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.

I loved this book. The setting is perfect and the plot is filled with adventure. I love the characters. Where were this book when I went to middle grade? Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to review a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, just wow. One of the first things that piqued my curiosity with this novel was its cover and synopsis. Years ago, I read Elodie Harper’s series on Pompeii and its destruction (which I adored) and have been craving a book like this one ever since.

Vesuvius is one of those novels with prose that steeps you into the world, the lore and tension of the dramatic irony (us readers knowing what’s going to happen to pompeii) bakes even more suspense and intrigue onto every page. It helps create this fast-paced, and deeply emotional novel where you follow characters who are young and afraid of the world, and struggling to save it even if they aren’t sure of their place in it.

Everything from Loren and Felix’s romance (they’re very hilarious meet-cute), to the fully-realized side characters who are experiencing their own quests/tumultuous eruption of their life, and the vivid and sense-focused writing style creates a beautiful cohesive debut that I think many people will fall in love with.

Whether you want lgbtq+ romance, YA historical fantasy, or merely just enjoy wild, intense, emotional rollercoasters for books, do not skip out on Vesuvius!

Cass Biehn’s Vesuvius does a great job of painting a vivid picture of life in Pompeii. From the bustling temples to lush vineyards, brothels, and grand Roman villas, the descriptions make it easy to imagine yourself there alongside the characters. The atmosphere feels rich and immersive, and it’s clear the author put a lot of care into bringing the ancient city to life.

But the dialogue? It felt way too modern for the time period, which was a bit jarring. It kept pulling me out of the story, making it harder to stay fully immersed in the historical setting.

The biggest letdown, though, was the eruption itself—or lack of it. The book spends a lot of time building up to the big moment, but when Vesuvius finally erupts, it’s barely a blip. I was expecting the chaos, the destruction, the sheer intensity of Pompeii’s last moments, but it just didn’t deliver. The volcano and the disaster felt more like a side note than the heart of the story, which was disappointing.

Overall, while Vesuvius has some great moments and a beautifully rendered setting, it left me wishing for a bit more of the drama and impact that made Pompeii’s history so unforgettable.

Rating: 3.5/5

Vesuvius

4/5 Stars 🌟

This book was fantastic! It was definitely slow throughout so made it a long read but I wasn’t annoyed about that. Overall the retelling of pompeii was done so well, I loved the involvement of visions and ghosts to help try and make a change.

Cass did an amazing job at taking us to the places described in the book, I could almost walk through the streets, the vineyard and so much more the world was set so well that I could see it like a movie at some points which you all know I love!

Felix and Loren were so good together, I loved the trying to escape yet failing theme. My only issue with them as characters was when they grew close to each other then went to being closed off again, many times. 😅

The only downfall I had for this book was it felt a-little unbalanced? I felt like so much was happening at some points and I was constantly trying to remember how they fit to the story and there were some jumps that had me thinking ‘oh did I miss the lead up to this?’ But no it was just a jump.

Overall this book was really good and I loved how Cass has managed to make this book interesting and full of story and world building! I highly recommend picking it up on release day and get read for a relaxed slow burn book!

From the way the beta readers have been talking about it for years you’d think it would be a masterpiece. Vesuvius was… okay. I did have to force myself to finish it but there was a lot of good ideas and character work.

I got distracted by the writing. It just felt so off it took me out of the story the whole time. It is a mix between very modern teenager speak and a trying too hard attempt at sounding lyrical (that doesn’t work). I know already that people will be very impressed by this attempt but it’s neither good nor meshes well with the tone of the story. (I know it’s an ARC and I shouldn’t complain but the typos and formatting errors felt like a big disrespect of early readers)

I was very interested when this book was announced because it’s not like we have too many Roman queer stories. Pompeii is an interesting setup which the author manages to fumble in the climax. I was slightly disappointed when I later learn it was sold as fantasy over historical fiction because I understand that one sells better than the other. This is She Who Became the Sun level of fantasy: historical fiction with some ghosts and local religious/spiritual beliefs thrown in.

The overall plot just missed the mark for me, and I think it’s due to the too many competing storylines that turns the volcano into an afterthought or set dressing. There’s the helmet, Felix’ backstory, Loren’s backstory, politics, a side cast too big and undeveloped that I kept mixing up characters. I just got bored? It’s not the first time where I have read YA and the author cares deeply about their characters and their romance (especially online) but then you read the book, and it has a half-baked political plot that was added to pad out the romance.

See that’s the thing, the character work is good I like the ideas that went into creating Loren and Felix. I didn’t care for Felix that much even though he’s clearly designed as the true main character and I’m pretty sure similar to the few things I’ve seen of the author online. He is however a fun and entertaining character with some depth. Loren’s whole Cassandra inspiration is really good. His whole conflict with masculinity and gayness is good. Hell, his whole backstory had me interested. Yet I didn’t care much for their romance. Why? I don’t know maybe because too much time is spent on other bullshit instead of the author’s true interest?

Overall, I am disappointed by a book that has been hyped up for years before its official announcement. I was expecting more tragedy, more engaging writing rather than this.

Vesuvius is a beautifully layered historical fantasy that explores identity, love, and survival against the backdrop of Pompeii's looming disaster. The slow pacing may test patience, but the payoff lies in its intricate world-building and emotionally charged narrative. Felix and Loren’s relationship, while compelling, occasionally feels repetitive in its development, yet their bond remains central to the story's heart. The vivid imagery of ancient streets and temples immerses readers, even as the pacing and timeline leave some plot threads underexplored.

