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The Temple of Fortuna by Elodie Harper

5 reviews

cosymidlifebooknook's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

💬 My Bookish Thoughts
In the final installment, we follow Amara's journey in Pompeii with her new patron, Demetrius, as she builds her own empire to ensure her daughter Rufina's safety. Rufina, believed to be Amara's ex-patron Rufus's daughter, is back in Pompeii under the care of her mother's friends Julia and Livia and her real father, Philos, Amara's ex-lover.

I won't say more to avoid spoilers.

Elodie Harper is a genius. She had me gritting my teeth with the tension from the twists and turns in the incredible plot. Beautifully written, it vividly depicts the trials of slaves, courtesans,and the unjust luxury of the rich in ancient Rome and Pompeii. This book is an emotional rollercoaster.

The entire series, especially this final book, surpassed my expectations. This series is in my top 5 favorites ever.

If you love historical fiction and want to learn about ancient Rome, the demise of Pompeii or are seeking an incredible series about girl power, then The Wolf Den Trilogy is for you. Your life and mind will be richer for it..

Thank you Elodie for writing this incredible trilogy and expanding my world history and heart 💞🙏🏼

Big thanks again Tandem Collective, Head of Zeus and Elodie Harper for the gifted copy in return for an honest review. 🙏🏼
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laurajeangrace's review against another edition

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dark emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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acarballo's review against another edition

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hopeful informative reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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gracemichool's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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emmsbookshelf's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 
The Temple of Fortuna is the much anticipated ending to the Wolf Den Trilogy, tying up Amara’s story as she has gone from a slave in the Wolf Den, to concubine freedwoman living in the House With the Golden Door and now, living in luxury in Rome. 
 
This was a masterfully written story, like the front cover and the city of Pompeii itself, I felt Vesuvius looming over me as I read and the anticipation of knowing what was coming whilst the characters went about their lives was terrifying.  The additional threat of Felix that was established at the end of The House With The Golden Door co-existing alongside the threat of Vesuvius heightened the stakes even more.  The pacing was perfect and I found that I was able to move through the plot at a good pace without being bogged down awaiting the inevitable. 
 
The characterisation of Amara throughout the story was wonderful to read, she is cunning, shrewd and perceptive and watching her navigate Rome was a refreshing deferral from the setting of Pompeii in the first two books.  It was also interesting to see her navigate her status as a freedwoman and how, regardless of how much money and status she managed to acquire, she still anxiously tried to organise her money in order to protect herself and her daughter.  Harper skilfully shows us a world where women are fully fleshed out figures in an Ancient society instead of demure baubles, we get to see Julia Felix, Livia, Drusilla and Britannica exist and thrive and act with agency as businesswomen, wives and athletes. 
 
This book was clearly written with so much research put into it and the commitment to detail increased the sense of immersion. There were so many references to incredibly well known archaeological artefacts and existing people whom we know existed in Pompeii, like Julia Felix and Pliny the Elder, the dog floor mosaic and Drusilla’s snake bracelet.  Furthermore, the quotes from letters, histories and graffiti at the beginning of each chapter really helped to anchor the story in the historical period and at times I often forgot that Amara was not actually a person we know existed at all.  
 
The story has a satisfying conclusion and I enjoyed that it was left open.  It does a fabulous job of humanising the citizens of Pompeii, many of whom we grow to love over the trilogy as members of Amara’s found family.  It was an engaging and gripping tale that reminded us that the iconic plaster casts were once people caught it the midst of a disaster that they didn’t even have a name for.  I just know that this is a story I will be revisiting and that Amara is a character that will stay with me. 
 
Thank you to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review, these thoughts are all my own. 
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