Debra May Macleod
Thrilling Historical Fiction
COMING SOON!
Contemporary Thriller
Debra May Macleod, BA, JD
A prominent voice in historical thrillers, Debra May Macleod brings the high-stakes world of ancient Rome to life with intelligent, immersive world-building and unforgettable characters. She is the author of seven novels that feature the Vestal Virgins, guardians of Rome’s Eternal Flame. Blending history and mythology with suspenseful, emotional storytelling, her novels chronicle the Vestal Order over a thousand year period. Her books have been translated into multiple languages.
Debra holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and Classics, and a Juris Doctor. With a commitment to creating vivid storyscapes, she has participated in research excursions in (and under) various historical sites, and informs her writing with this invaluable perspective.
COMING SOON! Debra’s exciting foray into contemporary thrillers! Follow her on Amazon or subscribe to her YouTube Channel to be notified when this title is released!
“In an age of ruthless politicians, the seemingly benign Vestals could hold the balance of power. Macleod has written a fascinating mystery set within the relentlessly masculine world of Roman power politics, but seen through the lens of a unique, all-female institution.” - John Maddox Roberts, SPQR Series
“A riveting imagined world ripped right from the pages of history, this smart repartee captivates in every way. It’s atmospheric and tense. Well done.” - Steve Berry, New York Times Bestselling Author of The Devil’s Bible
Epic Novels You Must Read by Candlelight
See the sacred flame burn in the temple… feel its heat, hear it roar… enter the world of ancient Rome and live with the Vestal Virgins by reading these action-packed, emotional historical fiction novels.
LATEST RELEASE - COELIA CONCORDIA: THE LAST VESTAL VIRGIN OF ROME.
For over a thousand years, the esteemed priestesses of Vesta were tasked with keeping the goddess’s Eternal Flame burning in her temple. For as long as the fire was alive, the Eternal City would endure.
This is the story of Rome’s last Vestal Virgin—Coelia Concordia—and her battle to save the sacred flame from an encroaching darkness. It is also a story about a prophecy fulfilled, the fall of an empire, and the relentless suppression of the old gods as seen through the eyes of those who were losing everything—not just their gods, but their freedoms too—yet fought on and never lost hope.
Based on real events. Recommended by the Historical Novel Society.
BOOK 1 in The First Vestals of Rome trilogy: RHEA SILVIA
An unflinching, breathtaking retelling of the story of Rhea Silvia, fated by the gods to play a spectacular part in the mythos of Rome—the mother of Romulus, Rome’s legendary founder.
It is 772 BCE, nearly two decades before the birth of Rome. The city of Alba Longa and its king, Numitor, reign supreme. But Numitor’s children, Princess Rhea Silvia and Prince Egestus, fear for the city’s future. With Rhea set to marry an unpredictable enemy, they can see the end of their family’s dynasty as surely as their ancestor Aeneas saw the fall of Troy.
In a bid to maintain power, Rhea is set on a harrowing course that will push her to the limits of human endurance, forcing her to turn to the gods and rise with the ferocity imbued in her Trojan blood, sacrificing everything for the new Troy—Rome.
BOOK 2 in The First Vestals of Rome trilogy: TARPEIA
A bold retelling of the legend of Tarpeia, a priestess destined to be swept up in the danger of Rome’s earliest days, and whose name would give rise to Rome’s most dreaded site—the Tarpeian Rock.
It is 753 BCE and the new city of Rome exists on the edge of a knife. The young King Romulus reels from the loss of his mother’s counsel, turning to his father—Mars, the god of war—and his city’s new chief Vestal, Tarpeia, to fill the void. The city is constantly at war. As bad, it is a city of men, set to die out within a generation.
Thus, the knife slips, setting into motion an infamous crime that will entangle Tarpeia and resound throughout Latium and beyond, pitting Rome against its enemies and allies alike, and showing the settlement by the Tiber, and its young king, what it will ultimately take to rule the world
BOOK 3 in The First Vestals of Rome trilogy: AMATA
The gripping, unsparing tale of Amata, the first true Vestal Virgin of Rome, whose choices would shape the Vestal Order for centuries to come.
It is 716 BCE, over thirty years since the founding of Rome. The city’s war-like nature has made it the “tyrant of Latium,” and King Romulus’s hardened nature has caused the fledgling Vestal order to fall into disrepute.
But as crisis strikes and an enigmatic newcomer named Numa arrives in the city, Romulus’s only living kinswoman - Amata - must rise to restore the dignity of the order as Rome, too, finds itself at a crossroads. Will it remain mired in the violence of its founding, or evolve into something greater?
AMATA is the riveting conclusion to The First Vestals of Rome, an epic trilogy about the founding Vestal Virgins of ancient Rome.
BOOK 1 in The Vesta Shadows trilogy: BRIDES OF ROME
It is the world of ancient Rome. And it is the esteemed Vestal Virgins -- priestesses of Vesta, goddess of the home and hearth -- who protect the Eternal Flame that protects the Eternal City.
Dedicated to a thirty-year vow of chaste service, Priestess Pomponia finds herself swept up in the intrigue, violence, wars, and bedroom politics of Rome's elite - Julius Caesar, Antony and Cleopatra, Octavian and his maneuvering wife, Livia - all while guarding the secret affection she has in her heart.
BOOK 2 in The Vesta Shadows trilogy: TO BE WOLVES
As chief Vestal Virgin, Pomponia continues to devote her life to protecting her order and the eternal flame of Vesta. She has risen to a position of esteem in Rome and is a valued member of Caesar’s inner circle. But now a contagion ravages the city and tension rises among Rome’s inhabitants.
While she struggles to manage the Vestal order and maintain the favor of the goddess, Pomponia must now face a malevolent nobleman, Soren, whose machinations against her threaten not just her friendship with Caesar, but everything she loves.
BOOK 3 in The Vesta Shadows trilogy: EMPIRE OF IRON
As the Vestalis Maxima, Pomponia has guided her order through the collapse of Rome's Republic and the rise of the Empire. Her wit and piety have elevated the Vestals to a position of unprecedented prestige. Her friendship with Caesar Augustus has afforded her personally a life of political influence and privilege. She has been adored and untouchable. Yet that illusion of safety has been shattered by a ruthless enemy who continues to menace her from the shadows.
Worse, it seems that the gods are also turning against her when the Vestal order suffers an unparalleled crisis. Faced with threats from all directions, Pomponia must be willing to sacrifice everything to protect her status, the Vestal order, and the lives of those around her. In Empire of Iron, the unflinching conclusion to the Vesta Shadows trilogy, Pomponia realizes that, like Rome itself, she must become even more ruthless than her enemies if she is to survive.
Visit the Visual Gallery
The Vestal Virgins have long been the subject of art. From ancient Roman coins to Renaissance paintings, visit the Visual Gallery to browse amazing images and artifacts of the Vestal Virgins, Vesta and the world of ancient Rome.
Many of the images are interactive, so click / tap / learn!
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Coelia Concordia was the last Vestal Virgin - the last great pagan priestess - of ancient Rome. It was during her tenure as chief Vestal that the Christian emperor Theodosius forcibly disbanded the Vestal Order. By having a jeweler recreate the medallion shown on her statue, it is my hope to restore just a little of the dignity that this important woman deserves.