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catdad64's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
4.5
The characters in this book are certainly a bit on the morally gray side. I enjoyed the book. It got better toward the end. Was a bit slow going in the beginning.
cristinaciborowski's review against another edition
4.0
Enjoying this series more with each book. It's a refreshing break from romance and fantasy which are basically all I read these days. This piece of historical fiction is a very digestible look into the inner workings of life in ancient Pompei from the perspective of a woman who was born free and then sold into slavery in a brothel and then ultimately freed as a concubine (a slave to her feelings and circumstances - quote from Georgies).
Amara was our narrator in the first book as well and The Wolf's Den had left off on the day that she was granted her freedom. Now she is living lavishly in a house rented for her by her sponsor Rufus. Rufus is quickly losing interest in Amara and the feeling is mutual. She decides to use her new spot in society to free her friends from the brothel and continue her own loan business to accumulate her own wealth. Along the way she begins to develop feelings for her sponsor's head slave, and they enter into a torrid affair which she then discovers could result in her being reduced to a slave again. To combat this coupled with Rufus' lack of interest she intentionally gets pregnant with Philos' child so that Rufus will basically give her child support.
This book is hard to summarize because I felt like everything I wanted to say would be spoiled so I just gave up on trying to be nuanced. Victoria is a two-faced traitor and she never deserved to taste freedom. Britannica is so loyal, and is a great judge of character, except A: Victoria. The book ended after Amara gave birth to her daughter and then went behind Philos' back and started flirting with a rich guy to ensure her daughter's future which was heartbreaking because she gave up everything to be with Philos but it wasn't enough. Can't wait to see what the third book has to offer.
Amara was our narrator in the first book as well and The Wolf's Den had left off on the day that she was granted her freedom. Now she is living lavishly in a house rented for her by her sponsor Rufus. Rufus is quickly losing interest in Amara and the feeling is mutual. She decides to use her new spot in society to free her friends from the brothel and continue her own loan business to accumulate her own wealth. Along the way she begins to develop feelings for her sponsor's head slave, and they enter into a torrid affair which she then discovers could result in her being reduced to a slave again. To combat this coupled with Rufus' lack of interest she intentionally gets pregnant with Philos' child so that Rufus will basically give her child support.
This book is hard to summarize because I felt like everything I wanted to say would be spoiled so I just gave up on trying to be nuanced. Victoria is a two-faced traitor and she never deserved to taste freedom. Britannica is so loyal, and is a great judge of character, except A: Victoria. The book ended after Amara gave birth to her daughter and then went behind Philos' back and started flirting with a rich guy to ensure her daughter's future which was heartbreaking because she gave up everything to be with Philos but it wasn't enough. Can't wait to see what the third book has to offer.
justicesky's review against another edition
4.0
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This was definitely not as amazing as the first book. It was still really good though. I did go into it with high expectations. Some of the things I felt fell short in this book are: the plot was so slow, and I just didn’t feel as great of a connection to the characters. The first bit of the book was so underwhelming. The ending was the best part of the book. I was definitely not expecting it to end the way it did.
sloanemolson1992's review against another edition
4.0
This is book 2 in The Wolf Den trilogy, and while I found the first one a bit dull and dry, I loved this one. Amara’s story continues in this book, and while I don’t want to give too much away, the stakes are so much higher even though she is now a freedwoman and not a slave. It’s painful, beautiful, and actually makes me want to read the next one unlike the first one. If anyone wants to give this trilogy a shot, my best advice is to just keep going through the first one because this one is worth it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
burtini's review against another edition
5.0
Following the events of The Wolf Den, still set in AD75 Pompei, Amara is now out of the den and Felix’s control. She lives in a house rented by her patron Rufus, has freedom, money and luxury she never had before, but she is not happy. Still plagued by the death of Dido, the memories of her life in the brothel and Felix’s treatment, and apart from her sisters in the den, Amara still suffers, now just in a house controlled by a man and surrounded by slaves she feels resent her. While very aware that her new life is still under the power of a man and his current interest in her and her body, Amara has been saving money, running a loaning business helping women out with loans (with a lower interest rate and without the violence of Felix’s venture) for her own security - but when she finds out Felix is becoming more violent with Victoria, still stuck at the den, she has to face her fear and try negotiate a price with Felix to save her friend and sister. Putting herself in his debt by agreeing far more than she can afford, and with the fragility of her patronage ever looming, Amara has saved Victoria and Britannica, but has it been at the expense of herself? And does she still have an abusive owner in a man she thought she thought was good?
