I was really impressed with this book! I loved the setting of Pompeii, it gave the narrative a rich depth, combined with a lingering dread, since I assumed it was all going to end in tragedy. I found Felix and Loren so loveable and they only grew on me the more I read. Most books on Ancient Rome are focused on the elite, so it was extremely refreshing to get a glimpse into the world of the working class. I loved the character dynamics and how all the characters had flaws and challenges to overcome, but this just made them more believeable and loveable. I'm most likely going to buy a physical copy of this book when it comes out because I can definitely see myself re-reading in the future.

2.5*

I loved the concept behind this book, but the execution for me was just not quite there.

For a debut novel, this was brilliant. The writing style was personally not for me, as I don't really like the blunt, choppy line structure, but you can see clearly that Cass Biehn has immense writing talent! I really liked Felix's character and I thought the concept crossed well between the historical fiction genre and very light fantasy elements, which is perfect for YA reader.

However, there were a few bits that felt a bit off. The book felt really modern when reading it, which kind of pulled me out of the story a bit. I also think it was a bit confusing about what its target audience was - the plot, the characters, and the characters' ages felt appropriate for a YA story, but the dynamics and the language didn't feel YA, nor NA. This disconnect was a bit jarring.

I also would've liked to have seen more historically accurate research. I have read a series set in Pompeii in the lead up to the Vesuvius tragedy, and it was much more historically accurate - it was clear how much research had gone into writing the book. This book, on the other hand, felt like Vesuvius was a backstory (despite being the name of the book). This might be ok for younger readers, maybe young teens, but it means that older readers who have picked this up will notice this.

Everything about this book piqued my interest. The premise was phenomenal. Queer rep and historical fiction with a mythological twist? Sign me up. Biehn did a wonderful job bringing Pompeii to life. Loren and Felix were instantly compelling characters and I enjoyed their dynamic. I would absolutely recommend this book to young readers. A rare gem and an exciting new premise!

Queer historical fiction? Sign me up. I love the premise of this book and I went in with high hopes. I have a hyperfixation on ancient Pompeii and I was not at all disappointed. I really appreciated the tone of the author's writing and how natural the love felt.

this queer, young adult fantasy was a read in one sitting for me. set in the ancient land of Pompeii, following Felix, a thief, and Loren—a temple attendant.

two things really drew me in:

Loren’s prophetic nightmares of the city’s destruction. I found myself enthralled with how this was executed on the page.

AND

the immersive historical details that make the land feel vivid and urgent even as the city is ruled by ruthless politics (and inevitable doom).

i loved watching Loren and Felix’s dynamic shift from distrust and secrets to a slow shift toward understanding.

5/5 for me on this one.

Vesuvius is a queer young adult fantasy set in ancient Pompeii, featuring a cunning thief, a temple attendant, and a burning city. After Felix seizes an opportunity to steal a helmet in Pompeii, he discovers that it is not only a priceless artefact but a relic of the god Mercury. Pieces of his forgotten past begin to simmer when he touches it. Loren is plagued by nightmares of Pompeii's destruction which grow clearer as the danger grows closer, and he knows they have days to uncover Felix's ties to the relic and his own dreams if they have any hope of saving the city from the fury of Mount Vesuvius. But the city is ruled by bloody politics and unstoppable destinies, with dangerous, desperate people lurking in every shadow. Felix and Loren have to piece together their fates—and their growing feelings for one another—to make it out of the burning city alive.

There's something about retellings and re-imaginings that I'm immensely fond of—these stories inspired by mythology and folklore and fairytales that litter my bookshelves—and it's the fact that I often know how they'll end. I enjoy the comfort of structure and routine, and I am someone who reads every spoiler about a film that I can find before I watch it, so the thing it takes to impress me in these books is the writing being so enthralling that I forget I already know about the ending. As readers, we know that Vesuvius will erupt, but we don't know about the final days leading up to that inevitable moment, and I want those days to sweep me away from the tragedy.

