The Wolf Den is absolutely stunning. Something that immediately captured me was the language - the candidness, the poetry, the brutality of it all. The reasoning behind the brothel being called a Wolf Den, and the characters themselves personifying its name is something I wasn't expecting to love as much as I did.

While the story is very much about Amara and the inner struggles she faces between her spirit remembering what it was like to be free - and that being her main motivation for everything she does while she's enslaved - there's also a focus on the camaraderie between the she-wolves and the ferocity at which they all must embody to survive. There's a gentleness that they have with each other in some ways, and yet a gentleness that they refuse to let themselves feel because it's simply too painful to wish. And yet Amara does. Overall, it creates a haunting melody of what-ifs and "I'll do anything to get it" and the like. At this point, it becomes an argument of what is Amara willing to do to fulfill the most basic necessity anybody has ever wanted?

Told from the perspective of a long-overlooked and degraded microcosm of enslaved peoples, The Wolf Den captures a wide range of human emotion, leaning toward the uglier and more desperate ones, but heart-crushing all the same. This is the second book I've read where the main perspective is that of women who serve men using their sexuality, and are forced to find ways that make it all worth it in their own form of rebellion.

The Wolf Den
by Elodie Harper
Pub Date: March 29, 2022
Head of Zeus
Thanks to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the ARC of this great book! Sold by her mother. Enslaved in Pompeii's brothel. Determined to survive. Her name is Amara. Welcome to the Wolf Den...

Amara was once a beloved daughter until her father's death plunged her family into penury. Now she is a slave in Pompeii's infamous brothel, owned by a man she despises. Sharp, clever, and resourceful, Amara is forced to hide her talents. For as a she-wolf, her only value lies in the desire she can stir in others.
4 stars

"The Wolf Den" offers strong female characters, interesting character dynamics, and a plot that keeps you from putting down the novel.

Amara's growth and character development were fun to read, and I loved seeing how she grew more confident and manipulative over time. Her actions were understandable and realistic, and I liked that she was so focused on her goal.

I can't wait to read how her story continues.

Thank you to NetGalley and Union Square & Co. for the e-ARC.

The Wolf Den, the first of a trilogy by Elodie Harper, follows the story of Amara, a Greek woman sold into slavery after her father dies and her mother struggles with paying his debts. She is brought to Pompeii where she becomes an enslaved sex worker in one of the city's most infamous brothels, The Wolf Den.

Although this is historical fiction set in the Roman Empire, the writing was surprisingly modern and easy to read. While it took me by surprise at first, I found myself enjoying this modern spin. The descriptions of ancient Pompeii are beautifully vivid, from the narrow roads to the graffiti adorning the walls of the houses. Although this book is about the lives of enslaved sex workers, I thought the author did an incredible job at showing the cruelty of the pain and violence these women go through without too many explicit and graphic details. She showed just enough for us readers to get the picture and still feel for these characters.

I really enjoyed how nuanced most of the characters were, particularly the women. I also liked how nobody, not even the protagonist, is shown as inherently good or bad - although there are clearly evil characters in the book who are not, and rightfully so, redeemed, you see how every character tries to do whatever they can to survive. Harper slowly tells you about their backstories and it adds so much rich detail to the dynamics of the relationships in this novel, especially the friendships between the women.

The pacing of this book is quite slow, but I thought it was necessary to fully explore these characters. The only thing I thought could have been better was the plot - there's no problem with it per se, but sometimes I felt that the main plot (Amara trying to become a free woman) was overshadowed by the everyday lives of these characters, which, although I really liked reading that, eventually led to a very rushed ending, in my opinion.

Overall, I enjoyed the story and the themes it explored, which are still incredibly important and relevant nowadays. I'm interested to see where the story goes next!

