Rubies of the Viper, The Viper Amulet, and The Ruby Ring
are the three novels of Martha Marks’s
RUBY-VIPER TRILOGY,
a sprawling and suspenseful first-century family saga.
To get the most out my novels, read them in order:
#1 Rubies of the Viper
#2 The Viper Amulet
#3 The Ruby Ring
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This website features—downloadable and printable—a map, a glossary, and book club discussion topics… plus my family photos of places in the books and my “Purple Parchment” blog.
4.2 / 5 with 285 ratings on
Amazon (more info below)
4.7 / 5 with 40 ratings on
Amazon (more info below)
4.5 / 5 with 11 ratings on
Amazon (more info below)
BOOK #1: Rubies of the Viper
Amazon: 4.2 of 5 stars — 285 ratings/reviews
Goodreads: 3.6 of 5 stars — 332 ratings/reviews
“Martha Marks’s writing is beautiful. Her lifelong love of ancient Rome shines through in this novel. She gives us details about life at all levels of Roman society, from patricians to slaves, and she takes us to a great variety of locations, from Theodosia’s estate to an underground prison cell, to a musical competition at Nero’s palace. The scenes set in Greece and Syria are beautifully written, as well. I highly recommend RUBIES OF THE VIPER, and I am looking forward to the other two volumes in the trilogy.” Vicki Kondelik, Librarian, University of Michigan
“Powerful, evocative visit to ancient Rome. Martha Marks takes us there with this superb novel and leaves us eager for the next installment!” Grady Harp, Top 100 Reviewer on Amazon
“If I were to select a book of the year to read, RUBIES OF THE VIPER would be in the running for top choice. Yes, it is that good.” Rhonda Esakov for Story Circle Book Reviews
“I ordered this book after seeing all the five star reviews. Now I see they are well deserved. Impossible to put this book down. I HIGHLY recommend this book.” Patricia Goodspeed, Amazon Vine Voice
“If you love historical fiction that will grab you by the jugular and not let go until you’ve devoured the last page, this novel is for you. A remarkable work!” Cheri Lasota, author of Artemis Rising and Echoes in the Glass
“A fast-paced, suspenseful and romantic historical novel and a totally satisfying read.” M. Louisa Locke, author of the Victorian San Francisco Mystery Series
“The characters in RUBIES OF THE VIPER achieve the rare status of being ‘real.’ Highly recommended.” Rebecca Lochlann, author of The Year-God’s Daughter and The Thinara King
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SYNOPSIS: Rubies of the Viper
AD 53 — Strong-willed, impetuous, and naive, Theodosia Varro inherits the family estate after her brother is murdered on the streets of Rome. With no preparation, she goes from poverty and isolation to great wealth and a prestigious position in society. Only by identifying her brother’s killer can she feel safe, yet her efforts take her in quite the opposite direction. After her own actions and the scheming of others lead to catastrophe, Theodosia struggles to survive and recover what matters most in her life.
WARNING: This book is meant for adults. While it does not contain graphic sex, it does include period-appropriate themes, violent incidents, and language that may disturb some readers.
“RUBIES OF THE VIPER is a genuine gem of a mystery set in Rome during the reigns of the Emperors Claudius and Nero. It’s full of exciting suspense and beautifully developed characters. Marks’s rich portrayal of Roman life is delightful and gruesome in turns–just as a good Roman mystery ought to be. We get the grace, the violence and the perversion that was imperial society revealed through a spell-binding tale.” Judith Starkston, author of Hand of Fire and Priestess of Ishana
“A real page turner—a book that stays in your thoughts the entire day until you can read again. Compelling characters, beautiful descriptions, plenty of conflict with unpredictable twists and turns, and an incredible storyline.” Mirella Sichirollo Patzer, author of Orphan of the Olive Tree and The Prophetic Queen
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home ◙ map ◙ glossary ◙ personal photos ◙ blog ◙ book clubs◙ about ◙ contact
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BOOK #2: The Viper Amulet
Amazon: 4.7 of 5 stars — 40 ratings/reviews
Goodreads: 4.6 of 5 stars — 25 ratings/reviews
“A well crafted, entertaining book which I had trouble putting down. A remarkable epic exposition. Marks gave me a glimpse of what it must have been like living through Rome’s conquest of Judea. I’m glad I wasn’t around then.” Steve Bartholomew, author of Gold and Journey to Rhyolite
“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
“The ability to capture the essence of ancient Rome is evident from the opening of Martha’s book. In a matter of a few words she has established the distant past with veracity, suggesting that she indeed has more than traveling experience as her connection to old Rome.” Grady Harp, Top 100 Reviewer on Amazon
