Remember Pompeii by Kika Emers is a fascinating tale about a teenage girl trying to keep her family together.

Can Kali keep her family together?

Kali Brewster
Kali Brewster isn't like other sixteen-year-olds with mommy and daddy issues. Nope, hers have stemmed from years of not having the parents she has been craving. For the past 200 lifetimes, she has been trying to regain what she lost in Pompeii. Except, we don't know exactly how she lost it.

I have to say that I really liked Kali and how we saw everything she was going through—all the pain and the possible reasons why she was the way she was. I can't wait to learn more about this character, her story, and her world.

Hunter
Hunter is Kali's soulmate and will always be there for all of their lifetimes. Their kind only ever has one. I like how we see Kali and Hunter's relationship. Hunter has already transitioned from being a teenager to an adult for their kind, while Kali hasn't.

Hunter and Kali's love is epic, and I love how powerful it is. They are still so young, but their love for each other is so bright.

Five Stars
My rating for Remember Pompeii by Kika Emers is five stars, and I recommend this story to all young adult fantasy readers. It is so excellent! I love how each of Kali's relationships differs from another, but despite it all, she wants to love everyone even if she doesn't realize it. Ms. Emers, I can't wait to see what happens next!

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Remember Pompeii by Kika Emers.

Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out Baroness Book Trove.

*Remember Pompeii* is a captivating YA contemporary fantasy that weaves together elements of immortality, family dynamics, and personal transformation into a compelling narrative. The novel explores the intriguing concept of an immortal race known as wanshiqi, blending fantasy with a deep emotional journey.

The story revolves around Kali Brewster, a 17-year-old with an extraordinary secret: she is a wanshiqi, part of an immortal race with the ability to reincarnate into any form. However, Kali's current existence is bound by a unique punishment for a past transgression in Pompeii. She and her family are constrained to live human lives, and Kali’s primary goal for the past 200 lifetimes has been to die before her 17th human birthday to avoid the irreversible changes that will come with reaching adulthood and ending her punishment.

Kali’s internal conflict and her attempts to orchestrate her own death while maintaining the illusion of an accident drive the narrative with tension and suspense. Her struggle is not just against the physical constraints of her punishment but also against the emotional weight of her impending separation from her family and the life she has come to know.

The novel shines in its exploration of Kali’s complex emotional landscape. Her fear of losing her family and her sense of identity adds depth to her character, making her a compelling and relatable heroine. The stakes are high, as Kali’s journey is not just about survival but about reconciling her desire for change with the reality of what she stands to lose.

The book's world-building is rich and imaginative, with a well-developed concept of the wanshiqi and their history. The integration of historical elements, particularly the connection to Pompeii, adds a layer of intrigue and complexity to the story. The mythical beings and the overarching fantasy elements are woven seamlessly into the contemporary setting, creating a unique and engaging backdrop for Kali’s journey.

However, while the premise is fresh and intriguing, some readers may find the pacing uneven at times. The novel’s focus on Kali’s internal struggle and her efforts to navigate her predicament occasionally slows down the plot, though this is often balanced by the emotional intensity of her experiences.

In summary, *Remember Pompeii* is an imaginative and emotionally charged fantasy novel that offers a unique take on the immortal genre. With its blend of fantasy, family drama, and personal growth, it is likely to resonate with fans of mythical narratives and complex heroines. Kali Brewster’s journey is both heart-wrenching and inspiring, making this book a memorable read for those who enjoy stories of self-discovery and the fantastical elements of immortal beings.

This is so good and it grabs you at the begining and doesn't let go til the end. This is so good. I couldn't stop reading it. I absolutely couldn't get enough of it.

I have tried and tried to get into this story but it’s been difficult because I feel like I’ve been thrown into the middle of it and I can’t figure out what’s going on. There is no development and not enough information given to make it make sense. This was a DNF for me. I wish there had been more explanation to get me into the story but the small bits and pieces there were just made it more confusing.

Thank you NetGalley and Beckett Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Remember Pompeii is a young adult novel with supernatural elements to it. Kali is 3623 years old, she's lived over 200 lifetimes, yet she's never let herself turn 17. The reason? Whatever happened in Pompeii. It shackled her and her family to human reincarnation until Kali comes of age (turns 17), but she knows once that happens they'll never be a family again, and she's desperate to hold on to them.

I enjoyed this story a lot. The repetition of Pompeii without exactly telling us what happened in Pompeii was well done, as it kept me wanting to come back in hopes of finding out what happened. After finishing the book, I still haven't made my mind up about what I think akout Hunter, and I really hope there will be a sequel so I can find out whether Tav and his mum are okay, as well as Mandy!! I would recommend this book to anyone who likes YA mysteries with a supernatural touch and I rate it ⭐⭐⭐/5.

