The Wolf Den - Elodie Harper

 “Either we choose to stay alive, or we give up. And if it's living we choose, then we do whatever it takes.”

I was recommended this book by several coworkers. Normally, when it comes to historical fiction that deals with Roman/Greek narratives, I am skeptical. Authors tend to glamorize those times, when in reality they were harsh and brutal. This book takes the brutality, hopelessness, and fear and creates a beautiful narrative of women and their fight for freedom. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Started: April 22, 2024

Finished: May 2, 2024

Synopsis: Amara was sold into slavery by her mother after her father died and they lost their fortune. Now working as a woman of the night in Pompeii, she must do whatever it takes to survive and earn her freedom from the man she hates. The man that owns her. Felix. Along with several other women in the brothel, these women tell their stories about survival and the roads they must take in order to lead happy lives. 

My Review (Spoilers) - First of all, I loved this book. It was raw and difficult to read at certain parts, but I enjoyed the realness of it. As I said earlier, most historical fiction books written during Roman/Greek times tend to glamorize both empires, but its not often that you get a story set in a brothel in the city of Pompeii. When you hear the word Pompeii, you automatically think of Mt. Vesuvius and the calamity that struck the city. I didn't know that I needed a historical fiction story about the time before and really scratched an itch that I was looking for in Roman/Greek stories.

The characters in The Wolf's Den are arguably the best part of this book. I enjoyed reading about Amara, our main character, as well as Victoria, Berenice, Cressa, and Dido. Amara's relationship with each woman is so riveting. There is a womanhood surrounding the brothel and Amara takes it upon herself to try and ease everyone's way of life, even though their lot in life is bleak. On the other hand, there are the men in the story, the most prominent being Felix. This man has made me want to punch every surface available to me. He is so enraging that I hope he dies a very painful death. 

As the book moves, you start to see Amara coming into her own when she uses her skills to move up the ladder from being a prostitute to a secretary, to eventually, a concubine for another man. But she does get her freedom, which is what she was fighting for since the beginning of the story. Though the man that freed her has his own problems with women, I was glad that Amara had the chance to get out of the Wolf's Den. However, I did feel bad for the other women who are stuck in the brothel. 

As we get towards the ending, my heart broke for Dido. Amara's best friend in the brothel, Dido ends up a victim of violence after Amara is freed. Without any time to grieve, Amara had to follow the man who freed her in order to keep her freedom in hand. Since this book is part of a trilogy, I expect there will be more grief in the second book regarding Amara and her relationship to Dido. 

Final Thoughts: I will be starting the second book of this immediately! If you like historical fiction books on topics that are rarely touched upon, check out this series. If you are interested in women's rights and learning about Pompeiian society before the eruption, pick up this book. It will surprise you as much as it delightfully surprised me.