Let us Talk of Many Things; of Books and Queens and Pirates, of Mystery and Kings...: Spotlight extra: a Coffee Pot / Yarde Book Tour Promotion The Cleansing by Victoria Alvear

Saturday, 4 July 2026

Spotlight extra: a Coffee Pot / Yarde Book Tour Promotion The Cleansing by Victoria Alvear

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About the Book

Book Title: The Cleansing: A Novel of Ancient Rome.

Based on a True Story.

Author Name: Victoria Alvear

Publication Date: January 20th, 2026

Publisher: Hypatia Press

Pages: 314

Genre: Historical Fiction

Any Triggers: Sexual violence (not shown), war, animal sacrifices (true to the period)

Based on a true story, this is not the enlightened Rome of myth. This is a city choking on fear, where blood flows on both the battlefield and altar, and where generals and politicians alike are desperate to appease rageful gods.

When 50,000 Romans fall in a single day at the Battle of Cannae, priests claim there can be only one reason the gods abandoned Rome: a Vestal Virgin has broken her vow of chastity. And they accuse Opimia (Mia), the strongest, most defiant of the six sacred Vestal priestesses.

Forced as a child into serving Vesta, the goddess of fire, Mia has always chafed against Rome’s control of her every move—especially after being separated from her childhood love, Attius. Now, accused of a crime she did not commit, she must defend herself in a hostile court to avoid being buried alive for her “crime.”

Betrayed by the high priestess, hunted by Rome’s political and religious elite, Mia must either accept her fate — or join with the Sybil of Cumae to expose the truth behind a world built on superstition, fear, and lies.

A story of personal awakening amid public catastrophe, The Cleansing is a haunting journey through a city at war with itself — and a woman who risks everything to survive it.

Praise:

"Original, deftly crafted... [and a] historical thriller with an impressive level of literary excellence."

~ Midwest Book Review

Buy Links:

Universal Amazon Buy Link:

https://books2read.com/u/3LWn1e

Barnes & Noble: https://shorturl.at/P3FwP

Bookshop.org: https://shorturl.at/cchlf

This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

Author Bio:

Victoria Alvear has written multiple books and novels set in the ancient world, including A Day of Fire: A Novel of Pompeii, A Song of War: A Novel of Troy, Cleopatra’s Moon, and others.

She is known as Vicky Alvear Shecter for her children’s books, which include Warrior Queens, Anubis Speaks!, Hades Speaks!, and Thor Speaks!

She has served as a docent at the museum of antiquities at Emory University for nearly twenty years.

Author Links:

Website: www.vickyalvearshecter.com

Twitter / X: https://x.com/valvearshecter

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valvearshecter

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vicky_alvear_shecter/

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@vicky_alvear_shecter

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/valvear.bsky.social

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/valvearshecter/

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/victoria-alvear

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ask.a.docent