Every once in a while, a novel comes along that dares to step into history, reimagine it, and bring fresh perspectives to stories we thought we knew. Paloma Blue’s debut novel, The Saturnalia Queen, takes readers deep into the Roman Empire at its most brutal and intoxicating moment — the reign of Emperor Caracalla.
But instead of telling a tale of conquest and politics through the usual lens of men and power, Blue shifts the spotlight to a healer named Gelvira, a woman whose strength, mysticism, and compassion force even an emperor to see the world differently.
A sweeping mix of literary fiction, romance, and historical reimagining, this novel asks what happens when desire collides with tyranny, and whether love can exist in the shadow of absolute power.
About the Book: The Saturnalia Queen
“HEROES SAVE THE WORLD. SHE WANTS TO CONQUER IT.“
The Roman Emperor Caracalla is feared across the empire — cold, merciless, and consumed by his role as tyrant. But when he encounters Gelvira, a young healer devoted to her goddess and her people, he finds himself disarmed in ways he never imagined.
What begins as fear and defiance transforms into something far more dangerous: desire, passion, and love. Yet as power struggles consume Rome, Gelvira faces an impossible choice — protect her people at all costs or risk everything for the man who should be her enemy.
👉 Buy The Saturnalia Queen: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Early Praise & Reader Reviews
“Enter a slight re-imagination of an ancient world, where a woman holds her own. This novel is an absolute treat, intertwining history with romance and delving into how lives might have been lived. Through exhilarating writing, you attach yourself to these characters in their individual paths while also consistently rooting for their convergence. This beautiful, inspiring tale is more than worth the read.” – Sally M., Reader ⭐
“Dark, sexy, and thoroughly engrossing, this is the kind of story that sticks in your mind for days after reading it. Paloma has created a world so rich and realistic, and a villain so intriguing and magnetic that we as readers, like our heroine, cannot tear ourselves away.” – Amalia J., author of Ghastly Grim & Ancient ⭐
“A gripping tale of doomed love. The fire between the two characters leaps off the page and keeps the reader hooked. The historical setting adds depth to a compelling and emotional story.” – A.M., Reader ⭐
Q&A with Paloma Blue
What is your book about and what inspired you to write this book?
My book is about the Roman Emperor Caracalla. In my story, he meets a woman who is very different from the women he’s known before, and eventually he falls in love, as much as a tyrannical emperor can.
I was a huge fan of the first Gladiator movie, and when I learned they were filming a sequel featuring the emperors Caracalla and Geta, I did some research into who they were and was fascinated by their story. I wanted to write about those figures but from a female perspective.
Much of the literature around Imperial Rome (and the Gladiator movies) focuses on male power. I wanted to explore what it would look like if Caracalla walked into a world where women held power.
When did you start writing, and what made you decide to publish this book?
I started writing short stories online in the latter part of the pandemic. I’ve also written a novella which is unpublished. This book originally started as a series of linked short stories but as I continued to write I realized it was a longer narrative. That made me want to start the process of self-publishing it, at first just to see if I could, but then because I wanted to tell the story in this way.
Which character was the most fun—or most challenging—to write, and why?
It was hard to write Caracalla at first, but then it got easier. I needed to find his voice and the why behind some of the terrible things he does. At the end of the day, you have to empathize with a villain as much as a hero, because it makes your character far more interesting to write and hopefully read.
Caracalla was as boxed in by rigid expectations as much as women were at the time, perhaps even more so. Exploring that was interesting but also challenging. Roman Emperors were not great guys, and Caracalla was known as being particularly violent. It’s difficult to write about these acts but still find the humanity in him.
What themes or messages do you hope readers take away from your book?
I’ve always been fascinated by European mythology that predates Christianity, particularly Northern Europe. I wanted to create a feeling of mysticism in the setting, and in some respects the forest is a character in the book. I hope people come away with a strong sense of place from reading the story.
Were there any real-life experiences that influenced your story or characters?
Caracalla was a real person, and I tried to weave in some stories from his historical record. Some of these had a strong anti-Caracalla agenda, so you have to read between the lines and parse out what might have been a politically motivated narrative vs. what actually happened. Did he really suffer remorse for some of his acts? Was he haunted by ghosts? It was fun to play with these ideas but a challenge to make his motivations realistic.
What question do you wish readers would ask you about the book?
Both of the lovers have very significant mother figures, and I would love to have someone ask about how these women shaped the trajectories of their journeys. I would answer that both Gelvira and Caracalla learn to wield power in a way that they weren’t taught to by their mothers. Gelvira teaches Caracalla how to use compassion, and he teaches her to have more confidence. It’s through each other they heal what’s been missing in their hearts.
Do you have a favorite quote or moment from the book you’d like to share?
There’s a moment where their statuses are reversed. Saturnalia was a holiday that played with status, and I used this as a way to explore what would happen if the most powerful and least powerful people in a society switched places for a night and were free from expectation on how to behave. That was the genesis of the story.
What was the biggest challenge in writing or publishing it?
The fact that if you write about a Roman Emperor, it’s nearly impossible to deliver a happy ending. It’s hard to market a book with romance that doesn’t have an HEA. Unfortunately, I like to write stories that twist the knife, so trying to find a marketing lane for the book has been a challenge. But ultimately, it’s the story I wanted to tell.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m turning my attention to Caracalla’s brother Geta in my next book.
About the Author
Paloma Blue lives in Los Angeles, where she spends a lot of time thinking about the Roman Empire. The Saturnalia Queen is her first novel.
📖 Learn more: palomablue.net
📲 Follow Paloma: Instagram | Facebook
Final Thoughts
Paloma Blue’s The Saturnalia Queen is more than just a historical romance — it’s an exploration of power, gender, mysticism, and forbidden love in one of the most infamous periods of Roman history. For readers who crave stories that challenge traditional narratives, blend myth with history, and aren’t afraid of complexity, this novel is an unmissable debut.
👉 Grab your copy today: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
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