This is a brilliant book but it’s also not an easy book to read due to the subject nature. Surprisingly this 2nd instalment is more unsettling than The Wolf Den, set in Felix’s brothel, the threat or act of sexual, mental and/or physical violence of multiple male characters on several female characters always present. Rufus, Amara’s patron, likes his girls fragile and comments on her weight, so throughout the book she starves herself, losing weight so she maintains his favour. Rufus is possessive, he calls it love but he treats Amara like an object, a toy no one else can play with and punishes her by reminding her of her place when he feels his ego is threatened. Then there is Felix, this is a strange sentence to type but I’m praying Vesuvius gets him in the final instalment. The power dynamic changes here between Amara and her former owner, or rather she believes it does and that is the problem in itself. Felix desires Amara but he no longer owns her and she is protected by her patron, she has defied him, humiliated him, she has bought Victoria from him and with this confidence and illusion of freedom from her change in circumstances and new business ventures, she confronts and tries to play his own game back at him. This creates an even bigger enemy in Felix you feel that fear of his shadow over all the characters.
Power dynamics have also changed between the friends; Victoria has been bought and freed but she owes this freedom Amara, she works for her singing, with sex coming with it, and the money goes towards what Felix is owed. The privilege and status Amara has over Victoria quickly becomes a problem and both women in this story have the temporary feeling of liberation before they have chains in a new form.
There’s also the added dynamic of Amara as the lady of the house, in effect, a former slave who now has slaves at her command, including Philos, who she falls in love with, and for her music venture with Drusilla, they also buy slaves to perform. In order to avoid returning to her own misery, there are times where Amara has to become the very people she hates, including Felix, and use people as pawns.
Amara is a fascinating character, she’s the daughter of a doctor from before she became a slave, she’s a former slave who still bears the emotional scars of having her body taken from her and seen as barely a person, and she’s a young woman with money and perceived status, with slaves, a house, business ventures and people of status as her peers but ultimately knowing she owns nothing, it can all be taken away with the interest and lust veiled of love of her patron. These different and duelling sides of Amara create conflicting thoughts and fears with the confidence of happiness and love battling with desperation and need for security and protection for her and her loved ones. While Amara longs to be a daughter of a doctor, a mother, a wife and lover, a businesswoman, as the book progresses she sadly realised this world is not kind to women and she can not escape the shadows of the men in her life.
The interactions between Amara and Victoria are particularly interesting as, while Victoria does behave badly (no spoilers), she is also a woman just trying to survive and be loved, a woman who has been hurt and used by people, now this includes Amara. Likewise the interactions between Amara and Felix are electric, you learn more about him and while you won’t feel sorry for him you understand him better. These scenes are menacing and dangerous in a way far stronger than The Wolf Den.
Tender moments can be found between Amara’s love story with Philos, the house steward and slave, they grow to love each other and in these moments hidden away in her room, you can experience the peace (though brief and temporary) of these 2 hurt people.
Brittanica is an absolute delight too, I would have to say she is my favourite character, she’s a good friend, she’s loyal and brave and protective but she has her own demons she wrestles with. I love how this book ended for her.
