The only problem I have with this book is the writing. I didn't like the writing style and the dialogue was often way too modern. While the author states she's a novelist not a historian, I feel she could have been a little more realistic with the speech. Having the characters use modern terms and phrases was a little silly. I'm surprised she didn't name the book, "Theodora: Actress, Empress, Ho". At times it also seemed very rushed. She quickly sums up major events in a paragraph or a page and then just moves on. At first, I also felt it was a bit smutty, but I guess she did live a gritty life so it was relevant smuttiness.