{"product_id":"locusta-the-poisoned-empire-duology-book-1-9798318604027","title":"Locusta (the Poisoned Empire Duology, Book 1) [Dexter, Emily]","description":"\u003cb\u003eAuthor: \u003c\/b\u003eEmily Dexter\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eCirce \u003c\/i\u003emeets \u003ci\u003eThe Lost Apothecary \u003c\/i\u003ein the first book of this historical fantasy duology featuring Ancient Rome's most infamous poisoner who changed the course of history to save the woman she loved\u003ci\u003e.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eBorn in the ancient region of Gaul, Locusta is the last of her kind--a Druid whose communion with the spirit world grants her the dangerous gift of identifying and wielding deadly substances. When Roman soldiers attack her home and slaughter her mother, Locusta is captured and enslaved, taken to the heart of the empire where political plots abound and death commands a high price. Guided by Arawn, the god of death, she must learn to survive within the brutal, glittering world of ancient Rome. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eHer strange talents soon catch the attention of the Roman elite, and she becomes ensnared in a double life--poisoner by night for the cunning Antonia Augusta, and lady-in-waiting by day to Livia, the Emperor's ambitious cousin. As Locusta plants the seeds of revenge against those who destroyed her home, her connection with Livia deepens into a passionate, forbidden romance that threatens them both. Surrounded by danger and deceit, Locusta's poisons become their only protection against the increasingly unstable Emperor Caligula and the enemies lurking in every shadow. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eLocusta\u003c\/i\u003e reimagines the rise of one of history's most complex women through a lens of myth, power, and feminine rage. Rich with ruthless twists, deadly magic, and a sapphic love story that burns from sweet to spicy, this is a story of survival, defiance, and the dangerous alchemy of love and death in a world ruled by men.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Penguin Random House\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 09\/15\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 368\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9798318604027\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eEmily Dexter\u003c\/b\u003e is a writer and creator exploring the intersection of history, mysticism, and the human spirit. She has built an international audience sharing insights on history, mythology, and the unseen forces shaping our lives through social media and her sold out international retreats. When not doing magic, reading, or creating you can find her somewhere in the forests of Lake Tahoe, with her three children, wonderful husband, and stick hoarding dragon dog. Visit her online at @likerofwords on TikTok or Instagram or at www.emilydexterauthor.com.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45533354098864,"sku":"9798318604027b","price":18.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"url":"https:\/\/pandemoniumbooks.com\/products\/locusta-the-poisoned-empire-duology-book-1-9798318604027","provider":"Pandemonium Books and Games","version":"1.0","type":"link"}