Reviews - Lupanarul | The StoryGraph

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4.62k reviews for:

Lupanarul

Elodie Harper

4.06 AVERAGE

tarawa's review against another edition

3.0

slow-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

hkfitz's review against another edition

5.0

medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

applesodaperson's review against another edition

3.5

emotional fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

This book was almost disappointingly basic, although I didn't completely dislike it. I guess I will start with the things I did like. I liked that it felt historically accurate and that we got to see the day to day lives of the characters. Like I liked the little scenes of them going to the market and well and things.

One of my main criticisms was that the side characters felt a little bland and it felt like they were not fleshed out very much. It almost felt like they were fleshed out just enough for the reader to feel a bit sad when some of them died. It felt a bit cheap honestly. I also really hated the ending. The main character gets bought by a rich man and saved from the sad life she lives at the brothel. Like what message is that trying to send? That women can only get out of a bad situation if a man comes to save them? Even if there's another way you can spin it, that is the message I took away from it and that is a message I do not like.

Overall a mostly enjoyable but just okay book.

Content Warnings

booked_bylaura's review against another edition

2.75

mysterious fast-paced

samdobby1103's review against another edition

4.0

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

hayleysometimesreads's review against another edition

4.0

The story follows Amara, once the daughter of a doctor in Greece, who is sold into slavery after her father’s death and forced to work in a Pompeii brothel known as the Wolf Den. What unfolds is a brutal yet compelling portrayal of survival, resilience, and determination.

Harper does not shy away from the harsh realities of life as a prostitute in Pompeii where the violence, exploitation, and loss of autonomy are laid bare on the page. Yet, through this darkness, Amara shines as a character. She is clever, resourceful, and fiercely determined to fight for her freedom, no matter what obstacles are placed in her path.

What makes the story even more powerful are the friendships and bonds between the women of the Wolf Den. Despite the cruelty of their world, the she-wolves support and protect one another, creating a thread of hope and loyalty that runs through the story.

The writing is both graphic and stunning, unflinching in its depiction of suffering but also rich in humanity, connection, and hope. The Wolf Den is not an easy read, but it is an unforgettable one that immerses you in the world of ancient Pompeii and makes you deeply invested in Amara’s fight for a better life.