Barba the Slaver - Dael Forest

The first novel in Dael Forest's historical Barba series, Barba the Slaver follows five high-born prisoners who are taken to Imperial Rome after falling from privilege into captivity. Sold into slavery by the formidable Barba, three young women and two young men are forced to endure humiliation, discipline and the brutal realities of Roman society as their captors attempt to break their pride and reshape them according to the customs of the Empire.

Blending historical adventure with detailed depictions of Roman life, the novel explores the clash between freedom and servitude against the backdrop of a civilisation where refinement existed alongside cruelty, corruption and decadence. Forest combines fast-paced storytelling with extensive historical detail to create a vivid portrait of slavery, power and survival in ancient Rome.