I was captivated from Felix and Loren's first meeting—broken and lonely boys bound to find each other through fate. Their relationship is built over only four days, but their distinct personalities—complete opposites in every way—and similar need to search for something to rediscover a missing part of themselves made the brief moment in time feel complex and fully developed. They're not fast friends or star-crossed lovers when they meet. They're not the Patroclus and Achilles dynamic that I was tentatively expecting, and I am glad about that, but I do love how the myth ties into the plot, and how history continues to be rewritten through Felix and Loren's relationship. They don't get along for the majority of their time together, and Loren's visions make it difficult for him to trust the Felix that stands before him instead of the one he's been seeing in his prophecies, and Felix is a flighty thief who has spent his life fearing the consequences of attachment. Their hidden secrets create this intense rift of distrust between them, but it's these secrets that ultimately bring them closer to each other, and the dynamic shifts from something necessary to something they want, and this evolution towards trust is satisfying.

The author paints a vivid image of Pompeii, a city that is on the brink of falling apart physically and politically, but Loren can't leave because it's his home. He feels a loyalty to it, that he can fix it. There are a few equally vivid side characters that help bring the story to life. Sweet little girls with the urge to do the right thing, no matter how scary it is, and women who care for stray children as if they are their own, and guards with unfaltering loyalty, and Elias. Like other readers, I want to know more about Elias and his history with Loren, especially how their relationship seems to have broken down over time. I demand infinite short story spinoffs about these characters.

My one flaw with this book was the pacing—it just wasn't working for me at later points in the book. The story takes place over four days, and so many things happened in those four days that I had to suspend my disbelief for a while when I thought about the timeline. I was having such a good time with the characters that I wasn't thinking about the days. The eruption of Mount Vesuvius and the fleeing of the city (which is a prominent part of the book description) takes up one chapter? two chapters? of the story, and this makes the event feel almost insignificant in comparison to other moments in the plot. But, really, this is a book about two boys coming to terms with and escaping from their pasts, not the destruction of Pompeii, so maybe I can forgive the disaster taking a backseat.

Other reviewers also pointed out a few moments in which the language felt too modern, but this didn't affect my immersion personally. I'm not expecting a young adult novel with a conversational tone to commit to inventing historical swear words.

Overall, Vesuvius is an atmospherically stunning debut for fans of immersive mythology reimaginings, tragedies where the characters spend the entire time trying to rewrite the ending, and broken boys trying to put themselves back together again.

3.5/5 This book was so beautiful and so intricately written. I felt like I was taken back in time to an era hundreds of years before I was even born. Cass has put in a great attention to detail and it's evident she's done a lot of research in order to ensure that her depiction of Pompeii was as accurate as possible. Her description of silver chalices, clay walls and urns really painted a beautiful picture of what Pompeii was like before Mt Vesuvius erupted. However, I did find at time the writing paid more attention to detail than the actual story, at times making things feel a bit slow and over descriptive The relationship between Loren and Felix was so good, they had incredible chemistry and though their interactions were a bit frustrating at times, I felt that they complimented each other really well. Overall this was a decent read and I feel like this would be a great read for all ages.

Thanks to NetGalley and Peachtree Teen for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I liked this book!

The secondary characters were very fun to read. Elias, Aurelia, Livia...lots of variety and I think it made for a compelling cast. As for the main characters, I was endeared to Felix pretty much upon the first chapter. Rogue types with quick tongues are often enjoyable for me, and the added element of a past he can't remember made me want to know more. Loren was harder to like at first, and initially I had a difficult time adjusting to his narration since the elements of his prophetic power I think are wielded a tad heavy-handed.

Honestly, the political subplot was boring for me. On top of two backstories to parse out between Loren and Felix (although arguably what intrigued me most), the helmet, and the eruption itself I think there were a couple too many threads and an uneven distribution of screen time for them all.

The prose was okay. I don't feel very passionate about it but it's serviceable. It started off very nice, in fact, but the deeper you got into the first act I thought the dialogue, and even bits of character introspection felt very anachronistic against the backdrop of ancient Pompeii.

