I found this book to be an enjoyable, fast-paced read. I think certain things could’ve been fleshed out and explored a bit more, but overall I did like the story. I wasn’t expecting the romance to veer quite so much toward a tragedy (though perhaps I should’ve based on the description), but I was pleasantly surprised by the ending. I thought it was a bit bittersweet but ultimately satisfying (can’t say anything more without getting into spoilers, haha).

I really hate to say it, but I was kind of bored reading this. I just didn't particularly care about these characters or the stakes all that much, and I almost wish this were a true tragedy. I did like the references to Icarus and Patroclus and Achilles though. Ultimately this was just fine, I'm sure there will people who love it, but unfortunately it just didn't do much for me.

Absolutely adored this! I'm a major history and lgbtq+ fan so I knew from the beginning that I was going to adore and highly recommend this book! Can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy!

This book is the perfect example of why I do tend to run away from YA.

And don´t get me wrong: I still enjoyed this story and would recommend. I don´t think it was bad. It´s just that, plot wise, it was... too simple. Too convenient, even. There were times when I got to a certain part and I thought, does the author think readers are stupid? Because it was that obvious a character was making a bad decision.

So, here´s the thing:

The story is set in the 79 CE, same year as the Vesuvius tragedy happened (after all, this is what the novel will be about, isn´t it?). Anyway, my first problem with the story is that I felt that there was not enough historical research done. In fact, Pompeii and the vulcan seems more like a background for an idea the author had in mind, rather than the central thing in this entire story.
I cannot say I learned new stuff about the city or how the eruption happened because, to be honest with you, I believe this plot could have worked exactly the same as it did if instead of Pompeii the book had been set in literally any other Roman town where we also make up a vulcan.

Now, as for the plot. It was a bit strange and I couldn´t quite understand (even after finishing) if the Vesuvius had something to do with anything.

Let me explain: The story revolves around Loren (a priest in training at a temple who has visions and, much in the style of Cassandra in the Illiad, he is not believed) and Felix (a thief who just came to Pompeii and stole a valuable helmet from another temple).
In his visions, Loren has seen Felix multible times, and he knows bad shit will happen if he puts on the helmet (that turns out to be a God´s helmet and not anyone can lightly touch).
So, Loren will spend the plot trying to get into a better position (job wise I mean) and also trying to stop Felix in whatever trouble he got into.

I cannot tell you here why Felix was able to touch the helmet so freely or about his past, because it´s too much of a spoiler. But it was a potato. It was such a convenient nonsense you cannot even imagine.

The romance in this story was cute, although there was my always dreaded *misscommunication* and some people who tended to run away without proper explanation. But that´s okay, I didn´t hate it. Felix was nice and there were other side characters that made the story kinda worth it.
I just didn´t get the motives or the cartoonish villain to get the helmet (and why didn´t he get it before Felix stole it? No, wait, why there wasn´t more people looking actively for the helmet?). And neither did I get what the gods had to do with the vulcan (I felt there was some points what were desperately trying to connect, but it didn´t felt believable).

Overall, I think a teen could enjoy this one. If you´re adults in search for some LGBTQ+ historical fiction, I think there are better books to read.
Still, kudos to the author because I never find much queer stuff set in Roman times.

Don't you just LOVE when a book grips you from the very first page?

This book had such a strong, refreshing voice that stole me from the beginning. I must admit that some of the modern language through me off a bit, but the main two characters are charming enough for me to disregard an occasional cringe moment.

Felix, my baby boy <3

This was okay. I really liked the beginning but then the story was all over the place. The eruption starts 75% in and it's over as soon as it started. The characters don't really grow and the romance was poorly executed

So, when I came across this book in Netgalley, it looked intriguing and thought I'd give it a try when I received a copy. But, after a couple of chapters in, I found that the story wasn't that interesting to me, and I had trouble staying invested in the book. So, I've decided to not finish the book and perhaps come back to it at a later time. I would suggest this book to anyone interested in historical fiction, especially books set in ancient history.

This one really grew on me, so stick it out! While I had a few quibbles—the modern language, a few too many characters that made reveals a tad muddled—I adored Biehn’s main characters. This is a fantastic debut, so readable, and what a stunning premise! Will definitely read more from Biehn!

thanks to netgalley for the arc -

Hey, I loved this.

The concept is what drew me to it initially, and boy was I satisfied. I've had a rocky road with YA stuff this year, but this is definitely the kind of YA that I vibe with at my age now. Less Heartstopper, and more aged up Percy Jackson shenanigans.

This is the kind of book that hits the ground running from the very first page. I was hooked, and once I carved out the free time to sit down and actually read, I didn't stop until I was done. I love a one sitting book that grabs you, and this one certainly did for me.

The main characters are great, however I do have to say that between the two I liked Felix more than Loren. Then again, I do love a scappy thief archetype so that's no surprise.