I really enjoyed the premise of Remember Pompeii - the basic mythological system wasn't one I was familiar with before reading so that was also fascinating to uncover. The FMC Kali is punished for her actions in Pompeii by having to reincarnate as a human with her parents until she reaches her 17th birthday but self sabotages over and over. As the story progresses, the reader finds out more about why she's doing this and what really happened in Pompeii. It's a heart wrenching story of love, family, trauma, and power struggles.

There's a glossary with pronunciation guide in the back of the book - I really wish I'd read through that before starting the book. There were sounds I thought I knew but turns out I was mispronouncing in my head the entire time. I'd definitely do a re-read after a few months but with the pronunciation guide handy.

I'm giving this book 4 stars because while I thoroughly enjoyed the book and would like to continue the series, the beginning didn't really grip me. I struggled a little to connect at first but once I got into the story it was fantastic!

I want to thank NetGalley and Beckett Publishing Group for sending me this ARC! My true review is 2.5/5 stars rounded up to 3.

I thought the plot itself was entertaining and I found the concept of Kali and her family's powers to be so interesting to read about. This was very unlike other fantasy books I've read, and I really enjoyed delving deeper into the lore of the Wanshiqi. Chinese mythology isn't something I've read about a lot, and this book really piqued my interest with the intricate magic system. I'm glad that this is the first of a series and not a standalone because I do think this series has potential, and I'll be tuning in to the sequel. (I also appreciated the glossary at the end!)

There were a few things that brought my rating down. I felt like so much was being thrown at the readers in the beginning, and it was hard to follow for a while. I also felt like Kali didn't feel very three-dimensional to me. For someone who's an immortal being that has spent thousands of years reincarnating into different forms, I expected her to have a different level of maturity and wiseness after all of those lifetimes she's had to live. I couldn't exactly root for her sometimes because of this, especially when she would roll her eyes at "high school drama" but get heated over exactly that. I could feel her strained relationship with her parents, but I wished I could feel something more from her, like the weight of her guilt over Pompeii.

I did love Gram and Gramps' characters. I wanted to love Hunter but he started to fall flat later on. I kind of like Tav more and am excited to see where the love triangle ends up! All in all, not sure if this was my cup of tea, but I do still want to check out the next book.

‘Remember Pompeii’ had me hooked from page 1 until I was finished. This is an interesting story that connects historic events together in a supernatural way. Kali, the main character, may be an immortal soul who has never turned 17, but she is wise and understands what’s truly important in life. Her struggles and revelations were heart wrenching at times – especially when she struggled with ‘humanity’. I was a little confused as to whether or not there was going to be a love triangle, or the symbolism of people’s names (and potential future role?). However, this is the first book in the series so that may have been intentional. Thank you to Beckett Publishing Group and NetGalley for the eARC.

omgggg this was sooo good. I loved ittttt. Seriously I recommend this 100000 percent! I loved the pace, the characters, and the plot. It was honestly so amazing. I recommended this to my friend and I let her read a bit of it from my phone and omg they loved ittttt!!!!! They will definitely be buying as will I when it comes out

Tying together a true historic event, a magical society and immortal beings is This is an intriguing and interesting story.
As punishment for the burning of Pompeii, immortals Kali and her family must live in mortal bodies. If Kali can refrain from using her magic until turns 17 they are released and can return to normal.
Determined to be a family, Kali has secretly purposefully refrained from reaching 17.
But now she is being blackmailed and she has run out of time.
A riveting journey, unique concept, relatable characters and a complex myth based society set amongst teen drama and family dysfunction.
This is an original fantasy series starter and I’m looking forward to reading more.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley.

Would recommend this book. This is a story of a girl who keeps being reincarnated. Hope this gets made into a series.

When I chose this book I did so based on the description. Living thousands of lifetimes that sounds like a great book. When I was 15% in I thought I would not like it but I always give a book 25%. I'm so glad I did what I originally thought were basic teenage issues turned out to be complex issues. You see kali go through teenage and immortal issues. I have theories about the big bad that I hope the author dives into in the second book. I'll definitely read the next one in the series. My favorite character is her gramps, he is like the all knowing comfort character.

This review is also on goodreads I just don't know how to copy the links.

This is a solid YA read.

I'd have liked to see a little bit more. Parts of the story just left you wanting.

And while this is YA, sometimes the characters felt a little to immature.

The concept of this story intrigued me so much. The fantasy, magic system and mythology elements were so good. The author does a good job at keeping you on your toes. Kali, the FMC, is a teenager and definitely acts like it. She goes through a lot of hardship and because of that I wish there had been more character growth. There is a cliffhanger, but I won’t be reading the second book. Overall I liked this one but it didn’t wow me.

Set in an alternate universe, straddling the immortal and human realms with a surprising Eastern influence, Remember Pompeii is YA Author, Kika Emers’, debut Wanshiqi Trilogy release. From the get go this book ticked a lot of my boxes. It’s a fantasy novel, the cover art and colour palette is appealing, and most of all the name immediately drew the history buff in me. Throw in a species of immortal beings and reincarnation and I’m a happy book nerd!

