Rating: 5/5
Firstly I need to say a massive thank you to Head of Zeus for sending me a review copy of this book, I was so looking forward to it so to have a chance to get my hands on it early was just amazing!!
Well let’s get started! This book..., WOW! I loved it! Every second! I love a historical fiction and this will have a firm place on my bookshelf for a very long time!
With the story set in Ancient Pompeii we follow the story of Amara, a slave at the local brothel. We get a glimpse into the life of Amara and the other women and what they face on a daily basis. What I think this book does well is that it doesn't sugarcoat anything, we see the harsh reality of what the women go through. The blunt and violent life of a slave in a brothel, it's miserable and full of abuse. But this book isn't erotic which I think worked perfectly because we focus more on the womens lives.
I really enjoyed all of the characters, their different personalities and how they have in their own way created a family of strong minded women wanting nothing more than a better life for themselves, they create a sense of hope in each other that they can rise above the life they currently live.
We meet male characters of course, we see into how the men in this time treated the women and particularly how their master Felix treats them. He is cold and cruel, but Amara I think sees some of herself in him and that worries her. I actually found myself wanting to know more about Felix as the book went on, and we did get a glimpse but I do still wish I'd seen more!!
The ending left me both heartbroken and longing for more, I am so glad that there will be more books from Elodie Harper! I honestly loved diving into Pompeii and cannot wait to do so again!!
I gave this book 5 stars and I do stand by my rating but I think in the next books I am hoping for perhaps a bit more of a wider view of Pompeii life. The Wolf Den was so very much centred in the brothel with some festivals and parties, which I enjoyed because I felt very much like I was being pulled into their lives and being right there with them, but I would really love more of a look into Pompeii itself, perhaps more world building!
But regardless, I think this book will stay with me for quite a long time! I am so happy I had the chance to read and review it for you all! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!