First of all I’d like to say that this book was so much of what I look for in a book; taking a myth from my favourite era of history, and weaving it into an entirely fresh and innovative approach. Partnered with a strong female protagonist with a fascinating back story and change of circumstance made for a wonderful plot and it’s safe to say I enjoyed every minute of this read.

As a protagonist Attia is everything a female role model should be; despite her situation, she remains strong and defiant in the face of it, and as the story progresses, does not let it break her. She is someone who brings a sense of strength to anyone in her vicinity. She is also wise beyond her years, but something you might expect as a Thracian princess where people are clearly treated as equal and allowed to make their own mistakes. Despite already being a great protagonist, her character development throughout the story is brilliant as she learns to adapt to her surroundings.

Xanthus is the quiet and brooding gladiator whom Attia was “given” too, but a character who does not forget his roots, nor lose his moral compass. It is through Xanthus and other slaves in Timeus’ household that we learn so much about the attitude towards slaves, as well as snippets of Rome’s history.

For me, even the secondary characters were well-developed; for a story that is written pretty much entirely from one character POV this was really amazing. Throughout the story, as Attia spends more time in Timeus’ household, the other slaves come out of their shell and begin to share their stories; accepting Attia as one of their own and guiding her when her Thracian training takes over. We see them come alive and being the scenes to life with them.

This period of history is one which has long fascinated me, and Rome is a city which has a special place in my heart. The way Wyk is able to paint a picture of this ancient city and civilisation is truly remarkable and the passion the author has for the period shines through and brings the story to life.

The plot itself is action packed, and engaging. It is a story of hope, and a fight for survival in a country far from one’s own, and in a situation unlike any one would ever imagine themselves in. There is such a strong sense of camaraderie throughout this story, and the lesson that so much can be overcome by believing in ones’ self and banding together, being patient, and most of all simply listening.

As you probably expect, there is a theme of romance, but one that sits in the background of the book – neither side of the partnership lets it take over the more important matters at hand.

There were more grave themes throughout the story; slavery, physical abuse, substance abuse, and suicide hints, but for a historical fiction, this was more of an accurate portrayal of the era. These themes were not discussed tastelessly, but these more serious elements gave the story a hint of realism. This contrasted with the journey and message of hope made for a really great and balanced read.

The writing style and suitability for audience is perfect; I would recommend this to anyone who is a fan of Sabaa Tahir’s Ember in the Ashes series, as well as any older readers who enjoyed the Percy Jackson books. Due to some more serious themes I wouldn’t recommend it to people younger than 14 really, but above that age group it’s suitable for anyone who enjoys rebellion books with a historical fiction setting.

One flaw was regarding the latter chapters of the book; towards the beginning this novel moves at a steady pace; the reader keeps up nicely, and the plot is action-packed enough to maintain the pace even in more descriptive parts of the book. However towards the end there was a little bit more of a rush, and whilst I appreciate there was a lot happening in a short space of time, I would’ve liked the author to take a little more time as there were some major events occurring, imperative for book number 2. This might just be me as I tend to race through later chapters in book desperate to know the ending. This wasn’t a huge issue though and is unlikely to bother many people.

Overall I’m awarding this book 4.5*/5. In terms of character development, writing style, historical plot and setting it was absolutely flawless. One reason I wouldn’t give it 5* is that a few chapters at the end seemed to rush past a little bit fast; particularly compared to the careful and steady narration in the earlier parts of the book. Nonetheless this is a fantastic debut novel from Wyk and I am so excited for book 2 which is out in 2019.

Actual Rating: 1.5 stars

Blood and Sand is an alternate history of Rome featuring Spartacus as a Thracian princess captured as a slave. The premise sounded interesting and I'm all for kick-ass girls, but unfortunately I found this book to be riddled with plot holes, inconsistent characters, and insta-love. It also felt heavy handed with historical details, yet full of anachronisms. The pacing was slow and the plot for book 1 was lacking, I didn't really care about the characters and felt Attia, the protagonist, was annoying and made a lot of stupid decisions. There was also a brief sex scene that felt out of place and entirely too male-centered, which left a bad taste in my mouth. I considered not finishing the book, but decided I should in order to properly review it. Sad to say, this just was not the book for me.

