Really enjoyed this book! Definitely a slow burn with each working through their issues and coming to trust one another in ancient Pompeii and Roman society. While there are some darker undertones with the abuse, lupanares (brothel) and related relationships, it is not explicit and, as a reader, I felt like it was treated or considered normal in that society through mentions but but not quite explaining or focusing on it which helped with the narrative of that time. The elements of magic helped tie everything together, both enjoying it as a fictional story (considering the deaths in Pompeii over two thousand years ago) and still keep the awe, oracle visions, spiritualness throughout.
Having been to Pompeii recently, it was fun to pull up the map of the places mentioned in the book and tracing the story’s paths and descriptions, along with what buildings described may have looked like. I highly recommend taking a look at a map of Pompeii or a bit of those online walking tour videos. Anyways, it definitely added to the immersion when reading this book.

Unfortunately just didn’t get to it in time. I do appreciate being approved! I will be giving five stars as it is not the authors fault I didn’t review in time and I don’t want their book to suffer.

Thank you NetGalley, the author, and PeachTree Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the beginning of this book. It gave me what I was looking for in terms of a mythology feel. I didn’t previously know anything about the story of Vesuvius so I didn’t know how this book was going to end.

Felix is a thief and a wanderer. He falls into the background. He’s no one. Loren has had visions that have haunted him for a long time, and is doing what he can to prevent them from coming into fruition. He is a temple attendant that has aspirations of being a politician.

Somewhere along the way I got a little less invested. There’s a few storylines going on and there were some I liked more than others.

There’s a little bit of romance, but it’s moreso little moments that compile over time.

By the time the climax hit, the story became more faster paced than I wanted.

I did get a few messages out of this book though, about fate and choice. I felt like there were a few gems and great one- or two-liners in here. At times it felt poetic.

Read this for:
🗻 Queer Leads
🗻 Mythology/ Historical Fiction
🗻 Visions to decipher
🗻 Secret identities
🗻 A stolen relic
🗻 Power struggles

OVERALL

Overall, I give this a 4 out of 5 stars. I’m glad I read it and if there is another book added I would probably read it. I think mythology/history lovers may enjoy this most.

This book and I just didn’t click — and I’m honestly bummed about it, because it had all the ingredients for something I could’ve absolutely loved.

But a few things kept pulling me out of the story and made it hard to really connect with the main characters, Felix and Loren. First off, there were some inconsistencies with the historical setting. I’m talking about small stuff, like the language sounding way too modern and teen-ish, and other things that just didn’t feel believable (hemp smoking, really?).

There were also some awkward uses of Italian — like “pappa” instead of “papà” (which, in Italian, means something very different), plus the fact that Italian as a language didn’t even exist back then, so Latin would’ve made more sense.

And then there were all these political subplots that never really got developed, and character motivations that felt a bit unclear or underexplored.

They’re all little things, but they added up and gradually chipped away at my enjoyment. It’s a shame, really.

First of all, thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for sending me a digital advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was already so intrigued by just the cover alone, but the premise of this book really sold me. This is a really interesting and angsty queer historical fiction debut revolving around two teen boys around the time of the eruption of Vesuvius in Pompeii. Our main boys are Felix and Loren, with a plethora of interesting side characters that have varying effects on their lives. I know we can probably infer what happened to many of the side characters, but I just really liked some of them and wished to have more time with them. Felix and Loren are very different from each other which makes it easy for them to contradict as well as complement one another. I liked that the story was told through both of their POVs, revealing both of their ambitions and backstories. The build up to the eruption of Vesuvius was a large portion of the story, but then I felt the action part once it hit the climax wasn't really long enough, it was very short-lived.
There was a lot of side stories in the building up portion such as the Temple of Isis that Loren was apart of and political schemes going on in the background of the city. I was expecting there to be more focus on the actual chaos during the eruption, which was not the case as it more so focused on the events leading up to it. I just felt like the climax was rushed a bit, the whole story takes place over a matter of days which is fine, the pacing just felt a bit off. The actual romance was introduced around halfway through and was very cute. Their relationship was very back and forth though, like do you want to be together or not. The writing itself was good, there is use of modern language but I don't think it was to the point that it bothered me too much. I really loved both Felix and Loren and I’m glad they had a happy ending. Ultimately, I was really impressed with the way the characters were written but just wish the story was paced out a bit better.