Overall, this is a bittersweet tale with a magical twist, offering a fresh take on historical tragedy while delving into themes of autonomy and fate.

Thanks to NetGalley and Holiday House / Peachtree / Pixel+Ink

2.5 stars

I loved the idea of following characters in the lead up to the disaster of 79AD, always here for historical fiction and the author clearly knows and enjoys their Greek/Roman mythology.

It was jarring, to have quite so many errors (typos, missing words, sentences which didn’t quite make sense) while reading, but also the choice of language throughout was problematic in setting the time (lots of modern/slang type language that does not fit the period) and in having believable dialogue fitting the circumstances of the characters (when there’s a young child speaking like a 30 something year old, I struggle).

The mystery element seemed somewhat obvious from very early on, and the unpicking/showing of it was bizarrely messy and unclear given how long we had to do so.

Lots of political subplot never being fully fleshed out, lots of unclear motivations. There was, both within the obvious eruption of Vesuvius, and of a subplot for Felix, a lot of building up to the big disaster/reveal and then it was super anticlimactic/didn’t really feel like a big deal/have the necessary description or time spent making an emotional connection.

Liked the premise, some promising characters, overall plot I want to read - just missed the mark for me with the disjointed and underdeveloped writing, couldn’t find my happy spot with the pacing, and had moments of feeling bored and that the dialogue got repetitive without me having the necessary care for the characters to pull me through.

Fast-paced, breathless, heart-tuggingly romantic, and refreshing in ways I can't quite put my finger on. The world was so wonderfully wrought, with its complex humanity (and overarching sense of doom). I loved how accessible the historical aspect was, and I can see it resonating well with teens. Gorgeous, tragic, perfection.

"If I can't figure out how to stop what's coming," Loren said, voice small but serious, "you'll be Patroclus. Dead while wearing another's helmet."

I just adored this. Felix and Loren were so wonderful to follow on their journeys, both together and separate. Unraveling the mysteries of their pasts and their bond had me hooked and wanting to keep turning the page to find out more. Finding out their secrets made everything tie together so well, and both of their pasts were foreshadowed perfectly.

I love the relationship between the two of them and the way the romance seemed to unfurl slowly, despite the small amount of time the story takes place across. The bond between the two of them and what it drives them to do for each other was just so beautiful to read about.

The journey through grief in this story— for lost memories, for recovered trauma, for a life not lived, for lost friends to Vesuvius— was just so wonderfully done. I really felt Felix's struggled with his past and his memory, Loren's loss and love for his friends lost to Pompeii, the horror of being alive when your body should be dead and the knowledge that a person you love could do that to you... it was just all so wonderful.

None of this was really what I expected when hearing about a story set in Pompeii before the eruption, but I loved everything about it. All the characters felt well-rounded and had their own personalities. Even though we didn't get long with them, you could feel their loss through the way Cass wrote Loren's grief at the end. I do wish we had more closure on the other characters, to know what exactly happened to them, but it makes sense for the story that we wouldn't know, because Felix and Loren would only be left with guesses and nightmares.

Overall, this was a wonderful, relatively quick read, that history lovers and enjoyers of queer characters will enjoy!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC!

I was hugely anticipating this book, and when I was granted an eARC I was over the moon. I really enjoyed this book, as I do all Greek/Roman mythos type books (Percy Jackson child turned Percy Jackson adult right here) and I found both of our main characters, Felix and Loren, to be very compelling (however Loren a little bit less so).

The beginning half of the story was good, but it was a little bit hard to follow sometimes. The entire book happens in the span of only a few days, but it gives the impression that maybe the timeline should have been a little bit longer, in order for Felix and Loren getting closer to feel a bit more natural. At times it felt like the split pov was hurting it rather than helping it, simply for the fact that it was flipping between Loren and Felix every chapter when maybe it should have been more like a few chapters with one character and then a few chapters with the other character, so the readers would get hooked into reading more every time the pov swapped.

That is to say, I loved the mystery surrounding Mercury's helmet! Again, as a PJO child turned adult I kind of saw the twist coming, but it was still a lot of fun to see the characters figure it out for themselves.

Still hate Julia tho

For those who don’t know, I’m a history teacher and teach Cities of Vesuvius as a mandatory ancient history topic to my Year 12s. So when I saw that this book was available to review, I had to request it! I’ll be honest when I say that this book wasn’t 100% perfect, but I was definitely there for the vibes and loved the premise every step of the way. While there are modern elements to this book, I also loved the historically accurate aspects to it too.
There are magical elements to this book that definitely make it interesting as well.
All in all, a read that had me turning the pages with intrigue.

After being accepted for this arc, I suddenly started to see it everywhere. And for very good reason. This might actually be already my favourite read of 2025, and I can see it remaining that way.

I’ve seen this book everywhere over social media and was very excited not just for me but my students who learn about Rome each year but prefer fiction over non-fiction. However, this book is historical in vibes only (and even then, does not commit to those tragic, disaster vibes). Not sure why a book called Vesuvius downplays the eruption of Vesuvius so much. This book is also comped to The Song of Achilles, but the ending takes “the easy way out.” A little more research and commitment to premise would have make this a useful, engaging read for my students.