Even though there wasn’t much plot, this was very much a character driven book, which I very much enjoyed. I loved reading about this setting which I haven’t read a lot about. I’m excited to see what happens in book 2!

This was such a beautiful book and I could not put it down. I was engrossed in the story and the end broke my heart. I cannot wait to read more about Amara in book 2!

I love a good Greek story and this one has quite an interesting plot. The ones I’ve read mainly focuses on Greek Gods which makes this a refreshing read.

This story is set in Pompeii and follows Amara, a ‘she wolf’ who works as a sex slave in a brothel called the ‘Wolf Den’. She was initially sold into slavery by her mother but was then sold to Felix as a sex slave. Despite that, she has never forgotten who she was and what it was like live as a free woman. She uses her wit to survive the harsh reality of being a slave. There is a price to everything in Pompeii and Amara will pay whatever it takes to be free again.

It’s horrifying to read about the life of these girls from the wolf den and how they ended up there in the first place. Although the story focuses on Amara, it also sheds light on surviving in a town who thinks so lowly of sex slaves, how oppressed they are and how they are constantly living in fear. Harper never shied away from the emotional and physical violence these women face everyday. As strong as my stomach was, I still cringe at some of the vivid descriptions on how they were treated. Slaves were not treated like humans, instead they were just things that can be traded or killed off.

I love how resourceful and determined Amara is to free herself. She was brave enough to try and break out of her ‘she-wolf’ shell and finding other ways to survive while enslaved. I found myself rooting for Amara as she balances between her desire for freedom and keeping Felix happy while doing her best not to let him see through her plans. There were times where Amara seemed ruthless and selfish but I soon understood she behaved this way for freedom. Despite this, she still has love and compassion for her fellow sisters at the Wolf Den.

Another interesting dynamic is the relationship between Amara and Felix, the slave and the master. I could feel Amara’s hatred for him but at times I can also feel her awe and potentially pity for Felix when he showed his vulnerable side. It scares Amara more when she sees herself in him which explains her love-hate feelings.

The pacing was a little slow and repetitive because it really focuses on Amara scheming to get her freedom which made the whole plot predictable but overall, I quite enjoyed reading this.

Thank you Netgalley and Union Square & Co for the arc.

When I tell you I ate this up - I ate this up.

I spent an unreasonably big part of my teenage years passionately studying for Latin class and watching HBO's Rome like my life depended on it, a class excursion to the actual city of Rome being the highlight of middle school to me. Still, I had almost forgotten my fascination with the time period until this book came along, and now I'm fully thrust into nostalgia and the thrill of learning about the messy side of antiquity again.

Now, I'm not as deeply involved in the subject matter anymore and can't academically judge this work of fiction on its accuracy, but it did seem pretty authentic to me. The Wolf Den doesn't shy away from being ugly and complicated, just like its characters are. The story took more unexpected turns than I'm used to from historical fiction - if you're into Desperate Housewives and can stomach the severe misogyny of the time period, you're going to be into it. The drama of it all! The tragedy!

Each character arch progresses in unpredictable ways - most of all the protagonist Amara's path, who is a new favourite character for me across books. Yet I'm most intrigued by Amara's pimp Felix, who is without a doubt the worst of the worst in this fictional version of Pompeii, but somehow so complex that I still haven't decided if I like him as an antagonist or if I plainly like him for being the despicable mess that he is?

To quote myself explaining to my boyfriend why I couldn't go to sleep before finishing the novel: "I never thought I would one day be this invested into a brothel!"

As everyone becomes increasingly ruthless, there is no way for the reader to guess what the right and wrong decisions in the plot might be. I can see this being turned into a successful TV show - not something I wish on every piece of content I like, but that I truly desire in this case. Imagine how thrilled I was to see that while I'm pretty late to the trilogy, I only have one month to wait for the sequel to appear! Time to get my Latin vocabulary flowing again.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free Arc Of The Wolf Den in exchange for an honest review!

The Wolf Den is a book that will instantly transport you to Ancient Rome. It felt like I was really there, and the writing and descriptions of the setting were really gorgeous. Amara was an incredibly strong female character who I really enjoyed reading about. I also enjoyed reading about Ancient Rome from a woman’s perspective, particularly a slave’s perspective.

That being said, this was hard to read at times, with some very upsetting subjects like sexual assault, so just be mindful of that before reading if you are sensitive to subjects like this.

“She tells herself it is easier not to want, not to feel. When you cannot make your own choices, what good is wanting anything, or anyone?”

