‘An elegant, impeccably researched exploration of early Rome and their lesser known enemies, the Etruscans. The torments of war, love, family, and faith are explored by narrators on both sides of the conflict as their cities rush toward a shattering, heart-wrenching show-down. Elisabeth Storrs weaves a wonderful tale!’
Kate Quinn, author of The Empress of Rome Saga
Call to Juno
A Tale of Ancient Rome Book Three
Four unforgettable characters are tested during a war between Rome and Etruscan Veii. Caecilia has long been torn between her birthplace of Rome and her adopted city of Veii. Yet faced with mounting danger to her husband, children, and Etruscan freedoms, will her call to destroy Rome succeed?
Pinna has clawed her way from prostitute to the concubine of the Roman general Camillus. Deeply in love, can she exert her own power to survive the threat of exposure by those who know her sordid past?
Semni, a servant, seeks forgiveness for a past betrayal. Will she redeem herself so she can marry the man she loves?
Marcus, a Roman tribune, is tormented by unrequited love for another soldier. Can he find strength to choose between his cousin Caecilia and his fidelity to Rome?
Who will overcome the treachery of mortals and gods?
Call to Juno was judged first in category for Early Historical Fiction in the 2017 Chaucer Award. The book was also an Editor’s Choice in the Historical Novels Review. It is the third book in the A Tale of Ancient Rome Saga, which includes The Wedding Shroud and The Golden Dice.
Read the complete series!
A Tale of Ancient Rome is now a complete trilogy including The Wedding Shroud, The Golden Dice and Call to Juno.
Call to Juno Reviews
Call to Juno is the stirring conclusion to an epic saga of war, sacrifice, and transcendent love. Storrs once again demonstrates her superb ability to weave the complex history of the Fifth Century Roman and Etruscan war into a compelling story about real and fictional characters that I grew to admire, love, and, in some cases, mourn.
Elisabeth Storrs brings Ancient Rome vividly to life; her skill as a writer is equivalent to a time machine – we are there amid the history and the drama, immersed so deep that in calling to Juno we expect her to answer back…
Her characters seem true to their time, strongly rooted in the mores of their respective cultures as they strive to placate the gods and gain victory. The contrast between the colorful, sensual culture of the Etruscans and the more severe Roman society is well portrayed, immersing readers in this ancient struggle.
Elisabeth Storrs’s A Tale of Ancient Rome series should really be called Tales of Ancient Veii, as it brings the Etruscan town to life. Thank you, Elisabeth, for giving a voice to some of the most intriguing pieces of the Museum of Veii.
The history and culture of these ancient peoples are presented in exquisite detail, from the finer aspects of religious belief to politics, art, and the mechanisms of warfare.
With plenty of action and characters you can really root for, Call to Juno is a perfect, wholly satisfying conclusion to Elisabeth Storrs’ trilogy. A Tale of Ancient Rome is one of the best ancient-historical series I’ve read in years.
Call to Juno is a book for long, delicious savoring.
In Call to Juno Elisabeth Storrs tells a vivid story of love and war, honour and revenge set in Ancient Rome. Using a skillful blend of history and drama, and full of characters both heroic and human, Storrs transports readers to that long ago world. Highly recommended
Not much is known about the ancient Etruscans but the A Tale of Ancient Rome saga is a vivid and fascinating evocation of their fight for survival against the might of Rome. This is a tale of great love and great hatred, of treachery, courage and honour, told in loving detail by a knowledgeable and practised story-teller.
God cults, the different faces of love and the cruelty of war are among the themes in Elisabeth Storrs’ third powerful novel on the rivalry between the Romans and the Etruscans. A well-researched novel that builds to a memorable and terrifying end.
“Storrs obviously did her homework in this meticulously researched series. The level of detail about everyday life in Rome and among the Etruscan’s is extraordinary. Having visited these ancients sites, it was fun to have them brought to life so vividly with Storrs’ storytelling.
It’s been an amazing journey since The Wedding Shroud, through The Golden Dice, to Call to Juno. It is one of the best trilogies set in the past I’ve ever read.
There is an element of redemption and hope for the future in this fine example of historical fiction at its best…
Call to Juno is an impeccably researched, page-turner that richly imagines the ancient world, weaving the actions of the gods and the multiple viewpoints of its characters into a seamless narrative.
In the best historical fiction, clashes of civilization are humanized to show the true extent of the tragedy. Call to Juno, The Golden Dice, and The Wedding Shroud are in that category of the best.
“By seizing destiny, Caecilia overthrows authority and superstition and brings the trilogy to a poignant and enthralling conclusion. She proves that love conquers all.”
We see everything the characters see and are wrung by their emotional needs, motivations and desires. They live in cultures so different from our own, but the author has made them vivid as human beings trying to make sense of the conflict around and inside them. Highly recommended. In fact, read the whole series!
This books has it all! Beautiful prose, lush descriptions, a wonderfully evil villain, and a heroine and hero to fall in love with. Definitely recommended. One of my favorite trilogies!
The author did a wonderful job at moving forward with the women in the story as well as the plot…This is an epic series and I’d highly recommend it.
I cannot recommend this book enough. It was just incredible and it is certainly a strong contender for a place in the top 5 books that I have read this year so far.”
It is refreshing to read of Roman times from a distinctly feminine perspective, one that captures the intimacy of motherhood and domesticity as much as it does the political horrors of war.
Elisabeth Storrs delivers an extraordinary tale of “Peasant and patrician; concubine and master” which ... erupts into a generous narrative of the quest for power between a reluctant Etruscan king, Vel Mastarna, and Marcus Furius Camillus—he who would be Rome’s dictator in her stunning Historical Fiction novel, Call to Juno: A Tale of Ancient Rome.
(First Place Category Winner Early History Chaucer Award)
Also available in Italian
- Amazon:
- Il velo nuziale (I racconti dell'Antica Roma Vol. 1)
- I dadi d'oro (I racconti dell'Antica Roma Vol. 2)
- Il patto di Giunone (I racconti dell'Antica Roma Vol. 3)
- Altre Voci Edizioni:
- Il velo nuziale (I racconti dell'Antica Roma Vol. 1)
- I dadi d'oro (I racconti dell'Antica Roma Vol. 2)
- Il patto di Giunone (I racconti dell'Antica Roma Vol. 3)