“The plot is more far-flung in its geography than the first book. Marks takes her readers with vivid effect to Sicily, Greece and Israel. Rome’s meddling reaches a long way—and Theodosia and Alexander face life or death consequences if they draw Rome’s notice, as you will know if you read RUBIES OF THE VIPER. And you will definitely want to read the excellent RUBIES OF THE VIPER before THE VIPER AMULET, as the author clearly intends.” Judith Starkston, author of Hand of Fire and Priestess of Ishana
“This was a beautiful story of love and inspiring loyalty. I read the first book and have long waited for this sequel. I must say that I was very impressed with the historical data that was spot on. So many actual historical events and people were included and made the read so much more interesting. I take my hat off to this author for the work of love that she has written! I certainly look forward to the next book. D.D. Gott of Donadee’s Corner Book Reviews
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SYNOPSIS: The Viper Amulet
The sequel to RUBIES OF THE VIPER… AD 56 — Disgraced, impoverished, and physically impaired, Theodosia Varro flees Italia alongside the man she loves. With Emperor Nero’s agents in pursuit, 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: This book is meant for adults. It contains one brief rape scene that is essential to both plot and characterizations, not gratuitous; as well as period-appropriate themes, violent incidents, and language that may disturb some readers.
“Another excellent novel by Marks. It picked up almost immediately after the end of the previous one, which is appealing. This novel covers a lot more time than the previous one, which took place over a handful of years. The sense of time is handled well, with children being born and growing. The characters each develop in their own ways. It was interesting to see how Theodosia reacted to life as a Greek woman, which was more limited than that of a Roman woman.” Kristen McQuinn for Discovering Diamonds Book Reviews, Amazon & Goodreads
Read other independent reviews:
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home ◙ map ◙ glossary ◙ personal photos ◙ blog ◙ book clubs◙ about ◙ contact
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BOOK #3: The Ruby Ring
Amazon: 4.5 of 5 stars — 11 ratings/reviews
Goodreads 4.5 of 5 stars — 9 ratings/reviews
“This third and last installment in Martha Marks’s ‘The Ruby-Viper Trilogy’ is where the fireworks explode—literally as well as figuratively. I abandoned other projects to have more time to spend in this stunning Greek and Roman world. Suspenseful, thrilling, and always absorbing, Marks carries the reader into a lush, vibrant, ancient era peopled with both real historical figures and characters created from her vivid imagination.” Rebecca Lochann, author of The Year God’s Daughter and The Thinara King
“Doros’ journey has been my favorite of the Ruby tales. I quite enjoyed this final third of the story, even if my heart did quicken with fear when he found the ring again.” Melodie Coulter-Pennington, author of Clever, Clever Woman
“Concluding the trilogy, the author chose to do it in a quiet closure and reckoning with everything that came before. Theodosia’s journey comes full circle as questions of identity, loyalty, and belonging finally settle into a clear, grounded, and self-defined presence in life with a sense of acceptance. It’s a thoughtful conclusion to a trilogy that has valued nuance over noise.” Goodreads reviewer Noha Badawi
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SYNOPSIS: The Ruby Ring
The sequel to THE VIPER AMULET… AD 67 — Exhausted, grieving, and ready for something like a normal life again, Theodosia Varro sets off on what she hopes will be a journey home. However, as usual, things don’t go the way she expects. Even as the younger members of her family grow into adulthood, other important events are happening around the Roman world. Theodosia finally finds peace, but not in a way that she ever anticipated.
WARNING: This book is meant for adults. While it does not contain graphic sex, it does include period-appropriate themes, violent historical incidents, and language that may disturb some readers.
“Martha Marks has painted a rich world of love, war, and history from the first book to the last. Whether the mystery and hardship of the protagonist is appealing or the chance to learn about ancient history, this trilogy is an epic journey to read.“ Goodreads reviewer Antyna G.
“The author does an incredible job of hooking pieces together in a way that may leave the reader wondering where recorded history stops and the made up story begins.”Goodreads reviewer John DuBoisxx
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Over seven days — October 30 to November 5, 2025 — THE RUBY RING launched as the #1 “hot new release” in one of its 3 categories!
home ◙ map ◙ glossary ◙ personal photos ◙ blog ◙ book clubs◙ about ◙ contact
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The entire site—including most notably its map, blog text, cover images, and personal photos—is © Martha Marks. All rights reserved.