Member Reviews

Set in ancient Pompeii a few years before its destruction, The Wolf Den (a crass term for brothel), is a character-driven tale about a group of women whose fate forces them into a life of prostitution under a sadistic and manipulative pimp, Felix. In this patriarchal society, women and girls (even poor male children) have little agency over their lives which is reflected in how each arrived there – Victoria was discarded at birth and found barely alive at the town trash heap; Amara was sold by her mother into servitude to avoid starvation, but betrayed and sold into prostitution; Dido and others were unfortunate victims of being on the losing side of a war or simply kidnapped from their villages; and Paris was born in bondage to a prostitute who works at the brothel - all enslaved and in the sex trade working for profit not their own. Human trafficking is not a new phenomenon.

This is a character-driven novel with quite a few characters. The reader experiences this world largely via Amara’s point of view. Born free and educated (literate) under the tutelage of her physician father, she has a resilient and determined spirit that holds to her sense of identity and yearns for freedom despite the hopelessness of her circumstances. She and the other women form sisterly bonds (some assume matronly roles) to support, comfort, and navigate their hellish environment.

Seemingly, the author wants us to rely on Amara’s intelligence and cunning to escape this miserable existence; however, it falls a bit flat (in my opinion) because so much of her (and the story’s) progression seemed hinged on her youth, appearance (she’s attractive and physically fit), natural talent (she sings well, plays the lyre), education (she’s literate, can calculate), and above all PURE LUCK! The novel is propelled via a series of uncanny breaks – Amara stumbles from one well-timed opportunity to the next while the trajectories of her contemporaries vary drastically from hers.

Sub-plots involving extortion, on-going rivalry between a neighboring brothel owner and his prostitutes, and the quest to find “true love” in dire situations (as an enslaved prostitute) round out the novel. From a historical standpoint, there’s not much here – this could have been any ancient city; however, I found the VERY brief references to highly-celebrated festivals (Saturnalia, etc.), the events (gladiator games), tributes to the gods, and other traditions that were practiced quite interesting.

Thanks to the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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THE WOLF DEN was a compelling piece of work. I enjoyed all of the multifaceted characters and storylines. Amara was an inspiring example of resilience that I couldn't help but cheer for. Great read!

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nice read, read a bit juvenile at times, but i enjoyed it quite a bit!

- thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC in exchange for an early review.

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I was interested in this novel because it was set in Pompeii. However, I struggled with this novel because there are many graphic scenes that made me uncomfortable. Still, I recommend this novel for fans of Kate Quinn, Debra May Macleod, and Lorraine Carey!

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The story of Amara, a prostitute in Pompeii, sold into slavery by her mother, is the first book in a trilogy.

It's an interesting time and place, with slaves and masters, brothels, public baths, extreme poverty, big feasts and festivals. There are plenty of characters, but you are not lost because they are all distinctive, and the author pays attention to introduce all of them to us in detail. This makes it a sophisticated story with deep emotions and human struggle, but at the same time slows down the pace. There are unexpected turns and events to keep you reading but don't expect a book full of action and adventure.

Book Two is coming up and I cannot wait to learn what happens to Amara, Felix, and the other girls of the Wolf Den.

Thank you NetGalley and Union Square & Co. for and Advance Reading Copy.

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This book is definitely one for fans of Madeline Miller (Circe, The Song of Achilles), Elodie Harper creates a world you'll get lost in!

Unfortunately, I didn't get to finish the ARC in time, so I'll need to get it from the library to find out how everything plays out but really enjoyed what I've read so far, and was excited to hear it's the first in a trilogy.

Many thanks to Netgalley & Union Square & Co. for a copy of the ARC in return for my honest review.

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I enjoyed this book and can tell that a lot of research went into it. I read this while on a trip to Rome and the combination of seeing ancient sights by day and reading this book by night was a really awesome reading experience.