*****SPOILERS*****

Attia is given as a slave to Xanthus, a ruthless gladiator with a soft heart. Attia has not so much as kissed anyone and Xanthus promises not to touch her. Tell me why within weeks at most she sleeps with him and they're talking love?! The romance felt really unbelievable to me and when they do have sex, it's initiated by Xanthus and we're apparently supposed to think he's a great guy because he is willing to stop in the middle if she wants him to. Meanwhile, there is no attention given to Attia's pleasure in the encounter, just a vague "I didn't know it would be like this" from her. Sorry, not a fan.

Honestly, I was also just bored through a lot of the book because there wasn't anything to really hook you into caring about the progression of events and the pacing wasn't the best. Attia- supposedly raised as this cold warrior has so many character inconsistencies. Supposedly brutal and calculating, she makes a lot of rash, impulsive decisions and makes very quick emotional connections to a variety of characters in ways that didn't make sense to me. She ends up the nanny for the daughter of her owner and sacrifices herself for her, which felt kind of unbelievable so quickly. (Also, it's kind of predictable where THAT storyline is going in the next book!) Finally, lets talk about the plot twist near the end that makes NO SENSE! Somehow, these Thracian men who were all crucified are actually alive. Ummm....how exactly is that possible?! They would definitely be dead, and the Romans would have made sure of it.

I think if you are really into Rome and Roman history and don't mind insta-love and plot holes, you might enjoy this. But for me, this was a definite miss. I can overlook a lot when I'm hooked into the story or world or characters, but in this case none of those were true. I received an e-galley of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

BLOOD AND SAND put me together then tore me apart. It's strange, I thought the book too short (which is my only complaint), but within those pages, the characters grabbed ahold of my heart and stayed with me. In such a little time, I was extremely attached to Attia and Xanthus! I love them and their slow build up and their easy friendship. I love how fierce and loyal they both are. I love how they both fought for each other and for their freedom.
BLOOD AND SAND is an impeccable novel! I am so eager for the sequel!

A decent genderswap of Spartacus but I was a little bit disappointed at times. This is almost entirely an early origin story. None of the big rebellion goes on in this book, it's just the sort of gladitorial bits. I found myself wanting a little more.

Author C.V. Wyk's debut novel, Blood and Sand, is a young adult fictional story loosely based on the story of Spartacus, a Thracian gladiator responsible for one of the most major slave uprisings during the reign of the Roman Republic (emphasis on 'loosely based', as I'll get into further in this review).

Attia, female heir of the Thracian crown, is the main protagonist of this story. The story begins with her slave auction - she is purchased for an exorbitant sum from an old Roman dude and immediately she attempts a daring escape. Her escape is foiled but from the very beginning, we as the reader are able to see her prowess in combat and her strong, fearless attitude and independence.

We soon learn that Attia is purchase as a 'gift' for the big-shot Champion gladiator of Rome. Xanthus, said Champion gladiator, has zero issues taking down multiple opponents in the Coliseum. Our first introduction to Xanthus and the subsequent introduction of Attia to Xanthus does deepen Xanthus' character as his thoughts and actions aren't exactly what one would expect from such a figure as a highly feared and respected paragon of brutal male virtue.

Not to totally ruin the entire plot (which is action packed and wonderfully paced to be sure), but plots are hatched, amusing and tragic and complex side characters are involved, journeys are taken, and things go terribly, terribly wrong. Overall, I found the story to be very entertaining and touching at times. I was left with a feeling of caring for many of the characters and their individual stories, and I will definitely be interested in further novels in this series to see how the plot plays out.

My main issue with this novel, and my reason for knocking off a star from this review, is that I found the final climatic arc to be extremely implausible to be the point where I was almost thrown out of the story entirely. In the sense of general history, things didn't match up timeline-wise and also I found it INCREDIBLY hard to believe that surviving such an event would be at all possible for anyone (which the author does acknowledge in an author's note at the end of the book). I knew where they were traveling to, and there were of course hints leading up to the final dramatic act, but I was reallyyyy hoping the author wouldn't go there as it just seemed way too convenient for this event to take place at exactly this time. In my opinion, I don't think that the story gained enough from that plot point (at least, thus far in the story) to merit its involvement in the book.

