Sargassa

WINNER OF THE 2024 SIDEWISE AWARD FOR BEST LONG-FORM ALTERNATE HISTORYAn unlikely group of rebels are ready to burn down the Roman empire like you've never imagined it before. From the halls of the Senate floor to the bloody sands of the gladiatorial pits, Sophie Burnham's debut is full of riveting political danger, thoughtful worldbuilding, and a tightly-knit group of conspirators. The role of Imperial Historian is Selah Kleios's birthright, but she was supposed to have more time to learn the role from her father, the previous Historian.
In the wake of her father's sudden and shocking assassination, Selah finds herself custodian of more than just the Imperial Archives when an old flame returns intending to steal the Iveroa Stone-a seemingly harmless artifact containing secrets that could destroy the empire. Theo Nix is a damn good spy, and they know it. By day, they work in Senator Naevia Kleios's office; smart, unobtrusive, and grateful, they're the model of a perfect plebeian.
By night, their time belongs to Griff: master strategist, commander of the Revenants, the spider at the center of a very large and very dangerous web. When Griff gives Theo an assignment, they move, no questions asked, so it's really no surprise Theo is flirting with Arran Alexander-Selah's low-caste half brother is an obvious target. It is a surprise, however, that they're enjoying it so much.  After a year away in the legions, Arran has recently returned home, only to find the cracks beneath his feet widening.
Struggling with his own identity and purpose, drawn into an underground independence movement through his growing feelings for Theo, Arran must choose between the sister he loves and the chance to take control of his own life for the very first time. Sargassa is the first book in a new speculative trilogy that is equal parts political intrigue, queer romance, and revolution.