The Emperor — Volume 10

"The Emperor — Volume 10" by Georg Ebers is a historical novel that takes place in ancient Rome, telling the story of Selene and Antinous as they deal with love, belief, sadness, and changing identities in a world full of political and religious problems. The book starts with Selene and Helios getting baptized, which is a big change for them as they get ready to move to Upper Egypt. Selene thinks about her feelings for Antinous, remembering her past pain and her new faith. Antinous, who is close to Emperor Hadrian, starts to pull away from everything, troubled by his feelings and wanting to be with Selene. The story weaves together the lives of these characters, exploring conflicts in faith and the fear of death, hinting at bigger tragedies and changes to come.