When the synopsis mentioned the MFC’s name was Kali I immediately questioned if there was a symbolic connection to the Hindu Goddess Kali Ma - destroyer of evil in defence of the innocent amongst other badassery - and could this be why Pompeii fell in this sci-fi-esque thrilling retelling?
Even if my imagination had gone off on its own irrelevant tangent, I was hooked!

Emers sure delivers a rich well layered fantasy-verse. Yes, getting your head around the new lexicon and concepts is a tad complex to begin with, but what’s been offered up leaves so much room for future plot growth, world and character building and I’m so here for it!
Are there imperfections - persevere to beyond chapter five - and potential tweaks to be made going forward in the series, well of course, but lets support this writer and watch them create something really special!

Our MC, Kali - a 3623-year-old immature immortal soul has yet to make it to age seventeen despite living 200 life cycles. Unbeknownst to everyone else however, she is the one flicking the kill-switch each and every time.
And why’s that you ask?
You’ll just have to jump on the bandwagon and Remember Pompeii along with the rest of us.
Oh, and did I mention there’s a potential love triangle!

Enjoy!

Many thanks to Kika Emers, Beckett Publishing Group and NetGalley for the complimentary ARC.
My review is given freely and without incentive.

I was really interested in the story for this. The idea of living multiple lifetimes and never really aging has always intrigued me, as well as the fantasy and romance genres in general. So this book really tied all of that together in a lovely neat bow.

The book starts off slow in my opinion, but really comes into its own around half-way through and shines from then on until the end. I loved the setting descriptions as well, it made me feel really part of the World and kept the pace really consistent for me.

I would have liked to have seen a bit more character development, I feel the female main character Kali was quite immature at times. I know she'd never turned 17 but having lived that many lives surely you would gain some world experience?! But that being said I still enjoyed reading about her struggles.

And dang it woman, live a little (literally!)

An interesting book centred around a mythology that I’m not very familiar with. I think this is a good start to a new series. The plot was fluid and engaging. I would say if you’re an adult as opposed to a teen, you need to try and read it from a teen mindset to be able to properly engage with the characters.

Remember Pompeii is the debut of Kika Emers. The headline caught my attention right away and after reading the synopsis I really looked forward to reading this book. I don’t know much about Pompeii, but luckily it isn’t all about history since this book will be a fantasy story. What will this debut bring?

The story starts of with lots of mystery and some difficult names. It took me a while to understand that Grams and Gramps are Kali’s grandparents from one side and that the other grandparents are just called grandfather and grandmother in this story. It was quite confusing and I would have loved to see their names be used sooner.

Kika Emers has a nice writing style, but the story is fast paced. At some points it maybe is too fast paced, since the lack of details in some of the scenes make it difficult to understand. However I liked the way she incorporated emotions into the story and I have to admit I have a weak spot for Tav and Bess since I read this book.

Remember Pompeii is a fun but decent read. Don’t expect to much detail, but do expect a story with lots of adventure and heart-warming moments. The story made me really curious about what else there is to come, so I really look forward to the next part in the trilogy. I have had lots of fun while reading Remember Pompeii and think it deserves a 3 star rating.

I really enjoyed this book. Kika Emers creates an intriguing world and something very unique. I haven't seen this mythology outside of Asian-based stories and loved the mix with the present-day United States. Emers harkens back to history that brings in enough true-life touchstones to make the book even seem real. I liked the main character a lot. She's complex going through a range of human emotions which really gets down to how hard it is to be a teenager.
The ending is abrupt and doesn't give me enough resolution to the story. I realize this is a series (and I want to read more) but I needed a little more to feel complete about the story.

CW: death, cancer, possession. Closed door (implied sex)

Kali is a wanshiqi, an immortal being, punished to live as a human until she passes her 17th (human) birthday and atones for her crimes against another wanshiqi in Pompeii. Due to the events of Pompeii, which tore her family apart, Kali refuses to turn 17, and commits instead to die over and over again until her family unit is restored. This time, though, is her last human lifetime, as events are spinning outside of her control and require her to make a decision - live and return to life as a wanshiqi and all that entails, or die as a human and be imprisoned for eternity.

This is a complicated story. It starts off slow, but soon picks up the pace as we explore the many lives of Kali, what happened to her in Pompeii and the complex hierarchies of the Wanshiqi. Set very much in the human world, but full of mythology and features a MC character very much torn between her destiny and her humanity.

We have teen angst, we have highschool dramas, we have the ancients possessing people because they can, we have secrets that span across the aeons, and much much more. It does start out slowly, but from the last quarter of the book I couldn't put it down.

The mythology has its roots in Mandarin, and there is a pronunciation guide/glossary at the end of the book for those unfamiliar with the language. (Note: I cannot say how authentic the language/mythology is).

There were plot holes, yes, and I didn't care for the character of Hunter, Kali's destined soul mate (or tongguan) or the romance aspect, but overall this was a solid, readable upper-YA fantasy that is *different* to the rest of the offerings out there.

~Many thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review~