However, overall, I would definitely recommend this novel to lovers of historical fiction, Roman history, and strong female protagonists. The plot was very entertaining and the writing was phenomenal and engrossing enough to overcome the gripes that I had with some of the plot points. I will definitely be on the lookout for the next installment of this series!

This is the fictional story of Sparta time frame. The characters were amazing, the plot was lush, and the story was dynamic. A very promising first novel to an epic series!! Enjoyed and can't wait for the sequel!

Blood and Sand is a gritty, face-paced book about a girl named Attia who is ripped from her home and her family and forced to into slavery in Rome. The story is complete with Roman history and culture, including the brutality of the lives of gladiators. The story moved a little too quickly at times, with little character development or description. Overall, I would buy this for my library, and I would definitely recommend it to some of the teens.

I was provided with an ARC of this book by the publisher and Netgalley, thank you!

When I first began this book, I didn't have alot of expectations to it. I hadn't really heard of it, but the plotline sparked my interest. The main character, Attia, has lost everything to the romans. Her people was slaughered before her eyes, and she was taken to be a slave. All she now wants is to take revenge on the people that ordered the attack that killed her family.

I loved this book, it was a pageturner for page 1! I could barely put it down, and I had to know what was going to happen next. Attia is filled with rage, and I really understood her point of view. The was the author describes everything is wonderful, and it just makes it so easy for me to picture everything. There's a beliveable romance in the book, it's slow going and not a major part of the story which felt like a relief! It woundn't fit into the story. SOme of the story was a bit predictable, but I felt like it was so little that it really didn't matter.

I really can' wait to read the next book! With that ending... WHERE'S THE NEXT BOOK? Good job!

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

Blood and Sand by C.V. Wyk
Book One of an untitled series
Publisher: Tor Teen
Publication Date: January 16, 2018
Rating: 5 stars
Source: eARC from NetGalley

Summary (from Goodreads):

FORGED IN BATTLE...
FROM THE DUST OF THE ARENA...
A LEGEND WILL RISE

The action-packed tale of a 17-year-old warrior princess and a handsome gladiator who dared take on the Roman Republic―and gave rise to the legend of Spartacus...

For teens who love strong female protagonists in their fantasy and historical fiction, Blood and Sand is a stirring, yet poignant tale of two slaves who dared take on an empire by talented debut author C. V. Wyk.

Roma Victrix. The Republic of Rome is on a relentless march to create an empire―an empire built on the backs of the conquered, brought back to Rome as slaves.

Attia was once destined to rule as the queen and swordmaiden of Thrace, the greatest warrior kingdom the world had seen since Sparta. Now she is a slave, given to Xanthus, the Champion of Rome, as a sign of his master’s favor. Enslaved as a child, Xanthus is the preeminent gladiator of his generation.

Against all odds, Attia and Xanthus form a tentative bond. A bond that will spark a rebellion. A rebellion that threatens to bring the Roman Republic to its end―and gives rise to the legend of Spartacus...

What I Liked:

Oh my oh my oh my. Blood and Sand, what a debut. I have been eagerly awaiting this book for months, likely close to a year, and I was almost too excited to actually read it when I got a review copy. In the last few weeks, I've been in a terrible reading slump, the worst I've experienced in years. But I think Blood and Sand yanked down and pulled me out of the slump. It is easily a favorite of 2018 already, and I will definitely be rereading it in the future.

This is the fictional story of the rise of Spartacus. Traditionally, Spartacus is known to be a Thracian male warrior, but in this story, Spartacus begins with Attia, the Thracian princess and last of her people. She has been captured and sold to a rich Roman named Timeus, who has gifted her to his Champion of Rome, as a sign of favor. The Champion of Rome, Xanthas, is not what Attia expects; he isn't cruel or forceful, and he's a great deal younger despite his ten years as Champion. Attia should be fighting for every opportunity to escape, to run, to exact her revenge on the man that destroyed her people. But she finds that she cannot leave the Champion, who she finds out is just as much a slave as she is. This is the story of two warriors, brought together under bloody circumstances, but united under the same drive for vengeance.

