This book seemed like it was going to give me everything I wanted, a queer story set in pompeii?! Oh I was locked in!!!
It was lovely to read, full of yearning and pondering and love. I was sad, it was very much like reading an encroaching tragedy, we all know how this tale will end, but it hurts all the same.
Curse you for making me love these characters, because the ending only hurt all the more!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Peachtree Teen for providing a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
I have to say this was a very fun read. The pacing was solid, the setting (Pompeii) felt real, and the characters were definitely a highlight. Loren and Felix had an interesting dynamic that felt fairly realistic. This is a very strong debut from Cass Biehn and I cannot wait to see what they write next.

3,75⭐️

Thanks to Peach Tree Teen for the e-arc, and to Colored Pages Book Tours for having me on their book tour!!

Vesuvius' greatest strength lies in its characters. I loved Loren pretty much immediately, and felt for him because not being believed took a toll on him, and he was used to dismissal. Felix was frustrating at first; it was hard to get a read on him because he doesn’t remember his past, but I warmed up to him as he showed a softer side to his apparent cold exterior, and he became my favorite character. The supporting characters were also compelling, and we get a decent bit of backstory for most of them.

Of the political and fantasy aspects of the plot, my favorite part was the mystery surrounding the helmet that Felix stole. Discovering how and why he was able to steal it, what it meant to the city, and its potential was fascinating. Pompeii was a conquered city, and the book explored what it meant for the locals, transplants, and slaves, especially with politicians' self-serving agendas, and Loren’s aspirations for his city.

I found it hard to connect with the romantic subplot because it develops quickly, given that the story spans only a few days. I think I would’ve preferred them to be friends. On a line level, the prose was enjoyable, but the language was often too modern for the period. It prevented a total immersion in the setting, even if I liked touring the city and learning more about Pompeii’s traditions. If you’re bothered by anachronisms, this might not be for you. The pacing was uneven at times, and there were some loose ends I would’ve liked tied up.

Overall, Vesuvius is a good debut. If you’re looking for a story set in Pompeii, which I feel is rare, with some mythology, political intrigue, romance, and a good cast of characters, you should give it a try!!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC!

Content warnings: past childhood sexual abuse (not detailed), indentured sex servitude (side character)

A solid debut with interesting ideas; unfortunately, I found the execution lacking.

It's an interesting concept but it got bogged down with the side plot about Loren's political ambitions or whatever, which also didn't really go anywhere. The side characters could have used with some fleshing out, especially Loren's relationship with Camilla. It initially seems like Camilla is significant, but later they have some weird beef that comes out of nowhere that doesn't make sense, that could have made sense, if their relationship was explored more.

I also didn't find the romance that convincing? Like, they have some chemistry I suppose, but it's really not that serious guys. Maybe I am too old for this but I struggled to suspend my belief for this.

Cuando era adolescente, me fascinaba el Monte Vesubio y hasta visité Herculano, así que Vesuvius era uno de los libros que más esperaba leer en 2025. La historia se sitúa en Pompeya, apenas días antes de la erupción del Vesubio, y sigue a Felix, quien roba un casco maldito que perteneció al dios Mercurio, y a Loren, un chico atormentado por visiones del fin del mundo. Sus destinos se entrelazan y juntos intentan evitar que esas visiones se vuelvan realidad.

La tensión de tener que pasar tanto tiempo juntos da lugar a un romance entre desconocidos que poco a poco se van acercando con un cariño mutuo muy dulce. Es un debut muy bueno: los personajes son fáciles de querer, y aunque el libro es relativamente corto, el romance tiene un desarrollo lento que me encantó porque saben que soy fan del slowburn.

Cass, creo que ya te tengo cariño. Sos como ese amigo perdido con quien alguna vez recogí manzanas en el huerto de mi papá, o sea, una vibra muy cálida y nostálgica. No me conocen, pero ya somos así de cómplices. Voy a estar muy atenta a tus próximas dos novelas.

Dicho esto, tenía muchas ganas de amar este libro, pero se me hizo difícil porque tenía demasiados errores de tipeo y una edición bastante descuidada. Me sorprendió que tuviera editor, porque los errores aparecían desde el primer capítulo, y el formato estaba tan desordenado que empeoraba la lectura. Además, el libro no tenía una portada adecuada (¿será por ser un ARC?). Recibí otros ARCs y sus formatos fueron mucho mejores, sin tantos fallos. También había frases en negrita sin razón aparente, lo que distraía.