Like I’ve said above, this book was harder r read than TWD, the sexual violence and threats, the treatment of slaves, the unfairness of this time feels even more magnified so it’s not necessarily a book you can soar through for your own mental health. That said, the characters are wonderful with some beautifully complex and strong women in particular who don’t always do the right thing but are good and you want and need them to survive not just the impending eruption but also each day of this battle they face in a world of men and their power.
Likewise the writing is wonderful, it’s not overwritten, it’s not self indulgent to show off the time spent on research but it’s rich and brings Pompeii to life and it flows well.
I’m both excited and terrified for the final instalment in this trilogy with Mount Vesuvius’ eruption growing ever closer, but this is a fantastic series dealing with both sensitively and respectfully to those who were victims in many forms.
Thank you NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review
This is a brilliant book but it’s also not an easy book to read due to the subject nature. Surprisingly this 2nd instalment is more unsettling than The Wolf Den, set in Felix’s brothel, the threat or act of sexual, mental and/or physical violence of multiple male characters on several female characters always present. Rufus, Amara’s patron, likes his girls fragile and comments on her weight, so throughout the book she starves herself, losing weight so she maintains his favour. Rufus is possessive, he calls it love but he treats Amara like an object, a toy no one else can play with and punishes her by reminding her of her place when he feels his ego is threatened. Then there is Felix, this is a strange sentence to type but I’m praying Vesuvius gets him in the final instalment. The power dynamic changes here between Amara and her former owner, or rather she believes it does and that is the problem in itself. Felix desires Amara but he no longer owns her and she is protected by her patron, she has defied him, humiliated him, she has bought Victoria from him and with this confidence and illusion of freedom from her change in circumstances and new business ventures, she confronts and tries to play his own game back at him. This creates an even bigger enemy in Felix you feel that fear of his shadow over all the characters.
Power dynamics have also changed between the friends; Victoria has been bought and freed but she owes this freedom Amara, she works for her singing, with sex coming with it, and the money goes towards what Felix is owed. The privilege and status Amara has over Victoria quickly becomes a problem and both women in this story have the temporary feeling of liberation before they have chains in a new form.
There’s also the added dynamic of Amara as the lady of the house, in effect, a former slave who now has slaves at her command, including Philos, who she falls in love with, and for her music venture with Drusilla, they also buy slaves to perform. In order to avoid returning to her own misery, there are times where Amara has to become the very people she hates, including Felix, and use people as pawns.
Amara is a fascinating character, she’s the daughter of a doctor from before she became a slave, she’s a former slave who still bears the emotional scars of having her body taken from her and seen as barely a person, and she’s a young woman with money and perceived status, with slaves, a house, business ventures and people of status as her peers but ultimately knowing she owns nothing, it can all be taken away with the interest and lust veiled of love of her patron. These different and duelling sides of Amara create conflicting thoughts and fears with the confidence of happiness and love battling with desperation and need for security and protection for her and her loved ones. While Amara longs to be a daughter of a doctor, a mother, a wife and lover, a businesswoman, as the book progresses she sadly realised this world is not kind to women and she can not escape the shadows of the men in her life.
The interactions between Amara and Victoria are particularly interesting as, while Victoria does behave badly (no spoilers), she is also a woman just trying to survive and be loved, a woman who has been hurt and used by people, now this includes Amara. Likewise the interactions between Amara and Felix are electric, you learn more about him and while you won’t feel sorry for him you understand him better. These scenes are menacing and dangerous in a way far stronger than The Wolf Den.
Tender moments can be found between Amara’s love story with Philos, the house steward and slave, they grow to love each other and in these moments hidden away in her room, you can experience the peace (though brief and temporary) of these 2 hurt people.
Brittanica is an absolute delight too, I would have to say she is my favourite character, she’s a good friend, she’s loyal and brave and protective but she has her own demons she wrestles with. I love how this book ended for her.
Like I’ve said above, this book was harder r read than TWD, the sexual violence and threats, the treatment of slaves, the unfairness of this time feels even more magnified so it’s not necessarily a book you can soar through for your own mental health. That said, the characters are wonderful with some beautifully complex and strong women in particular who don’t always do the right thing but are good and you want and need them to survive not just the impending eruption but also each day of this battle they face in a world of men and their power.
