Too Soon the Night — James Conroyd Martin

Palace eunuch and secretary Stephen records Empress Theodora's life as she navigates wars, political and religious crises, a citywide rebellion, and the first world plague pandemic, all in a male-dominated world. As the most powerful woman of the Byzantine Empire, one-time prostitute Theodora installs her own candidate for pope, legislates women's rights, and shuts down a massive riot, saving the empire. A gorgeous tapestry of impeccable research and intricate worldbuilding. ~Kate Quinn, author of The Empress of Rome Saga and The Rose Code