The Viper Amulet: The Sequel to Rubies of the Viper

The sequel to RUBIES OF THE VIPER... AD 56 - Disgraced and impoverished, Theodosia Varro flees Italy with the man she loves. As Emperor Nero’s agents give chase, they escape to a place that should offer safety and peace, only to find an unexpected foe waiting. Conflicts mount as Theodosia battles known and unknown enemies who put her life and family at risk. Ultimately, she ventures into a foreign land whose culture she does not understand-and into a brutal war zone-to salvage what remains of her dreams.

WARNING: Contains period-appropriate adult themes

REVIEWS:

＂THE VIPER AMULET is an uplifting story of loyalty, perseverance, and love. Plus it entertains from the first page to the last. I’ve been waiting impatiently for this mesmerizing sequel to the wonderful RUBIES OF THE VIPER, and it definitely lived up to Book One. The historical details and smooth inclusion of real historical people was impressive and engaging.＂ -Rebecca Lochlann, author of The Year-God’s Daughter and The Thinara King

＂A well-crafted, entertaining book which I had trouble putting down. A remarkable epic exposition.＂ -Steve Bartholomew, author of Gold and Journey to Rhyolite

When Martha was seven, she traveled with her parents to Italy, where the ruins of Pompeii, Herculaneum, and the Roman Forum made an indelible impression on her. As they walked the streets of Pompeii, she informed her parents that she had been there before. It was all entirely familiar. You’ll find photos of her during that first visit to Pompeii on her website: marthamarks.com. As a teenager, she devoured every available novel about ancient Rome. As an adult, she read newer fiction set in that time, returned to the same ancient sites and visited others, and studied ancient history and cultures. Rubies of the Viper, its sequel, The Viper Amulet, and her work-in-progress, The Ruby Ring, are the results of a fascination for ancient history that began on that childhood trip to Italy. Years later, she earned a Ph.D. at Northwestern University and taught on the faculties of Northwestern University and Kalamazoo College. She and her husband, fine-art painter Bernard Marks, live in Santa Fe, New Mexico.