Likewise the writing is wonderful, it’s not overwritten, it’s not self indulgent to show off the time spent on research but it’s rich and brings Pompeii to life and it flows well.
I’m both excited and terrified for the final instalment in this trilogy with Mount Vesuvius’ eruption growing ever closer, but this is a fantastic series dealing with both sensitively and respectfully to those who were victims in many forms.
Thank you NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review
bookishbelle_bristol's review against another edition
4.0
I loved the Wolf Den, and the sequel didn't disappoint. It's just as heart breaking, brutal and devastating as the first book but so worth it. Moving straight onto number 3! Can't wait to find out what happens to Amara next.
ckelly1219's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-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
4.0
rhill1784's review against another edition
4.0
I am loving this series. Some of Amara’s decisions in this book made me question her a little bit. Overall, I liked the character development in this book and I’m excited to read what happens in the next one
whatrebeccahread's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you NetGalley, Elodie Harper and Union Square & Co. for this eARC.
This book is the second in the Wolf Den trilogy. I often find that the second book in a series is even better than the first, and this proved true for The House with the Golden Door!
[Summary next - includes minor spoilers]
Now that Amara is a freedwoman, life should be simple.... but of course it's not. Driven by a desire to make her own money separate from what her patron Rufus provides, as well as intense loyalty and a need to settle a debt between herself and her friend Victoria from the brothel, Amara finds herself taking immense risks. Every move she makes is calculated - and yet despite all her hustle and focus, she finds herself falling in love. Now every move she makes has the potential to dismantle her life as a freedwoman, but also the life of the man she's fallen in love with.
[End Summary]
I couldn't put this book down. I grew to know and love Amara and other characters in book 1, but the second book really dives into their characters and gave me a deeper understanding of their motivations, thoughts and dreams. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, knowing how much they all had to lose.
I also felt like I learned a lot about Pompeii and the hierarchy of society. I thought the quotes from Pliny the Elder, the Pompeii graffiti, and other bits of Pompeii history at the beginning of each chapter were fascinating, and I really enjoyed Elodie Harper's Afterward discussing her research. Historical fiction can be dense and difficult to understand, but the writing is so fluid and digestible, while also weaving a beautiful story.
I highly recommend you read The Wolf Den if you haven't already, so that you can be prepared to dive into The House with the Golden Door! I can't wait for the final installment of the trilogy!
This book is the second in the Wolf Den trilogy. I often find that the second book in a series is even better than the first, and this proved true for The House with the Golden Door!
[Summary next - includes minor spoilers]
Now that Amara is a freedwoman, life should be simple.... but of course it's not. Driven by a desire to make her own money separate from what her patron Rufus provides, as well as intense loyalty and a need to settle a debt between herself and her friend Victoria from the brothel, Amara finds herself taking immense risks. Every move she makes is calculated - and yet despite all her hustle and focus, she finds herself falling in love. Now every move she makes has the potential to dismantle her life as a freedwoman, but also the life of the man she's fallen in love with.
[End Summary]
I couldn't put this book down. I grew to know and love Amara and other characters in book 1, but the second book really dives into their characters and gave me a deeper understanding of their motivations, thoughts and dreams. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, knowing how much they all had to lose.
I also felt like I learned a lot about Pompeii and the hierarchy of society. I thought the quotes from Pliny the Elder, the Pompeii graffiti, and other bits of Pompeii history at the beginning of each chapter were fascinating, and I really enjoyed Elodie Harper's Afterward discussing her research. Historical fiction can be dense and difficult to understand, but the writing is so fluid and digestible, while also weaving a beautiful story.
I highly recommend you read The Wolf Den if you haven't already, so that you can be prepared to dive into The House with the Golden Door! I can't wait for the final installment of the trilogy!