Felix is no one, a ghost. With no past, no connections, and only living in the moment, he zips through towns stealing for survival. Snatching a prized silver helmet from Apollos’ temple in Pompeii is all in a night’s work… until it isn’t. On the run from an exiled but powerful Roman senator, Felix runs into a temple for sanctuary, only to be knocked unconscious by a beautiful boy with long hair and recognition in his eyes.

For four years, Loren has been haunted by nightmares of Felix—a cruel, angry specter surrounded by the violent destruction of Pompeii. Deemed mad by his parents, Loren escapes to Pompeii and becomes an attendant in the temple of Isis. With his nightmare corporealized, his terror crashes down—so he crashes a bowl on Felix’s head. Learning Felix has stolen Mercury’s helmet, an artifact no one has been able to touch in 300 years, Loren knows he has very little time to discover Felix’s connection to Mercury and stop Felix’s destruction of the city.

Felix has no interest in gods, oracles, or magic, nor in Loren’s insistence that he’s important to the gods. However, Felix feels a pull toward the helmet and Loren. Spending time together tempts him with thoughts of a home, an identity, and a future. As much as Felix wants to resist their nascent connection and run, he can’t leave the infuriating boy to his own quixotic devices, especially when Loren becomes ensnared in a political web by the allure of fulfilling his dreams. Given a glimpse of all he wants, Loren is determined to save the day, but can he untangle his desires from the visions’ truths, or will he lose his city and the thief that stole his heart?

Vesuvius Is an enjoyable YA novel about self-discovery, self-determination, and hope in the face of hardship. Loren loves Pompeii and wants to help its people via his visions and influence as a respected priest and councilman. He’s desperate to be proven right in his prophetic gifts and political capability, so he typically leaps without thought. When he doesn’t, he still fails to stop and truly see or listen. His guilelessness, impetuousness, ambitions, and insecurities make him credulous and incautious. While Loren is constantly searching for a home, Felix is afraid to find one. A part of Felix is dead to him; his memory blocked except intangible echoes. His only clear memory is his father’s murder and last words—run. So, he ran and lost himself in the running. However, Loren sees past the lies and sharp edges. He unlocks a tangle of emotions and longing inside Felix, but Felix knows Loren has an agenda, is keeping secrets, and that attachment and belief create an exploitable vulnerability he can’t afford.

While both have demons to face, Felix alone has a proper arc. He begins as a disconnected boy led by fear and grows to one who’s ready to embrace love and his past. Loren’s arc is less developed. He learns some hard truths, but their comprehension is abrupt and almost counterproductive. They magnify his deep-seated belief that he is a vapid, useless burden, and he wallows more than learns. That incompleteness is reasonable, since he’s only then taking ownership of his life. However, the lack of catharsis from his rise from the ashes of his emotional turmoil like Felix is disappointing.

Though surrounding an apocalyptic event, the tone is light. It’s slice of life/coming-of-age style doesn’t always convey the appropriate immediacy for the stakes and four-day timeline. The pacing, repetition, and subplots for a 16-year-old boy flitting about for answers hinder the momentum. The contemporary language is expected, but there are extreme anachronisms like “sex scenes” and “at his job”/”jobless.” Some of the emotional and character beats are only marginally effective because the text doesn’t match the context. There are also many details that impede the suspension of disbelief, contradict, or don’t make sense.

Yet, the writing style is clean and immersive, and the boys’ personalities and dynamic are portrayed well. All the characters feel alive and important; even the antagonist with one singular goal is menacing and not one note. The city’s bustling energy and resilience is captured well, as is Loren’s adoration of it. Despite Vesuvian trembles and Roman economic pressure, the residents are survivors who never want to give up on their home. Vesuvius is an entertaining tale of love, perseverance, and making the impossible possible.

I was really excited for this book - I love the concept, and couldn't wait to read it. It took me a lot longer than normal to really feel connected with and invested in the characters. Usually I can connect with at least one of the main characters, but for the first half or so of the book both of the characters just fell a little flat for me. I did eventually feel more invested in them, but it took a while. The story is slower than I expected, which isn't a bad thing, but it is different than what I expected. The character development is worth sticking with, and I really enjoyed the world that Cass Biehn built for the characters in Pompeii. Overall, once I got through the beginning, I really enjoyed the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley, Peachtree Teen and Colored Pages Book Tour for access to the e-ARC and physical book in exchange for an honest review.
I'm not usually a big historical fiction person, but I'm very glad I read this book! It brought the history of Vesuvius and added a fantasy twist to it that I really enjoyed. I loved that the author decided to make this book dual POV. I loved the chemistry between Loren and Felix. This book kept me on my toes until the very end. The mystery behind it all truly had me guessing until the last page. And we love a gay and bi+ relationship! Overall I highly recommend this book!

