Reviews with content warning for Suicidal thoughts - The Wolf Den

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Suns when they sink can rise again,
But we, when our brief light has shone
Must sleep the long night on and on"

Where do I even start with this book? So many emotions. I just want to jump straight to the second one but unfortunately I don't own it yet.

Amara brought every single reaction out of me with her decisions. Some of them I didn't agree with and I was shouting to her "Why would you do that???". Then at times she made sense and I could like her more. The thing is, she was simple surviving. Wirh everything she had been through, she just had to do everything she could to get out of the hellhole she was in.

The Book shows the different was in which the women dealt as being taken into the brothel. Victoria, born into it, accepted it and took it by heart, sure that no one would ever buy her off Felix. While Amara, a doctor's daughter, had hope of one day leaving the brothel. Even at the cost of her friends.

The ending to me was absolutely heartbreaking. Almost impossible to talk about without spoiling it. And I found myself with tears in my eyes.

What a beautiful, beautiful book!

TW: death, death of a parent, sexual content, sexual assault, sexual harassment, rape, abandonment, abortion, pregnancy, body shaming, child abuse, confinement, emotional abuse, fire, grief, murder, misogyny, physical abuse, sexual violence, slavery, suicidal thoughts, suicide, toxic relationship, trafficking, violence

Content Warnings

feathers4bookmarks's review against another edition

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challenging funny hopeful fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Loved the characters and the authors style. She did loads of research into a real brothel of Pompeii and tied her findings into the scenes, writings on the wall, and characters. I liked that the book wasn’t too dark or depressing but still told the stories of these women and how the author believes they must have coped with their lives. These is humor, struggle, loss, and hope.

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amandasbookreview's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Thank you, Elodie Harper, NetGalley, and Union Square & Co. for the opportunity to read this book!

“Either we choose to stay alive, or we give up. And if it’s living we choose, then we do whatever it takes.”

THE WOLF DEN

I spent the past three days reading The Wolf Den by Elodie Harper. I have wanted to read it sooner but work has kept me from diving in. I am so glad I finally found time to read this book. It took me back to Pompeii in 74 CE. Amara was once a physician’s daughter. But after his death, the debts were high and she was sold as a slave and now is forced to work as a prostitute at one of Pompeii’s most infamous brothels. Survival is their focus and Amara is determined to one day be free. She will use her wit and allure to free herself and support the women around her.

But first. Trigger Warnings: slavery, abuse, sexual assault, rape, child loss, miscarriage, suicide

This is NOT an easy book to read and it is not meant for everyone. Years ago, I went to the natural history museum that had a Pompeii exhibit on display. They displayed the casts of the victims who were killed in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE. They also showed some fresco paintings from the Lupanar. So it was fascinating to read about this history that took place almost 2,000 years ago. The author does a fantastic job at bringing these fictional characters to life and making them feel real. The characters all come from different backgrounds and have been forced into horrors that many cannot even imagine. They all have different reactions to these horrors. Some give up, some fight, some push their emotions away… but all their feelings are valid, no matter how different. It shows that there are many ways to react to trauma.

I cannot wait to see what is in store for Amara in the next book. Her world is changing and will no doubt find a way to fight her way to a freedwoman with independence. She has already met some historical figures such as Pliny the Elder. Another interesting thing is that the fatal eruption is only 5 years away. So there is still so much historical content to be explored. In a time where women are considered to be chattel, it is inspiring to watch them come up with their own ways to survive and support each other. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.

Content Warnings