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This book was not for me great reviews and it was a winner for a lot of people so done be put off Amara was once a beloved daughter, until her father's death plunged her family into penury. Now, she is owned by a man she despises and lives as a slave in Pompeii's infamous brothel, her only value the desire she can stir in others.

But Amara's spirit is far from broken. Sharp, resourceful and surrounded by women whose humour and dreams she shares, Amara comes to realise that everything in this city has its price. But how much will her freedom cost?

The Wolf Den is the first in a trilogy of novels reimagining the long overlooked lives of women in Pompeii's lupanar. Perfect for fans of Pat Barker's The Silence of the Girls and Madeline Miller's Circe.

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This book was one of my most highly anticipated reads of last year and it did not disappoint. With the sequel being released this week it seemed the perfect time to implore you to read this one if you haven’t already.

We follow Amara, the daughter of a Greek doctor who is enslaved and forced to work in a brothel in Pompeii. Early on we are introduced to other women in the Wolf Den and I loved how distinct each character was. I would happily read a book dedicated to each one. The dynamics between each of them are believable and varied and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing each of them develop.

Amara is intelligent and resilient and kept me captivated throughout, she is brilliantly flawed and her story was raw and heartfelt. I loved seeing this world through her gaze and found myself on an emotional rollercoaster as she fought to repave her future.

This book does not shy away from the violent reality women such as Amara would have faced and strikes a perfect balance between historical and fiction. It is evident that Elodie Harper has done her research and uses it effortlessly without overloading you with unnecessary facts. I’m lucky to have visited Pompeii and whilst that is in no way a necessity it was great to spot the finer details and tidbits she has included in the scenic descriptions.

In a time where historical fiction - particularly that set in ancient Rome or Greece - is so popular, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the decision of which to pick up. Without hesitation I would recommend reading this one.

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I was completely involved in the characters in this book. Loved the fact that a picture of the lower classes of the city was presented. I have many books about the ruling class, but this novel was unique.

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"She hears Felix's voice in her head. And you would, wouldn't you? Tear them all apart."

Words to describe this story as a whole: Harrowing, moving, terrifying, satisfying, easy to read, sweeping.

This is a book about prostitutes in ancient Pompeii. This really is all you need to know to decide to read the book or not. It's interesting or it's not. If it is, you should definitely check it out.

Rest assured, the writing is engaging and the characters are completely unique to each other. While it is a HUGE cast, I never got confused. Everything is straightforward...the story from beginning to end.

I can't believe how it ended and I can't wait to see what happens in the next book!

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This is my first read from this author and from this genre. I've never read anything from the Greek mythology and this was amazing. Great story that got me hooked and i wanted to read more and more. Very good plot and writing. Would read more from this author.

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I definitely did not know a lot on the subject of this book, so it was definitely out of my wheelhouse, but I did enjoy it otherwise.

The Wolf Den is a well written, fascinating and finely detailed, character driven novel, which certainly gets the trilogy off to a really good start. I look forward to the rest of the series.

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Elodie Harper is an absolute force. From the candid writing style to the captivating plot and fleshed out, flawed characters, The Wolf Den is nothing less than a triumph.

Easily one of the best books I read in 2021, The Wolf Den enchanted me with an almost 'from 'riches to rags to riches to rags to riches again' tennis match. The setting of the Pompeii-based Wolf Den, the parties, the death and decay, the heartbreak I felt for Felix and the other Wolves alike - faultless. Amara is a thunderstorm of passion and desperation, clawing at anything and anyone to improve her chances of survival.

I think The Wolf Den is best read with no idea of the plot - only the expectation that this is going to be good. I cannot wait to get my hands on The House With the Golden Door later this year

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The Wolf Den is gripping right from the start with a cast of realistic characters and a story line that has you wishing and sweating that the protagonist- a Shewolf called Amara - gets the break she so desperately needs to get out of the Lupanar (brothel) once and for all
Really looking forward to book 2!!! I love Pompeii and I love that there is a historical fiction on it! Ms Harper did not disappoint! Thank you to Netgalley and publishers for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

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I LOVED THIS. It's a wonderful historical fantasy that draws on ancient traditions while giving voice and agency to characters that wouldn't normally have any. Harper weaves an intricate web of complex relationships and consequences that make it impossible to stop reading.
Full review to come on YouTube.

