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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
Content I didn't feel comfortable reading.
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Wolf Den is an incredible historical fiction novel. I loved reading this! I enjoyed the setting of Ancient Rome and appreciate how Harper brings nuance to a time in history that can often time be romanticized. I love our main character, Amara, and how tenacious she is. I’ve read about the next two books and know that her life gets more complicated, but I’m so glad that she was able to obtain her freedom. The pacing of this book was fantastic - I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. I also love the characters and their relationships/banter. It BROKE me when Dido died, but I felt that coming for a long time. She just felt portrayed as a sacrificial lamb. I think moving forward, Amara will be more unstable. I’m also sensing some kind of tension with Philos? We will have to seee….. either way, while I enjoyed reading this, it was very emotionally heavy. The characters have so much trauma that it’s difficult to step into their world.
Might be a little while before I read the next two books - still, an amazing experience! 4.5/5 stars for me
Might be a little while before I read the next two books - still, an amazing experience! 4.5/5 stars for me
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
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:
N/A
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Alcohol
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
This one took me a little while to get into but it fell in line with the brand of me currently inhaling mythological inspired books and retellings.
This was another one I went into with no idea of what it was about it just came as a recommendation from someone who enjoys similar books to me. It actually made me laugh when I figured out the Greek mythology ties to it because it was such a fluke, although the cover should have really given it away.
I did enjoy it, it was very sad and brutal. I find it hard to put my feelings into words with this one still but I did instantly put the 2nd book on hold on libby once I had finished it, if that says anything.
This was another one I went into with no idea of what it was about it just came as a recommendation from someone who enjoys similar books to me. It actually made me laugh when I figured out the Greek mythology ties to it because it was such a fluke, although the cover should have really given it away.
I did enjoy it, it was very sad and brutal. I find it hard to put my feelings into words with this one still but I did instantly put the 2nd book on hold on libby once I had finished it, if that says anything.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
This is not a romance. This is not a cozy read. This is historical fiction set in the brutal setting of a brothel in Pompeii. Yes, that Pompeii that was destroyed by the volcano. The Wolf Den is a real place and the stories told in this book are very likely close to the truth. The slavery and treatment of women during this time felt very accurately portrayed. I am a bit of a Greek/Roman history fan and I really enjoyed this book. It had the details and accuracy I loved. Well, as much as anyone can enjoy violence, SA and death. This book is not graphic but graphic. It’s hard to explain as the author does not hold back from explaining what is happening but you are not exposed to the fine details. The trauma is well discussed however, and that could be triggering for readers. Our main character, Amara, goes through a lot. She was an educated and loved girl who was sold into slavery and then forced to be a prostitute. Her life should have been good but now it’s a type of hell I would wish on no one. The story does not get resolved. I need you to know that the sequel must be read. I kept waiting for her story to resolve and the purpose of her situation to come to light but it never did. I realized that this felt almost like a documentary about her life and the life of the other prostitutes. We are traveling with her through her days and nights as she tried to find freedom while losing herself. I was gripped however and struggled to stop reading. I was obsessed and needed to know what was next. I will be reading the series and hoping we get a good resolution. Even if it is the volcano killing the men. I hate to say it but all the men sucked.