One thing that was a delightful surprise was the fact that this book is told in dual narrative! There are two third-person POVs - Attia's, and Xanthas's. I adore dual POV and especially when the two characters are each other's love interests. This story is not Attia's; it's not Xanthas's. It's Attia's and Xanthas's.

The story starts with Attia being dragged in chains and sold to the highest bidder. From the start, I liked Attia. She is cold and hardened, undefeated even in chains and branded like livestock. She is a Maedi princess and warrior, and she lets her birthright and training stiffen her spine. She never breaks, she never gives up, and she never loses herself. I love how strong she is, even when she isn't in battle. (Which, let's be real, is like 5% of the book. She isn't fighting much in this one, which was fine by me, given how the story is set up.) And in battle, she is fierce and formidable. I really admire Attia, for her strength and willpower, her determination and her persistence.

Xanthas, I liked just as much or even more. He is the Champion of Rome and has been for years. He has been a gladiator ever since he was a young boy, a slave under the rich man Timeus. He is unbeatable in any arena, against any opponent, or any number of opponents. But he hates how he must kill and how many he must kill. He carries the guilt and pain of every kill, which the author makes very clear, based on his words and actions after a match. He's young, likely around 19 or 20 years old, but he is old beyond his years. He is a good man with a kind heart, despite his warrior status. Not once is he cruel to Attia, or any person (even those he is set against to kill). I really respected and adored Xanthas. Did I mention that he's all sorts of swoony? I mean. Muscles, tall, scruffy facial hair, skills with swords and other weapons, sweet and silent and broody, considerate and thoughtful... he's my type of guy.

Yes, there is romance, and it's so sweet. Attia is given to Xanthas as his prize, so she's supposed to be his concubine or something of that nature. But he never makes her do anything and for that, she begins to trust and like him. They commiserate (they're both slaves who lost their people to Rome), and they're both warriors. The romance is slow-burn and so sweet, and I loved seeing it unfold. I didn't mind how quickly "love" was thrown around because I could see the passage of time even if it wasn't shown directly on the page. There were so many little tender moments (like forehead kisses!) and other more intense swoony moments, and honestly my heart was so invested and so here for it.

The romance is really subtle and barely there, so don't think that the story is entirely about the romance. Xanthas, being the Champion of Rome, is constantly in action, and there is a match coming that he can't wait for. He has been waiting his entire gladiator life for it, and he won't let anything get in his way. Attia is healing from terrible wounds she received in the beginning of the book, but that doesn't mean that she is sitting back, waiting for things to happen. No, she is constantly looking for information on the man that slaughtered her people. And looking for ways to get her revenge.

There are a lot of different parts of the story that change the landscape of the plot, but I won't talk about any of that because that would get into spoiler territory. I will say that the author does such an excellent job with the world-building and history. This is supposed to be loosely based on the story of Spartacus, and of course there are definitely some large inaccuracies present, but I really felt the history of the setting and the characters and the story in general, when reading the book. Based on what I know about ancient Rome, Pompeii, etc., of course.

I wanted to mention some of the secondary characters! I loved the other five gladiators who train with Xanthas. They are his blood-brothers and fellow warriors-in-arms, and they are hilarious. The six of them are a quite a bunch! I love their antics. I also love how, towards the end, the other five develop a sort of kinship with Attia. There was one scene when they were all standing behind her and I swear my face turned into the heart-eyes emoji.

For the record, there is nooooooo love triangle in this book. Or anything non-Xanthas/Attia. Just thought I'd mention that. The other five gladiators - and any other males - are not interested in Attia.

The ending of this book is bananas! On so many different levels! It picks up really quickly and all of a sudden there is an explosion of chaos. I can't even begin to tell you how frantic my brain was working to keep up with everything, because so many bombshells were being dropped. One event in particular is literally the only reason why this book isn't getting five stars from me at this time. Until I know more, that event is sinking this book's rating from me. BUT the ending is wide-open for book two (yes, there is a book two!), which is good! I'm very excited to see where Attia's story goes next, because Spartacus has only just been introduced into the story.

