Cover Image: The Wolf Den

The Wolf Den

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

This book is definitely one for fans of Madeline Miller (Circe, The Song of Achilles), Elodie Harper creates a world you'll get lost in!

Unfortunately, I didn't get to finish the ARC in time, so I'll need to get it from the library to find out how everything plays out but really enjoyed what I've read so far, and was excited to hear it's the first in a trilogy.

Many thanks to Netgalley & Union Square & Co. for a copy of the ARC in return for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I enjoyed this book and can tell that a lot of research went into it. I read this while on a trip to Rome and the combination of seeing ancient sights by day and reading this book by night was a really awesome reading experience.

Was this review helpful?

This book was not for me great reviews and it was a winner for a lot of people so done be put off Amara was once a beloved daughter, until her father's death plunged her family into penury. Now, she is owned by a man she despises and lives as a slave in Pompeii's infamous brothel, her only value the desire she can stir in others.

But Amara's spirit is far from broken. Sharp, resourceful and surrounded by women whose humour and dreams she shares, Amara comes to realise that everything in this city has its price. But how much will her freedom cost?

The Wolf Den is the first in a trilogy of novels reimagining the long overlooked lives of women in Pompeii's lupanar. Perfect for fans of Pat Barker's The Silence of the Girls and Madeline Miller's Circe.

Was this review helpful?

This book was one of my most highly anticipated reads of last year and it did not disappoint. With the sequel being released this week it seemed the perfect time to implore you to read this one if you haven’t already.

We follow Amara, the daughter of a Greek doctor who is enslaved and forced to work in a brothel in Pompeii. Early on we are introduced to other women in the Wolf Den and I loved how distinct each character was. I would happily read a book dedicated to each one. The dynamics between each of them are believable and varied and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing each of them develop.

Amara is intelligent and resilient and kept me captivated throughout, she is brilliantly flawed and her story was raw and heartfelt. I loved seeing this world through her gaze and found myself on an emotional rollercoaster as she fought to repave her future.

This book does not shy away from the violent reality women such as Amara would have faced and strikes a perfect balance between historical and fiction. It is evident that Elodie Harper has done her research and uses it effortlessly without overloading you with unnecessary facts. I’m lucky to have visited Pompeii and whilst that is in no way a necessity it was great to spot the finer details and tidbits she has included in the scenic descriptions.

In a time where historical fiction - particularly that set in ancient Rome or Greece - is so popular, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the decision of which to pick up. Without hesitation I would recommend reading this one.

Was this review helpful?

I was completely involved in the characters in this book. Loved the fact that a picture of the lower classes of the city was presented. I have many books about the ruling class, but this novel was unique.

Was this review helpful?

"She hears Felix's voice in her head. And you would, wouldn't you? Tear them all apart."

Words to describe this story as a whole: Harrowing, moving, terrifying, satisfying, easy to read, sweeping.

This is a book about prostitutes in ancient Pompeii. This really is all you need to know to decide to read the book or not. It's interesting or it's not. If it is, you should definitely check it out.

Rest assured, the writing is engaging and the characters are completely unique to each other. While it is a HUGE cast, I never got confused. Everything is straightforward...the story from beginning to end.

I can't believe how it ended and I can't wait to see what happens in the next book!

Was this review helpful?

This is my first read from this author and from this genre. I've never read anything from the Greek mythology and this was amazing. Great story that got me hooked and i wanted to read more and more. Very good plot and writing. Would read more from this author.

Was this review helpful?

I definitely did not know a lot on the subject of this book, so it was definitely out of my wheelhouse, but I did enjoy it otherwise.

The Wolf Den is a well written, fascinating and finely detailed, character driven novel, which certainly gets the trilogy off to a really good start. I look forward to the rest of the series.

Was this review helpful?

Elodie Harper is an absolute force. From the candid writing style to the captivating plot and fleshed out, flawed characters, The Wolf Den is nothing less than a triumph.

Easily one of the best books I read in 2021, The Wolf Den enchanted me with an almost 'from 'riches to rags to riches to rags to riches again' tennis match. The setting of the Pompeii-based Wolf Den, the parties, the death and decay, the heartbreak I felt for Felix and the other Wolves alike - faultless. Amara is a thunderstorm of passion and desperation, clawing at anything and anyone to improve her chances of survival.

I think The Wolf Den is best read with no idea of the plot - only the expectation that this is going to be good. I cannot wait to get my hands on The House With the Golden Door later this year

Was this review helpful?