I was very drawn in by the concept of Vesuvius - two queer boys on the streets of Pompeii days before the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius that would destroy their city? Wow. Sign me up! It promised a lot, and certainly delivered in some ways. I enjoyed the exploration of various versions of daily life across Roman class ranks, and found following Loren and Felix around more engaging than I thought I would. That said, I didn't connect with either character. Despite receiving the ARC a few months ago, it took me a long while to feel invested enough into the story or characters to finish it up. I echo other reviewers' sentiments that the ending came too abruptly and too late, though I do think the lead-up was interesting. Overall, I enjoyed the read, but didn't connect with the characters enough to love it.

3.5/5 stars, rounded up

I'm not sure why this one didn't hit for me. I liked the prose and the concept was cool, but I don't think the characters ever really came alive for me. And I didn't quite feel the tension of the impending eruption as much as I was expecting. The stakes were elsewhere the whole story and I wasn't very invested in the characters, so I didn't feel much concern or dread.

Overall, it wasn't bad, but not amazing, either. I did like the author's writing, though, and would give their books another chance if they release more. And I can see other folks enjoying this one more than I did so I may recommend it to those looking for queer historical YA.

Thank you to NetGalley and Peachtree for the ARC. All thoughts shared are my honest opinion.

Vesuvius is a young adult novel about two queer boys navigating the streets of ancient Pompeii shortly before its collapse. The character development was amazing, dual pov and such an amazing queer love story.

From the first few pages, I was in. Cass Biehn throws you straight into Pompeii, where fate feels less like a path and more like a trap, and the setting speaks just as much as the characters. This is a queer YA historical fantasy that blends political intrigue, mystery, and a complicated romance into something truly special.

Felix is boyishly charming, layered, mischievous, and reckless, but undeniably sincere. His amnesia adds an extra layer of mystery, and he steals every scene he's in. Must be because he is a thief? Loren, his quieter counterpart, brings a different kind of tension. He's devout, introspective, and burdened by prophetic nightmares. Their meet-cute is amazing. Their relationship is a messy and emotional one, especially with the secrets they keep. The arc they go through together is my favorite part of the book.

What really impressed me is how Biehn plays with historical inevitability. We know where this is headed—this is Pompeii, after all—and that ticking clock adds a heavy, almost suffocating tension to even the quietest scenes. Every moment feels borrowed, every joy tinged with dread. And while the prose itself is accessible, the emotional and thematic layers go deep.

That said, this is a slower, more contemplative story than I expected. A lot of the tension comes from the reader’s knowledge of what's coming, not from explosive action or plot twists. The pacing meanders a bit, leaning into the rhythm of daily life and politics more than disaster. Personally, I found that fascinating; it gave weight to the characters’ choices, but I can see it feeling too slow or too low-stakes for some readers who expect more external conflict from a Pompeii setting.

Thank you to Colored Pages Book Tours, Peach Tree Teen, and the author for the complimentary beautiful copy! There’s a hidden naked hardcover underneath and it is gorgeous. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.

I was so excited for this book, and after reading it, I was not disappointed! It was such a great read, and I devoured it in a couple of days. I adore books set in Ancient Greece/Ancient Rome/that time period, and the fact that it's a queer story only makes that better. I kept seeing a lot of hype around it on Twitter, so I was super happy when I got approved for an ARC and was able to read it before it officially hit shelves. I will be continuing to seek out future books by Cass Biehn!

AHHHH. What a wild ride! Cass Biehn is about to be a trailblazer in YA historical fiction (volcano pun totally intended).

This book felt expansive yet not quite big enough at the same time. Literally everything I could’ve asked for in a debut, and Biehn has been so transparent and engaging about the process on their Twitter that I’m already such a fan of theirs. More of them, please!! They’re absolutely an author you want to keep an eye out for. Catch me first in line for TTBM (expected in 2027!!!).

I preordered VESUVIUS as soon as I heard about it and once I got my hands on the ARC I was so excited to dive in, and WOW Biehn did not disappoint — they have such a lush but accessible writing style, and the metaphors are so beautiful (a thumb flipping through Felix’s mind like it’s papyrus? That’s so cool helloooo?!)

I can’t understate how much this is written like literary fiction, but without being flowery or inaccessible for a YA audience. I can’t stress that this is SUCH a gorgeous debut and everything I want my work to be when I eventually publish: the world, the intimacy, the passion that’s poured into each page, the staying power. They blew it out of the water.