What I Did Not Like:

Okay that ONE event is the reason why I waffled with my rating. You'll see what I mean. You all know how I feel about these things. I'm hoping it won't stick, and I have a good feeling that it won't. Cross your fingers!

Would I Recommend It:


I highly recommend this book, regardless of if you're a historical fiction fan or not. This book is intense, action-packed, riveting, romantic, and jaw-dropping, in the end. I will say that there is some abuse and suicidal thoughts though not involving Attia or Xanthas (but a secondary character). So be aware of that. But this book is such a powerful one, with a feminist story that isn't loud and obnoxious and over-the-top.

Rating:

4.5 stars. I've decided to round up to 5 stars! Despite the really painful part of the ending, I loved this book so much and I have a good feeling about the next book. I am so so so excited about Fire and Ash and need that book in my hands now! Or yesterday! This debut is stunning and powerful, and I need more.

What an incredible surprise of a book. The premise was enough to suck me in, but what stunning writing and incredible storytelling. I was absolutely hooked by chapter two, and didn't want to put it down even as I wanted to savor the experience of reading it.

I loved all the characters, and not just the main characters. There are no foils here; everyone feels full and fleshed out. The pacing is quick even as Wyk finds time to linger in the moments that warrant it and build out the interior lives of the characters.

Oh god, that ending. I need the next one now.

"She wanted to run and run until her breath was spent, until the ashes of her bones mingled with those of her people"

* *
2 / 5

In answer to the age-old gladiatorial question: "are you not entertained?", the answer is "only a little bit". I have a fondness for books set in Ancient Rome - The Eagle of the Ninth, for example, or virtually anything by Simon Scarrow - and Blood and Sand promised not only the tale of a gladiator who strives for freedom, Xanthus, but also that of a warrior princess of Thrace, Attia! It sounded awesome and I eagerly began reading this book, only to discover that it is dominated by a poorly plotted romance and a lack of exciting action.

Blood and Sand has received some rave reviews, so certainly many people have enjoyed this book, and it did have it's strong points - the opening of the book was fantastic. We have Attia, recently enslaved and mourning the death of her people and her father, who takes her chance to run, fleeing over the rooftops with guards in pursuit. Then there's Xanthus, a prize gladiator slave from Britannia who hates killing but is exceedingly good at it. The book definitely has a strong hook and initially I liked the two main characters.

"Xanthus pitied the man. It didn't matter what god he worshiped. All of them were already in hell."

But then: the romance. Attia is given to Xanthus by their dominus as reward, presumably to be a bed slave. Xanthus allows her to sleep in his bed whilst he sleeps on the floor. They have approximately three conversations before Attia proclaims that Xanthus is setting her heart (and other parts) on fire, and that she won't take her chance for freedom whilst he is still enslaved. Which is patently ridiculous and unbelievable considering the first chunk of the book sets Attia up as exceedingly devoted to the scattered remains of her people, the renowned fighters, the Maedi, and willing to go to any lengths to reclaim her crown.

I also found the plot quite bizarre. There's a scene where the family are travelling with their retinue, which includes slaves like Attia and a contingency of gladiators, and they are surrounded and out-numbered by a group of sword-wielding villagers who want their provisions and Xanthus. But instead of just taking what they want, they agree to some insane plan of putting Xanthus in an arena and he has to fight anyone they send at him until dawn. If he survives, they go free. Why would this happen?? It wouldn't. There's also this odd twisting of historical events and their timeline to fit the narrative of the book, which didn't really bother me too much, but did feel a touch unnatural and forced.

"Because maybe in this house, in this prison, they both wanted the same impossible thing: to be just a man and just a woman, standing free in the rain"

Blood and Sand had it's entertaining and awesome, badass moments, but it also felt slow in terms of plot and moving at break-neck speed in terms of romance. There's also a lot of characters with similar names (Lucius, Lucretia, Lebuin, etc.) who often feel like props - Lucretia is a slave whose only role is basically to be pitied by Attia. Blood and Sand, I think, will appeal to a specific type of reader who, unfortunately, was not me.