The Wolf Den is gripping right from the start with a cast of realistic characters and a story line that has you wishing and sweating that the protagonist- a Shewolf called Amara - gets the break she so desperately needs to get out of the Lupanar (brothel) once and for all
Really looking forward to book 2!!! I love Pompeii and I love that there is a historical fiction on it! Ms Harper did not disappoint! Thank you to Netgalley and publishers for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I LOVED THIS. It's a wonderful historical fantasy that draws on ancient traditions while giving voice and agency to characters that wouldn't normally have any. Harper weaves an intricate web of complex relationships and consequences that make it impossible to stop reading.
Full review to come on YouTube.

Was this review helpful?

3.5 stars

I’d fallen into a historical retelling slump but this take on historical fiction grabbed my attention. We meet Amara, a sex slave in Pompeii, and follow her struggles to gain her freedom

It took me a while to get into, but once I was used to the writing style I really enjoyed this book. I loved the friendships and love between all the she-wolves and despite the fact that they each has nothing, they were willing to do anything and everything for each other.
I wonder what Amara will do next?

Thanks to NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publishers for an E-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I'm not usually a big fan of historical fiction. However, The Wolf Den completely captivated me from the very start!

Set in Pompeii (AD74), the story follows the life of one of the prostitutes in a brothel, Amara. Amara, tries to escape slavery throughout the book using what smarts she has.

I enjoyed this book start to finish - particularly the emersive description of Pompeii and the well developed characters.

We start in AD 74 and Pompeii was destroyed by Mount Vesuvius' eruption just 5 years later, adding an extra suspense while reading. I cant wait to see what happens in the next two books.

Was this review helpful?

Amara was once the beloved daughter of a doctor in Greece, until her father’s sudden death plunged her mother into destitution. Now Amara is a slave and prostitute in Pompeii’s notorious Wolf Den brothel or lupanar, owned by a cruel and ruthless man. Intelligent and resourceful, she is forced to hide her true self. But her spirit is far from broken. Buoyed by the sisterhood she forges with the brothel’s other women, Amara finds solace in the laughter and hopes they all share. For the streets of the city are alive with opportunity—here, even the lowest-born slave can dream of a new beginning. But everything in Pompeii has a price. How much will Amara’s freedom cost her?

---------------------------------

It's surprisingly enjoyable? I never had a huge expectation for any greek myths books because a lot of them just felt flat to me and always hit or miss to me. The characters and the friendship are well written. What I don't really enjoy from this book is the love triangle. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC

Was this review helpful?

I just reviewed the Wolf Den by Elodie Harper

Amara was sold into slavery after her doctor father dies and her mother could not support them both. Having to work in one of the most infamous brothels, Amara with her intelligence and natural musical talents, finds a way of becoming more than just a piece of meat for the men who pay for her.
After finding a man she may be able to con into helping her become a free woman, she has to do what she has to do to save herself from the clutches of Felix, a man so ruthless he doesn’t care who he hurts to get his weight in denaris.

A historical fiction set in Pompeii, it follows the lives of Amara, Victoria, Dido, Cressida and others as they cope with the unsavory living and working conditions for a man called Felix. A violent man with a temper, all the women have come from different starts but all care for each other in their own ways.
Amara having been taught by her Father, she has an abundance of knowledge that helps her get the edge at the brothel. She starts to see a higher caliber of men and works some side hustles for Felix, a man you start off really hating and about 3/4s of the way through you see something you really don’t want to see in him but it makes you hate him a little less.

Amara is such a diverse character and I love her rawness. She came from something and had to find a way to cope being at the bottom of the food chain. I have to admit I don’t like her methods for having an easier time of life but you can’t fault her. I also felt the ending, even though she got what she wanted, was so hollow.

This book broke me a little inside at the life these women had to live and the complexities of their positions in a world they shouldn’t have had to live in. I was beside myself with joy when I realized this was the first book in a trilogy! I am so excited to see what comes next from these she-wolves.

4.5 stars for me. It was a very well written historical fiction with brilliantly executed character development. I would love to know more about Dido in the next book so fingers crossed for that!
If you love a solid historical fiction page turner with a little romance and a lot of grit, this is the book for you!

Thank you Netgalley and Union square and co for my Advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review

Was this review helpful?

