Member Reviews
This is the second book in the Wolf Den trilogy. In this installment we find Amara in a the House with the Golden Door, as a freedwoman and concubine to Rufus, trying to restore her life after the years of abuses and violence in Felix’s lupanare. We see her friendship with Victoria and Berenice and Brittanica, evolving and becoming more deep, but treason is always in the horizon and the price to pay for it, is higher. We also witness new relationships in Amara’s life, find out more about her past in Greece and anticipate the huge tragedy that is unraveling under the shadow of the Vesuvius.
A beautiful account of the daily life in one of the most fascinating cities of all time. I’m enjoying this trilogy so much and I can’t wait to read more by Elodie Harper in this topic or any other theme she will explore in the future.
"The House with the Golden Door" is the second book in Elodie Harper's acclaimed "Wolf Den" trilogy. The series is set in ancient Pompeii and follows the life of Amara, a young woman who starts off as a slave in a brothel. This sequel continues Amara's journey as she navigates the complexities of her newfound freedom, which comes with its own set of challenges and dangers.
In "The House with the Golden Door," Amara struggles to maintain her independence while dealing with the manipulative and often perilous society around her. The novel delves into themes of power, survival, and resilience, exploring the lives of women in ancient Roman society. Harper's meticulous research and vivid storytelling bring the world of ancient Pompeii to life, making this series a rich and engaging read for fans of historical fiction.
Elodie Harper has given us a beautiful trilogy of books that will transport you to ancient Rome to the city of Pompeii just before the devastating eruption and Mt. Vesuvius and into the life of the brothel. Some parts of this book are terribly sad and hard to read while others are hopeful and full of joy. This book is fantastic!
this book was a great 2nd book for this trilogy. 2nd books are typically my favorite, so im glad that this book followed that trend for me. there was so much more character development and storylines playing out. im excited to see where the series goes from here.
I received a copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
The House With the Golden Door is the second book in the Wolf Den Trilogy by Elodie Harper.
Amara has escaped life as a she-wolf brothel hoar after being bought as a freedwoman from her former pimp Felix. But Amara still doesn't have a life without anxiety and fear. We meet new characters in this edition, and Amara has no choice but to become more firm and heartless in her decisions and actions to protect not only herself, her friends, and her new love.
I couldn't stand Rufus and was glad to see his patronage end, but although I could understand some of Amaras' decisions led by her heart, I did feel like shaking her a few times!
I absolutely love Britainnica and found her funny, endeering, and so loyal. I did kind of expect Victoria to do what she did but hoped I wouldn't be proven correct.
This series is so brilliantly written and brought to life and heartbreaking at times as to the degregation women and slaves were put through and the ways they were treated during these times. I'm looking forward to book three to learn the fates of Amara, Britannica, Plios, and Amaras daughter after the ending of this book.
The House with the Golden Door is the second book in the Wolf Den Trilogy. Set in ancient Pompeii which I don't see often as a historical setting. It is set in one of the most infamous brothels in town. There is friendship, love, scandal revenge.... This book will you give you all the feels.
Picking up where we left off in the Wolf Den, Amara is no longer a slave — but now her life depends on a man.
I really enjoyed this sequel! I was everything I wanted it to be and this setting is just so atmospheric and so easy to visualize everything that happening in the story.
The House with the Golden Door is the second book in the Wolf Den Trilogy. This is honestly one of my favorite series I've ever read. Set in ancient Pompeii in one of the most infamous brothels in town, it's a story of survival, revenge, friendship, love, and scandal. I can't say enough good things about this book. It just gives you all the emotions and I just couldn't put it down!
The Wolf Den was one of my favorite reads of the year, so I knew I was going to be slightly more critical of the sequel. Overall, The House with the Golden Door delivers and did not leave me disappointed. I inhaled it almost as quickly as The Wolf Den, and it certainly left me wanting more at the end. My only complaint about this book was the lack of sympathy I feel towards the main character now, which of course, is no fault of the writer. I'm sure it's just a sign of excellent character development, but I feel like she continues to make decisions that have me shaking my head in disappointment. For better or worse, Amara is still on her path to freedom and I look forward to the next installment.
An entertaining and strong second installment to the Wolf Den trilogy that is set in Pompeii and full of court intrigues and betrayals. Perfect for fans of the HBO show, Rome. This was twisty with a perfect balance of action and romance. I'm looking forward to the conclusion! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
Amara's story continues in this second tale of the Wolf Den Trilogy. The Romans have taken over, and she's settling in, having won the attention of a Patron, all her own. Sort of.
She's moved up in the world, freed but not really, is Rufus's plaything in a much better playground. She's given some freedoms and exercises them as she explores how far she can go in this new world. Some things don't change, though, and everything is relative, right? As a former prostitute, and now a fancier concubine, she decides to free some of her friends from her former life and from there the story rushes forth.
There's a chance at love, at more freedoms, and a fulfilling new role she'd never expected.
I'm braced and ready for the next ways Amara and her fighting Iceni work to carve out societal change in the communities of Pompeii and Rome - toward building a life more bearable for the women they love and the generations of women who will follow them.
*A sincere thank you to Elodie Harper, Union Square & Co., and NetGalley for a free ARC to read and voluntarily review.* #TheHousewiththeGoldenDoor #NetGalley
I really enjoyed this book and it’s predecessor, Wolf Den. The author has given each character a lot of development and painted a detailed view of what Pompeii must have been like. That being said, if the third book doesn’t end with the eruption of Vesuvius (Titanic-style—as if you were there), I will be very disappointed! Looking forward to the destruction!
Elodie Harper's "Golden Door" is a captivating and vividly depicted historical fiction that immerses readers into the perilous world of a courtesan in ancient Pompeii. With well-drawn characters, a compelling plot, and themes of survival, sisterhood, and resilience, this second installment of the Wolf Den Trilogy is a must-read for fans of historical dramas. Harper masterfully brings to life the complexities of Amara's journey, blending danger, romance, and the pursuit of freedom in a richly woven narrative.
I didn’t enjoy this as much as the previous book, but it was still very good. Elodie’s writing is excellent and the pacing of the book keeps the reader interested. The cover was what really caught my eye at first, I wish I enjoyed it a bit more, but overall would still recommend it.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the chance to read this beautiful book. I couldn't put this book down. Complex, beautiful and addictive
Recommended for those who love a complex read and those who are fans of historical fiction . A great read just like the authors previous books. Looking forward to a reread when the book is published
For some reason, I found this harder to get through than the first book in the series. It was still enjoyable though!
I don't think I was ultimately the best reader for this. A third round purchase for most libraries with a historical readership
I haven't yet read any retellings or folklore about such an infamous event in history: Pompeii. This was such a crisp fresh look and I really enjoyed it.
This was a fantastic read! I devoured it in one day. I am also impressed with the level of research and details about Pompeii Elodie Harper has done. Looking forward to the final installment!