I loved the allusions to Ancient Greece and modern society, with themes such as wealth disparity, access to education, and even the mention of graffiti (which reminded me that the word originated in the times of the SPQR). If not for the beautiful descriptions of Grecian architecture and the Aegean Sea landscape, it would be very plausible for this to be contemporary. Such little things really sell the story, such as Felix’s rules of theft coincide with the rules of how not to get your heart broken without ever being explicitly stated, and THAT’S the kind of thing that I love to see in YA/crossover fiction. There is no handholding (from a figurative standpoint lol — spoiler alert but yes, the boys do hold hands, and yes it’s everything I could’ve ever asked for). Both of the boys’ introductory scenes were SO GOOD and so impactful, Biehn is absolutely excellent at show-don’t-tell, I literally could not think of a better introduction to their characters. I do think the boys got along a little too quickly, but that’s not a complaint lol I adore that we got to see their easy banter right off the bat. And I’m such a hypocrite because I also wish that we had more time with the boys during the climax!

I keep discovering new things to adore about this book — another review mentioned that Felix is fixated on the past and Loren is fixated on the future; how did I not catch onto that?!! — but this is really something that you have to read for yourself. Experience it. Marinate in the world. Or you can eat it up in one sitting like I did bahahahah :]

An absolute pleasure! Can’t wait to see more from Biehn!

Thank you to NetGalley/Peachtree Teen for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review :]

I loved both Felix and Loren! And Pompeii historical setting was so interesting for their story. This was such a strong debut, and I am looking forward to what Cass Biehn has in store in the future!

Thank you PeachTree and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC!

When you get halfway through an ARC copy before you go preorder the book, that's how you know the debut you're reading is about to become a new autobuy author. I cannot sing this book's praises enough. I am hype. You should be hype. Become hype.

I am a well known tragedy lover, and I have always said the mark of a great book is one where you know the end and you are still at the edge of your seat. Vesuvius absolutely manages this. I actually started ugly crying at some point, so there’s that. Loren and Felix I want to hug and hold for one million years and never let go. The rest of the cast is brilliant as well- fully fleshed out side characters that really invite you into the world, that make you start to worry about the fate of not just the protagonists but the entire city and how alive Biehn has made it feel.

It's about two boys at the end of their world. It’s ghosts, trauma, running from your past till it catches up to you, absolute stubborn refusal to budge on your beliefs, trying to change what cannot be changed. Between the romance and the tension of knowing the volcano is about to explode, there’s also plenty about the socio-economic inequality of 79 CE Pompeii, because it’s also about power and who has it and what you do with it.

Lastly, and this part is mild spoilers - the construction of these characters is fucking air tight. I feel like I kept having these jaw dropping “of COURSE you would do that” moments. Felix is a cynic, and the moment he decides he would rather believe Loren alone is capable of magic than bend his whole belief system to include the possibility of magic, that was like. THE moment to me. Like yes!!! Give me stubborn characters! Give me that kind of logic people get when they are stuck in their ways, the kind that doesn’t make sense to an outsider! Give me Loren, who knows he shouldn’t mess with fate but spends the whole book thinking he’s gonna be able to circumvent it if he just thinks about it hard enough or looks more. Ugh, I love that ambitious boy and I love this thief. I love it all.

Love the take on the historical city of Pompeii. The atmosphere really felt like it was in that time period. Loren and Felix are great characters and just work so well. Felix is a person that grew up on the streets, believes in making his own fate and works with facts. Loren believes in the gods, works at the Temple of Isis and has been having prophetic dreams for years showing the destruction of Pompeii. After finding out Felix stole the helmet of Mercury from the god of war’s temple, Loren is more determined than ever to see that all the prophecies he’s had does not come true.

Knowing the tragic history of the real Pompeii, I had to get my hands on this. This is such a good reach and fits well in the teen category as both main characters are in their teens. The things they faced were definitely of the time so I wasn’t bothered at all at the mention of gory details or locations like brothels because that’s what was there in cities like Pompeii. Truly enjoyed reading this for the story and the historical references that were used.

Vesuvius is a queer historical fantasy set amidst the eruption of Mount Vesuvius following the tragic love story of Felix and Loren.

