Scan barcode
laurajeangrace's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Murder, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Pedophilia
etherealiz's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I like Harper's writing and I do think this was a great sequel to The Wolf Den. But the book in itself felt a bit frustrating to me which can its biggest flaw or its greatest achievement. I think this novel does a good job at representing how fragile human life is and how even with her freedom, Amara is faced with impossible choices. The first half of this book just gave me deep anxiety, it felt very tense and like the shoe was about to drop which was kind of hard to get through. Amara is also a bit more reckless than in the first book, which makes a bit frustrating as a protagonist at times but this does get better in the 2nd half of the book. Overall, pretty great read, this trilogy never fails to make you want to keep on reading!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Slavery
emilymayg's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Didn't get into it as fast as the first book but towards the end I did , maybe I shouldn't have read back to back it's a lot of sadness and leaves you with a heavy heart
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery and Violence
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
liviaes's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Pregnancy, War, and Classism
sauvignon_black's review against another edition
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Violence, and Sexual harassment
lanternheart's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Death, Eating disorder, and Physical abuse
ninjamuse's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Slavery
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Death, Eating disorder, and Death of parent
indyjg's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Having been granted freedom by Pliny, Amara has to now survive life as a freedwoman by remaining in favour with her jealous patron and lover, Rufus, all the while contending with outsmarting and trying to survive Felix's manipulations. Harper does an excellent job of conveying the harsh realities of life for all, especially freedwomen, Roman class systems and the intricacies, and keeping the stakes high, as always. I love Britannica's development within this book despite it being somewhat of a caricature of Celtic women. The ending, while heartbreaking, conveyed how reality does not often offer a fairytale ending for a romance and how alike Amara and Felix are. I originally rated this 3/5 but I feel as though that was rather harsh, so I’ve gone back and changed it to 3.75/5 and bumped it up to 4 for goodreads.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexual assault, Slavery, and Violence
eclectic_hellscape's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Classism
Minor: Antisemitism
cjdetweiler's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Overall, this book was absolutely heart-wrenching, I was almost sobbing by the end. Elodie Harper writes really compelling and complex characters who, even when they frustrate you, feel like real humans with flaws that are understandable with their pasts. I found myself partway through the last quarter of the book giggling a little at the thought of myself sitting here in bed so genuinely concerned and yearning for the happiness of two people who are just words on a page, at how real they felt. Also, I absolutely love love LOVE the development of Amara and Britannica’s friendship. Britannica in general is one of my favourite characters, she brings some much needed comic relief to the story but not is reduced to a one dimensional butt of the joke, and the strength of her devotion is so sweet and admirable.
I found the start a little slower than the first book but once I got into it I couldn’t put it down. There was some frustrating miscommunication which is why I knocked half a star. Though I don’t think it is unbelievable within the characters and the world, though I think after a few times of the same recurring theme in the miscommunication between them, two of the characters would have realised they may as well tell all to the other and risk repetition rather than forsaking clarity and understanding.
I cannot wait for the third book to be released and I’m praying for a happy ending for Amara and those she loves (avoiding spoilers), though I do fear that may be wishful thinking thanks to the unavoidable fact we’re dangerously approaching 79AD and Vesuvius’ eruption :(
I found the start a little slower than the first book but once I got into it I couldn’t put it down. There was some frustrating miscommunication which is why I knocked half a star. Though I don’t think it is unbelievable within the characters and the world, though I think after a few times of the same recurring theme in the miscommunication between them, two of the characters would have realised they may as well tell all to the other and risk repetition rather than forsaking clarity and understanding.
I cannot wait for the third book to be released and I’m praying for a happy ending for Amara and those she loves (avoiding spoilers), though I do fear that may be wishful thinking thanks to the unavoidable fact we’re dangerously approaching 79AD and Vesuvius’ eruption :(
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Pregnancy, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Rape