Oh, this was good! The writing, the she-wolves, and the graffiti quotes from Pompeii… all amazing. I will be picking up the sequel when it’s released! Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

The Wolf Den throws you right into the life of brothels in Pompeii AD 74, by telling the story of Amara , a prostitute in the lupanar of Pompeii. Amara was not born into slavery. The only child of a Greek doctor in the city of Aphidnai (“Twelfth city of Attica, once the home of Helen of Troy”), she is an educated and intelligent girl whose fortunes were reversed after her father's demise. Sold as a house slave by her mother, she was forced into the life of a concubine before being sold to Felix, who changes her name to Amara and puts her to work as a prostitute in his brothel, The Wolf Den, in the Ancient Roman city of Pompeii.

The Wolf Den by Elodie Harper is an exquisitely written novel that blends historical fact and fiction, with an absorbing narrative and strong characterization. It is a compelling book that I found hard to put down and a story that will stay with me for a long time. Can wait for the next installment in The Wolf Den Trilogy!

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this eGalley. We love historical fiction in this house! As a huge fan of greek myth retellings, this book definitely felt like it scratched that specific itch. It definitely covers a topic I didn't know much about, and didn't shy away from the horror experienced by women in the brothel.

At first I was unsure about this book. It got right to the thick of things and is quite vulgar and blunt. It doesn't shy away from the violence and trauma endured by enslaved women during this time period.

While it was difficult to read at times, I still found myself wanting to read more and learn more about the characters because of the moments of hope and beauty. I really liked the found family aspect with all the women in the brothel although some of the characters were unlikeable.

The writing style is beautiful and easy to read. I did find it to be a little slow at times, and it took me a while to read, but it was extremely character driven so perhaps that is why it seemed a little slow to me.

This is not something that I would normally read, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm excited to read the next two books in this trilogy!

"May men fall to me as this offering falls to you, Greatest Aphrodite.
May I know love's power if never its sweetness."

3.5 stars amped up!

CW: Sexual abuse, sexual assault, violence, rape, child loss, miscarriage, suicide

Welcome to 74AD Pompeii, where destitute families sell their girls as slaves, and slave masters sell the newly acquired slave girls into prostitution.. But for a girl who knew once the taste of freedom in Greece, Amara still walks like she matters. And instead of lamenting her enslavement, she prays for the goddess of love to taste its power. Living through the hardship of Pompeii's infamous brothel, the Wolf Den, and the cruelty of its master, Amara knows that her way back to freedom is through a man.

The book centres around steel-willed Amara but also explores the themes of female bonding, jealousies and survival in the most inhumane conditions. Amara's grief for her past and her will to survive her present hardens her heart into becoming almost as cruel as her master.

The author unflinchingly describes the women's lives and treatment in the Wolf Den in minute details. The secondary characters are developed enough to draw our sympathies, and sometimes our infuriation, but not enough to give the story an intricate, multi-layered feel. Backstories are laid out for each character at some point or another. Even that of their oppressor, Felix, the brothel master. Regardless, I still rooted for Amara throughout.

"Nobody wants their grief dragged up unexpectedly into the light."

But there were a few issues I couldn't overlook with the writing. The narrative was at times overly descriptive which led to the plot becoming a tad overstretched. Another issue, an irksome one to be honest, was that the vocabulary slipped at times into modernity. The use of ill-suited words popped up every now and then on the pages. I mean, for a story set way back in time, the use of words like "café" or "boyfriend/girlfriend" , for example, was immensely at odds with the historic setting.

Still, the story was undeniably intriguing. And I can only wonder what Amara's future will hold up for her.

Many thanks to @netgalley & @unionsqandco for my ARC of this novel.

I really enjoyed the characterisation and setting - I think writing in a specified time limits the freedom an author will have in how the world is set up, but Harper navigates well.

Read if you like: Ancient Roman history, strong female characters.
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Amara is a slave in one of Pompeii's brothels. She is smart and tries to make the best of her situation, and figure out a way to earn her freedom. This book is a striking account of the struggles that slaves experienced in the Roman Empire, as well as the treatment of women.
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I really liked Amara as a main character. She is kind and loving towards her fellow slaves, but also knows she has to do what it takes to earn her freedom. A vivid depiction of life as a slave in an Ancient Roman brothel. Lots of action that kept me engaged throughout the whole book.
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CW: sexual harassment and assault, violence, murder, slavery, loss of a child, suicide.

“ There’s a grief deep enough to drown in, if you let it rise unchecked. Amara never will.”

The Wolf’s Den by Elodie Harper is an all-consuming historical fiction about Amara, a slave to a brothel owner in Pompeii. This book was filled with sad moments, but despite that, it kept my attention wholly. I kept wishing I had more time to read it because I wanted to get back to my book to find out what happened to Amara.