Sobre la historia, Biehn es una escritora talentosa y en general el libro es un buen debut, pero sentí que faltó un poco de investigación histórica. Por ejemplo, usan palabras demasiado modernas para la época, como describir un corte de pelo corto como “bob cut”, algo que recién se usó a partir de finales del siglo XIX y popularizó recién en 1910. Además, los personajes son jóvenes, o “chicos”, pero hablan como si tuvieran veintipico de años.

Estaba súper emocionada por leer este libro y aunque en general me gustó, terminé un poco decepcionada porque tenía expectativas muy altas y algunas partes me dejaron fría. Me encantó la ambientación en Pompeya —recientemente la visité, así que me fascinó reconocer lugares reales— y me gustó que hubiera personajes LGBTQ+, algo que hace falta en la ficción histórica. Felix me pareció divertido y con un arco de personaje interesante.

En cambio, Loren me pareció un poco aburrido y no noté que evolucionara mucho. Además, la parte del medio se hizo lenta, con un ritmo que me costó seguir, mientras que el principio y el final estuvieron mejor. También me costó meterme del todo en la escritura.

2.75 ☆|5

I was looking forward to reading this YA book, and yet I have somehow ended up with very mixed feelings, and I'm a bit disappointed about it. Here we follow Felix and Loren, two young boys in Pompeii, around the time of the Vesuvius eruption.

I do not wish to speak badly of this book, as I dislike doing that very much, but unfortunately, this one hasn't done it for me. I see the ideas; I like the ideas; but the execution makes me grind my teeth. I fully believe that I would have liked this 120% more with a different pacing. Indeed, I have found it to be a bit slow here. The event I was looking forward to - the eruption - happened quite late in the novel, and even though the plot was interesting, I couldn't help but be underwhelmed reading it. In general, I have found the pacing to be a bit chaotic, slow at times, but a bit too fast at others, making this a really strange reading experience. However, I have seen way worse, it's just that it felt flat for me.

I am also not a fan of the main relationship/romance. I personally dislike "insta love" most of the time, and despite the fact that the two had a cute relationship, I failed to understand why they liked each other. But that is a very personal preference. However, I have really liked the characters! They were lovely and I liked their writing. I also really liked the supernatural aspects of the book.

In general, even if I have personally disliked it, I do think that some people can enjoy this debut novel. If you like YA (kind of on the younger side), want a cute and fun read, and like mythology, you could like this! Thank you, PeachTree Teen and Netgalley, for the eARC., This goes out on June 3rd. une 3rd.

This was one of my most anticipated books of the year and it just fell flat. I felt like I was trying to love it so hard but by 50% I couldn’t convince myself to continue when I felt no connection to the story or characters. I noticed immediately after starting this that the tone and prose was very bland, which is part of why I didn’t connect with the characters like I wanted to. And believe me I wanted to love these two so bad, especially because this one had everything I want in fantasy with gay romance. But yeah unfortunately this just didn’t work for me and I’m sad about it.

It’s a powerful, beautifully written debut that blends history, mythology, and romance into an unforgettable experience.

I really loved this!

As others have noted, the very modern language and writing style threw me out in the beginning since this is representing such a historical time. However, unlike other reviewers, I really liked that! I actually thought the writing style/voice of the writer was a huge strength. I read a lot of books and I often feel that the write is average or mundane. However, not here. I LOVED the writing style. I really think this writer is something special and I plan on reading more work by this author in the future.

I loved both of our main characters. I could easily and fully understand their dilemmas, their yearnings in life and the obstacles they faced. I could understand who they were and how they were at odds with each other, but at the same time perfect for each other. I connected with both main characters and enjoyed their respective point of views.

I also thought the concept was really intriguing! We know from the beginning that the volcano will erupt (and we know history), so the fun of the story was seeing how the events unfolded leading up to it. I just loved the concept and thought it was well done.

I think this well be it on my list of one of my top reads this year. Bravo!

Vesuvius pulled me in right away with its vivid setting and emotional intensity. Cass Biehn does a great job capturing the tension and urgency of a world on the brink, both literally and emotionally. The characters felt real and layered, and I was especially drawn to the way their relationships evolved under pressure. A few parts could have been fleshed out a bit more, but overall, the writing was strong and the story kept me engaged from start to finish. It's a gripping, thoughtful read that lingers with you after the last page.