This is a perfectly fine book. The main characters are likable and the action is spread out just right. The antagonists are sufficiently evil. A few plot twists are obvious, but some took me by surprise. Rory is a dote, I really liked her.

I'm marking it down, though, because I wasn't driven to find out what happened next. I was able to put it down for long periods without worrying or wondering. There's nothing wrong with it, it's perfectly good, and I'm sure others will be driven to find out what happens to Attia and Xanthus in the end. I'll read the sequel because I'd like to know, and I'm sure I'll enjoy it perfectly well. But I won't be desperate to find out.

Thank you for this ARC, which did not affect my review in any way.

This book has been on my radar forever because anything related to ancient Roman and Greek times is my jam. Like I’ll read anything from that era. So when I heard a book about a female Spartacus? I was like sign me up! This book was definitely NOT what I expected it to be and I mean it in the BEST of ways.

I really enjoyed this eARC! It was a little slow sometimes, but that happens with world building. I received a copy from Netgalley to review, and ended up giving it 4.5 out of 5 stars.

I’ll admit I haven’t read many historical focused books when compared to other genres, but one based on the gladiator days of Rome sounded amazing. So when I saw this was one of the Sunday Street Team books, I had to sign up. And I was so right to do so, because this book was fantastic. I recommend it to historical fiction, and fantasy lovers.

I loved Attia, Xanthus, and several of the other slaves/gladiators. I won’t go into much detail, because I don’t want to spoil anything. If you’re looking for a lot of romance, this book isn’t for you. Now I LOVE romance, but if the story is good enough, I don’t mind books with just a hint of romance. Forewarning…the ending made me cry a bit, and also made me want to beg for the next book so I could see what happens next. I need to know. The fact that I have to wait until next year to find out is TORTURE!!!!

But seriously, read this book ASAP! You won’t regret it. It was really interesting, had a little romance, lots of fighting, some great historical settings, and fantastic characters you wanted to root for.

This female reimagining of Spartacus was simply fantastic. I dont think Ive ever read a historical romance, but what an incredible book to start with and a debut at that. Her people massacred and taken from her home Attia is purchased by a Roman as a gift for his gladiator, the Champion of Rome, but more than likely he is using her as a means of controlling him. While keeping her identity as the warrior princess of Thrace a secret, Attia plots her revenge on the people who have taken everything from her. Im not usually a big fan of character driven stories, but I loved this one.

Attia was such badass female character. Breaking bones and not taking crap from anyone right from the beginning. I feel like the romance happened a little fast, but it still made it onto one of my favorite romances of all time. I love romantic interests who are strong, but gentle. Xanthus understands the importance of freedom and doesnt try to keep Attia from making her own decisions. The switch between the two main characters perspectives was a little abrupt at times, but their voices were different enough that I was able to differentiate them easily.

The side characters were remarkable and distinct from one another. Rory is just adorable and I loved how much Attia cared about her. Attia develops this amazing friendship with Lucretia. Xanthus brother gladiators made me laugh so much when they were fighting at their camp. Their camaderie and love for each other was heartwarming. The compelling writing helped me immerse myself in the story and really get to know these characters. I had my doubts about the mecenaries, but I still really enjoyed that reveal. Some things did feel convenient, but I was enjoying myself so much I didnt really care.

I loved how the author incorporated Pompeii in her story. I dont read much historical fiction, but I feel like this could have use a tiny bit more Roman elements to make me feel like I was really in that time period. Towards the half way point the pace slowed down a little bit, but the ending crushed me and Im still in denial about it. Im hoping we'll see more of the world and the revenge plot in the sequel. While in the thick of it I thought this would be a 5 star read, but after writing this review I realize that there was just a couple things missing. Id definitely recommend this if you want an amazing gladiator inspired romance.

This book was INCREDIBLE. Truly.

From page one, this was action packed. The first chapter alone has more action than most books I read these days. It was then I knew that I'd love this book.

