Caroline Lawrence found inspiration for Queen of the Silver Arrow in Virgil’s Aeneid, and her story of warrior princess Camilla is as exciting as any fantasy adventure. Acca lives in Laurentum, a small town on the Tiber, in the days before the founding of Rome. She’s grown up hearing stories of the fierce young woman living wild in the hills, linked from birth to weapons. The arrival of migrants from Troy and the threat of war brings the two girls together. When war starts, Camilla fights like an Amazon – thrilling scenes put us at the heart of the battle and it’s impossible not to be awed and intimidated by her, as her friend Acca is. Tinged with myth as well as a real sense of the classical past this is truly gripping stuff, Katniss Everdeen look to your laurels!
Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant and dyslexic readers aged 12+
A thrilling tale of danger, friendship and loyalty from Roman Mysteries bestseller Caroline Lawrence, set against the backdrop of the ancient world. Gorgeous and evocative, this captivating new teen novel imagines the life of a heroine of early Rome.
Few have ever seen her, but all of Laurentum knows the story of Camilla - tied to a spear and thrown across a river by her father as he fled for his life.
The Goddess Diana saved the baby, and now it is Camilla's turn to save Laurentum as the Trojans march on the town. But Camilla is a wild girl from the forest, not the Amazon they imagine, and so Acca must step in to help her new friend adjust to the great destiny before her.
Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant and dyslexic readers aged 12+
Caroline Lawrence was our Guest Editor in September 2102 - Click here to see her selections.
Caroline Lawrence was born in London. Her American parents returned to the United States shortly afterwards and she grew up in Bakersfield, California with her younger brother and sister. Her father taught English and drama in a local high school and her mother was an artist.
When she was twelve, Caroline's family moved to Stanford University in northern California so that her father could study Linguistics. Caroline inherited her father's love of words and her mother's love of art. She subsequently studied Classics at Berkeley, where she won a Marshall Scholarship to Cambridge. There, at Newnham College, she studied Classical Art and Archaeology.
The books in the series are: The Thieves of Ostia The Secrets of Vesuvius The Pirates of Pompeii The Assassins of Rome The Dolphins of Laurentum The Twelve Tasks of Flavia Gemina The Enemies of Jupiter The Gladiators from Capua The Colossus of Rhodes The Fugitive from Corinth The Sirens of Surrentum The Charioteer of Delphi The Slave Girl from Jerusalem The Beggar of Volubilis The Scribes from Alexandria The Prophet from Ephesus And finally… The Man from Pomegranate Street
THE ROMAN MYSTERIES have sold over 1.1 million copies since its introduction in 2001 and in 2009 won the Classical Association Prize for 'a significant contribution to the public understanding of Classics' THE ROMAN MYSTERIES has been recognised as having an exemplary combination of entertainment and education.