I was looking forward to seeing how the romance would pan out through this book! I will say that I find it harder to fully connect with a relationship arc when the book's timeline is only a few days. This was the case with Sydney and Victor in Vicious and remains the case with Loren and Felix in Vesuvius. Here, there was a decent amount of hot-then-cold but I can sort of attribute it to teenage angst and both of them dealing with a lot of shit. However, I did ultimately enjoy their dynamic and their ending was bittersweet. Overall, there were great moments that shone through for me and although the product isn't fully cohesive, I still enjoyed it enough to make it through. 3.5 rounded up.

Vesuvius is the story of Felix, a thief by trade with a past he can't remember, and Loren, a bit lost in this world and haunted by visions that he can't hope to forget. And when they meet, its fate and destiny and tragedy all colliding at once.

I really, really enjoyed this... more than I expected. The book is witty, and charming and downright unsettling in some places. Cass Biehn employs an incredible voice, in both of the POVs, that genuinely hooked me by page 1.

The author's profile bio describes them as writing messy queer characters in messier situations; and I couldn't agree more. The thing is; both Felix and Loren are trying so hard. For the first time since he can remember Felix has something and someone he wants to hold on to. Loren, faced with impossible choices, has genuine intentions to do the most good. And yet the forboding destiny of Pompeii looms and neither one of them were ever meant to be strong enough to change that.

From the moment they met their connection was so intense. Messy, broken boys, each trying to stick to their own convictions. It was lovely reading them become exceptions for each other, and then frustrating whenever their edges splintered against one another. There was a brief, suspended moment of peace - the calm before the storm. Then the inevitable chasm of everything going wrong.

I do like that we get to see the aftermath, rushed as it feels. It's not just a happy ending. It's a sliver of a glimpse at how they can come to heal and love in the other's presence; and a hopeful ending for a hopeful future.

Thank you to Netgalley and Peachtree Teen for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 !! this is a gripping, fast-paced thriller that combines the tension of natural disaster with the intricacies of human survival. the writing is immersive, pulling you into the chaos and urgency of the eruption. though the characters could use more depth, the suspense and action keep you hooked throughout. it's a quick, entertaining read for fans of disaster fiction and tense survival stories.

not bad for a debut novel <3

Rep: achillean main relationship (one bi male main character, one gay male main character)

Summary: Felix is a thief, roaming throughout the Roman empire, nabbing just enough small items and treasures to keep himself alive and moving. When he enters the city of Pompeii, he hits the jackpot - the helmet of Mercury, which he nabs easily from the temple. However, things are not all as they seem: an unknown nobleman kidnaps Felix off the street and demands the helmet. After escaping, Felix finds himself in the company of Loren, who has been having visions of Felix and the city of Pompeii being destroyed... can the two of them overcome their flaws and work together to figure out the mystery of the helmet?

Review:
Unfortunately, I wanted things from this book that it didn't give me. For starters, I was disappointed that for a book literally named after a famous volcano, the volcano and eruption itself had little to no time in the book. The eruption was given approximately two paragraphs, all told. There were almost no descriptions of the eruption, or its aftermath, which would have been much greater than described here. I wanted more volcano. This could have been set in any town that experienced a horrific natural disaster - a flood, a tsunami, something. Nothing about it screamed, "This is in Pompeii!" In the meantime, what was actually happening, you might ask? Biehn was trying to balance two different overarching plots: a complex political scheme about the political balance within Pompeii and the Roman Empire, as well as a fantasy plot about how gods and magic are real. While I have seen some books pull off this combination, I wish this book had picked one or the other. The result was two different plots that didn't feel well-connected and that vied for screen time, leaving neither one satisfying me. I also wasn't that attached to Loren. As a queer woman reading this at the beginning of the 47th President's second term, Loren's insistence that he could do good in politics and that people would listen to him felt off putting, especially because the book repeatedly proved him wrong time and time again. He felt ignorantly naive, rather than an inspiring optimist.

What I did like? I loved Felix. I thought his character made sense for his backstory, and I liked his "voice" and his thoughts. I also liked all of the side characters. They had variety and added to the depth of the story.

Felix is a theif on the run, anticipating the next score to put a roof over his head and food in his belly. Loten is an initiate of the Temple of Isis, one who has been having visions of fire and doom for months. When their paths meet after Felix manages to steal the Healm of Mercury the boys find themselves battling senators, priests, and their growijg affection for each other while Vesuvius spells doom for Pompeii.