Even though there wasn’t much plot, this was very much a character driven book, which I very much enjoyed. I loved reading about this setting which I haven’t read a lot about. I’m excited to see what happens in book 2!

Was this review helpful?

This was such a beautiful book and I could not put it down. I was engrossed in the story and the end broke my heart. I cannot wait to read more about Amara in book 2!

Was this review helpful?

I love a good Greek story and this one has quite an interesting plot. The ones I’ve read mainly focuses on Greek Gods which makes this a refreshing read.

This story is set in Pompeii and follows Amara, a ‘she wolf’ who works as a sex slave in a brothel called the ‘Wolf Den’. She was initially sold into slavery by her mother but was then sold to Felix as a sex slave. Despite that, she has never forgotten who she was and what it was like live as a free woman. She uses her wit to survive the harsh reality of being a slave. There is a price to everything in Pompeii and Amara will pay whatever it takes to be free again.

It’s horrifying to read about the life of these girls from the wolf den and how they ended up there in the first place. Although the story focuses on Amara, it also sheds light on surviving in a town who thinks so lowly of sex slaves, how oppressed they are and how they are constantly living in fear. Harper never shied away from the emotional and physical violence these women face everyday. As strong as my stomach was, I still cringe at some of the vivid descriptions on how they were treated. Slaves were not treated like humans, instead they were just things that can be traded or killed off.

I love how resourceful and determined Amara is to free herself. She was brave enough to try and break out of her ‘she-wolf’ shell and finding other ways to survive while enslaved. I found myself rooting for Amara as she balances between her desire for freedom and keeping Felix happy while doing her best not to let him see through her plans. There were times where Amara seemed ruthless and selfish but I soon understood she behaved this way for freedom. Despite this, she still has love and compassion for her fellow sisters at the Wolf Den.

Another interesting dynamic is the relationship between Amara and Felix, the slave and the master. I could feel Amara’s hatred for him but at times I can also feel her awe and potentially pity for Felix when he showed his vulnerable side. It scares Amara more when she sees herself in him which explains her love-hate feelings.

The pacing was a little slow and repetitive because it really focuses on Amara scheming to get her freedom which made the whole plot predictable but overall, I quite enjoyed reading this.

Thank you Netgalley and Union Square & Co for the arc.

Was this review helpful?

When I tell you I ate this up - I ate this up.

I spent an unreasonably big part of my teenage years passionately studying for Latin class and watching HBO's Rome like my life depended on it, a class excursion to the actual city of Rome being the highlight of middle school to me. Still, I had almost forgotten my fascination with the time period until this book came along, and now I'm fully thrust into nostalgia and the thrill of learning about the messy side of antiquity again.

Now, I'm not as deeply involved in the subject matter anymore and can't academically judge this work of fiction on its accuracy, but it did seem pretty authentic to me. The Wolf Den doesn't shy away from being ugly and complicated, just like its characters are. The story took more unexpected turns than I'm used to from historical fiction - if you're into Desperate Housewives and can stomach the severe misogyny of the time period, you're going to be into it. The drama of it all! The tragedy!

Each character arch progresses in unpredictable ways - most of all the protagonist Amara's path, who is a new favourite character for me across books. Yet I'm most intrigued by Amara's pimp Felix, who is without a doubt the worst of the worst in this fictional version of Pompeii, but somehow so complex that I still haven't decided if I like him as an antagonist or if I plainly like him for being the despicable mess that he is?

To quote myself explaining to my boyfriend why I couldn't go to sleep before finishing the novel: "I never thought I would one day be this invested into a brothel!"

As everyone becomes increasingly ruthless, there is no way for the reader to guess what the right and wrong decisions in the plot might be. I can see this being turned into a successful TV show - not something I wish on every piece of content I like, but that I truly desire in this case. Imagine how thrilled I was to see that while I'm pretty late to the trilogy, I only have one month to wait for the sequel to appear! Time to get my Latin vocabulary flowing again.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free Arc Of The Wolf Den in exchange for an honest review!

The Wolf Den is a book that will instantly transport you to Ancient Rome. It felt like I was really there, and the writing and descriptions of the setting were really gorgeous. Amara was an incredibly strong female character who I really enjoyed reading about. I also enjoyed reading about Ancient Rome from a woman’s perspective, particularly a slave’s perspective.

That being said, this was hard to read at times, with some very upsetting subjects like sexual assault, so just be mindful of that before reading if you are sensitive to subjects like this.

Was this review helpful?