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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
adventurous
informative
tense
medium-paced
The idea behind this was fantastic. Being able to have a sort of first-hand account on life in Pompeii before and during the eruption of Vesuvius is incredible. There was definitely an amount of research put in to this (still, a few things made me cringe as they seemed far too modern).
However, it fell flat due to the characters. I did not care for a single character all. The main character, Atilus, was your stereotypical Gary-Stu. He was young, an incredible engineer with a promising career, he was pretty. He had it made. Oh, and of course, the tragic past of losing his wife. Over all, he was flat. I felt nothing towards him and did not end up rooting for him. In fact, I really did not care what his ultimate fate would be.
His love interest, who's name has already escaped me, was also flat. We were supposed to sympathize with her because her father was an abusive ex-slave, but for the most part, she just seemed whiny. The three interactions she and Atilus had did nothing to convince me they had fallen in love. It just wasn't believable.
Good luck remembering any of the other characters. I'd forget their names and their stories after a few minutes and then have to keep re-meeting them, which was aggravating at times. There also seemed to be far too many characters who just didn't serve a purpose, or if they did, it was very minor, and they really were not that important. Just another Roman name to try and remember.
Granted, it's a short book, so that made it bearable. It still took me far too long to read this book. I had to force myself to pick it up, and force myself to not put it back down.
Over all, it had potential, but Harris needs to get to work on making the reader actually like the characters. The story just wasn't enough to hold it up.
However, it fell flat due to the characters. I did not care for a single character all. The main character, Atilus, was your stereotypical Gary-Stu. He was young, an incredible engineer with a promising career, he was pretty. He had it made. Oh, and of course, the tragic past of losing his wife. Over all, he was flat. I felt nothing towards him and did not end up rooting for him. In fact, I really did not care what his ultimate fate would be.
His love interest, who's name has already escaped me, was also flat. We were supposed to sympathize with her because her father was an abusive ex-slave, but for the most part, she just seemed whiny. The three interactions she and Atilus had did nothing to convince me they had fallen in love. It just wasn't believable.
Good luck remembering any of the other characters. I'd forget their names and their stories after a few minutes and then have to keep re-meeting them, which was aggravating at times. There also seemed to be far too many characters who just didn't serve a purpose, or if they did, it was very minor, and they really were not that important. Just another Roman name to try and remember.
Granted, it's a short book, so that made it bearable. It still took me far too long to read this book. I had to force myself to pick it up, and force myself to not put it back down.
Over all, it had potential, but Harris needs to get to work on making the reader actually like the characters. The story just wasn't enough to hold it up.
Here's one I give to a lot of patrons, as that perfect balance of plot and intriguing setting. Plus a dude fed to eels at the start - more books should have dudes fed to eels. I've enjoyed every book of Harris's I've read so far.
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book is historical fiction based love story which is based on real-life eruption of Mount Vesuvius on 24 August 79 AD in Pompeii, and story of Milo (only remaining member of a rebel groups of horsemen against Rome rule , a slave turned gladiator, falls in love with Cassia (princess of Pompeii). Things take a turn when she is betrothed to a corrupt Roman Senator and he has to fight against time to save her. But destiny has another plans and Princess fall for Milo to, during a battle between gladiators Earthquake happened which leads to volcanic eruption and whole Pompeii generation wiped off as Volcano and after floods change the whole scenario. Story end with Princess and Gladiator as last surviving member of Pompeii on the verge of end and Princess want her end on the land of Pompeii not as a running but stand on land.
Exploding volcano, ancient city, seedy sex and corrupt governments-one can be forgiven for thinking that such a combustible mix cannot spawn any novel offering something new. But Harris says 'hold my cup, I offer you 'Pompeii.''
We have an unlikely protagonist, a water, engineer, a contumacious daughter who falls in love with the protagonist and a corrupt riches-to-rags father and assassins.
What 'Pompeii' has going for it is a edge-of-the-seat novel. Otherwise its stale wine new bottle.
We have an unlikely protagonist, a water, engineer, a contumacious daughter who falls in love with the protagonist and a corrupt riches-to-rags father and assassins.
What 'Pompeii' has going for it is a edge-of-the-seat novel. Otherwise its stale wine new bottle.
informative
tense
slow-paced