I love historical romances so I was really happy to see this one. As a historical setting though, it didn’t feel much like Ancient Rome. A lot of the language, especially the dialogue, was a little too modern and kept jarring me out of the setting.

Even though the boys only know each other for four days—90% of the book—it feels like a lot longer. We get to see them open up to and eventually fall for each other, even if the actual romance was a little bit lacking.

I had guessed Felix’s heritage pretty early on so that wasn’t a big shock to me. The context clues about Loren—he could read and write, talked about his tutors, had run away from a home where he never worried about money—let me guess his secret early on as well. His character arc could have used a little bit more work since he spent most of his time trying to convince others about the upcoming doom when revealing himself would have made them actually stop and listen (unfortunately money and power speak, especially in ancient settings). I wanted him to own his heritage and use it to his advantage.

Overall it was a good debut. There were lots of fun side characters.

Thank you to Cass Biehn, Peachtree House, and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

The synopsis and lovely book cover art really drew me in. I love Historical Fiction and couldn’t wait to read a queer romance with an ancient roman setting. Beautiful setting, and the characters were great (although sometimes a little annoying). I really struggled with how modern the prose was though. I understand it’s written for teens, but it can be a bit jarring when reading. Also needs another couple rounds of editing because the spelling and grammar mistakes were very bad. I think a solid 3.5 when it’s finished. A 2.5 as it stands.

I've been eagerly anticipating "Vesuvius," and I have to say it definitely lived up to the hype for me! It was well written, the story was great, the characters were great-- just a very enjoyable read overall. The one and only issue that I had with it was the pacing at the end. With how action-packed the book had been up until that point, the sort of tediousness of the ending was a bit disappointing.

Pleasantly surprised with this one!

I am not usually a historical fiction reader, as I read a LOT of history non-fiction so I can’t really sink into historical fiction the way I’d like. This was really great! The setting is something that usually brings me out of historical fiction novels as there are some anachronisms and it all comes all poorly researched, but you can really the author really took their time and making a believable world was important to them.

With that research comes a better ability to set the stage for the disaster and the dread of the eruption and its aftermath. I felt NERVOUS reading this book even though, of course, we all know how it ends!

Loren was probably my favorite character because he just felt so real. Frustrating at times. But I so enjoyed learning about what made him so committed to his position.

4/5 stars!

I wanted to love this book, but it was a disappointment. It's not *bad*, but I didn't really like it.

It has good things, the setting is 🤌 And the secondary characters are very well constructed. I couldn't say much about the main characters because I didn't understand them much, especially Loren. There were many comings and goings.

My favorite character was Aurelia, I love her a lot. The last scene where she and Livia appear almost made me cry, it's beautiful.

The plot of the helmet and the Vesuvius looked sooooo good, the book is written in a way that you get more and more nervous about what's going to happen. But the moment arrives, and it was disappointing. I was expecting a super epic, sentimental, brutal scene. And it was a blink.

And well, the romance left me a little dry. I wasn't expecting much, because I was sure it would focus on the plot of the destruction of Pompeii, but ns. Towards the end you can see that they have a nice relationship, they are cute, so that the author writes a scene that I still don't understand, that ruins the relationship FOR ME and then regrets it and goes back, but again, and again back. Nsnsnsnsns I didn't understand.

The ending was also a bit disappointing. There is a beautiful scene (a bit shoehorned in) and then the ending.

Felix, a thief on the run from a past he can't remember, steals a relic of the gods, landing himself in the sights of a dangerous, powerful man who would use the power for himself. Loren, a temple attendant with visions no one believes, has seen the flame-haired boy in his dreams, and knows his appearance marks the destruction of everything he loves. But when Felix arrives at Loren's temple for sanctuary, the two must race against time to solve the relic's mystery and save Pompeii.

From the first page, this YA romance plunges you into the ancient streets of Pompeii as a living, breathing city. Every immersive detail sings, from the fabric to the temple smoke. The author weaves political intrigue and complex social hierarchies through in a way that feels natural instead of exposition, and keeps us invested in the story.