So, the idea of Spartacus as a female is pretty bad ass. And Wyk capitalized on the idea and did a phenomenal job in bringing it to life. Attia is essentially the epitome of bad ass female. I'm serious. Celaena/Aelin, you have been trumped. Not to mention the emotional toll her past has brought upon her. Again, something Wyk included and executed brilliantly. She's damaged. Almost broken. But revenge is an arm's length away...and really, I couldn't wait to see if she'd manage it.

And then there's Xanthus. Gladiator. Slave. The Champion of Rome. Another person lost to the empire. Another who's lost his family and home. He, too, is damaged. But he, too, seeks revenge.

Each is a force to be reckoned alone. But together, it's apparent they're almost unstoppable. Several scenes in the story include them pairing and kicking ass. So much fun to read! It seemed as though the possibilities of Things They could do were endless.

Oh, don't think for a second I forgot the romance. Definitely NOT insta-love. I'd say it's between that and a slow burn. As the two get to know each other, their connection grows. They come to trust one another. And all the while it's so easy to cheer and root them on. Because after all they'd been through, they deserved love and someone to have their backs through it all.

Blood and Sand is a phenomenal debut that's action packed—violence aplenty as Wyk doesn't shy away from it. With a fierce heroine, this is one you don't want to miss. I can't wait for book 2!

Blood and Sand was thrilling from start to finish! Right away I loved Attia’s strong spirit and refusal to be broken, despite being the sole survivor of the destruction of her people. Then even more, she finds herself sold as property in a slave market. Only things don’t go smoothly at all, and Attia escapes, leading a huge manhunt through the city. Eventually she is recaptured and taken to the home of a Roman Patrician where she is given as a "companion" to his champion gladiator.

Xanthus is the other narrator of this story. Called the Champion of Rome he is a fierce competitor in the Colosseum. By all appearances he is a hardened warrior. But despite Xanthus’s acclaim as a gladiator, he is still a slave too. As a reward for his wins, Xanthus is given Attia by his master. This is an uncomfortable arrangement for both of them, and neither of them expects the connection that they will form with each other.

Below are 5 more exciting things about this book:

1) Blood and Sand has moments of high intensity and action that kept me on the edge of my seat from page one. Attia and Xanthus have been forged by war and survival and loss and rage, and it was thrilling seeing them both in action, especially when they fought together. But this story is also deeply character focused, and getting to know the heart of both Attia and Xanthus in the quieter and even painful moments made this book for me.

2) I adored the romance between these two. Attia and Xanthus are the perfect compliment and despite the horrible situation they are both in, their romance is slowly building and beautiful to watch. It begins through trust, and as they open up to each other, they start to care for each other. Even though they are thrown together against their wills, I could completely understand their connection and why they fell for each other. I’d also like to point out that though there are lots of other males in this story, there is absolutely zero love triangles or drama in that way. No one else even expresses interest in either of them. It was a major relief and honestly, these two didn’t have time for any more angst in their lives.

3) This is an origin story, which I didn’t realize until I got into this book. And it is so clever and fun to see how Spartacus comes to life. I cannot wait for more of her evolution! Also, in general, this book felt well researched and present in Ancient Rome, even though historical events have been shifted around (admittedly by the author).

4) Although the story is very focused on Attia and Xanthus, I also found so many of the secondary characters intriguing. I loved Xanthus’s camaraderie with his gladiator brothers and Attia’s friendship with Rory, while Lucretia’s circumstances were a heartbreaking contrast to Attia’s situation. I’m so curious what becomes of many of the characters, and I’m hoping we get to see more of them in the next book.

5) Thank goodness this is not the end of the story! We are just at the start of Attia’s journey and I cannot wait to see what’s next. Also there are so many unanswered questions and unresolved situations that need to be fleshed out, and some things I'm going to ignore and assume they'll be worked out in the next book. I think my only complaint about this story is that the last 10% of the book moves so quickly, there’s no time to process anything!

I am absolutely freaking out to get the next part of this story!! I cannot wait to find out what’s coming for Attia and co.

Love Triangle Factor: None
Cliffhanger Scale: Medium - More with anticipation than any immediate danger

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me a digital ARC of "Blood and Sand" by C. V. Wyk. Fans of historical fiction will love this story. It has a brutality that reminded me of Sarah J. Maas' writing. The main character is strong. The forbidden romance is perfectly entrancing. It has already been purchased for the library I work at.

