This book works well as a standalone. Now, I regret not reading the first in this two book historical fiction biography. I would appreciated a bibliography from which Stella Duffy drew the inspiration from. When a person lived so long ago, I am squemish about accepting what they said. It is fictional but I add that caution.

I remember reading about her in college World History 101. Much of what was written in that textbook goes along with her basic portrait. I did enjoy the book but I wish I had read the other book first. She must have been incredibly intellent and wise woman and I admire her courage for looking out for other women. I do not doubt that Theodora respected and loved Justiniam deeply and that encouraged him to change the law forbad him to marry an actress with known past.

I encourage you to read the books in order and be amazed at how Theodora adapted to her new role. ( )

This sequel to Theodora's life is about Theodora supporting her husband the Emperor, playing the part of the Empress, her friends and her intrigues was an easy and entertaining read. ( )

3.5 stars. There aren't a lot of books set in the sixth century, period, let alone one set in what we'd now call the Middle East but was then considered part of Rome, Byzantium/Constantinople. Nor books where the heroine is past her youth. Realizing, now, that the author had written an earlier book about Empress Theodora's earlier life, but since I haven't yet read that, I come to this one as if it was a stand-alone.

For the most part, I liked it very much, and it did work as a stand-alone. For some readers, the portrayal of a heroine as unfaithful to a husband she loved is a deal-breaker; IMO, it made her more human and flawed. Sometimes she was a sympathetic character; other times she did some really cruel things, or turned her back while they were done on her behalf. She would've been a loyal friend but a deadly enemy. The depiction of the Nika riots, the construction of the Hagia Sophia church, and especially the bubonic plague and dealing with the dead bodies... all horrifying and very real.

Other parts felt more like telling than showing; while most of it was told from Theodora's POV, there were occasionally slips into other characters' POV's. That's something that slowed me at the beginning but either they went away or I got so wrapped up in the tale they became invisible.

My biggest gripe is there wasn't any one thing I could identify that Theodora wanted and was trying to get throughout the book. It's more of a historical biography, hitting all the known facts in the real woman's life, with some embellishment. There were many little goals, but no big overriding one. I read on because I wanted to discover what happened next in Theodora's life, and I don't mind character-driven novels, but if you prefer strong plots, you might not care for this.

I loved the allegory of the Purple Shroud, which in many ways Theodora wore throughout her time as Empress, the real, living woman being "buried" beneath the demands of wearing the purple. I also really liked the way there was real love between Theodora and Justinian, despite the difference in age; it makes for a very unconventional love story. ( )

http://shelfandstuff.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-purple-shroud-by-stella-duffy.html ( )

This is historical fiction detailing the lies of Theodora and Justinian, Emperor and Empress of Rome. The two worked together throughout their rein to bring prosperity and religious unity to their kingdom. Through riots, plague and political intrigue, the two ruled together, something unprecedented at the time.

Overall, I thought the book was well written. The characters were well balanced and seemed to show growth and progress. At times the book was a bit boring and it seemed a bit long. However, I knew nothing about these rulers before reading the book and am glad I picked it up. ( )