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3.5 stars

I’d fallen into a historical retelling slump but this take on historical fiction grabbed my attention. We meet Amara, a sex slave in Pompeii, and follow her struggles to gain her freedom

It took me a while to get into, but once I was used to the writing style I really enjoyed this book. I loved the friendships and love between all the she-wolves and despite the fact that they each has nothing, they were willing to do anything and everything for each other.
I wonder what Amara will do next?

Thanks to NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

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Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publishers for an E-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I'm not usually a big fan of historical fiction. However, The Wolf Den completely captivated me from the very start!

Set in Pompeii (AD74), the story follows the life of one of the prostitutes in a brothel, Amara. Amara, tries to escape slavery throughout the book using what smarts she has.

I enjoyed this book start to finish - particularly the emersive description of Pompeii and the well developed characters.

We start in AD 74 and Pompeii was destroyed by Mount Vesuvius' eruption just 5 years later, adding an extra suspense while reading. I cant wait to see what happens in the next two books.

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Amara was once the beloved daughter of a doctor in Greece, until her father’s sudden death plunged her mother into destitution. Now Amara is a slave and prostitute in Pompeii’s notorious Wolf Den brothel or lupanar, owned by a cruel and ruthless man. Intelligent and resourceful, she is forced to hide her true self. But her spirit is far from broken. Buoyed by the sisterhood she forges with the brothel’s other women, Amara finds solace in the laughter and hopes they all share. For the streets of the city are alive with opportunity—here, even the lowest-born slave can dream of a new beginning. But everything in Pompeii has a price. How much will Amara’s freedom cost her?

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It's surprisingly enjoyable? I never had a huge expectation for any greek myths books because a lot of them just felt flat to me and always hit or miss to me. The characters and the friendship are well written. What I don't really enjoy from this book is the love triangle. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC

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I just reviewed the Wolf Den by Elodie Harper

Amara was sold into slavery after her doctor father dies and her mother could not support them both. Having to work in one of the most infamous brothels, Amara with her intelligence and natural musical talents, finds a way of becoming more than just a piece of meat for the men who pay for her.
After finding a man she may be able to con into helping her become a free woman, she has to do what she has to do to save herself from the clutches of Felix, a man so ruthless he doesn’t care who he hurts to get his weight in denaris.

A historical fiction set in Pompeii, it follows the lives of Amara, Victoria, Dido, Cressida and others as they cope with the unsavory living and working conditions for a man called Felix. A violent man with a temper, all the women have come from different starts but all care for each other in their own ways.
Amara having been taught by her Father, she has an abundance of knowledge that helps her get the edge at the brothel. She starts to see a higher caliber of men and works some side hustles for Felix, a man you start off really hating and about 3/4s of the way through you see something you really don’t want to see in him but it makes you hate him a little less.

Amara is such a diverse character and I love her rawness. She came from something and had to find a way to cope being at the bottom of the food chain. I have to admit I don’t like her methods for having an easier time of life but you can’t fault her. I also felt the ending, even though she got what she wanted, was so hollow.

This book broke me a little inside at the life these women had to live and the complexities of their positions in a world they shouldn’t have had to live in. I was beside myself with joy when I realized this was the first book in a trilogy! I am so excited to see what comes next from these she-wolves.

4.5 stars for me. It was a very well written historical fiction with brilliantly executed character development. I would love to know more about Dido in the next book so fingers crossed for that!
If you love a solid historical fiction page turner with a little romance and a lot of grit, this is the book for you!

Thank you Netgalley and Union square and co for my Advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review

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