Post date - 1/23/18

When I saw that Blood and Sand had a Roman setting, and features gladiators, I was all over it. I love stories set in Ancient Rome, and I was intrigued to read this take on the Spartacus legend. While the protagonist had a habit of not acting in her best interests, I found this a solid read.


Attia is a slave from Thrace. Her father’s heir, she was trained to become Queen of the Maedi and to lead her people. Trained in battle skills, her plans for the future come to an abrupt end when the Romans invade and kill her father. She vows vengeance on the Flavians, and she’ll do anything in her power to kill the people who murdered everyone she loved.

I guess I should have expected Attia to be a hot-head. But sometimes common sense is the furthest thing from her thoughts. When she is on the auction block, she immediately cripples her new master’s bodyguard and gives Timeus, the wealthy Roman who just purchased her, a thrashing, I wondered why he didn’t just have her killed. It’s not like he could trust her with his back turned after that, and she permanently damaged his bodyguard. I would think that most Roman slave owners would have had her crucified for that offense, to send a message to their other slaves to never ever think about lifting a hand against them. Especially when Timeus owns a stable of gladiators and he wouldn’t want them to get ideas in their heads. But, that would have brought the book to a premature end, and removed a fun action scene.

Attia is given to Xanthus, Timeus’ prized gladiator. Xanthus, also a slave, is the Champion of Rome. A fierce warrior in the arena, he hates the needless loss of life he’s forced to participate in. Timeus’ other gladiators, all trained and raised with Xanthus, are used to enforce Xanthus’ good behavior. The other gladiators are like brothers to him, and he would never endanger them. Like Attia, Xanthus lives for one thing – revenge against the man responsible for the downfall of his people.

I liked that Attia was such a strong, confident character. I didn’t like when she deliberately placed herself in stupid situations without a really, really good reason for it. I’ll let her slide on helping Xanthus in the battle against Fido’s people, because that scene was the whole point of the book, but when she goes to Timeus’ party for Tycho Flavian despite being told to safeguard her young, helpless charge Rory – not so much. When disaster strikes, she is forced into rescue mode and almost gets both of them killed. If she had just listened to very good advice and stayed out of sight, she would have had a better handle on things when they went completely to hell.

This is a fast-paced novel, with lots of action. I loved the battle scenes, and I especially loved that Attia could more than hold her own, either with or without a weapon. She embraces her ability to skillfully kill opponents, while Xanthus suffers emotionally when he is forced to kill. I found the contrast between them fascinating. Xanthus is no shrinking violet by any stretch of the imagination, but he is just sick to death of all of the pointless bloodshed. He takes no pride in being the Champion of Rome.

The book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, and I am looking forward to Attia’s further adventures.

Sweet mother of Caesar what a grand adventure this book was! And set in Roman times? Um, yes please! had action, adventure, romance, and a butt kicking heroine who takes a licking and keeps on kicking! (I seriously want to learn her crazy moves.) I loved Attia. I thought she was the perfect amount of feisty while still maintaining a gentleness. Just look at her relationship with Rory, who is a six year old child. Six year olds are crazy and wild and a lot to handle! Attia managed her caretaker duties flawlessly in one scene and then maim some dude in the next! She was everything I imagine a warrior princess should be! She is by far my favorite character I’ve read about in a long time!

And can we talk about Xanthus?! He is basically the worlds best gladiator! He was the perfect calm to her storm. Don’t get me wrong, he also knows a million ways to kill a guy, but he does it all with a stoic demeanor. I adore his tortured soul.

Now, the reason I gave this book 4 stars was because I felt as though the romance moved too quickly and didn’t make a smooth transition. At one point, they didn’t trust each other at all, then a day later they were best friends. It was just a little too choppy. And y’all remember that I only give a book 5 stars if I am going to re-read it. I don’t feel as though this was that type of book for me.

Overall: I found this book to be HIGHLY entertaining with a unique plot! I would recommend this to anyone who loves Roman culture, adventure type, YA, historical fiction. Also, the ending is brutal and I need Fire and Ash RIGHT NOW!