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cosymidlifebooknook's review against another edition
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. 🙏🏼
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. 🙏🏼
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault, Slavery, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse
missleihzel's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Everything I've ever wanted in a historical fiction novel. This is exactly why I fell in love with historical fiction in the first place.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Grief, Violence, and Slavery
laurajeangrace's review against another edition
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Violence, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Child death and Sexual violence
Minor: Vomit and Pregnancy
caelfind's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Death, Sexual harassment, and Misogyny
Moderate: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Trafficking, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Grief
Minor: Miscarriage
annatollia's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
A satisfying conclusion to The Wolf Den trilogy. One again, Elodie Harper delivers a beautiful narrative that is rich with emotion and historical accuracy. 10/10 would recommend the The Wolf Den trilogy!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Miscarriage
Themes of traumaindyjg's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Thank you to Netgalley and Head of Zeus for the ARC of The Temple of Fortuna!
After devouring The Wolf Den and House With The Golden Door in January, this book was one of my most highly anticipated releases of 2023 for good reason. The Temple of Fortuna beautifully concludes one of the best historical fiction trilogies I've read in years, and to give both Elodie Harper and this trilogy its due justice, I'll be refraining from any significant spoilers and conclude my thoughts on the series as a whole.
The final novel of the Wolf Den trilogy immediately immerses us into the world of Ancient Rome, 79 CE. The Empire is left reeling following Emperor Vespasian's death; Amara finds herself embroiled in the middle of a power struggle between the Emperor's two sons, Titus and Domitian, alongside her patron, Demetrius, all the while being haunted by her past, those she left behind in Pompeii. And with the added benefit of hindsight, we know that one of the world's most catastrophic natural disasters is on the horizon.
What initially drew me into the first book was not only the setting but the key themes that continue throughout the whole trilogy. Amara's development as she regains her autonomy and processes her trauma is so intricate, raw and authentic. You truly get a sense of Amara struggling between merely surviving, using her cunning and shrewd nature, manipulating people just as Felix does, and navigating life as a freedwoman, a mother and a courtesan in the Imperial Palace. The Temple of Fortuna is a brilliantly dark study of trauma, grief, strength, revenge slavery, sisterhood and sheer determination to survive, set in a beautifully rich, fleshed-out historical setting.
How Harper fleshes out female characters adds a more profound complexity and vivacity to the women in this novel, not just Amara. In a society where their roles and lives had so little agency, it is returned to them here. I particularly loved the continued friendship between Amara and Britannica and the blending between fictional characters and literary interpretations of historical figures, namely Julia Felix and Pliny the Elder; as a reader, you can genuinely understand and appreciate the amount of research and detail given by Harper.
What a spectacular ending to a touching, powerful series that gives agency to women often overlooked in history. The Temple of Fortuna by Elodie Harper is a 5/5 for me!
After devouring The Wolf Den and House With The Golden Door in January, this book was one of my most highly anticipated releases of 2023 for good reason. The Temple of Fortuna beautifully concludes one of the best historical fiction trilogies I've read in years, and to give both Elodie Harper and this trilogy its due justice, I'll be refraining from any significant spoilers and conclude my thoughts on the series as a whole.
The final novel of the Wolf Den trilogy immediately immerses us into the world of Ancient Rome, 79 CE. The Empire is left reeling following Emperor Vespasian's death; Amara finds herself embroiled in the middle of a power struggle between the Emperor's two sons, Titus and Domitian, alongside her patron, Demetrius, all the while being haunted by her past, those she left behind in Pompeii. And with the added benefit of hindsight, we know that one of the world's most catastrophic natural disasters is on the horizon.
What initially drew me into the first book was not only the setting but the key themes that continue throughout the whole trilogy. Amara's development as she regains her autonomy and processes her trauma is so intricate, raw and authentic. You truly get a sense of Amara struggling between merely surviving, using her cunning and shrewd nature, manipulating people just as Felix does, and navigating life as a freedwoman, a mother and a courtesan in the Imperial Palace. The Temple of Fortuna is a brilliantly dark study of trauma, grief, strength, revenge slavery, sisterhood and sheer determination to survive, set in a beautifully rich, fleshed-out historical setting.
How Harper fleshes out female characters adds a more profound complexity and vivacity to the women in this novel, not just Amara. In a society where their roles and lives had so little agency, it is returned to them here. I particularly loved the continued friendship between Amara and Britannica and the blending between fictional characters and literary interpretations of historical figures, namely Julia Felix and Pliny the Elder; as a reader, you can genuinely understand and appreciate the amount of research and detail given by Harper.
What a spectacular ending to a touching, powerful series that gives agency to women often overlooked in history. The Temple of Fortuna by Elodie Harper is a 5/5 for me!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery and Death
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Child death
gracemichool's review against another edition
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Slavery, and Violence
gabriellesimpson's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? No
5.0
such a good ending for this trilogy, I loved how Harper wrote the eruption of Vesuvius into the narrative, it was so moving
kept me gripped to the very end!!
kept me gripped to the very end!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery
Moderate: Death, Sexism, Grief, Misogyny, and Violence
Minor: Child death, Pregnancy, and Sexual content
debussy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Murder, Grief, Slavery, Death, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, and Sexism
Moderate: Pregnancy and Violence
Minor: Child death
emmsbookshelf's review against another edition
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Death, Grief, Classism, Slavery, Blood, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Violence, Stalking, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic friendship, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault
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