Let us Talk of Many Things; of Books and Queens and Pirates, of Mystery and Kings...: My Coffee Pot Book Tour Guest: Alison Morton

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About the Book

Book Title: HEROICA

Series: Roma Nova

Author Name: Alison Morton

Publication Date: 14 May 2026

Publisher: Pulcheria Press

Pages: 162

Genre: Collection of alternative history short(ish) stories

Even the strongest state is vulnerable to its past

2020, Roma Nova. Carina Mitela investigates a potential rebellion but discovers the long-buried secret that ignited the attempted uprising links directly to her own powerful family.

1683, Vienna. As Europe struggles against the Ottoman onslaught, Honoria Mitela leads her troops into the desperate battle to save besieged Vienna. The fate of Europe – and of Roma Nova itself – hangs in the balance.

1849, Central Italy. Statia Mitela’s impulsive act saves one life but jeopardises Roma Nova’s very existence and threatens her descendants with public disgrace, financial ruin and permanent exile.

Three stories of the women of the Mitela family, descendants of the founders of Roma Nova, bound by blood and courage.

Praise for HEROICA:

“All three stories in this collection deal with honour and the question of being true to oneself, especially if this entails running the risk of coming into conflict with the state and the status quo. All three central women are physically and morally brave, even rash. Their strength of spirit is never in doubt.” ~ Lorna Fergusson, Fictionfire

“For anyone who has read and enjoyed the Roma Nova stories before, this collection of novellas is a must. And if you haven’t, then please start from the beginning with INCEPTIO – you’ll be hooked!”

~ Christina Courtenay

Buy Links:

Amazon Universal Link: https://mybook.to/HEROICA_RomaNova

Other retailers Universal Link: https://books2read/HEROICA

Author Bio:

Alison Morton writes award-winning thrillers featuring tough but compassionate heroines. Her twelve-book Roma Nova series is set in an imaginary European country where a remnant of the Roman Empire has survived into the 21st century and is ruled by women who face conspiracy, revolution and heartache but use a sharp line in dialogue.

She blends her fascination for Ancient Rome with six years’ military service and a life of reading crime, historical and thriller fiction. On the way, she collected a BA in modern languages and an MA in history.

Alison lives in Poitou in France, the home of Mélisende, the heroine of her three contemporary thrillers, Double Identity, Double Pursuit and Double Stakes.

For the latest news, subscribe to her newsletter at https://www.alison-morton.com/newsletter/ and receive 'Welcome to Alison Morton’s Thriller Worlds’ as a thank you gift.

Author Links:

Connect with Alison on her World of Thrillers site:

https://alison-morton.com

Facebook author page:

https://www.facebook.com/AlisonMortonAuthor

Alison’s writing blog:

https://alisonmortonauthor.com

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/alisonmortonauthor/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5783095.Alison_Morton

Alison’s Amazon page:

https://Author.to/AlisonMortonAmazon

Threads:

https://www.threads.net/@alisonmortonauthor

BlueSky:

https://bsky.app/profile/alisonmorton.bsky.social

Twitter/X:

https://twitter.com/alison_morton

BookBub:

https://www.bookbub.com/profile/alison-morton

Newsletter sign-up:

https://www.alison-morton.com/newsletter/

My thoughts

Alison Morton is very skilled at writing alternative history, so skilled, that as you read her stories set in the fictional world of Roma Nova, you don't realise that it is alternative fiction, not a biographical account of real people doing real things in a real place back in the real past.

The mere thought that Roma Nova is totally made up is quite awesome!

The trick, of course, is to add factual facts in with the imagined fiction, the clever blend giving an overall believability - coupled with excellent character development and superb writing.

So, fans of Ms Morton's ongoing saga (it can only be called that now we're covering many different eras and situations) will enjoy yet another foray into the familiar - and unfamiliar - history of the Mitela family and friends.

This collection of three short-ish stories is, perhaps, a little more military in feel (story two, for example) but I found myself looking up what really did happen at the Ottoman siege of Vienna (I'd had no idea that there had been a siege or two!) so all the facts are there, with the addition of the heroines of Roma Nova giving a different view of what might have happened in history.

A good read and an extra bonus to the main series

**** 4 stars