the Pharos lighthouse's burning harbor, the Library's fragile stacks, and a court seething with rival claims, two rulers who understand that survival is a performance must decide how much of themselves they are willing to risk for each other, and for a throne that Cleopatra insists was never Caesar's to give. A richly researched, low-heat historical romance of political daring, dangerous intimacy, and a crown claimed on the queen's own terms. Free sample available.
About the story
In 48 BCE Alexandria, a queen smuggled into her own palace inside a rolled carpet of linen finds the one man as skilled at performance and survival as she is: Julius Caesar, dictator-in-waiting, exhausted by civil war and haunted by Pompey's murder on Egyptian sand. Cleopatra VII will not be a prize handed to her by Rome, and Caesar cannot afford to be ruled by desire, yet siege, fire, and betrayal draw them into a bond neither can safely name. Amid the Pharos lighthouse's burning harbor, the Library's fragile stacks, and a court seething with rival claims, two rulers who understand that survival is a performance must decide how much of themselves they are willing to risk for each other, and for a throne that Cleopatra insists was never Caesar's to give. A richly researched, low-heat historical romance of political daring, dangerous intimacy, and a crown claimed on the queen's own terms.
Plan your listen
By Aurelia Vance. Listed listening length: 72 minutes. Category: Historical Romance. Story dynamics: Forbidden / Taboo Love, Morally Gray Love Interest, Forced Proximity.
Try the opening
An opening sample is available for The Queen and the Julian Star. Hear the narration and pacing before choosing full listening access. The sample introduces the opening; use the book’s content guidance to assess themes throughout the story.