My only two complaints are that it did seem to drag a little bit near the middle, and the build up to the main event felt like it took longer to get to than it needed and like we were just meandering to fill time. The second issue is actually an issue I had with another period book recently, which is the modern language. I get it's what we are most comfortable with, but if you're going to go to the lengths of having such a high concept book then I think taking the few extra steps of making the language less modern would really benefit it.

Other than those two small issues, I loved this one and it was a highlight of the year that came it at the wire.

Hooked from the first page. This was an easy read that keeps you engaged with a mystery on a timeline, a cute romance, all in an easy to digest historical fantasy. I didn't know what to expect and was pleasantly surprised by the unfolding of events.

Add a little magic, some ominous premonitions, and a case of locked up memories and there was plenty to keep you turning pages.

The Main Characters had interesting qualities and flaws--and certainly acted their age. Both were easily distracted by personal wants and were more than happy to ignore the impending deadline to go after their desires and ambitions.

The politics is where the story slowed down. It had an interesting mystery going on that I wished there was more time to develop. As short as the story and deadline was, it felt like a distraction that made me impatient to get back to the Helmet, the volcano, and the memories.

I was hooked from the first page, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed from this type of book. This had that historical fiction element that I was looking for and enjoyed the use of Pompeii. It had that element that I wanted and enjoyed getting to go on this journey with the characters and how it was used in the time-period. Cass Biehn has a strong writing style and am excited for more from Cass Biehn.

I have been following the author's writing journey for quite a while, and it is so cool to see their dreams and plans materialize. Vesuvius has an audience; I am absolutely sure of this. However, I sadly was not able to enjoy the book as much as I had hoped. Maybe it's my relative unfamiliarity in recent years with YA books, but this book failed to click with me. The many typos were easy to look past, but noticeable too, so this needs another thorough edit. I was also somewhat disappointed with the book's supposed climax of the titular volcano erupting...it was not as dramatic and gripping as I had hoped and it was also over as soon as it began. I did appreciate, though, the foreshadowing sprinkled throughout the book.

I was excited to read this book but I didn't know what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised!

Felix grew up learning how to be a thief from his now deceased father. Loren is a temple attendant who has big dreams to make life better in the government. The two meet by chance after Felix takes refuge in Loren's temple and Loren clocks him with an alter bowl. This is when Loren realizes that Felix is the boy he's been having premonitions/dream about his whole life.

This is an exciting enemy to friends to lovers all with the backdrop of the soon to be doomed Pompeii. The two boys seems to be endlessly drawn together no matter how hard they try not to be.

I saw a few people mention how the language seemed to modern, but honestly with the backdrop of the story, including these two queer boys with a mix of magic and premonitions I didn't notice and it did not bother me.

I absolutely loved both Felix and Loren. They're lovely opposites attracts. Loren also has some wonderful friends in his corner who open their arms to Felix as well. The story kept me guessing and on my toes. I was so invested in this story. The characters felt real and had realistic emotions and flaws.

Highly recommend this story if you're looking for an exciting slow burn romance with the backdrop a doomed city.

Thank you NetGalley and Holiday House/Peachtree/Pixel+Ink for the ARC in exchange for an honestly review.

I'm going to start with saying that YA and I have a difficult relationship. In fact, I tend to avoid it, because I feel too strongly that I am not the intended audience. There are exceptions though, and I was hoping this book would be one. It wasn't.

The story is alright, I could even say great because the idea is good, and it is well enough executed, for the genre. Both characters have enough flaws and qualities to be at least a little interesting, despite one of them being a difficult to care for. They do act like their age, at least for me. Given how I experienced by own teenage years, it means I couldn't really connect with them, nor prject, since there wasn't much said about how their age impacts them in their society. Though I wasn't invested in either of them, so I don't know how much value my words hold.
The romance part didn't convince me, but that has to do with the book's timeline. A few days don't make for convincing romance unless there is a on going big threat putting the characters into a high drive vulnerability and accelerates the feelings. But that a me thing.
The secondary characters were... okay? I didn't get enough of a feel from them, and there was a undertone of antagonism with a lot of them.

My main problem is the modern tone. Words used that, I feel, have no place in a historical fantasy, but also the mentalities, who feel too modern. I didn't get that sense of plunging into the mind of other people, millenias away. Even for the religious aspect, if felt very... christian? I get that this is YA, it needs to be accessible. But for me, having such ground in the present when reading a historical fantasy kills the fun of it.

If you're looking for an easy read, with a cute but quick romance and accessible historical fantasy with a modern feel, that might be book for you!

I really liked the concept of this novel, however it really fell flat in my opinion. A novel set in a Pompeii should be really interesting but no matter how hard I tried I couldn’t get hooked. The writing was very to the point, and the romance was very insta love, which just isn’t for me.

A very interesting modern take on Vesuvius — I loved the plot and felt that the characters were well-rounded. Unfortunately, I felt like their dialogue / interactions were a little too modern and most of the time, the book was spent on the build-up.