CONTENT WARNING: slavery, violence, trauma, vomit, rape, murder, blood, suicide

In a word, WHOA! The idea of a book set in Pompeii was extremely intriguing to me, and I had high hopes for this one. Hopes that were met and exceeded. It’s a rough, brutal story, that matches the rough and brutal setting. I’ve always been interested in Pompeii, and after reading this, I had the urge to do a little research. Did you know that Pompeii didn’t have any kind of police force? It’s blatantly clear in this story.

It’s hard not to empathize with Amara. She went from being the cherished daughter of a doctor, with the ability to move in society, to the lowest of the low — an enslaved prostitute in the town brothel. Her situation, and that of the other women enslaved in the brothel is horrific. The story deals with some heavy topics like rape, violence, murder, and suicide, but it’s an emotional journey as well.

Felix, the owner of the brothel, is a cruel and dismissive man. He has these women under his thumb, forcing them to do anything he asks. But the most interesting part was the elements of approval that all the women seek from him. Despite his volatile temper, he’s capable of showing them some tenderness on rare occasions, even if we know it’s his attempt at manipulating them to continue doing his will, and creating a situation where the women hate him, but simultaneously crave approval from him.

“Even though she hates him, his contempt is still wounding. It hurts, the way he touches her as if she were nothing.”

While the women are enslaved and forced into prostitution against their will, Amara burns with a will to gain her own freedom. She wants to have some measure of what she used to have — freedom and the possibility of finding love, even if her options are limited. And the worst part for her is that she can’t see a way out. There’s no way that she can ever buy back her freedom without outside help.

“She understands the terrible, ceaseless pressure of never being able to make as much money as you need, of knowing you are running out of things to sell.”

In addition, if she ever does gain her freedom, she won’t be able to just step back into society anymore. The stigma of being a prostitute runs clear throughout this story, and Amara shuts down her emotions, because she knows she won’t be able to get what she truly wants, which are freedom and love. It leaves her with a lot of rage simmering inside.

“She tells herself it is easier not to want, not to feel. When you cannot make your own choices, what good is wanting anything, or anyone?”

There’s a lot of action in the story, and historical accuracies that were amazing to see brought into the present day. Starting each chapter is a quote, whether it is from preserved graffiti on the walls of Pompeii, or from literary works from Roman society. I was surprised at how quickly I got into the story, and couldn’t put it down. The characters are so vividly and realistically created, and I was consistently fascinated by how these strong women cope with unimaginable loss and trauma, yet still manage to find joy in little things. The theme of friendship among women is clear and present throughout the pages.

Overall, while it’s a harsh, brutal, and difficult story, I fell in love with the characters and can’t wait to see what comes next for them. It’s written beautifully, allowing us to see both the emotional disconnection that the women have from their situation, and how they manage to live a life without hope.

As a fiction novel, I found The Wolf Den very slow and (although well-written) not particularly compelling despite an interesting description. I almost feel this would have fit better in a non-fiction genre, since the author has obviously done a lot of research and it shows in the detail - if there were a real-life person on whom it could be based. Overall, I did have to push myself to finish the novel - but I found the writing good enough to want to try another novel by this author.

Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for an advance copy to read and review. All opinions are my own.

This was heavy and blunt and unwavering and beautifully written and absorbing and stunning all at the same time. I loved every single second I spent with this book

I love reading about the ancient Greek and Roman worlds from the women's perspective, and there have been a ton of great books in that area in the past couple of years. For me, this book is not one of them. The pace was too slow, and I couldn't figure out what the plot was. When I got to the point where my Kindle was telling me I still had four hours to go, I got scared that the entire trilogy was just "day in the life of a prostitute," so I skipped ahead to the last couple chapters. They weren't interesting enough for me to want to go back to see how the ending came to be.

If Elodie Harper had written this book as non-fiction, I would have loved it. She obviously did great research, and I liked learning about Pompeii. That was really all I enjoyed about the book though. I will not be continuing with the series.

I received this from Netgalley.com.