I didn't hate it, but I also didn't love it
I genuinely enjoyed the beginning of this book, learning about our characters, the world they live in, the visions, I was having fun, I was invested.
But then the story went in so many directions, introduced random characters, I started to get confused. I felt like we were losing the plot.
The biggest issue for me was my lack of attachment for Loren and Felix. I didn't fully connected with them, and I think that's why I lost interest by the end. I was dragging reading it, I was bored, I was forcing myself to read a few chapters a day.

All that to say, I personally didn't connect with the story or characters, but I would still recommend giving it a shot if the plot or the romance interests you.

|Content/Trigger warning for this review|

“Vesuvius had burst, and it was swallowing the world.”

I am very excited about this book. The ARC came at just the right time: right in the middle of my Pompeii-researching and volcano hyperfixation.

This book is about two boys from different backgrounds meeting in the ancient city of Pompeii, haunted by both prophetic dreams and the gods. Most of the story takes place over the course of a couple days, just before the infamous eruption of Mount Vesuvius.

I expected this to be just historical fiction but at times it also dips into some supernatural/fantasy elements which was cool.

It’s split into two POVs—Felix and Loren—they take turns with each chapter. Some books you get tired of one person’s view but I didn’t have that problem with Vesuvius. Both were equally entertaining and well-paced.

Felix is so funny and smart. He’s guarded and is prone to self-preservation by running, which I get. He doesn’t trust easily, which as a thief in ancient times… distrust helps him keep his hands if you know what I mean.

Loren is so sweet and such a nerd (he makes many references to Greek heroes and stories). He talks a lot and he cares so much... which means he lovingly meddles in other’s affairs haha.

Notes on Story:
- There’s lots of exciting adventures and peril that keep you on the edge of your seat!
- The story is quite engaging with its twists and turns.
- I really liked the character growth in both the boys, in how they treat themselves and others.
- The mythology parts were cool!
- There’s a lot of sass and witty retorts which, admit it, we all love.

Then add in all the angst, trauma, and of course… the looming strato-volcano on countdown in the background.

The main characters are well developed—I love them both—and there’s certainly a lot of memorable side characters too. I love Elias, he’s a good friend and I will beat up all his creepy clients because this boy deserves so much better.

I do wish sex was less of a focus, like, by a lot.

This book is YA but I would recommend this for the older side of that spectrum due to some graphic sex references (but is fade-to-black for any actual action). There’s also the implied threat of rape and discussion of past sexual assault. I liked how the latter was handled and how its effects were realistically portrayed.

If you’ve researched ancient Pompeii like I have, you probably already know that there were lots of brothels there.
Any “dealings” are very brief or implied but the novel does shed a little focus on the truly disgusting fact that young boys were often a selling point for predatory men. I wish I could go back in time and protect the former, no one should be forced into a situation like that.

Notes on Writing:
- This story has lots of layers which confused me at some points but it wasn’t that bad.
- I wish we had more time with the actual eruption, there wasn’t enough of that in this volcano-fan’s opinion :)
- The ending was good but I think it could’ve been written stronger… and I mean “good” as in quality. I’m not saying if the boys live or not, go read the book if you want to know, haha.

I love the cover! Chris Sack (@arcanegold) did a beautiful job. I would buy the book alone just for the art haha.

I feel like fans of Adam Silvera, C.G. Drews, and Rick Riordan will enjoy this one. There’s elements here that they’ll appreciate, I’m sure.

Thank you Peachtree Teen and Netgalley for this ARC! I really enjoyed it, it was such an adventure. I’m so happy to get a volcano book fresh off the “presses” hehe.

Vesuvius by Cass Biehn, rated four stars!

Full of excitement right from the start: the book kicks off with Felix on the run after stealing an infamous artifact from a temple. His first encounter with Loren had me jumping up in surprise (it was a very fun way to introduce love interests to each other lol). The best way I can describe the vibes of this book would be “Percy Jackson” meets “Dark Rise”, with a bit of “Tangled” and “The Song of Achilles” mixed in as well. So, essentially, some of the best vibes a book could ever have.

Although the dialogue sometimes didn’t meet the mark for me (mostly earlier in the book), I really love the writing overall. There were several profound, lyrical, emotionally-charged passages that hit me hard. Also, there are multiple complex characters whose depths are communicated expertly, in a way that allows you to gradually put the pieces together instead of telling you all at once. The plot definitely had me on the edge of my seat.