I saw that this was a mythological version of the Vesuvius eruption, and I knew I had to read it! I loved the mythology elements and I think both of the main characters were well-rounded, and I enjoyed how their relationship developed. The descriptions of Pompeii were vivid and I felt like I was there with the characters. However, I do think the dialogue felt too modern for the setting/time period and I think there was too much time spent on the build-up and not enough on the actual eruption of Vesuvius. Overall though, I enjoyed this and would recommend it.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Visiting the ruins of Pompeii last year breathed an extra layer of believability into this book for me that made the atmosphere so immersive (though Cass Biehn certainly did a great job painting a picture of the city before its destruction on their own)! I was immediately sucked into the described setting, and loved the way we got thrown into the story by following Felix as he steals what he would soon find out is much more than just a shiny temple relic he can sell, instead being the supposed magical helmet of the god Mercury.

The dynamic between our two protagonists Felix and Loren was peculiar—completely unlike what I expected it to be, but at the same time strangely engrossing. Rather than becoming fast friends or star crossed lovers upon their initial meeting leading up to the inevitable eruption, their relationship proves itself much more layered and complicated than that. Loren’s confusing prophetic visions make it difficult for him to trust the real Felix once he turns up at the Temple of Isis (which Loren attends to), and Felix himself is every bit the flighty thief unwilling to let anyone into his heart because of the consequences attachment can pose for his life on the run. Their distrust towards each other wasn’t fleeting, but that made things all the more sweet once they began to see each other’s true selves.

The only thing preventing me from a 5 star is a mix between the structuring and writing. The writing on its own was very beautiful through most of the book, with just a little bit of modern slang that could be strange to see in a historical setting. This is YA, though, so I was willing to forgive that kind of thing. My main issue was the few moments where things were written so hazily that I was left partially unsure of what just took place; this was probably the intention at least some of the time with Loren’s visions or Felix’s memories, but it ended up resulting in a story that didn’t have a ton of distinct plot beats, feeling instead like the very lived-in journey of two boys through every unusual or mundane moment. The majority of this book (before the climax) takes place over the span of 4-5 days though, so it’s hard for me to complain about being so close to the protagonists. It makes sense for the author to stretch our time with them thin in comparison to the real time passing, squeezing in as much characterization as possible.

There were a few side characters I really liked as well. Aurelia was such a sweet little girl with an earnest heart. I loved her and her mom Livia’s dedication to caring for Loren even when he felt like more of a burden than anything else. Elias was an interesting addition as well. I kind of wish we got more on his history with Loren, and how their friendship fractured slightly over time. Even some of the guard’s piqued my interest with how unfalteringly loyal they were to either Servius or Julia. I wouldn’t have minded learning a little more about them as well!

This was a very beautifully written, strong debut novel! Things were wrapped up very carefully, with ample time to accept the ending. I’m so used to things being rushed that it was pleasantly surprising to get a decent chunk of page time with the aftermath of the main event. This is a story whose feel I think will stick with me for a long time. Certain scenes felt reminiscent of Greek and Roman myths and retelling with such potent atmosphere, I couldn’t help living this one too! This is definitely worth a read.

I loved this book. As someone with a BA in ancient Latin and Greek language and culture, this was a joy to me!
I loved all the details the author added about Roman society, Pompeii specifically and the way the Roman views influenced them. The lack of a clear law to protect both of them, to the patricians buying their way to political power. Something small I liked was the mention of how queer relationships as we see them today were seen as odd in Roman society, because their idea of a male/male relationship was very limited.

There were some slightly modern twists in here, but I guess that is why it is a YA book and not a serious historical drama filled with intrigue and suspense. The only thing that bothered be was that the eruption of the Vesuvius, the grand finale that the whole book had been building up to was over so quickly.

i really like the influx of queer YA that’s coming out in 2025– a lot of it is so emotional, raw, vulnerable in a way i haven’t seen before. you had my attention the moment you titled this vesuvius— when i was young i was obsessed with pompeii— and i was so curious to see how biehn would handle… well, everything.

first: the romance in this is excellent. in YA, so often everything needs to be so quick, you hardly have time to blink before characters are in love. this is something i tend to overlook, bc the characters are teenagers and, well, teenagers do that. but with this book, i could FEEL their connection. i could see who they each were and how they fit together like missing pieces of a puzzle.

i loved how much of the story was so emotionally packed. it felt like you are in pompeii, the writing is very vivid in that aspect. because you know how it ends, too, it adds a constant stream of high stakes and tension with every passing moment of time. you just want to grab the characters and yell at them to get out before it’s too late, but ofc the fall of pompeii is pre-ordained by history.

i will say: don’t expect a fully historical accurate novel. that’s just how YA works sometimes; the relatability for modern teens has to be there. anyway, i thought this was a beautiful story, and i can’t wait to see what biehn does next. :)