The Solstice Conspiracy

A breathtaking historical thriller where ancient wisdom meets imperial intrigue. When decorated centurion Marcus Aelius is assigned to protect Livia Drusilla, the rebellious niece of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, he expects a mundane assignment. Instead, he's thrust into a deadly conspiracy that reaches the highest levels of Roman power. After witnessing a brutal massacre at Livia's villa, they flee Rome with an ancient medallion containing forbidden knowledge - astronomical secrets predicting Rome's decline unless balance between military might and philosophical wisdom is restored.
The ambitious Praetorian Prefect Severus will stop at nothing to seize this knowledge, dispatching ruthless assassins to hunt them across the Empire. As Marcus and Livia journey from Rome's opulent palaces through treacherous Alpine passes and secret underground temples, they uncover a hidden network of knowledge-keepers who have preserved ancient wisdom for centuries. Their mutual distrust transforms into respect, then something deeper, as they race against time to reach Britannia's Great Temple before the winter solstice.
With the Emperor being slowly poisoned in Rome and their pursuers closing in, Marcus and Livia must make a desperate final stand beneath the temple during the sacred Mithraic ceremony. There, beneath the stars that have guided empires for millennia, they'll face Severus himself in a confrontation that will determine not just their fate, but the future of Rome itself. Perfect for fans of Simon Scarrow, Conn Iggulden, and Kate Quinn, THE SOLSTICE CONSPIRACY masterfully blends pulse-pounding adventure with rich historical detail and a romance that defies the boundaries of class and duty in Ancient Rome.