"Amara is a slave in Pompeii's infamous brothel, owned by a man she despises." And that is the story. I never connected with the characters, the story was clunky and boxy relying on the characters to move the story forward.

2☆

Overall, the pacing and plot were slow-moving and challenging to remain engaged. I struggle to offer a 3-star review when I would place it closer to a mid-2 star. I found the tone and some ideology within the story a bit modern for a brothel setting in Pompeii. This tone often removed me from the historical setting, which caused additional challenges with engagement.

Harper did capture some of the complex relationships between the characters and the layered hardship that surrounded their lives. With that said, I did find some of the characters to be one-dimensional when reviewed as an individual. The emotional investment or stakes were not as impactful as they could be. Readers should be aware of trigger warnings that could surround being sold into slavery and prostitution.

Thank you so much Union Square & Co for sending me a copy of The Wolf Den by Elodie Harper. I think I've just found one of my favourite books of the year.

The Wolf Den tells the story of a young woman sold into sex work in ancient Rome, taken from her home in Greece after her family fall into poverty. Told over the course of several months, we see the reality of what life is like behind the brothel doors.

And just what these women will go through to survive and make a life for themselves outside of servitude.

This book is just one of those that settled deep within my soul and will stay there forever. I'm so thankful I have the second book on hand and ready to go. I am so in love with Elodie's writing.

There are certain triggers in this book including slavery, sex work, sexual violence. So I would keep that in mind if you do choose to read

Harper’s outstanding new release is the first in a trilogy about courtesans in Pompeii. I believe Harper’s success is due to the meticulous research and her willingness to go the extra mile and base her book on archaeological evidence. She’s incorporated actual names and situations found on graffiti on the walls of Pompeii excavations. It was so authentic I was positive Harper had roamed the ancient streets, watching and recording what she observed! Harper definitely plopped me into the ancient world to see the life of a prostitute through Amara’s eyes.

Have you ever strongly disclaimed, “I don’t belong here!”? I’ve felt it many times when my effort doesn’t match the outcome achieved for various reasons beyond my control. Channelling that feeling of despair and powerlessness, I was able to appreciate Amara’s situation. When I realized that she was a strong woman with dreams of returning to a better life, I was rooting for her new beginning, well aware that freedom would come at a price.

The tension between the 5 women in the town’s lupanar is palpable and it’s the bonds they’ve forged with each other, as a means of survival, that drives the story. The power of women is immediately obvious. I could almost sense the solidarity, fear and love as these powerless women, viewed as objects by the men they serviced, faced danger and took risks to survive another day. The irony is that they were competing with each other, yet needed each other. The raw insight was overwhelming at times. Harper has laid the foundation for future books in the series with this character-focused opener.

I struggled with some of the violent and abusive content as well as the course language so please keep this in mind. Despite these issues, this is a compelling reimagining of the lives, struggles and ambitions of the girls in the Wolf Den. I am certain that my next trip to Pompeii will involve a much more curious look into the excavations with my camera poised and my notebook primed. Nothing will ever be the same again. And that's a good thing!

Book 2 in the trilogy, The House With The Golden Door, promises to highlight the precarious life of a courtesan in Pompeii and will focus on Amara.

I was gifted this advance copy by Elodie Harper, Union Square & Co., and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

After picking up Elodie Harper’s “The Wolf Den,” I thought I’d just read a few chapters before bed. Next thing I knew, I was two-thirds of the way through the book. Oops?

Harper’s approachable writing style is what, I think, kept me turning pages well into the night. Everything is neat and tidy, but she still does a very good job of setting the scene and creating an intricately woven plot with recognizable historical aspects (such as the city of Pompeii and Pliny the Elder). Sometimes the writing came across a tad too modern for a historical fiction novel, but it never takes you out of the story too much. The way Harper writes is candid and raw, and it adds a lot to the story. It’s hard to believe this is a debut novel.