The prose is quick and tight, with moments of evocative imagery that fit perfectly into this piece of history from poetry and art. But it’s also a story about the streets of Pompeii, the thieves, cutthroats and brothels. We’re seeing them in translation across time and language, but real people didn’t speak in poetry. They swore and used slang. And one of the challenges of making translation immersive is to convey the tone and meaning instead of the exact words. That’s why I’m not bothered by modern idioms in historical fiction, or a few F-bombs. I see it as an immersive depiction that lets us into these character’s heads.

Because, at its heart, Vesuvius is about people. That’s where Cass Biehn shines brightest.

Felix is immediately lovable as the wounded rogue running from a past he can’t remember, determined to avoid roots that slow him down. Loren is more complex and subtle, a boy with a heart so big he would give it to his city, but no one ever taught him how to survive that. Together they have a love that inspires hope, even in a story we think we know the end of.

I say think because Cass Biehn writes with a keen understanding of our modern context: we know how the story of Pompeii ends.

But do we?

The fantasy elements add a clever overarching tension as we wonder, this time, this Pompeii, these magical boys with no political or social power, might give us a different ending. Even though every interesting, lovable character we meet in the city evokes dread for their future and ups the stakes.

So we root for the unlikely duo of Felix the thief who pretends to not care and Loren the temple assistant who cares too much. Every warning, every earthquake, every sign of the inevitable end, we root for them to save the city, and each other.

Thanks to Netgalley and Peachtree Teen for giving me a chance to read a review copy in exchange for an honest review. Remember to request Vesuvius at your local library!

Set under the looming shadow of Mount Vesuvius, Vesuvius by Cass Biehn takes readers to ancient Pompeii and follows the story of two boys, Loren and Felix, as they face their fate in the days before disaster strikes.

What I really liked was how the author brought the streets of Pompeii to life. The descriptions made it easy to imagine walking there, and if you’ve ever visited the ruins or seen museums in Naples or Rome, there are some fun Easter eggs to discover. The book is full of small references to Roman and Greek culture. It gives a nice introduction if you’re new to the topic, but it’s also a treat if you enjoy spotting mentions of classic authors, books, or art.

Even though the reader would supect the eruption of Vesuvius to be the main focus, I felt the real story was about Loren and Felix discovering themselves. The novel shows how they deal with their pasts, their believes, learn to trust themselves, and find out how important it is to let others help them. This made the story feel more personal and emotional.

I also enjoyed the depiction of the eruption itself. It’s refreshing to read a fictional version instead of always relying on Pliny the Younger’s account. It gave a different, vivid picture of the disaster that felt new.

The story kept me interested, and I cared about the characters, but there were a few moments where their decisions didn’t quite make sense. This created small gaps in the narrative.

Overall, Vesuvius is a great read for anyone interested in classics, mythology, or a historical fiction story that’s easy to follow and full of engaging details.

Actual rating 3.5/5 stars.

While well written, I think this story lost me a bit in how politically focused it was. I went in thinking this was going to be about seeing and getting to know the people of Pompeii, as well as watching the two boys this story is about grow together, before the devastating and inevitable eruption of Vesuvius.

Instead I got 2 boys arguing most of the time, one with a hero complex as a flaw and trying his best to get into politics. Loren frustrated me quite a bit, unfortunately, while Felix was my saving grace and the part of the book I felt attached to. Sadly, it wasn't enough to feel entirely emotionally invested in what was happening.

Either way, it wasn't a bad book by any means. It just did not grasp my attention or my heart.

I have a lot of mix feelings about this book. On one hand the plot was interesting enough, the characters were interesting enough, and the world was interesting enough. However, I had the hardest time finishing this book, and ultimately, I think it comes down to the fact that I did not care for the prose. It felt remarkably modern for the time period to the point that it was almost jarring and took me out of the story one too many time.

Additionally, while I'm aware that this is an ARC, I do hope that extra attention will be paid to the editing phase because the amount of spelling errors and incomprehensible sentences was a little much. I would recommend giving the book a try though once it's all polished up in it's final release, I do think that there are good things in it, but perhaps this wasn't the right read for me.