Right, first things first: I’m staking my claim now as an OG Vesuvius stan because I see this thing erupting in popularity as soon as it’s published (yes that erupting line was a pun and no there won’t be any more of them in this post). Secondly, yes I did get a lot of gender euphoria from one of the male main characters being called Loren (a homophone of my own name). Thirdly, yes I did cry hard enough after finishing it that I had to sleep with a fan pointed directly at me in my tiny cold flat because I got overheated with autistic overwhelm. With all that out of the way, onto the review proper:

When Felix, the boy who has been haunting Loren’s nightmarish visions for years shows up on his doorstep, it spells disaster. In every prophetic dream Loren has, Felix’s presence portends the end of Pompeii, a splitting of the universe, a rending of worlds. But the boy before him, clutching a stolen helmet that no mortal should have the power to hold, intrigues Loren. Hiding from his true identity, working in a temple by day and renting a spare room in a brothel by night, all Loren wants is a chance to make his name in the political sphere. At least, that’s all he wanted until Felix blazed into his life.

But Loren isn’t the only one with a past. Felix is running – from the law, from his feelings, and from the memories of his childhood that seem to slip away from him whenever he gets too close. He has rules to stay alive, and they’ve worked so far:

Keep moving forward
Don’t get attached
Hurt them before they hurt you
And never, ever, believe in anything – you’ll only get taken advantage of.

The rules have served him well. Until Loren.
Now, with a stolen relic burning a hole in his satchel and a bloodthirsty guard on his tail, Felix might have to believe in something, something bigger than himself, bigger even than the gods:
A boy with a pretty braid, a propensity for fainting spells, and an ambition to become one of the politicians that cut the hands off of thieves like Felix.
Great.

There are so, so many things I loved about this book, so I’ll try and break them down.
Firstly, these boys are messy; they’re traumatised and mentally ill and hurt. They make mistakes, and lash out, and cry. And they’re allowed to. For me, that was incredibly powerful. I’m slightly sick of main characters who are miraculously healed through the power of love or friendship or whatever other bollocks. Anyone who has experienced trauma will understand that love can’t heal something like that, that it takes time and work and ugliness. Without spoiling anything, both Felix and Loren have been through Some Shit, and I suspect others – like I did – may pick up on the hints to some of those traumas before they’re revealed. I’m a sucker for a story where characters are allowed to hurt – the Hunger Games, Baldur’s Gate, Percy Jackson, those narratives where characters can scream and flail and survive. Always survive.

I’ve seen a lot of people compare this to Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, and I totally see why. From the title alone, you know what’s going to go down. You know the story of Vesuvius, and that dread creeps throughout the book, tainting sweet moments but making them feel all the more precious because of the knowledge of that ticking clock. I was rooting for Loren and Felix at least partly because I was rooting for the ultimate underdogs – I mean, who can win against the eruption of Vesuvius? However, I think Biehn’s novel is vitally different from Miller’s in some really fascinating and positive ways:

Firstly, it’s very accessible. Achilles is definitely not impenetrable, but there’s a lot of stuff that requires at least a base understanding of the Iliad to really appreciate. Vesuvius doesn’t do that. It’s very readable, very grounded, and incredibly fast-paced. Plus, because everyone knows the tale of Vesuvius, that dread really drives home from page 1 in a way some major character deaths might not in Achilles if you’re not fully up on your Homeric myth.

Secondly, because it isn’t based on an epic poem, author Cass Biehn has the complete freedom to weave a fully realised and fleshed out world of their own, a chance they have seized. Biehn’s Pompeii feels relatable yet distant, a world you can imagine yourself in whilst still very much grounded in the historical context.

There’s a lot about this book that really hit home for me personally, and I’m so glad it exists. I’ll be following Cass on their publishing journey (especially since their next book is a Hamlet reimagining and anyone who knows me knows I’m a slut for Hamlet) and cannot wait for the world to meet Felix and Loren. You’re in for such a treat. If you’re looking for a YA Song of Achilles fated lovers story, get to pre-ordering Vesuvius. You’ll lava it (sorry, couldn’t resist one last pun).

Vesuvius by Cass Biehn is a thrilling historical romance fantasy, set days before Mount Vesuvius destroys Pompeii.

We have the clever thief Felix, who slips from city to city to survive the present and escape a past he cannot remember. Then there is Loren, an ambitious temple attendant, who has seen Felix in his apocalyptic nightmares for years. The last thing Loren expects is for his dream to stumble headfirst through his temple doors moments after an earthquake rocks the city. When Felix shows Loren the helmet, Loren sees the world coming to an end. He knows they have mere days to uncover Felix’s ties to the relic and to Loren’s visions if they have any hope of saving the city.

I just know this book will destroy me in the most beautiful way. 😍

Thank you to, @coloredpagesbt @peachtreeteen @cassbeewrites for the physical copy of this book.