Most of the book is centered around Amara trying to find a way to escape her life as a slave, as she wasn’t always one and once knew the taste of freedom. Amara is cunning and daring, and because of her situation, she has been a bit cold-hearted at times to get out of her situation. Alternatively, there’s time she has to ignore her heart’s desires or even lay them bare, accepting vulnerability, to start making a change for herself. It can be tough to read all that she went through but Amara is such a strong character despite all that has happened to her. Unfortunately, there’s times she makes some callous decisions to pave her way, but I didn’t hold them against her. Our author shows us through many avenues where desperation can lead you.

“She has been enslaved longer than Dido, but not so long she doesn’t remember the agony of losing her own freedom.”

This book was enlightening, entertaining, and highlights women in a time in history where they were deemed insignificant and more of a good/service than a person. It was gorgeously written and kept me engaged. I am fully looking forward to the next book, I can’t wait to see where Amara’s story takes her and whether her mistakes will catch up with her or if good fortune will shine upon her. I’m happy this is going to be a trilogy, as this was such an emotive and well-written novel!

Thanks to Union Square and Co for the review copy!

The Wolf Den is the story of Amara. A peaceful yet dramatic story of a young slave who grew up near Athens as the daughter of a doctor until his father died of an infection from his client. The mother was able to keep them alive for a few years, but then she had to sell her daughter as a slave for them to have any help to survive at all. However, the new owner of Amara took it as a concubine, but the owner's wife was not happy about it, so she resold the girl and Amara was bought along with Dido by the owner of a brothel in Pompeii.

It is a peaceful story, but it is a very honest story and does not beautify the lives of the slaves of Pompeii. The chapters give an overview of the daily and night life of the brothel, as well as the life of the richer population through the eyes of slaves, and also give an idea of ​​how the lower class views the high society and how the high society views the freeman.

So calmly, day after day, drama after drama, the story moves towards the end, which is partly what you would expect, but also not.

Good reading, but requires patience.

Thank you, Elodie Harper, NetGalley, and Union Square & Co. for the opportunity to read this book!

“Either we choose to stay alive, or we give up. And if it’s living we choose, then we do whatever it takes.”

THE WOLF DEN
I spent the past three days reading The Wolf Den by Elodie Harper. I have wanted to read it sooner but work has kept me from diving in. I am so glad I finally found time to read this book. It took me back to Pompeii in 74 CE. Amara was once a physician’s daughter. But after his death, the debts were high and she was sold as a slave and now is forced to work as a prostitute at one of Pompeii’s most infamous brothels. Survival is their focus and Amara is determined to one day be free. She will use her wit and allure to free herself and support the women around her.

But first. Trigger Warnings: slavery, abuse, sexual assault, rape, child loss, miscarriage, suicide

This is NOT an easy book to read and it is not meant for everyone. Years ago, I went to the natural history museum that had a Pompeii exhibit on display. They displayed the casts of the victims who were killed in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE. They also showed some fresco paintings from the Lupanar. So it was fascinating to read about this history that took place almost 2,000 years ago. The author does a fantastic job at bringing these fictional characters to life and making them feel real. The characters all come from different backgrounds and have been forced into horrors that many cannot even imagine. They all have different reactions to these horrors. Some give up, some fight, some push their emotions away… but all their feelings are valid, no matter how different. It shows that there are many ways to react to trauma.

I cannot wait to see what is in store for Amara in the next book. Her world is changing and will no doubt find a way to fight her way to a freedwoman with independence. She has already met some historical figures such as Pliny the Elder. Another interesting thing is that the fatal eruption is only 5 years away. So there is still so much historical content to be explored. In a time where women are considered to be chattel, it is inspiring to watch them come up with their own ways to survive and support each other. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.

I love mythology and Grecian history. I love stories about strong women. It is no surprise that I loved this book. It’s a powerful story and at times a difficult read, but definitely worth it.

Great historical fiction! Amara, a slave in a brothel in ancient Pompeii, finds herself among her fellow she-wolves, forced into prostitution by a cruel owner. Her fight to gain a life in this brutal world is fascinating and well-written. Definitely worth reading!

I’ve been very drawn to books set during this time and this didn’t disappoint! Loved the historical detail and I couldn’t put it down. Was it fun to read - not always - but I felt it was accurate. That matters.

The book didn’t go anywhere. Kept waiting for an actual plot to develop but it never did. Very disappointing as the synopsis is quite intriguing.

The Wolf Den by Elodie Harper is a historical fiction set in the ancient city of Pompeii. Personally I wasn't a big fan of the way the whole setting of the book was portrayed. While there were a lot of description of the city itself and everyday happenings in the lives of our characters, I found the background descriptions to be just that. Descriptions. The world of Pompeii failed to be alive and captivating to me as a reader.

Which leads me to my second observation. I thought that they characters and the way they interacted felt too modern for me. Of course, we have cannot claim to know what life back at that time was truly like, the portrayal of the characters in order to be made conventional to our time and relatable to us just fell short for me.