Laced throughout the story, there is an undercurrent of inevitable doom. Even if you somehow didn’t know about the tragedy of Pompeii beforehand, you’d still feel it while reading this book, considering the challenges Loren and Felix face and the decisions they make. It has you nervously rooting for these boys, sincerely hoping that they’ll safely make it out of this mess. (Which, thankfully, they do. But not unscathed, of course.)

Welp, I am cutting it super close by finally posting my review right before the release date, whoops… But thank you to Peachtree Teen and NetGalley for the eARC! I truly enjoyed this book, and now I’m going to go listen to Pompeii by Bastille on repeat while wallowing in my feelings about it.

Sadly, I DNF’d this book. The premise of the book initially drew me in but no matter how many times I came back to it, I just couldn’t resonate with it like I wanted to.

That’s not to say that I will never come back to it though! As a frequent mood reader, I’m 99% sure when the mood takes me I’ll come back and thoroughly enjoy it!

As the review is only 3 stars, I will not publish it online. This is because although I did not resonate with the book as much as I would like to, I want others to have the chance to experience it without my review swaying their opinions.

A YA story about the last days of the city of Pompeii, full of prophecies, politics, and murder.

I really enjoyed the characters of Loren (a temple boy who has visions of a dark, destructive future) and Felix (a thief on the run after he stole an important artifact) and how they interacted with each other, but I spent most of the book not really sure why they were doing each of the things they were doing. Not just their character motivations, but why it was happening in the plot at all.

Thank you Cass Biehn and Peachtree Publishing for a NetGalley ARC copy of Vesuvius!

DNF at 29%

I wanted to enjoy this book, but unfortunately could not get into it. I found the language too modern and personally didn't know enough about roman gods to make sense of the references. I do think this book has a lot of potential and will likely try to come back to it at a later time.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy

Vesuvius by Cass Biehn is a third person dual-POV Queer YA historical with fantasy elements set around the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. Felix has stolen Mercury’s helmet from a temple and is running from his past while Leron is a temple attendant who belongs to a well-off family. When the two meet, Leron recognizes Felix from his dreams of the world ending and the end of life as they know it is nigh.

There are a lot of details of life in Pompeii, social norms, and the political structures. Leron’s attraction to men being both the norm and outside the norm is explored in detail as it would be normal for him to take a younger lover, but it is considered very unusual for him to want to have a man as a spouse. Leron is also being groomed by Julia, a member of the political hierarchy, to be her heir instead of her taking a husband, which is an established route to continue family lines but does seem to have some stigma. These little details help bring the city to life and explore the ways cultures past reflect our reality and ways they don’t.

I would not call this a romance because it was missing a lot of what I would consider to be key prose aspects of the romance genre, but is definitely romantic and the romance between Leron and Felix is there. It’s just not the point of the plot and I think a lot of the plot works independent of their relationship. Where I think it really shines is that Leron and Felix feel like teenage boys who are running away from their families but find comfort in each other.

The fantasy elements are limited to brief bits with the gods and memory wiping. I wouldn’t call this a historical fantasy because so much of the plot doesn’t have that much to do with the fantasy aspects and I think if you took the fantasy elements out, the story would mostly work. This isn’t really a con because some people do just want that light touch of fantasy instead of a ton of monsters and newly invented places, it’s more that I wouldn’t call it a fantasy personally.

Content warning for depictions of emotional abuse

I would recommend this to fans of YA historicals who want a little bit of fantasy and readers looking for a historical set in Pompeii with a Queer romance

I really struggled getting into this book which is really disappointing because the synopsis sounded so promising. I just found the pacing to be too slow for my liking and found myself losing interest throughout the book. Unfortunately this was not the book for me but I could see how someone could enjoy it if they prefer a book with a lot of build up.

An easy, heartfelt, comfy read. Plenty of tenderness, some found family, some touching on the complex knots of trauma.

I am not really the audience for this; I would have preferred something that leaned a bit more toward being historical fiction.

Vesuvius follows Felix and Loren as they become entangled in a plot that threatens their city.

Cass Biehn's writing style is gorgeous in this book and whilst I wanted a little more interiority in some places the emotional stakes and big consequences (of Vesuvius) were, for the most part, evocatively done.