This isn’t an especially fast-paced book, which is part of the reason I was surprised I couldn’t seem to put it down. It mostly relies on its characters to pull you into the story. And they certainly do! The women, in particular, in this novel are captivating. They’re all sex slaves trapped in a horrible situation, yet they’re so lively and so, so real in such different ways. Their vulnerability abounds, even as they’re basically living a life with an approaching expiration date. The she-wolves are all amazing — kind and bitter and strong and broken. With the main character, Amara, especially, the reader gets to be there as she processes all sorts of complicated emotions — pride, greed, shame, honor, jealousy, tenderness, love — and as she tries to exert some control over her own life in a situation where she has none. She starts off the book as a bit of an innocent (she’s smart and shrewd but not really about life), and she develops into a young woman who will do what it takes not to be beholden to anyone as she desperately grabs for any tendril of power in a society that wants to keep her powerless. That, however, comes with some guilt, the cost of doing what you have to do to survive at the cost of all those you’re leaving behind.

This isn’t an easy story to read, that’s for sure. But for every depravity these women suffer, there are moments of laughter and joy and love. The she-wolves suffer their indignities because of the bond they share and the love they have for each other (even though there’s still resentment to go around). The story ended fittingly, and I’ll be interested to read about Amara’s further development in the next two books in the trilogy. Maybe then I’ll remember to set a reading limit so I can actually keep my eyes open the next day.

Special thanks to NetGalley, Union Square & Co., and Elodie Harper for proving me with an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I have DNF’ed this book. While the premise is incredibly appealing, the cover looks stunning and the Roman period is genuinely candy for me, I just did not connect with the characters and the story. I feel that the audience is for a younger audience and misses the right vibes for me.
Thank you for sharing the book with me and I do not think it would be fair for me to review this book - I generally do not like to give negative reviews on Goodreads and on my blog. I hope you can understand.

Also, please note that I need to put a star rating below but it is not appropriate, as I DNF’ed the book.

I was excited about this book based on the description. However, I could not get fully into it. It’s too descriptive for my tastes and often felt like my mind strayed throughout.

Also- I did not like the formatting of this ebook. I felt like the spacing was too close together.

The Wolf Den was amazing. The level of detail with the world building, characters and plot was unexpected and made it so so immersive.

Historical fiction is not generally something I reach for - but this book made it worth it. The Wolf Den is set in historical Pompeii, with the mc Amara who was sold into sex slavery by her mother. The book tells her story, her struggles, and of others who are in similar situations.

I highly recommend this book. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I haven’t read a book from this genre before so I took a chance. The Wolf Den is set in ancient Roman times in Pompeii. Amara hates being a sex slave. She was sold by her mother and can’t forget who she used to be. She must act until she can purchase her freedom. But will that day ever arrive?
The narrative is raw and edgy. I found the main character’s perspective very interesting and also sad. What those women had to e sure was ghastly. Harper depicts the live very realistically and allows readers to get inside the heads of the women forced to please any and all clients.
It’s a gritty look at the seamier side of an ancient culture and the desperate women who wanted to escape.

The Wolf Den had it’s flaws, but it was still enjoyable and interesting. Although I felt like Amara was a bit flat, I did enjoy reading about the slave women of Pompeii and their everyday lives.

This was surprisingly emotional but I was here for it. The strength of women is palpable and I thought this story was so well done. It’s so unique and captivating and I was truly taken with it. I am just now seeing on Goodreads that there is a second book coming this year and I am beyond excited for it. This story blew me away and I fully expect the next one to do the same. Kudos to Elodie Harper.

Thank you NetGalley, Union Square & Co, and Elodie Harper for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This book is the first in a trilogy about Amara and her life in Pompeii. The Wolf Den is a very beautiful and well written historical fiction. This book takes the stories of people who have been overlooked by history and brings them to life. It talks about the harsh realities of their day to day lives, about slavery, and of survival.

This novel was such a wonderful read. I could not put this down. I can’t recommend it enough!